Using fenfluramine to treat various developmental and epileptic encephalopathies

Fenfluramine for the Treatment of Different Types of Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies: a Pilot Trial Exploring Epileptic and Non-epileptic Outcomes

This study is testing if fenfluramine can help reduce seizures and improve behavior in young people with certain types of developmental and epileptic disorders.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Ages: 2 Years to 35 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Hospital Ruber Internacional (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Madrid)
• Trial ID: NCT05232630 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot trial evaluates the effectiveness of fenfluramine as an adjunctive treatment for five types of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs), including SYNGAP1 and STXBP1 encephalopathies. The study focuses on measuring changes in seizure frequency, intensity, and duration, as well as assessing non-epileptic outcomes such as cognitive activity and impulsivity. Participants will be aged 2 to 35 years and must have a diagnosis of epilepsy with associated intellectual disability. The trial aims to provide insights into both epileptic and non-epileptic symptoms in these patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 2 to 35 years with refractory epilepsy linked to specific genetic or neuroimaging diagnoses.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have a diagnosis of epilepsy or those who have not experienced seizures may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly reduce seizure frequency and improve overall cognitive and behavioral outcomes for patients with DEEs.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is novel for these specific conditions, previous studies have shown promise in using fenfluramine for epilepsy treatment.

Eligibility criteria

GENERAL INCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Age between 2 and 35 years (both included).
* Diagnosis of epilepsy associated with some degree of intellectual disability, starting before 11 years of age.
* All patients will have a phenotype consistent with their genetic, electroclinical or neuroimaging diagnosis.

SPECIFIC INCLUSION CRITERIA PER GROUP:

---GROUP 1: Non-controlled epilepsy after failing at least 3 antiseizure medications, with a minimum of 4 countable seizures with motor semiology per month during the baseline period of 3 months.

* Group 1A: Patients with genetic testing showing a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in main synaptopathy genes (SYNGAP1 and STXBP1).
* Group 1B: Patients with genetic testing showing a pathogenic or likely pathogenic inverted duplication of chromosome 15 \[inv-dup (15)\].
* Group 1C: Patients with neuroimaging showing multifocal or bilateral malformations of cortical development.

  * GROUP 2:

Electroclinical diagnosis of Continuous Spikes and Waves during Sleep (CSWS) syndrome, with baseline video-EEG monitoring showing epileptiform activity occupying at least 50% of slow sleep tracing, after failing at least 3 antiseizure medications.

ADDITIONAL INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In addition, all subjects must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be enrolled into the study:

* Subject is male or non-pregnant, non-lactating female. Female subjects of childbearing potential must not be pregnant or breast-feeding. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test at screening and during the study.
* Receiving at least 1 concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs) and up to 4 concomitant ASMs, inclusive. Ketogenic Diet (KD) and Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) are permitted but do not count towards the total number of ASMs. Rescue medications for seizures are not counted towards the total number of ASMs.
* All medications or interventions for epilepsy (including ketogenic diet and vagal nerve stimulation) must be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to screening and are expected to remain stable throughout the study.
* Subject has been informed of the nature of the study and informed consent has been obtained from the legally responsible parent/guardian.
* Subject has provided assent in accordance with Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee requirements, if capable.
* Subject's parent/caregiver is willing and able to be compliant with diary completion, visit schedule and study drug accountability.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria will not be enrolled into the study:

* Subject has a known hypersensitivity to fenfluramine or any of the excipients in the study medication.
* Subject has only non-motor seizures (such as absences), for group 1.
* Subject has pulmonary arterial hypertension.
* Subject has current or past history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease.
* Subject has current or recent history of Anorexia Nervosa, bulimia, or depression within the prior year that required medical treatment or psychological treatment for a duration greater than 1 month.
* Subject has a current or past history of glaucoma.
* Subject has moderate or severe renal or hepatic impairment.
* Subject is receiving concomitant therapy with any of the following: centrally-acting anorectic agents; monoamine-oxidase inhibitors; any centrally-acting compound with clinically appreciable amount of serotonin agonist or antagonist properties, including serotonin reuptake inhibition; other centrally-acting noradrenergic agonists.
* Subject is currently receiving an investigational product.
* Subject has participated in another clinical trial within the past 30 days (calculated from that study's last scheduled visit).
* Subject is at imminent risk of self-harm or harm to others.
* Subject is unwilling or unable to comply with scheduled visits, drug administration plan, laboratory tests, other study procedures, and study restrictions.
* Subject is institutionalized in a general nursing home (i.e., in a facility that does not provide skilled epilepsy care).
* Subject does not have a reliable caregiver who can provide seizure diary information throughout the study.
* Subject has a severe clinically significant condition.

Where this trial is running

Madrid

• Hospital Ruber Internacional — Madrid, Spain (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Antonio Gil-Nagel, MD, PHD — Hospital Ruber Internacional
• Study coordinator: Ana Rodriguez

Conditions Refractory Epilepsy; SYNGAP1 Encephalopathy; STXBP1 Encephalopathy With Epilepsy; Inv Dup Encephalopathy; Multifocal or Bilateral Malformations of Cortical Development; Continuous Spike and Waves During Slow Sleep; refractory epilepsy; SYNGAP1