Using Glyburide to protect the spinal cord after injury

Spinal Cord Injury Neuroprotection With Glyburide (SCING): Pilot Study: An Open-Label Prospective Evaluation of the Feasibility, Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Preliminary Efficacy of Oral Glyburide (DiaBeta) in Patients With Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Phase 1 Interventional University of Kentucky · NCT05426681

This study is testing if giving the medication Glyburide soon after a spinal cord injury can help improve recovery for adults aged 18 to 80.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment12 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Kentucky Academic / other
Locations1 site (Lexington, Kentucky)
Trial IDNCT05426681 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of Glyburide, an oral medication, as a neuroprotective treatment for patients who have suffered acute cervical or thoracic spinal cord injuries. Participants aged 18 to 80 will receive Glyburide starting within 8 hours of their injury, followed by doses every 6 hours for 72 hours. The study will monitor participants for adverse events and assess their neurological status over a year, including follow-up visits at specified intervals. The goal is to determine if early administration of Glyburide can improve outcomes for these patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 80 who have sustained acute non-penetrating cervical or thoracic spinal cord injuries.

Not a fit: Patients with severe renal or liver disease, or those with grade D or E spinal cord injuries, are unlikely to benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve recovery and quality of life for patients with acute spinal cord injuries.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of Glyburide for neuroprotection is a novel approach, similar studies have shown promise in other contexts, but this specific application is less tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* No life threatening injuries resulting from the traumatic accident
* No evidence of sepsis
* Acute cervical or thoracic SCI with ASIA Impairment Scale Grade A, B, or C od admission.
* Non-penetrating SCI at neurologic level from C2 to C8 or T1 to T12

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unconsciousness or other mental impairment that prevents neurological assessment within the first 8 hours
* Acute SCI with ASIA Impairment Scale grade D or E
* Currently involved in another non-observational SCI research study or receiving another investigational drug
* History of hypersensitivity to sulfonylureas, in particular glyburide, or any of its components
* Any condition likely to result in the patient's death within the next 12 months
* Severe renal disorder from the patient's history (e.g. dialysis) or baseline eGFR of \< 30 mL/min/1.73 m2
* Known severe liver disease, or ALT \> 3 times upper limit of normal or bilirubin
* Blood glucose \<55 mg/dL at enrollment or immediately prior to administration of DiaBeta, or a clinically significant history of hypoglycemia
* Acute ST elevation myocardial infarction, and/or acute decompensated heart failure, and/or QTc \> 520 ms, and/or known history of cardiac arrest (PEA, VT, VF, asystole), and/or admission for an acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, or coronary intervention (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery surgery) within the past 3 months
* Known G6PD enzyme deficiency

Where this trial is running

Lexington, Kentucky

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Acute Spinal Cord Injury
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.