A Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Impact of MTP-131 (Bendavia™) on Skeletal Muscle Function in Elderly

This was a Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, enrolling 41 elderly subjects with previous evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction to evaluate whether the administration of MTP-131 (elamipretide) will change either hand skeletal muscle energetics or muscle performance in age-related skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction.

Subjects were randomized 1:1 to receive either elamipretide at 0.25 mg/kg/hr intravenously at a rate of 60 mL/hr for 2 hours, or placebo (lyophilized excipients without elamipretide) intravenously at a rate of 60 mL/hr for 2 hours. Each treatment group went through three distinct periods: Screening (up to 28 days), Treatment (1day), and Observation (7 days).

Inclusion criteria

• Are male and female adults aged ≥60 and ≤85 years
• Female subjects must be post-menopausal
• Have in vivo phosphorus-31 (31P) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and (Optical Spectra Scan (OPS) determined maximum adenosine triphosphate synthetic rate (ATPmax) < 0.70 milliMol/second (mM/sec)
• Have in vivo 31P MRS and OPS determined P/O (Phosphate/Oxygen ratio) < 1.9
• Are ambulatory and able to perform activities of daily living without assistance
• Had sufficient venous access for study drug administration and clinical testing.
• Could speak and read English fluently.
• Provided informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Had significant disease(s) or condition(s) which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may have put the subject at risk because of their participation in the study or may have influenced either the results of the study or the subject's ability to participate in the study.
• Had a history of rhabdomyolysis.
• Had been hospitalized within 3 months prior to Screening for major atherosclerotic events (e.g., myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization, coronary bypass surgery or stroke) or other major medical condition (as deemed by the Primary Investigator).
• Had any metal implants that could not be removed from the body that in the opinion of the Investigator were a contra-indication for undergoing the MRS procedure or any other protocol-related procedure.
• Had an implanted cardiac pacemaker or other implanted cardiac device.
• Had a serum sodium level <136 milliequivalents per litre (mEq/L) at Screening or Pre-infusion.
• Had a hemoglobin level <12 g/dL at Screening or Pre-infusion.
• Had chronic, uncontrolled hypertension as judged by the Investigator (e.g., Baseline systolic blood pressure [SBP] >140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure [DBP] > 90 mm Hg) or a SBP >150 mm Hg or DBP >95 mm Hg at the time of Screening or Baseline (if the initial blood pressure [BP] reading was above these values, the reading may have been repeated one time within 20 minutes of the initial reading).
• Had a body mass index (BMI) of <16 or >35 kg/m2.
• Had a creatinine clearance <45 mL/min as calculated by the Cockcroft Gault equation.
• Had a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrating severe bradycardia (heart rate < 40 bpm) or average corrected QC interval (QTc) >450 ms for males and > 470 ms for females, and in the opinion of the Investigator was clinically significant. (If on the initial ECG, QTc exceeded 450 ms for males or 470 ms for females, the ECG was to be repeated 2 more times and the average of the 3 QTc values was to be used to determine the subject's eligibility).
• Had a neurologic disorder that in the opinion of the Investigator was a contra-indication for enrollment into the study.
• Had any symptoms consistent with or a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, such as numbness, tingling, pain, or altered sensation of hands or feet.
• Had an active, systemic autoimmune disease other than autoimmune thyroid disease (e.g., diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) that currently required treatment or was likely to require treatment during the study.
• Subject's right hand had a history of mobility impairment, fractures, arthritis, hand surgery, muscle disease or other injury that may interfere with any study procedure.
• Had any symptoms consistent with or a current diagnosis of claustrophobia.
• Had a history of cancer, unless subject had documentation of completed curative treatment.
• Had a history of or risk factors (e.g., significant family history, concomitant medical condition) for deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
• Had a history of serious mental illness as judged by the Investigator.
• Had a body temperature > 37.5°C at the time of planned dosing.
• Subjects who in the opinion of the Investigator abused alcohol or drugs.
• Had donated or received blood or blood products within the past 30 days.
• Investigator site personnel directly affiliated with this study and/or their immediate families. Immediate family was defined as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling, whether biological or legally adopted.
• Sponsor employees and/or their immediate families. Immediate family was defined as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling, whether biological or legally adopted.
• Were currently enrolled in a clinical study involving an investigational product or non-approved use of a drug or device or concurrently enrolled in any other type of medical research judged to be scientifically or medically incompatible with this study.
• Had participated, within the last 30 days, in a clinical study involving an investigational product. If the previous investigational product had a long half-life, 3 months or 5 half-lives (whichever was longer) should have passed.
• Had previously been randomized into any study investigating elamipretide or been exposed to elamipretide for any reason.