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NCT Number: NCT05509153

A Randomised Controlled Trial, Of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), for Premanifest Huntingtin Gene Expansion Carriers

NAC-preHD is a phase II randomized placebo controlled study of oral NAC among premanifest HD gene expansion carriers, with clinical and radiological outcome at three years.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Able to provide informed consent
  • Huntingtin gene expansion carrier with >= 39 CAG repeats
  • Absence of unequivocal motor signs of HD - that is, UHDRS
  • Diagnostic Confidence Level needs to be <4 upon enrolment
  • Expected to develop clinical HD within 10 years of trial enrolment using the Langbehn formula
  • Availability of an informant for corroborative history
  • Negative serum pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential
  • If of childbearing potential, is able and agrees to remain abstinent or use adequate contraceptive methods
  • Ability to tolerate MRI scans
  • Ability to tolerate blood draws
  • Able to comply with all study protocol requirements, according to the investigators judgement
  • In the opinion of the investigator, medically, psychiatrically and neurologically stable at the time of enrolment

Exclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of clinical HD
  • Known hypersensitivity to NAC
  • Pregnancy, breastfeeding or intention to do so prior to the end of the study
  • Exposure to any investigational drugs within 30 days of Baseline Visit
  • Use of supplemental NAC
  • Abnormalities in laboratory measurements, ECG or vital signs at screening, which precludes safe participation in the study
  • Current or history of substance abuse within one year of Baseline visit
  • Unstable psychiatric or acute medical illness including cancer, as determined by investigator
  • Current use of antipsychotic medications or Tetrabenazine
  • History of gene therapy, cell transplantation, or any experimental brain surgery
  • History of attempted suicide or suicidal ideation within 12 months prior to screening
  • Pre-existing structural brain lesion as assessed by a centrally read MRI scan during the screening period

Treatment and study plan

NAC

Drug

1g of clinical grade N-Acetylcysteine capsules, taken orally twice a day

Other names: N-Acetylcysteine

Placebo

Drug

Coated Placebo capsules, manufactured to match appearance and taste, taken orally twice a day

Primary outcomes

  1. Caudate Atrophy Rate on volumetric MRI

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Blinded assessment

  2. Rate of motor phenoconversion

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Defined by conversion to Diagnostic Confidence Level 4, upon blinded assessment using the UHDRS motor subscale

Secondary outcomes

  1. UHDRS motor subscale (total score)

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Measuring changes in motor function

  2. Stroop Word

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Change in cognition as measured by Stroop Word

  3. Trail Making Test

    Time frame: Baseline through end study (up to 3 years)

    Change in cognition as measured by Trail Making Test

  4. Montreal Cognitive Assessment

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Change in cognition as measured by Montreal Cognitive Assessment

  5. Symbol Digit Modality Test

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Change in cognition as measured by Symbol Digit Modality Test

  6. Changes in Mood and Behavioural symptoms

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Evaluated using the PBA-s, a semi-structured interview behavioural scale

  7. Changes in Daily Function

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Measured using the Total Functional Capacity and Independent Scale from the broader UHDRS and the Functional Rating Scale for HD

  8. Change to Quality of Life

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    As measured by the standardised questionnaires, HDQoL and EQ-5D

  9. Study completion (Safety and Tolerability)

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Measured by the proportion of participants completing NAC arm of study

  10. Incidence of abnormal laboratory values and/or 12-lead ECG changes (Safety and Tolerability)

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Measured by the Number of participants with abnormal laboratory values and/or 12-lead ECG changes compared to baseline

  11. Incidence of adverse and/or serious adverse events (Safety and Tolerability)

    Time frame: Baseline through end of study (up to 3 years)

    Measured by the number of adverse and/or serious adverse events

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Western Sydney Local Health District

Other

Collaborators

  • Deakin University
  • Monash University
  • Royal Perth Hospital
  • The University of Queensland
  • University of Melbourne

Registry information

Acronym: NAC-preHD

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 19, 2022
Registry last updated
Feb 28, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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