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NCT Number: NCT06372821

A Trial Evaluating the Effect of NIO752 on Tau Synthesis Measured by a Process Known as SILK

This study will assess if drug (NIO752) reduces production of a protein, tau, by the brain. Normally tau maintains the internal skeleton of nerve cells. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) it builds up in the brain, causing damage. Abnormal tau proteins cling to each other forming 'tangles' inside nerve cells, which interfere with how the nerve cells work, and eventually die. This is what causes the symptoms of dementia. It is thought that NIO752 reduces production of tau.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

21 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom

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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 signed informed consent.
  • Between 21 to 80 years old (inclusive).
  • A diagnosis of mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease by a Clinical Dementia Rating score of 0.5 to 2, where the investigator believes they will be able to complete the study.
  • A history of cerebrospinal fluid, Positron Emission Topography (PET), or blood-based biomarkers supporting the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, or symptomatic approved presenilin (PSEN) or amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutation carriers. If blood biomarkers are equivocal then amyloid status can be confirmed using cerebrospinal fluid.
  • Fluency in English
  • Participant has a reliable study partner or caregiver
  • Able to undergo lumbar punctures, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebrospinal fluid draws, and blood draws.
  • Individuals will be willing to consent for their biological samples and personal data to be shared with the commercial partner (Novartis)

Exclusion criteria

  • Live in a skilled nursing facility or dementia care facility.
  • Any clinically significant laboratory abnormality
  • Attempted suicide, suicidal ideation with a plan that required hospital admission within 12 months prior to Screening
  • Any previous use of experimental therapy within 180 days or 5 half-lives prior to Day 1, whichever is greater.
  • Any previous use of MAPT antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) or any other ASO or other gene therapy meant as treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
  • History of hypersensitivity to any of the study treatments or its excipients or to drugs of similar chemical classes.
  • Any condition that increases risk of meningitis unless participant is receiving appropriate prophylactic treatment.
  • Current medical or non-Alzheimer's disease neurological condition that might impact cognition or performance on cognitive assessments
  • Have any other conditions which, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the participant unsuitable for inclusion or could interfere with the patient participating in or completing the study.
  • Unlikely to cooperate in the study; not able to attend scheduled examinations and visits; or not able to follow study instructions per the judgement of the investigator.
  • Current alcohol (>14 units per week) or current cannabis use; or history of alcohol or drug abuse or dependence (except nicotine dependence) within 2-years before the screening visit.
  • Treatment with immunosuppressants, antipsychotics, lithium, neuroleptics, dopaminergic agonists, L-dopa, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors at the time of screening. Current use of medications, other than cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine, that could alter cognition, as determined by the Investigator. If patients are taking cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine at screening, the dose must have been stable within 12-weeks prior to screening and must remain stable during the duration of the study.
  • Unable to undergo MRI due to for example claustrophobia, or presents absolute contraindications to MRI (e.g., metallic implants, metallic foreign bodies, pacemaker, defibrillator).
  • Significant signs of major cerebrovascular disease
  • Sexually active males, unless they agree to use a condom during intercourse from the time of consent until a minimum of 15 weeks after treatment.
  • Breast feeding women, pregnant women, and females of reproductive potential unless they use highly effective contraception methods, as specified in the protocol.
  • Patients on regular anticoagulants or anti-platelets that would preclude lumbar puncture are not eligible to participate
  • Seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B or hepatitis C.

Treatment and study plan

NIO752

Drug

Antisense oligonucleotide

Placebo

Other

Saline

Primary outcomes

  1. Tau synthesis rate inhibition in individuals with sporadic AD and ADAD

    Time frame: Day 23

    Tau synthesis rate calculated using tracer to tracee ratio of tau specific peptide calculated on day 20 post leucine administration in individuals with sporadic and ADAD (analyzed collectively) receiving intrathecal NIO752 compared to placebo.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Compare efficacy of knockdown of tau production in sporadic AD and ADAD by measuring the synthesis rate of tau by determining the ratio of labelled to unlabeled tau (tracer to tracee ratio) in serial cerebrospinal fluid samples.

    Time frame: Day 23

  2. Number of participants with adverse events [safety and tolerability]

    Time frame: Day 0 to Day 145

  3. Comparison of number of Adverse Events reported between participants receiving one dose of NIO752 versus those receiving two doses of NIO752.

    Time frame: Day 0 to Day 145

    Compare safety between 1 and 2 doses.

  4. Compare rates of tau synthesis and clearance in sporadic AD and ADAD

    Time frame: Day 23

  5. Determine CSF tau concentration to tau production relationships in humans

    Time frame: 120 days

Study contacts

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

Lisa French

CONTACT

[email protected]

Ross Paterson

CONTACT

[email protected]

+44(0)2074483875

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University College, London

Other

Collaborators

  • Alzheimer's Association
  • Sigrid Rausing Trust
  • University of Washington
  • Washington University School of Medicine

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomized, Participant & Investigator Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Ability of Intrathecally Administered NIO752 to Lower CSF Total Tau Synthesis in Participants With AD Measured by Stable Isotope Labelling Kinetics

Acronym: NIO-SILK

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 18, 2024
Registry last updated
Jan 27, 2026

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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