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NCT Number: NCT07224269

Effect of Terazosin on ATP Levels in People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

This will be a single center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to assess the safety and tolerability of terazosin (TZ) at a dose of 5 milligrams (mg) per os (PO) daily for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The primary outcome of this study is to determine whether TZ increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in ALS. The investigators will measure adverse outcomes, safety, and tolerability of taking TZ. Procedures include blood draws, spirometry, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans, questionnaires, and physical examinations. TZ will be titrated up to 5 mg PO daily. This is a pilot study and is not powered to assess efficacy of this medication. The investigators' hope is that this study will guide future studies of this (and similar) medications for the disease modification of ALS. This study also aims to learn more about how patients produce and use energy and if TZ can help to reverse energy deficits that appear in ALS.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Early Phase 1

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Ages 18 - 80 years old
  • Diagnosed with ALS based on Gold Coast Criteria
  • ALS symptom onset within 36 months at enrollment
  • Slow vital capacity (SVC) > 65%
  • Riluzole use-Never taken or taking a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to screening visit or will refrain from starting for the duration of the study
  • Edaravone use-Never taken or completed at least one cycle (typically 14 days) prior to screening visit or will refrain from starting for the duration of the study
  • Must have the ability to swallow pills at the time of the screening visit, and in the principle investigator's opinion, have the ability to swallow pills for the duration of the study
  • Willing to use highly effective contraception for the duration of the trial treatment and for a duration of 80 days after the last dose.

Exclusion criteria

  • Orthostatic hypotension at screening is defined as decrease in BP > 20 mmHg systolic or > 10 mmHg diastolic and HR increase <20 bpm on transition from supine to sitting or from sitting to standing
  • Known allergy or previous adverse reaction to terazosin or related compound
  • Current use of terazosin or concurrent use of doxazosin, alfuzosin, prazosin, or tamsulosin at the time of screening visit or within the 3 months prior to baseline visit
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding women
  • Taking therapeutic anticoagulant medication (i.e. warfarin, DOAC's, full dose Lovenox or heparin)
  • Liver function blood tests (ALT or AST) more than twice the upper limit of normal
  • Hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL
  • Traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Presence of a confounding acute or unstable medical, psychiatric, or orthopedic condition
  • Noncompliant or sporadic use of medications that modulate the central nervous system
  • Uncontrolled major depression or bipolar affective disorder, or other mental health disorders that are, in the opinion of the PI, sufficiently severe to increase risk of experiencing an Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)
  • Current suicidal ideation as measured by question 2 of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
  • Participants with insufficient decisional capacity to provide written informed consent determined by the primary investigator.
  • Noncompliant or sporadic use of antihypertensive medications
  • Unable to lie supine and still for 60 minutes for the duration of the study
  • Currently taking part in another clinical trial with an investigational medicinal product or having taken part in one in the three months prior to screening visit
  • Current diagnosis of diabetes (type 1 or type 2) or healthcare professional-recommended treatment (medication, exercise or diet) of diabetes mellitus
  • Screening visit glucose >140 mg/dl

Treatment and study plan

Terazosine

Drug

Titrating up to 5 mg PO at bedtime. Trial participants will take terazosin for 12 weeks.

Placebo

Drug

Placebo matching terazosin tablets

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in ATP levels

    Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

    Mean percent change from baseline to 12 weeks in whole-blood ATP and brain glycolytic rate using FDG-PET imaging

Study contacts

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

Emily Anderson, RN, MSN

CONTACT

[email protected]

319-356-8744

Heena Olalde, RN, MSN

CONTACT

[email protected]

319-356-8326

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Iowa

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Pilot Study of the Effect of Terazosin on ATP Levels in People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Acronym: TZ-ALS

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Nov 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 10, 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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