Effects of ODM-109 on Respiratory Function in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Inclusion criteria

• Written informed consent (IC) for participation in the study will be obtained from the subject (or from the subject's next of kin, caregiver, or other legally acceptable representative in case the study subject him/herself cannot sign the IC due to severe muscle weakness).
• Age of at least 18 years.
• Male or female subjects with diagnosis of laboratory supported probable, probable or definite ALS according to El Escorial revised criteria (Brooks BR et al., 2000). Full electromyogram (EMG) report available compatible with ALS according to an experienced neurophysiologist.
• Ability to swallow the study treatment capsules.
• An upright (sitting position) SVC between 60-90% of the predicted value for age, height and sex at screening visit.
• Normal oxygen saturation during daytime (measure of ≥ 95% when steady state has been reached with a reliable read) in sitting position measured by pulse oximetry.
• Disease duration from symptom onset (defined by first muscle weakness or dysarthria) of 12-48 months.
• Using riluzole. The dose must have been stable for at least 4 weeks prior to screening at a dose of 50 mg b.i.d.

Exclusion criteria

• Subject in whom other causes of neuromuscular weakness have not been excluded.
• Subject with a diagnosis of another neurodegenerative disease (e.g. Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease).
• Assisted ventilation or gastrostomy of any type during the preceding 3 months prior to screening or predicted to be required within the randomised, double-blind cross-over part of the study.
• Recorded diagnosis or evidence of major psychiatric diagnosis, significant cognitive impairment or clinically evident dementia.
• Any major surgery within 1 month before the screening visit or patients who are scheduled for any major surgery during the planned study period.
• Potassium < 3.7 mmol/l or > 5.5 mmol/l at screening.
• Creatinine > 170 μmol/l at screening or on dialysis.
• Blood haemoglobin < 10 g/dl at screening.
• Clinically significant hepatic impairment at the discretion of the investigator.
• Women of reproductive age without a negative pregnancy test and without a commitment to using an acceptable method of barrier or hormonal contraception (e.g. condoms, diaphragms, oral contraceptives and long acting progestin agents), if sexually active during the study, and for 1 month after the last dose of the study treatment. Women who are postmenopausal (1 year since last menstrual cycle), surgically sterilised or who have undergone a hysterectomy are considered not to be reproductive and can be included.
• Known hypersensitivity to levosimendan.
• Administration of levosimendan within 30 days prior to screening visit.
• Patients with history of botulinum toxin treatment for any reason.
• Patients with known history of human immunodeficiency virus infection.
• History of significant arrhythmias or other cardiac events
• Any other clinically significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, neurological or psychiatric disorder or any other major concurrent illness that in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with the interpretation of the study results or constitute a health risk for the subject if he/she took part in the study.
• Blood donation or loss of significant amount of blood within 60 days prior to screening.
• Participation in a clinical trial with any experimental treatment within 30 days prior to the screening visit or previous participation in the present study.
• Any other condition that in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with the interpretation of the study results or constitute a health risk for the subject if he/she took part in the study.