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NCT Number: NCT04768972

FUSION: A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of ION363 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Participants With Fused in Sarcoma Mutations (FUS-ALS)

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ION363 on clinical function and survival in carriers of fused in sarcoma mutations with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FUS-ALS).

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Age range

10 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

UZ Leuven, Leuven, VL-Brabant, Belgium

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About this study

This is a multi-center, three-part study of ION363 in up to 95 participants. Part 1 will consist of participants who will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive a multi-dose regimen of ION363 or placebo for a period of 60 weeks, followed by Part 2, in which participants will receive open-label ION363 for a period of 84 weeks. Participants may continue to receive open-label ION363 in Part 3 for up to 3 additional years or until ION363 becomes commercially available in the patient's country or until the Sponsor discontinues the ION363 development program, whichever occurs earlier.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

for Part 1:

  • Participants must be ≥10 years of age at the time of informed consent and have signs or symptoms consistent with an ALS disease (in the opinion of the Investigator).
  • Genetic mutation in FUS confirmed by a testing laboratory that is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified and European Conformity (CE)-marked, or equivalent. Mutations must be reviewed and approved by a variant classification committee.
  • Upright (sitting position) slow vital capacity (SVC) is ≥ 50% of predicted value (as adjusted for sex, age, and height) OR if SVC is < 50% of predicted value, must be 10 to 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of informed consent AND had ALS symptom onset within 12 months before the time of informed consent.
  • Participants taking edaravone, riluzole, Relyvrio (sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol combination, called Albrioza in Canada), sodium phenylbutyrate, or tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA, also known as taurursodiol or urosodiol) must be on a stable dose for ≥ 28 days prior to Day 1, and willing to continue on that dose throughout the duration of the study, unless the Investigator determines that it should be discontinued for medical reasons, in which case it may not be restarted during the study.
  • Stable concomitant medications and nutritional support for at least 1 month prior to Study Day 1. Concomitant medications or nutritional support that have not been stable for at least 1 month prior to Study Day 1 may be allowed in consultation with the Sponsor Medical Monitor or designee.
  • Females must not be pregnant or lactating. Males and females must be willing to following protocol-specified contraception requirements, or be surgically sterile, or be post-menopausal (females).
  • Has an informant/caregiver who, in the Investigator's judgment, has frequent and sufficient contact with the participant as to be able to provide accurate information about the participant's cognitive and functional abilities throughout the study. In addition, a patient who is < 18 years old must have a trial partner (parent, caregiver, or other) who is reliable, competent, at least 18 years of age, and willing to accompany the patient to all trial visits.

Inclusion criteria

for Part 2:

  • Completed, or rescued from, Part 1, or
  • Enrolled and received at least 1 dose of ION363 in the Investigator-initiated study program
  • Patient meeting Criteria #1-2 is otherwise suitable for study participation, in the opinion of the Investigator

Exclusion criteria

for Part 1:

  • Requiring permanent ventilation (> 22 hours of mechanical ventilation [invasive or noninvasive] per day for > 21 consecutive days) and/or tracheostomy.
  • Any known genetic variant (other than those in the FUS gene) that is pathogenic or likely to be pathogenic for the ALS-frontotemporal dementia (FTD) spectrum of disease.
  • Positive test result for:
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Hepatitis C (HCV), unless previously treated and has been serum/plasma HCV RNA negative for at least 6 months after the end of treatment
  • Hepatitis B (HBV) by HBV surface antigen test, unless currently on nucleotide/nucleoside analogue treatment
  • Clinically significant abnormalities in medical history (e.g., previous acute coronary syndrome within 3 months before Screening, major surgery within 2 months before Screening) or physical examination.
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure [BP] > 160/100 millimeters of mercury [mm Hg]).
  • Malignancy within 1 year before Screening, except for basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix that has been successfully treated. Participants with a history of other malignancies that have been treated with curative intent and which have not recurred within 6 months may also be eligible per Investigator judgement.
  • Obstructive hydrocephalus
  • Known significant brain or spinal disease that would interfere with the lumbar puncture (LP) process, CSF circulation or safety assessment, including tumors or abnormalities by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography, subarachnoid hemorrhage, suggestion of raised intracranial pressure on MRI or ophthalmic examination, spinal stenosis or curvature, Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, tethered spinal cord syndrome and connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome.
  • Concurrent participation in any other interventional clinical study.
  • Previous or current treatment with an oligonucleotide (including small interfering RNA [siRNA], tofersen). This exclusion criterion does not apply to COVID-19 vaccinations, which are allowed.
  • Treatment with another investigational drug, biological agent, or device within 1 month before Screening, or 5 half-lives of investigational agent, whichever is longer.
  • History of gene therapy or cell transplantation or any other experimental brain surgery.
  • Anticipated need, in the opinion of the Investigator, for administration of any antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication that cannot be safely paused before and/or after an LP procedure according to local or institutional guidelines and/or Investigator determination after consultation with the appropriate treating physician. Low-dose aspirin (≤ 100 mg/day, administered as monotherapy) is permitted and may be continued through the LP procedure.
  • Have any other conditions, which, in the opinion of the Investigator would make the participant unsuitable for inclusion or could interfere with the individual participating in or completing the study, in the opinion of the Investigator.

Treatment and study plan

ION363

Drug

ION363 will be administered by IT bolus injection.

Placebo

Drug

Placebo will be administered by IT bolus injection.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline (Day 1) through Study Day 505 in Part 1 in functional impairment

    Time frame: Baseline, Day 505 in Part 1

    Functional impairment to be measured by joint rank analysis of the combined assessment of: In-clinic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) total score, time of rescue or discontinuation from Part 1 and entering Part 2 due to a deterioration in function, and ventilation assistance-free survival (VAFS). ALSFRS-R measures functional disease severity. The scale measures four functional domains, bulbar function, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and respiratory function. The assessment will contain 12 questions scored from 0 (no function) to 4 (full function), with a total possible score of 48, which will indicate the highest level of function. ALSFRS-R will be a part of the combined assessment of joint rank analysis to assess efficacy in Part 1.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline in ALS Assessment Questionnaire, 5-item (ALSAQ-5)

    Time frame: Baseline, Day 505 in Part 1

  2. Change from Baseline in the in-clinic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R)

    Time frame: Baseline, Day 505 in Part 1

  3. Survival and Ventilation Assistance-Free Survival (VAFS)

    Time frame: Up to Day 505 in Part 1

  4. Change from Baseline in In-clinic Slow Vital Capacity (SVC) to Day 505 in Part 1

    Time frame: Baseline, Day 505 in Part 1

  5. Change from Baseline in Handheld Dynamometry (HHD) to Day 505 in Part 1

    Time frame: Baseline, Day 505 in Part 1

  6. Change from Baseline in Neurofilament Light (NfL) Concentration in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) to Day 505

    Time frame: Baseline, Day 505 in Part 1

  7. Change from Baseline in FUS Concentration in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) to Day 505

    Time frame: Baseline, Day 505 in Part 1

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Phase 1-3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Intrathecally Administered ION363 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients With Fused in Sarcoma Mutations (FUS-ALS)

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2028
First posted
Feb 24, 2021
Registry last updated
Jul 21, 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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