Pyrimethamine as a Treatment for Late-Onset GM2-gangliosidosis (Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff Disease)

Patients with late-onset Tay-Sachs or Sandhoff disease will be given increasing doses of Pyr, up to but not exceeding doses used to treat malaria, over a 5-month period. We will follow the effect of the treatment on the levels of Hex A enzyme activity in white blood cells, which are considered to be a reflection of the likely enzyme activity in the brain. We will also follow some other lysosomal enzyme activities to determine if the effect is specific for Hex A. Furthermore, we will examine the effect of the treatment on the levels of GM2-ganglioside in the white blood cells. On the basis of the studies done on cultured skin cells, we expect that treatment with Pyr will increase the levels of Hex A and decrease the accumulation of GM2-ganglioside in the white blood cells.

Inclusion criteria

• biochemically and genetically confirmed diagnosis of GM2-gangliosidosis caused by β-hexosaminidase deficiency resulting from mutations in the HEXA or HEXB genes;
• having HEXA or HEXB mutations shown to be responsive to pyrimethamine in vitro;
• over 17 years of age at the time of study initiation;
• able to understand and cooperate with the requirements of the study protocol;
• mentally competent, have the ability to understand and willingness to sign the informed consent form;
• able to travel to one of the three participating study sites;
• women of child-bearing potential must use accepted contraceptive methods and must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within one week prior to treatment initiation;
• fertile men must practice effective contraceptive methods during the study period, unless documentation of infertility exists;
• laboratory values ≤2 weeks prior to randomization must show adequate hematologic, hepatic, renal, and coagulation function; and body weight >40 kg.

Exclusion criteria

• serious medical illness, significant cardiac disease or severe debilitating pulmonary disease;
• any hematologic abnormality, especially megaloblastic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia;
• any active uncontrolled bleeding or any bleeding diathesis (e.g., active peptic ulcer disease);
• possible folate deficiency, and those receiving therapy (such as phenytoin) affecting folate levels;
• any complex disease that may confound treatment assessment;
• pregnant women or women of child-bearing potential not using reliable means of contraception;
• lactating females;
• fertile men unwilling to practice contraceptive methods during the study period;
• unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements;
• known hypersensitivity reactions, intolerance or adverse reactions to pyrimethamine;
• evidence of active infection, or serious infection within the past month;
• HIV infection;
• a history of cancer of any type;
• receiving any other standard or investigational treatment for any indication within the past 4 weeks prior to initiation of pyrimethamine treatment;
• receiving immunotherapy of any type within the past 4 weeks prior to initiation of pyrimethamine treatment; or any condition or abnormality, which may, in the opinion of the investigator, compromise the safety of patients.