Rosuvastatin (Crestor) in Friedreich Ataxia

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of children and adults for which there is presently no therapy. Much of the current work in FRDA is aimed at finding new targets for drug therapies. Recent work at the University of Pennsylvania has discovered that serum ApoA-1 protein levels are lower in people with FRDA when compared with control levels. ApoA-1 is the main protein found in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and individuals with FRDA frequently have low HDL levels; the current study proposes to assess if administration of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors for 3 months alters ApoA-1 protein levels in FRDA. Although the significance of ApoA-1 levels among FRDA patients is currently unknown, this study is proposed as an exploratory study to further examine this protein. If ApoA-1 protein levels increase over the course of treatment, future studies may additionally focus on examining this as a potential therapeutic treatment.

Inclusion criteria

• Subjects with Friedreich Ataxia confirmed by genetic testing
• Adults between the ages of 18 and 65
• Stable quinone dose (at least 1000 mg of Idebenone or 200 mg Coenzyme Q10) for 14 days prior to study entry and for the duration of the study
• Females who are not pregnant or breast feeding, and who do not intend to become pregnant.
• Subject has voluntarily signed consent form
• Willingness and ability to comply with all study procedures

Exclusion criteria

• Treatment with statins during the six previous months before study inclusion
• Currently active or unresolved liver or kidney disease
• Known history of renal insufficiency or creatine kinase >2 x ULN
• Use of red rice yeast during the previous six months before inclusion
• Current use of niacin and/or fibric acid derivatives
• Current use of cyclosporine
• Use of any investigational product within 30 days of baseline visit