Repurposing Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors for Treatment of AD (NCT04500847)
๐ฉบ Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
This is a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of a daily oral dose of 200 mg emtricitabine vs. placebo in 35 participants with biomarker-confirmed MCI or mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Study duration for each subject participating in the placebo-controlled research study will be approximately 12 months (up to a 3 months Screening Period, Baseline visit (1 month), 6 months of placebo or emtricitabine dosing, and 1 month follow-up). Participants will have up to 2 months to complete all procedures for the month 6 study visit.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (8 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (16 items).
Location: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center โ Los Angeles, California
๐ "Do I Qualify?" โ 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Current medical or neurological condition that might impact cognition or performance on cognitive assessments, e.g., Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, syphilis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, active major depression, attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), active seizure disorder, current alcohol/drug abuse or dependence, or dependence within the last two years, or history of traumatic brain injury associated with loss of consciousness and ongoing residual transient or permanent neurological signs/symptoms including cognitive deficits, and/or associated with skull fracture
- Brain MRI results showing findings unrelated to AD that, in the opinion of the investigator might be a leading cause of future cognitive decline, might pose a risk to the participant, or might confound MRI assessment for safety monitoring
- Score "yes" on item four or item five of the Suicidal Ideation section of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (eC-SSRS patient-reported outcome), if this ideation occurred in the past six months, or "yes" on any item of the Suicidal Behavior section, except for the "Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior" (item is included in the Suicidal Behavior section), if this behavior occurred in the past 2 years prior to screening
- Use of other investigational drugs prior to screening until:
- Small molecules: after five half-lives, or within 30 days until the expected pharmacodynamic effect has returned to baseline, whichever is longer
- Biologicals: blood concentration has returned to baseline (or below serological responder threshold) for antibodies induced by active immunotherapy; or five half- lives for monoclonal antibodies or other biologicals
- Approximately four weeks prior to randomization, the use of any drug or treatment known for the potential to cause major organ system toxicity, i.e. drugs that may require periodic safety monitoring of a specific organ or body fluid. Examples include, but are not limited to clozapine, cancer medical treatment like tamoxifen, systemic immunosuppressive drugs like methotrexate or interferon, or other immunosuppressive biological medicines for rheumatic diseases or multiple sclerosis
- A positive drug screen, if, in the investigator's opinion, this is due to drug abuse or dependence.
- Significant ECG findings that are assessed as clinically significant by the investigator (e.g. sustained ventricular tachycardia, significant second or third degree atrioventricular block without a pacemaker, long QT syndrome or clinically meaningful prolonged QT interval).
- Contraindication to lumbar puncture including use of anti-coagulants, low platelet count, history of back surgery (with the exception of microdiscectomy or laminectomy over one level), signs or symptoms of intracranial pressure, spinal deformities or other spinal conditions that in the judgment of the investigator would preclude a lumbar puncture
- History of or active hepatitis or HIV infection (based on a positive lab result for HBV and/or HIV, to be performed during screening
๐ Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
๐ All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center โ Los Angeles, California
- Memory and Aging Program, Butler Hospital โ Providence, Rhode Island
๐ฐ Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA ยง 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.