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Quick Info
Status
Recruiting
Phase
1/2
Trial Type
Interventional
Treatment Type
Randomization
None
Enrollment
12
Start Date
12/19/2025
Contact Information
Locations
Belgium, Other
UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Contact: Evi Parente Study Coordinator   + 32 1638668   evi.parente@uzleuven.be
Netherlands, Other
UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
Contact: Prof Leonard Van Den Berg, Doctor of Medicine   +31 887555555   l.h.vandenberg@umcutrecht.nl
United Kingdom, Other
Kings College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
Contact: Dr Ammar Al-Chalabi, Doctor of Medicine   +44 2032991778   ammar.al-chalabi@kcl.ac.uk
Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, S10 2JF, United Kingdom
Contact: Dr Chris McDermott, Doctor of medicine   +44 114 226 1049
United States, Arizona
St Joseph's Hospital and medical Center - Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, United States
Contact: Dr S Ladha, Doctor of Medicine   (602) 406-6262   fulton.research@commonspirit.org
United States, California
University of California San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA, 92121, United States
Contact: Dr John Ravits, Doctor of Medicine   (858) 246-1154   jravits@health.ucsd.edu
United States, Florida
Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, United States
Contact: Dr Bjorn Oskarsson, Doctor of Medicine   (904) 953-0407   oskarsson.bjorn@mayo.edu
University of Miami School of Science, Miami, FL, 33136, United States
Contact: Dr Michael Benatar, Doctor of Medicine   (305) 243-6480   mbenatar@med.miami.edu
United States, Massachusetts
Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, United States
Contact: Winifred Asigri Study Coordinator   (617) 724-5659   pioneeralshealey@mgb.org
United States, New York
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10032, United States
Contact: Dr Neil Schneider, Doctor of Medicine   (212) 342-3107   ns327@columbia.edu
United States, Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
Contact: Spriha Thapa Study Coordinator   267-610-8822   Spriha.Thapa@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Enrollment Criteria
Breathing Ability
Percent lung function (FVC) or (SVC)
N/A
Months Since Onset
Number of months since first symptoms of ALS.
N/A
Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV)
Can PALS use a BiPAP in the trial?
N/A
Diaphragm Pacer (DPS)
Can PALS use a DPS in the trial?
N/A
Edaravone Usage
Can a PALS use edaravone (Radicut/Radicava) while enrolled in the trial?
Unknown
Update Notes
There are no update notes for this clinical trial.

Other Information

Purpose
PIONEER-ALS is a Phase 1/2, multicenter, open-label, ascending dose, uncontrolled, first-in-human study that will evaluate the safety, tolerability and effects on clinical and biomarker endpoints of intracisternal administration of Vtx-002 in participants with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Two escalating dose (low dose and high dose) cohorts are planned. The duration of the study will be a maximum of 5 years and 5 weeks (265 weeks) for each participant. The screening period may last up to 5 weeks to complete screening procedures.
Eligibility
Key Inclusion Criteria:
1. Capable of, and willing to, provide written informed consent and comply with study procedures, including visits to the study site and visit requirements 2. Male or female ≥ 18 years of age 3. Has a diagnosis of ALS according to the El Escorial criteria (Brooks, et al., 2000) (probable, laboratory results supported; clinically probable, clinically definite) 4. Confirmed absence of ALS caused by FUS and SOD1 gene mutations confirmed by laboratory tests.
5. A maximum of 18 months since first appearance of weakness (e.g., limb weakness, dysarthria, dysphagia, shortness of breath) 6. Erect (seated) SVC % predicted ≥ 80% at Screening 7. Treatment Research Initiative to Cure ALS (TRICALS) risk score between -2 and -6 at Screening 8. Has a reliable caregiver/partner/legal representative willing and able to support the participant in participation in the study and to give informed consent on behalf of the participant in the case that disease progression prevents the participant of giving consent (local legal rules will apply).
9. Treatment with riluzole and/or edaravone is allowed if treatment was started and has remained at a stable dose for at least 2 weeks (riluzole) or one treatment cycle (edaravone) before the Screening visit 10. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and male participants with female partners who are WOCBP must agree to use highly effective contraception during and after the study. WOCBP cannot be pregnant or breastfeeding 11. Women of nonchildbearing potential must be post-menopausal or surgically sterile (e.g. hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, ovaries removed) Key Exclusion Criteria:
1. Diagnosis of a significant CNS or peripheral nervous system disease other than ALS that may be a cause for the participant's ALS symptoms or may confound study objectives 2. Spinal, cervical, or brain MRI/MRA indicating clinically significant abnormality 3. Presence of tracheostomy and feeding tube at Screening 4. Contraindications to corticosteroid use (e.g. due to osteoporosis, uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes or cholesterol).
5. Significant concomitant disease or condition within 6 months of Screening that could pose an unacceptable safety risk to the participant or interfere with the participant's ability to comply with study procedures, e.g. heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, liver disease, autoimmune diseases needing strong immune-suppressing drugs, cancer, etc or a current psychiatric diagnosis.
6. Clinically significant abnormalities in laboratory test results at Screening for example poor liver or kidney function, abnormal clotting or infections such as Hepatitis or HIV 7. Use of blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, heparin, and novel oral anticoagulants) and being unable to safely stop them before certain study procedures.
8. Contraindications to imaging methods MRI, MRA, CT due to claustrophobia and/or intolerance to contrast agents.
9. Contraindications to general anaesthesia (GA) or deep sedation 10 Positive test for illegal drugs (except prescribed medications or permitted medicinal/recreational marijuana if used responsibly) 11. Generally frail or if the Investigator deems participation in the study would not be in the best interest of the participant or is likely to prohibit further participation during the study Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply -
Details
All participants will receive a single injection of the study drug. During the first year of the study there will be 12 visits to the study center, including an overnight stay after dosing of at least 1 night. There will be a further 4 remote visits (telephone or video call). From Year 2-5 there will be 8 further visits. These will be every 6 months and will be either in-person at the study site or remote (telephone or video call) if needed or preferred. Throughout the 5-year observation period, there will be up to 20 study visits to complete follow-up tests and assessments and monitor the ongoing effects of the study drug.
Collaborator(s)
  • Vector Y Therapeutics
Trial Protocol as Published on Clinicaltrials.gov
NCT07287397 (First Published: 11/19/2025)