Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion syndromes (MDS) are a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive disorders that are characterized by a severe reduction in mtDNA content leading to impaired energy production in affected tissues and organs. MDS are due to defects in mtDNA maintenance caused by mutations in nuclear genes that function in either mitochondrial nucleotide synthesis. MDS are phenotypically heterogeneous and usually classified as myopathic, encephalomyopathic, hepatocerebral or neurogastrointestinal.
No efficacious therapy is available for any of these disorders. Affected individuals should have a comprehensive evaluation to assess the degree of involvement of different systems. Treatment is directed mainly toward providing symptomatic management. No treatment for MDS.
Clinical trials studies and in vitro/in vivo research studies showed that the enhancement of the salvage pathway by increasing the availability of deoxyribonucleosides needed for each specific genetic defect prevents mtDNA depletion.
Early recognition and immediate therapy to restore mitochondrial function could potentially improve clinical course.
Confirming the benefit of deoxynucleosides as a safe and potentially efficacious therapy, will lead to the availability of the first specific and effective treatment for Mitochondria Depletion Disorders.
In this phase II Trial a mix of Deoxynucleosides Pyrimidine (Deoxycytidine dC and Deoxythymidine dT) will be used as early treatment of MDS.
The dose used has been already used in other clinical trials, and appears to effective and well-tolerated. The subjects included are children (0-18Y), with positive MDS diagnosis and express mutations in one of the following genes: POLG, POLG2, C10orf2, RRM2B, MPV17, SUCLA2, SUCLG1, FBXL4, DTYMK. Subjects with MDS expressing neurological phenotypes dysfunction.
Children & Adults (0 -60 Y)
Written informed consent obtained,
Clinical Diagnosis of a Mitochondrial Depletion Disorder.
Pathogenic variant(s) Homozygote and Heterozygote in one of the following genes: POLG, POLG2, C10orf2, RRM2B, MPV17, SUCLA2, SUCLG1, FBXL4, DTYMK
Inability of a parent or legal guardian to give informed consent for any reason
Chronic severe diarrhea
Single group
deoxycytidine and deoxythymidine
Combination productThe Investigational Product (IP) dC/dT100-400 will be administered orally every day (QD) and the dose is divided over trid or bid for the daily dose of 100 mg/kg from Day 1-7, 200 mg/kg from Day 8-14, 300 mg/kg from Day 15- 21 and 400 mg/kg from Day 22 to 1825. Doses was chosen according to the safety and efficacy doses used in the literature.
Rate of Responder versus Non-Responder Status with investigational product
There is no estimation of sample size, the number will depend on subjects enrolled. We assume we can include about 50 to 100 subjects with mitochondrial depletion disorder. This study is designed as Phase II trial case series, the data will be presented graphically The IP of study will be considered positive if more than 2 responders are observed in 5 subjects. This design yields a marginal one-sided type I error rate (α) of 5% and power of 80%. For more than one participant engages in a study, the spaghetti plot showing all of their data in the same figure will be used as tool for visualization. Visual analysis of graphed data has been the traditional method for evaluating treatment effects in series cases research.
Number of participants experiencing dose-limiting toxicities, adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs)
"Responder" defined as having ≥ 2 of (1) electroencephalography EEG improvement, (2) decreased seizure frequency, (3) cognitive improvement, (4) caregiver impression of improvement, (5) clinical improvement, (6) Safety profile will be assessed through number of participants experiencing adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), laboratory evaluations, vital signs, and physical examinations.
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Kenneth Myers, MD
Lead sponsor
McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Sponsor institution
