Masitinib as an add-on therapy to riluzole in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To assess masitinib in the treatment of ALS. Methods: Double-blind study, randomly assigning 394 patients (1:1:1) to receive riluzole (100 mg/d) plus placebo or masitinib at 4.5 or 3.0 mg/kg/d. Following a blinded transition from phase 2 to phase 2/3, a prospectively defined two-tiered design was implemented based on ALSFRS-R progression rate from disease-onset to baseline (ΔFS). This approach selects a more homogeneous primary efficacy population (“Normal Progressors”, ΔFS < 1.1 points/month) while concurrently permitting secondary assessment of the broader population. Primary endpoint was decline in ALSFRS-R at week-48 (ΔALSFRS-R), with the high-dose “Normal Progressor” cohort being the prospectively declared primary efficacy population. Missing data were imputed via last observation carried forward (LOCF) methodology with sensitivity analyses performed to test robustness. Results: For the primary efficacy population, masitinib (n = 99) showed significant benefit over placebo (n = 102) with a ΔALSFRS-R between-group difference (ΔLSM) of 3.4 (95% CI 0.65–6.13; p = 0.016), corresponding to a 27% slowing in rate of functional decline (LOCF methodology). Sensitivity analyses were all convergent, including the conservative multiple imputation technique of FCS-REGPMM with a ΔLSM of 3.4 (95% CI 0.53–6.33; p = 0.020). Secondary endpoints (ALSAQ-40, FVC, and time-to-event analysis) were also significant. Conversely, no significant treatment-effect according to ΔALSFRS-R was seen for the broader “Normal and Fast Progressor” masitinib 4.5 mg/kg/d cohort, or either of the low-dose (masitinib 3.0 mg/kg/d) cohorts. Rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) (regardless of causality or post-onset ΔFS) were 88% with masitinib 4.5 mg/kg/d, 85% with 3.0 mg/kg/d, and 79% with placebo. Likewise, rates of serious AE were 31, 23, and 18%, respectively. No distinct event contributed to the higher rate observed for masitinib and no deaths were related to masitinib. Conclusions: Results show that masitinib at 4.5 mg/kg/d can benefit patients with ALS. A confirmatory phase 3 study will be initiated to substantiate these data.

Keywords:

• Clinical trials
• therapy
• tyrosine kinase inhibitor
• masitinib

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Correction

This article is related to:

In pursuit of the normal progressor: the holy grail for ALS clinical trial design?

Acknowledgments

We thank the study participants, their families, and caregivers. We also thank the AB10015 Study Group collaborators (Supplementary eTable 1). The Spanish ALS Research Foundation, FUNDELA, contributed to Dr. Mora’s group support.

Declaration of interest

Masitinib is under clinical development by the study funder, AB Science. AM, CDM, and VA are employees and shareholders of AB Science. OH is a co-founder, shareholder, and the President of the Scientific Committee of AB Science. PD, CA, and J-PK are consultants and shareholders of AB Science. JSM and AG have received research funding from AB Science. All remaining authors have no competing interests.

Correction Statement

This article was originally published with errors, which have now been corrected in the online version. Please see Correction (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21678421.2023.2273111).

Additional information

Funding

Financial support for medical editorial assistance was provided by AB Science.