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CompletedNCT01693081VR040/2/003Updated Sep 26, 2012

Phase IIa Multicentre Study Investigating of VR040 in Parkinson's Disease

A Phase 2 interventional study of VR040/Aspirair® inhaler and placebo in Parkinson's Disease, sponsored by South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust. Completed at 9 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 30 Years to 90 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2012-09-26.

Sponsored by South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
47
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
30 Years to 90 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

'Off periods' where people with Parkinson's disease are slow, stiff and unable to function are disabling, and a treatment which can converts people to a "on", good, able to function state would be extremely useful. We assessed safety, tolerability and efficacy of inhaled dry powder apomorphine (VR040) in a clinic-based study in this setting.

Read the detailed description

Background: 'Off' periods increase as Parkinson's disease progresses and the benefits of standard therapy wane. Subcutaneous apomorphine rescues 'off' periods, but patient self-injection and adverse cutaneous effects are sometimes problematic.

Methods: We assessed safety, tolerability and efficacy of inhaled dry powder apomorphine (VR040) in a clinic-based Phase II study. Of 48 patients recruited at 9 sites, 47 were randomized 2:1 inhaled apomorphine:placebo. Respirable doses (drug predicted to reach the lung) ascending through 1.5mg, 2.3mg, 3.0mg, and 4.0mg until efficacy was achieved, were administered to patients in a practically defined 'off' state. The primary endpoint was the response in unified Parkinson's disease rating scale Part 3 (UPDRS 3), at the highest dose received by the patient. Secondary endpoints included time to 'on', the proportion of patients converting from 'off' to 'on', and pharmacokinetics.

02

Conditions studied

  • Parkinson's Disease

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Keywords

  • Parkinson's disease
  • inhaled apomorphine
  • convert "off" to "on"
03

In context

Parkinson Disease

4,487 studies on the registry are indexed under Parkinson Disease; 1,082 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 47 is above the median of 40 across 3,294 interventional studies indexed under Parkinson Disease.

Browse Parkinson Disease studies →

Lead sponsor

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust is the lead sponsor of 9 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
30 Years to 90 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Male or female between 30 and 90 years old with idiopathic PD for at least 5 years.
  2. Voluntary written informed consent provided.
  3. Willing and able to comply with study procedures.
  4. Fulfilled steps 1 and 2 of the UK Brain Bank Criteria.
  5. Classified as Hoehn and Yahr Stage II to IV in "on" state.
  6. Motor fluctuations with recognisable "off" periods in control of motor symptoms, as assessed by the Motor Fluctuation Questionnaire.
  7. Optimised oral therapy.
  8. Dopaminergic responsiveness as defined by ≥ 30% improvement(reduction) in UPDRS III score compared with pre-dose value.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Participated in a trial with an investigational product within prior 3 months.
  2. Serious uncontrolled disease including serious psychological disorders.
  3. Previous intolerance to apomorphine.
  4. Previous significant complication from oral dopamine agonist therapy
  5. Women lactating, pregnant or of child-bearing potential not using a reliable contraceptive method (eg, barrier, intrauterine device, abstinence).
  6. Known HIV or active chronic hepatitis B or C infection.
  7. Any clinically significant abnormality following review of screening observations
  8. Patients who, in the Investigator's opinion, were unsuitable for the study for any reason.
  9. Major ECG abnormalities.
  10. Patients with a FEV1 ≤ 65% predicted.
  11. Patients showing a postural decrease in systolic blood pressure (BP) of ≥20 mm Hg or showing significant clinical symptoms associated with orthostatic hypotension.
  12. Patients with persistent arterial hypotension, with average systolic readings of ≤110 mm Hg.
  13. Patients with persistent elevation of BP, with average systolic readings of ≥160 mm Hg.

    or average diastolic readings of ≥100 mm Hg.

  14. Patients taking apomorphine at any time during these study visits, anabolic steroids,traditional antipsychotics (unless low dose) and vasodilators other than for the treatment of hypertension. The following atypical antipsychotics were permitted: Quetiapine (up to and including 50 mg per day), risperidone (up to and including 1 mg per day) and olanzapine (up to and including 2.5 mg per day).
  15. Patients taking agents of the 5HT3 antagonist class including ondansetron, granisetron,dolasetron, palonosetron and alosetron.
  16. Patients with existing cancer and those in remission for less than 5 years.
  17. Patients with evidence (as ascertained from examination, tests or history) to indicate cardiovascular, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, central nervous system, pulmonary system or bone marrow disorders that in the Investigator's opinion compromised patient safety.
  18. Patients who were known non-responders to apomorphine treatment for "off" episodes(eg, in previous challenge tests or trials).
  19. Patients with a history of drug or alcohol abuse in the 12 months prior to entry.
  20. Patients with a history of clinically significant allergies to VR040 formulation constituents (including lactose and opioids) and domperidone.
  21. Patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of psychosis, dementia, "Parkinson-plus" syndromes or unstable systemic disease.
  22. Patients with history of stroke, seizure or other neurological conditions.
  23. Patients with dyskinesia rated 4 in Item 32 of UPDRS IV assessment at Screening(dyskinesia present ≥76% of a waking day).
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
47 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    VR040/Aspirair® inhaler

    VR040 was administered as an inhaled dry powder, in a dosage of 1.5, 2.3, 3.0 and 4.0mg, single dose given at each dose level.

    Drug: VR040/Aspirair® inhaler

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    Placebo was administered as an inhaled dry powder, matching to active comparator at dosages of 1.5, 2.3, 3.0 and 4.0mg, single dose given at each dose level.

    Drug: placebo

Interventions

  • DrugVR040/Aspirair® inhaler

    Dry Powder inhaled apomorphine

    Also known as: Inhaled apomorphine

  • Drugplacebo
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. The maximum UPDRS 3 improvement from pre-dose to post-dose

    The primary efficacy endpoint was the maximum UPDRS 3 improvement from pre-dose to post-dose at the highest dose used.

    Time frame: 90 minutes

Secondary outcomes

  1. Time to improvement from 'off' to 'on'

    Time to improvement from 'off' to 'on'.

    Time frame: 90 minutes

  2. The duration of 'on'

    The duration of 'on', the duration of time when the patient can function well.

    Time frame: 90 minutes

  3. The proportion of patients converting to 'on' any time after treatment administration.

    The proportion of patients converting to 'on' any time after treatment administration.

    Time frame: 90 minutes

Other outcomes

  1. Safety variables

    Safety variables were: the pre- to post-dose change in vital signs, 12-lead ECG and continuous 12-lead Holter ECG, and lung function.

    Time frame: 90minutes

07

Study locations

9 sites
  • Neurology Clinical Military Medical Academy, Crnotravska 17
    Belgrade, 11 000, Serbia
  • Institute of Neurology Clinical Center Serbia Dr Subotica 6
    Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
  • University Hospital, Wales
    Cardiff, CF14 4XW, United Kingdom
  • Department of Neurology, Southern General Hospital
    Glasgow, G51 4TF, United Kingdom
  • The Walton Centre
    Liverpool, L9 7LJ, United Kingdom
  • Llandudno Hospital
    Llandudno, LL30 1LB, United Kingdom
  • Newark Hospital
    Newark, NG24 4DE, United Kingdom
  • Neurology Dept, Radcliffe Infirmary
    Oxford, OX2 6HE, United Kingdom
  • Essex Neurosciences, UnitOld Church Hospital, Essex
    Romford Essex, RM7 0BE, United Kingdom
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 26, 2012, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01693081
Lead sponsor
South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust
Collaborators
Vectura Limited
Responsible party
Dr Donald Grosset (Consultant Neurologist, South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 26, 2012
Start date
Mar 2007
Primary completion
Jul 2007
Completion
Jul 2009
Last update
Sep 26, 2012

Study contacts

Donald Grosset, MD
principal investigator · South Glasgow NHS Hospitals

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2012. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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