ClinicalTrials.gg
TerminatedNCT03081117Updated Jul 7, 2021Results posted

Intranasal Insulin for the Treatment of HAND

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of Insulin, intranasal and Placebo, intranasal in HIV Dementia and HIV-Associated Cognitive Motor Complex, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 69 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-07-07.

Sponsored by Johns Hopkins University · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
On 3/15/2020 study visits were suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic. With safety concerns surrounding COVID-19 and difficulty recruiting, the investigators decided to close enrollment 10/16/2020 after interim data were reviewed by the DSMB and NIH.
Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
21
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 69 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) can lead to problems with brain function, such as memory, concentration, judgment, and the speed or control of hands and legs. Neurologists have called this condition HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). This research is being done to see if insulin taken through the nose as a spray (intranasal insulin) can help people with HIV who are having problems with memory and brain function, or HAND.

Participants will be given either insulin or placebo. A placebo is an inactive substance that looks like the study drug, but does not contain study drug. For this research study, the placebo will be a clear, saline-based liquid spray that looks like the insulin spray but has no insulin. Participants will not be told whether they receive insulin or placebo during the study.

All participants will take the intranasal spray twice a day, about 30 minutes after a meal. Participants will use a specialized intranasal drug administration device. The total daily dose of insulin is 40 IU split between 20 IU in the morning and 20 IU in the evening. Participants will take the intranasal spray for 24 weeks.

The researchers will record symptoms and side effects during the study. Procedures include neurocognitive testing of memory and brain function, two optional lumbar punctures ("spinal taps"), two MRI brain scans, monthly blood draws, and clinical assessments.

Read the detailed description

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are characterized by disabling cognitive, behavioral, and motor dysfunction and can occur in individuals with HIV even while taking combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). The mechanisms for these residual impairments are not fully understood, but appear to involve poor penetrance of ART drugs into the central nervous system (CNS) and the resulting brain sanctuary for inadequately suppressed HIV infection with associated sustained inflammation. Adjunctive therapies with targeted neuroprotective agents are critically needed for the treatment of HAND. Insulin is involved in multiple CNS functions including food intake, metabolism, learning, and memory. Insulin has neuroprotective properties demonstrated in cell culture experiments and in vivo models, which provide strong evidence for its use as a therapeutic agent to treat HAND.

Insulin modifying therapy (IMT) includes intranasal insulin administered by a novel nasal drug delivery device. IMT may play important roles in neuronal plasticity and survival by protecting hippocampal neurons against oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death induced by glutamate neurotoxicity. Previous studies support the proposed early phase trial of IMT as a novel therapeutic agent for HAND.

This double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluates safety of intranasal insulin at the daily dose of 40 IU and will provide initial data for assessing safety and efficacy. The protocol measures safety by incidence and frequency of adverse events. Clinical effects of IMT over the 24-week trial period are measured by change in neurocognitive and functional testing results, as well as several novel radiological and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrogate markers. Outcomes from these studies could have important implications for the design of future studies with IMT and other neuroprotective compounds for HAND.

02

Conditions studied

  • HIV Dementia
  • HIV-Associated Cognitive Motor Complex

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Keywords

  • HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND)
  • Intranasal
03

In context

AIDS Dementia Complex

41 studies on the registry are indexed under AIDS Dementia Complex; 2 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 21 is below the median of 50 across 31 interventional studies indexed under AIDS Dementia Complex.

Browse AIDS Dementia Complex studies →

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins University is the lead sponsor of 1,815 studies on the registry; 315 are open to participants now.

Of its 208 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 144 (69%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 69 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Must have ,
  • Capable of providing ,
  • Between the ages of 18-69 years,
  • Evidence of problems with memory, speed, and brain function,
  • Same HIV medications for at least 6 months (180 days) prior to study entry, with no plans to change the medications over the study period,
  • The following blood lab values within 2 weeks prior to study entry: > 8.9 g/dl, > 500 cells/mm3, count > 50,000 cells/mm3, (ALT) \< 2.5 X , alkaline phosphatase \< 3 X upper limit of normal, serum creatinine ≤ 2 X upper limit of normal,
  • Negative pregnancy test (for women who could become pregnant),
  • Able and willing to use an intranasal device for taking the study drug without complications (e.g., no history of traumatic obstruction to nasal passage, chronic sinus infections, severe and symptomatic seasonal allergies, etc.),
  • Currently suppressed blood HIV viral load (undetectable or \<400 copies/mL).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current or past opportunistic infection of the brain,
  • History or current clinical evidence of schizophrenia,
  • History of chronic neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or uncontrolled epilepsy,
  • Active symptomatic AIDS defining opportunistic infection within 30 days prior to study entry,
  • History of an uncontrolled medical or psychiatric illness which in the opinion of the investigators would constitute a safety risk for patients or interfere with the ability of a participant to complete the study,
  • History of diabetes or treatment with insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent,
  • Amylase/lipase elevation (≥ 2 X ) within 14 days prior to starting study drug,
  • Detectable plasma RNA test ≥400 copies/mL within 6 months prior to baseline/randomization,
  • History of any endocrine related cancer, including any thyroid tumor,
  • Current use of cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. Current use will be defined and determined by any evidence of such use within the two years (730 days) prior to study enrollment; evidence includes but is not limited to urine drug toxicology testing by the study team at screening and pre-entry visits,
  • Presence of other conditions that significantly affect and complicate performance on neurocognitive tests (such as, learning disabilities, history of severe alcohol abuse, head injury with trauma to the brain and loss of consciousness >30 minutes).
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(7)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
21 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Insulin, intranasal

    Regular insulin, 20 IU intranasal twice a day for 24 weeks; 0.2 mL per dose

    Drug: Insulin, intranasal

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo, intranasal

    Saline solution (placebo), intranasal twice a day for 24 weeks; 0.2 mL per dose

    Drug: Placebo, intranasal

Interventions

  • Regular insulin administered by specialized, non-commercial intranasal drug delivery device

    Also known as: Novolin R

  • DrugPlacebo, intranasal

    Saline solution administered by specialized, non-commercial intranasal drug delivery device

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Serious Adverse Event Frequency

    Number of documented serious adverse events per participant, mean

    Time frame: Total during 24-week trial

  2. Serious Adverse Event Frequency, Participant Count

    Number participants with at least one documented serious adverse event, count

    Time frame: Total during 24-week trial

  3. Neurocognitive Performance: Global Deficit Score (GDS), Week 24 Visit Score Minus Baseline Score

    Change in GDS, measured at two time points, baseline and Week 24 visits. GDS is a composite score based on neurocognitive test performance. The 14 data points that comprise the GDS include Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (trials 1-3 total score and delayed recall), Rey Complex Figure Test (copy and delayed recall), WAIS symbol-digit test, grooved pegboard (dominant and non-dominant), CalCAP (Choice reaction time and Sequential reaction time), Trail-making Test (Parts A and B), Stroop Color Interference Test (trial 3), timed gait (3 trials average), and verbal fluency (FAS). Raw scores were transformed to t-scores using age/education stratified normative data, then assigned a discrete value from 0 to 5 using the following t-score categorization: \> or = 40 is '0', 35.00 to 39.99 is '1', 30.00 to 34.99 is '2', 25.00 to 29.99 is '3', 20.00 to 24.99 is '4', and \<20 is '5'. The 14 individual scores were then averaged. A higher GDS is a worse outcome (0 = no deficits and 5 = maximum deficits).

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and week 24 visits

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neurocognitive Performance: NPZ-8 Score, Week 24 Visit Score Minus Baseline Score

    NPZ-8 score at 24 weeks minus baseline NPZ-8 score: The NPZ-8 is an average of 8 individual Z-scores, where higher values indicate greater neurocognitive performance (better outcome). The NPZ-8 represents the number of standard deviations an individual's performance is away from the mean (Z-score = 0) of age and education matched reference populations where performance worse than the mean had negative Z-scores (i.e. Z-scores were inverted for tests scored on speed). The NPZ-8 average is comprised of 8 data points from 6 tests: timed gait, WAIS symbol-digit, grooved pegboard dominant \& non-dominant, CalCAP Choice \& Sequential reaction times, and the Trail-making Test parts A \& B. Raw scores were transformed to Z-scores for each test and then averaged to calculate the NPZ-8 score at each visit (Z-scores +/-3.5 standard deviations from mean limited to +/-3.5). Positive change in NPZ-8 from baseline to Week 24 indicated improved performance and negative change indicated worse performance.

    Time frame: Difference between baseline and week 24 visits

  2. CSF Biomarkers, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of ceramide, sphingomyelin, citrate, neurofilament protein; brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), protein carbonyl, Aβ-42

    Time frame: Between baseline and week 24 visits

  3. Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Myoinositol, Basal Ganglia, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) myoinositol in the basal ganglia. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

    Time frame: Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

  4. Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Myoinositol, Frontal White Matter, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) myoinositol in frontal white matter. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

    Time frame: Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

  5. Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Choline, Basal Ganglia, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) choline in basal ganglia. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

    Time frame: Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

  6. Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Choline, Frontal White Matter, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) choline in frontal white matter. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

    Time frame: Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

  7. Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, N-acetyl Aspartate, Basal Ganglia, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) N-acetyl aspartate concentrations in basal ganglia. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

    Time frame: Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

  8. Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, N-acetyl Aspartate, Frontal White Matter, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) N-acetyl aspartate concentrations in frontal white matter. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

    Time frame: Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

  9. Neuroimaging Markers: DTI, Whole Brain Mean Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), change in whole brain fractional anisotropy (FA) between baseline and 24 weeks. FA is a unitless index that is used for measuring diffusion asymmetry. FA values range from 0 to 1 (0 equals no anisotropy; greater anisotropy is indicated by higher FA values approaching the maximum of 1). FA was measured in regions of interest (ROI) automatically generated by the multi-atlas label-fusion method implemented in the MRICloud. Whole brain mean FA = (Sum of (each ROI's FA \* volume)) / (Sum of all ROI volumes).

    Time frame: Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

  10. Neuroimaging Markers: Diffusion Weighted Imaging, Whole Brain Mean Diffusivity, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Diffusion weighted imaging, change in whole brain mean diffusivity (MD) between baseline and 24 weeks. MD was measured as the mean of three eigenvalues and has the unit m\^2/s. Higher values indicate greater diffusivity. MD was measured in regions of interest (ROI) automatically generated by the multi-atlas label-fusion method implemented in the MRICloud. Whole brain mean MD = (Sum of (each ROI's MD \* volume)) / (Sum of all ROI volumes).

    Time frame: Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

  11. Neuroimaging Markers: ASL, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

    Arterial spin labeling (ASL), a novel measure of cerebral blood flow

    Time frame: Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

07

Results

Posted Jul 7, 2021

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneInsulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Started1011
Primary outcome 1 (sae)1011
Secondary measures collected at week 2489
Completed (itt): primary outcome 2 (gds)79
Completed68
Not completed43

Outcome measures

PrimarySerious Adverse Event Frequency

Number of documented serious adverse events per participant, mean

Time frame:
Total during 24-week trial
Reported as:
Mean · Number of SAEs/participant
Serious Adverse Event Frequency
Number of SAEs/participantInsulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Enrolled0.30 ± 0.670.18 ± 0.40
Completed Trial (ITT)0.14 ± 0.380.22 ± 0.44
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)0.00 ± 0.000.25 ± 0.46
PrimarySerious Adverse Event Frequency, Participant Count

Number participants with at least one documented serious adverse event, count

Time frame:
Total during 24-week trial
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Serious Adverse Event Frequency, Participant Count
ParticipantsInsulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Enrolled22
Completed Trial (ITT)12
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)02
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · Fisher Exact · p = 0.669
PrimaryNeurocognitive Performance: Global Deficit Score (GDS), Week 24 Visit Score Minus Baseline Score

Change in GDS, measured at two time points, baseline and Week 24 visits. GDS is a composite score based on neurocognitive test performance. The 14 data points that comprise the GDS include Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (trials 1-3 total score and delayed recall), Rey Complex Figure Test (copy and delayed recall), WAIS symbol-digit test, grooved pegboard (dominant and non-dominant), CalCAP (Choice reaction time and Sequential reaction time), Trail-making Test (Parts A and B), Stroop Color Interference Test (trial 3), timed gait (3 trials average), and verbal fluency (FAS). Raw scores were transformed to t-scores using age/education stratified normative data, then assigned a discrete value from 0 to 5 using the following t-score categorization: \> or = 40 is '0', 35.00 to 39.99 is '1', 30.00 to 34.99 is '2', 25.00 to 29.99 is '3', 20.00 to 24.99 is '4', and \<20 is '5'. The 14 individual scores were then averaged. A higher GDS is a worse outcome (0 = no deficits and 5 = maximum deficits).

Time frame:
Difference between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Neurocognitive Performance: Global Deficit Score (GDS), Week 24 Visit Score Minus Baseline Score
units on a scaleInsulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Completed Trial (ITT)-0.1614 ± 0.38100.2300 ± 0.2981
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)-0.2383 ± 0.35290.2763 ± 0.2820
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.0366 (The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.) · Mean difference (net): -0.3914Degrees of freedom = 14
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.0103 (The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.) · Mean difference (net): -0.5146Degrees of freedom = 12
SecondaryNeurocognitive Performance: NPZ-8 Score, Week 24 Visit Score Minus Baseline Score

NPZ-8 score at 24 weeks minus baseline NPZ-8 score: The NPZ-8 is an average of 8 individual Z-scores, where higher values indicate greater neurocognitive performance (better outcome). The NPZ-8 represents the number of standard deviations an individual's performance is away from the mean (Z-score = 0) of age and education matched reference populations where performance worse than the mean had negative Z-scores (i.e. Z-scores were inverted for tests scored on speed). The NPZ-8 average is comprised of 8 data points from 6 tests: timed gait, WAIS symbol-digit, grooved pegboard dominant \& non-dominant, CalCAP Choice \& Sequential reaction times, and the Trail-making Test parts A \& B. Raw scores were transformed to Z-scores for each test and then averaged to calculate the NPZ-8 score at each visit (Z-scores +/-3.5 standard deviations from mean limited to +/-3.5). Positive change in NPZ-8 from baseline to Week 24 indicated improved performance and negative change indicated worse performance.

Time frame:
Difference between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · z-score
Neurocognitive Performance: NPZ-8 Score, Week 24 Visit Score Minus Baseline Score
z-scoreInsulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Completed Trial (ITT)-0.09 ± 0.39-0.01 ± 0.57
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)-0.07 ± 0.42-0.02 ± 0.60
SecondaryCSF Biomarkers, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of ceramide, sphingomyelin, citrate, neurofilament protein; brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), protein carbonyl, Aβ-42

Time frame:
Between baseline and week 24 visits

No measurements were reported for this outcome.

SecondaryNeuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Myoinositol, Basal Ganglia, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) myoinositol in the basal ganglia. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

Time frame:
Changes between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)
Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Myoinositol, Basal Ganglia, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value
mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Available MRS Secondary Outcomes0.7855 ± 0.84850.4759 ± 0.8174
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)0.5373 ± 0.88590.3022 ± 0.7404
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · Wald test, two-sided · p = >0.25 (The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.)
SecondaryNeuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Myoinositol, Frontal White Matter, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) myoinositol in frontal white matter. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

Time frame:
Changes between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)
Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Myoinositol, Frontal White Matter, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value
mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Available MRS Secondary Outcomes0.2617 ± 1.84930.2155 ± 1.1215
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)0.6063 ± 2.17110.0382 ± 1.1560
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · Wald test, two-sided · p = >0.25The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.
SecondaryNeuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Choline, Basal Ganglia, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) choline in basal ganglia. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

Time frame:
Changes between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)
Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Choline, Basal Ganglia, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value
mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Available MRS Secondary Outcomes-0.1495 ± 0.35830.1907 ± 0.4769
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)-0.1905 ± 0.45480.1162 ± 0.4757
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · Wald test, two-sided · p = 0.244 · Unstandardized beta coefficient: -0.32
SecondaryNeuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Choline, Frontal White Matter, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) choline in frontal white matter. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

Time frame:
Changes between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)
Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, Choline, Frontal White Matter, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value
mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Available MRS Secondary Outcomes0.1670 ± 0.3430-0.1557 ± 0.2130
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)0.2028 ± 0.4017-0.2128 ± 0.1795
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · Wald test, two-sided · p = >0.25 (The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.)
SecondaryNeuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, N-acetyl Aspartate, Basal Ganglia, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) N-acetyl aspartate concentrations in basal ganglia. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

Time frame:
Changes between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)
Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, N-acetyl Aspartate, Basal Ganglia, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value
mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Available MRS Secondary Outcomes-0.5572 ± 0.9270-0.1870 ± 0.8497
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)-0.7895 ± 1.1018-0.2915 ± 0.8801
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · Wald test, two-sided · p = >0.25The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.
SecondaryNeuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, N-acetyl Aspartate, Frontal White Matter, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Single voxel-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV-MRS) N-acetyl aspartate concentrations in frontal white matter. Results were reported as concentrations measured in approximated mmol/L (institutional units).

Time frame:
Changes between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)
Neuroimaging Markers: SV-MRS, N-acetyl Aspartate, Frontal White Matter, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value
mmol/L, approx. (institutional units)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Available MRS Secondary Outcomes0.1050 ± 1.71540.1432 ± 0.6497
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)0.2597 ± 2.16060.1134 ± 0.7218
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · Wald test, two-sided · p = >0.25The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.
SecondaryNeuroimaging Markers: DTI, Whole Brain Mean Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), change in whole brain fractional anisotropy (FA) between baseline and 24 weeks. FA is a unitless index that is used for measuring diffusion asymmetry. FA values range from 0 to 1 (0 equals no anisotropy; greater anisotropy is indicated by higher FA values approaching the maximum of 1). FA was measured in regions of interest (ROI) automatically generated by the multi-atlas label-fusion method implemented in the MRICloud. Whole brain mean FA = (Sum of (each ROI's FA \* volume)) / (Sum of all ROI volumes).

Time frame:
Changes between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · index
Neuroimaging Markers: DTI, Whole Brain Mean Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value
indexInsulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
All Available-0.0011885 ± 0.0055178-0.0043236 ± 0.0071927
Per Protocol-0.0022483 ± 0.0035673-0.0048070 ± 0.0076274
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.366 (The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.) · Mean difference (net): 0.0031351Degrees of freedom = 13
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.505 (The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.) · Mean difference (net): 0.0025586Degrees fo freedom = 10
SecondaryNeuroimaging Markers: Diffusion Weighted Imaging, Whole Brain Mean Diffusivity, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Diffusion weighted imaging, change in whole brain mean diffusivity (MD) between baseline and 24 weeks. MD was measured as the mean of three eigenvalues and has the unit m\^2/s. Higher values indicate greater diffusivity. MD was measured in regions of interest (ROI) automatically generated by the multi-atlas label-fusion method implemented in the MRICloud. Whole brain mean MD = (Sum of (each ROI's MD \* volume)) / (Sum of all ROI volumes).

Time frame:
Changes between baseline and week 24 visits
Reported as:
Mean · m^2/s
Neuroimaging Markers: Diffusion Weighted Imaging, Whole Brain Mean Diffusivity, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value
m^2/sInsulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
All Available4.7274*10^-6 ± 1.9275*10^-54.1177*10^-6 ± 6.2060*10^-5
Per Protocol5.8845*10^-6 ± 2.2223*10^-51.1278*10^-5 ± 6.3362*10^-5
Statistical analysis
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.98 (The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.) · Mean difference (net): 0.00000061Degrees of freedom = 13
  • Insulin, Intranasal vs Placebo, Intranasal · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.86 (The threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.05.) · Mean difference (net): -0.0000054Degrees of freedom = 10
SecondaryNeuroimaging Markers: ASL, Week 24 Visit Value Minus Baseline Value

Arterial spin labeling (ASL), a novel measure of cerebral blood flow

Time frame:
Changes between baseline and week 24 visits

No measurements were reported for this outcome.

Adverse events

Collected over AEs were reported monthly over the 24-week period that each participant was on study or when taken off study if he/she did not complete the trial. Participants who completed the trial were followed up to 4 weeks after taking the last dose of the investigational product. Participants who stopped the intervention early remained on study for continued follow-up, to the extent possible, through study visits, telephone communication, and medical record review for intent-to-treat analysis.. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Insulin, Intranasal0/10 (0%)2/10 (20%)10/10 (100%)
Placebo, Intranasal0/11 (0%)2/11 (18.2%)11/11 (100%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventInsulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Major depressive episodePsychiatric disorders0/102/11
Kidney obstructionRenal and urinary disorders1/100/11
Cardiac eventCardiac disorders1/100/11
Hospitalization for syncope/hypotensionVascular disorders1/100/11
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 19
Most frequent other events
EventInsulin, IntranasalPlacebo, Intranasal
Nasal Irritation or Reaction (during administration of investigational product)General disorders7/104/11
Odor/Taste (during administration of investigational product)Product Issues5/101/11
HeadacheNervous system disorders3/105/11
Upper Respiratory InfectionRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders2/105/11
Congestion/Runny NoseGeneral disorders4/103/11
RashSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders3/101/11
NauseaGeneral disorders3/100/11
DiarrheaGastrointestinal disorders0/103/11
Accidental InjuryInjury, poisoning and procedural complications2/101/11
Upper Gastrointestinal Pain or DiscomfortGastrointestinal disorders2/100/11

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, IntranasalTotal
Enrolled58.5 (55 to 61)58 (56 to 62)58 (56 to 61)
Completed Trial (ITT)57 (54.5 to 61.5)58 (56 to 62)57.5 (55 to 62.25)
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)56 (54.25 to 57.75)57.5 (55.75 to 59.25)57 (55 to 59.5)
Age, Customized
Age, Customized(Participants)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, IntranasalTotal
Enrolled — 30-39101
Enrolled — 40-49011
Enrolled — 50-595510
Enrolled — 60-69459
Completed Trial (ITT) — 30-39101
Completed Trial (ITT) — 40-49011
Completed Trial (ITT) — 50-59459
Completed Trial (ITT) — 60-69235
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — 30-39101
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — 40-49011
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — 50-59459
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — 60-69123
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, IntranasalTotal
Enrolled — Female358
Enrolled — Male7613
Completed Trial (ITT) — Female347
Completed Trial (ITT) — Male459
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — Female336
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — Male358
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, IntranasalTotal
Hispanic or Latino000
Not Hispanic or Latino101121
Unknown or Not Reported000
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, IntranasalTotal
American Indian or Alaska Native000
Asian000
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander000
Black or African American101020
White011
More than one race000
Unknown or Not Reported000
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, IntranasalTotal
United States101121
Education, Continuous
Education, Continuous(years)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, IntranasalTotal
Enrolled12.70 ± 2.0612.09 ± 1.8712.38 ± 1.94
Completed Trial (ITT)12.86 ± 2.3412.33 ± 1.9412.56 ± 2.06
Completed Trial (Per Protocol)12.33 ± 2.0712.50 ± 2.0012.43 ± 1.95
Education, Categorical
Education, Categorical(Participants)Insulin, IntranasalPlacebo, IntranasalTotal
Enrolled — 9th to 11th Grade235
Enrolled — High School Diploma4610
Enrolled — Some College or Associates Degree314
Enrolled — College Degree112
Completed Trial (ITT) — 9th to 11th Grade123
Completed Trial (ITT) — High School Diploma358
Completed Trial (ITT) — Some College or Associates Degree213
Completed Trial (ITT) — College Degree112
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — 9th to 11th Grade112
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — High School Diploma358
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — Some College or Associates Degree213
Completed Trial (Per Protocol) — College Degree011

21 further baseline measures are reported on the registry.

08

Study locations

1 site
  • The Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Adult Outpatient Clinical Research Unit
    Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
09

References and documents

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 7, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03081117
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 16, 2017
Start date
Aug 1, 2017
Primary completion
May 20, 2020
Completion
Oct 16, 2020
Results posted
Jul 7, 2021
Last update
Jul 7, 2021

Study contacts

Leah Rubin, PhD
principal investigator · Johns Hopkins University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is terminated, as verified in Jun 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Studies of the drug tested here: Insulin, Regular

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