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SuspendedNCT03484143Updated Jan 25, 2023

Neuro RX Gamma - Pivotal Phase

An interventional study of Active Neuro RX Gamma device and Sham Neuro RX Gamma device in Alzheimer Disease, sponsored by Vielight Inc.. Suspended at 9 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 50 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-01-25.

Sponsored by Vielight Inc. · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was suspended
Recruitment has been too slow. We are considering some changes to the protocol.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
228
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
50 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The active Neuro RX Gamma device uses non-invasive near-infrared energy delivered to the brain with the intention to improve cognitive functioning and quality of life in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's Disease. Treatment will occur at home-based treatment sessions with the device.

Read the detailed description

A potential participant will undergo pre-screening and screening assessments to assess eligibility for the study. Eligible participants will undergo a baseline visit in which they will be randomized to either active or sham Neuro RX Gamma device.

The Vielight Neuro RX Gamma is a non-invasive device that administers low-energy near-infrared LED (light emitting diode) light to the brain transcranially and intranasally.

There are two treatment phases in the trial, each with a duration of 12 weeks. The patient along with the caregiver will perform home (or living facility) - based treatments with the device and document the sessions in a patient diary. The device will be applied to the patient participant by a dedicated caregiver for a 20 minute daily session, 6 days a week for a total of 12 weeks. The study participant and caregiver will be required to return to the clinic for follow-up assessments at 12 and 24 weeks post randomization, between treatment phases.

228 patients will be enrolled across 12 sites in Canada and the United States.

02

Conditions studied

  • Alzheimer Disease

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Keywords

  • Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease,
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
50 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Diagnosis of AD, defined as probable Alzheimer's disease of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association.
  2. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score between 8-20.
  3. If receiving AD/psychotropic medication, must be on a stable dosage for at least 12 weeks prior to trial enrolment with no anticipated changes for the duration of the trial
  4. Age 50 and older at the time of enrolment.
  5. Severe Impairment Battery score at baseline ≤90
  6. Adequate caregiver to ensure compliance of home-based treatments and to complete study assessments and questionnaires.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Evidence of a relevant abnormality other than Alzheimer's disease on MRI or CT scan obtained within previous 24 months of enrolment into the trial, as listed below:

    1. Detection of more than 2 subcortical lacunar infarcts
    2. Any hemorrhage or infarct in a strategic location, such as the anterior nuclei of the thalamus (including dorso-medial nucleus)
    3. Space-occupying lesions compressing or compromising brain structures. (Note small meningiomas not compressing brain areas may be allowed)
    4. Patients with imaging findings that in the opinion of the investigator could be contributing to cognitive impairment (such as major cortical strokes, extensive white matter disease, etc.)

    Any patient without a scan in the past 2 years should undergo an MRI or CT as part of the study's screening assessment.

  2. History of significant agitation and/or aggression.
  3. History of stroke or epileptic seizures.
  4. Current neurologic disease affecting cognition other than Alzheimer's disease.
  5. Photosensitivity reactions to sunlight or visible light (polymorphous light eruption, solar urticaria, persistent light reactivity).
  6. History of recurrent epistaxis within the last 24 weeks or currently taking major anti-coagulants (including warfarin, low molecular weight heparin)
  7. Increased skin sensitivity at the treatment site including active herpes simplex in the treatment area, history of keloid formation, or history of retinoid use in the past month.
  8. Pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant.
  9. Currently undergoing light therapy treatment.
  10. Current participation in another interventional clinical trial.
  11. Any reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, might place a participant at unacceptable risk for participation in the trial.
  12. Subject and/or caregiver does not speak English at a level necessary for the completion of the assessments.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
228 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Active Neuro RX Gamma device

    Neuro RX Gamma device delivers low-energy near-infrared light, through 5 diodes, to the brain transcranially and intranasally

    Device: Active Neuro RX Gamma device

  • Sham comparator
    Sham Neuro RX Gamma device

    Sham Neuro RX Gamma device is identical in appearance and sound as the active Neuro RX Gamma device but does not emit low-energy near infrared light

    Device: Sham Neuro RX Gamma device

Interventions

  • DeviceActive Neuro RX Gamma device

    Twenty minute treatment session, 6 days a week for 24 weeks

  • DeviceSham Neuro RX Gamma device

    Twenty minute treatment session, 6 days a week for 24 weeks

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) score

    The SIB assesses cognitive abilities in severely impaired individuals. The scale covers social interaction, memory, orientation, language, attention, praxis, visuospatial ability, construction and orientation to name. There are 40 items with a total score range from 0-100. Scores of less than 63 on the SIB are rated as very severely impaired.

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 24

  2. Change in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living for Severe Alzheimer's Disease (ADCS-ADL-Sev)

    The ADCS-ADL-Sev assesses the ability of patients with moderate to severe dementia to perform activities of daily living. There are 19 items with a total score range of 0-54.

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 24

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) score

    The SIB assesses cognitive abilities in severely impaired individuals. The scale covers social interaction, memory, orientation, language, attention, praxis, visuospatial ability, construction and orientation to name. There are 40 items with a total score range from 0-100. Scores of less than 63 on the SIB are rated as very severely impaired.

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 12

  2. Change in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living for Severe Alzheimer's Disease (ADCS-ADL-Sev)

    The ADCS-ADL-Sev assesses the ability of patients with moderate to severe dementia to perform activities of daily living. There are 19 items with a total score range of 0-54.

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 12

  3. Change in European Quality of Life Scale (EQ-5 dimensions [5D], proxy version)

    The EQ-5D is a standardized instrument for use as a measure of health outcomes. It includes measures of mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, and extreme problems. The EQ visual analogue scale (VAS) records the respondent's self-rated health on a 20 cm vertical, visual analogue scale with endpoints labelled 'the best health you can imagine' and 'the worst health you can imagine'. This information can be used as a quantitative measure of health as judged by the individual respondents.

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 12 and Baseline to Week 24

  4. Change in Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD)

    The QOL-AD is a series of questions designed to be administered to individuals with dementia, to obtain a rating of a patient's quality of life from both the patient and the caregiver. It includes assessments of the individual's relationship with friends and family, concerns about finances, physical condition, mood, and an overall assessment of life quality. There are 13 items with a score range from 13 to 52.

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 12 and Baseline to Week 24

  5. Change in Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI) - including Caregiver Distress ratings

    The NPI assesses neuropsychiatric symptoms during routine clinical settings. Namely, the frequency, severity and level of distress caused by 12 common dementia-related behaviors (delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, elation/euphoria, apathy/indifference, disinhibition, irritability/lability, aberrant motor behavior, sleep and appetite/eating disorders).

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 12 and Baseline to Week 24

Other outcomes

  1. Device related Adverse Events

    Device safety assessed according to number of device-related adverse events throughout the course of the study

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 12 and Baseline to Week 24

  2. Rates of epistaxis in aspirin/anti-coagulant users

    The rates of epistaxis in aspirin/anti-coagulant users will be recorded at each study visit and compared to that reported (at baseline) by the subject/caregiver during the prior 24 week period.

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 24 compared to 24 weeks prior to study intervention

  3. Rates of nasal infection

    The rates of nasal infection will be recorded at each study visit and compared to that reported (at baseline) by the subject during the prior 24 week period.

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 24 compared to 24 weeks prior to study intervention

  4. Rates of device/treatment anxiety

    The rates of device/treatment anxiety as assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire - Anxiety subdomain

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 24

  5. Rates of device/treatment anxiety

    The rates of device/treatment anxiety as assessed by the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 24

06

Study locations

9 sites
  • Headlands Research Orlando
    Orlando, Florida 32819, United States
  • Okanagan Clinical Trials
    Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y 1Z9, Canada
  • Healthtech Connex /Fraser Health
    Surrey, British Columbia V3V 0C6, Canada
  • True North Clinical Research
    Halifax, Nova Scotia B3S 1N2, Canada
  • Bruyère Research Institute
    Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6M1464, Canada
  • Ottawa Memory Clinic
    Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 1G3, Canada
  • Sunnybrook Research Institute
    Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada
  • St. Michael's Hospital
    Toronto, Ontario M5B1W8, Canada
  • Baycrest
    Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E1, Canada
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03484143
Lead sponsor
Vielight Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 30, 2018
Start date
Jun 26, 2019
Primary completion
May 2023 (estimated)
Completion
May 2023 (estimated)
Last update
Jan 25, 2023

Study contacts

Corinne Fischer, MD
principal investigator · Unity Health Toronto

Oversight

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

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This study is suspended, as verified in Jan 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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