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RecruitingNCT05650229FALCONUpdated Jun 26, 2026

Efficacy of KL1333 in Adult Patients With Primary Mitochondrial Disease

A Phase 2 interventional study of KL1333 and Placebo in Primary Mitochondrial Disease, sponsored by Pharming Technologies B.V.. Recruiting at 55 sites in 11 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-26.

Sponsored by Pharming Technologies B.V. (part of Pharming Group N.V.) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Dec 2022; still recruiting 3 years 10 months later.
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
180
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The primary objective of the FALCON study is to evaluate the efficacy of KL1333 on selected disease manifestations of primary mitochondrial disease (PMD) following 48 weeks of treatment. This objective involves evaluating the efficacy of KL1333 versus placebo on fatigue symptoms and impacts on daily living as well as on functional lower extremity strength and endurance. Additionally, the study evaluates the safety and tolerability of KL1333.

Read the detailed description

The FALCON study is investigating whether the study medicine, KL1333, improves fatigue levels and physical abilities of people living with mitochondrial disease. The investigators are also evaluating the tolerability of the study medicine. For this study, the effects of KL1333 are compared with those from a placebo (a pill that looks like the study medicine but contains no active medicine). The study medicine (or placebo) is a tablet that is taken twice daily during the treatment period of 48 weeks.

Participation in the FALCON study is divided into 3 parts:

  • Screening and baseline: 8-12 weeks
  • Treatment: 48 weeks
  • Safety follow-up: 5 weeks Total duration: 61 - 65 weeks

Patients who complete the screening phase and are enrolled in the study are randomly assigned to receive either the study medicine (KL1333) or placebo (no active medication). Patients are more likely to receive the study medication than placebo (for every five people who take part, three receive KL1333 and two receive placebo). Neither the participants nor the study team know who is receiving the study medicine or placebo and participants are not able to change which treatment they are assigned.

02

Conditions studied

  • Primary Mitochondrial Disease

Keywords

  • Chronic fatigue
  • Myopathy
  • Muscle weakness
  • Exercise intolerance
  • Diabetes
03

In context

Muscular Diseases

232 studies on the registry are indexed under Muscular Diseases; 54 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 180 is above the median of 38 across 134 interventional studies indexed under Muscular Diseases.

Browse Muscular Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

Pharming Technologies B.V. is the lead sponsor of 22 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.

Of its 5 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 3 (60%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
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

  • Age 18 years or older.
  • A confirmed PMD diagnosis caused by a known pathogenic gene mutation or deletion of the mitochondrial genome (category 6 of the International Classification of Inborn Metabolic Disorders [ICIMD])12 according to American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG)/Association of Molecular Pathology (AMP) criteria1, with multisystemic disease expressions, including:

    1. m.3243A>G associated MELAS-MIDD spectrum disorders,
    2. single large scale mtDNA deletion associated KSS-CPEO spectrum disorders,
    3. other multisystemic mtDNA-related disease (including MERRF).
  • Presence of chronic mitochondrial fatigue:

    • History of mitochondrial fatigue for at least 3 months prior to the Screening Visit AND
    • Presence of at least moderate level of fatigue, assessed by PROMIS® Fatigue PMD Short form raw score ≥ 27 at Screening and Baseline
  • Presence of mitochondrial myopathy defined as:

    • Myopathy (proximal muscle weakness), NMDAS Section III Clinical Assessment, item 5 score ≥ 1, which reads: "minimal reduction in hip flexion and/or shoulder abduction only (e.g. MRC 4+/5)". For the inclusion only hip flexion, but not shoulder abduction, should be taken into account. AND / OR
    • Exercise Tolerance: NMDAS Section I, item 9 score ≥ 1, which reads: "unlimited on flat - symptomatic on inclines or stairs".
  • Patients must be able to perform at least 2 repetitions and the maximal capacity must not exceed 17 repetitions in males or 16 repetitions in females in a 30s STS test at screening.
  • Clinically stable, apart from symptoms associated with the diagnosis of mitochondrial disease, at Screening and Baseline, as determined by medical history, physical examination, 12-lead , vital signs measurements, and clinical laboratory evaluations at Screening, as assessed by the investigator.
  • The patient is willing and able to attend study appointments within the specified time windows.
  • Willingness and ability to complete electronic PROs.
  • Willingness to maintain a stable diet during the Screening and study periods.
  • Patients who take any mitochondrial disease-focused vitamins or supplemental therapies, including coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), niacin/nicotinamide (vitamin B3), and L-arginine, has been on a stable dose regimen of these for 3 months prior to randomisation and intends to stay on a stable dose for the duration of the study period.
  • Willingness to suspend treatment with idebenone during the study.
  • Female patient is not pregnant and at least one of the following conditions apply:

    1. Not a woman of (WOCBP)
    2. WOCBP must agree not to try and become pregnant and use a highly effective method of from the time of through at least 36 days (\~5 half-lives of KL1333 plus 30 days) after the last dose of medicinal product (IMP) administration.
  • Male patients with female partner(s) of childbearing potential must agree to use a male condom in addition to using highly effective contraception throughout the treatment period and for 96 days after the last dose of IMP administration. The requirement to use a male condom also applies to male patients with a pregnant or breastfeeding partner.
  • Female patients must agree not to breastfeed starting at Screening and throughout the study period and for 36 days after the last dose of IMP administration.
  • Female patients must agree to not donate ova throughout the study period and for 36 days after the last dose of IMP administration, and male patients must agree to not donate sperm throughout the study period and for 96 days after the last dose of IMP administration.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Primary mitochondrial disease with predominant neurodegenerative phenotypes, such as, but not limited to, Leigh syndrome, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and Neuropathy ataxia-retinitis pigmentosa syndrome (NARP).
  • Primary mitochondrial disease nuclear DNA mutations or mutations causing mtDNA destabilisation. Genetic mtDNA variants of uncertain significance, likely pathogenic, or pathogenic mutations with degrees of heteroplasmy below what can be considered to definitely cause PMD.
  • General fatigue or muscle weakness due to causes other than mitochondrial disease, in the opinion of the investigator.
  • Significant cardiovascular disease (e.g., sustained or symptomatic arrhythmia; dilated heart chambers or reduced function; Mobitz II atrioventricular block or greater) OR abnormal that is , as determined by the investigator. Any > 450 msec for male patients and > 470 msec for female patients is exclusionary. In the case of an exclusionary QTcF, the ECG can be repeated twice and the average of 3 QTcF intervals should be used to determine the QTcF eligibility.
  • Recent history of unstable disease, inadequately controlled neurological manifestations or not recovered from stroke-like episodes including but not limited to:

    1. stroke-like episodes within the last 6 months
    2. more than 1 seizure/month within the last 6 months
    3. hospitalised for Status Epilepticus within the last 6 months
    4. more than 4 days of migraine episodes/month within the last 6 months
  • History of inflammatory bowel disease, gastric erosions, peptic ulcer disease, or gastrointestinal bleeding episodes. Gastroesophageal reflux disease diagnosed by objective endoscopic or radiographic means, and clinically symptomatic at any point over the last 6 months.
  • The patient has one or more clinical laboratory test values outside the reference range, based on the blood and urine samples taken at the Screening Visit, that are of potential risk to the patient's safety, or the patient has, at the Screening Visit:

    • estimated (eGFR) calculated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) creatinine equation \<30 mL/min/1.73 m2
    • a serum total value > 1.5 times the upper limit of the reference range unless elevation is related to Gilbert's syndrome and the investigator can rule out any underlying liver dysfunction based on other tests, the patient has a score ≤6, and after discussing the case with the medical monitor
    • a serum (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) value > 2 times the upper limit of the reference range. Values between 2 and 3 times the upper limit of the reference range may be allowed if concomitant to elevation in creatine kinase as long as the investigator can rule out any underlying liver dysfunction based on other tests, the patient has a Child-Pugh score ≤6, and after discussing the case with the medical monitor
  • The patient has, in the investigator's opinion, severe ataxia, neuropathy, balance problems or other medical condition that would interfere the evaluation of the 30s STS test.
  • Untreated or undertreated sleep apnoea, in the opinion of the investigator.
  • Use of idebenone within 14 days prior to the first dose.
  • Patients have a history of unstable or severe pulmonary, immunological, oncological, hepatic disease, renal disease, or another medically significant illness other than PMD or takes medication that could, in the investigator's opinion, interfere with the assessments of safety, tolerability, or efficacy, or interfere with the conduct or interpretation of the study.
  • The patient is, in the investigator's opinion, unlikely to comply with the protocol e.g. due to cognitive impairment or is unsuitable for any reason.
  • The patient has an immediate family member (defined as family members residing at the same address) who participates in the study.
  • Female patients with a positive pregnancy result at Screening or at Baseline.
  • A patient cannot participate if they received an drug 30 days or 5 half-lives prior to the Screening Visit (whichever is longer), or plans to use an investigational drug (other than the study intervention) during the study
  • to the active substance or to any of the or placebo.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(13)

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.

ECG (electrocardiogram)

A recording of the heart’s electrical activity, taken with stickers on the chest, arms and legs. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

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.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

QT and QTc

On an ECG, the QT interval is the time the heart’s lower chambers take to activate electrically and recover in each beat. QTc is that time adjusted for heart rate (QTcF by Fridericia’s formula, QTcB by Bazett’s). Some medicines lengthen it, and a long QTc can raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm.

The study may name a correction formula and a limit in milliseconds, often around 450–480.

GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)

GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².

Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

Child-Pugh class

A score of how well the liver works in people with liver disease such as cirrhosis: class A is mild, B moderate and C severe.

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.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Excipients

The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.

05

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    KL1333

    Twice daily

    Drug: KL1333

  • Placebo comparator
    Matching Placebo

    Twice daily

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugKL1333

    Twice daily

  • DrugPlacebo

    Twice daily

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in-patient-reported fatigue symptoms and impacts on daily living measured by Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Fatigue PMD Short Form

    Change in t-score. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue severity.

    Time frame: Baseline and 48 Weeks

  2. Change in 30 Second Site-to-Stand Test.

    Change in number of stands

    Time frame: Baseline and 48 Weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) Lower Extremity Function (Mobility) Short Form

    Change in t-score. Higher scores indicate greater functional ability.

    Time frame: Baseline and 48 weeks

  2. Change in Individual Activity Assessments - Interference

    Assessing how much Primary Mitochondrial Disease symptoms get in the way of the ability to perform individually selected activities. A 5 point scale ranging from "No interference" to "Completely interferes"

    Time frame: Baseline and 48 Weeks

  3. Individual Activity Assessment - Change

    Assessing the ability to perform individually selected activities compared to baseline. A 5 point scale ranging from "Much worse" to "Much better"

    Time frame: 48 weeks

  4. Change in Patient Global Impression of Severity

    Scale ranging from 1 (none) to 4 (severe).

    Time frame: Baseline and 48 weeks

  5. Score on Patient Global Impression of Change

    Scale ranging from 2 (much better) to -2 (much worse).

    Time frame: 48 weeks

  6. Change in Clinician Global Impression of Severity

    Scale ranging from 1 (none) to 4 (severe).

    Time frame: Baseline and 48 weeks

  7. Score on Clinician Global Impression of Change

    Scale ranging from 2 (much better) to -2 (much worse).

    Time frame: 48 weeks

  8. Change in Newcastle Mitochondrial Disease Adult Scale (NMDAS) - subscales I-III

    Measured on a 6-point rating scale from 0 to 5. Total score across all 3 subscales ranges from 0 to 140. Higher scores indicate more extensive and severe system involvements.

    Time frame: Baseline and 48 weeks

  9. Change from baseline in Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) for subjects with diabetes

    mmol/mol

    Time frame: Baseline and 48 weeks

07

Study locations

37 of 55 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 26, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05650229
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Dec 14, 2022
Start date
Dec 13, 2022
Primary completion
Oct 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Nov 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 26, 2026

Study contacts

Communication Manager
Contact
medinfo@pharming.com
+31 71 524 7400
Amel Karaa, MD
principal investigator · Massachusetts General Hospital

Oversight

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

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