An Early Phase 1 interventional study of Aprepitant Powder for Oral Suspension in CLIFAHDD, Congenital Contractures of the Limbs and Face, Hypotonia, and Developmental Delay and NALCN Channelopathy, sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 6 Months and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-29.
Sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment
There are no drug treatments for individuals with Congenital Contractures of the Limb and Face, Hypotonia, and Developmental Delay (CLIFAHDD), an ultra-rare and severe neurodevelopmental disease. The investigators have learned more about the cause of the disease and researched possible treatments based on both the cause of the disease and the way certain drugs work. The investigators are interested in understanding the safety of using aprepitant (a drug already approved by the United States Food \& Drug Administration [FDA] to treat nausea and vomiting for kids and adults who are receiving chemotherapy) on people diagnosed with CLIFAHDD. The overall goal of this Phase 1 study is to study whether this drug is safe for daily use in individuals with CLIFAHDD and to find more information on how it impacts daily functioning and quality of life. The total study will take around 8 months total. This includes the 90 days before the drug starts and the 21 days after the drug ends.
The sodium leak ion channel NALCN is responsible for a background sodium influx that contributes to the resting membrane potential and serves as a key regulator in neuronal and cell excitability. Congenital Contractures of the Limbs and Face, Hypotonia, and Developmental Delay (CLIFAHDD; OMIM 616266) is a debilitating and ultra-rare neurodevelopmental disease with early infancy onset caused by a de novo autosomal dominant mutation in NALCN, often associated with NALCN gain-of-function (GOF). CLIFAHDD is associated with global neurodevelopmental delay, hyperkinetic movement disorders (e.g., dystonia, chorea, ataxia), seizures, apnea, constipation, insomnia, and increased risk of early childhood mortality. There are currently no drug treatments for CLIFAHDD. A multidisciplinary drug repurposing pipeline identified aprepitant as a promising lead candidate with converging functional, in silico, in vitro, and in vivo preclinical data support.
The primary objective of this Phase 1 clinical trial is to determine the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK) of chronic aprepitant use in individuals with CLIFAHDD. The hypothesis is that aprepitant will be safe, tolerable, and amendable to chronic use in patients with CLIFAHDD based on prior safety and PK data on aprepitant use in pediatric and adult populations, including off-label chronic use. The exploratory objectives are: (1) to identify potential pharmacodynamic biomarkers reflecting NALCN pathway modulation; (2) to assess preliminary signals of clinical efficacy and outcome measures for future trials.
The study is designed as a single-center, Phase 1, open-label, dose-escalation study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and PK of chronically administered oral aprepitant in individuals with CLIFAHDD (n=3-5, with protocol-defined criteria allowing expansion to a max n=5).
Participants will undergo evaluations of disease severity and symptoms over a 90 day lead-in period. For the baseline visit and initiation of cycle 1, participants will travel to UTHSA for onsite clinical monitoring, collection of baseline clinical outcome assessments, and PK assessments. Following the initial dose, each participant's biological and pharmacokinetic response will be evaluated over a 72-hour period. PK sampling will include an 8-point plasma concentration-time profile followed by additional blood draws. After the initial PK assessment, participants will enter a structured dose escalation period, during which aprepitant will be increased in 1mg/kg every 4 weeks. PK analyses with an 8-point plasma concentration-time profile will be performed at the end of each 4-week cycle to establish steady state drug availability with chronic dosing. Safety evaluations, clinical outcome assessments, and pharmacodynamic biomarkers will be assessed at the end of each 4-week cycle. Safety data (rather than PK analyses) will be used to guide dose escalation and will be reviewed in real time by the study clinician and Principal Investigator, without a planned pause in study conduct. Escalation will continue until either a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is established or the maximum FDA-approved dose is reached. At the maximum dose or end of Cycle 3, participants will undergo an 8-point plasma concentration-time profile to characterize dose-dependent PK changes and elimination. Participants will undergo details safety, clinical, and pharmacodynamic biomarker assessments. Remote safety monitoring will continue for 3 weeks
Has adequate organ functions as defined by the following laboratory parameters at baseline (laboratory parameters outside of these ranges that are deemed clinically insignificant should be discussed with the Independent Safety Monitor):
Exclusion Criteria:
Participant enrolled in the study will be administered oral aprepitant to evaluate safety and tolerability
Drug: Aprepitant Powder for Oral Suspension
Administration will begin at 1mg/kg up to a maximum of 40mg in weeks 1-4, then escalate to 2mg/kg up to a maximum of 80mg in weeks 5-8, then 3mg/kg up to a maximum of 125mg in weeks 9-12
Also known as: Emend
Number of Adverse events
Adverse events will be assessed for relatedness to the study drug and assessed according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade
Time frame: Baseline to 24 weeks
Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT)
Number of events that lead to specified worsening of patients neurologic or non-neurologic condition during the treatment period which may lead to study treatment interruption for more than 14 days
Time frame: Baseline to 24 weeks
Maximum administered dose
The highest dose at which no more than one instance of DLT is observed, or the maximum labeled dose
Time frame: Baseline to 24 weeks
Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)
The area under the concentration vs. time curve is a useful description of exposure of drug following administration. Following the initial dose, each participant's biological and pharmacokinetic response will be evaluated over a 72-hour period over a single dosing interval.
Time frame: Dose time to 72 hours
Plan to share: Yes — Individual Participant Data will be deidentified and shared with Cures Within Reach and Channeling Hope Foundation (study sponsors). Aggregated data will be shared as summary results on ClinicalTrials.gov and in a peer review journal. All de-identified individual participant data will be shared with external investigators with reasonable requests and agreements in place.
Supporting information: Sap, Icf, Csr
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio