Professor Chris McDermott
The purpose of this trial is to learn about the effects of NB-4746 compared with placebo in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The questions this trial aims to answer in comparing NB-4746 to placebo are:
What adverse events associated with taking NB-4746 are reported during this trial? (An adverse event is any sign or symptom that participants have during a trial. Adverse events may or may not be caused by treatments in the trial.)
How does NB-4746 move into, through, and out of the body of the participants?
What is the change in the level of neurofilament light (NfL) in the participants' blood? (NfL is a marker used to measure the extent of damage to the nerve cells.)
This trial has 2 parts. The trial doctors will start Part A before starting Part B of the trial. Participants have an option to enter the open label extension after completing Part A or Part B.
Part A: Participants will be randomly placed into 1 of the 3 groups. There are equal chances to be assigned to either group. Group 1: Participants will receive NB-4746 capsules at a low dose to take by mouth twice daily for 1 month. Group 2: Participants will receive NB-4746 capsules at a high dose to take by mouth twice daily for 1 month. Group 3: Participants will receive placebo capsules to take twice daily for approximately 1 month.
Part B: Participants will be randomly placed into 1 of the 2 groups. There are equal chances to be assigned to either group. Group 1: Participants will receive NB-4746 capsules at a dose determined by Part A to take by mouth twice daily for 12 weeks. Group 2: Participants will receive placebo capsules to take twice daily for approximately 12 weeks.
None of the participants, trial doctors, or trial staff will know which treatment the participants will receive during Part A or B. Some trials are done this way because knowing what treatment the participants receive can affect the results of the trial. Doing a trial this way helps to make sure that the results are looked at with fairness across all treatments.
Open-Label Extension: Upon the completion of Part A or Part B, the doctor will verify the participant's willingness to continue receiving study treatment. This open label extension continues until each participant completes up to 1 year of treatment. The trial doctors will check participants' ALS and general health throughout the trial.
For this study:
Study Part A:
Randomisation is 2:1 ratio, which means that for every 2 participants randomised to receive the study drug, 1 participant will be randomised to receive placebo (study participants will have a 67% chance of receiving study drug and a 33% chance of receiving placebo).
Participants will remain on their treatment allocation for 4 weeks
Study Part B:
Randomisation is 1:1 ratio, which means that for every 1 participant randomised to receive the study drug, 1 participant will be randomised to receive placebo (study participants will have a 50% chance of receiving study drug and a 50% chance of receiving placebo).
Participants will remain on their treatment allocation for 12 weeks
On completion of Part A or Part B:
The study has an open-label extension, which means that participants who complete study Part A or Part B, and who are eligible and willing to continue in the study, will receive the study drug during the open-label extension. The open-label extension is planned to continue until each participant completes up to 1 year of treatment.
In setup
5 participants in the UK; up to 80 participants globally
Patients with MND
Sheffield, Principal Investigator: Chris McDermott. In set-up, site opening soon
London (University College London Hospital), Principal Investigator: Andrea Malaspina. In set-up, site opening soon
Oxford, Principal Investigator: Martin Turner. In set-up, site opening soon
Planned recruitment open date: June 2026
Planned recruitment end date: October 2026
Key Inclusion criteria
Participants in Phase 1b (Part A) must have:
Diagnosis of ALS per Gold Coast Criteria; and
Symptom onset ≤48 months prior to randomization on Day 1. Date of first ALS symptom (any ALS symptom) onset is defined as the onset of weakness in the limbs, bulbar region, or trunk. Weakness in the bulbar region includes dysarthria and dysphagia.
Participants in Phase 2 (Part B) must have:
Diagnosis of ALS per Gold Coast Criteria; and
Symptom onset ≤24 months prior to randomization on Day 1. Date of first ALS symptom (any ALS symptom) onset is defined as the onset of weakness in the limbs, bulbar region, or trunk. Weakness in the bulbar region includes dysarthria and dysphagia.
Additional Inclusion Criteria (All Participants):
Male or female participants aged ≥18 years and ≤80 years at the time of signing informed consent.
Score of at least 2 on the swallowing function of the ALSFRS-R.
Slow vital capacity (SVC) ≥60% of predicted at Screening.
If taking riluzole, participant must be on a stable dose for ≥60 days prior to Day 1.
If taking edaravone, participant must have completed at least 1 cycle of edaravone prior to Day 1.
Screening laboratory test values within normal ranges. If taking riluzole, participant must be on a stable dose for ≥60 days prior to Screening lab blood sample. If taking edaravone, participant must have completed at least 1 cycle of edaravone prior to the Screening lab sample.
Willing to adhere to contraceptive requirements during the study period as described in Appendix 1.
Capable of giving signed informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the participant information sheet and study protocol.
Key Exclusion criteria
Presence of tracheostomy or permanent assisted ventilation; defined as > 22 hours daily of mechanical ventilation for more than 1 week (7 days).
History or presence of clinically significant uncontrolled medical conditions (other than ALS) that include cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrinological, haematological, or neurological disorders capable of significantly altering the absorption, metabolism, or elimination of drugs; constituting a risk when taking the study drugs; or interfering with the interpretation of data as determined by the Investigator.
Lifetime history of cancer except for basal cell or squamous epithelial carcinomas of the skin that have been resected with no evidence of metastatic disease for 3 years. Fully resected basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with no evidence of recurrence for 1 year are permitted.
Female participants who have a positive serum pregnancy test at Screening, positive urine pregnancy test on Day 1, or who are breastfeeding on Day 1.
Has a spinal deformity or other condition that may prevent the performance of a lumbar puncture.
International Normalized Ratio (INR) >1.4, platelet count <50,000/μL, or use of warfarin, heparin, or direct oral anticoagulants.
History of Class III/IV heart failure (per New York Heart Association [NYHA]).
Inability to swallow or tolerate oral medications at Screening.
Current participation in any other investigational drug study or receipt of an investigational drug within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) before Screening.
Known sensitivity to the NB-4746 study drug or any of the formulation components.
Has received NB-4746 at any time prior to initial Screening.
Any other reason that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would confound the conduct of this study or the interpretation of the results or that could compromise the participant's safety.
Currently taking or planning to receive tofersen for the treatment of ALS.
If a participant does not transition to the OLE in ≤30 days following completion of the main study, the participant will need to be rescreened for laboratory criteria and contraception/pregnancy criteria.
Nura Bio
Interventional; randomised, placebo-controlled trial
Study drug: NB-4746
Placebo
1b/2
Primary outcome measure
Study Part A: Number of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and number of serious adverse events (SAEs)
Study Part B: Incidence of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and abnormalities in vital signs, clinical laboratory assessments, and electrocardiograms (ECGs)