Can a wakefulness drug combat the crushing fatigue of myotonic dystrophy?

NCT ID NCT04886518

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 04, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests whether pitolisant, a wake-promoting drug, can reduce excessive daytime sleepiness in adults aged 18 to 65 with myotonic dystrophy type 1. Participants receive either pitolisant or a placebo for a period, and researchers measure changes in sleepiness, fatigue, and cognitive function. The study also includes an open-label extension to assess long-term safety and effectiveness. The goal is to see if pitolisant can ease the non-muscular symptoms that often burden people with this condition.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
pitolisant, an oral tablet that promotes wakefulness
What this could lead to
If it works, pitolisant could offer a new way to ease daytime sleepiness and fatigue in people with myotonic dystrophy type 1, improving daily function and quality of life.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial with only 30 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Pitolisant can cause side effects like headache, nausea, and insomnia, and it may not prove more effective than placebo.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 2

Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.

Participants

30 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jun 2021

Finished

Oct 2024

Lead sponsor

A company

The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 65 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Is able to provide voluntary, written informed consent. 2. Has a diagnosis of DM1 confirmed by genetic testing (cytosine-thymine-guanine \[CTG\] repeat of ≥100) from the Screening Visit. 3. Male or female patients ages 18 to 65 years at the time of enrollment. 4. Has a Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S) assessment of moderate or severe for overall severity of EDS at Screening. 5. If on a wake-promoting treatment that could affect EDS (including stimulants, modafinil, and armodafinil): 1. Must be on a stable dose for at least 2 months prior to Screening and agree to continue the stable dose for the duration of the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study (dose adjustments will be permitted in the OLE Phase). 2. If not on a stable dose for 2 months prior to Screening, washout for 5 half-lives prior to randomization and agree to remain off these treatments for the duration of the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study. 6. Washout of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol for 28 days prior to randomization and agree to remain off for the duration of the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study. 7. Able to walk independently with or without an assistive device (e.g., cane, walker, orthoses allowed). 8. A patient who is a female of child-bearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test at the Screening Visit and negative urine pregnancy test at the Baseline Visit and agree to remain abstinent or use an effective method of non-hormonal contraception to prevent pregnancy for the duration of the study and for 21 days after final dose of study drug. 9. In the opinion of the Investigator, the patient is capable of understanding and complying with the protocol and administration of oral study drug. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Has a diagnosis of another genetic or chromosomal disorder that is distinct from DM1 and that is not being managed adequately in the opinion of the Investigator. 2. Experiences \<6 hours on average of sleep per night based on their sleep diary during Screening (patients need to record at least 7 of 10 consecutive nights including 2 nights that fall on a weekend in their sleep diary during Screening). 3. Consistently consumes \>600 mg of caffeine per day and is unable/unwilling to reduce caffeine intake to \<600 mg per day for the duration of the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study; caffeine intake should remain consistent during Screening and throughout the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study. 4. Does not agree to discontinue any prohibited medication or substances listed in the protocol. 5. Is currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed over the course of the study. Lactating women must agree not to breastfeed for the duration of the study (Double-Blind Treatment Phase and OLE Phase) and for 21 days after final dose of study drug. 6. Participation in an interventional research study involving another investigational medication or device in the 28 days prior to enrollment; patients who undergo a washout of an investigational medication of at least 5 half-lives can be enrolled in the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study. Patients considering participation in another interventional research study in the OLE Phase must consult with the Investigator who will consult with the Medical Monitor. 7. Has a primary diagnosis of severe psychiatric illness. 8. Patients taking antidepressants who have not been on a stable dose of their antidepressant for at least 12 weeks prior to Screening; for patients on a stable dose of their antidepressant for at least 12 weeks prior to Screening, must agree to continue their stable dose for the duration of the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study. Dose adjustments will be permitted in the OLE Phase. In the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study, antidepressants that are strong CYP2D6 inhibitors are exclusionary. 9. Has a history of sleep-disordered breathing or another underlying sleep disorder that in the opinion of the Investigator is a main contributory factor to the patient's EDS. 10. Has a diagnosis of end-stage renal disease (ESRD; estimated glomerular filtration rate \[eGFR\] of \<15 mL/minute/1.73 m2) or severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C). 11. Has a diagnosis of moderate or severe renal impairment (eGFR ≥15 to ≤59 mL/minute/1.73 m2) or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B) at Screening or during the Double-Blind Treatment Phase. 12. Has a family history of sudden cardiac death, unexplained death, or death from a primary dysrhythmia potentially associated with QT prolongation in any family member (i.e., first degree relative such as parent, sibling, or offspring). 13. Has a history of unexplained syncope. 14. Has a history of long corrected QT interval (QTc) syndrome or corrected QT interval using Fridericia's formula (QTcF) \>450 msec for males or \>470 msec for females (QTcF = QT / 3√ RR) sustained atrial fibrillation (AF) or left ventricular ejection fraction \<50%. 15. Has a history of documented symptomatic arrhythmias (e.g., ECG, Holter monitor). 16. Electrocardiogram abnormalities during a 10-second, 12-lead ECG at Screening of first degree atrioventricular block (AVB; PR interval \>220 msec), QRS \>120 msec, heart rate (HR) \<50 beats per minute (bpm), marked T-wave abnormalities, more than single atrial premature complexes (APCs) or premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), left bundle branch block, or Brugada pattern type 1. Note: Patients with 1st degree AVB with a PR interval \>220 msec, who are treated prophylactically with an allowable implanted device are not excluded from the study. 17. Based on Holter monitor, any episode of 3rd degree AVB, any prolonged episode of second degree AVB (\>2 episodes during waking hours, \>6 episodes during sleep), any prolonged episode of 2nd degree AVB (\>10 seconds), any asystole longer than 3.5 seconds, any run of ventricular tachycardia (VT) \>6 beats, frequent runs of non-sustained VT (\>5/24 hour), \>400 PVCs/24 hours, AF or paroxysmal AF, or frequent or complex atrial arrhythmias. 18. Has history of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or class IV heart failure. 19. Has an implanted defibrillator or implanted biventricular pacemaker. Note: Patients with implanted univentricular pacemakers that are used prophylactically to prevent or treat bradycardia or heart block may be included. 20. Is receiving a medication known to prolong the QT interval. 21. Has a history of clinically significant hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia that cannot be adequately controlled by supplementation. 22. Has serum potassium or magnesium levels that are outside of the normal reference ranges and considered clinically significant at Screening. Patients with mild hyperkalemia that, in the opinion of the Investigator, does not pose an arrhythmia threat may be included. 23. Is receiving a concomitant medication that is known to be a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 inhibitor, a strong CYP3A4 inducer; or a centrally acting histamine 1 receptor (H1R) antagonist (sedating antihistamine). Note: Patients who undergo a washout of these medications of at least 5 half-lives may be enrolled in the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study. Note: Use of strong CYP2D6 inhibitors and strong CYP3A4 inducers is allowed during the OLE Phase; however, adjustment of pitolisant dose is required. Although not prohibited during the OLE Phase of the study, use of centrally acting or sedating H1R antagonists should be avoided. 24. Is a known CYP2D6 poor metabolizer (PM). 25. Regular use (more than twice per week) of any sleep-promoting treatments that could affect EDS and not willing to limit use to no more than twice per week during Screening and for the duration of the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study (use of sleep-promoting agents are not allowed within one day prior to study-related assessments). 26. Has abnormal laboratory values at Screening that are clinically significant as determined by the Investigator. 27. Has initiated any new or change in allied health therapies or interventions that can interfere with the study outcomes within 28 days prior to randomization and that are prohibited during the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study, based on the Investigator's judgment. 28. Has a current or recent (within 1 year) history of a substance use disorder or dependence disorder, including alcohol and caffeine use disorders as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V). 29. Has planned surgery during the Double-Blind Treatment Phase of the study; planned surgery is permitted during the OLE Phase. 30. Has a significant risk of committing suicide or suicidality based on history, routine psychiatric examination, Investigator's judgment, or who has an answer of "yes" on any question other than questions 1 to 3 on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. 31. Based on the judgment of the Investigator, is unsuitable for the study for any reason, including but not limited to an unstable or uncontrolled medical condition or one that might interfere with the conduct of the study, confound interpretation of study results, pose a health risk to the patient, or compromise the integrity of the study.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Hôpital de Chicoutimi

    Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada

  • Indiana University

    Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States

  • Kennedy Krieger Institute Center for Genetic Muscle Disorders

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States

  • Rare Disease Research

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30329, United States

  • The Ottawa Hospital

    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  • UCI Center for Clinical Research

    Irvine, California, 92697, United States

  • University of Colorado School of Medicine

    Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

  • University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States

  • University of North Carolina

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

  • University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

  • University of Rochester Medical Center

    Rochester, New York, 14642, United States

  • University of South Florida

    Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

  • Wake Forest

    Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States

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