New drug could slow rare brain disease that steals balance

NCT ID NCT03701399

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase 3 trial tests whether the drug troriluzole can slow the progression of spinocerebellar ataxia, a rare genetic disorder that affects coordination and balance. About 300 adults with different types of SCA are randomly assigned to take either troriluzole or a placebo daily for 48 weeks. The main goal is to see if the drug improves scores on a scale that measures walking, standing, sitting, and speech.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

troriluzole

What this could lead to

If successful, troriluzole could become the first approved treatment to slow the progression of spinocerebellar ataxia, helping patients maintain mobility and daily function longer.

What could go wrong

This is a late-stage trial, but previous studies for similar drugs have failed. The benefit may be modest, and side effects like dizziness or nausea are possible.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Ataxia autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia cardiac arrest Machado-Joseph disease spinocerebellar ataxia 7 Spinocerebellar ataxia 8 spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 Spinocerebellar Ataxias

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Barrow Neurological Institute

    Phoenix, Arizona, 85013, United States

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

  • CNS Trials

    Long Beach, California, 90806, United States

  • Central South University Xiangya Hospital

    Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China

  • Columbia University

    New York, New York, 10032, United States

  • Duke University Movement Disorders Clinic

    Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States

  • Emory

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30329, United States

  • Houston Methodist

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • Johns Hopkins Medicine

    Lutherville, Maryland, 21093, United States

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

  • Mayo Clinic Florida

    Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, United States

  • Northwest Neurology, Ltd.

    Rolling Meadows, Illinois, 60008, United States

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

  • Swedish Health Services

    Seattle, Washington, 98122, United States

  • UCLA

    Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

  • UCSF

    San Francisco, California, 94158, United States

  • University of Chicago

    Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States

  • University of Colorado Hospital

    Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

  • University of Florida Health

    Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States

  • University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States

  • University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States

  • University of South Florida

    Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

  • West China Hospital of Sichuan University

    Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China