New Muscle-Boosting drug combo tested for SMA
NCT ID NCT05115110
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study tests whether adding an experimental drug (RO7204239) to an existing SMA medicine (risdiplam) can help people with spinal muscular atrophy build stronger muscles and move better. The trial includes about 259 children and young adults, ages 2 to 25, who can walk. Researchers will check safety, side effects, and how well the combination works over time.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- RO7204239 (an experimental antibody) combined with risdiplam (Evrysdi)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this combination could help people with SMA grow stronger muscles and improve their ability to move and walk.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-to-mid-stage trial, so the added benefit of RO7204239 over risdiplam alone is not yet proven. Side effects from the new antibody are possible and being studied.
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
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Phase 2/3
Runs two stages together: whether the treatment works, then large-scale confirmation.
- Participants
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97 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2022
- Expected to finish
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Oct 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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2 to 25 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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: * Age at screening: Part 1 Cohorts A (ambulant participants), B (ambulant participants), and D (non-ambulant participants): 5-10 years, inclusive; Part 1 Cohort C (ambulant participants): 2-4 years, inclusive; Part 2 (ambulant participants): 2-25 years, inclusive * Participants who have a confirmed genetic diagnosis of 5q-autosomal recessive SMA * Symptomatic SMA disease, as per investigator's clinical judgement * Participants who have received previous SMA disease-modifying therapies may be included provided that: Onasemnogene abeparvovec was received at least 90 days prior to screening. Participants should be tapered off steroids prior to receiving risdiplam. In addition, participants should have normal levels of liver function tests, coagulatory parameters, platelets, and troponin-I at 90 days after administration of onasemnogene abeparvovec or at least 1 month after tapering off corticosteroids, whichever comes later; Nusinersen last dose was received at least 90 days prior to screening; Risdiplam is switched to the investigational medicinal product (IMP) provided by the site Inclusion Criteria for Part 1 Cohorts A, B, and C and Part 2 only: * Participants who are ambulant, where ambulant is defined as able to walk/run unassisted (i.e., without the use of assistive devices such as canes, walking sticks, crutches, walkers, person/hand-held assistance, braces, orthoses, over the malleoli insoles or any other type of support) 10 meters in ≤ 30 seconds as measures by the Timed 10-Meter Walk/Run Test \[10MWRT\] at screening Inclusion Criteria for Part 1 Cohort D only: * Participants who are able to sit, defined by: A score of 3 on Item 9 of the MFM32 (sitting without upper limb support while maintaining contact between the two hands for 5 seconds); A score of at least 2 on Item 10 of the MFM32 (while seated, leaning forward to touch a tennis ball and sitting back again, either with or without upper limb support) * Participants who are able to raise a standardized plastic cup with a 200g weight in it to the mouth, using both hands if necessary, defined by a score of 3 on the entry item of the Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM) Exclusion Criteria: * Concomitant or previous participation in any investigational drug or device study within 90 days prior to screening or 5 half-lives of the drug whichever is longer, with the exception of those who have completed a risdiplam study, or participated in a nusinersen or onasemnogene abeparvovec study * Receiving or have received previous administration of anti-myostatin therapies * Any history of cell therapy * Hospitalization for a pulmonary event within the last 2 months or planned hospitalization at the time of screening * Past surgery for scoliosis or hip fixation in the 6 months preceding screening or planned within the next 9 months (Part 1) or 21 months (Part 2) * Unstable gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic, endocrine, or cardiovascular system diseases considered to be clinically significant * Clinically significant ECG abnormalities at screening from average of triplicate measurement, abnormal findings at echocardiography, or cardiovascular disease indicating a safety risk for participants at the time of screening * Any major illness within 1 month before screening * Received any multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE1/2K) substrates within 2 weeks before screening * Hereditary fructose intolerance * Used any of the following medications within 90 days prior to screening: riluzole, valproic acid, hydroxyurea, sodium phenylbutyrate, butyrate derivatives, creatine, carnitine, growth hormone, anabolic steroids, probenecid, acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors, agents that could potentially increase or decrease muscle strength, and agents with known or presumed histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory effect * Clinically significant abnormalities in laboratory test results at the time of screening * Ascertained or presumptive hypersensitivity to RO7204239 or risdiplam, or to the constituents of its formulations * Clinically relevant history of anaphylactic reaction requiring inotropic support * Any abnormal skin conditions, pigmentation or lesions in the area intended for SC injection (abdomen) and that would prevent visualization of potential injection site reactions to RO7204239 * Immobilization, surgical procedures, fracture, or trauma to the upper or lower limbs within 90 days prior to screening Exclusion Criteria for Part 1 Cohorts A and B only: * Participants with contraindications for MRI scan (including, but not restricted to, claustrophobia, pacemaker, artificial heart valves, cochlear implants, presence of foreign metal objects in heart or body, including spinal rods, intracranial vascular clips, insulin pumps, etc.), difficulties maintaining a prolonged supine position, or any other clinical history or examination finding that would pose a potential hazard in combination with MRI Exclusion Criteria for Part 1 Cohort D only: * Participants who are unable to adopt the correct position to endure adequate quality of DXA scan acquisition, as determined by the DXA scan technologist * Participants who have contractures at screening that would interfere with DXA scan acquisition or functional assessments, as confirmed by the DXA scan technologist and clinical evaluator * For participants able to take steps only: Able to walk unassisted (i.e., without the use of assistive devices such as canes, walking sticks, crutches, walkers, person/hand held assistance, braces, orthoses, over the malleoli insoles or any other type of support) 10 meters in ≤ 30 seconds as measured by the timed 10MWRT at screening * Participants who have severe scoliosis (curvature \> 40°) at screening based on the participant's most recent X-ray as performed per standard of care or scoliosis that would interfere with functional assessments, as confirmed by the clinical evaluator. An X-ray is not required if it is not clinically indicated (e.g., in participants with mild scoliosis) * Participants who require invasive ventilation, tracheostomy, or the use of noninvasive ventilation (e.g., bilevel positive airway pressure) during the daytime
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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
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Asst Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda
Milan, Lombardy, 20162, Italy
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Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
Birmingham, B9 5SS, United Kingdom
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Boston Childrens Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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British Columbia Children's Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3N1, Canada
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CHULC, E.P.E. - Hospital Dona Estefania
Lisbon, 1169-045, Portugal
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Chr de La Citadelle
Liège, 4000, Belgium
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Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb
Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
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Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York, 10032, United States
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Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico ?Carlo Besta?
Milan, Lombardy, 20133, Italy
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Hospital Sant Joan De Deu
Esplugues de Llobregas, Barcelona, 08950, Spain
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Hospital Universitario La Paz
Madrid, 28046, Spain
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Hospital Universitario la Fe
Valencia, 46026, Spain
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Hospital de Santa Maria
Lisbon, 1649-035, Portugal
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IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini
Genoa, Liguria, 16147, Italy
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Instytut Centrum Zdrowia Matki Polki
?ód?, 93-338, Poland
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Instytut Pomnik Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka
Warsaw, 04-730, Poland
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John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
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Kagoshima University Hospital
Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan
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Klinika Neurologii I Wydzialu Lekarskiego WUM w Warszawie
Warsaw, 02-097, Poland
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Kobe University Hospital
Hyōgo, 650-0017, Japan
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McGill University Health Centre - Glen Site
Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada
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National Center for Global Health and Medicine
Shinjuku-ku, 162-8655, Japan
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Ospedali Riuniti Torrette di Ancona
Ancona, The Marches, 60126, Italy
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Policlinico Agostino Gemelli
Rome, Lazio, 00168, Italy
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Sydney Children's Hospital
Randwick, New South Wales, 2031, Australia
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The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
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UZ Gent
Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht
Utrecht, 3584 CX, Netherlands
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Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny w Poznaniu
Późna, 60-355, Poland
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Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne
Gda?sk, 80-952, Poland
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Gene therapy hope for SMA kids: early trial launches
- New knee device may help kids with SMA build leg strength
- New VR device aims to make exercise fun for kids with muscle weakness
- Wearable tech monitors SMA babies at home to pinpoint best time for extra treatment
- Summer camp aims to boost strength in kids with SMA