New pill may boost botox for stubborn neck spasms
NCT ID NCT06771323
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase 2 trial tests whether adding valbenazine (a daily pill) to standard botox injections can further reduce neck muscle spasms and pain in people with cervical dystonia. About 20 adults who still have symptoms despite botox will receive either valbenazine or a placebo for 12 weeks. The study measures changes in a severity scale for neck dystonia.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- valbenazine
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new oral add-on treatment to improve motor symptoms in people with cervical dystonia who still have symptoms after botox injections.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early Phase 2 trial with only 20 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drug may not provide meaningful benefit or could cause side effects.
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
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2024
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
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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18 to 75 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: * Idiopathic CD (neck musculature first and most prominently affected) * 18-75 years old (participants excluded if their dystonia symptoms began before age 18 as childhood-onset dystonia typically represents a genetic and/or primary generalized form of dystonia) * Onset of dystonia ≥18 years old, no known hyperkinetic movement disorder-related genetic mutation * Dystonia severity more than minimal and not very severe as defined by Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale-2 Motor Severity (TWSTRS-2-Severity) score ≥ 5 and ≤ 20. * Stable on botulinum toxin injections last 90 days (BoNT dose change \<10% and patient reported stability of response over last two injection cycles) * Stable on other neuroactive medications. Exclusion Criteria: * History of deep brain stimulation * History of uncontrolled or untreated depression in the prior 3 months, suicidality, or history of suicide attempts * History of uncontrolled liver disease or failure * History of tardive dyskinesia or tardive dystonia * Currently taking dopaminergic and/or anti-dopaminergic medications including VMAT2 inhibitors or other antipsychotic medications * Exposure to dopaminergic and/or anti-dopaminergic medications including VMAT2 inhibitors or other antipsychotic medications in the last 30 days -Presence of parkinsonism or other movement disorder other than dystonia on exam -Receiving botulinum toxin injections at a planned frequency other than every 3 months or typically receive injections at intervals \<11 weeks or \>13 weeks -Known history of long QT syndrome or cardiac tachyarrhythmia or any clinically significant cardiac abnormality. * Prolonged QTc as defined by \> 450 msec for men and \> 470 msec for women
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Virginia Commonwealth University
RECRUITINGRichmond, Virginia, 23298, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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