Trial Outcomes & Findings for A Study of Oxidative Pathways in MS Fatigue (NCT NCT02804594)

NCT ID: NCT02804594

Last Updated: 2025-07-11

Results Overview

Number of adverse events reported since baseline visit that are related to N-acetyl cysteine will be compared to the number of adverse events reported by participants in the placebo group.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2

Target enrollment

15 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

4 weeks

Results posted on

2025-07-11

Participant Flow

Our study participants are recruited from the MS Clinic.

Study participants who met the eligibility criteria to enroll in the study are randomized into study medication group or placebo group. Study participants who did not meet the criteria to enter the study treatment period of the study were observed as controls.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
N-acetyl Cysteine
1250 mg of N-acetyl cysteine three times daily N-acetyl cysteine: 1250 mg of N- acetyl cysteine taken three times daily
Placebo
placebo three times daily Placebo: placebo taken three times daily
Overall Study
STARTED
10
5
Overall Study
COMPLETED
10
5
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

A Study of Oxidative Pathways in MS Fatigue

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
N-acetyl Cysteine
n=10 Participants
1250 mg of N-acetyl cysteine three times daily N-acetyl cysteine: 1250 mg of N- acetyl cysteine taken three times daily
Placebo
n=5 Participants
placebo three times daily Placebo: placebo taken three times daily
Total
n=15 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
11 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
51.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.2 • n=5 Participants
65.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.8 • n=7 Participants
56.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.8 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) score at baseline
48.5 Scores on a scale
n=5 Participants
50 Scores on a scale
n=7 Participants
50 Scores on a scale
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: Study participants enrolled in the treatment period are included in the analysis.

Number of adverse events reported since baseline visit that are related to N-acetyl cysteine will be compared to the number of adverse events reported by participants in the placebo group.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
N-acetyl Cysteine
n=10 Participants
1250 mg of N-acetyl cysteine three times daily N-acetyl cysteine: 1250 mg of N- acetyl cysteine taken three times daily
Placebo
n=5 Participants
placebo three times daily Placebo: placebo taken three times daily
Number of Adverse Events Reported Since Baseline Visit That Are Related to N-acetyl Cysteine.
12 adverse events
6 adverse events

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: Study participants enrolled in the treatment period are included in the analysis.

Change in fatigue score on questionnaires from baseline visit to week-4 is calculated for the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) questionnaire. The MFIS is a self-report measure to rate fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis. The total score, ranging from 0 to 84 is the sum of three subscales (physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning). Higher numbers indicate greater fatigue. Modified fatigue Impact scale of more than 38 is one of the inclusion criteria for the study. Study participants who scored higher value on the questionnaire at week-4 are considered to have worsened fatigue from the baseline visit.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
N-acetyl Cysteine
n=10 Participants
1250 mg of N-acetyl cysteine three times daily N-acetyl cysteine: 1250 mg of N- acetyl cysteine taken three times daily
Placebo
n=5 Participants
placebo three times daily Placebo: placebo taken three times daily
Change in Fatigue Score on Questionnaires From Baseline
-11.4 scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 14.9
-18 scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 15.4

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: Study participants enrolled in the treatment period are included in the analysis.

Baseline to week 4 change in blood GSH/GSSG ratio (wherein GSH is glutathione in reduced state and GSSG is glutathione in oxidized state) and grey matter GSH concentration on 7T MR spectroscopy (MRS) between groups. We hypothesize that fatigue is associated with the GSH/GSSG ratio.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
N-acetyl Cysteine
n=10 Participants
1250 mg of N-acetyl cysteine three times daily N-acetyl cysteine: 1250 mg of N- acetyl cysteine taken three times daily
Placebo
n=5 Participants
placebo three times daily Placebo: placebo taken three times daily
Change in Level of Blood Markers From Baseline
-0.1 mean absolute change in GSH/GSSG ratio
Standard Deviation 0.6
-0.6 mean absolute change in GSH/GSSG ratio
Standard Deviation 0.6

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Conventional T2/ T1-weighted images will be obtained at baseline for all subjects enrolled in the treatment phase of the study. We will perform brain MRI on 7T machine, and the sequences will be collected at baseline, and week-4 visit.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

N-acetyl Cysteine

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 6 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 4 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
N-acetyl Cysteine
n=10 participants at risk
1250 mg of N-acetyl cysteine three times daily N-acetyl cysteine: 1250 mg of N- acetyl cysteine taken three times daily
Placebo
n=5 participants at risk
placebo three times daily Placebo: placebo taken three times daily
Psychiatric disorders
Insomnia
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Gastrointestinal disorders
abdominal pain
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Gastrointestinal disorders
Constipation
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
BACK PAIN
0.00%
0/10 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
20.0%
1/5 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Infections and infestations
Salivary gland infection
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Respiratory-Other, Common cold
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
General disorders
Fatigue
0.00%
0/10 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
20.0%
1/5 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Psychiatric disorders
Depression
0.00%
0/10 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
20.0%
1/5 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Infections and infestations
Urinary tract infection
0.00%
0/10 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
20.0%
1/5 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Arthralgia
0.00%
0/10 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
20.0%
1/5 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
General disorders
Gait disturbance
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
20.0%
1/5 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Generalized muscle weakness
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Nervous system disorders
Headache
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Psychiatric disorders
Anxiety
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Psychiatric disorders
Agitation
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Injury-Other, injury to back
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Injury-Other, Injury to face secondary to a fall
10.0%
1/10 • Number of events 1 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks
0.00%
0/5 • Adverse events are collected over 4 weeks

Additional Information

Emmanuelle Waubant, MD

University of California San Francisco

Phone: 415 514 2468

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place