Preventing the risk of MS using vitamin D in patients with a first demyelinating event in Australia and New Zealand (PrevANZ)
Type of Study/Intervention
Drug
Recruitment Status
Closed
Form of MS
Clinically isolated syndrome, Optic neuritis
Brief summary
This is a phase IIb randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled dose ranging trial to determine the safety and efficacy of vitamin D3 in preventing the risk of MS in patients with a first demyelinating event.
There is a great deal of lay information to suggest that people with MS or at risk of MS should take oral Vitamin D supplementation. However, no adequately powered scientific study has examined the role of Vitamin D3 supplementation as prevention or treatment for MS. There is insufficient commercial interest in conducting such a study, but the need for evidence is great. If effective, oral Vitamin D supplementation could provide a low cost MS therapy with virtually no side effects. Therefore, MS Research Australia is sponsoring this trial with the support of state MS societies, other trusts and foundations and community donations.
The trial will assess the efficacy of oral vitamin D3 in preventing the development of multiple sclerosis in participants at high risk of MS (that is people with a first demyelinating event, FDE).
The trial will compare three doses of oral daily vitamin D3 (1,000IU 5,000IU or 10,000IU/day) to placebo. After agreeing to participate, participants will be randomly and blindly assigned to one of these four study arms and will continue to take study medication for 48 weeks.
The primary end-point measure will be the onset of a second demyelinating event as determined clinically or by MRI scan. The trial will also assess whether there is a dose-response relationship between the study medication and the study end-points and where there is a relationship between serum vitamin D levels achieved and study end-points. The trial will also determine if oral vitamin D3 has an acceptable side effect and safety profile by monitoring any adverse events (including changes in blood calcium levels) over the 12 months.
The trial aims to enrol 240 participants with FDE from 21 Australian and New Zealand MS trial centres over the course of three years.
Inclusion criteria
For inclusion in this study, a participant must meet the following criteria:
- aged between 18 and 65 years old inclusive
- have a first isolated, well-defined, uni- or multi-focal first demyelinating event (FDE)
- be able to receive first dose of study drug within 120 days of FDE symptom onset
- have an MRI brain scan that is supportive of demyelinating disease (Paty A or Paty B criteria)
- an EDSS between 0 – 6.5 (inclusive)
- be able to give informed consent and sign the informed consent form
- be willing to avoid open-label vitamin D supplementation and external serum vitamin D testing for the duration of the study
- be willing to avoid use of sunbeds
- not have received any prior disease modifying treatment for MS other than glucocorticoids
- be willing to avoid treatment with beta-interferon, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, mitoxantrone, or other chemotherapy agent specifically for demyelinating disease until recurrent disease activity occurs (ie the primary endpoint is met)
- be able and willing to comply with all study procedures including MRI scanning as per protocol
- be willing to use effective contraceptive methods for the duration of the study and at least 6 months following.
For full details of Exclusion criteria please visit the ANZCTR trial listing here.
Anticipated start date
May 2013
Recruitment contacts
State | Location | Site | Investigator | Study Coordinator (Click for Email) |
Contact Number |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSW | Sydney | Save Sight Institute | Dr Clare Fraser | Amanda Dinh | 02 9382 7386 |
NSW | Newcastle | John Hunter Hospital | Associate Professor Jeannette Lechner-Scott | Nicole Lingard | 02 4921 3540 |
NSW | Sydney | Brain and Mind Centre | Dr Todd Hardy | Marinda Taha | 02 9351 0730 |
VIC | Geelong | Geelong Hospital | Dr Cameron Shaw | Sharon Jones | 03 4215 0710 |
VIC | Melbourne | Royal Melbourne Hospital | Associate Professor Tomas Kalincik | Lisa Taylor | 03 9342 7061 |
VIC | Melbourne | Box Hill Hospital | Professor Helmut Butzkueven | Maria Sakkas | 03 9095 2447 |
VIC | Melbourne | Austin Health | Professor Richard Macdonell | Melanie McMurtrie | 03 9496 5529 |
VIC | Melbourne | Monash Neurology | Associate Professor Ernie Butler | Wendy Hayes | 03 9594 3051 |
VIC | Melbourne | Alfred Health | Professor Helmut Butzkueven | Janene Richards | 03 9903 8652 |
QLD | Gold Coast | Griffith University/Gold Coast Hospital | Professor Simon Broadley | Sofia Jimenez-Sanchez | 07 5678 0750 |
QLD | Brisbane | Wesley Research Institute | Professor Pam McCombe | Virginia Gehrke |
07 3721 1524 |
SA | Adelaide | Calvary Wakefield Hospital | Dr Andrew Lee | Paul Stockle | 08 8132 0494 |
WA | Perth | Australian Neuromuscular Research Institute | Professor William Carroll | Susan Walters | 08 6457 0209 |
TAS | Hobart | Royal Hobart Hospital | Professor Bruce Taylor | Bruce Taylor | 03 6222 8323 |
NZ | Auckland | Auckland Hospital | Dr Ernie Willoughby | Roddi Laurence | 09 307 4949 Ext 25816 |
NZ | Christchurch | Christchurch Hospital | Dr Deborah Mason | Jane Eagle | 03 378 6130 |
NZ | Dunedin | Dunedin Hospital | Dr John Mottershead | Sharon Stevenson-Hall | 03 470 0999 |
NZ | Waikato | Waikato Hospital | Dr Chris Lynch | Ruth Mylcreest | 02 154 9778 |
NZ | Wellington | Wellington Hospital | Dr David Abernethy | Liz Goode | 04 806 0078 |
Further details
Full details of the trial can be found on www.msra.org.au/prevanz
Or visit the ANZCTR trial listing here.
Region
NSW/SA/VIC/QLD/WA/TAS/NZ
Trial results
Expected in 2019
Last updated
19 Nov 2020