Home » Clinical Trials » Therapeutic Areas
Therapeutic Areas: Neurology
Disease Category: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Trial Information

Clinical Trial of Ceftriaxone in Subjects with ALS

Ceftriaxone

Study Rationale
Ceftriaxone is a semisynthetic, third generation cephalosporin. Cephalosporins are beta-lactam antibiotics approved by the FDA for the treatment of infections such as septicemia, pneumonia, meningitis, and urinary tract infections. Ceftriaxone has been demonstrated to upregulate the expression of glutamate transporters in brain and has antioxidant properties. Ceftriaxone prolongs survival of a transgenic mouse model of ALS [1]. Preclinical evidence suggests that the extracellular accumulation of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) such as glutamate and the excessive activation of EAA receptors contribute to the neuronal cell death observed in both acute insults to the CNS and chronic neurodegenerative diseases. EAA transporters maintaining normal glutamate concentrations in the synaptic cleft typically prevent this excitotoxic result. Decreased expression of glutamate transporters EATT2/GLT-1 in patients with ALS and in mutant transgenic SOD-1 models has been observed. Conversely, animal models have shown that overexpression of these glutamate transporters can delay onset and prolong survival in ALS mice, and prevent motor neuron degeneration in vitro.

Study Goal
The study objective is to determine the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of long-term ceftriaxone treatment in subjects with ALS.

Study Status
The study is currently recruiting patients at many locations in the US and Canada, including at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. The Investigator for the study at Massachusetts General Hospital is Dr. William David.

Contacts
For more information, please contact Alison Goldenberg, Study Coordinator, at (617) 643-6249 or AGOLDENBERG@PARTNERS.ORG for more information regarding this study.

REFRENCES

1. Rothstein, J.D., S. Patel, M.R. Regan, C. Haenggeli, Y.H. Huang, D.E. Bergles, L. Jin, M. Dykes Hoberg, S. Vidensky, D.S. Chung, S.V. Toan, L.I. Bruijn, Z.Z. Su, P. Gupta, and P.B. Fisher, Beta-lactam antibiotics offer neuroprotection by increasing glutamate transporter expression. Nature, 2005. 433(7021): p. 73-7.

Alison Goldenberg, CRC
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 643-6249
EMail: agoldenberg@partners.org

View Google Map

DISCLAIMER: This site is run by CenterWatch, a publishing company that focuses on the clinical trials industry. The information provided in this service is designed to help patients find clinical trials that may be of interest to them, and to help patients contact the centers conducting the research. CenterWatch is neither promoting this research nor involved in conducting any of these trials.