Cannabidiol Medication Intervention Trial

Last updated: April 23, 2025
Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

N/A

Treatment

Placebo

CBD

JZP541

Clinical Study ID

NCT06014424
3878
  • Ages > 55
  • All Genders

Study Summary

CALM-IT is a Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial. Safety and efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) capsules assessed for managing agitation in patients with AD and to identify novel biomarkers of agitation severity and treatment response.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Males or females ≥55 years of age; female must be post-menopausal or must agree tocomply with contraception requirements. Males should also abide by contraceptiverequirements when the partner is a woman of childbearing potential. Acceptablemethods of contraception include: combined (estrogen and progestogen containing)hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, which may be oral,intravaginal, or transdermal; progestogen-only hormonal contraception associatedwith inhibition of ovulation, which may be oral, injectable, or implantable;intrauterine device or intrauterine hormone-releasing system; vasectomy of a femalesubject's male partner (with medical assessment and confirmation of vasectomysurgical success); bilateral tubal occlusion

  2. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM 5) criteria for MajorNeurocognitive Disorder due to possible AD. Patients with Major NeurocognitiveDisorder due to multiple etiologies (AD and vascular) will be included

  3. sMMSE ≤24

  4. Presence of clinically significant agitation based on the IPA definition at bothscreening and baseline

  5. If treated with cognitive-enhancing medications (cholinesterase inhibitors and/ormemantine), dosage must be stable for at least 3 months prior to study randomization

  6. Availability of a primary caregiver to accompany the participant to study visits andto participate in the study. The primary caregiver must be sufficiently proficientin English to complete the required study assessments, as per investigator judgementand should spend at least 10 hours a week with the participant

  7. Willing and able to provide informed consent and/or have a Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) provide informed consent on behalf of the participant

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Change in psychotropic medications less than the duration of 5 half-lives of themedication in question prior to screening (e.g., concomitant antidepressants oratypical antipsychotics) and any changes during study participation

  2. Administration of strong inducers of CYP3A4 ≤ 14 days prior to first doses of studyintervention or have ongoing requirements for these medications

  1. Use of anticonvulsant medications

  2. Contraindications to CBs, e.g. allergies to cannabis and cannabis products,potential clinically important drug-drug interactions

  3. Any type of arterial vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and currentuncontrolled cardiovascular disease (e.g. uncontrolled hypertension, ischemic heartdisease, arrhythmia and severe heart failure), as per investigator assessment

  4. Patients with Cardiovascular Accident in the 3 months prior to Screening (V1)

  5. Impaired hepatic function, as reflected by serum alanine aminotransferase oraspartate aminotransferase > 2 × upper limit of normal (ULN), or total bilirubin > 1.5

× ULN; the Investigator may decide to repeat the assessment to confirm criterion prior to screen failing the participant

  1. Presence of clinically significant impaired renal function at screening, asevidenced by an estimated creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (as calculated bythe glomerular filtration rate using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease studyequation)

  2. Presence or history of other psychiatric disorders or neurological conditions (e.g.

psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, stroke, epilepsy) and known or suspected psychotic disorder in a first degree relative

  1. Participants currently meeting DSM 5 criteria for Major Depressive Episode

  2. Current substance dependence (excluding caffeine and nicotine)

  3. Clinically significant delusions and/or hallucinations (e.g. NPI-NHdelusion/hallucinations subscore ≥4 or judgement of QI)

  4. Reported use of marijuana or cannabinoid-based medications, products or supplements (botanical or synthetic) within 1 week prior to randomization

  5. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 90 mmHg or > 150 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) < 50mmHg or > 105 mmHg at screening or baseline (prior to randomization) or apostural drop in SBP ≥ 20 mmHg or DBP ≥ 10 mmHg at screening

Study Design

Total Participants: 40
Treatment Group(s): 3
Primary Treatment: Placebo
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
September 27, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
December 29, 2026

Study Description

This study will look at whether CBD is an effective treatment for agitation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This naturally derived CBD is highly pure (99%) and made by a manufacturer who meets Health Canada guidelines Cannabis products are legal for purchase in Canada.

Agitation is common in AD and is known to correlate with physical health problems such as falls and weight loss, AD progression, and caregiver burden. Current treatments for agitation in AD are not beneficial for everyone and there are concerns regarding their safety. Treating agitation is important in improving the quality of life of AD patients and their families and there is a need to identify safer and more effective treatments for agitation in AD.

The structure of this trial is called a "cross-over study". Participants will be randomized to receive either CBD or placebo during the first of two treatment phases. They will then cross-over to the opposite treatment during the second treatment phase. Participants will be on the study treatment for a total of 19 weeks and then will be followed for 4 more weeks after finishing the study treatment. There will be 12 study visits approximately every 2 weeks and 8 telephone visits every week during the study.

In addition to looking at the effectiveness of CBD in treating agitation, the researchers will also look at whether it is beneficial for other relevant outcomes for patients with AD including overall neuropsychiatric symptoms, caregiver distress, cognition, nutritional status, and pain.

Connect with a study center

  • University of Calgary

    Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1
    Canada

    Site Not Available

  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

    Toronto, Ontario M3H0A7
    Canada

    Active - Recruiting

  • Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

    Whitby, Ontario L1N 5S9
    Canada

    Site Not Available

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