Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) and Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Last updated: September 18, 2025
Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

1

Condition

Myasthenia Gravis (Chronic Weakness)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Als)

Treatment

Definity® Vial for (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere) Injectable Suspension

Next Generation Dome Helmet Focused Ultrasound

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), 10% solution for infusion

Clinical Study ID

NCT07193953
6271
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of IVIg administration in conjunction with primary motor cortex BBB opening using the Next Generation Dome Helmet (NGDH) FUS in adult participants with ALS.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Diagnosed with ALS as per the Gold Coast Criteria;

  2. Aged 18 years or older;

  3. Capable of providing informed consent and complying with study procedures;

  4. If taking Riluzole, on a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to Baseline;

  5. If taking Edaravone, on a stable dose of one completed cycle prior to Baseline;

  6. Respiratory Function Criterion:

  • Able to lie supine without BiPAP or breathing discomfort; OR

  • Forced vital capacity or slow vital capacity ≥50% of the predicted value forsex, height and age, if available

  1. Able to communicate sensations during the Dome FUS procedure.

  2. Qualified fit for the anesthesia by an anesthesiologist, ASA I-III.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. MRI findings:

  2. Active infection/inflammation

  3. Acute or chronic hemorrhages, specifically > 4 lobar microbleeds, and nosiderosis or macrohemorrhages

  4. Tumor/space occupying lesion causing significant mass effect

  5. Meningeal enhancement

  6. Intracranial hypotension

  7. More than 30% of the skull area traversed by the sonication pathway is covered byscars, scalp disorders (e.g., eczema), or atrophy of the scalp

  8. Clips or other metallic implanted objects in the skull or the brain, except shunts

  9. Significant cardiac disease or unstable hemodynamic status including:

  10. Documented myocardial infarction within six months of screening

  11. Unstable angina on medication

  12. Unstable or worsening congestive heart failure

  13. Left ventricular ejection fraction below the lower limit of normal

  14. History of a hemodynamically unstable cardiac arrhythmia

  15. Cardiac pacemaker

  16. Severe hypertension (diastolic BP > 100 on medication)

  17. Patient has right-to-left, bidirectional, or transient right-to-left cardiacshunts

  18. QT prolongation observed on screening ECG (QTc > 450 for men and > 470 forwomen)

  19. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic > 150 and diastolic BP > 100 on medication)

  20. Patients should not take medications known to increase risk of hemorrhage (e.g.,aspirin or class I and III anticoagulants) for at least 7 days prior to treatment orlumbar puncture; patients should not take Avastin for 30 days prior to treatment

  21. History of a bleeding disorder, coagulopathy or a history of spontaneous hemorrhageor use of anticoagulants, specifically recent thrombosis or stroke in past 3 months;abnormal coagulation profile (PLT < 100,00/μl), PT (> 14 sec) or PTT (> 36 sec), andINR > 1.3

  22. No more than 1 non-strategic lacune &lt;1.5 cm

  23. Known cerebral or systemic vasculopathy

  24. Significant depression and at potential risk of suicide

  25. Known sensitivity/allergy to gadolinium (an alternative product may be used) andDEFINITY®.

  26. Any contraindications to MRI scanning, including:

  27. Large participants not fitting comfortably into the scanner

  28. Difficulty lying supine and still for up to 3 hours in the MRI unit orclaustrophobia

  29. Any contraindication to lumbar puncture for collection of cerebral spinal fluid,including: a. Intracranial hypotension

  30. Untreated, uncontrolled sleep apnea

  31. Impaired renal function with estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73m2or on dialysis.

  32. IVIg use in the previous 6 months.

  33. Live viral vaccination within the 30 days before study entry

  34. Currently, or in the last 3 months participated in a clinical trial delivering aninvestigational product or non-approved use of a drug or device or in any other typeof medical research.

  35. Respiratory: chronic pulmonary disorders e.g. severe emphysema, pulmonaryvasculitis, or other causes of reduced pulmonary vascular cross-sectional area,patients with a history of drug allergies, uncontrolled asthma or hay fever, andmultiple allergies where the benefit/risk of administering DEFINITY® is consideredunfavorable by the study physicians in relation to the product monograph forDEFINITY®.

  36. Motor cortex atrophy deemed severe enough to limit targeting

  37. Previous major allergic or anaphylactic reaction to IVIg

  38. Known IgA deficiency with anti-IgA.

  39. Known frontotemporal dementia;

  40. Definitely or possibly pregnant (if applicable);

  41. Known auto-immune condition with or without neurological manifestations (e.g.,multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), Rheumatoid arthritis).

  42. Current, planned or previous use of oral, intramuscular or intravenous steroid drugs (such as prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, triamcinolone, methylprednisolone,oxandrolone, and others), immunosuppressant drugs (azathioprine, mycophenolate,tacrolimus, sirolimus, cyclophosphamide, and others) or NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen,celecoxib, and others) in the past 30 days;

  43. Other unspecified reasons that, in the opinion of the Investigator or the Sponsor,make the participant unsuitable for enrollment

Study Design

Total Participants: 6
Treatment Group(s): 3
Primary Treatment: Definity® Vial for (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere) Injectable Suspension
Phase: 1
Study Start date:
April 15, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
May 30, 2027

Study Description

This study is a prospective, single-arm, open-label, multiple-ascending dose (MAD), phase I trial to evaluate safety, feasibility, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of enhanced delivery of IVIg 0.4 or 0.8g/kg to the primary motor cortex in 6 patients with ALS by using a single BBB opening procedure targeting the primary motor cortex in both brain hemispheres. Six participants will be enrolled in two sequential cohorts. The first cohort (n = 3) will receive 0.4g/kg of IVIg divided in two doses, while the second cohort (n = 3) will receive a 0.8g/kg of IVIg divided in two doses. In both cohorts, the second dose of IVIg will be accompanied by a single BBB opening procedure targeting the primary motor cortex in both brain hemispheres with focused ultrasound (FUS) using Next Generation Dome Helmet and intravenous microbubbles (DEFINITY®, Lantheus Medical Imaging Canada, Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada). This FUS procedure will occur during 2 weeks after the first dose administration. Follow-up visits will occur over the span of 24 weeks from the first dose.

Connect with a study center

  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

    Toronto 6167865, Ontario 6093943 M4N 3M5
    Canada

    Active - Recruiting

Map preview placeholder

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.