About this trial
This protocol describes a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial for Janus kinase (JAK) inhibition in Down syndrome (DS). This trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 6-month treatment with the JAK1/3 inhibitor tofacitinib (XELJANZ) in individuals ages 6-22 (inclusive) with DS. There will be two main arms for this study: a treatment arm and a placebo control arm. Participants will be randomized into the treatment or placebo arm. Those completing 6 months in the placebo arm may be eligible to participate in a cross-over, open-label extension arm to receive 6 months of tofacitinib treatment. Participants will be evaluated during a Screening visit to determine eligibility, complete a Baseline visit if eligible, and be monitored via safety clinical laboratories and in-person evaluations by study doctors at 1 month, 3 months (mid-point visit) and 6 months (endpoint visit). An interim analysis of safety will be completed by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) after 40 participants have completed 6 months of treatment or placebo (20 in each arm).
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Individuals with DS aged 6 years (inclusive) to 22 years (inclusive). All forms of DS will qualify, including complete trisomy 21, Robertsonian translocation trisomy 21, partial trisomy 21 (segmental duplication), and/or mosaic trisomy 21.
Available parent(s) or guardian(s) legally able to sign the consent form and who can complete study materials as appropriate.
Body weight is at least 10 kgs.
Disqualifiers
Prior treatment with a JAK inhibitor or with an investigational agent, device, or procedure within 21 days of enrollment.
Current or planned use of a JAK inhibitor during the 6-month study period.
Known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to tofacitinib.
Active, uncontrolled, or life-threatening infection that at the determination of the treating physician would preclude safe use of tofacitinib.
Trial design
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Tofacitinib Oral Solution
DrugJAK1/3 inhibitor
Placebo
DrugThe placebo will be compounded by Children's Hospital of Colorado Investigational Drug Services using commercially available syrup with added flavoring to mimic the active product.
Treatment groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
Number and percentage of subjects experiencing treatment-emergent adverse events.
Number, percentage, type, and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) will be annotated over the 6-month period in the treatment arm and placebo arm.
Change in Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, 2nd Edition Revised (KBIT-2 Revised) - Verbal Intelligence
Raw scores for Verbal Intelligence
Change in Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, 2nd Edition Revised (KBIT-2 Revised) - Nonverbal Intelligence
Raw scores for Nonverbal Intelligence
Change in Leiter 3 - Attention Sustained subtest
The raw score is the correct number of targets minus errors made across four trials.
Secondary outcomes
Change in Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Fifth Edition (PPVT-5)
The PPVT-5 is a standardized measure of receptive vocabulary skills. We will analyze change in of growth scale value scores (GSVs), allowing measurement of an individual's change in performance over time.
Change in Naturalistic Language Sample
This measure evaluates spontaneous expressive language narration. We will analyze total utterances and mean length of utterance.
Change in Achenbach Child (or Adult) Behavior Checklist
This is a caregiver-report measure of maladaptive behavior. This is a standardized questionnaire with available score norms by chronological age resulting in T-scores. We will analyze change in the internalizing and externalizing T-scores.
Change in Social Responsiveness Scale 2 (SRS-2), School Age and Adult
The SRS is a standardized proxy-report questionnaire for assessment of the presence and degree of autism symptomatology. We will analyze change in the social communication T-scores and the total T-scores.
Other outcomes
Change in PedsQL
Summary Score, which is a mean score across multiple dimensions (e.g., social functioning, emotional functioning).
Sponsors and contacts
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University of Colorado, Denver
Lead sponsor
Anschutz Acceleration Initiative
Collaborator
GLOBAL Down Syndrome Foundation
Collaborator