a study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of arbaclofen extended-release tablets for patients with ms

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis; Spasticity, Muscle

Summary: multiple sclerosis (ms) is an acquired inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (cns) that is regarded as the foremost cause of non-traumatic neurologic disability in adults in north america. spasticity is a common complication in ms and occurs in up to 84% of patients. the main sign of spasticity is resistance to passive limb movement characterized by increased resistance to stretching, clonus, and exaggerated deep reflexes. osmotica pharmaceutical is currently developing arbaclofen extended-release tablets (aert) for the treatment of spasticity in patients with ms.

this is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral aert in ms patients with spasticity. two doses of aert, 40 mg and 80 mg, will be compared with placebo. the treatment groups will be randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio. eligible patients will undergo a washout period for withdrawal of all medications used for anti-spasticity and/or muscle relaxation prior to randomization. a baseline clinical evaluation will be performed (visit 2) to confirm eligibility for study randomization, and subjects will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment arms. subjects will remain on maintenance treatment for approximately 3 months.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria includes: * subjects 18 to 65 years of age, inclusive. * an established diagnosis of ms that manifests a documented history of spasticity. * if receiving disease-modifying medications (eg, interferons approved for ms, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, fingolimod, or mitoxantrone), there must be no change in dose for at least 3 months prior to visit 1 (screening), and the subject must be willing to maintain this treatment dose for the duration of the study. if receiving ampyra® (dalfampridine, fampridine, 4-amino puridine), subject must be at a stable dose for at least 3 months prior to visit 1. * stable regimen for at least 3 months prior to visit 2 for all medications and non-pharmacological therapies that are intended to alleviate spasticity. * absence of infections, peripheral vascular disease, painful contractures, advanced arthritis, or other conditions that hinder evaluation of joint movement. * use of a medically highly effective form of birth control (see section 7.8) during the study and for 3 months thereafter for women of child-bearing potential (including female subjects and female partners of non-sterile male subjects). * willing to sign the informed consent form (icf). exclusion criteria includes: * any concomitant disease or disorder that has symptoms of spasticity or that may influence the subject's level of spasticity. * concomitant use of medications that would potentially interfere with the actions of the study medication or outcome variables. * pregnancy, lactation, or planned pregnancy during the course of the study and for 3 months after the final study visit. * subject has clinically significant abnormal laboratory values, in the opinion of the investigator, at visit 1 or visit 2. * current malignancy or history of malignancy that has not been in remission for more than 5 years, except effectively treated basal cell skin carcinoma. * any other significant disease, disorder, or significant laboratory finding which, in the opinion of the investigator, puts the subject at risk because of participation, influences the result of the study, or affects the subject's ability to participate.