Clinical trial NCT02315872
Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis Acthar Gel ACTH Fatigue
Sponsor: Providence Health & Services
Start date: 2015-05-22; Completion date: 2018-12-13
Enrollment: 8 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
This is a study of Acthar gel (ACTH) in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis who are experiencing chronic fatigue.

Detailed description:
This is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to demonstrate the safety, tolerability, and effect of ACTH on fatigue in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of ACTH versus placebo in reducing fatigability in patients with RMS. Secondary objectives include assessment of the tolerability and safety of twice-weekly ACTH treatment vs. placebo and evaluation of ACTH on depression, sleepiness, and quality of life measures and correlations between these measures.

Arms: arm 1: The study drug (ACTH 40 units) will be given subcutaneously twice weekly for 2 weeks. If the patient tolerates this dosage regimen, the dose will be increased to 80 units twice weekly. If the 80 unit dosage is not tolerated, the dosage will be reduced to 40 units twice weekly for the remainder of the 24 week participation. The weekly doses will be given 3 days apart, for example, on every Monday and Thursday or every Tuesday and Friday. arm 2: Placebo will be given subcutaneously twice weekly for 28 weeks.
Interventions: intervention 1: ACTH intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: ACTH injections twice weekly for 28 weeks. intervention 2: Placebo injections twice weekly for 28 weeks.

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
ACTH-MS Fatigue 
                                                                                         12/30/2015 
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL 
1 
 
STUDY TITLE: 
The Effect of ACTH (Acthar®) on Measures of Fatigue in 
Patients with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis  
 
 
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: 
Stanley Cohan, MD, PhD 
 
 
Providence Multiple Sclerosis Center 
 
 
Providence Health and Services 
 
 
SUB-INVESTIGATORS: 
Walter Carlini, MD, PhD, Providence Medford 
Neurological Clinic  
 
John Foley, MD, Rocky Mountain MS Clinic 
James Bowen, MD, Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Center 
Lily Jung Henson, MD, Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Center 
Pavle Repovic, MD, PhD, Swedish Multiple Sclerosis 
Center 
                                                      
John Huddlestone, MD, Neuro Science Center 
Christopher LaGanke, MD, North Central Neurology 
Associates, PC 
 
Chiayi Chen, RN, PhD, Providence Health and Services 
 
Ruyun Jin, MD, Providence Health and Services 
 
Gary Grunkemeier, PhD, Providence Health and Services 
 
 
 
 
 
INSTITUTION (SPONSOR): 
 
Providence Brain and Spine Institute,  
 
 
Providence Health and Services 
 
RESEARCH COORDINATOR: 
Chad Parks, CCRP 
 
503.962.1171 
 
chad.parks@providence.org  
 
9155 SW Barnes Rd, Suite 304 
 
Portland, OR 97225 
 
 
 
 
PROTOCOL VERSION & DATE: 
13-120A Version 7, December 30, 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


ACTH-MS Fatigue 
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CONFIDENTIAL 
2 
A. SPECIFIC AIMS 
This is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to demonstrate the safety, 
tolerability, and effect of ACTH on fatigue in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).  The 
primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of ACTH versus placebo in reducing fatigability 
in patients with RMS.  Secondary objectives include assessment of the tolerability and safety of twice-
weekly ACTH treatment vs. placebo and evaluation of ACTH on depression, sleepiness, and quality of 
life measures and correlations between these measures. 
 
B. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE 
With the advent of disease modifying therapies that reduce the risk of worsening physical disability, the 
importance and impact of excessive fatigue on quality of life in patients with MS has come into clearer 
focus.  Quality of life (QOL)-altering fatigue has been reported to occur in as many as 92% of patients 
with MS, for many patients constituting the most important source of disability.  Furthermore, there is a 
strong association between fatigue and clinical depression, suggesting shared pathophysiological 
mechanisms and/or anatomic substrates for these two important symptomatic features of MS. 
 
Fatigue may result from sleep disturbances due to frequent nocturia, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea 
or weakness-induced hypoventilation, as well as pain from nocturnal muscle spasms, and central 
neuropathic pain syndromes.  Other contributors may include hypothyroidism, cardiac or pulmonary 
disease, medication side effects, and depression. However, a large number of patients with MS have what 
we will refer to as Primary MS Fatigue (PMSF), the cause(s) of which are unknown, but which appears 
to be the direct result of MS-induced CNS impairment.  Typically, such MS patients report that despite 
awakening well-rested and not fatigued, they develop severe physical and /or mental fatigue that may be 
disabling and preventing them from any further activity, even in the absence of excessive exertion, and, 
at times, with rapid or sudden onset.  Resting or sleeping repeatedly will restore energy levels for short 
intervals, and patients may be compelled to spend the day taking frequent naps.   
 
It is evident  that PMSF bears little or no relationship to the degree of physical impairment (Flachenecker 
et al., 2002; Murray, 1985) in all but the most extreme cases of physical disability (Mills & Young, 2010).  
There is a strong correlation with clinical depression, which also fails, in many cases, to correlate with 
degree of physical disability, and suggests the possibility that they share common pathophysiological 
mechanisms.  When other potential fatigue-induced confounders are eliminated, there remain a large 
number of MS patients with severe, excessive fatigability, and it is these patients, who we refer to as 
having PMSF.  Although the neurogenic mechanism(s) of PMSF are not understood, and the success at 
pharmacologic management has been extremely limited (Brown, Howard, & Kemp, 2010; Lange, 
Volkmer, Heesen, & Liepert, 2009; Moller et al., 2011; Murray, 1985; Pucci et al., 2007), earlier studies 
have suggested that dysregulation of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis, and the CNS limbic system, as 
well as impaired ACTH and corticosteroid release,  may contribute to fatigue in patients in MS.  
Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are up-regulated in patients with MS, are known to 
produce fatigue.  As an example, the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, up-regulated in MS and up-
regulated following interferon administration, is reduced following corticosteroid administration.  
Corticosteroid-induced reduction of IL-6 following interferon treatment has been associated with 
reduction in fatigue in patients with MS (Kumpfel et al., 2007).  Thus, one potential mechanism by which 
ACTH might reduce PMSF is an increase in circulating corticosteroid levels.  However, direct effects of 
ACTH, mediated via CNS melanocortin receptors, may influence fatigue, as well as affective state.  Lastly, 
there are no therapeutic agents for the treatment of PMSF that have demonstrated significant efficacy, and 
the development of a significant therapeutic agent for fatigue in MS would profoundly affect large 
numbers of patients with MS. 
 


ACTH-MS Fatigue 
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CONFIDENTIAL 
3 
The proposed study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial to evaluate the efficacy, 
safety, and tolerability of 80 units of ACTH versus placebo given subcutaneously twice every week for 6 
months for the treatment of fatigue in patients with RMS. 
 
The ACTH dosage chosen falls well within the range routinely employed, with efficacy, for treatment of 
MS relapses.  It is known that this dose is well-tolerated, with an excellent safety profile.  We have selected 
a 6-month treatment interval, which has become the standard phase II trial duration for multiple sclerosis 
therapeutic agents.  This duration should also provide adequate time to study time of onset of effects of 
ACTH upon fatigue and whether they sustained over at least several months of medication use.  
 
The primary endpoint of this study is a statistically significant reduction of fatigue in subjects who have 
RMS and fulfill the definition of PMSF when treated with ACTH compared to placebo.  Known biological 
actions, both directly and indirectly, of ACTH upon the CNS make it a plausible candidate agent for the 
reduction of PMSF.   
 
The secondary endpoints are: 1) statistically significant improvement in patient self-assessment of quality 
of life; 2) statistically significant reduction in patient self-assessment of depression; 3) statistically 
significant reduction in patient self-assessment of sleepiness measures when treated with ACTH, as 
compared to placebo, and 4) the safety and tolerability of twice weekly ACTH injections compared to 
placebo.  The rationales for the secondary endpoints are: 1) the demonstration that quality of life 
improvements with ACTH use in patients with PMSF would increase the clinical significance or ACTH-
induced reduction in PMSF; 2) fatigue and depression are so strongly correlated in patients with MS that 
reduction in depression with ACTH treatment would strengthen the possibility that depression and fatigue 
share, at least in part, a common mechanism, and a parallel decrease in depression would strengthen the 
validity of the potential causative action of ACTH upon fatigue; 3) sleepiness is strongly correlated with 
MS-induced fatigue and thus reduction in daytime sleepiness would be an additional measure of validity 
for ACTH-induced reduction in MS-induced fatigue; 4) ACTH use, although demonstrated to be safe in 
treating patients with MS, is being used on a twice-weekly basis over a 6 month period, which is a regimen 
that has not been previously employed, to our knowledge, in MS patients. 
   
C. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS 
Study Design 
The proposed study is a 28-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial comparing the 
efficacy of ACTH versus placebo for the treatment of fatigue in patients with RMS (RMS).  Ninety 
patients with RMS who meet all of the eligibility criteria will be enrolled from five participating sites.  
Eligible patients will be consented by site investigators or delegated research personnel before undergoing 
any study procedures.  Subjects will be randomized to ACTH or placebo at 1:1 ratio.  
  
Endpoints 
The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of ACTH versus placebo in reducing 
fatigability in patients with relapsing MS.  The primary endpoint is a statistically significant reduction of 
fatigue measured by MFIS and FSS, which will be administered at baseline, week 8, 16, 24, and 28. 
 
Secondary objectives include assessment of the tolerability and safety of weekly ACTH treatment vs. 
placebo and evaluation of ACTH on depression, sleepiness, and quality of life measures and the 
correlations between measures.  The secondary endpoints are measured by BDI-II, ESS, SF-36 at baseline, 
week 8, 16, 24, and 28.  Clinical and laboratory adverse events (AE) and serious adverse events (SAE) 
will be monitored continuously during the study period to capture safety and tolerability information. 
 


ACTH-MS Fatigue 
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CONFIDENTIAL 
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Patient Recruitment 
Patients with stable (no relapses for the previous 90 days) relapsing form of MS, being treated with 
interferon beta1a or 1b, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate or teriflunomide for at least 6 
months, with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores of 4 or less, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale 
(MFIS) score of 38 or greater, or a Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score of 36 or greater, Beck Depression 
Inventory-II (BDI-II) score of 19 or less, and Epworth Sleep Score (ESS) of 9 or less.  Subject will be 
excluded if he or she has attempted suicide in the past, has current suicidal thinking based on the Columbia 
Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSr), or is preparing for suicide.  History must be negative for difficulty 
sleeping, sleep apnea, painful nocturnal spasms, nocturnal neuropathic pain, and restless leg syndrome,  
history of psychosis or neuroleptic use, have no evidence of current hypothyroid state, use of cannabis, 
opiates, benzodiazepines, or  other gaba-ergic medications except baclofen or tizanidine.  Subjects cannot 
have received corticosteroids of any type for 90 days prior to baseline visit.  Subjects must not have any 
of the contraindications for Acthar Gel as listed in the approved label, including sensitivity to proteins of 
porcine origin.  Subject must agree not receive any live or live-attenuated vaccine during the trial.  Ninety 
subjects will be recruited and randomized 1:1 to receive ACTH or placebo in a subject and examining 
physician-blinded manner.  The sample size was calculated by a power analysis for a two-sided test with 
alpha= 0.5 and power = 0.80 and assuming a 20% dropout rate. 
 
Subjects will be randomized in groups of 4, with equal number of placebo and ACTH treated patients in 
each 4-subject group.  In order to reach enrollment target in 12 months, full competitive enrollment will 
be applied until the enrollment goal is fulfilled.  
 
The study protocol, informed consent forms (ICF), and case report forms (CRF) must be approved by the 
organization’s institutional review board or appropriate ethics committee.  Site investigators will obtain 
written informed consent to participate from eligible patients prior to screening or any study procedures 
taking place. A copy of the ICF will be given to the patient and the original ICF and the documentation of 
the consent process will be kept in the patient’s record at each site. 
 
 
Inclusion Criteria 
Candidates must fulfill all of the following criteria before being included in the study: 
1. Have documented diagnosis of Relapsing MS as defined by McDonald Criteria 2011 Revision 
for at least 6 months 
2. Age range of 18 to 65 years old, inclusive at time of screening 
3. Have been treated with interferon beta 1a or 1b, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod, dimethyl 
fumarate or teriflunomide for at least 6 months, with reported adherence rate of at least 75%, 
at time of screening 
4. Have an EDSS score of 0 to 4, inclusive 
5. Have MFIS ≥ 38 or FSS ≥ 36, BDI-II  19, and ESS  9 
6. Women of childbearing potential must  employ proven methods to prevent pregnancy during 
the course of the trial  
7. Able to understand the purpose and risks of the study 
8. Must be willing to sign an inform consent 
9. Must be willing to follow the protocol requirements 
10. Subject must agree not to receive any live or live-attenuated vaccine during the trial 
 
Exclusion Criteria 
Candidates will be excluded from study entry or participation if any of the following exclusion 
criteria exist at any time during the study: 


ACTH-MS Fatigue 
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CONFIDENTIAL 
5 
1. Have any of the contraindications for Acthar Gel as listed in the approved label, including 
sensitivity to proteins of porcine origin.   
2. Had treatment of systemic or oral corticosteroids of any type in 90 days prior to 
baseline/randomization 
3. Had a relapse or documented objective neurologic worsening in 90 days prior to 
baseline/randomization 
4. Has concurrent neurological disease other than multiple sclerosis 
5.  
a.  Any history of sleep apnea 
b.  History (within the last 90 days) of nocturnal pain and/or nocturnal spasms that 
interferes with or interrupts sleep, or uncontrolled nocturnal restless leg syndrome  
6. History of psychosis, bipolar disorder, mania/hypomania 
7. History of coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, 
emphysema, anemia, bleeding disorder, gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal ulcer, clinically 
significant cardiac arrhythmia, Type I or II diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, seizure 
disorder, cardiac arrhythmia, immune deficiency disorder, HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, or 
dysthyroidal state (patients with a history of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, which has 
been corrected to physiological levels will not be excluded)  
8. History of substance abuse, other than tobacco within the past 5 years or current alcohol 
dependence 
9. Current use of cannabis, opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, gabapentin, pregabalin, 
topiramate, divalproex sodium, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, or any gaba-ergic medications 
other than tizanidine or Baclofen, which are permitted for spasticity treatment 
10. History of any malignant neoplasm except for past basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of 
the skin, that has been successfully treated prior to the screening visit 
11. History of psychosis or history of  use of neuroleptics including, but not restricted to, 
haloperidol, chlorpromazine, aripiprazole, olanzipine, resperidone 
12. History of suicide attempt, current suicidal thinking or is preparing for suicide 
13. Current use of Amphetamines or methylphenidate 
14. Current use of modafinil, or armodafinil 
15. Current use of amantidine 
16. The subject must have had a medication-free interval of: 
a. 7 days for prior use of:  
i. methylphenidate, amphetamine or dextrophetamine 
ii. modafanil or armodafinil 
iii. diphenhydramine, phenylephrine, loratidine 
iv. gabapentin, pregabalin, topiramate, valproate/divalproex 
v. oxcarbazepine 
vi. codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone 
b. 14 days for prior use of: 
i.  Desloratidine 
ii. Amantidine 
iii. alprazolam, lorazepam 
iv. morphine, hydromorphone 
c. 28 days for prior use of: 
i. clonazepam 
ii. cannabis or other cannabinoids  
d. 90 days for prior use of carbamazepine 
                                      


ACTH-MS Fatigue 
                                                                                         12/30/2015 
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL 
6 
17. Women who are pregnant or who intend to attempt pregnancy during the time of their 
enrollment in the trial 
18. Women who are breastfeeding  
19. Any other factor, which in the opinion of the investigator, renders the patient inappropriate for 
this trial 
20. Subjects currently enrolled in a clinical trial utilizing an investigational agent 
Concomitant medications 
Allowed concomitant medications: 
 FDA-approved sleeping medications, at their approved doses 
 
Prohibited concomitant medications: 
 Same as in Exclusion Criteria # 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15 
 Live or live-attenuated vaccines 
 
Discontinuation of Subjects from the Study  
Patients may voluntarily withdraw consent and discontinue their participation in the study at any 
time. 
   
Participation in the study will be terminated if any of the following situations occurs: 
1. Patient has a relapse during the study.  A relapse is defined as a new symptom, or worsening 
of pre-existing neurologic symptoms, of at least 24 hours duration, in patients who had been 
clinically stable for the prior 30 days, in the absence of fever, sleep deprivation or severe 
emotional stress. 
2. Patient has an adverse event that presents unacceptable risk judged by the investigator 
3. Patient has inadequate adherence to the protocol 
4. Patient is lost to follow-up 
5. Patient becomes pregnant  
Treatment Overview 
Dosage and Administration of Acthar®  or matching placebo 
The study drug (ACTH 40 units or identical-appearing placebo) will be given subcutaneously twice 
weekly for 2 weeks. If the patient tolerates this dosage regimen, the dose will be increased to 80 units or 
placebo twice weekly.  If the 80 unit dosage is not tolerated, the dosage will be reduced to 40 units twice 
weekly for the remainder of the 24 week participation. The weekly doses will be given 3 days apart, for 
example, on every Monday and Thursday or every Tuesday and Friday. Patients are not allowed to take 
doses on consecutive days. If a patient cannot take a dose on a scheduled day, the dose can be taken either 
a day early, or a day late. Patients that forget to take their scheduled dose will be encouraged to take their 
dose the following day.   
 
Randomization/Treatment assignment and blinding 
A total of 90 patients will be randomized either to active drug (ACTH), or placebo in a 1:1 ratio stratified 
by study site.  Each study site will be assigned a site number, and each patient who signed consent form 
and received a screening test will have a unique study ID, which identifies the patient and the study site 
at which they participate throughout the study.  Within each site, subjects will be randomized in blocks of 
4, 2 ACTH and 2 placebo treated patients, to achieve balance in the allocation of subjects to study drug 
versus placebo arms.  The order in which each of the 4 samples is selected will be predetermined by a 


ACTH-MS Fatigue 
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CONFIDENTIAL 
7 
computer generated randomization schedule.  Medications will be labeled and distributed by the 
coordinating site.  The study drugs and matching placebo will be packaged in the same way using identical 
appearing vials.  A unique random number will be printed on the label for each package. A master list 
containing drug kit numbers and drug assignment (ACTH or placebo) will be kept in a password-protected 
computer file in the coordinating site pharmacy.  Each study site will be required to assign patients in the 
order of the randomization schedule and dispense medications according to the medication kit numbers 
indicated on the predetermined randomization schedule.   The investigators, study coordinators/nurses, 
and subjects will remain blinded to randomization assignment until study completion, and the blind will 
only be violated if, in the judgment of the treating physician, unblinding is necessary for patient safely in 
the setting of a serious adverse event.  The DSMB will not be blinded. 
 
Drug Administration and Storage Instructions 
The study drug is supplied in a 5 mL multi-dose vial containing 80 USP units per ml. 
 
Patients will be instructed to inject 40 units subcutaneously twice a week for the first two weeks and 80 
units twice a week thereafter, with 3 days between the two doses.  Three vials of ACTH will be dispensed 
at baseline, and 4 vials will be dispensed at Week 8 and Week 16.  Each subject is to return used and 
unused vials, along with their injection log, at each follow-up visit, before they receive their next allotment 
of drug.  Investigational drug use will be recorded in the accountability log by the study coordinator/nurse 
at each site, and the unused vials will be retained until they are returned to the central coordinating center.  
 
Laboratory Testing and Study Procedure 
Review of medical history, physical exam, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Fatigue Severity Scale 
(FSS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Expanded Disability 
Status Scale (EDSS) will be performed at screening to assess the eligibility of the patient, and the 
Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale will be administered.  The outcome measures, including MFIS, 
FSS, BDI-II, ESS, and SF-36, will be administered at baseline, week 8, week 16, week 24, and week 28 
which is 4 weeks after the last ACTH or placebo dose.  In addition, office visits with the treating physician 
will be conducted at the same interval for physical exam, review of concomitant medications and adverse 
events, and monitoring of patient safety and eligibility, and administration of the C-SSR. Laboratory tests 
will be performed at the time of study visits.  A separate serum sample (7 ml SST tube) will be collected 
at baseline, week 16, and week 28. This sample will be stored at -20c until shipped to the coordinating 
center. The specimen will then be stored at the study coordinating center for future research use.  
 
 


ACTH-MS Fatigue 
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CONFIDENTIAL 
8 
STUDY FLOWCHART 
ACTH for MS fatigue 
 
 
Screening 
Baseline 
Follow‐up Evaluations 
Premature 
Termination 
Visit # 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
 
Week 
‐4 to ‐1 
0 
(±4days) 
8 
(±4days) 
16 
(±4days) 
24 
(±4days) 
28 
(±4days) 
 
Informed Consent & 
Demographics 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Randomization 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
Medical & Neurological 
History 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Physical & Neurologic 
Exam 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Vital Signs 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
ECG 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laboratory Assessments 
 
Urinalysis 
 
CBC 
 
CMP 
 
TSH 
 
Pregnancy 
Test/HCG 
(for female only) 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
Additional Serum 
Sample for Research 
Purposes 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
EDSS 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MFIS, FSS, BDI‐II, ESS, 
SF36 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
C‐SSR 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Study Drug Dispensing 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
Protocol Compliance & 
Study Drug 
Accountability 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
Concomitant Therapy 
and AEs 
Monitor and record throughout the study 


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CONFIDENTIAL 
9 
Informed consent 
The investigator or designated research staff will obtain informed consent from each subject 
after explaining the purpose of the study and the potential risks and benefits known or can be 
reasonably expected.  The IRB approved informed consent form will be signed by the subject 
or the legal representative before the subject participates in any study procedure.  The original 
signed informed consent form will be kept in the subject’s medical record, a duplicate will be 
provided to the subject.  
 
Visit 1 or Screening visit (Week -4 to -1; 7 to 28 days prior to Baseline) 
The following clinical and laboratory evaluations will occur within 4 weeks prior to baseline.  
The investigator/treating neurologist (or designee where allowed) must perform all screening 
evaluations to determine patient eligibility.  
 Informed consent 
 Demographics 
 Review of medical and neurological history 
 Review of medications 
 Vital signs 
 Physical and neurological exam  
 EDSS  
 ECG 
 Laboratory assessments: Urinalysis, CBC, CMP, TSH, Pregnancy test/HCG (female 
only) 
 MFIS, FSS, BDI-II, ESS, SF36, C-SSR* 
 
* The C-SSR must be reviewed by the site principal investigator or treating physician prior to 
the patient leaving the clinic 
 
Visit 2 or Baseline visit (Week 0; 4 weeks after Screening +/- 4 days) 
The following clinical and laboratory evaluations will occur at baseline visit, which must be 
completed 4 weeks after screening (+/- 4 days).  The investigator/treating neurologist will 
review inclusion/exclusion criteria to confirm patient eligibility before study drug is dispensed. 
 Randomization 
 Interval medical and neurological history 
 Vital signs 
 Physical and neurological exam 
 Laboratory assessments: CBC  Urinalysis,  CMP , Pregnancy test/HCG (female only) 
 MFIS, FSS, BDI-II, ESS, SF36, C-SSR* 
 Study drug dispensing 
 Protocol compliance study drug accountability 
 Concomitant therapy and AEs 
 Additional serum sample for research purposes 
 
* The C-SSR must be reviewed by the site principal investigator or treating physician prior to 
the patient leaving the clinic 
 


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Visit 3/Week 8 (8 weeks +/- 4 days from baseline) 
The following clinical and laboratory evaluations will occur 8 weeks after baseline with a +/- 
4 day window.  The investigator/treating neurologist will review inclusion/exclusion criteria 
to confirm patient eligibility before study drug is dispensed.   
 Interval medical and neurological history 
 Vital signs 
 Physical and neurological exam 
 Laboratory assessments: CBC, Urinalysis,  CMP, Pregnancy test/HCG (female only) 
 MFIS, FSS, BDI-II, ESS, SF36, C-SSR* 
 Study drug dispensing 
 Protocol compliance study drug accountability 
 Concomitant therapy and AEs  
 Additional serum sample for research purposes 
 
* The C-SSR must be reviewed by the site principal investigator or treating physician prior to 
the patient leaving the clinic 
 
Visit 4/Week 16 (16 weeks +/- 4 days from baseline) 
The following clinical and laboratory evaluations will occur 16 weeks after baseline with a +/- 
4 day window.  The investigator/treating neurologist will review inclusion/exclusion criteria 
to confirm patient eligibility before study drug is dispensed.   
 Interval medical and neurological history 
 Vital signs 
 Physical and neurological exam 
 Laboratory assessments: CBC, Urinalysis, CMP, Pregnancy test/HCG (female only) 
 MFIS, FSS, BDI-II, ESS, SF36, C-SSR* 
 Study drug dispensing 
 Protocol compliance study drug accountability 
 Concomitant therapy and AEs 
 Additional serum sample for research purposes 
 
* The C-SSR must be reviewed by the site principal investigator or treating physician prior to 
the patient leaving the clinic 
 
Visit 5/Week 24 (24 weeks +/- 4 days from baseline) 
The following clinical and laboratory evaluations will occur 24 weeks after baseline with a +/- 
4 day window.  The investigator/treating neurologist will review inclusion/exclusion criteria 
to confirm patient eligibility.    
 Interval medical and neurological history 
 Vital signs 
 Physical and neurological exam 
 Laboratory assessments: CBC, Urinalysis, CMP, Pregnancy test/HCG (female only) 
 MFIS, FSS, BDI-II, ESS, SF36, C-SSR* 
 Protocol compliance study drug accountability 
 Concomitant therapy and AEs 


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11 
 Additional serum sample for research purposes 
 
* The C-SSR must be reviewed by the site principal investigator or treating physician prior to 
the patient leaving the clinic 
 
Visit 6/Week 28 (28 weeks +/- 4 days from baseline) 
The following clinical and laboratory evaluations will occur 28 weeks after baseline with a +/- 
4 day window.   
 Interval medical and neurological history 
 Vital signs 
 Physical and neurological exam 
 Laboratory assessments: CBC, Urinalysis, CMP 
 MFIS, FSS, BDI-II, ESS, SF36, C-SSR* 
 Protocol compliance study drug accountability 
 Concomitant therapy and AEs  
 Additional serum sample for research purposes 
 
* The C-SSR must be reviewed by the site principal investigator or treating physician prior to 
the patient leaving the clinic 
 
Premature termination visit 
If discontinuation of study drug occurs, a premature termination visit must be performed as 
soon as possible, or within 7 days after the last dose of study drug.  Randomized patients who 
were withdrawn from the study for any reason will not be replaced.  The following clinical and 
laboratory evaluations will be performed: 
 Interval medical and neurological history 
 Vital signs 
 Physical and neurological exam 
 Laboratory assessments: CBC, Urinalysis, CMP 
 MFIS, FSS, BDI-II, ESS, SF36, C-SSR* 
 Concomitant therapy and AEs 
 
* The C-SSR must be reviewed by the site principal investigator or treating physician prior to 
the patient leaving the clinic 
 
Unscheduled visits 
Patients may be asked to return for unscheduled visit to assess any undesired clinical, or 
laboratory changes that occur during the study.    
 
Study withdrawal 
If a patient is lost to follow-up after all means of contact have been attempted, she/he will be 
withdrawn from the study. 
 
Patient Monitoring and Evaluation 
Patients will be instructed to contact their treating neurologist immediately in the event of a 
relapse. 


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A  Stage 1 safety and efficacy analysis will be performed when 45th subject has completed 
visit 4(week 16). This analysis will be performed by the unblinded clinical and biostatistician 
members of the data safety monitoring board (DSMB).  While this analysis is being performed, 
no new subjects may enroll in the investigation, but treatment of those already enrolled will 
continue while the analysis is taking place. If more subjects in the placebo arm demonstrate 
20% or greater improvement than in the ACTH arm on both the MFIS and FSS, the study will 
be halted and subjects in the study will cease receiving investigational agents.  If the ACTH 
arm is equal or superior to the placebo arm in MFIS and/or FSS, the study will continue, as 
will recruitment of the additional 45 subjects.  If the study is halted due to lack of efficacy after 
the Stage 1 analysis, an additional analysis for efficacy will be performed utilizing those 
subjects who completed 6 months enrollment at the time the study was halted.  
 
Treatment compliance 
Patients will be instructed to complete a medication administration log and return the logs to 
study coordinator at each visit.  Information on missed doses and total number of missed doses 
will be captured.  Missing more than 2 doses in an 8-week interval is considered non-
compliant.  The investigator will discuss the medication regimen with non-compliant patients 
and they will be encouraged to continue with their injection schedule. 
 
Potential Pitfalls and Contingencies 
This study requires self-administration of an injectable agent.  Thus there is a risk of non-
compliance on the part of the subjects either due to needle phobia, intolerance to injections or 
lapse memory on the part of the subjects. 
 
Data Processing and Analysis  
Data forms will be faxed to the data coordination center within 3 business days after each study 
visit and processed by staff trained in data entry procedures.  The forms will be entered by two 
staff working independently. The completeness of the data and whether the data values are in 
an appropriate range will be checked periodically. Study sites will be asked to complete data 
clarification requests for confirmation of missing data or questionable information. 
 
Statistical/Analytical Plan  
Primary endpoint  
Statistical analysis will be performed to test the change from baseline to end of study in two 
fatigue measures (MFIS and FSS) to be completed by patient at baseline, Week 8, Week 16, 
Week 24, and Week 28. 
 
Secondary endpoint  
Statistical analysis will be done to test the change from baseline to end of study in depression, 
sleepiness, and quality of life measures (BDI-II, ESS, and SF-36) to be completed by patient 
at baseline, Week 8, Week 16, Week 24, and Week 28. 
 
All AEs are to be coded and grouped by organ system.  AEs will also be tabulated by severity 
and by relationship and summarized by treatment group.  Summary tables of the AEs will be 
presented to show the incidence and frequency by treatment group and by study site. 


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Statistical method 
This study will collect longitudinal data that consists of repeated measures on each individual. 
The mixed-effects regression model for the analysis of longitudinal data will be used to test 
the changes of the fatigue scores over time.  
 
Sample Size Justification 
Ninety subjects will be recruited and randomized 1:1 to receive ACTH or placebo in a subject 
and examining physician-blinded manner.  If the MFIS score decreases from 38 for about 20% 
with standard deviation =16.4 in the 45 patients who received ACTH, the power to reject the 
null hypothesis in a paired t-test with alpha= 0.5 would be 86%. If the difference of the changes 
of MFIS score between two treatment group is 7.6 with within group standard deviation=16.4 
in the 90 patients, the power to reject the null hypothesis in a t-test with alpha= 0.5 would be 
87%.   Ziemssen and colleagues (Ziemssen, Hoffman, Apfel, & Kern, 2008) studied the effect 
of glatiramer acetate on fatigue in MS patients. Glatiramer acetate was found to be associated 
with a reduction in absence from work and a significant reduction in fatigue symptoms, as 
measured by MFIS.  The data from Ziemssen et al. were used for the sample size calculation 
for this study.  
D. REGULATORY, SAFETY AND MONITORING  
Members and Responsibilities of DSMB 
There will be 3 members of the DSMB, one will be a clinical neurologist with expertise in the 
treatment of patients with MS, one will be a PhD level biostatistician with past experience in 
statistical analysis of clinical studies of MS and one will be a physician with adequate expertise 
in endocrinology.  The DSMB will review all adverse events (including all MS relapses) that 
occur during the study, independently conduct the interim analysis, the timing of which as 
described above, and the final analysis for safety and efficacy of the investigational treatment.  
The DSMB will also meet at any time they may choose if there are concerns for patient safety.  
Records of all committee reviews and input will be kept in the study binder. 
 
Regulatory Requirements 
The study will be performed in accordance with ICH GCP Guidelines and the Code of Federal 
Regulations for clinical research.  Any amendments to the study protocol must be approved by 
Providence IRB and the IRB/IEC of each site before implementation.  AEs and protocol 
violations or deviations must be reported according to the guideline of the IRB/IEC of each 
site. 
 
Safety Assessments 
 
Physical Examination 
A full physical examination will be conducted at every visit.  Any worsening or new 
abnormality that is clinically significant is to be recorded as an AE and will be analyzed as 
such.  MS related symptoms are not to be reported as AEs unless, in the opinion of the 
investigator, the symptoms are unusually serious and relevant. 
 
 
Vital Signs 
Vital signs including body temperature, pulse, respiration rate, systolic and diastolic blood 


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pressure, and weight will be obtained at every visit 
 
 
 
12-lead ECG 
A 12-lead standard ECG will be performed at screening visit. 
 
 
Clinical Laboratory Parameters 
The following laboratory assessments will be performed at the local laboratory at selected 
visits: 
 CBC 
 Urinalysis 
 CMP 
 TSH 
 Pregnancy Test (for female subjects only) 
 
Adverse Event 
An adverse event (AE) is any unfavorable or unintended sign, symptom, or disease that is 
experienced by a subject who has received an investigational drug, whether or not there is a 
causal relationship with the investigational drug. At the signing of the informed consent form, 
each subject will be given the names and telephone numbers of investigational site personnel 
for reporting adverse events and medical emergencies.  The investigator must conduct 
thorough assessment to determine the severity of the AE and the relationship to the study drug.  
Any clinically significant AE of severity moderate or higher,  requires follow up until 
resolution or stabilization.  
Serious Adverse Events 
A serious adverse event (SAE) is defined as any event that: 
 Results in the outcome of death 
 Places the subject at immediate risk of death (a life-threatening event)   
 Results in a congenital anomaly/birth defect 
 Results in hospitalization or prolongs an existing hospitalization 
 An event that results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity. 
 Require intervention to prevent permanent impairment or one of the other outcomes listed 
in the definition above.   
 
Adverse Event Recording/Reporting 
All adverse events (including pre-dosing and treatment-emergent) should be recorded in the 
subject’s Adverse Event CRF regardless of severity or relationship to study drug.  The 
investigator must review the laboratory findings and sign and date the laboratory report.  Any 
moderate or severe laboratory abnormalities should be reported to the coordinating center as 
outlined below. All SAEs must be reported by the investigator to Providence Regional 
Research/ Regulatory office by email at mark.schuster@providence.org or fax to 503-215-
6547 within 24 hours of the investigator’s knowledge of the event.  Providence Health & 
Services will report SAEs to the FDA.  All SAEs must be recorded on SAE forms and be 
reported, whether or not the event is considered by the investigator to be related to study drug.   
 


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Severity 
The intensity of severity of an AE will be graded as follows: 
 
Mild 
Symptoms(s) barely noticeable to subject or does not make subject 
uncomfortable; does not influence performance or functioning; prescription 
drug not ordinarily needed for relief of symptoms(s) but may be given because 
of personality of subject 
 
Moderate 
Symptom(s) of a sufficient severity to make subject uncomfortable; 
performance of daily activity is influenced; subject is able to continue in study; 
treatment for symptom(s) may be needed. 
 
Severe 
Symptom(s) cause severe discomfort; symptoms cause incapacitation or 
significant impact on subject’s daily life; severity may cause cessation of 
treatment with investigational drug; treatment for symptom(s) may be given 
and/or subject hospitalized. 
 
Relationship to Study Drug 
The relationship or association of the AE to a study drug will be characterized as follows: 
 
Not related 
Any event that does not follow a reasonable temporal sequence from 
administration of investigational drug AND that is likely to have been produced 
by the subject’s clinical state or other modes of therapy administered to the 
subject. 
 
Unlikely 
Any event that does not follow a reasonable temporal sequence from 
administration of investigational drug OR that is likely to have been produced 
by the subject’s clinical state or other modes of therapy administered to the 
subject. 
 
Possibly 
Any reaction that follows a reasonable temporal sequence from administration 
of investigational drug OR that follows a known response pattern to the 
suspected drug AND that could not be reasonably explained by the known 
characteristics of the subject’s clinical state or other modes of therapy 
administered to the subject. 
 
Related 
Any reaction that follows a reasonable temporal sequence from administration 
of investigational drug AND that follows a known response pattern to the 
suspected drug AND that recurs with re-challenge, AND/OR is improved by 
stopping the drug or reducing the dose. 
Investigator Reporting Responsibilities for Safety and Monitoring 
 Monitor and record all adverse events 
 Determine the seriousness, causality, and severity of each adverse event 
 Report all serious adverse events to the FDA according to the Code of Federal 
Regulations 


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 Report to the Sponsor within 24 hours (non-Providence Health & Services sites) 
 Actively and persistently pursue follow-up of serious adverse events  
 Forward a copy of the follow-up information to Sponsor 
 
E. ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE STUDY AND CRITICAL TIMELINE ELEMENTS  
 
I. Please complete expected/estimated dates: 
Table 1: Critical Timeline Elements
Element Name 
Date
IRB approval, expected 
9/30/2013
IND submission, expected 
9/30/2013
Study start date, estimated 
10/01/2013
Enrollment completion date, estimated
9/30/2015
Study completion date, estimated 
7/31/2016
 
 
 
II. Describe publication plan and anticipated number of abstracts and manuscript submissions (include 
intended conference(s) for presentation and month, year of conference(s)): 
 
Upon completion of data collection, a research abstract will be submitted to the next American 
Academy of Neurology or Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting.  Upon completion 
of the study, a research manuscript will be submitted to Neurology, Neurotherapeutics, or the Journal 
of Multiple Sclerosis.   
 
 
 
 


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F. REFERENCES 
 
Brown, J. N., Howard, C. A., & Kemp, D. W. (2010). Modafinil for the treatment of multiple 
sclerosis-related fatigue Ann Pharmacother (Vol. 44, pp. 1098-1103). United States. 
Flachenecker, P., Kumpfel, T., Kallmann, B., Gottschalk, M., Grauer, O., Rieckmann, P.,  
Toyka, K. V. (2002). Fatigue in multiple sclerosis: a comparison of different rating 
scales and correlation to clinical parameters. Mult Scler, 8(6), 523-526.  
Kumpfel, T., Schwan, M., Pollmacher, T., Yassouridis, A., Uhr, M., Trenkwalder, C., & 
Weber, F. (2007). Time of interferon-beta 1a injection and duration of treatment 
affect clinical side effects and acute changes of plasma hormone and cytokine levels 
in multiple sclerosis patients. [Clinical Trial 
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't]. Mult Scler, 13(9), 1138-1145. doi: 
10.1177/1352458507078685 
Lange, R., Volkmer, M., Heesen, C., & Liepert, J. (2009). Modafinil effects in multiple 
sclerosis patients with fatigue. J Neurol, 256(4), 645-650.  
Mills, R. J., & Young, C. A. (2010). The relationship between fatigue and other clinical 
features of multiple sclerosis Mult Scler (Vol. 17, pp. 604-612). England. 
Moller, F., Poettgen, J., Broemel, F., Neuhaus, A., Daumer, M., & Heesen, C. (2011). 
HAGIL (Hamburg Vigil Study): a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study 
with modafinil for treatment of fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis Mult Scler 
(Vol. 17, pp. 1002-1009). England. 
Murray, T. J. (1985). Amantadine therapy for fatigue in multiple sclerosis. Can J Neurol Sci, 
12(3), 251-254.  
Pucci, E., Branas, P., D'Amico, R., Giuliani, G., Solari, A., & Taus, C. (2007). Amantadine 
for fatigue in multiple sclerosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev(1), CD002818.  
Ziemssen, T., Hoffman, J., Apfel, R., & Kern, S. (2008). Effects of glatiramer acetate on 
fatigue and days of absence from work in first-time treated relapsing-remitting 
multiple sclerosis. [Evaluation Studies 
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't]. Health Qual Life Outcomes, 6, 67. doi: 10.1186/1477-
7525-6-67 
 
 
G. BUDGET 
Budget must be approved by institution prior to submission. To ensure Questcor IIS resources are used 
effectively- we require that all budgets: 1) have itemized direct study costs; 2) do not exceed 30% in 
overhead (indirect) costs. The (itemized) proposed budget should include support for the Principal 
Investigator and/or personnel based on annual percent effort. The IIS research agreement provides for 
reimbursement for travel related to presentation of study data at conferences/congresses so please do 
NOT include this as an expense.