Clinical Trials

Finding the cure is the answer; working together is the first step. 

Take the step to join a clinical trial for leukodystrophy therapies, if you are able! Improved therapies and a cure will only be found if researchers have patients involved. With rare diseases, it is even more key to have every patient involved. Sometimes patients or caregivers are concerned about joining clinical trials because of the fear of “being a guinea pig to science.” Patients involved in clinical trials are not “guinea pigs,” they are human beings, and the researchers who rely on the patients for their participation are deeply grateful. Patients involved in clinical trials are first in line to receive potentially life changing, and lifesaving, treatments. Results of clinical trials also impact the future of every single person who faces a leukodystrophy diagnosis. The ULF hopes you will consider being part of clinical trials.

Please refer to the links below for the most up to date information on which clinical trials are recruiting new patients or in progress. Reach out to the facilitator of the trial directly, in order to determine eligibility for the trial. 


ULF Partner Clinical Trials

Below are the clinical trials that the ULF is proud to promote on behalf of our partners. If you see a clinical trial below that you believe you are eligible for, please reach out to the [email protected]. Please note: the ULF can only assist with connecting you to the trials associated with our partners below. Trials on ClinicalTrials.gov, you must reach out directly to the facilitator of the trial. 

Calico Labs: Phase 1b Study to Investigate ABBV-CLS-7262's Safety, Tolerability & Pharmacokinetics in Vanishing White Matter Patients

ABBV-CLS-7262 is an investigational drug being researched for the treatment of Vanishing White Matter disease. This is a 96-week, open-label, single arm study.

Subjects will attend regular visits during the course of the study and complete medical assessments, blood tests, checking for side effects, and completing questionnaires.
A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of ION373 in Patients With Alexander Disease (AxD)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ION373 in improving or stabilizing gross motor function across the full range of affected domains in patients with AxD.

Orbit Study: A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Intrathecally Administered ION356 in Participants With Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease (PMD)

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ION356.

A Study to Characterize Biomarkers and Disease Progression in Participants With Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease

The purpose of the study is to prospectively assess longitudinal changes in proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) protein, disease-related biomarkers in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and blood, neuroimaging parameters relevant to Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) and longitudinal changes in performance on clinical, participant, and caregiver-reported outcome assessments to inform the development of therapies for PMD.
Are you living with Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy with Axonal Spheroids and Pigmented Glia (ALSP) or have you been diagnosed with a gene variant in the CSF1R gene?

Learn about two opportunities to participate in research for ALSP.

A Study of VGL101 in Patients With Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy With Axonal Spheroids and Pigmented Glia

Natural History Study in Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy With Axonal Spheroids and Pigmented Glia (ALSP)
The Guanabenz Trial for Vanishing White Matter
For more information, click here.
A Study to Assess the Pharmacodynamics of VK0214 in Male Subjects With AMN
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is developing the study drug (not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration) VK0214 as a potential new treatment for AMN, the adult-onset form of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). X-ALD is a genetic disease that results in the build-up of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in the blood and tissues. This build-up eventually leads to destruction of the fatty covering, called myelin, that surrounds the nerves in the brain and spinal cord and causes the clinical problems that characterize the disease. VK0214 works by reducing the build-up of the VLCFAs, and in so doing, it is expected to improve the symptoms of AMN.
The Natural History Of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (HOME) Study, hosted by NORD’s IAMRARE™ Registry Program, represents an opportunity to address an area of unmet need, providing dynamic data collection and a novel framework for building regulatory-grade rare disease natural history studies incorporating patient-reported information. For more information, click here.
OTL-200 in Patients With Late Juvenile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD)
OTL-200 is a cryopreserved dispersion for infusion containing autologous CD34+ cell enriched population that contains haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) transduced ex vivo using a lentiviral vector encoding the human arylsulfatase A (ARSA) gene. MLD is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) characterized by severe and progressive demyelination affecting the central and peripheral nervous system. The aim of this clinical study is to assess the pharmacodynamic effect and long-term clinical efficacy and safety of OTL-200 in Late Juvenile MLD patients.
rAAV-Olig001-ASPA Gene Therapy for Treatment of Children With Typical Canavan Disease (CAN-GT) rAAV-Olig001-ASPA is the first gene therapy designed to target the oligodendrocytes, which are critical for myelination and brain development. This study is a Phase 1/2 First-In-Human protocol designed to obtain safety, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy data following neurosurgical administration of a single dose of rAAV-Olig001-ASPA delivered intracerebroventricularly in up to 24 children with Canavan Disease. Patients with a diagnosis of typical Canavan Disease who meet all eligibility criteria may be enrolled in this open-label, sequential cohort study of a single dose of rAAV-Olig001-ASPA.
CYGNET: A natural history study of Adult men with Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN). A prospective, retrospective, multicenter, observational study of disease progression in adults with inherited forms of spastic paraplegia.
Minoryx Therapeutics
Minoryx (Europe): An exploratory, open-label, multicenter study in male pediatric patients with cerebral X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophie (cALD) to assess the effect of MIN-102 treatment on the progression of cerebral X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD).
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Fill out the Online Referral Survey to be considered for CHOP's ongoing research efforts. Once enrolled, we will work closely with each family to explore additional resources that may be of interest, including opportunities through their local GLIA-CTN study site. Note that we are actibely recruiting participants for other GLIA-CTN natural history studies, as well, including 4H, Alexander Disease, ALD/AMN, AGS, MLD, and PMD.
Travere Therapeutics
Study to Evaluate Patients With Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis
The study is made up of two cohorts: a randomized double-blind crossover (placebo withdrawal with rescue) study among patients ≥ 16 years of age (adult cohort) and an open-label dose titration study among pediatric patients ≥1 month and <16 years of age (pediatric cohort)
Travere Therapeutics
The REPLACE Registry for Cholbam®/Kolbam® (Cholic Acid)
This is a prospective, observational, non-interventional patient registry designed to document long term safety and clinical outcomes for 10 years in patients treated with Cholbam/Kolbam, including those who have been using Cholbam/Kolbam and those who start Cholbam/Kolbam treatment at enrollment.