Comparing 3 approaches for multiple sclerosis (MS)
Official title: A Phase I Double Blind Study of Metformin Acting on Endogenous Neural Progenitor Cells in Children and Young Adults With Multiple Sclerosis
Interventions
Metformin
Each tablet contains 500mg of metformin hydrochloride
Placebo
Each tablet contains no active drug ingredient
Canadian Sites (1)
The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for23 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 0-6.0 (inclusive)
- +Range Serum Creatinine Level (µmol/L): Age 5 to \<12 years (male)=25-50, Age 5 to \<12 years (female)=25-50; Age 12 to \<15 years (male)=37-67, Age 12 to \<15 years (female)=37-67; Age 15 to \<19 years (male)=51-89, Age 15 to \<19 years (female)=40-69; Age ≥19 years (male)=58-110; Age ≥19 years (female)=46-92
- +Patients with a history of MS with anterior visual pathway involvement and longer than 6 months after presentation with ON or an acute demyelinating event/relapse
- +Age 10 year to 25 years and 11 months
- +Latency delay \> 115 milliseconds on baselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more → full-field transient pattern reversal VEP in at least one eye (electrophysiological evidence of demyelination) or \> 10 milliseconds difference between eyes, or Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness on OCT of \< 90 µm in at least one eye or an inter-eye difference in the RNFL of 10 µm or more
- +Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) Thickness on baseline OCT ≥60 µm
- +If on an MS disease-modifying therapy, no changes in the therapeutic agent or dosing in the 6 months prior to study initiation
- +No significant renal or liver abnormalities
- +Has either English as his or her native language or English comprehension needed to complete the neuropsychological testing
- +Meet criteria for adequate organ function requirements as described below:
- +Adequate renal function defined as:
- +Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \> 70 mL/min/1.73 m2 or serum creatinine based on age/gender as follows:
- +Adequate liver function defined as:
- +Total bilirubin \< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age SGOT (AST) or SGPT (ALT) \< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age
Exclusion
- −Concomitant use of any drugs that are listed to have drug-drug interactions with metformin (i.e. calcium channel blockers, diuretics, etc.) as determined by Principal/Qualified InvestigatorPrincipal investigatorThe doctor or researcher responsible for running the study at a site.Read more →
- −A history of retinal pathology (major ophthalmologic disease / concomitant ophthalmologic disorders)
- −Unstable and/or insulin-dependent (Type 1) diabetes, metabolic acidosis and/or lactic acidosis
- −History of unexplained hypoglycemia (\<2.8 mmol/L)
- −Already on metformin
- −Concomitant use of any other putative remyelinating therapy as determined by the Principal/Qualified Investigator
- −Treatment for an acute attack with corticosteroids within 30 days prior to screeningScreeningThe checks done before joining, to see whether a study fits.Read more → / relapse within 30 days prior to screening
- −Concomitant use of insulin
- −Lactate levels \> 1.5x upper limit of normal
In plain language
Assembled directly from this trial’s registry record. Every sentence traces to a field below — nothing here is generated or interpreted.
What this study is
This study is testing a treatment for a condition.
Phase 1Phase 1The earliest stage of human testing, in a small group, focused on safety.Read more →/2 — a combined study that starts with early safety and continues into what the treatment does.
What is being given or done in this study: Metformin, PlaceboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more →.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.primaryPurpose
- designModule.phases
- armsInterventionsModule.interventions[].name
How the study is run
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
You, the study team, the people giving the treatment, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
There are 3 groups in this study.
From the trial registry
Built from this field:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Who the study is looking for
The study lists an age range of 10 years to 25 years.
The study is open to people of any sex.
The study does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
These are the criteria the study lists. Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 20 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around October 2027.
The main measurement is taken over: 3 years.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Number of patients with adverse eventsAdverse eventAny medical problem that happens during a study, whether or not the treatment caused it.Read more → (safety and tolerability) — measured over 3 years.
Number of patients who were approached to participate, declined participation and consented to participate (recruitment) — measured over 3 years.
Proportion of patients who completed each visit within the trial (retention) — measured over 3 years.
Proportion of patients who completed each of the outcome measuresEndpointThe specific thing a study measures to answer its question.Read more → at the appropriate time points (adherence with outcome measures) — measured over 3 years.
The study lists 1 further main measurements.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT04121468 on ClinicalTrials.gov. The full registry text is further down this page — this summary never replaces it.
Not medical advice. What do these terms mean?
What is being tested — in plain terms
About MetforminDrug
Each tablet contains 500mg of metformin hydrochloride
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a drug is here: A medicine — a chemical or small-molecule treatment — given as the thing being studied.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
About PlaceboOther
Each tablet contains no active drug ingredient
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a other is here: An intervention the registry did not place in another category.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
Common questions
Answered from this trial’s registry record. Where the record doesn’t say, these answers say so rather than filling the gap.
Am I eligible for this trial?
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part. Concord cannot make that determination, and neither can any tool that has not examined you.
What the study lists: an age range of 10 years to 25 years.
The full inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → and exclusion criteriaExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more → are published on this page, exactly as the study team wrote them.
The useful next step is to bring this trial to your doctor. Answering a few questions first gives them something concrete to review.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
From the trial registry
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Would I know which treatment I am getting?
You, the study team, the people giving the treatment, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
From the trial registry
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
Who can join?
The study lists an age range of 10 years to 25 years.
It is open to people of any sex.
It does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can confirm whether a particular person can take part.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: 3 years.
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2027-10.
How long any one person takes part can differ from the study length. The study team can tell you what the schedule looks like in practice.
From the trial registry
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
How many people are taking part?
The study aims to enrol about 20 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists one location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sites can open and close during a study, so confirm with the team before travelling.
From the trial registry
- trial_locations
About This Trial
A randomized multiple baseline feasibility trial where participants will start taking metformin at one of 3 randomly determined points (3-months, 6-months or 9 months) during the 12-month trial. All subjects will be on a daily dose of metformin for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 9 months.
Think this trial might be right for you?
Complete a quick intake form and we will match you with this and other relevant trials based on your medical profile.
See if this trial could fit youThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical trial eligibility can only be determined by the trial site after proper screening. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the most current status. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about clinical trial participation.