Efficacy of Omaveloxolone Treatment for Dysphagia in French Patients With Friedreich's Ataxia

NCT07013292 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 25Neuro02
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disease that typically begins in children and young people. It primarily affects the spinal cord, peripheral nerves and cerebellum of the brain. Clinical manifestations include progressive gait and limb ataxia, auditory and optic neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, scoliosis, dysarthria, and dysphagia. In advanced stages, individuals may become wheelchair-dependent, leading to a severe loss of autonomy and reduced life expectancy. To date, there are no effective treatments known to reverse or halt disease progression. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in individuals with FA. In January 2024, Omaveloxolone was approved for early access in France to treat FA in patients aged 16 years and older. Dysphagia is a central manifestation in FA, and may lead to severe complications such as malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration-related pneumonia, as well as reduced self-esteem and social isolation. Despite its clinical relevance, dysphagia remains underexplored in clinical trials, including in major Omaveloxolone studies where no specific tool for measuring dysphagia has been incorporated. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effect of Omaveloxolone on dysphagia after six months of treatment, in a cohort of French patients with Friedreich's ataxia who benefited from early access to treatment between February 2024 and May 2025. The severity of dysphagia will be assessed using the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ), completed by patients at baseline and after six months of Omaveloxolone treatment.

Conditions

Friedreich Ataxia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Evaluate the progression of dysphagia after 6 months of treatment with Omaveloxolone.

  The SARA (Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia) questionnaire has eight categories with accumulative score ranging from 0 (no ataxia) to 40 (most severe ataxia). Participants will be divided into three groups based on the SARA score. The analysis will compare the mean SSQ (Sydney Swallow Questionnaire) score within each group at the beginning of treatment and again after six months. Additionally, variations in SSQ scores across the three groups will be evaluated to identify any differences in the progression of dysphagia.

  At the time of treatment initiation and after 6 months of Omaveloxolone treatment

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Comparison between SSQ (Sydney Swallow Questionnaire) and SARA (Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia) scores

  At the time of treatment initiation and after 6 months of Omaveloxolone treatment

• Correlation after 6 months of treatment between SARA (Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia) and SSQ (Sydney Swallow Questionnaire) scores.

  At the time of treatment initiation and after 6 months of Omaveloxolone treatment

• Impact of functional status (ambulant vs. non-ambulant) on dysphagia

  At the time of treatment initiation and after 6 months of Omaveloxolone treatment

• Correlation between GAA expansion size and dysphagia (SSQ score) Sydney Swallow Questionnaire

  At the time of treatment initiation and after 6 months of Omaveloxolone treatment

• Correlation between (GAA expansion) size GAA: a repeated sequence of three nucleotides: guanine (G), adenine (A), adenine (A) in DNA. and the evolution of neurological damage ( SARA score) Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia

  At the time of treatment initiation and after 6 months of Omaveloxolone treatment

Study Arms (1)

Patients with Friedreich ataxia treated with Omaveloxolone

SKYCLARYS (omaveloxolone)

Drug: SKYCLARYS (omaveloxolone)

Interventions

SKYCLARYS (omaveloxolone) DRUG

Skyclarys is indicated for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia in adults and adolescents aged 16 and over. Opaque capsule with "RTA 408" printed in white ink on the light green body and "50" printed in white ink on the blue cap. Capsules (size 0) measure 21.7 ± 0.3 mm in length and the outer diameter of the cap is 7.64 ± 0.06 mm. Omaveloxolone should be initiated and monitored by physicians experienced in treating patients with patients with Friedreich's ataxia. The recommended dose is 150 mg omaveloxolone (3 x 50 mg capsules) once daily.

Patients with Friedreich ataxia treated with Omaveloxolone

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will be selected from two public hospitals in France Lille and Nice where patients with genetically confirmed Friedreich's ataxia were treated with early access Omaveloxolone treatment.

You may qualify if:

• Aged ≥ 16 Years
• Confirmed diagnosis of Friedreich's ataxia, genetically verified.
• Omaveloxolone therapy between February 2024 and May 2025, having receive treatment for at least 6 months.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants who interrupted treatment permanently before 6 months.
• Participants who did not complete the SSQ (Sydney swallow Questionnaire) at baseline and after 6 months of treatment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice: lead

Study Sites (1)

CHU NICE

Nice, Alpes Maritimes, 06000, France

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Friedreich Ataxia

Interventions

omaveloxolone

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinocerebellar Degenerations; Cerebellar Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Spinal Cord Diseases; Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Mitochondrial Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Andra EZARU

CONTACT

04 92 03 96 55; ezaru.a@chu-nice.fr

Abderhmane Slioui

CONTACT

0492038953; slioui.a@chu-nice.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 23, 2025
• First Posted: June 10, 2025
• Study Start: June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-05

Locations

FR (1)