The Lighthouse Project is to test whether human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) may play a role in motor neurone disease (MND) and whether targeting HERVs might provide a novel therapeutic avenue.
Approximately 8% of human genes originate from retroviruses which infected animals and humans over millions of years of evolution and their DNA was integrated into our genomes and becoming part of our genetic makeup.
HERVs were only discovered about 30 years ago and it is still not known exactly how or if they may cause disease. However, there is very good evidence in animals that these viruses are associated with a number of neurological conditions.
The Lighthouse Project was the first Phase 2 clinical trial in the world to use modern combination anti-retroviral therapy in patients with MND. Phase 2 trials usually extend the safety and tolerability studies undertake during the Phase I trial using more patients.
In addition, initial tests of the effectiveness of the treatment will also be investigated. This study aimed to determine the safety and tolerability of an anti-retroviral therapy, “Triumeq”, and provide preliminary data on whether it is able to slow down the progression of MND. Triumeq is already used to treat HIV infection safely and effectively.
The Lighthouse Project was supported by Motor Neurone Disease Research Australia and the FightMND Foundation.
Phase 3 trial has now commenced. The phase 3 trial is being conducted in Europe, the U.K., and at a number of sites in Australia (Brisbane, Adelaide, Launceston, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth).
The Phase 2 study was conducted at Calvary Healthcare Bethlehem Hospital in Melbourne and three sites in Sydney; The Brain and Mind Centre at The University of Sydney, Macquarie University and Westmead Hospital.
The study recruited participants who had been diagnosed with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by a neurologist with neuromuscular sub-specialty training. Patients with known familial causes of MND were excluded.
Forty patients started Triumeq treatment and received Triumeq in tablet form (1 tablet/day – orally or crushed via a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube) daily for 24 weeks after an initial 10 weeks of observation before starting treatment.
Triumeq was well tolerated by MND patients with eighty-eight percent of the participants (n = 35) completing the 24-week treatment period. Four patients withdrew during the treatment period due to disease progression and one patient was withdrawn by the investigator due to a possible reaction to Triumeq.
To assess the potential benefits of Triumeq on disease progression a number of standard disease measurements were monitored.
All the disease measurements showed a similar trend with Triumeq treatment decreasing MND progression over the 6-month treatment period. It should be noted however that this was an open-label trial and thus there is a potential placebo effect for the clinical markers.
For the first time in a clinical trial setting, several biomarkers were also investigated to see whether they might be useful in providing simpler and more objective methods to measure disease progression and responses to treatment. The results from these biomarker studies are discussed in depth in the published report from the trial.
In summary, Triumeq appears to be safe and well tolerated in patients with MND.
It has considerable administration advantages as a single once-daily tablet which can be taken either whole or crushed. Moreover, it is already licensed for HIV treatment and is available in most countries.
Initial results indicate Triumeq may have a biological effect, both clinically and on biomarkers in patients with ALS and all effects appear to be positive.
However, this was only a small study and a much larger international multicentre phase 3 placebo-controlled trial will determine if Triumeq improves both survival and clinical progression. This definitive trial will be conducted in Europe, the U.K. and at five sites in Australia (Brisbane, Adelaide, Launceston, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth).
New South Wales
The University of Sydney - Brain and Mind Centre Matthew Kiernan +61291144250 matthew.kiernan@sydney.edu.au
Macquarie Health Neurology - Dominic B Rowe, MBBS, FRACP +61298123720 dominic.rowe@mq.edu.au
Queensland
Sunshine Coast University Hospital - Antony Winkel, MBBS, PhD 0752020000 Antony.Winkel@health.qld.gov.au
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital - Robert Henderson +61736468111 Robert.Henderson@health.qld.gov.au
South Australia
Flinders Medical Centre - David Schultz +61882044187 david.schultz@sa.gov.au
Tasmania
Launceston General Hospital - Lauren Giles +61367776001 lauren.giles@ths.tas.gov.au
Victoria
Calvary Health Care Bethlehem - Sarah Lee +61395962853 ChiuMunSarah.Lee@calvarycare.org.au
Western Australia
The Perron Institute, Nedlands, - Merrilee Needham +61864570209 Merrilee.Needham@health.wa.gov.au
