Study of Cenegermin Nasal Spray for Safety and Tolerability in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

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What is this study about?

This study involves children with spastic cerebral palsy, which is a condition affecting muscle movement and coordination that causes muscles to become stiff and tight. The study will test a treatment called cenegermin, which is a form of human nerve growth factor given as a nasal spray powder for solution. Some children will receive cenegermin while others will receive placebo. The purpose of the study is to check how safe cenegermin is and how well children tolerate it when given through the nose.

Children taking part in this study will receive either cenegermin or placebo through an intranasal delivery device, which is a special tool designed to deliver the treatment inside the nose. The study is designed as a crossover study, which means that children will receive both the active treatment and placebo at different times during the study. The treatment period will last up to 28 days. Throughout the study, doctors will monitor the children closely to check for any unwanted effects and to see how the treatment affects their condition.

During the study, doctors will measure several things including any side effects that occur, changes in muscle stiffness using a scoring system, changes in movement abilities, daily activities, social and thinking skills, and communication function. Blood samples will be taken to measure the amount of nerve growth factor in the blood. The study will also include regular checks such as vital signs, weight and height measurements, physical examinations, laboratory tests, and tests to monitor heart and brain activity. Children participating in the study should continue their regular physical therapy or occupational therapy throughout the study period.

1 Treatment Period 1

During this period, you will receive either cenegermin or placebo. Cenegermin is a medication that contains a protein called recombinant human nerve growth factor. The placebo looks the same but does not contain the active medication.

The medication will be administered as a nasal spray. This means the medication will be sprayed into your child’s nose.

The specific dosage and frequency of administration will be determined based on your child’s body weight and the study protocol. Adjustments may be made if your child weighs more than 30 kilograms.

This is a double-blinded study, which means neither you nor the study doctor will know whether your child is receiving cenegermin or placebo during this period.

2 Washout Period

After the first treatment period ends, there will be a break called a washout period.

During this time, your child will not receive any study medication. This allows the body to clear any medication from the previous treatment period.

Your child will continue with regular physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions as before.

3 Treatment Period 2

After the washout period, your child will begin the second treatment period.

This is a crossover study, which means your child will receive whichever treatment they did not receive in the first period. If your child received cenegermin in the first period, they will receive placebo in this period, and vice versa.

The medication will again be administered as a nasal spray, with the same dosage and frequency as in the first treatment period.

Neither you nor the study doctor will know which treatment your child is receiving during this period.

4 Safety Monitoring Throughout the Study

Throughout all treatment periods, your child will be monitored for any side effects or changes in health. This includes checking vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.

Your child’s weight and height will be measured regularly.

Physical examinations will be performed by the study doctor to assess your child’s overall health.

Blood samples will be taken to measure the levels of the medication in your child’s blood and to perform laboratory tests.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) will be performed. This is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart using small sensors placed on the skin.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) will be performed. This is a test that records the electrical activity of the brain using small sensors placed on the scalp.

5 Assessment of Spasticity and Function

The study doctor will assess your child’s spasticity (muscle stiffness) using a scale called the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). This measures how much resistance there is when the doctor moves your child’s joints.

Your child’s motor function will be assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) and the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS-E&R). These tools measure how well your child can perform movements like sitting, standing, and walking.

You will be asked to complete questionnaires about your child’s daily activities, social interactions, thinking skills, and communication abilities. These assessments are called PEDI-CAT (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory – Computer Adaptive Test) and CFCS (Communication Function Classification System).

You may also be asked to complete a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (PROM), which is a questionnaire about your observations of your child’s condition and progress.

6 Continuation of Regular Therapy

Your child must continue to receive physical therapy and/or occupational therapy throughout the entire study.

Your child should have been receiving these therapies for at least three months before joining the study and will need to continue them for the full duration of the study.

These regular therapy sessions are an important part of your child’s care and must be maintained while participating in the study.

Who Can Join the Study?

  • The child must be 2 to 6 years old, including both boys and girls.
  • The child must have a confirmed diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy, which is a condition that causes stiff and tight muscles, with a stiffness score of at least 2 on a special measurement scale called the MAS (Modified Ashworth Scale) in at least one joint.
  • The child can have any level of movement ability from I to V on the GMFCS-E&R scale, which is a system that describes how well a child can move and walk.
  • The child must weigh at least 8 kilograms (children weighing more than 30 kilograms may be included based on the doctor’s decision).
  • The child must already be receiving physical therapy (treatment to help with movement and strength) or occupational therapy (treatment to help with daily activities) for at least 3 months before joining the study and must continue this therapy throughout the study.

Who Cannot Join the Study?

  • The study information provided does not contain specific exclusion criteria, which are reasons why a patient cannot participate in the study
  • Without detailed exclusion criteria listed in the source data, it is not possible to provide specific conditions that would prevent participation
  • Typically, exclusion criteria might include things like certain other medical conditions, use of specific medications, or previous treatments, but these details are not available in the provided information

Where you can join this trial?

Verified and Recommended Sites

No sites found in this category

Verified Sites

Site Name City Country Status
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome Italy
Associazione La Nostra Famiglia Conegliano Italy

Other Sites

Site Name City Country Status
IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini Genoa Italy
Universita Degli Studi Di Brescia Brescia Italy
Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu’ Rome Italy
Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Besta Milan Italy
IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris Pisa Italy
Awfcrni Uhb Imsau Dn Rxakil Eygimf Reggio Emilia Italy

Want to learn more about this study or check if you can participate? Contact us.

Trial status

Country Status Recruitment Start
Italy Italy
Recruiting
28.11.2025

Trial locations

Investigated drugs:

Cenegermin is a medication that contains a laboratory-made version of a natural protein called nerve growth factor that is normally found in the human body. This medication is given through the nose (intranasally) and is being tested to see if it is safe and well-tolerated in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Vehicle is an inactive liquid that looks the same as the cenegermin medication but does not contain any active ingredient. It is used as a comparison to help researchers understand if any effects seen in the study are due to the actual medication or not.

Investigated diseases:

Spastic Cerebral Palsy – Spastic cerebral palsy is a condition that affects muscle movement and body posture due to damage to the developing brain, typically occurring before or during birth, or in early childhood. This is the most common type of cerebral palsy, characterized by increased muscle stiffness and tightness, which makes movement difficult. The muscles resist stretching and may remain constantly contracted, affecting the person’s ability to move smoothly and control their limbs. Children with this condition often experience difficulties with walking, coordination, and performing daily activities. The severity can range from mild, affecting only certain muscle groups, to more significant involvement that impacts multiple parts of the body. The condition does not worsen over time, but the symptoms and their impact on daily functioning may change as the child grows and develops.

Trial ID:
2025-522786-29-00
Protocol code:
NGF-CP-201
Trial Phase:
Therapeutic exploratory (Phase II)

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