Tests clemastine as a possible nerve-coating repair drug in optic neuritis

Trial details

Who runs it

University of California, San Francisco

Trial code

NCT02521311

Record updated

11 March 2026

Original description

The main purpose of this study is to assess clemastine as a remyelinating agent in patients with acute optic neuritis.The study will also evaluate the tolerability of clemastine, originally approved as first-generation antihistamine, in patients with optic neuritis. Study procedures will include assessments for evidence of remyelination in the anterior visual pathway and in the brain using electrophysiologic techniques and magnetic resonance imaging. If they are on one, patients in this study can remain on their standard disease modifying treatment during the course of the study. However, patients cannot participate in any other investigational new drug research study concurrently.Read full original descriptionShow less

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo Controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Clemastine Fumarate as a Remyelinating Agent in Acute Optic Neuritis

The main purpose of this study is to assess clemastine as a remyelinating agent in patients with acute optic neuritis.The study will also evaluate the tolerability of clemastine, originally approved as first-generation antihistamine, in patients with optic neuritis. Study procedures will include assessments for evidence of remyelination in the anterior visual pathway and in the brain using electrophysiologic techniques and magnetic resonance imaging. If they are on one, patients in this study can remain on their standard disease modifying treatment during the course of the study. However, patients cannot participate in any other investigational new drug research study concurrently.

Inclusion: Patients diagnosed or suspected to have an acute demyelinating optic neuritis in at least one eye within 3 weeks from the onset of any visual symptom other than pain; Use of disease-modifying therapies is not a contraindication; Use of appropriate contraception during the period of trial (women); Understand and sign the informed consent.

Exclusion: Other major ophthalmologic diseases / concomitant ophthalmologic disorders (e.g. diabetes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, severe myopia, etc); Suicidal ideation or behavior in 6 months prior to baseline; Involved with other study protocols simultaneously without prior approval; Concomitant use of any other putative remyelinating therapy as determined by the investigator; Positive for NMO antibody discovered within the first 2 weeks after randomization; History of significant cardiac conduction block; History of cancer; History of drug or alcohol abuse within the past year; Clinically significant cardiac, metabolic, hematologic, hepatic, immunologic, urologic, endocrinologic, neurologic, pulmonary, psychiatric, dermatologic, allergic, renal, or other major diseases that, in the PI's judgment, may affect the interpretation of study results or patient safety; Serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL; aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), or alkaline phosphatase > 2 times the upper limit of normal; History or presence of clinically significant medical illness or laboratory abnormality that, in the opinion of the investigator would preclude participation in the study; Disc hemorrhages in the qualifying eye; No light perception in qualifying eye; Simultaneous bilateral optic neuritis; Cotton wool spots in the qualifying eye; Macular star in the qualifying eye; Pregnancy, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant; Untreated B12 deficiency (as determined by B12 serological assessments and metabolites including methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine) or untreated hypothyroidism.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02521311