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NCT04937062Active, not recruitingEarly phase 1

Phenylbutyrate for Monogenetic Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 22 Jan 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

This study is to evaluate the use of glycerol phenylbutyrate for monogenetic developmental epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). DEEs are characterized by epilepsy and developmental delay in early life. Two examples of DEEs are STXBP1 and SLC6A1, though there are dozens of others. STXBP1 Encephalopathy is a severe disease that can cause seizures and developmental delays in infants and children. SLC6A1 neurodevelopmental disorder is characterized by developmental delay and often epilepsy. Both STXBP1 encephalopathy and SLC6A1 neurodevelopmental disorder cause symptoms because there are not enough working proteins made by these genes. It is possible that a medication called phenylbutyrate may help the the remaining proteins work better for STXBP1, SLC6A1, and/or other similar DEEs caused by single genes (i.e. "monogenetic"). This study is to test if glycerol phenylbutyrate is safe and well tolerated in children with monogenetic DEE.

Status (registry)
Active, not recruiting
Phase (registry)
Early phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50 (estimated)
First submitted
10 Jun 2021
Start date
1 Mar 2021
Primary completion date
1 Dec 2026
Lead sponsor
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Diseases
Epilepsy
NCT number
NCT04937062

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional · Early phase 1
  • Planned participants: 50
  • From 1 Mar 2021 to the primary completion date, 1 Dec 2026
  • 2 sites in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • Has participated in another investigational study within 30 days or 5 half-lives of the test drug's biologic activity (whichever is longer) before the first study drug dose.
  • Taking alfentanil, quinidine, cyclosporine, or probenecid (known interactions with phenylbutyrate). For subjects who had taken any of these medications in the past, the last dose must have been taken at least 1 week prior to enrollment into the study.
  • The child must have had at least one seizure in the past 30 days prior to enrollment. (If there is high demand for the study and we have several subjects to choose, we will prefer to enroll children with a high number of seizures in the past month.)
  • Is in general good health, aside from neurological consequences of their monogenic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, as determined by having no concurrent medical illness, in the opinion of the site investigator, that places the subject at increased risk of adverse drug reactions or that will interfere with study follow-up.
  • Has participated in another investigational study within 30 days or 5 half-lives of the test drug's biologic activity (whichever is longer) before the first study drug dose.
  • Taking alfentanil, quinidine, cyclosporine, or probenecid (known interactions with phenylbutyrate). For subjects who had taken any of these medications in the past, the last dose must have been taken at least 1 week prior to enrollment into the study.

Other illness

  • Has an active medical illness that would preclude participation in the study (as determined by the Investigator).
  • Known hypersensitivity to phenylbutyrate. Signs of hypersensitivity include wheezing, dyspnea, coughing, hypotension, flushing, nausea, and rash.
  • Pancreatic insufficiency or intestinal malabsorption
    • \###### MONOGENETIC DEE ARM Inclusion Criteria
  • Has normal renal function, with estimated glomerular filtration rate \> 90 mL/minute/1.73 m2 at Screening (using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation).
  • Has an active medical illness that would preclude participation in the study (as determined by the Investigator).
  • Known hypersensitivity to phenylbutyrate. Signs of hypersensitivity include wheezing, dyspnea, coughing, hypotension, flushing, nausea, and rash.
  • Pancreatic insufficiency or intestinal malabsorption

Lab values

  • Has a QT interval corrected with Fridericia's formula (QTcF) ≥ 450 msec on the Screening EKG.
  • Has a clinical laboratory evaluation outside of the test laboratory reference range, unless deemed not clinically significant by the Investigator and the Sponsor.
  • Diagnosed with a monogenic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy; confirmed by laboratory report (i.e., a genetic test with a pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutation of a monogenic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy and a clinical picture consistent with the disorder, as determined by the Investigator). Children with the appropriate clinical picture, a de novo variant of uncertain significance in a monogenic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy will also be eligible for enrollment, at the discretion of the Investigator. If the mutant is classified as definitively non-pathogenic, we would not enroll the child. "Appropriate clinical picture" is at the discretion of the Investigator.
  • Has normal laboratory test results (≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal \[ULN\]) for serum aminotransferase (aspartate aminotransferas \[AST\] and alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\]) concentrations and ammonia.
  • Has a platelet count \> 150 × 103/μL at Screening.
  • Has a QT interval corrected with Fridericia's formula (QTcF) \< 450 msec on the Screening EKG.
  • Has a QT interval corrected with Fridericia's formula (QTcF) ≥ 450 msec on the Screening EKG.
  • Has a clinical laboratory evaluation outside of the test laboratory reference range, unless deemed not clinically significant by the Investigator and the Sponsor.

Age

  • Is a female of child-bearing age (12 years old or older) and known to be sexually active (for example, as determined through a confidential HEADDSSS history), and not taking medication for contraception. This will be assessed confidentially as per good general pediatrics practice
  • Is between 0 months and 15 years of age, inclusive.
  • Is a female of child-bearing age (12 years old or older) and known to be sexually active (for example, as determined through a confidential HEADDSSS history), and not taking medication for contraception. This will be assessed confidentially as per good general pediatrics practice

Other

  • Is unable to comply with the study protocol.
  • Has poor venous access and/or cannot tolerate venipuncture.
  • Is pregnant
  • Inborn errors of beta oxidation.
  • Parent or guardian is able to comprehend and willing to sign an informed consent form (ICF).
  • Is unable to comply with the study protocol.
  • Has poor venous access and/or cannot tolerate venipuncture.
  • Is pregnant
  • Inborn errors of beta oxidation.

Who the study is looking for

  • Diagnosed with STXBP1-E or SLC6A1-NDD; confirmed by laboratory report (i.e., a genetic test with a pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutation of STXBP1 or SLC6A1-NDD and a clinical picture consistent with the disorder, as determined by the Investigator). Patients with the appropriate clinical picture, a de novo variant of uncertain significance in STXBP1 or SLC6A1-NDD will also be eligible for enrollment, at the discretion of the Investigator.
  • Is between 2 months and 17 years of age, inclusive.
  • For children with STXBP1-E, the child must have had at least one seizure in the past 30 days prior to enrollment. If there is high demand for the study and we have several subjects to choose, we will prefer to enroll children with a high number of seizures in the past month.
  • For SLC6A1-NDD, seizures occur later in the course (typically middle of 1st decade) and so seizures will not be an entry criteria.
  • Is in general good health, aside from neurological consequences of STXBP1-E or SLC6A1-NDD, as determined by having no concurrent medical illness, in the opinion of the site investigator, that places the subject at increased risk of adverse drug reactions or that will interfere with study follow-up.
  • Has normal laboratory test results (≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal \[ULN\]) for serum aminotransferase (aspartate aminotransferas \[AST\] and alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\]) concentrations and ammonia at Screening.
  • Has normal renal function, with estimated glomerular filtration rate \> 90 mL/minute/1.73 m2 at Screening (using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation).
  • Has a platelet count \> 150 × 103/μL at Screening.
  • Has a QT interval corrected with Fridericia's formula (QTcF) \< 450 msec on the Screening EKG.
  • Parent or guardian is able to comprehend and willing to sign an informed consent form (ICF).

Criteria the registry did not label

  • \###### STXBP1 / SLC6A1 ARM

Age in the registry: 0 months to 17 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (2)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
Children's Hospital Colorado
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
AuroraUnited StatesUnknown status
Weill Cornell Medicine
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
New YorkUnited StatesUnknown status

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.