A randomized, controlled trial of ZYN002 cannabidiol transdermal gel in children and adolescents with fragile X syndrome (CONNECT-FX)

• Published in: Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 56 - 15
• Main Authors: Berry-Kravis, Elizabeth, Hagerman, Randi, Budimirovic, Dejan, Erickson, Craig, Heussler, Helen, Tartaglia, Nicole, Cohen, Jonathan, Tassone, Flora, Dobbins, Thomas, Merikle, Elizabeth, Sebree, Terri, Tich, Nancy, Palumbo, Joseph M., O’Quinn, Stephen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 25.11.2022; BioMed Central Ltd; BMC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Analysis; Behavioral Symptoms; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cannabidiol; Cannabidiol - pharmacology; Cannabidiol - therapeutic use; Cannabinoids; Care and treatment; Child; Clinical trial; Clinical trials; DNA Methylation; Drug dosages; Endocannabinoid system; Female; FMR1 gene; FMR1 protein; Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein - genetics; Fragile X syndrome; Fragile X Syndrome - drug therapy; Fragile X Syndrome - genetics; Gels - therapeutic use; Gene silencing; Genotype & phenotype; Human Genetics; Humans; Intellectual disabilities; Male; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Methylation; Mutation; Nervous system; Neurology; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; Pathophysiology; Pediatrics; Placebos; Proteins; Psychiatry; Signal transduction; Social aspects; Social behavior; Social interactions; Statistical analysis; Teenagers; Transdermal medication; Australia; Clinical trial; Cannabidiol; Endocannabinoid system; Fragile X syndrome
• ISSN: 1866-1947; 1866-1955; 1866-1955
• DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09466-6

Background Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is associated with dysregulated endocannabinoid signaling and may therefore respond to cannabidiol therapy. Design CONNECT-FX was a double-blind, randomized phase 3 trial assessing efficacy and safety of ZYN002, transdermal cannabidiol gel, for the treatment of behavioral symptoms in children and adolescents with FXS. Methods Patients were randomized to 12 weeks of ZYN002 (250 mg or 500 mg daily [weight-based]) or placebo, as add-on to standard of care. The primary endpoint assessed change in social avoidance (SA) measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist–Community Edition FXS (ABC-C FXS ) SA subscale in a full cohort of patients with a FXS full mutation, regardless of the FMR1 methylation status. Ad hoc analyses assessed efficacy in patients with ≥ 90% and 100% methylation of the promoter region of the FMR1 gene, in whom FMR1 gene silencing is most likely. Results A total of 212 patients, mean age 9.7 years, 75% males, were enrolled. A total of 169 (79.7%) patients presented with ≥ 90% methylation of the FMR1 promoter and full mutation of FMR1 . Although statistical significance for the primary endpoint was not achieved in the full cohort, significant improvement was demonstrated in patients with ≥ 90% methylation of FMR1 (nominal P  = 0.020). This group also achieved statistically significant improvements in Caregiver Global Impression‐Change in SA and isolation, irritable and disruptive behaviors, and social interactions (nominal P -values: P  = 0.038, P  = 0.028, and P  = 0.002). Similar results were seen in patients with 100% methylation of FMR1 . ZYN002 was safe and well tolerated. All treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were mild or moderate. The most common treatment-related TEAE was application site pain (ZYN002: 6.4%; placebo: 1.0%). Conclusions In CONNECT-FX, ZYN002 was well tolerated in patients with FXS and demonstrated evidence of efficacy with a favorable benefit risk relationship in patients with ≥ 90% methylation of the FMR1 gene, in whom gene silencing is most likely, and the impact of FXS is typically most severe. Trial registration The CONNECT-FX trial is registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03614663).