Chorionic Gonadotropin to Improve Rehabilitation After Brain Injury - The COGNI-REHAB Study
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
The COGNI-REHAB Trial is a single-site, phase O/I, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; choriogonadotropin alfa, Ovidrel®) in men with post-acute, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). Its objective is to assess the safety and efficacy of a 24-week regimen of Ovidrel (125 micrograms twice weekly) compared to placebo on treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), cognitive and functional recovery, and circulating sex hormones.
Description
This project aims to re-purpose a safe, well-tolerated, already-approved medication: human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; choriogonadotropin alfa, Ovidrel®) for use in the post-acute rehabilitation of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). Ovidrel is currently FDA-approved for use in ovulation induction and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). The rationale for using Ovidrel comes from a convergence of evidence indicating that hCG has neurodevelopmental and neuroregenerative properties, and from preclinical studies demonstrating that hCG reverses TBI-induced suppression of sex h…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- Male
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Male subjects aged 18-65 * Subject is 1-month but \< 6-month post-TBI with a msTBI defined as Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 4-12 (inclusive) at the time of the TBI, and/or at the time of screening (Visit 1) * Stable doses of any medication, supplement or medical food that may affect brain function, unless deemed medically necessary by the patient's physician for optimal healthcare * Fluent in English * Reasonable expectation of availability to receive the 24-week course of therapy and be available for follow up evaluations Exclusion Criteria: * Significantly depressed (Geri…
Interventions
- DrugOvidrel
Ovidrel, recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin, comes in a prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection, is the investigational agent that will be used in this trial. Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe is a sterile, liquid intended for subcutaneous (s.c.) injection. Each Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe is filled with 0.515 mL containing 257.5 micrograms of choriogonadotropin alfa, 28.1 mg mannitol, 505 g 85% O-phosphoric acid, 103 g L-methionine, 51.5 g Poloxamer 188, Sodium Hydroxide (for pH adjustment), and Water for Injection to deliver 125 micrograms of choriogonadotropin alfa in 0.25 mL twice weekly. The pH of the solution is 6.5 to 7.5.
- OtherPlacebo
Prefilled syringe of 0.250 mL normal saline.
Location
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WIMadison, Wisconsin