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Methylcobalamin

Methylcobalamin

Background

Methylcobalamin is the biologically active form of vitamin B12 and is used in Japan
to treat peripheral neuropathy and megaloblastic anaemia. Methylcobalamin has
the ability to decrease levels of homocysteine, a molecule that can contribute to
neuronal degeneration which led to it being considered as a potential candidate for
ALS treatment.

Based on some small early-stage human studies, a Japanese pharmaceutical
company, Eisai, supported a Phase II/III clinical trial.

This trial was run between 2007 and 2014 in 51 sites in Japan with 360 participants.
The treatment regime was quite long (3.5 years)
(https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00444613), with participants receiving
placebo, or 25 or 50mg methylcobalamin twice a week via intramuscular injections.
Results from this initial trial showed that receiving methylcobalamin did not lead to
any significant differences either in survival rates or ALS functional scores, when
compared with placebo.

However, subsequent analysis of the data showed that methylcobalamin seemed to
have an effect in a sub-group of participants who received treatment earlier in their
disease journey (a year or less after symptom onset). These participants showed a
statistically significant decrease in the rate of disease progression (i.e., a decrease in
the rate of decline of the ALSFRS-R score), and also survived longer or took longer to
require ventilation support compared with the placebo group. The outcome of the
trial was published in January 2019 (“Ultra-high-dose methylcobalamin in
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a long-term phase II/III randomised controlled study”
https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/90/4/451).

However, this data was not considered sufficient for approval as an ALS/MND
treatment by the Japanese authorities because it was done after the initial study
results were obtained (post-hoc analysis) and such observations can be misleading.
In an attempt to validate the post-hoc findings, a new Phase 3 trial, JETALS
(https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03548311), was undertaken in 2017, which
focused on participants who seemed to respond well to the treatment from the first
trial i.e. those whose symptoms had begun within one year of enrollment and who
progressed at a moderate rate (defined as a 1–2 point decrease in their ALSFRS-R
scores over the three months preceding the trial).

Trial Design and Results

Participants received twice-weekly injections of either 50 mg of methylcobalamin or
a placebo for 16 weeks. An open-label extension was then made available to all trial
participants in which they will receive the therapy until March 2024.

The initial 16-week trial met its primary outcome, with methylcobalamin-treated
participants showing a 43% slower disease progression as measured by their ALSFRSR scores than those given a placebo (2.66 vs. 4.63 points over 16-weeks). Participants
receiving Riluzole as well as methylcobalamin showed similar results. There was no
difference in side effects of the drug between placebo or methylcobalamin-treated
participants. Although there were statistically significant reductions in ALSFRS-R,
other measures such as muscle strength, forced vital capacity and the ALSAQ-40 total
score, were not changed.

The results from this trial were published in May 2022 – “Efficacy and Safety of
Ultrahigh-Dose Methylcobalamin in Early-Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis A
Randomized Clinical Trial” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/articleabstract/2792228

There are several things to take into account for this study. As the drug was only
tested on participants early in the disease process, it is not clear if the treatment
would be appropriate for participants with more advanced disease. Methylcobalamin
treatment results in a marked change in urine colour which could mean that
participants may have known whether they were receiving placebo or
methylcobalamin and that could influence results (including a potential “nocebo”
effect). The fact that the placebo group appeared to worsen their rate of disease
progression once the trial commenced perhaps supports these concerns of a
potential unblinding effect. The open label extension data may well help to offset any
possible confounding effects. It should be considered that the 16-week trial duration
is shorter than most other trials which usually have a minimum 24-week duration.
Data from the open-label extension will be informative for the longer-term benefits
of this drug.

Summary

The SAC believes that the initial trial and follow-up stage 3 trial have demonstrated
promising results in a subset of early stage participants. The company have stated
they will file for approval from the Japanese authorities in 2023. Due to the short trial
duration and potential confounding effects (hastened placebo decline, possible
unblinding), it is difficult at this time to know the true efficacy, if any, of ultra highdose methylcobalamin in ALS/MND and any consideration of use should be at a
clinician’s discretion. The SAC suggests that data from the open label extension be
incorporated into analysis to better assess the efficacy of this treatment.

Updated March 2023

Primary Sidebar

Drugs in Development

  • AB Science – Masitinib
  • BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics – NurOwn
  • Clene Nanomedicine – CNM-Au8
  • Collaborative Medicinal Development – CuATSM
  • ILB – Tikomed
  • Kadimastem – AstroRx
  • Methylcobalamin
  • Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America – Oral Edaravone
  • Neuronata-R/Lenzumestrocel
  • NeuroSense – PrimeC
  • Neuvivo – NP001
  • T Regulatory Cell Therapies
  • Prilenia Therapeutics – Pridopidine
  • SOD1 Therapies & Trials

  • Fabrice Kamp, Germany

    Fabrice Kamp, Germany

  • Graham Johnson, MND Australia

    Graham Johnson, MND Australia

  • Fabio Carvalho, Associação Pró-Cura da ELA, Brazil

    Fabio Carvalho, Associação Pró-Cura da ELA, Brazil

  • Bob Simonds and Drew O'Neill , Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

    Bob Simonds and Drew O’Neill , Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

  • Shay Rishoni, Diagnosed 2011 , Prize4Life, Israel

    Shay Rishoni, Diagnosed 2011 , Prize4Life, Israel

  • Jose Rivero Muñoz, Diagnosed 2015, FYADENMAC, Mexico

    Jose Rivero Muñoz, Diagnosed 2015, FYADENMAC, Mexico

  • Angie Bordaen, Diagnosed 2014,  ALS Liga België, Belgium

    Angie Bordaen, Diagnosed 2014, ALS Liga België, Belgium

  • Norm MacIsaac,  ALS Society of Canada,  ALS Society of Quebec,  Diagnosed 2014

    Norm MacIsaac, ALS Society of Canada, ALS Society of Quebec, Diagnosed 2014

  • IMG_2658

    IMG_2658

  • Oliver Juenke, DGM, Germany

    Oliver Juenke, DGM, Germany

  • Dad

    Dad

  • Guoqiang Xu, Diagnosed 2016 , Shaanxi ALS Association, China

    Guoqiang Xu, Diagnosed 2016 , Shaanxi ALS Association, China

  • Tison, USA

    Tison, USA

  • Soledad Rodriguez, FUNDELA, Diagnosed 2013, Spain

    Soledad Rodriguez, FUNDELA, Diagnosed 2013, Spain

  • Xian-Zhang Niu, Diagnosed 2006 , Shaanxi ALS Association, China

    Xian-Zhang Niu, Diagnosed 2006 , Shaanxi ALS Association, China

  • Liz Ogg, Diagnosed 2013 , MND Scotland, UK

    Liz Ogg, Diagnosed 2013 , MND Scotland, UK

  • Mary Thomas, Diagnosed 2013 , MND Australia

    Mary Thomas, Diagnosed 2013 , MND Australia

  • Chris McCauley, Diagnosed 2015 , ALS Canada

    Chris McCauley, Diagnosed 2015 , ALS Canada

  • Margreth Burger-Saile, Diagnosed 2011,  ALS Schweiz,  Switzerland

    Margreth Burger-Saile, Diagnosed 2011, ALS Schweiz, Switzerland

  • Hans Dieter Olszewski, Diagnosed 2010 , DGM, Germany

    Hans Dieter Olszewski, Diagnosed 2010 , DGM, Germany

  • Debbie Craghill, USA

    Debbie Craghill, USA

  • Josée Kolijn-de Man, Diagnosed 2015 , ALS Patients Connected, The Netherlands

    Josée Kolijn-de Man, Diagnosed 2015 , ALS Patients Connected, The Netherlands

  • Timothy Holman, Switzerland

    Timothy Holman, Switzerland

  • Frank "Papa" Taylor, USA

    Frank “Papa” Taylor, USA

  • Wiebke Braach, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Muskelkranke, Germany

    Wiebke Braach, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Muskelkranke, Germany

  • Chun Ju Xiao, China

    Chun Ju Xiao, China

  • Valdomiro Xavier Honório, Brazil

    Valdomiro Xavier Honório, Brazil

  • Ali Var, Turkey

    Ali Var, Turkey

  • Jon Newsome, Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

    Jon Newsome, Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

  • Chen Chun-Chin

    Chen Chun-Chin

  • Maria Lucia Wood Saldanha, Associação Pró-Cura da ELA, Brazil

    Maria Lucia Wood Saldanha, Associação Pró-Cura da ELA, Brazil

  • 727747090571358167

    727747090571358167

  • Chen Yin Xue, Taiwan MND Association, Diagnosed 1995, Taiwan

    Chen Yin Xue, Taiwan MND Association, Diagnosed 1995, Taiwan

  • Jason Goodman, Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

    Jason Goodman, Les Turner ALS Foundation, USA

  • Michael Lee, Australia

    Michael Lee, Australia

  • Horacio Fritzer, Argentina

    Horacio Fritzer, Argentina

  • Mahmood Anwar, UK

    Mahmood Anwar, UK

  • Anthony (Tony) Lynch, MND New South Wales, Diagnosed 2016, Australia

    Anthony (Tony) Lynch, MND New South Wales, Diagnosed 2016, Australia

  • Yolanda Armendariz, Diagnosed 2017 , FYADENMAC, Mexico

    Yolanda Armendariz, Diagnosed 2017 , FYADENMAC, Mexico

  • Art Eggert, USA

    Art Eggert, USA

  • Mike Rannie,  ALS Canada,  Diagnosed 2017

    Mike Rannie, ALS Canada, Diagnosed 2017

  • H. Todd Kelly, Diagnosed 2013 , ALS Hope Foundation, USA

    H. Todd Kelly, Diagnosed 2013 , ALS Hope Foundation, USA

  • Ailsa Malcolm-Hutton, Diagnosed 2013,  MND Association of England, Wales and N Ireland

    Ailsa Malcolm-Hutton, Diagnosed 2013, MND Association of England, Wales and N Ireland

  • Ian Gale, MND Australia

    Ian Gale, MND Australia

  • Joanne Pratt, Diagnosed 2011 , MND Australia

    Joanne Pratt, Diagnosed 2011 , MND Australia

  • Elkin Ramiro Gaviria Muñoz, Diagnosed December 2018

    Elkin Ramiro Gaviria Muñoz, Diagnosed December 2018

  • Duncan Bayly , MND Australia

    Duncan Bayly , MND Australia

  • March of Faces Photo Submission_OLGA_ELA ARGENTINA

    March of Faces Photo Submission_OLGA_ELA ARGENTINA

  • Tammy Moore and Eddy Lefrancois

    Tammy Moore and Eddy Lefrancois

  • Animesh Kumar, Diagnosed 2013 , Asha Ek Hope Foundation, India

    Animesh Kumar, Diagnosed 2013 , Asha Ek Hope Foundation, India

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