Interim results from the Octopus clinical trial show that alpha-lipoic acid shows early promise in slowing progressive multiple sclerosis, marking the first positive result for a neurological multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS) trial. While alpha-lipoic acid will advance to stage two, the diabetes drug metformin is being discontinued due to insufficient promise. The innovative MAMS design allows researchers to test treatments up to three times faster and add new drugs starting in 2027.
Octopus trial interim results
- ▪Interim results from the Octopus clinical trial found that the medication alpha-lipoic acid shows early promise as a potential treatment to slow progression in multiple sclerosis.
- ▪More than 850 people have joined the Octopus clinical trial at hospitals across the United Kingdom and Australia, and researchers are seeking hundreds more participants with progressive multiple sclerosis.
- ▪The Octopus clinical trial is led by University College London neurologist Professor Jeremy Chataway and is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre: UCLH.
- ▪The Octopus clinical trial is funded by public donations and the MS Society's Stop MS Appeal.
MAMS trial design innovation
- ▪The multi-arm, multi-stage platform design used in the Octopus clinical trial was inspired by the 2005 STAMPEDE trial for prostate cancer, according to Professor Max Parmar of University College London.
- ▪The Octopus clinical trial represents the first time a multi-arm, multi-stage trial has reported positive results in a neurological condition.
- ▪The Octopus clinical trial uses a multi-arm multi-stage design, which allows researchers to test potential new treatments up to three times faster than conventional trials.
- ▪The multi-arm, multi-stage design of the Octopus clinical trial allows new drugs to be added to the trial as soon as early 2027.
Alpha-lipoic acid continuation
- ▪Individuals aged 25 to 70 in the United Kingdom with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis can register via the UK MS Register to participate in stage 2 of the Octopus clinical trial.
- ▪Researchers from the Queen Square MS Centre and Innovative Clinical Trials Unit at University College London warned individuals with multiple sclerosis not to acquire alpha-lipoic acid outside of a clinical trial.
- ▪Alpha-lipoic acid will continue to the second stage of the Octopus clinical trial, where data from both stages will be combined to provide a definitive phase 3 result.
Metformin discontinuation
- ▪The diabetes drug metformin did not demonstrate sufficient promise in the Octopus clinical trial and will be removed from the trial.
- ▪Participants in the metformin arm of the Octopus clinical trial will leave the trial and stop taking the drug in the coming weeks.
Progressive MS treatment landscape
- ▪Tens of thousands of individuals living with progressive multiple sclerosis lack treatments to stop their condition from worsening.
- ▪Existing treatments for relapsing multiple sclerosis target the immune system but do not stop the gradual nerve damage that leads to long-term disability in progressive multiple sclerosis.
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