Clinical Research Directory

HABIT-ILE + FST in Children With SMA: Preliminary Effectiveness

This single-arm pilot study will assess the preliminary effectiveness of an intensive motor skill intervention (HABIT-ILE) combined with functional strength training (FST) in children with SMA who are receiving disease-modifying therapies. Participants will attend a HABIT-ILE + FST summer camp for 6 hours per day over a 3-week period, totaling 90 hours of training.

A Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, Pharmacokinetics, and Immunogenicity of Intravenous Administration of ARGX-119 in Pediatric Participants Aged 5 to Less Than 18 Years With Spinal Muscular Atrophy

This study aims to find the correct dose of ARGX-119 for children with SMA. The study will also look at how safe the study drug is, how well it works, how it moves through the body, and how the immune system responds to it. The study consists of a double-blinded treatment period (DBTP) where participants will either receive ARGX-119 IV or placebo IV, in addition to disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for 24 weeks. Participants who complete the DBTP will enter the open-label active-treatment extension period (ATEP) during which all participants will receive ARGX-119 IV up to 100 weeks (approximately 2 years).

A Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of RO7204239 in Combination With Risdiplam (RO7034067) in Participants With Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Risdiplam works by helping the body produce more survival motor neuron (SMN) protein throughout the body. This means fewer motor neurons - nerve cells that pass impulses from nerves to muscles to cause movement - are lost, which may improve how well muscles work in people with SMA. RO7204239 is an investigational anti-myostatin antibody that is designed to target myostatin. Myostatin plays an important role in the regulation of skeletal muscle size by controlling growth. Inhibiting myostatin may help muscles grow in size and strength. RO7204239 in combination with risdiplam, which is designed to increase the amount of SMN protein throughout the body, has the potential to further improve motor function and clinical outcomes for people living with SMA. This trial will study the safety and efficacy of RO7204239 in combination with risdiplam in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The trial has two parts; Part 1 is the dose-finding part in SMA patients that are either ambulant (aged 2-10 years) or non-ambulant (aged 5-10 years) within separate cohorts, and Part 2 is the pivotal part in SMA patients aged 2-25 years that are ambulant.

Self-Efficacy Enhancement Using a Multicomponent Support Group for Caregivers of Children With DMD/SMA

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if providing a multicomponent intervention improves the confidence of caregivers of children with DMD or SMA. The main question it aims to answer is: Does this intervention increase their self-efficacy scores over 8 weeks time? Researchers will compare scores at baseline (pre intervention) and after 8 weeks (post intervention)

Long-term Follow-up of Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treated With OAV101 in Clinical Trials

This is a global, prospective, multi-center study that is designed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of OAV101 in patients who participated in an OAV101 clinical trial. The assessments of safety and efficacy in Study COAV101A12308 will continue for 5 years after enrollment in this study.

Observational Study to Observe Variations of Gait Parameters in Patients With Neuromuscular Diseases

This study has the general objective of observing walking parameters during a clinical test to objectively estimate fatigue in patients with neuromuscular diseases. Furthermore, the investigators want to evaluate the feasibility of collecting physical activity in daily life conditions during a one-week monitoring period using a wearable sensor.

Diagnostic Journey, Patient Experience, and Disparities in the Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in the MedStar Health System

Evaluate the diagnostic journey, patient experience, and disparities in the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in the MedStar Health System.

Neuroproprioceptive Equine-Assisted Physiotherapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

This study investigates whether Equine-Assisted Physiotherapy based on Neuro-proprioceptive "Facilitation and Inhibition" (NEUROEQUIP-SMA) can improve movement, posture, breathing, and quality of life in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This therapy uses the horse's rhythmic movement together with targeted sensory and manual stimulation to trigger natural motor reactions starting from the pelvis, lower the threshold for muscle activation, and support coordinated motor patterns. The study compares this method with standard individual physiotherapy based on the same neuro-proprioceptive facilitation and inhibition principles, but performed without the horse. Twenty children aged 2 to 9 years will receive both therapies in two separate 6-day blocks, in random order (crossover design). The researchers will assess muscle fatigue, coordination, breathing function, movement quality and quantity, quality of life, and changes in selected blood biomarkers. The results may help develop better rehabilitation strategies for children with SMA who are receiving modern pharmacological or gene therapy.

Long Read Analysis in Spinal Muscular Atrophy - LOREASI

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a severe neuromuscular disease caused by deletion of the SMN1 gene, with the most severe form leading to death in children without treatment. Genetic counselling to detect couples where both partners are carriers is particularly important. In some countries, preconception screening is offered. However, some carriers escape detection due to the existence of two copies of the SMN1 gene side-by-side (2+0 genotype). Currently, no molecular genetic methods used for diagnostic purposes can detect these 2+0 genotypes, which pose a significant challenge in genetic counselling. This study aims to use new technologies based on the analysis of ultra-long molecules to detect side-by-side duplications of the SMN1 gene to detect heterozygous subjects not identified by current techniques and improve genetic counselling.

Assessment of a Portable Digital Device for Quantified Analysis of Markerless Walking in Volunteers With Neuromuscular Diseases or Asymptomatic Volunteers

In recent years, knowledge of neuromuscular diseases has advanced considerably, and new therapeutic avenues are beginning to emerge. The proliferation of clinical trials has created a need to identify biomarkers that are both sensitive to changes and specific to the disease. Current gait tests only consider the time factor and not the evolution of the patient's biomechanics, which may prove insufficient for patients whose symptoms generally progress slowly. Quantifying gait parameters in neuromuscular patients therefore appears necessary. This is why we propose to study markerless gait analysis in this population, which would allow for simple and effective monitoring of kinematic parameters without resorting to complex equipment incompatible with routine clinical practice.

Active NBS Study: Decentralised Monitoring Motor Development in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or Spinal Muscular Atrophy Identified by Newborn Screening

The Active NBS Liege study is a monocentric, academic, fully remote, observational study designed to validate digital measures of motor development in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) or Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) identified through newborn screening, family testing, or incidental diagnosis. The study will enroll 100 children and follow them longitudinally for up to 30 months. Participants are remotely recruited, and all procedures, including consent, questionnaires, and follow-up visits, are conducted by phone or video conferencing without any hospital visits. Children will use age-appropriate wearable devices at home: MAIJU®, a sensorized garment for non-ambulant infants, and Syde®, an ankle-worn sensor for ambulant children. Data collection includes digital motor endpoints, clinical information, and quality of life (PedsQL). Primary objectives are to validate digital biomarkers of motor development, while secondary objectives include early identification of motor deficits, modeling motor trajectories, and quantifying genotype-related differences. Exploratory analyses will assess gait parameters such as stride velocity 95th centile (SV95C) and compare motor outcomes across genetic profiles and treatment exposure. Risks are minimal, limited to the use of non-invasive sensors with no known side effects.

Real World Clinical Effectiveness & Safety of Vesemnogene Lantuparvovec for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Low-middle Income Countries (LMIC).

The study objective is to determine the real-world safety and effectiveness of Vesemnogene lantuparvovec for the treatment of SMA. The specific objectives are: * To determine clinical effectiveness of Vesemnogene lantuparvovec therapy for SMA as evaluated by developmental gross motor milestone and survival. * To describe the safety profile of Vesemnogene therapy for SMA as evaluated by adverse events reporting and laboratory tests, and monitoring of Adverse events of special interest.

The Effect of a Muscle-mimicking, Fabric-type Shoulder Orthosis on Functional Movements of the Upper Limb in Patients With Neuromuscular Disorder

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effect of a muscle-mimicking, fabric-type shoulder orthosis on functional movements of the upper limb in patients with neuromuscular disorder. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What is the impact of the muscle-mimicking, fabric-type shoulder orthosis on upper limb functional movements in patients with neuromuscular disorder? * Are there observable differences in upper limb function when the shoulder orthosis is worn versus when it is not? Participants will: * Receive education on how to wear and use the shoulder orthosis. * Undergo evaluations, including assessment of upper limb performance, shoulder muscle strength testing, active range of motion measurements, assessment of functional workspace, goal attainment scale evaluation, surface electromyography, physiological measurements such as blood pressure and heart rate, fatigue assessment, and assessment for any musculoskeletal or skin-related issues. Researchers will compare neuromuscular disorder patients before and while wearing and operating the shoulder orthosis to see if there are any significant effects on variables such as upper limb function, range of motion, functional workspace, goal attainment scale, and surface electromyography.

Gut Peptides and Bone Remodeling in Children With Neuromuscular Disorders

Both GIP and GLP-2 reduce bone resorption (measured as CTX) in healthy adult individuals. In this study, we will investigate whether GIP and GLP-2 reduce CTX in children with spinal muscular atrophy, duchenne muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy.

Psychological Evaluation of the Parental Experience of Newborn Screening for Infantile Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the Grand Est and Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regions

The systematic inclusion of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in France's neonatal genetic screening (NGS) program, scheduled for September 2025, represents a major milestone in public health. While this screening enables early detection and therapeutic intervention before symptom onset, it also raises psychological and ethical challenges that remain underexplored-particularly during the highly sensitive postpartum period. Currently, data on parental experiences following a positive SMA NGS result are scarce, fragmented, and largely derived from North American studies or from metabolic screening contexts. Early publications highlight high levels of parental anxiety, dissatisfaction with the quality of result disclosure, and difficulties in processing complex medical information in a short, emotionally charged timeframe. These findings underscore the need for a deeper understanding of the subjective processes at play in this situation. The PSYSMA project is designed as an ancillary study to the DEPISMA trial. Its aim is to retrospectively explore parents' lived experiences, their psychosocial support needs, and the impact of NGS on family dynamics and the parent-child relationship. Special attention is given to cases with uncertain results (e.g., ≥4 SMN2 copies without treatment) and false negatives, which remain poorly documented but may trigger unique forms of parental anxiety or adaptation. This research is justified by two main needs: * to guide public health policy toward integrating psychological support from the earliest stages of screening, in line with French National Health Authority (HAS) recommendations; * to generate new knowledge transferable to other genetic diseases that may be included in future neonatal screening programs. The overarching goal is to retrospectively investigate the psychological experience of parents confronted with a positive or false-negative SMA NGS result, in order to analyze its subjective, emotional, and relational effects, as well as related needs for psychological support. Study objectives : * Compare parental experiences according to the nature of the result (with or without treatment indication). * Identify psychosocial support needs, including for siblings. * Assess anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic symptoms associated with NGS. * Explore the broader impact on family functioning, particularly in relation to genetic counseling and communication within the extended family.

Robot-assisted Training

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the long-term effects of isokinetic rehabilitation training in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The main question it aims to answer is: • Does isokinetic training at fixed angular velocity improve muscle strength and functional recovery in SMA patients? Participants will: * Perform isokinetic training using a portable device with a fixed angular velocity. * Undergo long-term rehabilitation sessions, with assessments of muscle strength and overall functional improvement over the training period.

The Use of Assistive Gait Devices Can Reduce the Risk of Falls in Patients With Neuromuscular Diseases Following a Training Period.

The planned project is an intervention study to assess the risk of falling after adaptation of an assistive gait devices in patients with the following neuromuscular diseases: Inclusion body myositis, myotonic dystrophy, limb girdle and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophies, Pompe disease, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, myasthenia gravis, spinal muscular atrophy, Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, Friedreich's ataxia and hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. The primary aim is to assess the risk of falling after a suitable assistive gait device has been provided with an adaptation phase through training. The data should help to improve the provision of aids for patients with neuromuscular diseases. This should have a positive effect on the risk of falling and thus improve quality of life and reduce mortality and morbidity. To achieve these goals, a one-week intervention with training sessions on handling, balance and coordination as well as fall prevention will becarried out after the patient has been fitted with a suitable assistive gait device. The interventions will be embedded in the inpatient rehabilitation programme. The functional gait and balance tests 'Timed Up and Go', '10 metre walk test', '6-minute walk test' and 'Dynamic Gait Index' will be recorded additionally. The Falls Efficacy Scale International questionnaire will be utilised to evaluate the risk of falling, while the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology questionnaire will be employed to ascertain satisfaction with the assistive devices. The study is scheduled to run for a period of 14 days, during which participants will undergo three functional walking and balance tests. As part of the inpatient rehabilitation programme, participants will undergo a week-long period of rehabilitation without assistive technology, followed by a subsequent week of rehabilitation with adapted assistive technology.

Safety and Tolerability of Low Motoneuron Stimulation Via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Spinal Muscular Atrophy

There is a general physiological rule that any organ or system needs some minimal amount of activity to prevent its atrophy or degeneration. Although the relevance of that rule to exercises in neuromuscular patients and for SMA in particular is not definitely proven, clinical observations seem to support this assumption. Also there are several experimental studies which provide additional support for utility of exercise for SMA. However, making regular exercises may be very challenging with SMA not only due to physical limitations, but due to psychological either. While being considered as safe and well tolerated intervention, TMS is able to mimic effects of real physical exercises, at least at the level of low motoneuron, it also provides several advantages. For example, possibility to exercise non-collaborative infants, minimization of psychological motivation impact in adults and/or ability to involve very weak muscle groups.

Adult SMA Research and Clinical Hub

Adult SMA REACH is a data collection study aiming to gain a better understanding of the impact of standards of care and new treatments on the natural history of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This study is sponsored by The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Adult SMA REACH is funded by Biogen and Roche. Currently, there are three drug treatments available for SMA in the UK: Zolgensma, Nusinersen and Risdiplam. Zolgensma is the only approved drug - Nusinersen and Risdiplam are currently available as part of Managed Access Agreements (MAA).

Clinical Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of EXG001-307 in Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy

The purpose of this trial is to evaluate safety and efficacy of intrathecal delivery of EXG001-307 as a treatment of spinal muscular atrophy .

Registry of Patients With a Diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurogenetic disorder caused by a loss or mutation in the survival motor neuron 1 gene (SMN1) on chromosome 5q13, which leads to reduced SMN protein levels and a selective dysfunction of motor neurons. SMA is an autosomal recessive, early childhood disease with an incidence of 1:10,000 live births. SMA is the leading cause of infant mortality due to genetic diseases. The purpose of this registry is to assess the long term outcomes of patients with SMA in the context of advances in treatment options and also to characterize and assess long-term safety and effectiveness of OAV-101.

Ultrasonographic Muscle Assessment and Functional Scales in Spinal Muscular Atrophy

This study aims to investigate the relationship between ultrasonographic muscle thickness measurement and echogenicity assessment with functional scales in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). By utilizing ultrasonographic techniques, the study seeks to provide objective biomarkers for assessing muscle health and monitoring treatment response. Currently, the evaluation of SMA often relies on subjective clinical assessments; this study addresses that gap by offering more precise and objective indicators of disease progression and functional status. The ultimate goal is to improve treatment strategies and enhance patient outcomes through better assessment tools.

Study of the Safety and Efficacy of an Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Carrying the SMN Gene After a Single Intravenous Administration of Escalating Doses in Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy (BLUEBELL)

The goal of this multicenter, open-label, non-comparative, cohort study is to investigate the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of ANB-004 in children with spinal muscular atrophy. The study will have a standard 3+3 dose-escalation design.