Phase 2 Study of Oral Treatment for Essential Tremor

A small molecule T-type calcium channel inhibitor (CX-8998; Cavion, Charlottesville, VA) is showing signs of efficacy for treatment of essential tremor. Using the Tremor Research Group Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale – Performance Subscale (TETRAS-PS) scored by study investigators, improvement in tremor was seen in participants given CX-8998 compared with those given placebo (P = .027). People with tremor who received CX-8998 also had improvements on the TETRAS activities of daily living scale (TETRAS-ADL) (P = .049), total TETRAS score (P = .029), and Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) score compared with those given placebo (P = .001). Further results from this double blind trial (NCT03101241)will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in May.

The small molecule oral treatment CX-8998 is designed to selectively modulate T-type calcium channel activity in the central nervous system, which is thought to act as a “pacemaker” modulating the brain’s natural rhythms. 

“I am pleased to present the results of our phase 2 T-CALM proof-of-concept study of CX-8998 in essential tremor. . .,” said Margaret Lee, senior vice president, preclinical and translational sciences, Cavion. “We look forward to discussing our clinical path forward as we work to address the unmet need in this devastating disorder that can rob people of their quality of life and has not seen any new approved drug therapies in more than three decades.”