Key result
Vamorolone is well tolerated in young boys with DMD, without serious adverse events or growth changes.
Why the study?
To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of vamorolone in young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, along with exploratory efficacy and patient-reported outcomes.
Does vamorolone improve safety and motor function in young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
Does vamorolone improve safety and motor function in young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
Vamorolone was well tolerated and showed dose-dependent improvements in gross motor function in young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy over 12 weeks.
May allow earlier vamorolone initiation in young boys with DMD; leaves open durability and comparative efficacy.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vamorolone is a dissociative corticosteroid (CS) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2023 for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of vamorolone in young boys with DMD; exploratory objectives included efficacy and patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: A 12-week, phase II, open-label, multiple-dose study (VBP15-006) enrolled CS-naive boys with DMD aged 2-<4 years in Canada. Participants received 2 or 6 mg/kg/d oral vamorolone. An ongoing expanded access protocol (EAP) provided longer-term data. Primary end points were the occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and changes from baseline to week 12 in height, weight, and body mass index (BMI); other end points included PK and effects of vamorolone on muscle function. RESULTS: -scores changes >0.5, suggestive of excessive weight gain over time. Vamorolone displayed a dose-dependent PK profile with rapid absorption and no accumulation. Dose-dependent improvements in motor function (measured by Bayley-III gross motor scaled score) were observed. Glucose metabolism and bone turnover biomarkers remained stable. Ease of administration was rated favorably. DISCUSSION: Vamorolone was well tolerated in 2-<4-year-old boys with DMD, with no new safety concerns identified. A dose-dependent PK profile was observed, consistent with previous studies. Exploratory evidence suggested dose-dependent improvements in gross motor function. These findings are consistent with potential therapeutic benefit of vamorolone for young boys with DMD. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05185622 (VBP15-006; clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05185622), NCT03863119 (EAP; clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03863119). First submitted November 9, 2021. First patient enrolled: March 21, 2022. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: The VBP15-006 study provides Class IV evidence that in boys with DMD aged 2-<4 years, 12-week treatment with vamorolone was not associated with serious adverse events or changes in weight, height, or BMI. Gastrointestinal events and infections were the most reported TEAEs.
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Mah et al. (2026) studied Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Vamorolone was evaluated on Occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and changes from baseline to week 12 in height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Vamorolone treatment for 12 weeks in boys with DMD aged 2-<4 years was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events or changes in weight, height, or BMI.
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