Safety and efficacy of tamoxifen in non-ambulant patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial (TAMDMD Group B)

Abstract

Most patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are non-ambulant. Preserving proximal motor function is crucial, rarely studied. Tamoxifen, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator, reduced signs of muscular pathology in a DMD mouse model. Our objective was to assess the safety and efficacy of tamoxifen over 48 weeks in non-ambulant DMD patients. In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial at six European centres boys aged 10-16 years with genetically diagnosed DMD, non-ambulant and off corticosteroid treatment for ≥6 months, randomly assigned (1:1) to either 20 mg/day tamoxifen orally or placebo were included. The primary outcome was change in D2 motor function measure from baseline to week 48. Of 15 non-ambulant male patients with DMD screened, 14 were enrolled from January 24th, 2019, to January 6th, 2021. Eight patients were randomised to the treatment and six to the placebo group. The primary efficacy outcome did not differ significantly between tamoxifen and placebo (7.8 percentage points, 95 % CI, -26.82 to 11.22, p=0.359) with a trend not favouring tamoxifen. No deaths or life-threatening serious AEs occurred. Tamoxifen was safe but due to insufficient clinical evidence, it cannot be recommended as a treatment option for DMD. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03354039).

Keywords: Corticosteroid naive; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Motor function measurement; Non-ambulant duchenne muscular dystrophy; Tamoxifen.