Treatment With HMG-COA Reductase Inhibitor of Growth and Bone Abnormalities in Children With Noonan Syndrome — RASTAT  

Noonan Syndrome Clinical Trial

Official title: Treatment With HMG-COA Reductase Inhibitor (Simvastatin) of Growth and Bone Abnormalities in Children With Noonan Syndrome: A Phase III Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo-controlled Therapeutic Trial

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This study evaluate the efficacy of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-COA) reductase inhibitors, also known as "statins" in the treatment of growth and skeletal abnormalities in children with Noonan syndrome. Half of patients will receive simvastatin while the other half will receive a placebo.

Clinical Trial Description

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a relatively frequent autosomal dominant disorder characterised by facial dysmorphic features, heart defects, developmental delay, and short stature. This syndrome is mostly caused by gain-of-function mutations in the PTPN11 gene, encoding tyrosine phosphatase. The best-defined consequence of NS-causing mutants is an enhancement of Ras/MAPK activation that is responsible for the different NS features. Mutations in several genes encoding other components of the Ras/Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway, resulting in hyperactivation, are also found in syndromes close to NS.

Short stature caused by growth hormone insensitivity and skeletal abnormalities are major concerns in NS. To date there is no effective specific therapy for affected patients. Given the role of Ras/Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) activation in NS pathophysiology, therapeutic strategies aiming to reduce this activation seem to be very promising.

Recently, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-COA) reductase inhibitors, also known as "statins" have been suggested as a potential therapy by decreasing Ras activity.

The efficacy of statins for treating cognitive deficits have been reported in mouse models of NS. Statins (simvastatin) have been assessed in mouse models and clinical studies for the treatment of cognitive deficits in children with discordant results but good tolerance. Recently, it has been demonstrated that statins may also correct bone growth abnormality in a mouse model for achondroplasia.

As growth is usually normal at birth in NS patients and thereafter progressively worsens throughout childhood, the investigators expect that precocious modulation of Ras/MAPK activation by statins may attenuate growth retardation. To achieve this goal, the present study is the first prospective randomised placebo-controlled therapeutic trial using statins in children with NS.

Marketing authorisation for statins is already accepted for the treatment of children with familial hypercholesterolemia and worldwide marketing authorisation of statins. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Noonan Syndrome
• Syndrome

• NCT number: NCT02713945
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University Hospital, Toulouse
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 3
• Start date: January 25, 2017
• Completion date: March 3, 2023