OCTOPUS - Optimal Clinical Trials Platform for Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  OCTOPUS - Optimal Clinical Trials Platform for Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

• IRAS ID

  1003943

• Contact name

  Jeremy Chataway

• Contact email

  j.chataway@ucl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University College London

• Eudract number

  2021-003034-37

• ISRCTN Number

  ISRCTN14048364

• Research summary

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects more than 130,000 people in the UK and over 2.5 million worldwide. There is a major unmet need for more effective treatments in progressive MS.

  OCTOPUS aims to find treatments that can slow down, and ultimately stop, the progression of disability in people with progressive MS (PwPMS). This will be done by testing new treatments for PwPMS which may be novel or repurposed (treatments already in use for other conditions), over several years, using the multi-arm multi-stage (MAMS) trial design. The aim is to find effective new treatments more quickly.

  OCTOPUS is suitable for adults with primary or secondary progressive MS between 25 and 70 years of age who meet the trial's eligibility criteria. The trial compares treatment groups against a control group taking a placebo (dummy drug). All groups will receive the current standard of care for PwPMS. People joining the trial will be randomly assigned to one of the groups. To ensure a fair and unbiased trial neither the research team nor the participant will know which treatment they are taking.
  All participants will take the study drug and have blood and urine tests, various assessments to measure disability, and fill in questionnaires about their health and wellbeing. Those joining at an initial stage will also have MRI scans. Trial participation will likely last 5 years, and will involve a few visits in the first 6 months, followed by 6-monthly follow-up visits.
  It is possible that the results may not help people with Progressive MS who join the trial individually but the information from this trial will help improve treatment for people with Progressive MS in the future.
  OCTOPUS is funded by the MS Society and MRC CTU at UCL. It will be recruiting in hospitals in the UK. To find out more visit www.ms-octopus.info

• REC name

  London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/LO/0622

• Date of REC Opinion

  14 Oct 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion