A Placebo-controlled Study of Clenbuterol in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy

A Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Clenbuterol in Patients With Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA)

A Placebo-controlled Study of Clenbuterol in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (NCT06169046) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy, sponsored by Gianni Soraru. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

About This Trial

There is no cure to arrest or delay SBMA progression. It is estimated that \~1000 individuals are affected by SBMA in Italy at any given time (prevalence: 1.5/100000) with an annual incidence of 0.19/100000 males. Here, we are going to test the potential of beta2-agonist stimulation on muscle as a therapeutic avenue for SBMA. We have provided pre-clinical evidence that β-agonist stimulation may be a therapeutic strategy for SBMA. Moreover, we have shown that beta2-agonists are effective in improving motor function without relevant adverse events in a small cohort of SBMA patients. To establish safety and efficacy of clenbuterol as a cure for SBMA, we are conducting a multicenter, phase II, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, single dose, placebo-controlled trial. Indeed, based on our preliminary data, some concerns remain to be addressed.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 90 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. males who have received a genetically confirmed diagnosis of SBMA (AR CAG repeat number \>= 38); 2. aged between 18 and 75 (+364 days) years; 3. displaying one or more of the following clinical symptoms: muscle atrophy, limb weakness, bulbar palsy; 4. able to walk independently with or without a cane or other supporting device (all supporting devices are acceptable except on wheelchair); 5. providing a written willing to sign a consent form. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. a documented cardiovascular disease precluding the use of beta2 agonists (in the judgment of the investigators); 2. glaucoma, severe prostatic hypertrophy, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, and other medical conditions that, in the judgment of the investigators, would expose the patient to undue risk of harm or prevent the patient from completing the study; 3. concomitant treatment with either beta-blockers or sympathomimetic drugs (If a beta-blockers concomitant medication is ongoing before the study inclusion, the patient can be enrolled if the beta-blocker is discontinued for 3 weeks prior to randomization visit); 4. inability to walk or walking only with the support of a caregiver; 5. use of beta2 agonists in the preceding 6 months; 6. participation to an interventional trial in the preceding 3 months; 7. neuromuscular disease other than SBMA. Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: 1. males who have received a genetically confirmed diagnosis of SBMA (AR CAG repeat number \>= 38); 2. aged between 18 and 75 (+364 days) years; 3. displaying one or more of the following clinical symptoms: muscle atrophy, limb weakness, bulbar palsy; 4. able to walk independently with or without a cane or other supporting device (all supporting devices are acceptable except on wheelchair); 5. providing a written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. a documented cardiovascular disease precluding the use of beta2 agonists (in the judgment of the investigators); 2. glaucoma, severe prostatic hypertrophy, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, and other medical conditions that, in the judgment of the investigators, would expose the patient to undue risk of harm or prevent the patient from completing the study; 3. concomitant treatment with either beta-blockers or sympathomimetic drugs (If a beta-blockers concomitant medication is ongoing before the study inclusion, the patient can be enrolled if the beta-blocker is discontinued for 3 weeks prior to randomization visit); 4. inability to walk or walking only with the support of a caregiver; 5. use of beta2 agonists in the preceding 6 months; 6. participation to an interventional trial in the preceding 3 months; 7. neuromuscular disease other than SBMA.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Clenbuterol

tablets

DRUG

Placebo

tablets

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova

Padova, PD, Italy

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06169046), the sponsor (Gianni Soraru), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06169046 clinical trial studying?

There is no cure to arrest or delay SBMA progression. It is estimated that \~1000 individuals are affected by SBMA in Italy at any given time (prevalence: 1.5/100000) with an annual incidence of 0.19/100000 males. Here, we are going to test the potential of beta2-agonist stimulation on muscle as a therapeutic avenue for SBMA. We have provided pre-clinical evidence that β-agonist stimulation may be a therapeutic strategy for SBMA. Moreover, we have shown that beta2-agonists are effective in improving motor function without relevant adverse events in a small cohort of SBMA patients. To establish… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06169046?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06169046?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06169046. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06169046. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.