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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Study is to Assess the Safety and Tolerability of VTx-002 in Participants With ALS

Phase 1/2 Investigation of Novel Experimental Regimen in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Pioneer-ALS): An Open-Label, Uncontrolled, Multicenter Study to Assess the Safety and Tolerability of Two Doses of VTx-002

Study is to Assess the Safety and Tolerability of VTx-002 in Participants With ALS (NCT07287397) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, sponsored by Vector Y Therapeutics. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

PIONEER-ALS is a Phase 1/2, multicenter, open-label, ascending dose, uncontrolled, first-in-human study that will evaluate the safety, tolerability and effects on clinical and biomarker endpoints of intracisternal administration of Vtx-002 in participants with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Two escalating dose (low dose and high dose) cohorts are planned. The duration of the study will be a maximum of 5 years and 5 weeks (265 weeks) for each participant. The screening period may last up to 5 weeks to complete screening procedures.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

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.

With a target enrollment of 12 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Key Who May Qualify: 1. Capable of, and willing to, provide written willing to sign a consent form and comply with study procedures, including visits to the study site and visit requirements 2. Male or female ≥ 18 years of age 3. Has a diagnosis of ALS according to the El Escorial criteria (Brooks, et al., 2000) (probable, laboratory results supported; clinically probable, clinically definite) 4. Confirmed absence of ALS caused by FUS and SOD1 gene mutations confirmed by laboratory tests. 5. A maximum of 18 months since first appearance of weakness (e.g., limb weakness, dysarthria, dysphagia, shortness of breath) 6. Erect (seated) SVC % predicted ≥ 80% at Screening 7. Treatment Research Initiative to Cure ALS (TRICALS) risk score between -2 and -6 at Screening 8. Has a reliable caregiver/partner/legal representative willing and able to support the participant in participation in the study and to give willing to sign a consent form on behalf of the participant in the case that disease progression prevents the participant of giving consent (local legal rules will apply). 9. Treatment with riluzole and/or edaravone is allowed if treatment was started and has remained at a stable dose for at least 2 weeks (riluzole) or one treatment cycle (edaravone) before the Screening visit 10. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and male participants with female partners who are WOCBP must agree to use highly effective contraception during and after the study. WOCBP cannot be pregnant or breastfeeding 11. Women of nonchildbearing potential must be post-menopausal or surgically sterile (e.g. hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, ovaries removed) Key Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. Diagnosis of a significant CNS or peripheral nervous system disease other than ALS that may be a cause for the participant's ALS symptoms or may confound study objectives 2. Spinal, cervical, or brain MRI/MRA indicating clinically significant abnormality ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov 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
Key Inclusion Criteria: 1. Capable of, and willing to, provide written informed consent and comply with study procedures, including visits to the study site and visit requirements 2. Male or female ≥ 18 years of age 3. Has a diagnosis of ALS according to the El Escorial criteria (Brooks, et al., 2000) (probable, laboratory results supported; clinically probable, clinically definite) 4. Confirmed absence of ALS caused by FUS and SOD1 gene mutations confirmed by laboratory tests. 5. A maximum of 18 months since first appearance of weakness (e.g., limb weakness, dysarthria, dysphagia, shortness of breath) 6. Erect (seated) SVC % predicted ≥ 80% at Screening 7. Treatment Research Initiative to Cure ALS (TRICALS) risk score between -2 and -6 at Screening 8. Has a reliable caregiver/partner/legal representative willing and able to support the participant in participation in the study and to give informed consent on behalf of the participant in the case that disease progression prevents the participant of giving consent (local legal rules will apply). 9. Treatment with riluzole and/or edaravone is allowed if treatment was started and has remained at a stable dose for at least 2 weeks (riluzole) or one treatment cycle (edaravone) before the Screening visit 10. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and male participants with female partners who are WOCBP must agree to use highly effective contraception during and after the study. WOCBP cannot be pregnant or breastfeeding 11. Women of nonchildbearing potential must be post-menopausal or surgically sterile (e.g. hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, ovaries removed) Key Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of a significant CNS or peripheral nervous system disease other than ALS that may be a cause for the participant's ALS symptoms or may confound study objectives 2. Spinal, cervical, or brain MRI/MRA indicating clinically significant abnormality 3. Presence of tracheostomy and feeding tube at Screening 4. Contraindications to corticosteroid use (e.g. due to osteoporosis, uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes or cholesterol). 5\. Significant concomitant disease or condition within 6 months of Screening that could pose an unacceptable safety risk to the participant or interfere with the participant's ability to comply with study procedures, e.g. heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, liver disease, autoimmune diseases needing strong immune-suppressing drugs, cancer, etc or a current psychiatric diagnosis. 6\. Clinically significant abnormalities in laboratory test results at Screening for example poor liver or kidney function, abnormal clotting or infections such as Hepatitis or HIV 7\. Use of blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, heparin, and novel oral anticoagulants) and being unable to safely stop them before certain study procedures. 8\. Contraindications to imaging methods MRI, MRA, CT due to claustrophobia and/or intolerance to contrast agents. 9\. Contraindications to general anaesthesia (GA) or deep sedation 10 Positive test for illegal drugs (except prescribed medications or permitted medicinal/recreational marijuana if used responsibly) 11\. Generally frail or if the Investigator deems participation in the study would not be in the best interest of the participant or is likely to prohibit further participation during the study Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply \-

Treatments Being Tested

GENETIC

VTx-002

An investigational gene therapy targeting a specific protein.

DRUG

Preventative (Prophylactic) Medication - Corticosteroids: Methylprednisolone

To reduce the risk of reactions caused by the study treatment, steroid medicines will be given in advance.

Locations (11)

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.

St Joseph's Hospital and medical Center - Barrow Neurological Institute
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
University of California San Diego Medical Center
San Diego, California, United States
Mayo Clinic in Florida
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
University of Miami School of Science
Miami, Florida, United States
Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
New York, New York, United States
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
UZ Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
UMC Utrecht
Utrecht, Netherlands
Kings College Hospital
London, United Kingdom
Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Sheffield, United Kingdom

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT07287397), the sponsor (Vector Y Therapeutics), 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 NCT07287397 clinical trial studying?

PIONEER-ALS is a Phase 1/2, multicenter, open-label, ascending dose, uncontrolled, first-in-human study that will evaluate the safety, tolerability and effects on clinical and biomarker endpoints of intracisternal administration of Vtx-002 in participants with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Two escalating dose (low dose and high dose) cohorts are planned. The duration of the study will be a maximum of 5 years and 5 weeks (265 weeks) for each participant. The screening period may last up to 5 weeks to complete screening procedures. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT07287397?

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 NCT07287397?

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 NCT07287397. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT07287397. 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 2026-06-26 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.