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Prader-Willi SyndromePhase 2NCT03848481

CBDV vs Placebo in Children and Adults up to Age 30 With Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS)

A Phase 2 study testing CBDV Compound in people with Prader-Willi Syndrome, run by Eric Hollander at 1 site in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to examine the feasibility and safety of cannabidivarin (CBDV) as a treatment for children and young adults with PWS. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 5 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Prader-Willi Syndrome
What is being tested?
CBDV Compound
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
6 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
23 Nov 2020to 31 Oct 2024
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 5 to 30 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male or Female outpatients aged 5 to 30 years.
  • Diagnosis of PWS confirmed by genetic testing and patient medical records and history.
  • Stable pharmacologic, educational, behavioral and/or dietary interventions for 4 weeks prior to the study start, and for the duration of the study.
  • Have a physical exam and laboratory results that are within the norms for PWS
  • Presence of a parent/caregiver/guardian that is able to consent for their participation and complete assessments regarding the patient's development and behavior throughout the study. Child Assent will be obtained if the subject is 7 years of age or older and has the mental capacity to understand and sign a written assent form and/or give verbal assent.
  • Score on the Clinical Global Impression Scale Severity (CGI-S) ≥ 4 (moderate severity) at baseline.
  • Score of ≥18 on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability (ABC-I) at baseline.
  • Agree not to drive or operate machinery.

Who cannot join

  • Exposure to any investigational agent in the 30 days prior to randomization.
  • Prior chronic treatment with CBD or CBDV.
  • Positive testing for THC or other drugs of abuse via urine testing at the screening visit or baseline visits upon repeat confirmation testing.
  • History of Drug Abuse Disorder including Cannabis Use Disorder
  • A primary psychiatric diagnosis other than PWS, including bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). These patients will be excluded due to potential confounding results.
  • A medical condition that severely impacts the subject's ability to participate in the study, interferes with the conduct of the study, confounds interpretation of study results or endangers the subject's well-being (including but not limited to hepatic or renal impairment and cardiovascular disease).
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Known or suspected allergy to CBDV or excipients used in the formulation (i.e. sesame).
  • Clinical indications of renal, pancreatic, or hematologic dysfunction as evidenced by values above upper limits of normal for Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine, values twice the upper limit of normal for serum lipase and amylase, platelets <80,000 /microliter, white blood cell (WBC)<3.0 103 /microliter or > 2x Upper Limit of Normal (UNL) values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
  • ECG abnormality at baseline screening or clinically significant postural drop in systolic blood pressure at screening. If the initial screening ECG shows a Bazett's corrected QT interval (QTcB) of greater than 460 msec, then 2 additional ECGs will be conducted in the same sitting, 5 minutes apart. If not recognized at screening, then a full triplicate repeat showing an average QTcB of 460 msec or less to meet all inclusion/exclusion criteria
  • Female subjects who are pregnant will be excluded from the study. If a female subject is able to become pregnant, she will be given a pregnancy test before entry into the study. Female subjects will be informed not become pregnant while taking CBDV. Female subjects must tell the investigator and consult an obstetrician or maternal-fetal specialist if they become pregnant during the study.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

    The Bronx, New York, 10467

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Cannabidivarin (CBDV) vs. Placebo in Children and Adults up to Age 30 With Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS)

This study aims to examine the feasibility and safety of cannabidivarin (CBDV) as a treatment for children and young adults with PWS.

Read the detailed description

This clinical research trial aims to study the feasibility and safety of cannabidivarin (CBDV), in children and young adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). CBDV has effects independent of Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 (CB1) and Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 (CB2) receptor activation and a good safety profile. This proposal addresses the Foundation for Prader Willi Research's PWS Research Plan: Program 1, Clinical Care Research: seeks to evaluate treatments that aim to reduce behavioral symptoms, such as irritability, in order to improve the quality of life of both the individual with PWS and their families. GW Pharmaceuticals (since acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals) will provide the CBDV drug and matching placebo.

Being tested
CBDV Compound, Placebo
Keywords
PWS, Prader- Willi Syndrome, Irritability, CBDV, Cannabinoids
Medical subject headings
Prader-Willi Syndrome

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • CBDV CompoundDrug

    CBDV is obtained from the Cannabis sativa L. plant and contains a negligible quantity (less than 0.2%) of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

  • PlaceboDrug

    Placebo oral solution contains matching excipients.

Study groups in NCT03848481
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Cannabidivarin (CBDV)ExperimentalWeight-based dosing of 10 mg/kg/day of CBDV for 12 weeks
Receives: Drug: CBDV Compound
Matched PlaceboPlacebo comparatorWeight-based dosing of 10 mg/kg/day of placebo for 12 weeks
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Irritability Based on Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability (ABC-I) Subscale

    Irritability will be assessed using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability Subscale (ABC-I). The ABC-I is a well-characterized outcome that is accepted by the FDA for the purpose of labeling and is one of the best and most validated outcome measures in the developmental disabilities. The ABC-Irritability subscale consists of 15 questions that address the presence of irritability, aggression, tantrums and/or self-injury. Each item is rated on a scale ranging from 0 ("Not at all a problem") to 3 ("Severe problem"), resulting in a total score range of 0-45, such that higher ABC-I scores are indicative of more severe behavioral problems. Subjects must score an 18 or higher at screening to be included in the study. ABC-I scores for Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12 are summarized in the table by study arm using descriptive statistics. Baseline results for this outcome can be found in the Baseline Characteristics module.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Repetitive Behavior Based on the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R).

    Repetitive behavior will be evaluated using the RBS-R. RBS-R is a 43-item self-report questionnaire used to measure the breadth or repetitive behaviors in children, adolescents, and adults with ASD. The RBS-R consists of 6 subscales: Stereotyped Behavior, Self-injurious Behavior, Compulsive Behavior, Ritualistic Behavior, Sameness Behavior, and Restricted Behavior that have no overlap of item content. Each of the 43 items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ("Behavior does not occur") to 3 ("Behavior occurs and is a severe problem"), yielding an overall scoring range of 0-129, such that higher scores are associated with increased severity of the problem behavior. RBS-R scores for Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12 are summarized in the table by study arm using descriptive statistics. Baseline results for this outcome can be found in the Baseline Characteristics module.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12

  2. Repetitive Behaviors Based on Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS)

    Obsessive-compulsive symptoms will be assessed using the CY-BOCS. The CY-BOCS is 10-item clinician-rated measure designed to assess the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children/adolescents over the prior week. It consists of 5 primary sections: Time, Distress, Interference, Resistance, and Control of Symptoms. The 10 items are rated on a scale from 0 ("No symptoms") to 4 ("Extreme symptoms"), for an overall possible range of 0-40, with higher scores indicative of greater severity of symptoms. CY-BOCS scores for Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12 are summarized by study arm using descriptive statistics. Baseline results for this outcome can be found in the Baseline Characteristics module.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12

  3. Hyperphagia

    Hyperphagia will be assessed using the Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials (HQ-CT). The HQ-CT is a 9-item caregiver-reported measure of the frequency and intensity of food-seeking behaviors in participants with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) over the prior two-week period. The 9 items are graded on a Likert scale ranging from 0 ("No Hyperphagia") to 4 ("Most severe hyperphagia"), yielding an overall possible scoring range of 0-36, with higher scores indicating greater, more severe hyperphagia. HQ-CT scores for Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12 are summarized by study arm using descriptive statistics. Baseline results for this outcome can be found in the Baseline Characteristics module.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12

  4. Global Functioning

    Global Functioning will be assessed using the Clinical Global Impression Scale - Improvement (CGI-I). The CGI-I is a global assessment which measures the change in a participant's illness severity, relative to a baseline, considering all symptoms, behaviors, and functional impairment. It consists of a 7-point clinician-rated scale as follows: 1 = very much improved, 2 = much improved, 3 = minimally improved, 4 = no change, 5 = minimally worse, 6 = much worse, 7 = very much worse. such that higher scores are indicative of worsening global function. CGI-I scores for Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12 are summarized by study arm using basic descriptive statistics.

    Measured: Week 4, Week 8, Week 12

  5. Caregiver Strain

    Caregiver Strain will be evaluated using the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (CSQ). The CSQ is a 21-item self-report questionnaire, consisting of 3 subscales, developed to assess caregiver strain/stress for families with a child living with an emotional or behavioral disorder. Items 1-11 assess Objective Strain. Items 12, 16-18, and 20-21 assess Subjective Internalized Strain. Items 13-15, and 19 assess Subjective Externalize Strain. All CSQ items are rated from 1 ("Not at all a problem") to 5 ("Very much a problem"). Scores are calculated by averaging items within each subscale to handle missing data and calculating a Global Score by summing the 3 subscale means for a total possible scale range of 3-15. Higher Global Scores are associated with increased Caregiver Strain. Global results scores for Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12 are summarized by study arm using descriptive statistics. Baseline results for this outcome can be found in the Baseline Characteristics module.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12

  6. Rigid Behavior - Based on the Montefiore-Einstein Rigidity Scale-Revised-Prader-Willi Syndrome Scale (MERS-R-PWS)

    Rigid behavior will be assessed based using the MERS-R-PWS. The MERS-R-PWS is a clinician-rated scale designed to assess 3 domains of rigid behavior in individuals with PWS:

    Behavioral Rigidity (e.g., Insistence on sameness, things must be done in his/her way, etc.) Cognitive Rigidity (e.g., Special interests, inflexible adherence to rules, etc.) Protest (in response to deviation from rigidity; e.g., tantrum, irritability, arguing)

    Each domain consists of 4 items rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 ("No/None/Not difficult") to 4 ("Extreme/Extremely Difficult"), yielding a range of 0-16. Scores at Week 12 will only be completed for subjects who display rigid behaviors at baseline, week 4, week 8 and week 12. A total MERS-R-PWS score (0-48) is obtained by summing subscale score. Individual subscale scores (0-16) are also summarized. Higher MERS-R-PWS scores are indicative of greater rigidity within each domain and overall rigidity.

    Measured: Week 12

  7. Aberrant Behavior

    Aberrant Behavior will be assessed using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). The ABC is a 58-item informative rating instrument used to measure maladaptive behaviors in individuals with developmental disabilities and ASD which resolves into 5 subscales: Irritability (15 items); Lethargy/Social withdrawal (16 items); Stereotypic behavior (7 items); Hyperactivity/noncompliance (16 items); and Inappropriate speech (4 items). The ABC is completed by a parent/caregiver who knows the participant well. The ABC measures behavior on a 4-point Likert severity scale: (0 = "Not all a problem," 1 = "Slight problem," 2 = "Moderately serious problem," and 3 = "Severe problem"). Scores for 4 of the 5 subscales are reported below (ABC-I results reported as part of the primary outcome). Higher ABC subscale scores indicate greater behavioral severity/dysfunction of that subscale. Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12 scores are summarized by study arm. See Baseline Characteristics module for baseline data.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12

  8. Sleep Quality

    Sleep quality will be assessed using ActiGraph GT9X-BT® activity monitors. Successfully screened patients will receive the actigraphy device prior to the onsite baseline visit and will record a minimum of three days of baseline activity data prior to study initiation. The ActiGraph GT9X-BT activity monitors are a well validated activity and sleep monitoring device widely utilized in clinical trials and health research. For this study the ActiGraph monitors will measure: Sleep Latency (the time it takes to fall asleep), Total Sleep Time (the total amount of time spent asleep), and sleep efficiency (percentage of time in bed actually spent sleeping). Sleep data is captured automatically via cloud service. All parameters will be reported in hours/minutes and summarized by study arm.

    Measured: Baseline through Week 12

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Feb 2019
  2. Study start23 Nov 2020
  3. Primary completion31 Oct 2024
  4. Study completion31 Oct 2024

Why it stopped: Only limited funding was available and the study was never able to be conducted to its natural conclusion.

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
6 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03848481
Sponsor's protocol ID
2019-9914
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
19 Feb 2019
Last updated
7 May 2026
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: All IPD that underlie results in a publication

Publications

  • Kalsner L, Chamberlain SJ. Prader-Willi, Angelman, and 15q11-q13 Duplication Syndromes. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2015 Jun;62(3):587-606. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2015.03.004. Epub 2015 Apr 22.

    PubMed 26022164
  • Angulo MA, Butler MG, Cataletto ME. Prader-Willi syndrome: a review of clinical, genetic, and endocrine findings. J Endocrinol Invest. 2015 Dec;38(12):1249-63. doi: 10.1007/s40618-015-0312-9. Epub 2015 Jun 11.

    PubMed 26062517
  • Miller J, Wagner M. Prader-Willi syndrome and sleep-disordered breathing. Pediatr Ann. 2013 Oct;42(10):200-4. doi: 10.3928/00904481-20130924-10.

    PubMed 24126982
  • Butler MG, Hossain W, Sulsona C, Driscoll DJ, Manzardo AM. Increased plasma chemokine levels in children with Prader-Willi syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2015 Mar;167A(3):563-71. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.36908.

    PubMed 25691409
  • Viardot A, Sze L, Purtell L, Sainsbury A, Loughnan G, Smith E, Herzog H, Steinbeck K, Campbell LV. Prader-Willi syndrome is associated with activation of the innate immune system independently of central adiposity and insulin resistance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jul;95(7):3392-9. doi: 10.1210/jc.2009-2492. Epub 2010 May 5.

    PubMed 20444923
  • Irizarry KA, Miller M, Freemark M, Haqq AM. Prader Willi Syndrome: Genetics, Metabolomics, Hormonal Function, and New Approaches to Therapy. Adv Pediatr. 2016 Aug;63(1):47-77. doi: 10.1016/j.yapd.2016.04.005. No abstract available.

    PubMed 27426895
  • Rout U, Abdul-Rahman OA, Dhossche DM. An immunological basis of hyperphagia driven by GABAergic dysfunction in Prader-Willi Syndrome. Med Hypotheses. 2012 Apr;78(4):462-4. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2011.12.020. Epub 2012 Jan 30.

    PubMed 22289342
  • Knuesel I, Chicha L, Britschgi M, Schobel SA, Bodmer M, Hellings JA, Toovey S, Prinssen EP. Maternal immune activation and abnormal brain development across CNS disorders. Nat Rev Neurol. 2014 Nov;10(11):643-60. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2014.187. Epub 2014 Oct 14.

    PubMed 25311587
  • Blackmon K. Structural MRI biomarkers of shared pathogenesis in autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2015 Jun;47:172-82. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.02.017. Epub 2015 Mar 24.

    PubMed 25812936
  • Washington J 3rd, Kumar U, Medel-Matus JS, Shin D, Sankar R, Mazarati A. Cytokine-dependent bidirectional connection between impaired social behavior and susceptibility to seizures associated with maternal immune activation in mice. Epilepsy Behav. 2015 Sep;50:40-5. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.05.040. Epub 2015 Jun 21.

    PubMed 26103532
  • Basavarajappa BS, Nixon RA, Arancio O. Endocannabinoid system: emerging role from neurodevelopment to neurodegeneration. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2009 Apr;9(4):448-62. doi: 10.2174/138955709787847921.

    PubMed 19356123
  • Kerr DM, Downey L, Conboy M, Finn DP, Roche M. Alterations in the endocannabinoid system in the rat valproic acid model of autism. Behav Brain Res. 2013 Jul 15;249:124-32. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.04.043. Epub 2013 May 1.

    PubMed 23643692
  • Klein TW, Cabral GA. Cannabinoid-induced immune suppression and modulation of antigen-presenting cells. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2006 Mar;1(1):50-64. doi: 10.1007/s11481-005-9007-x.

    PubMed 18040791
  • Devinsky O, Cilio MR, Cross H, Fernandez-Ruiz J, French J, Hill C, Katz R, Di Marzo V, Jutras-Aswad D, Notcutt WG, Martinez-Orgado J, Robson PJ, Rohrback BG, Thiele E, Whalley B, Friedman D. Cannabidiol: pharmacology and potential therapeutic role in epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Epilepsia. 2014 Jun;55(6):791-802. doi: 10.1111/epi.12631. Epub 2014 May 22.

    PubMed 24854329
  • Siniscalco D, Bradstreet JJ, Cirillo A, Antonucci N. The in vitro GcMAF effects on endocannabinoid system transcriptionomics, receptor formation, and cell activity of autism-derived macrophages. J Neuroinflammation. 2014 Apr 17;11:78. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-11-78.

    PubMed 24739187

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing CBDV Compound in people with Prader-Willi Syndrome, run by Eric Hollander at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 7 May 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Irritability Based on Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability (ABC-I) Subscale (time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03848481, which also lists 42 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 May 2026.

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