ASPro-PD

Ambroxol to Slow Progression in Parkinson Disease (ASPro-PD): A phase III multi-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial

25 February 2025

Status: Open to recruitment
Funder: Funding for this research has been provided by Cure Parkinson’s with Van Andel Research Institute, John Black Charitable Foundation and Parkinson’s UK.
ISRCTN: ISRCTN93097821
Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05778617

Trial Information

The aim of this trial is to find out whether a drug called ambroxol can slow down the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Ambroxol is an already licensed medicine in many European countries which is used to relieve mucus production in coughs and inflammation in sore throats. We hope to understand if ambroxol helps remove waste in cells, a function missing in people with Parkinson’s and whether this removal has a beneficial effect on the symptoms of the condition.

The trial will involve 330 people with Parkinson’s disease across approximately 12 clinical centres in the UK. The trial is placebo controlled, meaning half of the participants will receive ambroxol and half will receive a placebo 'dummy' drug for two years. After this, all participants will be given ambroxol for 6 months. Neither participants nor their doctors will know whether they are receiving the trial drug or the placebo 'dummy' drug. Both ambroxol and the placebo 'dummy' drug will be taken in the form of a tablet three times a day. Participants will continue to take their regular Parkinson's disease medication.

Participants will have to attend their nearest clinical centre to undergo a number of assessments before they start trial treatment and approximately every 5 months thereafter.

Participating Hospitals

We are hoping to have clinical centres open in the following geographical areas around the UK:

London – Open to recruitment
West Midlands
Bristol
Newcastle
Manchester – Open to recruitment
Plymouth – Open to recruitment
Edinburgh
Oxford
Cambridge
Wales
Southampton

If you are interested in taking part in the trial and have already enrolled in PD Frontline, please discuss with your treating clinician.

Register your interest

Anyone interested in taking part in the ambroxol trial is encouraged to enrol in ‘PD Frontline’, a remote study offering online genetic testing for people with Parkinson’s. This can be done now and will help with recruiting people to the ASPro-PD trial. Further information can be found at: pdfrontline.com/en/ambroxol.

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