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NCT04577352: MOVE-FA

A Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Vatiquinone for the Treatment of Participants With Friedreich Ataxia

Completed Phase 2, PHASE3 Results posted Last updated 13 April 2026
What this trial tests

Phase 2, PHASE3 trial testing Vatiquinone in Friedreich Ataxia in 146 participants. Completed in 2 October 2023.

Timeline
17 December 2020
Primary endpoint
4 April 2023
2 October 2023

Quick facts

Lead sponsorPTC Therapeutics
PhasePhase 2, PHASE3
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingquadruple
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment146
Start date17 December 2020
Primary completion4 April 2023
Estimated completion2 October 2023
Sites14 locations across France, Italy, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Australia, Spain, United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

PTC Therapeutics — full company profile →

Who can join

7 and older, any sex, with Friedreich Ataxia. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Change From Baseline in the mFARS Score at Week 72 - Modified Intent-to-treat (mITT) Analysis Set Primary · Baseline, Week 72

mFARS is a 93-item scale; comprised of neurologic component of FARS. For each item, responses categorize the corresponding neurological finding, with a score ranging from 0 to 3, 4, or 5 with 0 being normal and higher numbers indicative of greater impairment. Total mFARS scores for each subscale: bulbar (0 to 5), upper limb coordination (0 to 36), lower limb coordination (0 to 16), and upright stability (0 to 36). mFARS total score was a composite score of all 4 subscales, ranging from 0 (normal) to 93 (greater impairment). A lower score = better neurological function. Missing data was imputed

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone1.218± 0.9652
Placebo2.828± 0.9994
Change From Baseline in the mFARS Score at Week 72 - Intent-to-treat (ITT) Analysis Set Primary · Baseline, Week 72

mFARS is a 93-item scale; comprised of neurologic component of FARS. For each item, responses categorize the corresponding neurological finding, with a score ranging from 0 to 3, 4, or 5 with 0 being normal and higher numbers indicative of greater impairment. Total mFARS scores for each subscale: bulbar (0 to 5), upper limb coordination (0 to 36), lower limb coordination (0 to 16), and upright stability (0 to 36). mFARS total score was a composite score of all 4 subscales, ranging from 0 (normal) to 93 (greater impairment). A lower score = better neurological function. Missing data was imputed

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone0.898± 0.8500
Placebo2.555± 0.8770
Change From Baseline in Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale Activities of Daily Living (FARS-ADL) Score at Week 72 - mITT Analysis Set Secondary · Baseline, Week 72

The ADL component of the FARS includes 9 subscales: speech, swallowing, cutting food and handling utensils, dressing, personal hygiene, falling, walking, quality of sitting position, and bladder function. Each of these subscales is rated on a 5-point scale where 0=normal to 4=severe disability/inability to carry out activity independently for a total possible score of 0 to 36, with higher scores representing greater disability/dependency. Missing data was imputed using pattern mix model multiple imputation. LS mean and SE was calculated using MMRM.

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone0.759± 0.5992
Placebo1.677± 0.6202
Change From Baseline in FARS-ADL Score at Week 72 - ITT Analysis Set Secondary · Baseline, Week 72

The ADL component of the FARS includes 9 subscales: speech, swallowing, cutting food and handling utensils, dressing, personal hygiene, falling, walking, quality of sitting position, and bladder function. Each of these subscales is rated on a 5-point scale where 0=normal to 4=severe disability/inability to carry out activity independently for a total possible score of 0 to 36, with higher scores representing greater disability/dependency. Missing data was imputed using pattern mix model multiple imputation. LS mean and SE was calculated using MMRM.

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone0.707± 0.5219
Placebo1.692± 0.5402
Change From Baseline in 1-Minute Walk Test (1MWT) at Week 72 - mITT Analysis Set Secondary · Baseline, Week 72

The 1MWT is a timed performance test used to measure functional ability, walking endurance, balance, and muscle performance by measuring maximal walking speed in 1 minute. Participants were instructed to walk as quickly as possible for 1 minute without running. Maximal walking speed was measured upon completion of the walk and distance was recorded. The mean change from baseline in the distance the participant walked is reported. Missing data was imputed using pattern mix model multiple imputation. LS mean and SE was calculated using MMRM.

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone-4.324± 2.5882
Placebo-9.290± 2.6843
Change From Baseline in 1MWT at Week 72 - ITT Analysis Set Secondary · Baseline, Week 72

The 1MWT is a timed performance test used to measure functional ability, walking endurance, balance, and muscle performance by measuring maximal walking speed in 1 minute. Participants were instructed to walk as quickly as possible for 1 minute without running. Maximal walking speed was measured upon completion of the walk and distance was recorded. The mean change from baseline in the distance the participant walked is reported. Missing data was imputed using pattern mix model multiple imputation. LS mean and SE was calculated using MMRM.

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone-4.623± 2.2113
Placebo-9.462± 2.2687
Number of Falls Per 28 Days Over Every 24-Week Period - mITT Analysis Set Secondary · Week 1-24, Week 25-48, and Week 49-72

Each participant was required to maintain a fall log, which included the date and time of each fall. Falls as defined by World Health Organization as "inadvertently coming to rest on the ground, floor or other lower level, excluding intentional change in position to rest in furniture, wall or other objects," were reported. Number of falls per 28 days during a time interval was calculated as the number of falls during the period divided by the number of days during the interval, and multiplied by 28. The falls that occurred on or after the first Loss of Ambulation visit were excluded from the a

Week 1-24
GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone5.029± 14.4686
Placebo3.999± 6.9569
Week 25-48
GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone4.098± 11.5289
Placebo3.900± 9.0212
Week 49-72
GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone3.732± 10.0790
Placebo4.462± 12.1785
Number of Falls Per 28 Days Over Every 24-Week Period - ITT Analysis Set Secondary · Week 1-24, Week 25-48, and Week 49-72

Each participant was required to maintain a fall log, which included the date and time of each fall. Falls as defined by World Health Organization as "inadvertently coming to rest on the ground, floor or other lower level, excluding intentional change in position to rest in furniture, wall or other objects," were reported. Number of falls per 28 days during a time interval was calculated as the number of falls during the period divided by the number of days during the interval, and multiplied by 28. The falls that occurred on or after the first Loss of Ambulation visit were excluded from the a

Week 1-24
GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone4.464± 13.5618
Placebo3.535± 6.5231
Week 25-48
GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone3.920± 10.9850
Placebo3.518± 8.4701
Week 49-72
GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone3.407± 9.6043
Placebo3.974± 11.4690
Change From Baseline in the Upright Stability Subscale of the mFARS at Week 72 - mITT Analysis Set Secondary · Baseline, Week 72

mFARS is a 93-item scale; comprised of neurologic component of FARS. For each item, responses categorize the corresponding neurological finding, with a score ranging from 0 to 3, 4, or 5 with 0 being normal and higher numbers indicative of greater impairment. The Upright Stability subscale of the mFARS includes following items: 1. Sitting posture (score: 0 to 4); 2a. Stance with feet apart and eyes open (score: 0 to 4); 2b. Stance with feet apart and eyes closed (score: 0 to 4); 3a. Stance with feet together and eyes open (score: 0 to 4); 3b. Stance with feet together and eyes closed (score: 0

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone1.734± 0.4911
Placebo2.991± 0.5094
Change From Baseline in the Upright Stability Subscale of the mFARS at Week 72 - ITT Analysis Set Secondary · Baseline, Week 72

mFARS is a 93-item scale; comprised of neurologic component of FARS. For each item, responses categorize the corresponding neurological finding, with a score ranging from 0 to 3, 4, or 5 with 0 being normal and higher numbers indicative of greater impairment. The Upright Stability subscale of the mFARS includes following items: 1. Sitting posture (score: 0 to 4); 2a. Stance with feet apart and eyes open (score: 0 to 4); 2b. Stance with feet apart and eyes closed (score: 0 to 4); 3a. Stance with feet together and eyes open (score: 0 to 4); 3b. Stance with feet together and eyes closed (score: 0

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone1.379± 0.4321
Placebo2.489± 0.4468
Change From Baseline in the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) Score at Week 72 - mITT Analysis Set Secondary · Baseline, Week 72

The MFIS is a 21-item, reliable, validated instrument that has been utilized in many neurological disorders. It is a modified form of the Fatigue Impact Scale, a component of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory. Each item was scored on a scale of 0 (never) to 4 (almost always). The total score was the sum of all item's score and ranged from 0 (no fatigue impact) to 84 (almost always impacted by fatigue). Higher scores indicated greater impact of fatigue on participant function.

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone-0.756± 2.2197
Placebo4.291± 2.3344
Change From Baseline in the MFIS Score at Week 72 - ITT Analysis Set Secondary · Baseline, Week 72

The MFIS is a 21-item, reliable, validated instrument that has been utilized in many neurological disorders. It is a modified form of the Fatigue Impact Scale, a component of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory. Each item was scored on a scale of 0 (never) to 4 (almost always). The total score was the sum of all item's score and ranged from 0 (no fatigue impact) to 84 (almost always impacted by fatigue). Higher scores indicated greater impact of fatigue on participant function.

GroupValue95% CI
Vatiquinone-1.200± 1.9897
Placebo4.354± 2.0758

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: Baseline up to Week 100. Reporting threshold: 5%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Double-blind Phase: Vatiquinone
Serious: 8/73 (11%)
Deaths: 1/73
Double-blind Phase: Placebo
Serious: 8/73 (11%)
Deaths: 1/73
On-Vatiquinone Period: Vatiquinone/Vatiquinone
Serious: 10/73 (14%)
Deaths: 1/73
On-Vatiquinone Period: Placebo/Vatiquinone
Serious: 2/65 (3%)
Deaths: 0/65

Serious adverse events (24 terms)

ReactionSystemDouble-blind Phase: Vatiqu…Double-blind Phase: PlaceboOn-Vatiquinone Period: Vat…On-Vatiquinone Period: Pla…
Suicide attemptPsychiatric disorders
MyocarditisCardiac disorders
Atrial fibrillationCardiac disorders
Cardiac failureCardiac disorders
Non-cardiac chest painGeneral disorders
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in childrenImmune system disorders
Appendicitis perforatedInfections and infestations
GastroenteritisInfections and infestations
Gastroenteritis viralInfections and infestations
Intentional product misuseInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
DehydrationMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Type 2 diabetes mellitusMetabolism and nutrition disorders
MyalgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
SeizureNervous system disorders
AnxietyPsychiatric disorders
Completed suicidePsychiatric disorders
DepressionPsychiatric disorders
DiarrhoeaGastrointestinal disorders
Impaired gastric emptyingGastrointestinal disorders
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders
COVID-19Infections and infestations
Urinary tract infectionInfections and infestations
PresyncopeNervous system disorders
Other adverse events (45 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemDouble-blind Phase: Vatiqu…Double-blind Phase: PlaceboOn-Vatiquinone Period: Vat…On-Vatiquinone Period: Pla…
FallInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
COVID-19Infections and infestations
HeadacheNervous system disorders
DiarrhoeaGastrointestinal disorders
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders
NasopharyngitisInfections and infestations
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders
FatigueGeneral disorders
Upper respiratory tract infectionInfections and infestations
DizzinessNervous system disorders
InfluenzaInfections and infestations
Viral rhinitisInfections and infestations
Abdominal painGastrointestinal disorders
Abdominal pain upperGastrointestinal disorders
PyrexiaGeneral disorders
Back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Pain in extremityMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
EpistaxisRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Oropharyngeal painRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
ArthralgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Urinary tract infectionInfections and infestations
ContusionInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
Weight increasedInvestigations
Muscle spasmsMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
AnxietyPsychiatric disorders
CoughRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
DyspepsiaGastrointestinal disorders
Gastroenteritis viralInfections and infestations
Ligament sprainInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
Decreased appetiteMetabolism and nutrition disorders
PruritusSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
RashSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
TachycardiaCardiac disorders
OdynophagiaGastrointestinal disorders
GastroenteritisInfections and infestations
SinusitisInfections and infestations
Viral infectionInfections and infestations
Viral upper respiratory tract infectionInfections and infestations
International normalised ratio increasedInvestigations
MyalgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

Most-reported serious reactions: Suicide attempt, Myocarditis, Atrial fibrillation, Cardiac failure, Non-cardiac chest pain, Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, Appendicitis perforated, Gastroenteritis.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04577352 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy (using the modified Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale \[mFARS\]) and safety of vatiquinone in participants with Friedreich ataxia (FA).

Publications & conference data

6 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Mitochondrial diseases: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic advances.
    Wen H, Deng H, Li B, Chen J, et al · · 2025 · cited 111× · PMID 39788934 · DOI 10.1038/s41392-024-02044-3
  2. Friedreich Ataxia: Multidisciplinary Clinical Care.
    Lynch DR, Schadt K, Kichula E, McCormack S, et al · · 2021 · cited 36× · PMID 34234452 · DOI 10.2147/jmdh.s292945
  3. Current Drug Repurposing Strategies for Rare Neurodegenerative Disorders.
    Shah S, Dooms MM, Amaral-Garcia S, Igoillo-Esteve M. · · 2021 · cited 32× · PMID 34992533 · DOI 10.3389/fphar.2021.768023
  4. Hereditary Ataxias: From Bench to Clinic, Where Do We Stand?
    Pilotto F, Del Bondio A, Puccio H. · · 2024 · cited 15× · PMID 38391932 · DOI 10.3390/cells13040319
  5. Mitochondrial Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia.
    Ali A, Esmaeil A, Behbehani R. · · 2024 · cited 5× · PMID 38391710 · DOI 10.3390/brainsci14020135
  6. Evaluating the efficacy of vatiquinone in preclinical models of Leigh syndrome and GPX4 deficiency.
    Kayser EB, Mulholland M, Olkhova EA, Chen Y, et al · · 2025 · cited 2× · PMID 39930437 · DOI 10.1186/s13023-025-03582-x

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Trials by the same sponsor.

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Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT04577352.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing