Recruiting
Phase 2

Tofacitinib

Sponsor:

University of Colorado, Denver

Code:

NCT07598643

Conditions

Down Syndrome

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 6 - 22

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Tofacitinib Oral Solution

Placebo

Study Details

Brief summary:

This protocol describes a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial for Janus kinase (JAK) inhibition in Down syndrome (DS). This trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 6-month treatment with the JAK1/3 inhibitor tofacitinib in individuals ages 6-22 (inclusive) with DS. There will be two main arms for this study: a treatment arm and a placebo control arm. Participants will be randomized into the treatment or placebo arm. Those completing 6 months in the placebo arm may be eligible to participate in a cross-over, open-label extension arm to receive 6 months of tofacitinib treatment. Participants will be evaluated during a Screening visit to determine eligibility, complete a Baseline visit if eligible, and be monitored via safety clinical laboratories and in-person evaluations by study doctors at 1 month, 3 months (mid-point visit) and 6 months (endpoint visit). An interim analysis of safety will be completed by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) after 40 participants have completed 6 months of treatment or placebo (20 in each arm).

Conditions

Down Syndrome

Study ID

NCT07598643

Start date

May 28, 2026

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Aug, 2030

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug, 2030

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 6 - 22

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals with DS aged 6 years (inclusive) to 22 years (inclusive). All forms of DS will qualify, including complete trisomy 21, Robertsonian translocation trisomy 21, partial trisomy 21 (segmental duplication), and/or mosaic trisomy 21.
2. Available parent(s) or guardian(s) legally able to sign the consent form and who can complete study materials as appropriate.
3. Body weight is at least 10 kgs.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior treatment with a JAK inhibitor or with an investigational agent, device, or procedure within 21 days of enrollment.
2. Current or planned use of a JAK inhibitor during the 6-month study period.
3. Known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to tofacitinib.
4. Active, uncontrolled, or life-threatening infection that at the determination of the treating physician would preclude safe use of tofacitinib.
5. History of gastrointestinal perforation.
6. Vaccination with live attenuated virus within six weeks of inclusion in the study or planned during the study.

Note on vaccines: Participants not yet vaccinated for MMR-V should consider their timeline for MMR-V vaccination. Specifically, the study team recommends MMR-V vaccination as soon as possible and delay study start until 6 weeks after MMR-V vaccinations.
7. Concomitant treatment with any of the following:

1. Concomitant treatment with other immunosuppressants (e.g., methotrexate, azathioprine, tacrolimus, cyclosporine).
2. Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole).
3. Strong CYP3A4 Inducers (e.g., rifampin).
4. Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor(s) with a strong CYP2C19 inhibitor(s) (e.g., fluconazole).
5. Other supplements or medications that at the determination of the treating physician would preclude safe use of tofacitinib.
8. Evidence of severe organ dysfunction, including significantly abnormal laboratory values or severe renal impairment, that at the determination of the treating physician would preclude safe administration of tofacitinib.
9. Any history of leukemia, lymphoma, or unresolved transient myeloproliferative disorder.
10. Any current, recurrent, or metastatic forms of cancer.
11. Any cancer treatment within five years prior to study entry.
12. Known personal history of thrombosis or bleeding disorder.
13. History of tuberculosis, disseminated herpes zoster, disseminated herpes simplex, or recurrent localized herpes zoster.
14. Intravenous antimicrobial therapy within 3 months of inclusion in the study.
15. History of organ or bone marrow transplant.
16. History of myocardial infarction or stroke.
17. Evidence of lipid disorder, including but not limited to LDL > 190 mg/dL, per discretion of the treating physician.
18. Participant received blood or plasma products within 30 days of the Baseline visit.
19. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) within 8 weeks of the Baseline visit.
20. Hospitalization longer than 6 months in the last year.
21. History of neurological syndrome that in the opinion of the study doctors would inhibit successful participation in the study.
22. Less than 6 weeks post-surgery at Baseline appointment.
23. Total vision or hearing loss (with no corrective devices available).
24. Participant must be able to attempt the neurodevelopment assessment battery at Baseline and caregiver must be able to complete proxy reports for neurodevelopmental assessments.
25. Poor venous access not allowing repeated blood tests or non-compliance with venipuncture requirements.
26. Participants may be excluded for other unforeseen reasons at the study doctor's discretion.
27. Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
28. Use of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives.

Study Design

Enrollment

92 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Treatment Arm

Participants enrolled in the treatment arm will receive a 6-month treatment with the JAK1/3 inhibitor tofacitinib to define the safety and efficacy of this medicine relative to placebo.

placebo comparator: Placebo arm

Participants in the placebo arm will complete the same study activities as the participants in the treatment arm. Placebo will be an oral solution to mimic the active product. At the end of 6 months of activities, unblinding will occur and if eligible, participants in the placebo arm may be offered to participate in the cross-over arm to undergo 6 months of treatment with tofacitinib in an open-label design.

Interventions

Tofacitinib Oral Solution

JAK1/3 inhibitor

Placebo

The placebo will be compounded by Children's Hospital of Colorado Investigational Drug Services using commercially available syrup with added flavoring to mimic the active product.

Primary outcome measure

  • Number and percentage of subjects experiencing treatment-emergent adverse events. [ Time Frame: From screening to 1 month after end of treatment ]
  • Change in Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, 2nd Edition Revised (KBIT-2 Revised) - Verbal Intelligence [ Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months ]
  • Change in Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, 2nd Edition Revised (KBIT-2 Revised) - Nonverbal Intelligence [ Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months ]
  • Change in Leiter 3 - Attention Sustained subtest [ Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months ]
  • Change in Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales 3 (VABS-3) - Sum of Domain Raw Scores [ Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months ]
  • Change in Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) Scale - Improvement in Health (CGI-I-H) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

CU Anschutz, Children's Hospital Colorado

Recruiting

Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045

Contacts

Principal Investigator:

Joaquin M Espinosa, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

University of Colorado, Denver

Last update posted

Sep 3, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • Down syndrome
  • JAK inhibition
  • Tofacitinib

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Colorado, Denver on 2026-09-03.