Long-Term Open-Label Study Evaluating Oral Miglustat Treatment in Patients With Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis Type 3

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 3 (CLN3) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder characterized by progressive neurodegeneration. No disease-modifying treatments are currently available. Miglustat, a substrate reduction therapy, has shown preclinical efficacy in CLN3 models (conference abstract). The aim of this study was to assess the long-term safety and clinical impact of miglustat in patients with CLN3 disease.

This was an open-label, single-center study conducted at Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, Italy. Oral miglustat was titrated to 15 mg/kg/d or a maximum of 600 mg/d. Patients were assessed every 6 months using the Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale (UBDRS). The primary outcome was the annual rate of change in the UBDRS physical subscale. Clinical data were analyzed descriptively.

Six patients (33% female) with a median age of 20.34 years (interquartile range [IQR] 18.25-23.84) were treated and followed for a median of 3.9 years (IQR 3.32-4.34). The mean annual change in the UBDRS physical score was +1.96 points per year (SD ± 0.80). Miglustat was well tolerated, with only mild, self-limiting gastrointestinal side effects observed.

Miglustat showed a favorable safety profile and was associated with a slower rate of physical decline compared with historical controls. Limitations include small sample size, genetic heterogeneity, and open-label design.