NICOFA

Friedreich ataxia is a rare incurable and devastating disease. The clinical phenotype includes poor balance, impaired coordination, difficult articulation of speech and swallowing, distal weakness, deep sensory loss, visual and hearing impairment, but also heart failure, diabetes mellitus, scoliosis and foot deformities. Clinical manifestation normally starts around puberty. There is no cure or treatment that can slow down the disease which frequently results in severe disability by early adulthood. Friedreich ataxia is an inherited disorder caused by Frataxin deficiency. Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) was identified to increase Frataxin expression by an epigenetic mechanism in patients with Friedreich ataxia. This multinational study NICOFA will investigate randomized, placebo-controlled and double-blinded, whether high doses of nicotinamide are an effective treatment for Friedreich ataxia over a study period of two years. Study design and duration and number of patients to be included are based on our natural history data obtained in EFACTS (European Friedreich’s Ataxia Consortium for Translational Studies).