Evidence mapPaperPMID 40407475Full record

ArticleMethods and protocols2025

Empagliflozin Repurposing for Lafora Disease: A Pilot Clinical Trial and Preclinical Investigation of Novel Therapeutic Targets.

Giuseppe d'Orsi, Antonella Liantonio, Paola Imbrici, Nicola Gambacorta, Giorgia Dinoi, Cosimo Damiano Altomare, DEFEAT-LD Study Group, Massimo Carella

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Article in Methods and protocols, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Giuseppe d'OrsiNeurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3465-7540
Antonella LiantonioDepartment of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4103-7577
Paola ImbriciDepartment of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9140-5350
Nicola GambacortaDepartment of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1965-1519
Giorgia DinoiDepartment of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0009-0007-9250-5610
Cosimo Damiano AltomareDepartment of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5016-5805
DEFEAT-LD Study Group
Massimo CarellaDivision of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6830-6829

Funding

European Union - Next Generation EU - NRRP M6C2 - Investment 2.1 Enhancement and strengthening of biomedical research in the NHS. Project 'Drug discovEry and repurposing to Find a trEAtmenT for Lafora Disease (DEFEAT-LD)' - PNRR-MR1-2022-12376430. Next Generation EU - NRRP M6C2 - Investment 2.1 - PNRR-MR1-2022-1237643
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLafora disease (LD) is an ultra-rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder with limited therapeutic options. Current treatments primarily address symptoms, with modest efficacy in halting disease progression, thus highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. Gene therapy, antisense oligonucleotides, and recombinant enzymes have recently been, and still are, under investigation. Drug repurposing may offer a promising approach to identify new, possibly effective, therapies.

methodsThis study aims to investigate the conditions for repurposing empagliflozin, an SGLT2 (sodium/glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitor, as a potential treatment for LD and to establish a clinical protocol. Clinical phase: This 12-month prospective observational study will assess the safety and clinical efficacy of empagliflozin in two patients with early to intermediate LD stage. The primary endpoints will include changes in the severity of epilepsy and cognitive function, while the secondary endpoints will assess motor function, global function, and autonomy. Multiple clinical and instrumental evaluations (including MRI and PET with

resultsThe expected outcome of this study is twofold, i.e., (i) assessing the safety and tolerability of empagliflozin in LD patients and (ii) gathering preliminary data on its potential efficacy in improving clinical and neurologic features. Additionally, the in silico and in vitro studies may provide new insights into the mechanisms through which empagliflozin may exert its therapeutic effects in LD.

conclusionThe findings of this study are expected to provide evidence in support of the repurposing of empagliflozin for the treatment of LD.

Indexed as

empagliflozinglycogenLafora diseasemolecular docking

Identifiers

PMID40407475
PMCPMC12101192

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.