← Back to Clinical Trials
Recruiting Phase 2 NCT06252571

NCT06252571 a Chronobiological Treatment Combining Evening Melatonin and Morning Light Therapy in Idiopathic Hypersomnia: a Prospective, Double Bind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled -Trial

◆ AI Clinical Summary
Plain-language summary for patients
Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT06252571
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2
Sponsor University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
Condition Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 72 participants
Start Date 2024-09-07
Primary Completion 2027-09-07

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 40 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
- Melatonin - Active light ttherapy- Placebo drug - Placebo light therapy

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

In Phase 2, researchers evaluate early signs of effectiveness. You may be randomized to receive the active treatment or a comparator. Monitoring continues closely.

This trial targets 72 participants in total. It began in 2024-09-07 with a primary completion date of 2027-09-07.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a chronic disabling disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), prolonged nighttime sleep and sleep inertia. IH is a rare disorder, estimated around 0.05%, yet its true prevalence remains unknown. Disease onset occurs most often during young adulthood and is accompanied by severe social, professional and economic impairments, resulting in risk of accident and a loss in patient's quality of life. There are no ANSM (or FDA-) approved treatments for IH symptoms. IH shares common features with delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) which is a chronic circadian rhythm disorder which occurs as in IH during young adulthood. The combination of evening melatonin and morning bright light therapy is the most effective validated chronotherapy in DSWPD.Moreover, bright light therapy has direct effects and is known to increase daytime alertness and to improve mood. Melatonin is empirically used in routine clinical practice in patients with IH and French and European recommendations mention melatonin as a possible treatment of sleep inertia in IH. . Our goal is to bring a proof of concept of a safe therapeutic practice for IH combining exogenous melatonin and bright light therapy in

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion criteria: * Male or female patient * Age ≥ 18 and ≤ 40 years at signature of informed consent form * Diagnosed with Idiopathic hypersomnia in a reference/competence center of hypersomnia rare disease network according to ICSD-3 criteria (International classification of sleep disorders) with symptoms lasting since \>3 months and a total sleep time ≥11hours objectified with a 24h continuous polysomnography realized during the last 12 months * Patient with stable medication in the month preceding inclusion and throughout the 10 weeks of participation to the study (except for drugs excluding participation. See list below). * Patient able to be compliant with therapy during the required time and at the set schedule. * For female patient: effective efficient contraception during the month preceding the inclusion and all along the study * Patient who have given written informed consent and are able to understand the objectives and risks associated to the research. * Patient affiliated to a social security insurance Exclusion criteria: 1. Criteria related to the underlying disorder (other forms of hypersomnia or sleep disorder) * Other primary or secondary hypersomnia (narcolepsy, Kleine-Levin syndrome, post-traumatic hypersomnia, hypersomnia due to medication or substance abuse…) * Other intrinsic sleep disorder according to ICSD-3 criteria (sleep apnea syndrome, restless legs syndrome, insomnia) 2. Criteria related to pathologies associated with particular risks or consumption of substances that may affect sleep or alertness: * Significant psychiatric comorbidities (current severe depressive episode based on the DSM-V criteria, risk of suicide, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder). * Known systemic or severe acute disease (auto-immune diseases…) * Substance / alcohol /cigarette dependence * Consumption of excessive amounts of caffeine, defined as greater than 600 mg of caffeine of coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, or other caffeinated beverages per day (1 cup of coffee is approximately 120 mg) 3. Criteria related to circadian rhythms disturbances * Recent transmeridian travel (\> 2 time zones) within the month before the start of the study * History of shift/night work reported within the 6 months preceding the study * Irregular sleep habits (more than 2 hours of delay or advance in bedtime ≥ 3 nights over a week) * Circadian sleep-wake rhythm disorders according to ICSD-3 criteria (advanced or delayed sleep phase syndrome, …) 4. criteria related to medications (within 1 month prior to study) * Sleep promoting drugs (benzodiazepines, z-drugs, sodium oxybate, antihistaminics…) * Wake promoting-drugs (modafinil, pitolisant, methylphenidate, solriamfétol chlorhydrate) * Psychotropics and drugs inducing level 3 sleepiness according to the ANSM (French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety) gradation. * beta-blockers * regular anti-inflammatory drug intake * Exogenous melatonin and/or serotonin and or tryptohane (as a drug or a dietary supplement) 5. Criteria related to relative contra-indications to light therapy * Medical history of ophthalmologic diseases causing visual impairment: retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, macular hole, epiretinal membrane; cataract; optic neuropathy. * On-going medication with a photosensibilizing drug * Photosensitive epilepsia or migraine 6. Criteria relative to exogenous melatonin administration * Prior intolerance to cellulose or exogenous melatonin * Drugs metabolized by CYP1A2 intake within 1 month prior to study: antivitamin K, fluvoxamine, cimetidine, carbamazepine, rifampicin… 7. Criteria relative to relative contraindications of e-celsius capsules * Patient weighting less than 40 kg * Medical history of motility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and intestinal disorders that can lead to obstruction of the digestive tract, including diverticula, Crohn disease, surgical procedures in the gastrointestinal tract * Known swallowing disorders * In presence of a pacemaker or electro-medical implant. * Patient who has to undergo strong electromagnetic field during the period of use of the system (MRI) 8. Criteria relative to regulation: * Pregnancy, breastfeeding. * Participation in another interventional clinical trial with an exclusion period * Patient with difficulty to read or understand French, or inability to understand the delivered information * Patient in emergency situation * Patient in life-threatening situation * Patient under justice safeguard * Patient under guardianship or limited guardianship * Patient unwilling to refrain from driving and/or operating dangerous or hazardous machinery during times of heightened sleepiness or fatigue due to the medication

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Patrice BOURGIN, MD

✉ pbourgin@unistra.fr

📞 03 88 11 64 30

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT06252571 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 40 Years, studying Idiopathic Hypersomnia. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT06252571 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether the treatment shows signs of effectiveness while continuing to monitor safety. More participants are enrolled than in Phase 1 to help refine the treatment protocol.

Is NCT06252571 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT06252571 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at pbourgin@unistra.fr for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT06252571 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Strasbourg, France.

Who is sponsoring the NCT06252571 clinical trial?

NCT06252571 is sponsored by University Hospital, Strasbourg, France. The trial plans to enroll 72 participants.

Related Trials

ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: July 2026  ·  Data Methodology