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SCIL-1Ra in COVID-19 Feasibility & PK/PD

Phase 2
Terminated
Conditions
COVID-19
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT04462757
Lead Sponsor
University of Manchester
Brief Summary

The current COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide healthcare crisis. Of concern is the large number of patients that are/will require mechanical ventilation, and the associated strain that this will place on healthcare resources. At present, there are no specific therapeutic interventions directed at COVID-19 infection. However, observational data suggest that there is a subgroup of patients that demonstrate a hyperinflammatory response in response to COVID-19 and have a higher requirement for Critical Care and higher mortality.

There is a strong case for the use of the naturally occurring anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in these patients. Anakinra is a recombinant form of IL-1Ra that is licensed for clinical use. Success of use of anakinra in COVID-19 trials will be greatly enhanced by robust scientific evidence and established pharmacokinetics which inform the most effective dosing regimens. The latter is especially important when, as in the case of anakinra, drug supplies are limited, the drug has short half-life and clinical ease of application is critical.

Detailed Description

The investigators plan a small trial of an existing drug in patients with COVID-19 at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (SRFT) and Manchester Foundation Trust (MFT). The investigators will recruit patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection within 24 hours of being transfer in a Critical Care department. The investigators have been testing interleukin-1 receptor antagonist: IL-1Ra (known as Anakinra) for many years. Marketed as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and for some rare autoimmune diseases, we have shown Anakinra also reduces or blocks inflammation in a number of other conditions e.g. stroke and brain haemorrhage. The investigators have found it to be safe, easily administered and well tolerated. As part of the global response to the SARS-COV-2 pandemic, researchers have identified drugs that repurposing existing drugs. Anakinra has been proposed as a candidate therapy for COVID-19 and will be used in REMAP-CAP clinical trial as an intravenous (IV) therapy four times daily (qds). Whilst there is uncertainty about the therapeutic benefits, the investigators wish to explore the theory that they can achieve comparable concentrations in the blood using a subcutaneous (SC) injection twice daily (bd), as observed with IV therapy qds. We will randomise up to 40 patients to receive either SC Anakinra twice daily or IV Anakinra four-times daily for 14 days (or until discharge from CCU). They will measure changes in biomarkers in both groups and use the data to inform a mathematical model to simulate the effect the drug may have on the body. The aim is to the provide evidence that a lower dose SC Anakinra is as effective as higher dose IV.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
5
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patient age 18 or above.
  • Clinically suspected/proven COVID-19.
  • Requiring organ support with one or more of:
  • Non-invasive or invasive ventilatory support
  • Receiving infusion of vasopressor or inotropes or both.
  • No concomitant health problems that, in the opinion of the PI or designee in agreement with the treating clinician, would interfere with participation, administration of study drug or assessment of outcomes including safety.
Exclusion Criteria
  • More than 24h has elapsed since CCU admission.
  • Death is deemed to be imminent and inevitable during the next 24h.
  • One or more of: the patient, substitute decision-maker or the attending physician are not committed to full active treatment.
  • Known condition resulting in ongoing immunosuppression including neutropenia (count < 1.5 x 10^9/L) prior to hospitalisation, malignancy, latent tuberculosis or chronic liver disease (if known).
  • Previous or current treatment with anakinra or medication suspected of interacting with anakinra, listed in the drug SmPC, known at the time of trial entry or previous participation in this trial.
  • Known to have received active treatment in a clinical trial of an investigational immunomodulatory agent (not including corticosteroids) within 30 days prior to study entry.
  • Known to be pregnant or breast feeding or inability to reliably confirm that the patient is not pregnant.
  • Known allergy to anakinra or any of the excipients listed in the drug SmPC
  • Known allergy to other products that are produced by DNA technology using the micro-organism E. coli (e.g. Escherichia coli derived protein).

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Subcutaneous ArmAnakinra 100Mg/0.67Ml Inj Syringe100mg anakinra SC will be administered subcutaneously at consistent times that are convenient and practical for the patients and research/nursing staff providing there is a minimum 8 hours and maximum 16 hours between administrations.
Intravenous ArmAnakinra 100Mg/0.67Ml Inj Syringe100mg anakinra in 100mL 0.9% NaCl will be administered intravenously four times a day every 6 hours.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Plasma IL-1Ra levels1 week

Plasma IL-1Ra levels from Day 1 to Day 7 following administration of SC anakinra in patients with SARS-CoV-2

Plasma IL-6 levels1 week

Plasma IL-6 levels from Day 1 to Day 7 following administration of SC anakinra in patients with SARS-CoV-2

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Plasma markers2 weeks

Plasma markers including IL-33 from Day 1 to Day 14 in all participants

Exploratory Data on Clinical efficacy of the ordinal scale4 weeks

Exploratory data on clinical efficacy as defined by:

c. Status on the above ordinal scale (at 14 and 28 days)

Feasibility endpoints related to IMP and deviations2 weeks

Feasibility endpoints include protocol deviations in terms of timing and delivery of scheduled medication.

Safety Endpoints related to the anaphylactic reactions of the IMP2 weeks

Safety endpoints include:

b. Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions (duration of IMP plus 30h from last dose).

Exploratory Data on Clinical efficacy4 weeks

Exploratory data on clinical efficacy as defined by:

b. Ventilation free days (at 28 days)

Safety Endpoints related to the Serious adverse reactions of the IMP2 weeks

Safety endpoints include:

a. Severe fatal or life-threatening serious adverse reactions (duration of IMP plus 30h from last dose).

Safety Endpoints related to any severe laboratory abnormalities2 weeks

Safety endpoints include:

d. IMP related severe laboratory abnormalities (duration of IMP)

Exploratory Data on Clinical efficacy by time to recovery4 weeks

Exploratory data on clinical efficacy as defined by:

a. Time to recovery defined by hospital discharge or improvement of two points on the ordinal scale: not hospitalised; hospitalised without need for supplemental oxygen; requiring supplemental oxygen; requiring HFNC or non-invasive mechanical ventilation; requiring ECMO or mechanical intervention; dead. Improvement mechanical ventilation (from recruitment to time of ventilation)

Safety Endpoints related to neutropenia caused by the IMP2 weeks

Safety endpoints include:

c. Severe neutropenia (\< 1.5 x 109 /L) (duration of IMP)

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Salford Royal NHS Foundation Tust

🇬🇧

Salford, United Kingdom

Manchester Univesity NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Manchester, United Kingdom

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