Evaluating Three Grams Daily Valacyclovir in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C and HSV-2 Infection (Phase I)

Phase 1

Completed

Conditions: Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

Interventions: Drug: Valacyclovir
Drug: Placebo

Registration Number: NCT01453075

Lead Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to study the effects of valacyclovir on patients who have hepatitis C and antibodies to herpes simplex type-2. Herpes simplex type 2 is a virus which causes genital herpes. Some persons with genital herpes have sores in their private areas but most persons do not have any symptoms at all. Valacyclovir is a medication which is commonly used to treat or prevent outbreaks of genital herpes. This medication is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat genital herpes. Valacyclovir has not been approved to treat chronic hepatitis C.

The study will take 16 weeks. Participants will be assigned to take either the study drug, valacyclovir, or a sugar pill that looks exactly like valacyclovir. The researchers and the persons participating will not know which medication they are receiving. Study visits will occur every two weeks and will take approximately 3-45 minutes. All study visits will occur at the G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center.

Detailed Description: Study is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, Phase II clinical trial. Participants will be recruited while attending regularly scheduled clinic appointments at the Jackson VA Medical Center. Baseline Visit. Participants will be randomized 1:1 in groups of 10 to receive valacyclovir 1.5 gram orally twice daily or matching placebo. Enrolled participants will complete 12 weeks of assigned therapy.

At the initial visit, participants will complete a short questionnaire detailing past medical/social history and relevant symptoms. Venipuncture will be performed to obtain samples for the laboratory tests. The baseline de-identified serum sample will be obtained from the clinical lab and stored in research-approved freezer space for future confirmation with the Biokit HSV-2 rapid assay. Follow-up visits will be scheduled at two-week intervals after baseline. At each visit, pill-count, compliance and tolerability of medications will be assessed using a short questionnaire. Venipuncture will be performed every four weeks (i.e., at every other follow-up visit) to provide samples for the tests described below. Information from each study visit will be recorded into the chart by the PI or Research Assistant (RA) and entered into an encrypted database on a VA server. Laboratory Tests. HSV-2 infection will be confirmed by performing the Biokit HSV-2 rapid assay on the baseline stored serum sample using methods previously described in this proposal. Laboratory tests will include 1) complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic profile, and quantitative hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA; and 2) Focus HerpeSelect HSV-1 Immunoglobulin G (IgG) for participants who were seronegative for HSV-1 at baseline. Patient's IL28-B genotype will also be assessed at baseline. The PI will review all laboratory parameters.

Baseline characteristics between the groups will be compared using appropriate parametric tests. Analysis will be intention to treat with the inclusion of all subjects who were randomized to drug or placebo. The primary outcome is change in HCV viral load in the treatment group compared with placebo. Because the investigators are expecting a 0.5 log10 decline in HCV viral load, the investigators will use one-sided parametric tests. All viral loads will be log10-transformed before analysis.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 31

Inclusion Criteria

Documentation of chronic HCV infection with genotype testing and previous positive HerpeSelect HSV-2 IgG assay

Exclusion Criteria

Antiherpes or immunomodulatory therapy during the past 30 days
HIV or chronic hepatitis B infection
Decompensated liver disease (ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, coagulopathy, jaundice/icterus)
Creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min.
Female subject who is pregnant or nursing
Gastrointestinal disorder which might result in malabsorption of valacyclovir
History of erythema multiforme major, thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura or hemolytic uremic syndrome
Therapy for hepatitis C in the previous 6 months

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Arm 1: valacyclovir	Valacyclovir	Assigned patients will take 1.5 mg po valacyclovir twice daily
Arm 2: placebo	Placebo	Assigned patients will receiving matching placebo twice daily

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Effect of HSV-2 Suppression on HCV Viral Load.	baseline; 12 weeks	Measure the change in serum HCV viral load at baseline and 12 weeks in patients who have chronic hepatitis C and HSV-2 infection who receive the 3 grams daily valacyclovir versus placebo

Secondary Outcome Measures