MedPath

New Treatment Response in People With and Without Cirrhosis From Chronic Hepatitis C

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Chronic Hepatitis C
Cirrhosis
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C, Chronic
Interventions
Drug: DUAL
Registration Number
NCT01888900
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Brief Summary

Background:

- Some people who have chronic hepatitis C do not respond to the usual treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin. New chronic hepatitis treatments are being developed that may work better for different people. The treatments will look at how specific genes interact with the drugs. Researchers want to see how well these new drugs work in people whose chronic hepatitis C has not responded or only partly responded to the usual treatment drugs.

Objectives:

- To compare new treatments for people with chronic hepatitis C.

Eligibility:

- Individuals at least 18 years of age who have chronic hepatitis C that has not responded to standard treatments.

Design:

* Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will be collected. Liver scans and a biopsy will be taken before the start of treatment.

* Participants will be separated into two groups. One group will have the new treatment drugs (assunaprevir and daclatasvir). The second group will have these two drugs as well as peginterferon and ribavirin. All participants will have an initial 4-day hospital stay with regular blood tests to see how the start of the treatment works.

* The first group will take the new study drug tablets daily for 24 weeks. Those who do not respond to this treatment will also start to take peginterferon and ribavirin, and the treatment will continue for 24 weeks after starting the additional drugs.

* The second group will take all four drugs according to the standard dosing schedule for 24 weeks.

* Treatment will be monitored with frequent blood tests. Liver scans, biopsies, and other tests will be performed as directed by the study doctors.

* Participants will have 24 weeks of regular followup visits.

Detailed Description

Up to 70 patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, who were partial or null responders to optimal therapy with the combination of peginterferon and ribavirin will be enrolled into this pilot study on the use of asunaprevir and daclatasvir together or in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin to improve response to antiviral therapy. Two separate studies will be conducted based upon HCV genotype 1 subtype. For patients with HCV genotype 1b: Will undergo baseline testing for NS5A RAVs known to confer resistance to daclatasvir (L31/Y93). Subjects who harbor these NS5A resistance associated variants will be excluded from receiving dual therapy but would be offered quad therapy and managed as a HCV genotype 1a subject. After medical evaluation and liver biopsy, 30 HCV genotype 1b patients will receive combination therapy with asunaprevir and daclatasvir alone for 24 weeks and undergo paired liver biopsies, pre-treatment and either at 2 or 4 weeks after starting therapy. Patients in whom HCV RNA is greater than or equal to LLOQ at 8 weeks will either discontinue therapy at that point (early stopping rule for futility) or may have rescue therapy instituted at the discretion of the investigator with a QUAD regimen (asunaprevir and daclatasvir plus peginterferon and ribavirin) provided they meet pre-specified inclusion criteria. For patients with HCV genotype 1a: After medical evaluation and liver biopsy 40 (15 with cirrhosis and 15 with Ishak fibrosis 0-2; the remaining 10 slots will be allocated for individuals who do not meet the histological entry requirement i.e. Ishak 3-4) HCV genotype 1a patients will be started on combination therapy with asunaprevir, daclatasvir, peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for 24 weeks. Patients will be randomized to undergo a second liver biopsy at study week 4 after starting therapy either before or 6 hours after the next scheduled peginterferon dose to assess intrahepatic interferon stimulated gene expression. Intrahepatic drug concentrations of asunaprevir and daclatasvir will be measured as part of an ancillary study. Patients in whom HCV RNA is greater than or euqal to LLOQ at 8 weeks will discontinue therapy (early stopping rule for futility). Routine serum chemistries, complete blood counts and HCV RNA levels will be monitored more frequently for the initial 4 days and then at standard intervals during the period of antiviral therapy. The major endpoints will be changes in interferon stimulated gene and protein expression in the liver and changes in HCV RNA levels in liver and serum between baseline and 4 weeks. Secondary endpoints will be rates of sustained virologic response 12 and 24 weeks off therapy.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
35
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1A with QUADQUADSubjects will be started on combination therapy with asunaprevir, daclatasvir, peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for 24 weeks.
Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1B with DUALDUALSubjects will receive combination therapy with asunaprevir and daclatasvir alone for 24 weeks and undergo paired liver biopsies, pre-treatment and either at 2 or 4 weeks after starting therapy.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in Interferon Stimulated Genes in the Liverbaseline and either 2 or 4 weeks

Change in raw expression in interferon stimulated genes at week 2 or 4 compared to baseline is obtained by subtracting either 2 or 4 week measurement from baseline measurement. Negative values reflect a decrease in expression and positive values reflect an increase in expression.

The raw gene expression data was normalized using quantile normalization based on all the genes in the microarray.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Rates of Rapid Virological ResponderWeek 4 post treatment

rapid virological response (HCV RNA \<LLOQ Target not Detected) at week 4

Extended Rapid Virological ResponderBoth weeks 4 and 12 post treatment

extended rapid virological response (HCV RNA \<LLOQ Target not Detected at both weeks 4 and 12)

End of Treatment ResponderWeek 24 post treatment

end of treatment response (HCV RNA \<LLOQ Target not Detected at week24)

Sustained Virological ResponderWeek 12 post treatment

sustained virological response at follow-up week 12

Serum Aminotransferase LevelsWeek 12 post treatment

whether raw ALT value is in normal range which is less than 41 U/L.

Virological Relapsebeyond Week 24 post treatment

HCV RNA \>= LLOQ level after therapy is stopped in a patient who previously achieved an end-of-treatment virological response

Rates of Asunaprevir and Daclatasvir Resistancepost treatment

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

🇺🇸

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

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