Avoiding Treatment in the Hospital With Furoscix for the Management of Congestion in Heart Failure - A Pilot Study

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Heart Failure
• Interventions: Combination Product: Furoscix Infusor

• Registration Number: NCT04593823
• Lead Sponsor: scPharmaceuticals, Inc.

Brief Summary

This is a multicenter, randomized, open label, controlled study evaluating the effectiveness, and safety of the Furoscix Infusor vs continued medical therapy in patients with chronic heart failure and fluid overload requiring augmentation in diuretic therapy outside of acute care setting.

The study drug, Furoscix (furosemide injection 8 mg/ml), is a furosemide solution buffered to a neutral pH containing 80 mg/10 mL for subcutaneous administration over 5 hours via the Furoscix Infusor.

The study objectives are:

1. To provide pilot data on the effectiveness and safety to inform a pivotal trial.

2. To inform population enrichment strategies

3. To refine pivotal trial endpoints and analytical methods

4. To identify operational challenges of study design

5. To assess patient adherence, competence, and experience

6. To familiarize staff and patients with device application and use

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Furoscix Infusor vs continued medical therapy in patients with chronic heart failure and fluid overload requiring augmentation in diuretic therapy outside of acute care setting. 51 patients will be randomly assigned (2:1) to receive Furoscix vs continued medical therapy.

The Treatment Phase comprises a pre-programmed bi-phasic 5-hour drug administration of Furoscix (80 mg/10 mL) via the On-body Infusor. Subjects and/or their caregivers will be trained on device preparation, placement and removal in accordance with product instructions of use (IFU). Subjects should be transitioned back to their oral maintenance diuretic regimen when clinically indicated at the discretion of the investigator.

Over the initial 7 days, all subjects will receive daily clinic or phone follow-up by the study staff. Decision of treatment with Furoscix in the intervention arm as well as changes in oral diuretic dosing in the control arm will be determined by the treating physician in coordination with the study nurse. Safety labs will be done on Days 1, 3, 7 and 30.

After Subjects have been transitioned to their oral maintenance diuretic regimen, additional doses of Furoscix (for Furoscix group) or IV diuretics (for Treat as Usual group) can be prescribed during the 30-day study period as needed based on the presence of congestion symptoms (e.g. dyspnea, edema, and/or excess weight gain) as determined by the investigator.

The Follow-Up Phase will include a visit to the clinic on Day 30 +/- 5 days where effectiveness and safety assessments will be performed including limited physical exam (including NYHA Class), Composite Congestion Score (CCS), 5-point Current Dyspnea Score, 7-point Dyspnea Score, vital signs, laboratory analyses, KCCQ-12, Visual Analog Score (VAS), 6MWT and adverse events.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-10-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-10-13
• Study First Posted: 2020-10-20
• Study Start: 2021-05-03
• Primary Completion: 2022-04-18
• Study Completion: 2022-04-18
• Results First Submitted: 2023-06-13
• Status Verified: 2023-07
• Results First Submitted QC: 2023-07-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-07-12
• Results First Posted: 2023-08-01
• Last Update Posted: 2023-08-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 63

Inclusion Criteria

Subjects are eligible for inclusion only if all the following criteria are met:

1. Age 18 years or older.

2. Diagnosis of symptomatic chronic heart failure (NYHA Class II-IV) with background loop diuretic therapy for at least 4 weeks.

3. Need for augmented diuresis outside of the acute care setting as determined by the investigator.

4. On background therapy including daily total furosemide equivalent dose (40-160 mg) of loop diuretic or equivalent.

5. The subject must have signs of volume expansion, defined as two or more of the following six signs:

   1. jugular venous distention
   2. edema (≥ 1+)
   3. ascites
   4. pulmonary congestion on chest x-ray
   5. pulmonary rales
   6. NT-proBNP ≥1000 pg/ml (1400 for patients in atrial fibrillation) or, for patients not on Entresto, BNP ≥200 (400 for patients in atrial fibrillation)

6. Increase over the preceding 30 days in at least one of the following symptoms characteristic of worsening heart failure:

   1. dyspnea
   2. fatigue
   3. exercise intolerance

7. Adequate environment for at home administration of Furoscix by patient or caregiver.

Exclusion Criteria

A Subject is not eligible for inclusion if any of the following criteria apply:

1. Suspected high risk clinical instability with outpatient treatment.
2. Presence of a complicating condition, other than heart failure likely to require hospitalization in next 30 days.
3. Pregnant women or women of childbearing age who are not willing to use an adequate form of contraception.
4. Known allergy to the active and inactive ingredients of the study medication or device adhesive.
5. On experimental medication or currently participating in another interventional research study.
6. eGFR < 20
7. Serum potassium at baseline > 5.4 or < 3.6
8. Concomitant infection
9. Heart rate > 110
10. Received IV furosemide or bumetanide within last 24 hours

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Furoscix Infusor	Furoscix Infusor	Furoscix (furosemide injection, 8 mg/mL) administered subcutaneously over 5 hours via the Furoscix Infusor. The Infusor is applied to the abdomen via a medical grade adhesive and delivers a subcutaneous infusion of Furoscix through a pre-programmed, biphasic delivery profile with 30 mg (3.75 mL) administered over the first hour, followed by 12.5 mg (1.56 mL) per hour for the subsequent 4 hours (Total dose is 80 mg (10 mL) over 5 hours).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
NT-proBNP Change From Baseline	30 Days	Percentage change in NT-proBNP from baseline at Day 7 compared between two groups
Number of Urgent ED/Clinic Visits for Worsening Heart Failure	30 Days	Urgent ED/Clinic visits for worsening heart failure compared between two groups.; Statistical analysis was not performed due to no ED/Clinic visits
Number of Cardiovascular Deaths	Baseline, 30 Days	Total number of CV deaths between two groups
Win Ratio of Composite Endpoint	Day 7, Day 30	Win Ratio calculated as number of pairs of Furoscix On-Body Infusor subject "wins" divided by number of pairs of Furoscix On-Body Infusor subject "losses" when compared to Continued Medical Therapy subjects.; Components of Endpoint composite outcome: CV death, HF hospitalization, Urgent ED/Clinic visit at 30 days and percent change in NT-proBNP from baseline at Day 7.; See Statistical Analysis Plan for detailed explanation of this statistical method.
Number of Heart Failure Hospitalizations	30 Days	Heart Failure hospitalizations compared between two groups

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Subjects Deceased or HF Event Occurred	30 Days	Subjects that are Deceased or HF event occurred (hospitalization for HF or urgent ED/clinic visits for HF) over 30 days compared between treatment groups.
Composite Congestion Score (CCS)	Baseline, Day 7, Day 30	The composite congestion score (ccs) is calculated by summing the individual scores for orthopnea, pedal edema and jugular venous distension.; The investigator-assessed the signs and symptoms of congestion (orthopnea, pedal edema, and jugular venous distension) on a 4-point grading scale ranging from 0 to 3.; Higher score indicates greater severity of symptoms ranging from 0 to 9.
7-Point Dyspnea Score	Baseline, Day 3, Day 7, Day 30	The 7-Point Dyspnea Status Questionnaire is a single-item, self-administered instrument that quantifies changes in dyspnea symptoms since initiation of study product. The scale ranges from Markedly better, Moderately better, Minimaly better, No change, Minimally worse, Moderately worse to Markedly worse.
Number of Heart Failure Event Free Survival Days	30 Days	Out of 30 days, HF event-free survival is the average number of days subjects survived outside the hospital event-free.
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)	Baseline, 7 Days, 30 Days	The patient global assessment VAS is a patient-reported assessment of how good or bad a patient feels their health is on a given day. It is reported on a visual scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being the worst health they can imagine and 100 being the best health they can imagine.
KCCQ-12 Summary Score	Baseline, 7 Days, 30 Days	The KCCQ-12 questionnaire is a patient-reported assessment to capture symptom frequency, physical and social limitations, and quality-of-life impairment as a result of HF, as well as an overall summary score. In the KCCQ-12, responses are given for each individual item is scored on a scale of 0-100 with higher scores indicating better health.
Percent Lung Fluid	Baseline, Day 7, Day 30	Lung fluid volume as measured via Remote Dielectric Sensing (ReDS)
5-Point Current Dyspnea Score	Baseline, Day 7, Day 30	The 5-Point Current Dyspnea Status Questionnaire is a single-item, self-administered instrument that quantifies current symptoms of dyspnea. The scale includes the absence of dyspnea (a score of 1), mild shortness of breath (a score of 2), moderate shortness of breath (a score of 3), severe shortness of breath (a score of 4) and the worst possible shortness of breath (a score of 5)
Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)	Baseline, 7 Days, 30 Days	Change from baseline in Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) across follow-up timepoints
Body Weight	Baseline, Day 3, Day 7, Day 30	Body weight of the patient on the day of visit
Renal Function	Baseline, Day 3, Day 7, Day 30	Change from baseline in serum creatinine

Trial Locations

Locations (18)

Cone Health Medical Group; 🇺🇸 Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

Cardiology Consultants; 🇺🇸 Pensacola, Florida, United States

First Coast Cardiovascular Institute; 🇺🇸 Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Elite Cardiac Research; 🇺🇸 Hialeah, Florida, United States

University Hospital - Augusta; 🇺🇸 Augusta, Georgia, United States

UnityPoint Health - Methodist Hospital; 🇺🇸 Peoria, Illinois, United States

St. Louis Heart and Vascular; 🇺🇸 Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Heart Group of Eastern Shore; 🇺🇸 Fairhope, Alabama, United States

The Heart Center Research, LLC; 🇺🇸 Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Advocate Health and Hospitals; 🇺🇸 Downers Grove, Illinois, United States

Lancaster General Hospital; 🇺🇸 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Wisconsin; 🇺🇸 Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Aventura Clinical Research, LLC; 🇺🇸 Aventura, Florida, United States

Michigan Heart; 🇺🇸 Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States

Hartford Hospital; 🇺🇸 Hartford, Connecticut, United States

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States

James A. Haley Veerans Hospital; 🇺🇸 Tampa, Florida, United States

University of Florida; 🇺🇸 Gainesville, Florida, United States