Evaluation of Safety and Gene Expression With a Single Dose of pGM169/GL67A Administered to the Nose and Lung of Individuals With Cystic Fibrosis

The trial is designed as single administration to nose and lung. Initially, in Part A, 3 patients will be dosed individually one week apart with 10 ml (26.5mg pDNA) via nebuliser and a nasal dose equivalent to 10% of this (based on relative surface area calculations: conducting airways approximate 540 cm2; nasal epithelium from both nostrils approximately 40 cm2). Based on our previous study, we do not expect any side effects of the nasal dose, but we are taking this opportunity, as this group will not be undergoing bronchoscopic efficacy measures, to assess gene transfer to the nasal epithelium. A further group of 3 patients will then be treated in exactly the same way with 20 ml nebulised and a 2 ml nasal dose.

Subsequently, patients will receive doses of 2 ml (nasal) and 20 ml (nebulised). These patients will undergo more intensive monitoring for gene expression both before and after administration.

In Part B of the protocol, we will test combinations of delivery conditions and dose in an attempt to identify the maximal tolerated dose. We may also use Ibuprofen or Prednisolone in standard clinical doses around the dosing period to reduce the inflammatory response. Delivery conditions include: standard nebulisation (each 5 ml over 25 minutes as in Part A), slow (each 5 ml over 75-150 minutes) and divided (standard rate delivery with a period of up to 6 hours between aliquots). With these conditions we will test the following doses until a tolerable dose is reached: 20 ml (no standard delivery as sufficient data already available from Part A); 10 ml; 5 ml; 2.5 ml. Each dosing strategy will initially be performed in a cohort of 3 patients although numbers may need to be increased to 6 if data are inconclusive. Once a satisfactory Single dose of pGM169/GL67A in CF patients; cro851 Version 10; 16.08.2010 10 dose and nebulisation strategy has been identified, the numbers receiving this will be increased to 6. The maximum number of patients recruited to this arm of the study will be 30. Part B will also allow either these subjects or others to receive a 2 ml nasal dose with both pre and post-measurements of nasal PD.