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Tnf Inhibitors to Reduce Mortality in HIV-1 Infected PAtients with Tuberculosis MeNIngitis

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
HIV I Infection
Tuberculous Meningitis
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT05590455
Lead Sponsor
ANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases
Brief Summary

Randomized phase II clinical trial which aims to assess the impact on 3-month mortality and safety of adding adalimumab to standard treatment (anti-tuberculosis drugs and corticosteroids) in HIV patients with tuberculosis meningitis in 3 countries (Brazil, Mozambique, and Zambia).

Detailed Description

Phase II multicenter, open-label, randomized, proof of concept, comparative trial with a large alpha (type 1 error rate) to evaluate the impact on 3-month mortality of adding the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor adalimumab to the standard treatment with antituberculosis drugs and high-dose steroids in HIV-infected adults diagnosed with tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) in 3 countries (Brazil, Mozambique, and Zambia).

All HIV1-infected patients diagnosed with TBM will be started on standard TB therapy for the duration recommended by national guidelines (2 months intensive phase and 7 months maintenance phase) and high-dose dexamethasone up to 4 weeks.

As soon as possible during the first 3 days of the standard TBM treatment that includes antituberculosis treatment and high-dose steroids, consenting patients will be randomized to standard treatment alone or standard treatment + adalimumab. Randomization will be stratified on country and initial severity using the British Medical Research Council (MRC) score.

Adalimumab arm:

* Standard TBM treatment as described above

* Adalimumab 40 mg: one sub-cutaneous injection, every 2 weeks for 10 weeks (total 6 injections), started as soon as possible during the first 3 days of antituberculosis treatment and high-dose steroids As World Health Organization and national guidelines for early antiretroviral therapy (ART) introduction in patients with TBM advise caution, ART will be started after 4 weeks of TB treatment in both arms if patients are clinically improved (but no later than 8 weeks of anti-TB treatment).

An interim analysis will be performed after 20 patients have been followed up for 3 months in adalimumab arm. This interim analysis will monitor the safety of adding TNF-inhibitor adalimumab.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
130
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥18 years
  • HIV-1 infection
  • ART-naïve or ART discontinued for at least 6 months
  • Definite or probable tuberculosis meningitis
  • Standard tuberculosis meningitis treatment ≤3 days: anti TB drugs at standard doses and high-dose dexamethasone as per WHO guidelines
  • Signed informed consent form by patient or relative.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Other concomitant neurological infection, i.e. toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, bacterial meningitis, neuro-syphilis
  • Asymptomatic positive cryptococcal antigen in serum
  • HIV-2 infection (single or dual)
  • HBsAg positive or anti hepatitis C virus antibodies positive
  • Alanine transaminase (ALT)>5 ULN
  • Rifampicin-resistant TB detected by GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra
  • History of previous TB treatment in patients with GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra negative or unavailable
  • Current use of drugs contraindicated with study drugs and that cannot be safely stopped
  • Allergy to study drugs or any of their components
  • Uncontrolled opportunistic infection
  • Moderate to severe cardiac insufficiency (NYHA classes III / IV)
  • Any condition which might, in the investigator's opinion, compromise the safety of treatment and/or patient's adherence to study procedures
  • For women of childbearing age: 1) Pregnancy or breastfeeding; 2) Refusal to use effective contraception to be discussed with the investigator
  • Subjects participating in another clinical trial evaluating therapies and including an exclusion period that is still in force during the screening phase
  • Person under guardianship, or deprived of freedom by a judicial or administrative decision
  • Positive SARS COV-2 test (according to hospital procedures at the time of inclusion)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Adalimumab armAdalimumab Injection* Standard TBM treatment * Adalimumab 40 mg: one sub-cutaneous injection, every 2 weeks for 10 weeks (total 6 injections), started as soon as possible during the first 3 days of antituberculosis treatment and high-dose steroids
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
3-month all-cause mortality3 months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
3-month incidence of severe/life threatening bacterial infections and opportunistic infections3 months
Time to dischargeup to 9 months
CSF mycobacterial cultures negativation (culture conversion), time to culture positivity and cycle threshold (GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/Rifampicin Ultra) at W1, W4,week1 and week4
Inflammatory biomarkers and cytokines profiles in CSF at W0, W1, W4week 0, week1 and week4
CD4 counts at 9 months (and gain from baseline)9 months
9-month all-cause mortality9 months
9-month disability free survival (using Rankin score)9 months

MODIFIED RANKIN SCORE (MRS) 0: No symptoms at all

1. No significant disability despite symptoms; able to carry out all usual duties and activities

2. Slight disability; unable to carry out all previous activities, but able to look after own affairs without assistance

3. Moderate disability; requiring some help, but able to walk without assistance

4. Moderately severe disability; unable to walk without assistance and unable to attend to own bodily needs without assistance

5. Severe disability; bedridden, incontinent and requiring constant nursing care and attention

6. Dead

Proportion of patients with HIV RNA<50 copies/mL at 9 months9 months
3-month incidence of grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions and those leading to ART or anti tuberculosis treatment (ATT) interruption3 months
3-month incidence of all grade 3 and 4 adverse events3 months
3-month and 9-month incidence of all grade infectious diseases and opportunistic infections3 months and 9 months
9-month neurological disability score (Rankin score)9 months

MODIFIED RANKIN SCORE (MRS) 0: No symptoms at all

1. No significant disability despite symptoms; able to carry out all usual duties and activities

2. Slight disability; unable to carry out all previous activities, but able to look after own affairs without assistance

3. Moderate disability; requiring some help, but able to walk without assistance

4. Moderately severe disability; unable to walk without assistance and unable to attend to own bodily needs without assistance

5. Severe disability; bedridden, incontinent and requiring constant nursing care and attention

6. Dead

Time to and severity of TB-associated paradoxical immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) between D0 and 9 monthsup to 9 months
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis/protein/glucose levels at W0, W1 and W4week 0, week1 and week4
Inflammatory biomarkers in blood at W0, W4, W10, M6 and M9week 0, week4, week10, 6 months and 9 months
Cytokines profiles in blood at W0, W4, W10, M6 and M9week 0, week4, week10, 6 months and 9 months

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Laboratory of clinical research on STD/AIDS - IPEC/FIOCRUZ

🇧🇷

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Instituto Nacional de Saude

🇲🇿

Maputo, Mozambique

Adult Infectious Diseases Centre, University Teaching Hospital

🇿🇲

Lusaka, Zambia

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