A Phase 2, Multicentre, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study in Patients With New-onset Type 1 Diabetes

Phase 2

Completed

Conditions: Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin-Dependent

Interventions: Drug: Ladarixin
Drug: Placebo

Registration Number: NCT02814838

Lead Sponsor: Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A

Brief Summary: The objective of this clinical trial is to investigate whether ladarixin has sufficient activity (preservation of β-cell function and slow-down of the progression of T1D) to warrant its further development (proof of concept trial). The safety of ladarixin in the specific clinical setting will be also evaluated.

The study is a phase 2, multicentre, double-blind study. 72 patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) were planned to be involved, randomly (2:1) assigned to receive either ladarixin treatment (400 mg b.i.d. for 3 cycles of 14 days on/14 days off - treatment group) or placebo (control group).

Recruitment was competitive among the study sites, until the planned number of patients was enrolled. A total of 76 patients were actually recruited.

Detailed Description: T1D is an organ-specific autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the insulin-producing β-cells. The onset of the disease typically occurs before adulthood and seriously affects a person's quality of life.

T1D is treated with life-long daily exogenous insulin injections and monitoring of blood glucose levels. However, even optimization of glucose control through the most recent technologies cannot adequately substitute for the finely tuned normal balance of the glucose levels. Therefore, despite marked improvements in diabetes care in recent years, insulin-dependent diabetes results in secondary long-term complications and is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease, blindness and amputation. Additionally, hypoglycaemia unawareness is a serious consequence of recurrent hypoglycaemia often requiring emergency care.

Maintenance of residual β-cell function (as measured by C-peptide response) was demonstrated to be associated with reduced rate of microvascular complications and hypoglycaemia, improved quality of life, and overall reduction in morbidity and associated management costs. Therefore, pharmacological approaches aimed at controlling the autoimmune response and restoring self-tolerance to pancreatic β-cells had attracted the clinical/scientific interest.

Among these, rituximab, CD3-specific monoclonal antibodies, GAD65, DiaPep277 have progressed to phase III clinical trials. Other agents, including cytokines modulators such as anti-TNF or anti-IL1, are under clinical evaluation. Unfortunately, even if safe preservation of β-cell function and improvement of glycaemic control have been evidenced for some of the pharmacological approaches evaluated so far, none has been definitely approved for the "treatment" of diabetes onset. New strategies are being evaluated which combine agents targeting sequential arms of the immune and inflammatory response involved in β-cell disruption. In this regard, IL-8 appears to be an important mediator in the progression of type 1 diabetes. Production and secretion of pro-inflammatory IL-8 has been demonstrated from human pancreatic islets upon enterovirus infections, and LPS-induced production of IL-8 by neutrophils is increased in type 1 pre-diabetic and diabetic patients. In parallel, circulating levels of IL-8 were elevated in children with T1D compared to non-diabetic controls. Specifically, levels of IL-8 correlate with glycaemic control, higher level being associated to poorer or unfavorable glucose control.

As a result of these findings, the modulation or inhibition of IL8 activity is considered a valid target for the development of innovative treatments aimed to control the progression of T1D.

Results obtained with ladarixin in mouse models of T1D, and particularly reversal of "diabetes" in the NOD mice, clearly showed the ability of this CXCR1/2 inhibitor to protect β-cells and either prevent or delay the progression of hyperglycaemia. The positive effects of ladarixin, coupled with the safety shown in phase 1 studies, provided a sound rationale for a clinical study aimed at evaluating the effect of ladarixin in patients with new onset diabetes and supported the conduct of the present study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 76

Inclusion Criteria

Male and female patients aged 18-45 years, inclusive;
New-onset T1D (randomization within 100 days from 1st insulin administration);
Positive for at least one diabetes-related auto-antibody (anti-GAD; IAA, if obtained within 10 days of the onset of insulin therapy; IA-2 antibody; ZnT8);
Require, or has required at some time, insulin, with the exclusion of patients taking twice daily pre-mixed insulin or on insulin pump;
Residual β-cell function as per peak stimulated (MMTT) C-peptide level >0.6ng/mL (0.2nmol/L); MMTT should not be performed within one week of resolution of a diabetic ketoacidosis event;
Patient able to comply with all protocol procedures for the duration of the study, including scheduled follow-up visits and examinations;
Patients who have given written informed consent prior of any study-related procedure not part of standard medical care.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients taking twice daily pre-mixed insulin or on insulin pump;
Any other chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes, apart from autoimmune hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement only; patients with severe (myxedema) disease potentially requiring immunosuppressive therapy will be excluded;
Moderate to severe renal impairment as per calculated creatinine clearance (CLcr) < 60 mL/min according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula (Cockcroft-Gault, 1976);
Hepatic dysfunction defined by increased ALT/AST > 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN) and increased total bilirubin > 3 mg/dL [>51.3 μmol/L];
Hypoalbuminemia defined as serum albumin < 3 g/dL;
QTcF > 470 msec;
Complete Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB), atrio-ventricular block (mobitz II 2nd degree or 2:1 atrio-ventricular block), complete heart block;
Electronic pacemaker positioned or implanted defibrillator;
History of significant cardiovascular disease;
Known hypersensitivity to non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs;
Concomitant treatment with phenytoin, warfarin, sulphanylurea hypoglycemics (e.g. tolbutamide, glipizide, glibenclamide/glyburide, glimepiride, nateglinide) and high dose of amitriptyline (> 50 mg/day);
Previous (within 2 weeks prior to randomization) and concomitant treatment with metformin, sulfonylureas, glinides, thiazolidinediones, exenatide, liraglutide, DPP-IV inhibitors or amylin, or any medications known to influence glucose tolerance (e.g. β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, interferons, quinidine antimalarial drugs, lithium, niacin, etc.);
Past (within 1 month prior to randomization) or current administration of any immunosuppressive medications (including oral, inhaled or systemically injected steroids) and use of any investigational agents, including any agents that impact the immune response or the cytokine system;
Pregnant or breast feeding women. Unwillingness to use effective contraceptive measures up to 2 months after the end of study drug administration (females and males). Effective contraceptive measures include an hormonal birth control (e.g. oral pills, long term injections, vaginal ring, patch); the intrauterine device (IUD); a double barrier method (e.g. condom or diaphragm plus spermicide foam).

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Ladarixin	Ladarixin	Ladarixin oral capsule
Placebo	Placebo	Placebo oral capsule

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Area Under the Curve (AUC)(0-2 h) of C-peptide Response to the Mixed Meal Tolerance Test (MMTT) at Week 13	week 13±1	C-peptide level is a widely used measure of pancreatic beta-cell function. The MMTT is one of the methods for its estimation. The MMTT was performed after an overnight fast, at baseline (within 1 week prior to randomization), and at each follow-up visit on weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2. Prior to the test, patients withheld long-acting insulin on the morning of the test. Rapid-acting and short-acting insulin were allowed up to 6hrs and 2 hrs, respectively, before the test. The test was rescheduled if the patient had a capillary glucose value of \>200mg/dL or \<70mg/dL. After 2 pre-meal basal samples had been drawn between -20 to 0 min (basal 1 and basal 2), patients were given 6mL/kg of Boost® High Protein Nutritional Drink up to a maximum of 360mL, to be drunk within 5 min. Post-meal samples were drawn at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 min after the meal at week 13+/-1 The 2-hour C-peptide AUC after the MMTT at Week 13±1 was transformed as log(x+1) values.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Basal to 180 Minutes Time Course of C-peptide Concentration Derived From the MMTT	Baseline, follow-ups at Weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2	Time points at each visit are Basal 1 and Basal 2 (samples collected at -20 and 0 min, respectively; Here are reported the following timepoints: Basal average (which is the average of Basal 1 and Basal 2), 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes after the meal. For values at each time point see below.
Area Under the Curve (AUC) (0-2 h) of C-peptide Response to the Mixed Meal Tolerance Test (MMTT) at Weeks 26 and 52	Follow-ups at Weeks 26±2 and 52±2	C-peptide level is a widely used measure of pancreatic beta-cell function. The MMTT is one of the methods for its estimation. The MMTT was performed after an overnight fast, at baseline (within 1 week prior to randomization), and at each follow-up visit on weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2. Prior to the test, patients withheld long-acting insulin on the morning of the test. Rapid-acting and short-acting insulin were allowed up to 6hrs and 2 hrs, respectively, before the test. The test was rescheduled if the patient had a capillary glucose value of \>200mg/dL or \<70mg/dL. After 2 pre-meal basal samples had been drawn between -20 to 0 min (basal 1 and basal 2), patients were given 6mL/kg of Boost® High Protein Nutritional Drink up to a maximum of 360mL, to be drunk within 5 min. Post-meal samples were drawn at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 min after the meal at week 13+/-1. The 2-hour C-peptide AUC after the MMTT at Week 13±1 was transformed as log(x+1) values.
Cumulative Severe Hypoglycaemic Events Occurring From Randomisation by Visit	Follow-ups at Weeks 13±1, 26±2 and 52±2	A severe hypoglycaemic event was defined as an event with one of the following symptoms: "memory loss, confusion, uncontrollable behaviour, irrational behaviour, unusual difficulty in awakening, suspected seizure, seizure, loss of consciousness, or visual symptoms", in which the patient was unable to treat him/herself and which was associated with either a blood glucose level \<54 mg/dL or prompt recovery after oral carbohydrate, i.v. glucose, or glucagon administration.
Area Under the Curve (AUC) (0-2 h) of C-peptide MMTT in Patients With Screening C-peptide < Median Value	Follow-up at Weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2.	A subgroup analysis of efficacy endpoints by fasting C-peptide at Screening was performed. The reported data specifically refers to fasting C-peptide at Screening \<median value. All the AUC analyses were based on actual rather than scheduled timings and were calculated using the trapezoidal rule. If the actual time was not recorded, the scheduled time was used instead. Post-meal samples were drawn at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 min after the meal. The 2-hour C-peptide AUC after the MMTT was transformed as log(x+1) values.
Percent Change From Baseline of 2-hour AUC of C-peptide Response to the MMTT	Follow-ups at Weeks 13±1, 26±2 and 52±2	C-peptide level is a widely used measure of pancreatic beta-cell function. The MMTT is one of the methods for its estimation. The MMTT was performed after an overnight fast, at baseline (within 1 week prior to randomization), and at each follow-up visit on weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2. Prior to the test, patients withheld long-acting insulin on the morning of the test. Rapid-acting and short-acting insulin were allowed up to 6hrs and 2 hrs, respectively, before the test. The test was rescheduled if the patient had a capillary glucose value of \>200mg/dL or \<70mg/dL. The test was initiated before 10 a.m. After 2 pre-meal basal samples had been drawn between -20 to 0 min (basal 1 and basal 2), patients were given 6mL/kg of Boost® High Protein Nutritional Drink (Nestlé Nutrition) up to a maximum of 360mL, to be drunk within 5 min. Post-meal samples were drawn at 15±5, 30±5, 60±10, 90±10, 120±15, 180±15 min after the meal.
Change From Screening in Average (Previous 3 Days) Insulin Requirement	Follow-ups at Weeks 13±1, 26±2 and 52±2	Insulin requirement (IU/kg/day averaged over the previous 3 days) was to be recorded in the interval from randomization to Week 13±1, Week 13±1 to Week 26±2, and Week 26±2 to Week 52±2. From enrolment, patients were admitted to intensive diabetes management, according to current ADA recommendation \[2014\]. Patients were instructed to self-monitor their glucose values at least 4 times a day and to report (glucose meter/log) outcome to the diabetes management team. Insulin intake was adjusted to target HbA1c levels of less than 7% and self-monitored (fingerstick): * pre-prandial blood glucose of 70-130 mg/dL * post-prandial blood glucose \< 180 mg/dL * bed-time blood glucose of 110-150 mg/dL Telephone calls (outside scheduled visits) were scheduled on a regular basis to ensure optimization of metabolic control.
Basal to 180 Minutes Time Course of Glucose Concentration Derived From the MMTT	Baseline, follow-ups at Weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2	Time points at each visit are Basal 1 and Basal 2 (samples collected at -20 and 0 min, respectively). Here are reported the following timepoints: Basal average (which is the average of Basal 1 and Basal 2), 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes after the meal. For values at each time point see below.
Proportion of Patients Maintaining a Residual β-cell Function	Follow-ups at Weeks 13±1, 26±2 and 52±2	Maintenance of a residual ß-cell function is defined as at least one MMTT C-peptide value \> 0.2 nmol/L. Proportion is reported as Percentage of patients.
Change From Screening in Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) Levels	Follow-ups at Weeks 13±1, 26±2 and 52±2	HbA1c measurement can be used as a diagnostic test for diabetes providing that stringent quality assurance tests are in place and assays are standardised to criteria aligned to the international reference values, and there are no conditions present which preclude its accurate measurement. An HbA1c of 6.5% is recommended as the cut point for diagnosing diabetes. A value of less than 6.5% does not exclude diabetes diagnosed using glucose tests.
Proportion of Patients With HbA1c <7% and Absence of Episodes of Severe Hypoglycaemia From the Previous Visit	Follow-ups at Weeks 13±1, 26±2 and 52±2	A severe hypoglycaemic event was defined as an event with one of the following symptoms: memory loss, confusion, uncontrollable behaviour, irrational behaviour, unusual difficulty in awakening, suspected seizure, seizure, loss of consciousness, or visual symptoms", in which the patient was unable to treat him/herself and which was associated with either a blood glucose level \<54 mg/dL or prompt recovery after oral carbohydrate, i.v. glucose, or glucagon administration. Proportion is reported as percentage of patients. Events per patient are calculated from the date of randomisation.
Area Under the Curve (AUC) (15-120 Min) of C-peptide MMTT Above Fasting Value in Patients With Screening C-peptide < Median Value	Follow-up at Weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2.	A subgroup analysis of efficacy endpoints by fasting C-peptide at Screening was performed. The reported data specifically refers to fasting C-peptide at Screening \<median value. All the AUC analyses were based on actual rather than scheduled timings and were calculated using the trapezoidal rule. If the actual time was not recorded, the scheduled time was used instead. Post-meal samples were drawn at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 min after the meal at Weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2.
C-peptide AUC(15 to 120 Mins) Above Fasting Value	Follow-ups at Weeks 13±1 26±2 and 52±2	The means are all "adjusted means". The MMTT over the study: logAUC(15-120 min) of C-peptide above fasting value at Weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2 is reported. Post-meal samples were drawn at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 min after the meal at weeks 13+/-1, 26±2 and 52±2
Proportion of Patients With HbA1c <7% and Absence of Episodes of Severe Hypoglycaemia From the Previous Visit in Patients With Screening C-peptide < Median Value	Follow-up at Weeks 13±1, 26±2, and 52±2	A severe hypoglycaemic event was defined as an event with one of the following symptoms: memory loss, confusion, uncontrollable behaviour, irrational behaviour, unusual difficulty in awakening, suspected seizure, seizure, loss of consciousness, or visual symptoms", in which the patient was unable to treat him/herself and which was associated with either a blood glucose level \<54 mg/dL or prompt recovery after oral carbohydrate, i.v. glucose, or glucagon administration. Proportion is reported as percentage of patients, despite the measure type indicated is "number". Events per patient are calculated from the date of randomisation.

Trial Locations

Locations (8): Med. Klinik und Poliklinik 3, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg GmbH
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Giessen, Germany
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel Diabetes Clinic
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Brussels, Belgium
Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven Campus Gasthuisberg Endocrinology
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Leuven, Belgium
Università Aldo Moro-Ospedale Policlinico
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Bari, Italy
Zentrum für Diabetes und Gefäßerkrankungen
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Münster, Germany
Presidio Policlinico di Monserrato
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Cagliari, Italy
Internal Medicine - Diabetes & Endocrinology Unit, San Raffaele Hospital Milan
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Milan, Italy
Unità Operativa Complessa di Endocrinologia e Dialettologia. Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
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Rome, Italy