Placebo-controlled Randomized Trial of Tecovirimat in Non-hospitalized Patients With Monkeypox: Canadian Feasibility Study (PLATINUM-CAN)

In order to generate needed therapeutic efficacy evidence rapidly, international collaboration is essential. PLATINUM-CAN is a parallel collaborative trial linked with the sister trial PLATINUM led by Oxford University. Given the rapidly evolving epidemic and important differences in healthcare contexts and public health systems between countries that could impact the number of cases and access to diagnosis and treatment, a Canadian study is warranted to assess the feasibility and acceptability of conducting large scale interventional monkeypox trials in Canada. Such a focused trial also allows for the opportunity to explore a number of secondary objectives that can address concerns raised during consultation with Canadian community members (e.g., resolution of pain, quality of life) and validate use of self-assessed primary outcomes using blinded photography assessment.

The trial is pragmatic and minimizes number of visits, tests performed and contacts with the healthcare system through use of self-assessment diaries and self-testing. Lesion and/or throat swabs taken as part of standard care will be sent for detection of monkeypox virus DNA by PCR to local public health/provincial laboratories for initial screening (using panorthopox DNA testing) and confirmation with monkeypox specific PCR either locally or by National Microbiology Laboratory. The protocol allows for a broad range of patients to be enrolled. The trial has been designed so that it can accommodate patients who may be assessed in a variety of medical settings (e.g., hospital emergency rooms, outpatient HIV and infectious diseases clinics, community sexual health clinics, primary care, or through public health services). Similarly, we will ensure our trial design is able to contribute to global efforts such as the core protocol for the evaluation of treatments for human monkeypox (led by the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB)/ANRS/NIAID in collaboration with WHO) and the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) STOMP protocol.

As a feasibility study, PLATINUM CAN is underpowered for evaluating a primary endpoint of time to active lesion resolution. To achieve full study power, results will be combined with the sister study, PLATINUM-UK (n=500), being conducted at Oxford University, UK of similar design using a pre-planned individual patient meta-analysis. In addition to feasibility outcomes, the trial will evaluate the correlation between the time to active and complete resolution of lesions between self-report and blinded photographic validation from an adjudication committee, in consenting participants.