Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of DB-020 to Protect Hearing in Patients Receiving Cisplatin for Cancer Treatment
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04262336 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : February 10, 2020
Last Update Posted : July 29, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Ototoxicity | Drug: DB-020 Drug: Placebo | Phase 1 |
Cisplatin is a widely used and effective chemotherapy in the treatment of adult and pediatric solid tumors, including bladder, testicular, head and neck, and lung cancers. Serious side effects of cisplatin treatment include ototoxicity. To date, no approved therapy to prevent or treat ototoxicity exists for people receiving cisplatin treatment, which remains the most common dose-limiting side effect associated with cisplatin administration.
Participants who will be undergoing cancer treatment with high doses of cisplatin every 21 or 28 days will receive IT injection with one ear receiving DB-020 and one ear receiving placebo during each administration. The study will comprise 2 parts. In Part A, eligible participants will be randomized to one of two doses of DB-020. In Part B, participants will be treated with a single dose of DB-020, as selected from data collected in Part A. In both Parts A and B, the ear receiving DB-020 or placebo will be randomized. The choice of dose in Part B will depend on the data from Part A. If appropriate safety and efficacy is observed at either dose level, the Sponsor has the option of dosing at one of these concentrations either unilaterally (ie, with placebo administered in the contralateral ear) or bilaterally (ie, open-label DB-020 administered to both ears) in Part B.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 22 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Part A: DB-020 12% right ear/placebo left ear; DB-020 12% left ear/placebo right ear; DB-020 25% right ear/placebo left ear; DB-020 25% left ear/placebo right ear on Day 1 of every 21 or 28 day cisplatin cycle for up to 6 cycles until cisplatin administration is discontinued Part B: DB-020 12% both ears or DB-020-25% both ears on Day 1 of every 21 or 28 day cisplatin cycle for up to 6 cycles until cisplatin administration is discontinued |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Masking Description: | Double blind |
Primary Purpose: | Prevention |
Official Title: | Phase 1b Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Repeated Doses of DB-020 in Patients Receiving Cisplatin |
Actual Study Start Date : | February 21, 2020 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | July 30, 2022 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | July 30, 2023 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Active Comparator: DB-020 for Injection, 12%/placebo
dosage
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Drug: DB-020
Injectable sterile viscous solution of DB-020 and sodium hyaluronate in sterile water
Other Name: Sodium Thiosulfate (STS) pentahydrate formulated in sodium hyaluronate Drug: Placebo Injectable sterile viscous solution of sodium hyaluronate in sodium chloride
Other Name: sodium hyaluronate in sodium chloride |
Active Comparator: DB-020 for Injection, 25%/placebo
dosage
|
Drug: DB-020
Injectable sterile viscous solution of DB-020 and sodium hyaluronate in sterile water
Other Name: Sodium Thiosulfate (STS) pentahydrate formulated in sodium hyaluronate Drug: Placebo Injectable sterile viscous solution of sodium hyaluronate in sodium chloride
Other Name: sodium hyaluronate in sodium chloride |
- Number of patients with treatment-emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and/or abnormal changes from baseline in clinical laboratory abnormalities and/or vital signs and/or ECG assessments [ Time Frame: From screening/baseline (Day -28 to Day -2) or day of first dose of DB-020 (Cycle 1 Day 1) for up to 6 cycles (21 or 28 day cycles) through End of Treatment Visit (28 days after last dose of study drug), up to 196 Days after first dose of study drug ]To investigate the safety and tolerability of DB-020 when given intratympanically to patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy treatment
- Incidence of Ototoxicity measured by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) criteria [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day -5 to Day -1) for up to 6 cycles (21 or 28 day cycles) through End of Treatment Visit (28 days after last dose of study drug), up to 196 Days after first dose of study drug ]Air conduction audiometry consists of a set of pure tones presented to the patient through small speakers in a headset, played at carrier frequencies ranging from 250 to 16,000 Hz. Pure tone thresholds are recorded for each frequency tested. Ototoxicity will be defined according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) criteria for significant ototoxic change. Significant ototoxic change must meet one of the following three criteria: (i) ≥20 dB decrease at any one test frequency, (ii) ≥10 dB decrease at any two adjacent frequencies, or (iii) loss of response at three consecutive frequencies where responses were previously obtained. The presence of ototoxicity will be calculated for each ear
- Changes from Baseline in Pure Tone Threshold Values compared to End of Treatment [Changes in Hearing] [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day -5 to Day -1) for up to 6 cycles (21 or 28 day cycles) through End of Treatment Visit (28 days after last dose of study drug), up to 196 Days after first dose of study drug ]Air conduction audiometry consists of a set of pure tones presented to the patient through small speakers in a headset, played at carrier frequencies ranging from 250 to 16,000 Hz. Pure tone thresholds are recorded for each frequency tested. Higher values indicate a greater degree of hearing impairment. Changes from baseline values will be calculated for each frequency and ear as the reported pure tone threshold value minus the baseline value. A negative change from baseline indicates hearing loss
- Changes from Baseline in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) Total Score compared to End of Treatment [Changes in Hearing] [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day -5 to Day -1) for up to 6 cycles (21 or 28 day cycles) through End of Treatment Visit (28 days after last dose of study drug), up to 196 Days after first dose of study drug ]The TFI is a 25-item self-assessment scale comprised of eight subscales (intrusiveness, sense of control, cognitive, sleep, auditory, relaxation, quality of life, and emotional) measuring the impact of tinnitus. Items are scored on a range of 0 to 10. The TFI Total Score is calculated as the mean of the 25 individual item scores multiplied by 10. The Total Score can range from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate a greater degree of tinnitus-related impairment. Change from baseline values will be calculated as the reported TFI value minus the baseline value. A positive change from baseline indicates more tinnitus-related impairment
- Changes from Baseline in Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) Values compared to End of Treatment [Changes in Hearing] [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day -5 to Day -1) and Cycle 1 Day 1 (21 or 28 day cycles) and End of Treatment Visit (28 days after last dose of study drug), up to 196 Days after first dose of study drug ]Distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) is defined as sound generated within the cochlea by stimulating the ear with two simultaneous tones of different frequency. DPOAEs serve as an objective measure of hearing sensitivity. Tones will be played from low to high frequencies (1 to 4 kHz) at soft to moderate levels to assess responses at different regions of the inner ear. DP levels will be recorded for each frequency and ear. Higher DP levels indicate more sensitive hearing. Change from baseline values will be calculated as the reported DP level value minus the baseline value. A negative change from baseline indicates less sensitive hearing
- Changes from Baseline in Words-in-Noise (WIN) Values compared to End of Treatment [Changes in Hearing] [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day -5 to Day -1) and Cycle 1 Day 1 (21 or 28 day cycles) and End of Treatment Visit (28 days after last dose of study drug), up to 196 Days after first dose of study drug ]The WIN test is a series of trials to measure the ability to accurately recognize speech in noise. In each trial, a series of 5 words is read to the listener with the instruction to repeat each word. The number of correct responses is captured. Trials are presented at 7 signal-to-noise ratios, from 0 to 24 dB, in steps of 4 dB. WIN thresholds are then calculated for each ear using the Spearman-Kaerber method. Higher WIN thresholds indicate better word recognition. Change from baseline values will be calculated for each ear as the reported WIN threshold value minus the baseline value. A negative change from baseline indicates worse word recognition
- Changes from Baseline in Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) Total Score compared to End of Treatment [Changes in Hearing] [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day -5 to Day -1) and Cycle 1 Day 1 (21 or 28 day cycles) and End of Treatment Visit (28 days after last dose of study drug), up to 196 Days after first dose of study drug ]The Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) is a 25-item self-assessment scale comprised of two subscales (emotional and social/situational) measuring the impact of hearing loss. Items are scored on a range of 0 to 4. The HHIA Total Score is calculated as the sum of the 25 individual item scores. The HHIA Total Score can range from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate a greater degree of hearing impairment. Change from baseline values will be calculated as the reported HHIA value minus the baseline value. A positive change from baseline indicates more hearing impairment
- Plasma Concentrations of DB-020 [ Time Frame: Predose and 0.25 hours prior to cisplatin administration on Cycle 1 Day 1 (21 or 28 day cycles) ]
- Maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax) of free (unbound) cisplatin [ Time Frame: 0.25 hours predose, mid-point of IV infusion, end of infusion, 0.25, 0.5, 1 & 2 hours postdose on Day 1 of each cycle (21 or 28 day cycles) ]
- Area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC 0-inf) of free (unbound) cisplatin [ Time Frame: 0.25 hours predose, mid-point of IV infusion, end of infusion, 0.25, 0.5, 1 & 2 hours postdose on Day 1 of each cycle (21 or 28 day cycles) ]
- Time to reach maximum observed plasma concentration (tmax) of free (unbound) cisplatin [ Time Frame: 0.25 hours predose, mid-point of IV infusion, end of infusion, 0.25, 0.5, 1 & 2 hours postdose on Day 1 of each cycle (21 or 28 day cycles) ]
- Half-life (t1/2) of plasma concentrations of free (unbound) cisplatin [ Time Frame: 0.25 hours predose, mid-point of IV infusion, end of infusion, 0.25, 0.5, 1 & 2 hours postdose on Day 1 of each cycle (21 or 28 day cycles) ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ability to communicate with medical team and staff, willingness to participate in the study, give written informed consent, comply with the study restrictions
- Adults aged 18 years, inclusive, or older
- Treatment for cancer with Intervenous cisplatin once every 21 or 28 days
- Plan to receive a minimum cumulative dose of cisplatin of ≥ 280 mg/m2 over at least three cycles
- Concomitant use of other chemotherapy and radiation is permitted except investigational agents and/or radiation > 35 Grays involving the cochlear area
- Male patients, their female partner(s), and female patients of childbearing potential must agree to use 2 forms of contraception, 1 of which must be a barrier method, during the study and for 90 days after the last study drug administration.
- Male and female patients who consider themselves abstinent, and who agree to remain abstinent during the study and for 90 days after the last study drug administration
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 to 2
- Anticipated survival > 1 year
- Normal or not clinically significant otoscopic findings in both ears
- Patient has read, understood, and voluntarily signed the informed consent form.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Female or male patients with female partners who are pregnant, lactating, or planning to attempt to become pregnant during this study or within 90 days after last dose of study drug
- Prior treatment with a cisplatin regimen
- Signs of disturbed integrity of the tympanic membrane on otoscopy or tympanometry
- History of congenital hearing loss
- History of otological surgery (excluding myringotomy tubes or simple tympanoplasty)
- History of sudden hearing loss
- History of conductive hearing loss > 10 decibels at 2 frequencies in either ear
- Diagnosis of Meniere's disease
- Diagnosis of autoimmune middle ear disease
- Hearing loss greater than (not including) 45 decibels Hearing Loss averaged at 6 and 8 kilohertz in either ear
- Asymmetry in hearing thresholds between left and right ear equal to or exceeding 20 decibels at any single frequency or 10 decibels at any 3 consecutive frequencies, up to and including 8 kilohertz
- Previous radiation exposure > 35 Grays to all or part of the cochlea
- Consumption of > 6 grams of salicylate or > 5 grams of acetaminophen (paracetamol) per day for the past month, or aminoglycoside use in the past month
- Use of any investigational drug or device within 30 days prior to the first dose of study medication (6 months for biologic therapies) or 5 half-lives of the investigational drug, if known, whichever time is longer
- History of any significant drug allergy (such as anaphylaxis or hepatotoxicity) and/or allergy to the excipients of the study medications
- Presence of hepatitis C antibody with reflex hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA testing (if anti-HCV is positive), hepatitis B surface antigen, or HIV antibodies 1 and 2

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04262336
United States, Florida | |
University of Miami Health System | |
Miami, Florida, United States, 33136 | |
United States, Kansas | |
University of Kansas Medical Center | |
Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160 | |
United States, New York | |
Northwell Health Cancer Center | |
Lake Success, New York, United States, 11042 | |
United States, West Virginia | |
WVU Cancer Institute | |
Morgantown, West Virginia, United States, 26506 | |
Australia, Queensland | |
Queensland Head and Neck Cancer Centre | |
Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia, 4102 | |
Australia, Victoria | |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | |
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3000 | |
Oncology and Palliative Care Research | |
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3065 | |
Australia, Western Australia | |
Fiona Stanley Hospital, Clinical Trials Unit Cancer Center | |
Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia, 6150 |
Study Chair: | John Keilty, MS | Decibel Therapeutics |
Responsible Party: | Decibel Therapeutics |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04262336 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
DB-020-002 1111-1243-8337 ( Other Identifier: WHO ) |
First Posted: | February 10, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | July 29, 2022 |
Last Verified: | July 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Ototoxicity Hearing loss Chemotherapy-induced |
Ototoxicity Ear Diseases Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Pathologic Processes Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions Chemically-Induced Disorders Radiation Injuries Wounds and Injuries Sodium thiosulfate Hyaluronic Acid Adjuvants, Immunologic Immunologic Factors |
Physiological Effects of Drugs Viscosupplements Protective Agents Antidotes Antioxidants Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Antitubercular Agents Anti-Bacterial Agents Anti-Infective Agents Chelating Agents Sequestering Agents |