Intravenous Immunoglobulins for the Treatment of Covid-19 Patients: a Clinical Trial

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04548557
• Recruitment Status: Not yet recruiting
• First Posted: September 14, 2020
• Last Update Posted: September 14, 2020
• Sponsor: University of Health Sciences Lahore
• Collaborators: University of Lahore; Amson Vaccine and Pharma (Pvt) Limited
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Prof. Dr. Fridoon Jawad Ahmad, University of Health Sciences Lahore

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The current project is based on the immunological studies covering the potential of disease induced immunoglobulins as treatment regime. We would be able to generate the concentrated antibodies specific against coronavirus (Covid-19). These antibodies can be used as serum therapy. Aside from a Covid-19 vaccine, antibodies from recovered patients could provide a short-term "passive immunization" to the disease. Those antibodies can be extracted from the blood serum of surviving patients and then injected into infected people. Passive immunization usually lasts for a few weeks or months, after which those borrowed or donated antibodies, get broken down by the host body within about 30 days. While drugs to treat patients with covid-19, and vaccines to prevent infection are being developed, a fast acting, stopgap serum therapy could be useful as a first aid for high-risk patients.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Covid19	Biological: intravenous immunoglobulin therapy	Phase 3

Detailed Description:

Emerging and re-emerging viruses are a significant threat to global public health. Since the end of 2019, Chinese authorities have reported a cluster of human pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, China and the disease was designated as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These cases showed symptoms such as fever, dyspnea, and were diagnosed as viral pneumonia. Whole genome sequencing results show the causative agent is a novel coronavirus, which was initially named 2019-nCoV by World Health Organization (WHO). Later the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) officially designate the virus as SARS CoV-2 (Coronaviridae Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, 2020), although many virologists argue that HCoV-19 is more appropriate . As of 24 February 2020, 79,331 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported to the WHO globally, with 77,262 cases in China, including 2,595 deaths. In addition, twenty-nine other countries have confirmed imported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection raising great public health concerns worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 represents the seventh coronavirus that is known to cause human disease. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of large and enveloped viruses with positive sense, single-stranded RNA genomes. Previously identified human CoVs that cause human disease include severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) . SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infection can result in life threatening disease and have pandemic potential. During 2002-2003, SARS-CoV initially emerged in China and swiftly spread to other parts of the world, causing > 8,000 infections and approximately 800 related deaths worldwide. In 2012, MERS-CoV was first identified in the Middle East and then spread to other countries. As of November 2019, a total of 2,494 MERS cases with 858 related deaths have been recorded in 27 countries globally. Notably, new cases of MERS-CoV infecting humans are still being reported recently. Both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV are zoonotic pathogens originating from animals. Detailed investigations indicate that SARS-CoV is transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. The source of SARS-CoV-2, however, is still under investigation, but linked to a wet animal market. There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19, and no vaccine is currently available. The treatment is symptomatic, and oxygen therapy represents the major treatment intervention for patients with severe infection. Mechanical ventilation may be necessary in cases of respiratory failure refractory to oxygen therapy, whereas hemodynamic support is essential for managing septic shock. Although no antiviral treatments have been approved, several approaches have been proposed such as lopinavir/ritonavir (400/100 mg every 12 hours), chloroquine (500 mg every 12 hours), and hydroxychloroquine (200 mg every 12 hours). Alpha-interferon (e.g., 5 million units by aerosol inhalation twice per day) is also used. Preclinical studies suggested that remdesivir (GS5734) - an inhibitor of RNA polymerase with in vitro activity against multiple RNA viruses, including Ebola - could be effective for both prophylaxis and therapy of HCoVs infections. This drug was positively tested in a rhesus macaque model of MERS-CoV infection. One dose of 200 mL convalescent plasma (CP) derived from recently recovered donors with the neutralizing antibody titers above 1:640 was transfused to the patients as an addition to maximal supportive care and antiviral agents. Despite a lack of completed clinical trials, the FDA has granted this temporary authorization under its Investigational New Drug Applicants (eINDS) exemption, in light of the extent and nature of the current public health threat that COVID-19 represents. A number of pre-clinical and clinical trials around use of plasma from patients who have recovered are underway, however, and there are some promising signs that convalescent plasma could indeed be effective against SARS-CoV-2.

Apart from convalescent plasma, small scale concentrates of immunoglobulins prepared from convalescent plasma collections provide higher potency and greater consistency than individual units. The feasibility of production of large scale of diseases specific immunoglobulins concentrates can considered for longer term, based on the course of epidemic, access to large numbers of suitable plasma collections, and the available infrastructure for manufacturing such products under GMP.

• Convalescent plasma can be used for serum therapy but it has further limitations which include:

• Separate plasma for separate blood groups: In case of plasma, it seems difficult to arrange the required blood groups separately for serum therapy, while immunoglobulins can be injected randomly to individual of different blood groups.
• Serum Sickness & Blood Proteins reactogencity: Only 18% of plasma constitutes immunoglobulins required for passive immunization. Remaining portions contain proteins that pose to reactogenicity threat to patient safety.
• Dose volume: In case of plasma therapy, 200-300ml of plasma required for single patient that depends upon number of recovered patients available. While in case of immunoglobulins used in virus therapy require only 3-5ml per day.
• Risk of microbial contamination: As most portion of plasma contain proteins and proteins are more prone to contamination risk. It is difficult to handle the serum to maintain its sterility while immunoglobulins are far less prone to sterility issues.
• Potency: Concentrated immunoglobulins are far more potent as it shows targeted response. In case of plasma, proteins fractions pose a delayed response.
• Targeted Population: Plasma therapy is subjected to moderate to severe patients specially, while all effected individuals can take benefit of immunoglobulin therapy because dose of immunoglobulins can be controlled.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Estimated Enrollment: 60 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Intervention Model Description: one group in conventional with routine therapy and interventional group will receive intravenous immunoglobulin therapy
• Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Intravenous Immunoglobulins for the Treatment of Covid-19 Patients: a Clinical Trial
• Estimated Study Start Date: September 15, 2020
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: October 15, 2020
• Estimated Study Completion Date: November 15, 2020

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
No Intervention: Control; They will not receive any intervention
Experimental: IVIG group; They will reveive intravenous immunoglobulin therapy	Biological: intravenous immunoglobulin therapy; It is passive immunization therapy. Plasma therapy is subjected to moderate to severe patients specially, while all effected individuals can take benefit of immunoglobulin therapy because dose of immunoglobulins can be controlled

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. In hospital days [ Time Frame: 14 days or discharge ]
   total number of days the patient remain in hospital
2. 14 day mortality [ Time Frame: 14 days ]
   mortality if any in the study duration of 14 days

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. D-dimers [ Time Frame: 7 days ]
   reduction in D-dimers (< 250 ng/mL)
2. C-reactive protein [ Time Frame: 7 days ]
   reduction in C-Reactive protein (less than 10 mg/L)
3. Oxygen saturation [ Time Frame: 7 days ]
   improvement in oxygen saturation (pulse oximeter readings within range of 95 to 100%)
4. TNF alpha [ Time Frame: 7 days ]
   reduction in TNF alpha after IVIG treatment (upto 8.1 pg/mL)
5. IL-6 [ Time Frame: 7 days ]
   reduction in IL-6 after IVIG treatment
6. Ferritin [ Time Frame: 7 days ]
   reduction in ferritin levels after IVIG treatment
7. Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0 [ Time Frame: 14 days ]
   safety and tolerability

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 90 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 yrs
• Both genders
• Lab Confirmed COVID-19 infection by PCR or plasma positive of specific antibody against COVID-19
• In hospital treatment ≥ 72 hours
• Admitted patients
• Mild to moderately severe patients

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exist of other evidences that can explain pneumonia including but not limited to influenza A virus, influenza B virus, bacterial pneumonia, fungal pneumonia, noninfectious causes, etc.
• Patients with respiratory diseases other than Covid-19 infection
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women

Contacts and Locations

Contacts

Contact: riffat mehboob, Ph.D; +923313380909; mehboob.riffat@gmail.com

Contact: Fridoon J Ahmad, Ph.D

Locations

Pakistan

University of Health Sciences

Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, 54000

Contact: Riffat o Mehboob, PhD mehboob.riffat@gmail.com

Contact: Fridoon Jawad Ahmad, PhD

Principal Investigator: Fridoon Jawad Ahmad, PhD

Sub-Investigator: Javed Akram, MBBS,FRCS,MRCP

Sub-Investigator: Riffat Mehboob, PhD

Sub-Investigator: Syed Amir Gilani, PhD

Sub-Investigator: Muhammad Akram Tariq, PhD

Sub-Investigator: Gibran Sheikh, PhD

Sub-Investigator: Hassan Ahmad Khan, M.Phil

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Health Sciences Lahore

University of Lahore

Amson Vaccine and Pharma (Pvt) Limited

Investigators

• Study Chair: Javed Akram, MBBS,FRCP,MRCP; Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
• Principal Investigator: Fridoon J Ahmad, Ph.D; Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

More Information

Publications:

Gao GF. From "A"IV to "Z"IKV: Attacks from Emerging and Re-emerging Pathogens. Cell. 2018 Mar 8;172(6):1157-1159. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.02.025.

Wang C, Horby PW, Hayden FG, Gao GF. A novel coronavirus outbreak of global health concern. Lancet. 2020 Feb 15;395(10223):470-473. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30185-9. Epub 2020 Jan 24. Erratum in: Lancet. 2020 Jan 29;:.

Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, Li X, Yang B, Song J, Zhao X, Huang B, Shi W, Lu R, Niu P, Zhan F, Ma X, Wang D, Xu W, Wu G, Gao GF, Tan W; China Novel Coronavirus Investigating and Research Team. A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020 Feb 20;382(8):727-733. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2001017. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

Wu F, Zhao S, Yu B, Chen YM, Wang W, Song ZG, Hu Y, Tao ZW, Tian JH, Pei YY, Yuan ML, Zhang YL, Dai FH, Liu Y, Wang QM, Zheng JJ, Xu L, Holmes EC, Zhang YZ. A new coronavirus associated with human respiratory disease in China. Nature. 2020 Mar;579(7798):265-269. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2008-3. Epub 2020 Feb 3. Erratum in: Nature. 2020 Apr;580(7803):E7.

Zhou P, Yang XL, Wang XG, Hu B, Zhang L, Zhang W, Si HR, Zhu Y, Li B, Huang CL, Chen HD, Chen J, Luo Y, Guo H, Jiang RD, Liu MQ, Chen Y, Shen XR, Wang X, Zheng XS, Zhao K, Chen QJ, Deng F, Liu LL, Yan B, Zhan FX, Wang YY, Xiao GF, Shi ZL. A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin. Nature. 2020 Mar;579(7798):270-273. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2012-7. Epub 2020 Feb 3.

Jiang S, Shi Z, Shu Y, Song J, Gao GF, Tan W, Guo D. A distinct name is needed for the new coronavirus. Lancet. 2020 Mar 21;395(10228):949. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30419-0. Epub 2020 Feb 19.

Lu G, Hu Y, Wang Q, Qi J, Gao F, Li Y, Zhang Y, Zhang W, Yuan Y, Bao J, Zhang B, Shi Y, Yan J, Gao GF. Molecular basis of binding between novel human coronavirus MERS-CoV and its receptor CD26. Nature. 2013 Aug 8;500(7461):227-31. doi: 10.1038/nature12328. Epub 2013 Jul 7.

Wevers BA, van der Hoek L. Recently discovered human coronaviruses. Clin Lab Med. 2009 Dec;29(4):715-24. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2009.07.007. Review.

Ksiazek TG, Erdman D, Goldsmith CS, Zaki SR, Peret T, Emery S, Tong S, Urbani C, Comer JA, Lim W, Rollin PE, Dowell SF, Ling AE, Humphrey CD, Shieh WJ, Guarner J, Paddock CD, Rota P, Fields B, DeRisi J, Yang JY, Cox N, Hughes JM, LeDuc JW, Bellini WJ, Anderson LJ; SARS Working Group. A novel coronavirus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2003 May 15;348(20):1953-66. Epub 2003 Apr 10.

Zaki AM, van Boheemen S, Bestebroer TM, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA. Isolation of a novel coronavirus from a man with pneumonia in Saudi Arabia. N Engl J Med. 2012 Nov 8;367(19):1814-20. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1211721. Epub 2012 Oct 17. Erratum in: N Engl J Med. 2013 Jul 25;369(4):394.

Azhar EI, El-Kafrawy SA, Farraj SA, Hassan AM, Al-Saeed MS, Hashem AM, Madani TA. Evidence for camel-to-human transmission of MERS coronavirus. N Engl J Med. 2014 Jun 26;370(26):2499-505. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1401505. Epub 2014 Jun 4.

• Responsible Party: Prof. Dr. Fridoon Jawad Ahmad, Professor,, University of Health Sciences Lahore
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04548557
• Other Study ID Numbers: UniversityHSL-IVIG
• First Posted: September 14, 2020
• Last Update Posted: September 14, 2020
• Last Verified: September 2020

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
• Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: No

Keywords provided by Prof. Dr. Fridoon Jawad Ahmad, University of Health Sciences Lahore:

Covid 19; intravenous immunogloulin therapy; passive immunization

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

COVID-19; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Antibodies; gamma-Globulins; Rho(D) Immune Globulin; Immunologic Factors; Physiological Effects of Drugs