Study of CTS-1027 in Combination With Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Null-Responders (CTS-1027-04)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01051921
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: January 20, 2010
• Results First Posted: April 10, 2012
• Last Update Posted: April 16, 2012
• Sponsor: Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this study is to determine if the combination treatment of CTS-1027, pegylated interferon and ribavirin can improve the response rates in HCV patients who did not previously respond to pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Hepatitis C	Drug: CTS-1027; Drug: Pegylated interferon; Drug: Ribavirin	Phase 2

Detailed Description:

A subset of non-responders to standard of care treatments (pegylated interferon and ribavrin) is termed null responders. Null responders are the most treatment refractory population. Treatment for null responders is currently limited: retreatment with SOC results in approximately 5% sustained virologic response (SVR).

CTS-1027 may facilitate the activity of interferon by preventing MMP-induced cleavage and deactivation in both phases of clinical response to therapy. In addition, CTS-1027, like ribavirin, alone does not significantly affect viral replication, but both CTS-1027 and ribavirin are likely to impact response to therapy during the second and slower phase of the clinical response.

The potential of MMP inhibition to facilitate the action of interferon, together with ribavirin-driven up-regulation of interferon stimulated genes, has the potential to yield a potent host immune response in this highly resistant null-responder patient population. Again, since MMP inhibition is thought to target the second slower phase kinetics, the initial treatment duration in this trial will be 24 weeks.

This trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of CTS-1027 combined with SOC in patients who did not previously respond to SOC therapy.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 67 participants
• Allocation: N/A
• Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: An Open-Label Trial of Pegylated Interferon Plus Ribavirin in Combination With CTS-1027 in HCV Null-Responders
• Study Start Date: January 2010
• Actual Primary Completion Date: November 2011
• Actual Study Completion Date: December 2011

Arms and Interventions

Arm

Intervention/treatment

Experimental: CTS-1027, Peg IFN, Ribavirin; Study drug (CTS-1027) plus Standard of Care treatment (pegylated interferon and ribavirin). CTS-1027, 15 mg taken twice daily. Pegylated interferon, 180 μg injected once a week. Ribavirin, 1000 mg or 1200 mg daily (depending on patient weight), taken in two divided doses.

Drug: CTS-1027; CTS-1027 supplied in 5 and 10 mg tablets, 15 mg taken twice daily, for up to 48 weeks; Drug: Pegylated interferon; Pegylated interferon, 180 micrograms in 0.5 ml of solution injected subcutaneously (SQ) once per week, for up to 48 weeks. Packaged in single use syringes.; Other Name: Pegasys; Drug: Ribavirin; Ribavirin, 200 mg capsules taken in two divided daily doses totaling 1000 mg (5 capsules) for patients weighing 75 kg or less, or 1200 mg (6 capsules) for patients weighing more than 75 kg for up to 48 weeks.; Other Name: Copegus

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Early Virologic Response (EVR) [ Time Frame: Baseline and Study week 12 ]
   Early Virologic Response (EVR) is defined as the percent of patients who experienced a drop in HCV-RNA (Hepatitis C Ribonucleic acid, also known as "viral load") levels of more that 2 log from before treatment (baseline) through 12 Weeks of treatment.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. > 2 Log Decline in Hepatitis C Virus Ribonucleic Acid (HCV-RNA) at 24 Weeks [ Time Frame: Baseline and Study week 24 ]
   Percent of patients experiencing a drop in HCV-RNA Hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid, also known as "viral load") levels in the blood equal to, or greater than, 2 log from before treatment (baseline) through 24 weeks of treatment.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female patients of minimum adult legal age (according to local laws for signing the informed consent document), able to provide written informed consent, and understand and comply with the requirements of the trial

• HCV genotype 1 infected null responders to prior therapy comprised of pegylated interferon and ribavirin (standard of care, SOC) defined as:

  • Failure to achieve an early virologic response (< 2 log decline in HCV-RNA by Week 12), or
  • If Week 12 HCV-RNA was not obtained but Week 24 was obtained, Week 24 response was < 2 log decline
• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) <= 50 ng/mL
• Hemoglobin ≥ 12 g/dL, platelet count ≥ 125 x 10^9/L, and white blood cell count ≥ 1.5 x 10^9/L
• In the opinion of the Principal Investigator, the patient met the 80%/80%/80% rule during the previous pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy (i.e., received at least 80% of the pegylated interferon and ribavirin doses, at least 80% of the dose size, for at least 80% of the treatment duration)
• Willingness to utilize two reliable forms of contraception (for both males and females of childbearing potential) from screening to at least six months after the completion of the trial.

Exclusion Criteria:

• < 2 log decline in HCV-RNA at Week 12 but > 2 log decline at any time from Week 12 to Week 24 during prior therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (prior standard of care therapy)

• Decompensated or severe liver disease defined by one or more of the following criteria:

  • Prothrombin time 3 seconds > control
  • Direct bilirubin ≥ 1.5 x ULN
  • Serum albumin below normal limits
  • AST or ALT > 7 x ULN at screening

• Evidence of portal hypertension including:

  • Varices on esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with or without a history of gastrointestinal bleeding; or
  • Ascites

• Cirrhosis defined by one or both of the following criteria:

  • Liver biopsy showing cirrhosis
  • Other clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of cirrhosis
• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or suspicion of HCC clinically or on ultrasound (or other imaging techniques)
• Clinically significant ocular findings such as retinopathy, cotton wool spots, optic nerve disorder, retinal hemorrhage, or other abnormality
• Known history or presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV)
• If female: pregnant, lactating, or positive serum or urine pregnancy test
• Male partners of women who are currently pregnant
• Renal impairment (creatinine > 1.5 x ULN), creatinine clearance < 50 mL/min, or hepatorenal syndrome with ascites
• Hospitalization for liver disease within 60 days of screening
• History of alcohol abuse (> 50 g per day) within the past year

• History of severe psychiatric disease, especially depression, characterized by:

  • Suicide attempt
  • Hospitalization for psychiatric disease
  • Period of disability as a result of psychiatric disease
• Prior exposure to CTS-1027
• Prior triple treatment comprised of pegylated interferon, ribavirin, and protease and/or polymerase inhibitors
• History or presence of clinically concerning cardiac arrhythmias or prolongation of pre-dose QTc interval of > 450 milliseconds
• Other concomitant disease or condition likely to significantly decrease life expectancy (e.g., moderate to severe congestive heart failure) or any malignancy other than curatively treated skin cancer (basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas), unless adequately treated or in complete remission for ten or more years
• Any patient who has received any investigational drug or device within 30 days of dosing, or who is scheduled to receive another investigational drug or device during the course of this trial.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, California

Scripps Clinic

La Jolla, California, United States, 92037

VA Medical Center, San Diego

San Diego, California, United States, 92161

United States, Colorado

University of Colorado Health Science Center

Denver, Colorado, United States, 80262

South Denver Gastroenterology

Englewood, Colorado, United States, 80113

United States, Georgia

Digestive Healthcare of Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30309

United States, Louisiana

Tulane University Health Sciences Center

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112

United States, Michigan

Henry Ford Medical Center-Columbus

Novi, Michigan, United States, 48377

United States, Minnesota

MN Clinical Research Center

Plymouth, Minnesota, United States, 55446

United States, Missouri

St. Louis University

St. Louis, Missouri, United States, 63104

United States, Ohio

Consultants of Clinical Research, Ohio GI and Liver Institute

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45219

United States, Texas

Advanced Liver Therapies - Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, Texas, United States, 77030

VA Medical Center, Houston

Houston, Texas, United States, 77030

United States, Utah

University of Utah Health Science Center

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84132

United States, Virginia

Liver Institute of Virginia

Newport News, Virginia, United States, 23602

Puerto Rico

Fundacion de Investigacion de Diego

Santurce, Puerto Rico, 00909

Sponsors and Collaborators

Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Investigators

• Study Chair: Erin Castelloe, MD; Conatus Pharmaceuticals

More Information

• Responsible Party: Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01051921
• Other Study ID Numbers: CTS-1027-04
• First Posted: January 20, 2010
• Results First Posted: April 10, 2012
• Last Update Posted: April 16, 2012
• Last Verified: April 2012

Keywords provided by Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc.:

HCV; Null Responder

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Hepatitis A; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis; Liver Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Virus Diseases; Infections; Enterovirus Infections; Picornaviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Flaviviridae Infections; Interferons; Ribavirin; Antineoplastic Agents; Antiviral Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Antimetabolites; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action