scholarly journals Efficacy and Safety of Leflunomide for Refractory COVID-19: An Open-label Controlled Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Wang ◽  
Haipeng Guo ◽  
Yu Li ◽  
Xiangdong Jian ◽  
Xinguo Hou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Discharge Rate ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Randomized Clinical Study

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of leflunomide for the treatment of refractory COVID-19 in adult patients.DESIGNOpen-label controlled studySETTINGA designated hospital for patients with refractory COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.PARTICIPANTS27 hospitalized adult patients (≥18 years of age) with radiologically confirmed pneumonia and SARS-CoV-2 positive for more than 28 days despite standard care were assigned to receive standard of care (SOC, grp I) or leflunomide + SOC (grp 2). After 2 weeks, grp 1 and grp 2 patients who continued to be SARS-CoV-2-positive received leflunomide for 14 days while continuing SOC.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESThe primary outcomes were the rate of and time to SARS-CoV-2 clearance and the 14-day and 30-day hospital discharge rate.RESULTSTwelve patients enrolled in grp 1 and 15 patients were in grp 2. The 14 days SARS-CoV-2 viral clearance rate was 80.0% (12/15) for grp 2 patients receiving leflunomide versus 16.7% for grp 1 patients (2/12) (P=0.002). By day 14, the median time to SARS-CoV-2 clearance was 6.0 days (range 1-12, IQR 1-12) for grp 2 patients. In grp 1, two patients converted to viral negative on days 1 and 6 (P=0.002). The 14-day discharge rate was 73.3% (11/15) for the grp 2 versus 8.3% (1/12) for grp 1 (P=0.001). The 30-day discharge rate was 100% (15/15) for the grp 2 versus 66.7% (8/12) for grp 1. No severe adverse events or deaths were reported.CONCLUSIONLeflunomide is effective in enhancing SARS-CoV-2 clearance and hospital discharge in refractory COVID-19 patients. The addition of leflunomide to SOC did not increase adverse events versus SOC. These preliminary observations underscore a need for a randomized clinical study of leflunomide in SARS-CoV-2 infection.WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPICBased on the large numbers of global infected patients of SARS-CoV-2, there will be many patients on persist viral positive which is named refractory covid-19. Specific medication for the treatment of the refractory covid-19 has been approved.Leflunomide has been widely used in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis with good safety and tolerance. Recently, it is found an activity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and the effective concentration of leflunomide is within the recognized therapeutic level for rheumatoid arthritis.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDSLeflunomide is effective in enhancing SARS-CoV-2 clearance and hospital discharge in refractory COVID-19 patients. The safety and tolerability of the 14-28-day course of treatment with leflunomide is acceptable.

scholarly journals Opaganib in COVID-19 pneumonia: Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2a trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin L Winthrop ◽  
Alan W Skolnick ◽  
Adnan Rafiq ◽  
Scott H Beegle ◽  
Julian Suszanski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Supplemental Oxygen ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Sphingosine Kinase 2 ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
Oxygen Requirements

Rationale: Opaganib, an oral sphingosine kinase-2 inhibitor with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, was shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. We thus considered that opaganib could be beneficial for moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of opaganib on supplemental oxygen requirements, time to hospital discharge and its safety in COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized patients requiring supplemental oxygen. Methods: This Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, was conducted between July and December 2020 in eight sites in the USA. Forty-two enrolled patients received opaganib (n=23) or placebo (n=19) added to standard of care for up to 14 days and were followed up for 28 days after their last dose of investigational product. Main Results: By Day 14, 50.0% of patients in the opaganib and 22.2% in the placebo group no longer required supplemental oxygen for at least 24 hours, while 86.4% and 55.6%, respectively, were discharged from hospital. The relative decrease in total supplemental oxygen requirement from baseline to Day 14 was 61.6% in the opaganib versus 46.7% in the placebo arms. The incidence of ≥ Grade 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 17.4% and 33.3% in the opaganib and placebo groups, respectively. Three deaths occurred in each group. Conclusions: In this proof-of-concept study, patients receiving oral opaganib required less supplemental oxygen, resulting in earlier hospital discharge, with no safety concerns arising. These findings support further evaluation of opaganib in this population.

scholarly journals Direct antivirals working against the novel coronavirus: azithromycin (DAWn-AZITHRO), a randomized, multicenter, open-label, adaptive, proof-of-concept clinical trial of new antivirals working against SARS-CoV-2—azithromycin trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwein Gyselinck ◽  
◽  
Laurens Liesenborghs ◽  
Ewout Landeloos ◽  
Ann Belmans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Ordinal Scale ◽  
Cytokine Signaling ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Background The rapid emergence and the high disease burden of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 have created a medical need for readily available drugs that can decrease viral replication or blunt the hyperinflammatory state leading to severe COVID-19 disease. Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic, known for its immunomodulatory properties. It has shown antiviral effect specifically against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and acts on cytokine signaling pathways that have been implicated in COVID-19. Methods DAWn-AZITHRO is a randomized, open-label, phase 2 proof-of-concept, multicenter clinical trial, evaluating the safety and efficacy of azithromycin for treating hospitalized patients with COVID-19. It is part of a series of trials testing promising interventions for COVID-19, running in parallel and grouped under the name DAWn-studies. Patients hospitalized on dedicated COVID wards are eligible for study inclusion when they are symptomatic (i.e., clinical or radiological signs) and have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 72 h through PCR (nasopharyngeal swab or bronchoalveolar lavage) or chest CT scan showing typical features of COVID-19 and without alternate diagnosis. Patients are block-randomized (9 patients) with a 2:1 allocation to receive azithromycin plus standard of care versus standard of care alone. Standard of care is mostly supportive, but may comprise hydroxychloroquine, up to the treating physician’s discretion and depending on local policy and national health regulations. The treatment group receives azithromycin qd 500 mg during the first 5 consecutive days after inclusion. The trial will include 284 patients and recruits from 15 centers across Belgium. The primary outcome is time from admission (day 0) to life discharge or to sustained clinical improvement, defined as an improvement of two points on the WHO 7-category ordinal scale sustained for at least 3 days. Discussion The trial investigates the urgent and still unmet global need for drugs that may impact the disease course of COVID-19. It will either provide support or else justify the discouragement of the current widespread, uncontrolled use of azithromycin in patients with COVID-19. The analogous design of other parallel trials of the DAWN consortium will amplify the chance of identifying successful treatment strategies and allow comparison of treatment effects within an identical clinical context. Trial registration EU Clinical trials register EudraCT Nb 2020-001614-38. Registered on 22 April 2020

scholarly journals Switching from TNFα inhibitor to tacrolimus as maintenance therapy in rheumatoid arthritis after achieving low disease activity with TNFα inhibitors and methotrexate: 24-week result from a non-randomized, prospective, active-controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Youn Jung ◽  
Jung Hee Koh ◽  
Ki-Jo Kim ◽  
Yong-Wook Park ◽  
Hyung-In Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Maintenance Therapy ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Low Disease Activity ◽  
Efficacy Analysis ◽  
Tnfα Inhibitor

Abstract Background Tapering or stopping biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs has been proposed for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in remission, but it frequently results in high rates of recurrence. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (TAC) as maintenance therapy in patients with established RA in remission after receiving combination therapy with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and methotrexate (MTX). Methods This 24-week, prospective, open-label trial included patients who received TNFi and MTX at stable doses for ≥24 weeks and had low disease activity (LDA), measured by Disease Activity Score-28 for ≥12 weeks. Patients selected one of two arms: maintenance (TNFi plus MTX) or switched (TAC plus MTX). The primary outcome was the difference in the proportion of patients maintaining LDA at week 24, which was assessed using a logistic regression model. Adverse events were monitored throughout the study period. Results In efficacy analysis, 80 and 34 patients were included in the maintenance and switched arms, respectively. At week 24, LDA was maintained in 99% and 91% of patients in the maintenance and switched arms, respectively (odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.01–1.59). Drug-related adverse effects tended to be more common in the switched arm than in the maintenance arm (20.9% versus 7.1%, respectively) but were well-tolerated. Conclusion This controlled study tested a novel treatment strategy of switching from TNFi to TAC in RA patients with sustained LDA, and the findings suggested that TNFi can be replaced with TAC in most patients without the patients experiencing flare-ups for at least 24 weeks. Trial registration Korea CDC CRIS, KCT0005868. Registered 4 February 2021—retrospectively registered

scholarly journals High-dose oral and intravenous rifampicin for the treatment of tuberculous meningitis in predominantly HIV-positive Ugandan adults: a phase II open-label randomised controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona V Cresswell ◽  
David B Meya ◽  
Enock Kagimu ◽  
Daniel Grint ◽  
Lindsey te Brake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Tuberculous Meningitis ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Dose Oral ◽  
Csf Levels

Abstract Background High-dose rifampicin may improve outcomes of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Little safety or pharmacokinetic (PK) data exist on high-dose rifampicin in HIV co-infection, and no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) PK data exist from Africa. We hypothesized that high-dose rifampicin would increase serum and CSF concentrations without excess toxicity. Methods In this phase II open-label trial, Ugandan adults with suspected TBM were randomised to standard-of-care control (PO-10, rifampicin 10mg/kg/day), intravenous rifampicin (IV-20, 20mg/kg/day), or high-dose oral rifampicin (PO-35, 35mg/kg/day). We performed PK sampling on day 2 and 14. The primary outcomes were total exposure (AUC0-24), maximum concentration (Cmax), CSF concentration and grade 3-5 adverse events. Results We enrolled 61 adults, 92% were HIV-positive, median CD4 count was 50cells/µL (IQR 46–56). On day 2, geometric mean plasma AUC0-24hr was 42.9h.mg/L with standard-of-care 10mg/kg dosing, 249h.mg/L for IV-20 and 327h.mg/L for PO-35 (P<0.001). In CSF, standard-of-care achieved undetectable rifampicin concentration in 56% of participants and geometric mean AUC0-24hr 0.27mg/L, compared with 1.74mg/L (95%CI 1.2–2.5) for IV-20 and 2.17mg/L (1.6–2.9) for PO-35 regimens (p<0.001). Achieving CSF concentrations above rifampicin minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) occurred in 11% (2/18) of standard-of-care, 93% (14/15) of IV-20, and 95% (18/19) of PO-35 participants. Higher serum and CSF levels were sustained at day 14. Adverse events did not differ by dose (p=0.34) Conclusion Current international guidelines result in sub-therapeutic CSF rifampicin concentration for 89% of Ugandan TBM patients. High-dose intravenous and oral rifampicin were safe, and respectively resulted in exposures ~6- and ~8-fold higher than standard-of-care, and CSF levels above the MIC

scholarly journals A prospective, open label, randomized-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Herbovir syrup in mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
A. Gopal Rao ◽  
Shankar Achar Somashekar ◽  
Poorna Prasad ◽  
Manjunath Reddy Lekkala ◽  
Sreenivasa Hanumanthaiah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Pulmonary Complications ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
Immune Markers ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Early Recovery ◽  
D Dimer

Background: COVID-19 patients experience cytokine storm which cause pulmonary and extra-pulmonary complications. Effective antiviral and immune boosters are need of hour to treat COVID-19 as well as post COVID complications.Methods: In this study involving mild COVID-19 we randomized 40 patients to receive a Herbovir syrup along with standard of care (SOC) or SOC alone in 1:1 ratio. We evaluated the benefits of Herbovir syrup by assessing clinical outcomes and improvement in immune markers (LDH, CRP, D-dimer).Results: At the end of the study the immune markers in Herbovir group improved significant compared to control group. In patients who received Herbovir, LDH decreased from 334 U/l at baseline to 254 U/l at the end of treatment (p value <0.009), CRP decreased from 7.4 mg/l to 3.1 mg/l (p value=0.0171) and D-dimer decreased from 0.610 mg/l at baseline to 318 mg/l at the end of study (p value=0.001). TLC values did not go below normal range in Herbovir group whereas 8 patients in control group had low TLC at the end of study. Early recovery from COVID 19 symptoms was observed in >75% patients in Herbovir treated group.Conclusions: Herbovir accelerated recovery of COVID-19 patients by early improvement in clinical symptoms and immune markers in this study and results clearly indicates that Herbovir syrup has antiviral, immune booster activity and has definitive role in the management of mild COVID-19 patients along with standard of care. (Funded by Venkat pharma. CTRI no. CTRI/2020/08/027041).

scholarly journals Lesinurad in combination with allopurinol: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients with gout with inadequate response to standard of care (the multinational CLEAR 2 study)

2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 811-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Bardin ◽  
Robert T Keenan ◽  
Puja P Khanna ◽  
Jeff Kopicko ◽  
Maple Fung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Inadequate Response ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
End Points ◽  
Registration Number

ObjectivesDetermine the efficacy and safety of daily lesinurad (200 or 400 mg orally) added to allopurinol in patients with serum uric acid (sUA) above target in a 12-month, randomised, phase III trial.MethodsPatients on allopurinol ≥300 mg (≥200 mg in moderate renal impairment) had sUA level of ≥6.5 mg/dL (≥387 µmol/L) at screening and two or more gout flares in the prior year. Primary end point was the proportion of patients achieving sUA level of <6.0 mg/dL (<357 µmol/L) (month 6). Key secondary end points were mean gout flare rate requiring treatment (months 7 through 12) and proportions of patients with complete resolution of one or more target tophi (month 12). Safety assessments included adverse events and laboratory data.ResultsPatients (n=610) were predominantly male, with mean (±SD) age 51.2±10.90 years, gout duration 11.5±9.26 years and baseline sUA of 6.9±1.2 mg/dL (410±71 µmol/L). Lesinurad at 200 and 400 mg doses, added to allopurinol, significantly increased proportions of patients achieving sUA target versus allopurinol-alone therapy by month 6 (55.4%, 66.5% and 23.3%, respectively, p<0.0001 both lesinurad+allopurinol groups). In key secondary end points, there were no statistically significant treatment-group differences favouring lesinurad. Lesinurad was generally well tolerated; the 200 mg dose had a safety profile comparable with allopurinol-alone therapy. Renal-related adverse events occurred in 5.9% of lesinurad 200 mg+allopurinol, 15.0% of lesinurad 400 mg+allopurinol and 4.9% of allopurinol-alone groups, with serum creatinine elevation of ≥1.5× baseline in 5.9%, 15.0% and 3.4%, respectively. Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 4.4% of lesinurad 200 mg+allopurinol, in 9.5% of lesinurad 400 mg+allopurinol and in 3.9% of allopurinol-alone groups, respectively.ConclusionLesinurad added to allopurinol demonstrated superior sUA lowering versus allopurinol-alone therapy and lesinurad 200 mg was generally well tolerated in patients with gout warranting additional therapy.Trial registration numberNCT01493531.

NE-180, a Novel glycoPEGylated Erythropoietin Demonstrates Dose-Dependent Activity in a Phase 1 Single Dose, Dose Escalating Study in Normal Human Volunteers (NHV).

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1149-1149
Author(s):  
Bruce A. Wallin ◽  
Denise Ramjit ◽  
Michael Seiberling ◽  
David Zopf
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Stopping Rules ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Serious Adverse Events ◽  
Maximal Increase ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Dose Dependent

Abstract NE-180 is a glycoPEGylated recombinant human erythropoietin that binds to and activates the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor. It has demonstrated in vitro activities comparable to EPO and an extended serum half-life in animal studies. This may allow less frequent dosing in patients being treated with chronic anemia. METHODS: A single center, open-label study of NE-180, administered as single escalating doses given by the SC or IV route, was conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, PK and PD. Subjects (male or female NHV) were planned to be assigned to one of 4 dose groups, 10 subjects per dose with 5 SC and 5 IV subjects per group: 0.5, 1.5, 3, or 4.5 mg/kg. Each dose group was planned to be initiated in an ascending, sequential fashion unless or until stopping rules were met. RESULTS: 25 NHV (16 females) were enrolled in the first two dose cohorts and have completed 56 day follow-up. The 1.5 mg/kg IV cohort met the protocol-specified Hb rate of rise stopping rule (change in Hb greater than 1 g/dL during any 14 day period). Injections were generally well tolerated with no discontinuations for adverse events or serious adverse events. Reticulocyte increases were dose proportional. Average reticulocyte count at baseline was 1.0±0.3%. The maximal increase occurred at day 7. The mean change from baseline for the 0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg SC group was: 0.9±0.4% and 2.2±0.9%, respectively. The mean change from baseline for the 0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg IV group was: 1.7±0.8% and 2.3±0.8%, respectively. PK data will be presented. CONCLUSIONS: Single doses up to 1.5 mg/kg of NE-180 administered to NHV were generally well tolerated and demonstrated potent dose-dependent erythropoietic activity.

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