A Proof-of-Concept Study Evaluating EOM613 in COVID-19 Infected Patients With Severe Symptoms

COVID-19 Pneumonia Clinical Trial

Official title:

A Proof-of-Concept Study Evaluating Safety, Tolerability, and Preliminary Efficacy of EOM613 in COVID-19 Infected Patients With Severe Symptoms

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05212532
• Other study ID #: CL-EOM613-001
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: August 9, 2021
• Est. completion date: March 30, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: January 2022
• Source: EOM Pharmaceuticals
• Contact: Melina Szkelnik-Sidi, BS
• Phone: + 55 11 98258-6261
• Email: melina.sidi[@]azidusbrasil.com.br
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of EOM613, a peptide nucleic acid with novel immune-modulating properties, in treating patients with severe COVID-19 infections. This proof-of-concept study is the first clinical trial of EOM613 in this patient population.

Description:

Much of the morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 infection is thought to be the result of an overly zealous attack by the immune system (e.g., cytokine storm and IL-6 elevations) as it attempts to counteract the viral infection. Some drugs with immunomodulatory effects (e.g., dexamethasone, tocilizumab) have been shown to reduce virus-induced cytokine storms and key pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6.

EOM613 is a peptide nucleic acid with novel immune-modulating properties, including modulation of IL-6 expression. It has an excellent safety profile and has yielded promising therapeutic results in patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), cancer cachexia and severe rheumatoid arthritis. EOM613 was reported to have antiviral activity in cell cultures inoculated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or adenovirus. This proof-of-concept study is the first clinical trial of EOM613 in patients with COVID-19 infection.

This study will include two cohorts of hospitalized patients, non-ICU and ICU. In non-ICU patients, EOM613 is to be administered subcutaneously (SC) at a dose of 2 mL once daily (QD) for 10 days, for a total of 20 mL. In ICU patients, EOM613 is to be administered SC at a dose of 2 mL twice daily (BID) for 5 days followed by 2 mL QD for 5 days, for a total of 30 mL.

The primary objective and outcome measures include assessment of safety and tolerability of EOM613, based on clinical laboratory, physical exams, and assessment of adverse events (AEs). The secondary objectives and outcome measures are 1) The proportions of non-ICU patients discharged with and without progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or ICU; 2) The proportion of ICU patients who die, are discharged to the infirmary, or discharged from the hospital; and 3) Assessment of levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in Cytokine Panel 13, and their correlations with primary and secondary endpoints.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 40
• Est. completion date: March 30, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: February 28, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 84 Years

Eligibility

1. Inclusion Criteria

1. Non-ICU cohort:

• Males or females =18 years and < 85 years of age

• Positive test for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2) by nasopharyngeal sampling using a reliable nucleic acid Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay or fast serological tests confirmed by RT PCR afterward

• Hospitalized for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or pneumonia

• Requires oxygen therapy by nasal catheter or mask, but not invasive mechanical ventilation at the enrollment

2. ICU cohort:

• Males or females =18 years and < 85 years of age

• Positive test for SARS-CoV-2 by nasopharyngeal sampling using a reliable nucleic acid RT-PCR assay

• Hospitalized for ARDS or pneumonia and requires invasive mechanical ventilation at enrollment

3. Both cohorts:

• Participant or suitable proxy able to provide written informed consent before study procedures are performed

• Able to adhere to the study schedule and other protocol requirements

• No known contraindications for administering EOM613, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (assessed by the anamnesis) or receiving immunosuppressant therapy after transplant

• Not enrolled in another study of an investigational agent during this study

• Patients who developed complications of COVID-19 (such as myocardial disease, kidney dysfunction, clotting disorder, encephalitis, severe fatigue, or multi-immune inflammatory syndrome) are eligible

2. Exclusion Criteria

1. Both cohorts:

• Active participation in any other clinical trial of an experimental treatment for COVID-19

• Participation in another clinical trial with any investigational new drug within 12 months before enrollment, except if there is a possible benefit to the participant in the investigator's opinion (According to the Brazilian Resolution CNS 251/97 II.2-J)

• Concurrent treatment with other agents with actual or possible direct-acting antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 is prohibited <24 hours before study medication initiation

• Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score >10

• Stage 4 severe chronic kidney disease or requiring dialysis (i.e., estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate [eGFR] <30)

• Active cancer receiving any therapeutic intervention or under palliative care

2. Both cohorts, conditions existing before COVID-19:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Heart failure or cardiomyopathies

• Sickle cell disease

• Solid-organ transplantation

• Uncontrolled or poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Immunodeficiency or immunosuppressive therapy

• Pregnant or breastfeeding

• Consideration by the investigator, for any reason, that the subject is an unsuitable candidate to receive study treatment

• Known active Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (assessed by the anamnesis)

• Patients who are unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements

• Patients with body mass index (BMI) < 18 kg/m2 or > 40 kg/m2

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Acute Lung Injury
• COVID-19
• COVID-19 Pneumonia
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn
• Respiratory Tract Infections

Intervention

Drug:
• EOM613
peptide nucleic acid (PNA)

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Brazil	Hospital de Amor	Barretos	São Paulo
Brazil	Hospital Municipal de Barueri	Barueri	São Paulo
Brazil	Casa De Saúde	Boqueirão	São Paulo
Brazil	Oswaldo Cruz	Manguinhos	Rio De Janeiro

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
EOM Pharmaceuticals

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Brazil, 

References & Publications (16)

Advanced Viral Research Corp. (ADVR). ADVR reports AVR118 inhibits inflammatory arthritis in animal model and in rheumatoid arthritis patients in human clinical trial. ADVR press release, PR Newswire, December 3, 2003.

Alexander R.J., Meyer K.A., Camposano E., Lazzarino D.A., De Diego M. Product R induces differentiation of the human myelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. American Association for Cancer Research Special Conference (Proteases, Extracellular Matrix and Cancer). Hilton Head Island, SC, USA, 2002.

Chasen M, Bhargava R, Hirschman SZ, Taraporewala I. Phase II study of OHR/AVR118 in anorexia- cachexia. Abstract of poster presentation at the 7th Cachexia conference, Kobe/Osaka, Japan, December 9-11, 2013. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2013;4(4):335-6.

Chasen M, Hirschman SZ, Bhargava R. Phase II study of the novel peptide-nucleic acid OHR118 in the management of cancer-related anorexia/cachexia. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2011 Jan;12(1):62-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2010.02.012. Epub 2010 May 15. — View Citation

COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines, Interleukin-6 Inhibitors. National Institutes of Health. https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/immunomodulators/interleukin-6-inhibitors/. Updated April 21, 2021. Accessed August 24, 2021.

D'Olimpio JT, Chasen MR, Sharma R, Diego M, Gullo V, MacDonald N. Phase II study of AVR118 in the management of cancer-related anorexia/cachexia. Doi: 10.1200/jco.2009.27.15_suppl.e20631 (abstract presentation). Journal of Clinical Oncology 2009; 27, No. 15_suppl., e20631-e20631.

D'Olimpio JT, Hirschman SZ, Shtemer Z, Didiego M. Anti-cachectic effects of a novel peptide nucleic acid: Preliminary results of a phase I/II clinical trial. Doi: 10.1200/jco.2004.22.90140.8087 (abstract presentation). Journal of Clinical Oncology. July 15, 2004; 22, no. 14_suppl 8087-8087.

Diao L, Meibohm B. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic correlations of therapeutic peptides. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2013 Oct;52(10):855-68. doi: 10.1007/s40262-013-0079-0. Review. — View Citation

Friedland B. In vitro antiviral activity of a peptide-nucleic acid solution against the human immunodeficiency virus and influenza A virus. J R Soc Health. 1991 Oct;111(5):170-1. — View Citation

Hirschman SZ, Chen CW. Peptide nucleic acids stimulate gamma interferon and inhibit the replication of the human immunodeficiency virus. J Investig Med. 1996 Aug;44(6):347-51. — View Citation

Hirschman SZ. Activation of human monocytes/macrophages by OHR/AVR118 promotes both pro-and anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Available: https://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=42617. Accessed August 24, 2021. Adv Bioscience Biotechnology. 2014, 5:161-168.

Hojyo S, Uchida M, Tanaka K, Hasebe R, Tanaka Y, Murakami M, Hirano T. How COVID-19 induces cytokine storm with high mortality. Inflamm Regen. 2020 Oct 1;40:37. doi: 10.1186/s41232-020-00146-3. eCollection 2020. Review. — View Citation

Lazzarino DA, de Diego M, Hirschman SZ, Zhang KY, Shaikh S, Musi E, Liaw L, Alexander RJ. IL-8 and MCP-1 secretion is enhanced by the peptide-nucleic acid immunomodulator, Product R, in U937 cells and primary human monocytes. Cytokine. 2001 May 21;14(4):234-9. — View Citation

Lazzarino DA, Diego M, Musi E, Hirschman SZ, Alexander RJ. CXCR4 and CCR5 expression by H9 T-cells is downregulated by a peptide-nucleic acid immunomodulator. Immunol Lett. 2000 Nov 1;74(3):189-95. — View Citation

Levett PN, Hirschman SZ, Roach TC, Broome H, Alexander RJ, Fraser HS. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of product R, a peptide-nucleic acid immunomodulator, in the treatment of adults infected with HIV. HIV Clin Trials. 2002 Jul-Aug;3(4):272-8. — View Citation

Scherger S, Henao-Martínez A, Franco-Paredes C, Shapiro L. Rethinking interleukin-6 blockade for treatment of COVID-19. Med Hypotheses. 2020 Nov;144:110053. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110053. Epub 2020 Jun 27. — View Citation

* Note: There are 16 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change from baseline to day 11 in mean blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level.	The BUN primary outcome measure is its change from baseline to day 11 or to discharge, whichever comes first (BUN is also assessed on days 2, 5, and 8). BUN is obtained from a venous blood draw and measured in millimoles of urea per liter. 2.1 to 8.5 mmol/L is considered normal; values above 8.5 mmol/L may indicate renal impairment.	Baseline and day 11 or discharge, whichever comes first.
Primary	Change from baseline to day 11 in mean blood creatinine level.	The blood creatinine primary outcome measure is its change from baseline to day 11 or to discharge, whichever comes first (blood creatinine is also assessed on days 2, 5, and 8). Blood creatinine is obtained from a venous blood draw and measured in micromoles of creatinine per liter. 65.4 to 119.3 micromoles/L in adult women and 52.2 to 91.9 micromoles/L in adult men are considered normal; values above these ranges may indicate renal impairment.	Baseline and day 11 or discharge, whichever comes first.
Primary	Change from baseline to day 11 in mean blood lymphocyte count.	The blood lymphocyte count primary outcome measure is its change from baseline to day 11 or to discharge, whichever comes first (blood lymphocyte count is also assessed on days 2, 5, and 8). Blood lymphocyte count is obtained from a venous blood draw and measured as the number of lymphocytes per microliter of blood. Between 1,000 and 3000 lymphocytes per microliter of blood is considered normal. Values below this range have correlated with the severity of COVID-19 infection; values above this range can be indicative of an infection, cancer of the blood or lymphatic system, or an autoimmune disorder.	Baseline and day 11 or discharge, whichever comes first.
Primary	Change from baseline to day 11 in mean serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level.	The serum sIL-2R primary outcome measure is its change from baseline to day 11 or to discharge, whichever comes first (serum sIL-2R will also be assessed on days 2, 5, 8, 14 and 28). Serum sIL-2R levels are measured with a Quantitative Multiplex Bead Assay. The normal range has been reported as 175.3 - 858.2 pg/mL. Elevated levels are found in individuals with severe inflammatory conditions and solid tumors.	Baseline and day 11 or discharge, whichever comes first.
Primary	Change from baseline to day 11 in mean serum interleukin-6 (IL-6).	The serum IL-6 primary outcome measure is its change from baseline to day 11 or to discharge, whichever comes first (serum IL-6 will also be assessed on days 2, 5, 8, 14 and 28). Serum IL-6 levels are measured with a Quantitative Multiplex Bead Assay. Normal values have been reported as <2.0 pg/mL. Elevated levels are associated with inflammatory conditions and predict lower chances of survival in COVID-19 patients.	Baseline and day 11 or discharge, whichever comes first.
Primary	Change from baseline to day 11 in mean serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels.	The serum IL-10 primary outcome measure is its change from baseline to day 11 or discharge, whichever comes first (serum IL-10 will also be assessed on days 2, 5, 8, 14 and 28). Serum IL-10 levels are measured with a Quantitative Multiplex Bead Assay. Normal values have been reported as <2.8 pg/mL. Elevated levels are associated with inflammatory conditions and predict lower chances of survival in COVID-19 patients.	Baseline and day 11 or discharge, whichever comes first.
Secondary	Median change from baseline to day 56 in World Health Organization (WHO) Scale Assessment of COVID-19 Symptom Severity	The WHO Scale secondary outcome measure is the median change from baseline to day 56. This ordinal Scale is from 0 (no clinical/virological evidence of infection) to 8 (death). Scale assessments are made on patients on days 1-14, 21, 28, 42 and 56. Scale assessments of discharged patients are made during a home visit by a study nurse.	Baseline and day 56 or death, whichever comes first
Secondary	Percent of hospital days with ventilator and/or oxygen use, and percent of hospital days with maximum ventilator pressure and maximum oxygen use	Daily recording of ventilator and oxygen use (on or off), ventilator pressure, and oxygen use (percent and flow rate) in the morning and evening for patients requiring respiratory assistance. These data will be used to calculate the mean percent of total hospital days with ventilator and/or oxygen use, and the mean percent of days of maximum ventilator pressure and maximum oxygen use from day 1 of ventilator and/or oxygen use to subsequent days.	Day 1 (baseline) of ventilator and/or oxygen use until ventilator and/or oxygen use is discontinued