Oral Cyclosporine in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

June 23, 2025 updated by: Michael Donahoe

A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Protocol of Oral Cyclosporine in Patients With Advanced Stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of oral Cyclosporine A (CsA) in patients with advanced stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CsA as a therapy for the adaptive immune response in advanced stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Subjects between 45 and 80 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of advanced stage COPD, not responsive to conventional inhaler therapy, who meet all the study requirements, will be enrolled in this study. A total of 30 subjects of either sex will be enrolled in this study.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
43

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
        • University of Pittsburgh

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

45 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 45 and 80 years
  • A confirmed diagnosis of advanced stage COPD, using current accepted diagnostic criteria, including clinical/laboratory findings, pulmonary function tests, and appropriate history to exclude other disorders that could explain their lung disease. The accepted range of forced expiratory volume at one second will include 25% ≤ forced expiratory volume at one second ≤ 60%
  • Subjects agree to maintain a stable medication regimen in the absence of a disease flare
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2
  • carbon dioxide partial pressure < 45 mm Hg, room air oxyhemoglobin saturation > 85%
  • A willingness to participate in all portions of the protocol, including serial bronchoscopy, requisite surveillances, and ancillary immunologic studies in follow-up visits at this institution
  • For woman of childbearing age, a negative pregnancy test, and a willingness to use two methods of contraception, or abstinence
  • An ability and willingness to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Three, or more exacerbations of lower respiratory disease in the past year requiring systemic corticosteroids, or one exacerbation requiring hospitalization in the past 6 months
  • Intubation for COPD, or other cause of respiratory failure in the past year
  • Use of immunosuppressive therapy including oral prednisone > 10mg per day other than aerosolized corticosteroids, anytime within three months prior to participation
  • Evidence for an opportunistic infection/colonization of the airways, i.e., non-bacterial
  • Evidence for systemic illness including hematologic disorders (defined by an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 4000 /mL and platelets < 120,000/mL), cirrhosis, or hepatic insufficiency (total bilirubin, or alkaline phosphatase > 1.5 x normal, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, or serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase > 1.2 x normal values), or a coagulopathy (INR > 1.4), seizure disorder
  • Evidence for renal insufficiency with a calculated creatinine clearance using the Cockcroft and Gault's method of < 80 ml/min for males and < 70 ml/min for females, or serum creatinine > 1.4 mg/dL.
  • Evidence of coronary artery disease by history, e.g., angina or history of myocardial infarction within the past 12 months, unless corrected by coronary artery bypass graft within < 5 years, and asymptomatic since
  • Evidence for systemic abnormal renal function manifested by uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >90 mmHg), hyperkalemia (serum potassium > 5.0 meq/dl, and/or elevated serum potassium above the normal range for the subject's age)
  • Pregnancy or lactation, or inability to take contraception during and for 6 months following treatment
  • Positive HIV, or hepatitis B or C serology, or another active infection
  • Current or past history of cancer excluding basal or squamous cell skin cancer
  • Undiagnosed pulmonary nodule requiring diagnostic evaluation
  • Weight loss > 10% usual body weight over the past 6 months or a BMI < 18
  • Known hypersensitivity or allergy to cyclosporine
  • Concurrent participation in other clinical trials within the prior month
  • Known medical or psychological condition (severe personality disorder or mental illness) that would not permit the subject to complete the trial or sign informed consent
  • Autoimmune disorders or other disorders with suspected systemic immune involvement
  • Active smoking history or urinary cotinine > 2
  • Hypersensitivity to midazolam or narcotics which would not allow bronchoscopy sedation
  • Concurrent use of drugs with a known interaction with cyclosporine

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Drug: Placebo
Fifteen patients will receive will receive placebo.
Experimental: Cyclosporine
Drug: Cyclosporine
Fifteen patients will receive cyclosporine at an initial dosing of 3.0 mg/kg/day.
Other Names:
  • Neoral

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Safety Profile of Oral Cyclosporin A Immunotherapy in Advanced Stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients- Nephrotoxicity - Measured by Serum Creatinine
Time Frame: 16 weeks
Measurement of nephrotoxicity by monitoring serum creatinine over 16 week treatment interval. Mean serum creatinine values were assessed at Week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16. The mean values of all measurements for each participant were calculated and then the mean across participants was calculated. Values expressed as mean ± SD.
16 weeks
Safety Profile of Oral Cyclosporin A Immunotherapy in Advanced Stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients - Number of Patients That Developed Renal Insufficiency
Time Frame: 16 weeks
Development of renal insufficiency defined as > 30% elevation in serum creatinine above baseline which required dose modification of the cyclosporine over 16 week treatment interval at Week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16. Outcome measured the number of subjects who developed renal insufficiency during the study treatment interval.
16 weeks
Safety Profile of Oral Cyclosporin A Immunotherapy in Advanced Stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients - Number of Patients That Developed Infection Requiring Systemic Antibiotic Therapy
Time Frame: 16 weeks
Clinical diagnosis of infection which requires systemic antibiotic therapy during the 16 week study interval at Week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16. Outcome measured the number of subjects who developed an infection requiring systemic antibiotic therapy during the study treatment interval.
16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pharmacokinetic - Pharmacodynamic Relationship of Oral Cyclosporine and Biomarkers of an Adaptive Immune Response - Cyclosporine Blood Levels
Time Frame: 16 weeks
Cyclosporine blood levels on therapy over 16 week treatment interval were measured at Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 & 16. The median for each participant was found and then the overall median was determined. Values expressed as median (full range).
16 weeks
Peripheral Blood T Cell Biomarkers Over 16 Week Treatment Interval - Change in the Percentage of Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4)
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Outcome measured the change in the percentage of cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16
Peripheral Blood T Cell Biomarkers Over 16 Week Treatment Interval - Change in the Percentage of Cluster of Differentiation 8 and Cluster of Differentiation 28
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Outcome measured the change in the percentage of peripheral blood T cell biomarkers - cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8), cluster of differentiation 28 (CD28) at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16
Peripheral Blood T Cell Biomarkers Over Treatment Interval - Change in the Percentage of Cluster of Differentiation 8 and Major Histocompatibility Complex II
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Outcome measured the change in the percentage of peripheral blood cells expressing biomarker - cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16
Peripheral Blood T Cell Biomarkers Over Treatment Interval - Change in the Percentage of Cluster of Differentiation 8+ Interferon Gamma
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Outcome measured the change in the percentage of peripheral blood T cell biomarkers - CD8+interferon gamma at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16
Peripheral Blood T Cell Biomarkers Over Treatment Interval - Change in the Percentage of Cluster of Differentiation 4+ Interleukin-2
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Outcome measured the change in the percentage of peripheral blood T cell biomarkers - cluster of differentiation 4+ interleukin-2 at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16
Peripheral Blood T Cell Biomarkers Over Treatment Interval - Change in the Percentage of Cluster of Differentiation 8+ Tumor Necrosis Factor
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Outcome measured the change in the percentage of peripheral blood T cell biomarkers - CD8+ tumor necrosis factor at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16
Effects of Cyclosporin A on Respiratory Function - Change in the Percentage of Post Predicted Value of Forced Vital Capacity
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Outcome measured the change in the percentage of post predicted value of forced vital capacity at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16
Effects of Cyclosporin A on Respiratory Function - Change in the Percentage of Post Predicted Value of Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Outcome measured the change in the percentage of post predicted value of forced expiratory volume in 1 second at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16
Effects of Cyclosporin A on Respiratory Function - Change in Exercise Capacity by a Shuttle Walk Distance Measured in Feet
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Measurement of exercise capacity by a shuttle walk distance measured in feet at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). The purpose of the shuttle walk test is to see how far and fast a patient can walk (without stopping for a rest) by following a series of time signals.Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16
Effects of Cyclosporin A on Symptoms - Change in Scores on a Shortness of Breath Scale
Time Frame: at Week 8 and Week 16
Scores on a shortness of breath scale (University of California at San Diego Dyspnea scale): shortness of breath questionnaire scores are summed as a total score ranging from 0-120 with higher scores indicating more severe breathlessness. Assessments were performed at midpoint assessment (Week 8) and at the conclusion of treatment (Week 16). Values expressed as median (full range).
at Week 8 and Week 16

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Michael Donahoe

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Michael Donahoe, MD, University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 9, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 9, 2009

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 10, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 23, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • PRO09050330

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Clinical Trials on Cyclosporine

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings