Development of AWZ1066S, a Small Molecule Anti-Wolbachia Candidate Macrofilaricide Drug (AWOL)

September 19, 2023 updated by: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis are a group of neglected tropical diseases caused by the transmission of worm larvae (microfilaria) by biting insects. Once a human is infected, the larvae mature into adult worms that release huge numbers of larvae into the lymphatics for 5-15 years. The larvae cause tissue damage resulting in the disabling diseases of elephantiasis (gross leg and scrotal swelling) and river blindness. These diseases affect 160 million people and are acknowledged major public health problems in the tropics. Current treatments mainly target the larvae but not the adult worms that live for years, meaning that repeated courses of treatment over many years are needed. These repeated courses are usually delivered at population level in the form of mass drug administration programmes.

For the adult worms to be able to grow, reproduce and infect more humans they are dependent on a bacterium which lives inside them. This bacterium (Wolbachia) is not naturally found in humans. Some drugs are able to target Wolbachia, however they are unsuitable for mass drug administration programmes because they have to be given for 4-6 weeks and cannot be used in children or pregnant women.

AWZ1066S is a novel drug developed in Liverpool that has been shown in experimental models to target Wolbachia and indirectly kill the adult parasitic worms after a 7 day course. After extensive safety testing in animals we are conducting a Phase 1, first in human study, to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ascending single and multiple oral doses of AWZ1066S in healthy volunteers. The study is a single centre study, will last approximately 1 year and will take place in a dedicated Phase 1 trial unit. Depending on which group they are enrolled into, participants will take either one dose, two doses or seven doses and their involvement will last between 38 and 45 days. Participants will be closely monitored for adverse effects.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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.

Detailed Description

AWZ1066S is in the early stages of clinical development, for safety reasons, a sequential, ascending dose design is being used. The study is double-blind, and placebo controlled. All research activities will be conducted within a dedicated Phase 1 Clinical Research Facility.

Part A comprises a single ascending dose design with an overall group total of 48 participants. These will be studied in 6 cohorts (Cohorts A1 to A6), with each cohort consisting of 8 participants (6 randomised to oral dose of AWZ1066S and 2 randomised to placebo). Each participant will receive single dose of AWZ1066S, apart from cohort A4 participants who will take a single dose when fasting and and a single dose when fed, separated by a minimum of 7 days.

The planned doses for Part A are:

Cohort A1- 100mg Cohort A2- 200mg Cohort A3- 400mg Cohort A4- 800mg fasted and 800mg fed Cohort A5- 1200mg Cohort A6- 1600mg Participants will receive their dose whilst resident in the Clinical Research Facility and will return for outpatient visits on Day 3, 4 and 10 safety assessments and pharmacokinetic blood samples.

Part B comprises a multiple ascending dose design, to investigate 4 dose levels in four cohorts (cohorts B1 to B4) with each cohort consisting of 8 participants (6 randomised to oral dose of AWZ1066S and 2 randomized to placebo). The doses investigated will be selected following review of data from the single dosing study (Part A). The intention is to enrol a minimum 32 healthy participants. Each participant will receive single daily dose of AWZ1066S for 7 days. Participants will receive their dose whilst resident in the Clinical Research Facility and will return for outpatient visits on Day 3, 5, 9 and 10 for safety assessments and pharmacokinetic blood samples. A second resident period on Day 6 to Day 8 will allow pharmacokinetic blood samples and safety assessments.

Safety and tolerability will be monitored by adverse events, vital signs, ECGs, urinalysis, routine haematology and biochemistry. Escalation of dosing will only take place after examination of safety data by the Dose Escalation Committee.

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.
30

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 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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United Kingdom
    • Merseyside
      • Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
        • Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy male and female participants 2 aged 18-65 years 3 BMI 18.0-35.0 kg/m2, maximum weight 100 kg 4 in good health, as determined by: 4a medical history, 4b physical examination, 4c vital signs assessment, 4d 12-lead ECG 4e clinical laboratory evaluations 5 provision of informed consent and abide by study restrictions

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. not willing to abide by contraception restrictions
  2. donated blood in previous 3 months, plasma previous 7 days, platelets previous 6 weeks
  3. consumption >14 units of alcohol/week
  4. tobacco smoking
  5. concomitant medication, apart from treatments for mild asthma, eczema, contraception, paracetamol
  6. herbal remedies
  7. history of anaphylaxis, drug allergy, clinically significant atopic condition as determined by Investigator
  8. clinically significant medical history, as determined by the Investigator
  9. positive hepatitis, HIV serology
  10. live vaccine in previous 3 months, Covid-19 vaccine prior 14 days
  11. Participants who, in the opinion of the Investigator, should not participate in this study.

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: Quadruple

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.
Experimental: AWZ1066S

AWZ1066S

Part A Cohort A1- 100mg single dose Cohort A2- 200mg single dose Cohort A3- 400mg single dose Cohort A4- 800mg fasted single dose and 800mg fed single dose Cohort A5- 1200mg single dose Cohort A6- 1600mg single dose

The doses for part B will be selected following review of data from Part A. Cohort B1- AWZ1066S once daily for 7 days Cohort B2- AWZ1066S once daily for 7 days Cohort B3- AWZ1066S once daily for 7 days Cohort B4- AWZ1066S once daily for 7 days
Drug: AWZ1066S
Candidate drug to treat lymphatic filariasis by targeting Wolbachia endosymbiont
Placebo Comparator: Placebo

Placebo

Cohort A1- equivalent placebo single dose Cohort A2- equivalent placebo single dose Cohort A3- equivalent placebo single dose Cohort A4- equivalent placebo fasted single dose and equivalent placebo fed single dose Cohort A5- equivalent placebo single dose Cohort A6- equivalent placebo single dose

The doses for part B will be selected following review of data from Part A. Cohort B1- equivalent placebo once daily for 7 days Cohort B2- equivalent placebo once daily for 7 days Cohort B3- equivalent placebo once daily for 7 days Cohort B4- equivalent placebo once daily for 7 days
Drug: Placebo
Placebo

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
Adverse events
Time Frame: From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Number
From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose

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
Single dose pharmacokinetics Cmax
Time Frame: From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Pharmacokinetic parameter, maximum plasma concentration (Cmax)
From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Single dose pharmacokinetics tmax
Time Frame: From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Pharmacokinetic parameter, time to reach maximum plasma concentration (tmax)
From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Single dose pharmacokinetics t1/2
Time Frame: From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Pharmacokinetic parameter, half life (t1/2)
From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Single dose pharmacokinetics CL/F
Time Frame: From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Pharmacokinetic parameter, apparent total clearance after oral administration (CL/F)
From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Multiple dose pharmacokinetics Cmax
Time Frame: From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Pharmacokinetic parameter, maximum plasma concentration (Cmax)
From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Multiple dose pharmacokinetics tmax
Time Frame: From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Pharmacokinetic parameter, time to reach maximum plasma concentration (tmax)
From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Multiple dose pharmacokinetics t1/2
Time Frame: From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Pharmacokinetic parameter, half life (t1/2)
From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Multiple dose pharmacokinetics CL/f
Time Frame: From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose
Pharmacokinetic parameter, apparent total clearance after oral administration (CL/F)
From day of first dose to 10 days after last dose

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.
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

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.
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Covance
Eisai Limited
Subiaco Associates Limited
Sylexis Limited

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: Graham Devereux, MD, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Actual)

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.
December 10, 2021

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.
May 22, 2023

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.
May 22, 2023

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).
October 5, 2021

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.
October 19, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

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.
October 20, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

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.
September 21, 2023

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.
September 19, 2023

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.
September 1, 2023

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.
  • 21-059

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Commercial sensitivity

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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.

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