Ferinject® in Patient With Thrombocytosis Secondary to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

A Multi-centre, Randomized, Controlled, Single-blinded, Phase II Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Infusions of FERINJECT® Versus Placebo in Patients With Thrombocytosis Secondary to Iron Deficiency and Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The aim of this study is to show the benefits for patients, with a high platelet count, iron deficiency and IBD, receiving intravenous iron therapy.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Thrombocytosis; Iron-Deficiency Anemia
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Placebo; Drug: FERINJECT® (Ferric carboxymaltose)

Detailed Description

For the first time a platelet abnormality in IBD was reported in 1968, with a description of an increased platelet count in patients having an exacerbation of clinical activity 1. Since then it has been established that thrombocytosis and platelet activation are common features in IBD2. Both features are strongly connected to thromboembolic events, which are a major cause of patient morbidity and mortality 3. In vitro studies have so far shown that spontaneous platelet aggregation is present in more than 30% of IBD patients compared to none of the controls and besides independent of disease severity 4.

Unfortunately the mechanisms behind the abnormal megakaryopoiesis are not completely understood. Nevertheless platelets can store and produce a large amount of inflammatory mediators and are activated by multiple proinflammatory substances. Therefore, platelets are regarded as a major target in the therapy of inflammatory bowel diseases 5. An increase in systemic cytokine levels such as IL-6 or IL-11 may contribute to enhanced platelet production. Also intestinal bleeding and iron deficiency, which are major symptoms of IBD, may have stimulatory effects on megakaryopoiesis 6.

Previously, we observed a normalization of elevated platelet counts in IBD patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) upon treatment with intravenous iron sucrose 7. We therefore believe that iron deficiency is causatively involved in the pathogenesis of thrombocytosis in IBD and intend to investigate the effect of intravenous iron therapy on platelet levels and platelet activation markers in patients with IBD and iron deficiency.

Vifor (International) Inc. has developed a new formulation of parenteral iron, FERINJECT® (5% w/v iron carboxymaltose in a solution of water for injection). Based on preclinical toxicity data and clinical experience, FERINJECT® does not cause anaphylactic reactions or liver toxicity. Based on human pharmacokinetic data, the estimated terminal half-life of FERINJECT® is 16 hours. The analysis of a FERINJECT® positron emission tomography (PET) study in six patients each receiving a single dose of 100mg iron as FERINJECT® demonstrated that, during the initial distribution phase, a major proportion of the dose was distributed to the bone marrow . Red cell utilization of iron was found to be high. After 24 days, patients with IDA showed a red cell utilization of 91% to 99%. Various studies demonstrated that FERINJECT® could be safely administered at doses of up to 1000mg, which is a significant advantage of FERINJECT® over iron sucrose.

A multiple-dose phase I/II study in patients with IBD investigating the safety, efficacy, and kinetics of repeated doses of FERINJECT® has been completed. Patients who were treated at our unit (Medical University of Vienna) were also analyzed regarding the effect of VIT45 on platelet counts. Similar to our experience with iron sucrose, we observed a significant drop in thrombocytosis within 8 weeks pointing again to the direct effect of iron on regulating megakaryopoiesis in vivo8.

This study tries to show the benefits for patients, with a high platelet count, iron deficiency and IBD, receiving intravenous iron therapy.

As with all iron preparations, overdosing with respect to the total amount should be avoided. The maximum infused weekly dose of FERINJECT® will be 500 mg. Based on animal toxicity data and patient experience, FERINJECT® does not cause anaphylactic reactions or liver toxicity at the doses intended for use in this study. However, due to the relatively large doses of iron being administered, patients will be monitored carefully throughout the study for symptoms of iron overload.

Potential benefits to the patients include a decrease of the platelet counts, besides a increase in hemoglobin levels and normalization of iron stores.

Primary Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy of FERINJECT® in reducing elevated platelet counts

Secondary Objectives:

To evaluate the effect of FERINJECT® on coagulation and platelet activation parameters To evaluate the efficacy of FERINJECT® in normalizing iron deficiency To evaluate the change of quality in life and disease activity To evaluate the safety of FERINJECT®

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 26
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Austria
  • Vienna, Austria, 1090
    • Univ. clinic for Internal Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 58 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female, inpatient or outpatient, aged at least 18 years and not more than 60 years.
• Have a platelet count >450G/l
• Transferrin saturation (TfS) <20% or ferritin < 100µg/l
• Previously diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
• Females of child-bearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening and be practicing a highly effective method of birth control during the study and for up to 1 month after the last dose of the study medication. A highly effective method of birth control is defined as those which result in a low failure rate (i.e. less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs, sexual abstinence or vasectomised partner. Non-childbearing potential includes being surgically sterilized at least 6 months prior to the study or postmenopausal, defined as amenorrhoea for at least 12 months.
• Demonstrate the ability to understand the requirements of the study, provide written informed consent, abide by the study restrictions, and agree to undergo the required assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

• CDAI >220, CAI>6
• Significant anemia (hemoglobin <10.5 g/dl), or anaemia not caused by iron deficiency (e.g. anaemia due to cancer or infection)
• Blood transfusions or iron therapy during the previous 4 weeks, or erythropoietin treatment within the 8 weeks prior to enrollment.
• Concomitant therapy with prednisolone above 20mg/d, 6-mercaptopurine, infliximab or azathioprine must have been initiated at least 4 months prior to study and the dose must be stable for at least 8 weeks. Other drugs with known effects on megakaryopoiesis (e.g. interferon-alpha).
• Severe concomitant disease or need for surgery within 8 weeks
• Hemochromatosis or other iron-storage disorders (e.g. thalassemia, siderosis, lead poisoning anaemia, porphyria cutanea tarda)
• Treatment with an investigational drug within the 30 days prior to enrollment
• Active severe infection or malignancy other than carcinoma in situ of the cervix and non-melanoma skin cancer.
• Bone Marrow Disease (MDS, thalassemia, etc)
• Active or chronic liver or kidney disease. Serum albumin <25 g/L or serum creatinine >20 mg/L
• Significant cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction within 12 months prior to study inclusion, congestive heart failure NYHA (New York Heart Association) grade III or IV, or poorly controlled hypertension according to the judgment of the investigator. Known hypersensitivity to FERINJECT®
• Positive for HIV 1/HIV 2 antibodies (anti HIV) (HIV: human immunodeficiency virus).
• Positive for hepatitis B surface-antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus antibody (anti HCV) and evidence for active hepatitis, i.e., abnormal liver function test (LFT) results.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: ThromboVIT Placebo; Patients will receive 1 placebo infusion of 100ml 0.9% sodium chloride every 7 days for a total of 3 infusions.	Drug: Placebo; Placebo will be administered i.v. into a peripheral vein in the arm. A total volume of 100mL 0.9% saline will be administered over 15 minutes duration.; Other Names: saline; NaCl 0.9%
Experimental: ThromboVIT 1000; ThromboVIT 1000: Patients will receive 1 infusion of 500mg Ferinject® diluted in 100ml 0.9% sodium chloride every 7 days for a total of 2 infusions (1000 mg) followed by 1 placebo infusion of 100ml 0.9% sodium chloride.	Drug: FERINJECT® (Ferric carboxymaltose); FERINJECT® will be administered i.v. into a peripheral vein in the arm. 500 mg FERINJECT® will be diluted to a total volume of 100mL in 0.9% saline for infusion and administered over 15 minutes duration.; Other Names: FERINJECT®
Experimental: ThromboVIT 1500; Patients will receive 1 infusion of 500mg Ferinject® diluted in 100ml 0.9% sodium chloride every 7 days for a total of 3 infusions (1500 mg).	Drug: FERINJECT® (Ferric carboxymaltose); FERINJECT® will be administered i.v. into a peripheral vein in the arm. 500 mg FERINJECT® will be diluted to a total volume of 100mL in 0.9% saline for infusion and administered over 15 minutes duration.; Other Names: FERINJECT®
Experimental: ThromboVIT 500; ThromboVIT 500: Patients will receive 1 infusion of 500mg Ferinject® diluted in 100ml 0.9% sodium chloride (500 mg) followed by 2 placebo infusions of 100ml 0.9% sodium chloride every 7 days.	Drug: FERINJECT® (Ferric carboxymaltose); FERINJECT® will be administered i.v. into a peripheral vein in the arm. 500 mg FERINJECT® will be diluted to a total volume of 100mL in 0.9% saline for infusion and administered over 15 minutes duration.; Other Names: FERINJECT®

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To evaluate the efficacy of FERINJECT® in reducing elevated platelet counts	The primary efficacy endpoint is a decrease of the platelet counts >25% after 6 weeks.	6 weeks post baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Normalization of platelet levels	Normalization of platelet levels	6 weeks post baseline
Change in platelet activation markers (p-selectin, sCD40L), thrombopoietin and reticulated thrombocytes	Change in platelet activation markers (p-selectin, sCD40L), thrombopoietin and reticulated thrombocytes	6 weeks post baseline
Change in coagulation parameters (PTT, PT, factors of the intrinsic coagulation pathway)	Change in coagulation parameters (PTT, PT, factors of the intrinsic coagulation pathway)	6 weeks post baseline
Change in iron parameters (ferritin, hemoglobin, transferrin, transferrin saturation, soluble transferrin-receptor, hepcidin)	Change in iron parameters (ferritin, hemoglobin, transferrin, transferrin saturation, soluble transferrin-receptor, hepcidin)	6 weeks post baseline
Change in quality of life (IBDQ, SF-36, FACT-An or similar) and disease activity	Change in quality of life (IBDQ, SF-36, FACT-An or similar) and disease activity (CDAI, CAI=Clinical activity scores (Rachmilewitz) without endoscopy)	6 weeks post baseline
Change in C-reactive protein, ESR, IL-3, IL-6 and IL-11 and calprotectin.	Change in C-reactive protein, ESR, IL-3, IL-6 and IL-11 and calprotectin.	6 weeks post baseline
Adverse Events	Adverse Events (AE): type, nature, incidence and outcome.	6 weeks post baseline
Vital signs	Vital signs (axillary temperature, blood pressure and heart rate).	6 weeks post baseline
Physical examinations	Physical examinations	6 weeks post baseline
Clinical laboratory panels	Clinical laboratory panels (haematology/coagulation, clinical chemistry/inflammation, urinalysis).	6 weeks post baseline
Discontinuation of treatment due to AEs	• Discontinuation of treatment due to AEs	6 weeks post baseline
Pregnancy test	Pregnancy test	Visit 4
CDAI/CAI	CDAI/CAI	6 weeks post baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Vifor Pharma
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Christoph Gasche, MD, Allgemeines Krankenhaus, Vienna, Austria

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 15, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 15, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): April 16, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 8, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 7, 2010
• Last Verified: April 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: hemoglobin; platelet; thrombocyte; ferric carboxymaltose; transferrin; ferritin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Bone Marrow Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Gastroenteritis; Intestinal Diseases; Anemia, Hypochromic; Anemia; Iron Metabolism Disorders; Blood Platelet Disorders; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Thrombocytosis; Hematinics; Ferric Compounds
• Other Study ID Numbers: THROMBOVIT