Comparison of Chronocort® With Standard Glucocorticoid Therapy in Patients With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

A Phase III Study of Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Chronocort® Compared With Standard Glucocorticoid Replacement Therapy in the Treatment of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

This study is a parallel arm, randomised, open-label study, including dose titration and admissions for four overnight stays for 24-hour endocrine profiles. It will compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Chronocort® with standard glucocorticoid replacement therapy in the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) over a treatment period of 6 months. Dose titration decisions in both treatment groups will be made by a central independent physician, blinded to the treatment arm, using information generated from the 24-hour endocrine profiles. Each treatment arm will be subject to the same titration rules throughout the study, ensuring that opportunities for optimisation and control of androgens are the same in both groups.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Chronocort®; Drug: standard glucocorticoid therapy

Detailed Description

At baseline, subjects will be admitted overnight for a 24-hour endocrine profile whilst on their standard therapy. Subjects will attend the study site in the morning and have 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstenedione (A4) levels assessed at 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, 23:00, 01:00, 03:00, 05:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. Safety laboratory tests, a DEXA scan for body composition, and height, weight and waist circumference will be recorded. Subjects will then be randomised to Chronocort® or to continue on their standard care. Randomisation will be stratified by baseline treatment:

1. hydrocortisone only or
2. prednisone or prednisolone, alone or in combination with hydrocortisone
3. dexamethasone only or in combination with any other glucorticoid

The initial dose setting at the start of the Chronocort® treatment will be based on hydrocortisone dose equivalent of baseline therapy in accordance with standard clinical practice. Further dose refinement/titration will be conducted in both treatment groups as necessary after 4 weeks and 12 weeks using a standardised titration algorithm after the subject has been re-admitted for further 24-hour endocrine profiles. Safety endpoints will also be measured at the 07:00 morning sample of each 24-hour profile assessment day. The decision to change doses in both treatment groups will be made by a central independent blinded physician, with the actual change in dose then being made by the local investigator looking after the subject. At 6 months, all the baseline tests will be repeated (including the 24-hour profile). All subjects may then continue on Chronocort®, whatever their randomised treatment, as part of an open-label extension study (to be conducted under a separate protocol). Stress doses of hydrocortisone will be given throughout the study for intercurrent illnesses as medically indicated according to "sick day rules".

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 122
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892-1932
      • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Known CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (classic CAH) diagnosed in childhood with documented (at any time) elevated 17-OHP and/or A4 and currently treated with hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone or dexamethasone (or a combination of the aforementioned glucocorticoids) on a stable glucocorticoid therapy for a minimum of 6 months.
2. Provision of signed written informed consent.
3. Non-pregnant, non-lactating females who are post menopausal, naturally or surgically sterile, or of childbearing potential with a negative urinary pregnancy test and using a medically acceptable method of contraception.
4. Plasma renin activity (PRA) less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) at screening or within 3 months prior to screening, except in subjects who have been diagnosed with hypertension where the renin is not being used to monitor fludrocortisone replacement.
5. Plasma renin activity (PRA) less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) at screening or within 3 months prior to screening, except in subjects who have been diagnosed with hypertension where the renin is not being used to monitor fludrocortisone replacement.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Co-morbid condition requiring daily administration of a medication (or consumption of any material) that interferes with the metabolism of glucocorticoids.
2. Clinical or biochemical evidence of hepatic or renal disease. Creatinine over twice the ULN or elevated liver function tests (ALT or AST >2 times the ULN).
3. Subjects on regular daily inhaled, topical, nasal or oral steroids for any indication other than CAH.
4. Subjects with any other significant medical or psychiatric conditions that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude participation in the trial.
5. History of malignancy (other than basal cell carcinoma successfully treated >6 months prior to entry into the study).
6. Participation in another clinical trial of an investigational or licensed drug or device within the 3 months prior to inclusion in this study.
7. Subjects with a history of bilateral adrenalectomy.
8. Subjects having previously been exposed to Chronocort®.
9. Subjects unable to comply with the requirements of the protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Chronocort®; Chronocort® will be provided as 5mg, 10mg and 20mg capsules for oral administration. The starting dose for each subject will be based on the subjects previous glucocorticoid therapy dose and then dose titrated to effect.	Drug: Chronocort®; Chronocort® is a patented oral modified release formulation of hydrocortisone which is intended to mimic, or closely match, the serum levels of endogenous cortisol.; Other Names: Hydrocortisone
Active Comparator: standard glucocorticoid therapy; Subjects in this arm will continue previous oral glucocorticoid therapy titrated to effect.	Drug: standard glucocorticoid therapy; Subjects in this arm will continue on their standard hydrocortisone therapy; Other Names: prednisolone; dexamethasone; hydrocortisone; prednisone

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline to 24 Weeks of the Mean of the 24-hour Standard Deviation Score (SDS) Profile for 17-OHP	Change from baseline to 24 weeks of the mean of the 24-hour standard deviation score (SDS) - also referred to as a z-score - profile for 17-OHP (17-Hydroxyprogesterone). The primary efficacy variable was the natural logarithm of the mean of the 24-hour SDS for the natural logarithm of 17-OHP. The mean of the 24-hour SDS profile for each visit was the arithmetic mean of all the SDSs with the first and last (13th) weighted one half relative to the intermediate SDSs. For each of the 13 log-transformed 17-OHP values at each visit, an SDS was calculated by counting the number of SDs that were above or below the mean of the log-transformed range. A negative z-score indicated greater control of 17-OHP when compared to baseline (0).	24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline to 24 Weeks of the Mean of the 24-hour Standard Deviation Score (SDS) Profile for A4	Change from baseline to 24 weeks of the mean of the 24-hour standard deviation score (SDS) - also referred to as a z-score - profile for A4 (androstenedione). This secondary efficacy variable was calculated as follows: the natural logarithm of the mean of the 24-hour SDS for the natural logarithm of A4. The mean of the 24-hour SDS profile for each visit was the arithmetic mean of all the SDSs with the first and last (13th) weighted one half relative to the intermediate SDSs. For each of the 13 log-transformed A4 values at each visit, an SDS was calculated by counting the number of SDs that were above or below the mean of the log-transformed range. A negative z-score indicated greater control of A4 when compared to baseline (0).	24 weeks
17-OHP and A4 by Individual Baseline Treatment Strata.	17-OHP and A4 by individual baseline treatment strata presented in the same manner as the primary endpoint (using 24-hour SDS profile at 24 weeks). Change from baseline to 24 weeks of the mean of the 24-hour standard deviation score (SDS) - also referred to as a z-score - profile for 17-OHP and A4. This secondary efficacy variable was calculated as follows: the natural logarithm of the mean of the 24-hour SDS for the natural logarithm of 17-OHP and A4. The mean of the 24-hour SDS profile for each visit was the arithmetic mean of all the SDSs with the first and last (13th) weighted one half relative to the intermediate SDSs. For each of the 13 log-transformed 17-OHP and A4 values at each visit, an SDS was calculated by counting the number of SDs that were above or below the mean of the log-transformed range. A negative z-score indicated greater control of 17-OHP and A4 when compared to baseline (0).	24 weeks
Number of Participants With 17-OHP and A4 Levels in the Optimal Range at 9:00 at Week 24 Visit	17-OHP and A4 levels at 09:00 at the week 24 visit, as a responder analysis (i.e. the number of participants achieving results in the optimal range). Optimal range for 17-OHP (male) = 1.2* - 6.7 nmol/L (female) = 1.2* - 8.6 Optimal range for A4 (male) = 1.4 - 5.2 nmol/L (female) = 1.0 - 7.0 nmol/L * = There is no lower reference range available for 17-OHP, hence the lower limit of the optimal range was used in the derivation of the average Standard Deviation Score. This enabled calculation of an 'unsigned' SDS score which was used to assess potential over-treatment as well as under-treatment.	24 weeks
Changes Relative to Standard Glucocorticoid Therapy in Body Composition (DEXA - Fat Mass and Lean Mass)	Changes relative to Standard glucocorticoid therapy in body composition (DEXA) (fat mass and lean mass) - measured at all sites except Germany.	Baseline and 24 weeks
Changes Relative to Standard Glucocorticoid Therapy in Body Composition (DEXA - Bone Mineral Density) - Measured at All Sites Except Germany.	Changes relative to Standard glucocorticoid therapy in body composition (DEXA - bone mineral density only) - measured at all sites except Germany.	Baseline and 24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Diurnal Limited

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Merke DP, Mallappa A, Arlt W, Brac de la Perriere A, Lindén Hirschberg A, Juul A, Newell-Price J, Perry CG, Prete A, Rees DA, Reisch N, Stikkelbroeck N, Touraine P, Maltby K, Treasure FP, Porter J, Ross RJ. Modified-Release Hydrocortisone in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Apr 23;106(5):e2063-e2077. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab051.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 22, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 28, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): July 28, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 26, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 17, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): March 23, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 26, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 4, 2021
• Last Verified: May 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Glucocorticoid therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Metabolic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; Disorders of Sex Development; Urogenital Abnormalities; Congenital Abnormalities; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Adrenal Gland Diseases; Steroid Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Hyperplasia; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital; Adrenogenital Syndrome; Adrenocortical Hyperfunction; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Antiemetics; Gastrointestinal Agents; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Dexamethasone; Prednisolone; Prednisone; Hydrocortisone; Hydrocortisone 17-butyrate 21-propionate; Hydrocortisone acetate; Hydrocortisone hemisuccinate; Glucocorticoids
• Other Study ID Numbers: DIUR-005

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided
• IPD Plan Description: To be decided at a later date