Study to Compare DITEST to Testosterone Undecanoate in Adult Men With Hypogonadism

A Phase 1, Randomised, Open-label, 2-cohort, Cross-over Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of a Native Oral Testosterone Formulation (DITEST) in the Fed and Fasted State and Compared to Testosterone Undecanoate in Adult Men With Primary or Secondary Hypogonadism

DITEST is an oral formulation of native testosterone for the treatment of androgen deficiency in men. The study was a Phase 1 clinical study in hypogonadal men, defined according to FDA and Endocrine Society Guidelines, designed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of DITEST, and to assess the safety and tolerability of DITEST in the target population.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Male Hypogonadism
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: DITEST; Drug: Testosterone undecanoate

Detailed Description

There is an unmet need for a native oral testosterone therapy for men with androgen (testosterone) deficiency. Ideally such a treatment should have reproducible PK, does not need to be taken with fatty meals, can be taken once or twice daily, and provides physiological exposure to testosterone. This Phase 1, randomised, open-label, 2-cohort, cross-over study was therefore designed to evaluate the PK characteristics of DITEST in both the fed and fasted states according to FDA guidelines, and to assess the safety and tolerability of DITEST in the target population.

The study was conducted in male subjects from 18 to 80 years of age requiring testosterone replacement therapy for primary or secondary hypogonadism. The study was a randomised, active control, single dose, 2-way cross-over study in 2 cohorts. In each cohort subjects who meet the entry criteria at screening and baseline were randomised to one of 2 sequences:

Cohort 1: single dose of 120 mg (3 x 40 mg) DITEST followed by a single dose of 80 mg (2 x 40 mg) testosterone undecanoate (TU) or a single dose of 80 mg TU followed by single dose of 120 mg DITEST. The two treatments were separated by a minimum of a 7-day washout period, with both treatments given in the fed state.

Cohort 2: single dose of 200 mg (5 x 40 mg) DITEST (fed) followed by a single dose of 200 mg DITEST (fasted) or a single dose of 200 mg DITEST (fasted) followed by single dose of 200 mg DITEST (fed). The two treatments were separated by a minimum of a 7-day washout period.

13 subjects were recruited into cohort 1 and 12 subjects were recruited into cohort 2, resulting in a total of 25 subjects being administered study medication in this study. Subjects were not recruited into Cohort 2 until the results of subjects treated in Cohort 1 had been evaluated (this review was to determine if the intended dose for Cohort 2 needed to be adjusted). No other testosterone treatments were allowed for the duration of the study (including the washout periods).

Each subject was required to attend the study centre for a minimum of either 4 or 5 visits: a screening assessment, an evaluation of baseline testosterone levels after the washout period from the subject's current medication (only for subjects currently on testosterone replacement therapy), both dosing days, and a follow-up visit at the end of the study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 25
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • England
    • Sheffield, England, United Kingdom, S10 2JF
      • Sheffield Teaching Hospital - Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male subjects aged 18 to 80 years.
• Diagnosis of primary testicular failure or secondary hypogonadism due to known pituitary disease or congenital deficit.
• Body mass index (BMI) >18kg/m2 and <35kg/m2
• Testosterone level <8nmol/L after washout of current testosterone treatment, if applicable.
• Normal prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels based on the age of the subject.
• Provision of written informed consent and able to participate in the study and abide by the study restrictions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with a past history of, or current prostate cancer, male breast cancer or hepatic neoplasm.
• Subjects with a history of or current myocardial infarction (MI), unstable cardiovascular disease, or clinically relevant findings on the screening electrocardiogram (ECG) (as determined by the investigator)
• Subjects with a history of or current alcohol abuse (consumption of more than 28 units per weekweek: 1 unit equals 25mL single measure of whisky (ABV 40%), a third of a pint of beer (ABV 5-6%) or half a standard (175 mL) glass of red wine (ABV 12%).
• Subjects with other unstable or inadequately treated endocrine conditions.
• Haematocrit levels >0.5 at baseline
• Subjects with poor dental hygiene that would interfere with the collection of saliva samples or contaminate them with blood.
• Subjects with any severe co-morbidity or with any significant medical or psychiatric conditions that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude participation in the trial.
• Participation in another clinical trial or an investigation or licensed drug or device within the 3 months prior to inclusion in this study.
• Allergic to any of the ingredients in the DITEST capsule, particularly sesame oil, or to any components of testosterone undecanoate capsules, particularly castor oil.
• Subjects with a known intolerance to alcohol (e.g. flushing) or ethnic populations at high risk of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzyme polymorphism with potential to impair metabolism of benzyl alcohol and ethanol, both of which are contained in the DITEST formulation.
• Meeting any of the contraindications for testosterone undecanoate, as detailed in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) of the comparator product.
• Subjects who are unable to consume the standard high-fat breakfast.
• Subjects who have donated blood or plasma in the previous 3 months prior to screening.
• Any subjects taking a concomitant medication known to enhance or inhibit the action of p450 CYP3A4 (rifampicin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, dichloralphenazone, phenylbutazone, phenytoin or primidone).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Testosterone undecanoate; Cohort 1: single dose of 120 mg (3 x 40 mg) DITEST followed by a single dose of 80 mg (2 x 40 mg) testosterone undecanoate or a single dose of 80 mg (2 x 40 mg) testosterone undecanoate followed by single dose of 120 mg (3 x 40 mg) DITEST. The two treatments are separated by a minimum of a 7-day washout period, with both treatments given in the fed state.	Drug: DITEST; Lipid formulation of native oral testosterone.; Drug: Testosterone undecanoate; Generic treatment for patients with primary or secondary male hypogonadism
Experimental: DITEST; Cohort 2: single dose of 200 mg (5 x 40 mg) DITEST (fed) followed by a single dose of 200 mg DITEST (fasted) or a single dose of 200 mg DITEST (fasted) followed by single dose of 200 mg (5 x 40 mg) DITEST (fed). The two treatments are separated by a minimum of a 7-day washout period.	Drug: DITEST; Lipid formulation of native oral testosterone.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Testosterone serum concentrations - Peak Plasma Concentration (Cmax)	Testosterone serum concentrations after administration of a single dose of 120mg or 200mg DITEST and 80mg testosterone undecanoate in the fed state, as measured by the primary PK parameter of Cmax.	Study day 0 to Study Day >7 (sampling time points at -0.5, 0.25 [120mg and TU arms only], 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 hours post-Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP) administration, on each visit date)
Testosterone serum concentrations - Area under the serum testosterone concentration-time curve from time 0-10 (AUC(0-10))	Testosterone serum concentrations after administration of a single dose of 120mg or 200mg DITEST and 80mg testosterone undecanoate in the fed state, as measured by the primary PK parameter of AUC.	Study day 0 to Study Day >7 (sampling time points at -0.5, 0.25 [120mg and TU arms only], 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 hours post-IMP administration, on each visit date)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Testosterone serum concentrations - Peak serum testosterone Concentration (Cmax)	Testosterone serum concentrations after 200mg dose of DITEST in the fed and fasted states, as measured by the primary PK parameter of Cmax.	Study day 0 to Study Day >7 (sampling time points at -0.5, 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 hours post-IMP administration, on each visit date)
Testosterone serum concentrations after 200mg dose - Area under the serum testosterone concentration-time curve (AUC 0-10)	Testosterone serum concentrations after 200mg dose of DITEST in the fed and fasted states, as measured by the primary PK parameter of AUC (0-10)	Study day 0 to Study Day >7 (sampling time points at -0.5, 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 hours post-IMP administration, on each visit date)
Adverse events	Adverse events (AEs) observed throughout the study.	Through study completion - a maximum of 84 days.
Vital signs	Observed changes in vital signs data during the course of the study.	Through study completion - a maximum of 84 days.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)	Observed changes in ECG data during the course of the study.	Through study completion - a maximum of 84 days.
Safety Laboratory Data	Observed changes in Safety Laboratory data during the course of the study.	Through study completion - a maximum of 84 days.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Diurnal Limited
• Collaborators: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Covance; Simbec Research; EMAS Pharma; Brush Clinical Research Ltd.; Voet Consulting; Medical Matters International Ltd
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: J Newell-Price, MA, PhD, University of Sheffield

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 3, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 4, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): October 4, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 26, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): November 17, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 26, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 25, 2019
• Last Verified: October 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Male; Hypogonadism; Primary; Secondary; Androgen deficiency
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; Hypogonadism; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Antineoplastic Agents; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Androgens; Anabolic Agents; Testosterone; Methyltestosterone; Testosterone undecanoate; Testosterone enanthate; Testosterone 17 beta-cypionate
• Other Study ID Numbers: DITEST-001

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No