Phase 1 Study to Assess AER-271

A Phase 1, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Sequential-Group Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Single and Multiple Ascending Doses of AER-271 in Healthy Subjects

The objective of this Phase 1 trial is to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of AER-271 in health subjects.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stroke; Stroke, Ischemic; Stroke, Acute
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: AER-271; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, sequential-group study to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single ascending dose and multiple ascending doses of intravenously (IV) administered AER-271 in healthy human subjects. AER-271 is an Aquaporin-4 inhibitor designed to prevent brain swelling in severe ischemic stroke. The study will be conducted in 2 parts: Part A is a single ascending dose, sequential group study. The subsequent Part B is a multiple ascending dose, sequential group study. Both Parts A and B will follow an adaptive design including the use of Sentinel Dosing.

The primary objectives of this study are to assess the safety and tolerability of single and multiple IV doses and continuous infusion of AER-271 in healthy subjects. Secondary objectives include: determining the pharmacokinetics of AER-271 and AER-270 following administration of AER-271, determining the dose proportionality for AER-270 and 271, and comparing the effects of continuous infusion versus multiple bolus doses on AER-271 exposure and adverse events. An additional exploratory objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of AER-271 on electrocardiogram parameters including QT interval corrected for heart rate. Data from this trial will also be used to develop a protocol for a subsequent Phase 2 clinical trial in stroke patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75247
      • Covance Dallas

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males or females, of any ethnic origin, between 18 and 45 years of age, inclusive, at Screening.
2. Body mass index between 18.0 and 32.0 kg/m2, inclusive, at Screening.
3. In good health, determined by no clinically significant findings from medical history, physical examination, 12-lead ECG, vital sign measurements, and clinical laboratory evaluations (congenital nonhemolytic hyperbilirubinemia [eg, suspected Gilbert's syndrome, as determined by total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin] is acceptable) at Screening and/or Check-in, as assessed by the Investigator.
4. Male subjects must be surgically sterile for at least 90 days or, for males capable of fathering children who are sexually active with female partners of childbearing potential, will use the required contraception methods, and will refrain from donating sperm from the time of the first dose until 90 days after the final dosing occasion.

5. Female subjects must be:

   • postmenopausal, defined as at least 12 months post cessation of menses (without an alternative medical cause) with a screening serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level > 40 mIU/mL, or
   • permanently sterile following hysterectomy, Essure procedure, bilateral salpingectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or confirmed tubal occlusion (not tubal ligation).
6. Venous access sufficient for IV infusions.
7. Able to comprehend and willing to sign an Informed Consent Form (ICF) and to abide by the study restrictions.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Female subjects who are pregnant or lactating.
2. Have any clinically significant abnormal physical examination finding at Check-in.
3. Have any clinically significant medical history, as determined by the Investigator.
4. History of seizure disorder, even if currently not receiving anticonvulsant medications.
5. Part B only: Have acute suicidality, as evidenced by answering "yes" for Question 4 or Question 5 on the C-SSRS, indicating active suicidal ideation with any intent to act at Screening and Check-in.
6. Part B only: Have a history of suicidal behavior such that a determination of "yes" is made on the Suicidal Behavior section of the C-SSRS for "Actual Attempt," "Interrupted Attempt," "Aborted Attempt," or "Preparatory Acts or Behavior" at Screening and Check-in.
7. History or clinical manifestations of clinically significant metabolic (including diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, or dyslipidemia), hematologic, pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal (cholecystectomy and appendectomy are acceptable), neurologic, hepatic, renal, urologic, immunologic, or psychiatric disorders (a history of mild depression, currently not receiving therapy, is acceptable), as determined by the Investigator.
8. Have any clinically significant allergic condition (excluding non-active hay fever), as determined by the Investigator.
9. Have a significant history of drug allergy, as determined by the Investigator.
10. Have a clinically significant abnormality in oral temperature, respiratory rate, or supine pulse rate or blood pressure at Screening and prior to first dose that, in the opinion of the Investigator, increases the risk of participating in the study.

11. Electrocardiogram findings that meet any of the following criteria at Screening or Day-1 (if out of range, ECG may be repeated twice, and the triplicate average will be used):

    • QTcF >450 msec confirmed by repeat measurement,
    • QRS duration > 120 msec,
    • PR interval >220 msec,
    • findings which would make QTc measurements difficult or QTc data uninterpretable.
12. History of additional risk factors for torsades de pointe (eg, heart failure, hypokalemia, family history of long QT syndrome).
13. Have clinically significant arrhythmias or sinus pauses identified in the continuous 12-lead ECG monitoring on Day -1, as determined by the Investigator.
14. Have any clinically significant abnormal laboratory safety findings at Screening and Check-in, as determined by the Investigator or designee (one repeat assessment is acceptable). Note: Liver function tests (eg, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, GGT) and inflammatory response markers (eg, white blood cell and absolute neutrophil and monocyte counts) must be within the normal range at Screening (one repeat assessment is acceptable) (after Screening this will be as determined by the Investigator).
15. A positive hepatitis virus test (hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis C virus antibody) or a positive human immunodeficiency virus antibody test (or p24 antigen) at Screening.
16. Have had a clinically significant illness within 4 weeks of first dose, as determined by the Investigator (or designee).
17. Alcohol consumption of > 21 units per week for males and > 14 units per week for females. Note: One unit of alcohol equals 12 oz (360 mL) beer, 1.5 oz (45 mL) liquor, or 5 oz (150 mL) wine.
18. Significant history of alcoholism or drug/chemical abuse, as determined by the Investigator.
19. An active smoker or user of other forms of tobacco. Former smokers or tobacco users must have refrained from smoking or using other forms of tobacco for at least 6 months prior to dosing on Day 1 until the Follow-up visit.
20. Have donated blood from 90 days prior to Screening, platelets from 42 days prior to Screening, or plasma from 7 days prior to Screening until 56 days after the Follow-up visit.
21. Have received another investigational drug within 30 days prior to randomization.
22. Have received known inhibitors or inducers of CYP1A2 or any medications or herbal remedies, including St. John's Wort, known to chronically alter drug absorption or elimination processes within 30 days prior to first dose administration, until the Follow-up visit, unless in the opinion of the Investigator (or designee), Medical Monitor, and/or Aeromics, the medication will not interfere with the study procedures or compromise safety.
23. Use of any prescription medications/products within 14 days prior to randomization, or use of nonprescription, over-the-counter medication/products, including vitamins, minerals, and phytotherapeutic/herbal/plant-derived preparations, within 7daysprior to randomization until the Follow-up visit. Exceptions may be made by the Medical Monitor, Investigator (or designee), and/or Aeromics on a case-by-case basis. Intermittent use of acetaminophen at moderate daily doses (eg, ≤ 1g per day for ≤2 consecutive days) may be allowed at the discretion of the Investigator.
24. Positive urine drug screen at Screening (not including cotinine or alcohol) or Check-in (including cotinine and alcohol), confirmed by repeat.
25. Consumption of foods and beverages containing poppy seeds, grapefruit, or Seville oranges within 7 days prior to Check-in until the Follow-up visit.
26. Subjects unwilling to refrain from strenuous exercise from 7 days before Check- in until the Follow-up visit.
27. Consumption of alcohol-containing foods and beverages within 72 hours prior to Check-in until the Follow-up visit.
28. Consumption of caffeine-containing foods and beverages within 72 hours prior to Check-in until discharge on Day 3 for Part A or on Day 12 for Part B.
29. Have previously taken part in or withdrawn from this study.
30. Subjects who, in the opinion of the Investigator, should not participate in this study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: AER-271; The experimental drug AER-271 will be administered in this Arm. In Part A single ascending doses will be administered by IV bolus infusion of AER-271 formulated in phosphate buffered normal saline over a 30-min period. In Part B multiple ascending doses of AER-271 will be administered by IV 30-min bolus infusion BID for 72 hours. AER-271 will also be administered as an initial bolus dose over 30-min then continuous infusion over 72 hours.	Drug: AER-271; AER-271, the test article for this study.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; A placebo control will be administered in this Arm. In Part A phosphate buffered normal saline will be administered over a 30-min period. In Part B multiple doses of phosphate buffered normal saline will be administered by IV 30-min bolus infusion BID for 72 hours. This placebo will also be administered as an initial bolus dose over 30-min then continuous infusion over 72 hours. In both Parts, the volume of placebo administered will be the same as the Experimental Arm.	Drug: Placebo; Placebo control for this study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of patients that experience adverse events	Observation for signs and symptoms of adverse events	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients that experience serious adverse events	Observation for signs and symptoms of serious adverse events	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in ALT levels	Patients with serum Alanine Aminotransferase exceeding or below normal values will be reported with the concentration in IU/L	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in AST levels	Patients with serum Aspartate Aminotransferase exceeding or below normal values will be reported with the concentration in IU/L	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in GGT levels	Patients with serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase exceeding or below normal values will be reported with the concentration in IU/L	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in WBC	Patients with White Blood Cell Count exceeding or below normal values will be reported in count/uL	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in RBC	Patients with Red Blood Cell Count exceeding or below normal values will be reported in count/uL	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Albumin levels	Patients with serum Albumin exceeding or below normal values will be reported with the concentration in g/dL	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Bilirubin levels	Patients with Bilirubin exceeding or below normal values will be reported with the concentration in mg/dL	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Platelet counts	Patients with Platelet counts exceeding or below normal values will be reported as count/uL	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Hematocrit	Patients with Hematocrit exceeding or below normal values will be reported as a %	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Creatinine	Patients with serum Creatinine exceeding or below normal values will be reported with the concentration in mg/dL	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Alkaline Phosphatase levels	Patients with serum Alkaline Phosphatase exceeding or below normal values will be reported with the concentration in IU/L	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Cholesterol levels	Patients with Cholesterol exceeding or below normal values will be reported with the concentration in mg/dL	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Respiratory Rate	Patients with changes in Respiratory Rate will be reported in count/min	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Pulse Rate	Patients with changes in Pulse Rate will be reported in count/min	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Oral Temperature	Patients with changes in Oral Temperature above normal will be reported in degrees Celcius (C)	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients with significant changes in Blood Pressure	Patients with changes in Supine Blood Pressure exceeding or below normal values will be reported in mmHg systolic over diastolic	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Number of patients exhibiting changes in Physical Examination	Number of patients exhibiting any changes in the physical examination during this period will be reported.	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pharmacokinetic parameter: Mean Cmax +/- standard deviation	Maximum concentration of AER-271 and AER-270 derived from plasma concentration-time profile (ng/mL)	This pharmacokinetic parameter will be assessed at the end of each of 6 cohorts in the SAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection) and 3 cohorts in the MAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection).
Pharmacokinetic parameter: Mean AUC +/- standard deviation	Area Under the Curve for AER-271 and AER-270 derived from plasma concentration-time profile (hr*ng/mL)	This pharmacokinetic parameter will be assessed at the end of each of 6 cohorts in the SAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection) and 3 cohorts in the MAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection).
Pharmacokinetic parameter: Mean CL +/- standard deviation	Clearance of AER-271 derived from plasma concentration-time profile (mL/hr/kg)	This pharmacokinetic parameter will be assessed at the end of each of 6 cohorts in the SAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection) and 3 cohorts in the MAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection).
Pharmacokinetic parameter: Mean T1/2 +/- standard deviation	Half-life of AER-271 and AER-270 derived from plasma concentration-time profile (hr)	This pharmacokinetic parameter will be assessed at the end of each of 6 cohorts in the SAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection) and 3 cohorts in the MAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection).
Pharmacokinetic parameter: Mean Vss +/- standard deviation	Steady state volume of distribution of AER-271 derived from plasma concentration-time profile (mL/kg)	This pharmacokinetic parameter will be assessed at the end of each of 6 cohorts in the SAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection) and 3 cohorts in the MAD study (within 1-2 weeks of final blood sample collection).
Changes in ECG Parameters: Mean QTcF +/- standard deviation	QT Interval Corrected by Fridericia's Formula (msec)	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Changes in ECG Parameters: Mean QRS +/- standard deviation	QRS Duration (msec)	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.
Changes in ECG Parameters: Mean PR +/- standard deviation	PR Interval (msec)	Changes from baseline through day 5-7 for Part A and day 15-17 Part B.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aeromics, Inc.
• Collaborators: Covance
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Alex King, MD, Covance; Principal Investigator: Paul R McGuirk, PhD, Aeromics, Inc.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 26, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 18, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): August 28, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 9, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 11, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): January 15, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 9, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 8, 2020
• Last Verified: July 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: stroke; acute ischemic stroke; cerebral edema
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Stroke; Ischemic Stroke
• Other Study ID Numbers: 174273

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

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

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No