Efficacy, Safety, and PK of Ascending Dosages of Moxidectin Versus Ivermectin Against Strongyloides Stercoralis (StrongMoxi)

Efficacy, Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Ascending Dosages of Moxidectin Alone and in Comparison to Ivermectin Against Strongyloides Stercoralis in Adults: a Randomized Controlled Trial

This study is a phase 2, blinded and randomized clinical trial. The phase 2a trial is single blinded and conducted in Lao, while the phase 2b trial is double-blinded and conducted in Lao and Cambodia. The study aims at providing evidence on effective doses and safety of moxidectin in adults against infection with S. stercoralis in Laos (trial 2a) and efficacy and safety of moxidectin compared to ivermectin in adults against infection with S. stercoralis in Laos and Cambodia (trial 2b). The efficacy of the treatment will be assessed by collecting three stool samples once pre-treatment and once 21 days post-treatment. The stool samples will be analyzed by a quantitative Baermann assay.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Strongyloides Stercoralis Infection
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Moxidectin; Drug: Placebo oral tablet; Drug: Ivermectin

Detailed Description

This is a phase 2a single-blinded and a phase 2b double-blinded randomized clinical trial, which aims to determine efficacy and safety of (2a) seven ascending oral moxidectin dosages in 210 adults infected with S. stercoralis, namely placebo, 2 mg, 4 mg, 6 mg, 8 mg, 10 mg, 12 mg in Lao and (2b) the recommended dose moxidectin (i.e. the most promising dosage identified in trial A; between 2-12 mg) in comparison to the standard treatment dose of ivermectin (200 µg/kg) in 350 adults infected with S. stercoralis in Lao and Cambodia. Embedded in the trial is a pharmacokinetic/-dynamic study with the goal to measure moxidectin disposition in adults and to determine population pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of the optimal dose of moxidectin in the treatment of S. stercoralis.

The primary objective is to determine the dose-response of moxidectin based on cure rates (CR) against S. stercoralis and to quantify the efficacy of the recommended dose to the standard treatment (ivermectin) in adults.

The secondary objectives of the trial are: Evaluation of the safety and tolerability of the dose-dependent treatment regimes, evaluation of the safety and tolerability of moxidectin compared to ivermectin, comparison of the larvae reduction rate (LRR) of the different treatment regimens against S. stercoralis (trial 2a,b), determination of an exposure- (including Cmax, area under curve (AUC) and tmax) -response correlation of moxidectin in adults, comparison of the exposure-response of moxidectin using venous and capillary blood, evaluation of the cure rate of the different moxidectin treatment regimens against co-infection and the determination of the population PK parameters of the optimal dose of moxidectin in the treatment of S. stercoralis.

After obtaining informed consent from each individual, the medical history of the participants will be assessed with a standardized questionnaire, in addition to a clinical examination carried out by the study physician before treatment. Enrollment will be based on collection and analysis by a quantitative Baermann method (in duplicates) of three stool samples. Randomization of participants into the different treatment arms will be stratified according to intensity of infection. The adults will also be interviewed before treatment, 3 and 24 hours as well as 21 days after treatment about the occurrence of adverse events (AE). The efficacy of the treatment will be determined 21 days post-treatment by collecting another three stool samples. All stool samples will be examined with duplicate Baermann assays recorded quantitatively. Co-infection with T. trichiura, A. lumbricoides and hookworm infection will be identified using duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears on stool samples.

A subsample of adults will further be sampled using finger pricking for micro sampling at 0, 2, 4, 8, 24, and 72 hours, 7 and 21 days post treatment to evaluate pharmacokinetic parameters (trial phase 2a) and at defined time windows, that are based on the PK model earned from trial 2a (trial phase 2b). For validation of the analytical method the subsample of one study arm (8 mg, trial phase 2a) will undergo venous blood sampling in addition to finger pricking.

An available case analysis (full analysis set according to the intention to treat principle) will be performed, including all subjects with primary end point data. Supplementary, a per-protocol analysis will be conducted. CRs will be calculated as the percentage of larvae-positive subjects at baseline who become larvae-negative after treatment. Larvae per gram (LPG) stool sample will be assessed by calculating the mean of the larvae counts from the three duplicate Baermann assays and divided by the mean weighted amount of these stool samples. The LRR will be calculated following: (LRR = (1-(mean at follow-up/mean at baseline))*100) Geometric and arithmetic mean larvae counts will be calculated for the different treatment arms before and after treatment to assess the corresponding LRRs. Bootstrap resampling method with 2,000 replicates will be used to calculate 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for LRRs. Emax models using the dose finding package of the statistical software environment R will be implemented to predict the dose-response curves in terms of CRs and LRRs.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 617
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
    • National Institute of Public Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 56 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults (≥ 18 years) infected with S. stercoralis
• Absence of major systemic illnesses
• Written informed consent signed by individual

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any abnormal medical conditions or chronic disease
• Negative diagnostic result for S. stercoralis
• No written informed consent by individual.
• Pregnant and lactating women.
• Recent use of anthelmintic drug (within past 4 weeks), attending other clinical trials during the study
• Known allergy to study medications (i.e. moxidectin, ivermectin)
• Currently taking medications with known interaction (i.e. for warfarin)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

9

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Phase 2a - Arm A; 2 mg Moxidectin at day 0 administered orally	Drug: Moxidectin; Monotherapy, oral administration, single dose, fixed dose
Experimental: Phase 2a - Arm B; 4 mg Moxidectin at day 0 administered orally	Drug: Moxidectin; Monotherapy, oral administration, single dose, fixed dose
Experimental: Phase 2a - Arm C; 6 mg Moxidectin at day 0 administered orally	Drug: Moxidectin; Monotherapy, oral administration, single dose, fixed dose
Experimental: Phase 2a - Arm D; 8 mg Moxidectin at day 0 administered orally	Drug: Moxidectin; Monotherapy, oral administration, single dose, fixed dose
Experimental: Phase 2a - Arm E; 10 mg Moxidectin at day 0 administered orally	Drug: Moxidectin; Monotherapy, oral administration, single dose, fixed dose
Experimental: Phase 2a - Arm F; 12 mg Moxidectin at day 0 administered orally	Drug: Moxidectin; Monotherapy, oral administration, single dose, fixed dose
Placebo Comparator: Phase 2a - Arm G; matching Placebo tablet(s) at day 0 administered orally	Drug: Placebo oral tablet; Monotherapy, oral administration, single dose, matching number of tablets
Experimental: Phase 2b - Arm A; the recommended dose moxidectin (i.e. the most promising dosage identified in phase 2a; between 2-12 mg) at day 0 administered orally + Ivermectin placebo, corresponding to Phase 2b - Arm B	Drug: Moxidectin; Monotherapy, oral administration, single dose, fixed dose
Active Comparator: Phase 2b - Arm B; 200 µg/kg ivermectin at day 0 administered orally + Moxidectin placebo, corresponding to Phase 2b - Arm A	Drug: Ivermectin; Monotherapy, oral administration, single dose, weight dependent

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Observed Cure Rate Against Strongyloides Stercoralis	The conversion from being larvae positive pre-treatment to larvae negative post-treatment, or cure rate (CR).	Phase 2a: 21-28 days after treatment; phase 2b: 14-21 days after treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Observed Larvae-reduction Rate (LRR) Against Strongyloides Stercoralis	Larvae per gram (LPG) stool sample will be assessed by calculating the mean of the larvae counts from the three duplicate Baermann assays and divided by the mean weighted amount of these stool samples. The LRR will be calculated following: (LRR = (1-(mean at follow-up/mean at baseline))*100)	Phase 2a: 21-28 days after treatment; phase 2b: 14-21 days after treatment
Observed CRs Against Concomitant Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections - Ascaris Lumbricoides	CRs will be calculated for Ascaris lumbricoides infections as described in primary outcome.	Phase 2a: 21-28 days after treatment; phase 2b: 14-21 days after treatment
Observed CRs Against Concomitant Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections - Trichuris Trichiura	CRs will be calculated for Trichuris trichiura infections as described in primary outcome.	Phase 2a: 21-28 days after treatment; phase 2b: 14-21 days after treatment
Observed CRs Against Concomitant Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections - Hookworm	CRs will be calculated for Hookworm infections as described in primary outcome.	Phase 2a: 21-28 days after treatment; phase 2b: 14-21 days after treatment
Number of Participants Reporting Adverse Events	Subjects will be kept for observation for at least 3 hours following treatment for any acute AEs. If there is any abnormal finding, the local study physician will perform a full clinical, physical and biochemical examination and findings will be recorded. An emergency kit will be available on site to treat any medical conditions that warrant urgent medical intervention. In addition patients will also be interviewed 2-3 and 24 hours and again 3-4 (phase 2a) or 2-3 (phase 2b) weeks after treatment about the occurrence of AEs. A standardized symptom questionnaire is used, that includes the recording of headache, abdominal pain, itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, allergic reaction as well as any further mentioned event by the participant.	2-3 hours, 24 hours, and retrospectively 21-28 days (phase 2a) or 14-21 days (phase 2b Arm A and Arm B) after treatment.
Maximum Concentration (Cmax) of Moxidectin in Adults	Upon oral intake moxidectin levels in blood will be quantified with time using a micro sampling device. Moxidectin will be quantified using a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Drug concentrations will be calculated by interpolation from a calibration curve with a foreseen limit of quantification of approximately 5 ng/ml. The PK analysis will be undertaken fitting a structural compartmental PK model.	0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 24, and 72 hours, and 28 days after treatment.
Time to Reach Cmax (Tmax) of Moxidectin in Adults	Upon oral intake moxidectin levels in blood will be quantified with time using a micro sampling device. Moxidectin will be quantified using a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Drug concentrations will be calculated by interpolation from a calibration curve with a foreseen limit of quantification of approximately 5 ng/ml. The PK analysis will be undertaken fitting a structural compartmental PK model.	0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 24, and 72 hours, and 28 days after treatment.
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Moxidectin in Adults	Upon oral intake moxidectin levels in blood will be quantified with time using a micro sampling device. Moxidectin will be quantified using a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Drug concentrations will be calculated by interpolation from a calibration curve with a foreseen limit of quantification of approximately 5 ng/ml. The PK analysis will be undertaken fitting a structural compartmental PK model.	0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 24, and 72 hours, and 28 days after treatment.
Elimination Half Life (T1/2) of Moxidectin in Adults	Upon oral intake moxidectin levels in blood will be quantified with time using a micro sampling device. Moxidectin will be quantified using a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Drug concentrations will be calculated by interpolation from a calibration curve with a foreseen limit of quantification of approximately 5 ng/ml. The PK analysis will be undertaken fitting a structural compartmental PK model.	0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 24, and 72 hours, and 28 days after treatment.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Jennifer Keiser
• Collaborators: National Institute of Public Health, Vientiane, Laos
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jennifer Keiser, Prof. Dr., Swiss TPH

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Smit C, Hofmann D, Sayasone S, Keiser J, Pfister M. Characterization of the Population Pharmacokinetics of Moxidectin in Adults Infected with Strongyloides Stercoralis: Support for a Fixed-Dose Treatment Regimen. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2022 Jan;61(1):123-132. doi: 10.1007/s40262-021-01048-4. Epub 2021 Jul 23.
• Hofmann D, Sayasone S, Sengngam K, Chongvilay B, Hattendorf J, Keiser J. Efficacy and safety of ascending doses of moxidectin against Strongyloides stercoralis infections in adults: a randomised, parallel-group, single-blinded, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, phase 2a trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021 Aug;21(8):1151-1160. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30691-5. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 27, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): April 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 13, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): August 14, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 9, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 21, 2024
• Last Verified: October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Parasitic Diseases; Secernentea Infections; Nematode Infections; Helminthiasis; Rhabditida Infections; Strongyloidiasis; Anti-Infective Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Antinematodal Agents; Anthelmintics; Ivermectin; Moxidectin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 3

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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