Safety and Efficacy of Anaerobic Cultivated Human Intestinal Microbiome Transplantation in Systemic Sclerosis (ReSScue) (ReSScue)

October 10, 2022 updated by: Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold, Oslo University Hospital

Aiming to Reduce Disease-related Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Systemic Sclerosis by Repeat Intestinal Infusions of Anaerobic Cultivated Human Intestinal Microbiome (ACHIM); a Randomized, Double-blind Placebo-controlled 20 Week Study

This study evaluates the effect of intestinal microbiota therapy on gastro-intestinal symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This is a mulicenter randomized controlled trial conducted at university hospitals in Oslo, Tromsø, Bergen and Trondheim in Norway. In part A1, half of the patients will receive active substance (intestinal microbiota cultured in the lab - "ACHIM") in the small intestine twice by gastroduodenoscopy, the other half will receive placebo. The primary outcome will be measured on week 12 by patient reported outcome measures. In part A2, all participants receive ACHIM at week 12, with an 8 week follow-up for all. A step-wise follow-up will be done in part B up to 16 weeks after week 20 until the last participant finish week 20 visit, which is defined as end of study.The blind from the first intervention will not be opened before end of study.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

75

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Bergen, Norway
        • Haukeland University Hospital
      • Oslo, Norway
        • Oslo University Hospital
      • Tromsø, Norway
        • University Hospital of North Norway
      • Trondheim, Norway
        • St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Participant must be 18 to 85 years of age inclusive, at the time of signing the informed consent.
  2. Participants must have been clinically diagnosed with SSc by a rheumatologist having experience with the disease.
  3. Participants must have disease characteristics that fulfill the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SSc.
  4. Participants must be able to understand and follow trial procedures including completion of questionnaires regarding Patient Reported Outcome measures, such as the Norwegian version of the UCLA GIT V2.0 score.
  5. Participants must have moderate to severe SSc-related lower GI symptoms at time of inclusion, as defined by UCLA GIT score values of ≥1.01 for bloating and/or ≥0.50 for diarrhea at the screening visit.
  6. Male and female
  7. Capable of giving signed informed consent as described in Appendix 1 which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Medical Conditions

    1. Cardiovascular diseases, any of the following

      1. Severe hypertension, uncontrolled under treatment (≥160/100 mmHg), within 6 month of Visit 1
      2. Myocardial infarction within 6 months of Visit 1
      3. Unstable cardiac angina within 6 months of Visit 1
    2. Lung disease with impaired respiratory function, any of the following

      1. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) < 50% of expected reference value within 12 month of Visit 1
      2. Diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) < 40% of expected reference value within 12 month of Visit 1
      3. LTOT or lung-tx
    3. Significant pulmonary hypertension, any of the following

      1. Previous clinical or echocardiographic evidence of significant right heart failure
      2. History of right heart catheterisation showing a cardiac index ≤ 2 l/min/m²
    4. History of thrombotic event (including stroke and transient ischemic attack) within 12 months of Visit 1
    5. Severe anemia with Hb < 8.0 g/l within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1. Repeat testing of Hb is allowed.
    6. Bleeding risk, any of the following

      1. History of hemorrhagic central nervous system (CNS) event within 12 months of Visit 1.
      2. Known genetic predisposition to bleeding
      3. Platelet counts < 50 x 109/l
    7. Chronic liver disease or gastro-intestinal condition, any of the following

      1. Primary biliary cholangitis
      2. Primary sclerosing cholangitis
      3. Decompensated chronic liver disease
      4. Inflammatory bowel disease
      5. Celiac disease treated for less than 12 months.
    8. Gastro-intestinal surgery performed within the within 12 months of Visit 1
    9. Hepatic dysfunction, as defined as AST, ALT or bilirubin levels >3 times the Upper limit of normal range (x ULN) within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1. Repeat testing of AST, ALT and bilirubin are allowed in participants with no prior history of hepatic dysfunction.
    10. Chronic renal insufficiency, with estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) < 30.
    11. Active digital ulcers within 4 weeks of Visit 1.
    12. Anaphylactic food allergy.
    13. Eating disorder diagnosed by a physician
    14. Other diseases or conditions that may interfere with testing procedures (for example inability to conduct gastroduodenoscopy) or in the judgment of the Investigator may interfere with trial participation or may put the patient at risk when participating in this trial (for example severe GI symptoms due to other diseases than SSc).

      Prior/Concomitant Therapy

    15. Any antibiotic therapy within 3 months of Visit 1
    16. Prednisone >10 mg/day or equivalent within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1
    17. Cyclophosphamide or rituximab treatment within 6 months prior to Visit 1
    18. Unstable background monotherapy with any of the following therapeutics; mycophenolate mofetil/sodium, methotrexate, azathioprine, tocilizumab, abatacept, leflunomide, tacrolimus, tofacitinib and cyclosporine A. Participants have to be on stable monotherapy with any of these medications for at least 6 months prior to visit 1
    19. Combined therapy of two or more of the following therapeutics: mycophenolate mofetil/sodium, methotrexate, azathioprine, tocilizumab, abatacept, leflunomide, tacrolimus, tofacitinib and ciclosporine A within at least 8 weeks prior to visit 1.
    20. Need for full-dose therapeutic anticoagulation (e.g. vitamin K antagonists, direct thrombin inhibitors or heparin)
    21. Previous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) within 12 months of Visit 1, or HSCT planned within 12 months after Visit 1.
    22. Other investigational therapy received within 1 month or 6 half-lives (whichever was greater) prior to screening visit.

      Prior/Concurrent Clinical Study Experience

    23. Prior participation in FMT study in the last 12 months. Diagnostic assessments
    24. Abnormal coagulation parameters as defined as International normalised ratio (INR) >2, prolongation of prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) by >1.5 x ULN at Visit 1 Other Exclusions
    25. Women who are pregnant, nursing, or who plan to become pregnant while in the trial. (Women of child bearing potential should be tested with Hcg (urine or serum). Woman of child bearing potential if not using highly efficient contraception.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: ACHIM by gastroduodenoscopy

Intestinal microbiota (acronym ACHIM - anaerobically cultured human intestinal microbiota) will be administered by gastroduodenoscope twice (given at baseline and study-week 2). Each with volume 30 ml, containing approximately 10^9 bacteria / ml.

Primary outcome measured at week 12. At week 12 an open label administration of ACHIM to all participants. Thereafter an 8 (+16) week period observation. Blind from the first intervention will be maintained through-out the duration of the study.

Culture of intesinal microbiota originally derived from a healthy subject are administered to a person with presumed dysbiotic intestinal symptoms with an objective to treat these symptoms.
Other Names:
  • Fecal microbiota transplantation
Placebo Comparator: Placebo by gastroduodenoscopy

ACHIM culture media (no bacteria) will be administered by gastroduodenoscope twice (given at baseline and study-week 2). Each with volume 30 ml.

Primary outcome measured at week 12. At week 12 an open label administration of ACHIM to all participants. Thereafter an 8 (+16) week period observation. Blind from the first intervention will be maintained through-out the duration of the study.

Culture of intesinal microbiota originally derived from a healthy subject are administered to a person with presumed dysbiotic intestinal symptoms with an objective to treat these symptoms.
Other Names:
  • Fecal microbiota transplantation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
• Change from baseline to week 12 in UCLA GIT score item diarrhea or bloating, depending which was the worst symptom at baseline evaluated separately for each patient
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The bloating scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 3 (worse) and the diarrhea scale from 0 (better) to 2.5 (worse). Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
• Safety and tolerability assessed by adverse event (AE) monitoring, physical examination and clinical laboratory testing from baseline to the end of the study period
Time Frame: • Over the study period of 20 (+16) weeks
• Registration of number of adverse events adverse event (AE), assessment of physical examination and clinical laboratory testing by standardized assessments and sampling
• Over the study period of 20 (+16) weeks
• Change from baseline to week 12 in total UCLA GIT score
Time Frame: baseline, week 6 and week 12.
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The total scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 3 (worse). Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline, week 6 and week 12.
• Change from baseline to week 12 in UCLA GIT score item diarrhea
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The diarrhea scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 2.5 (worse) . Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in UCLA GIT score item bloating
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The bloating scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 3 (worse) . Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
• Change from baseline to week 12 in Faecal incontinence quality of life scale
Time Frame: baseline to weeks 12
Fecal Incontinence Quality-of-Life Scale is a validated patients reported outcome divided in four subscales all rated from 1-4 (5,6) by 1 having lowest quality of life. Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to weeks 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in UCLA GIT score item reflux
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The reflux scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 3 (worse) . Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in UCLA GIT score item fecal soilage
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The fecal soilage scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 3 (worse) . Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in UCLA GIT score item constipation
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The constipation scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 2.5 (worse) . Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in UCLA GIT score item emotional wellbeing
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The emotional wellbeing scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 3 (worse) . Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in UCLA GIT score item social participation
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The social participation scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 3 (worse) . Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in • Change from baseline to week 12 in HAQ-DI scores
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The HAQ-DI is a patient reported outcome measuring generic health status and quality of life scale ranging from 0 to 3, with no difficultie (scale 0) up to major difficulties (scale 3). Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in VAS Fatigue scale
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The fatigue scale measures fatigue representing how the participant feel, along a visual analogue line that extends between "not at all tired" (0) to "extremely tired" (10). Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in ScleroId score
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The ScleroId has 10 SSc specific questionnes all along a visual analogue line that extends between "none" (0) to "extreme" (10) with a maximum score of 100. Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to weeks 2, 6 and 12 in overall faecal microbiome composition measured by 16sRNA based methods
Time Frame: baseline to week 2, 6 and 12
16sRNA based methods measure the fecal microbiota composition and will be assessed at 4 timepoints. Changes from baseline to week 2,6 and 12 will be assessed.
baseline to week 2, 6 and 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in saliva, skin and urine microbiome measured by 16sRNA based methods
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
16sRNA based methods measure the microbiota composition and will be assessed at 4 timepoints. Changes from baseline to week 2,6 and 12 will be assessed.
baseline to week 12
• Change from baseline to weeks 2, 6 and 12 in immunoglobulin bound fraction of the overall faecal microbiome
Time Frame: • Baseline up to week 2, 6 and 12
16sRNA based methods measure the fecal microbiota composition which is Ig coated and will be assessed at 4 timepoints. Changes from baseline to week 2,6 and 12 will be assessed.
• Baseline up to week 2, 6 and 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in gastrointestinal transit time and contractions evaluated by SmartPill technology along with registration of stool frequency and consistency by Bristol Stool Scale
Time Frame: Baseline to week week 12
In a subgroup of patients SmartPill technology assesses gastrointestinal transit time. Chenges will be assessed frombaseline to week 12
Baseline to week week 12
• Change from baseline to weeks 6 and 12 in peripheral blood B cell and T cells (as evaluated by receptor sequencing, proteomics and cellular phenotyping) and content of soluble molecules
Time Frame: baseline to week 6 and 12
Blood samples will be assessed for changes from baseline to weeks 6 and 12
baseline to week 6 and 12
• Change from baseline to weeks 2 and 12 in the architecture and cellular composition of duodenal biopsy specimens (including characterization of cellular surface markers, proteomics, metabolomics and immune cell receptor sequencing
Time Frame: Baseline to week 2 and 12
Tissue samples will be assessed from skin and intestines and changes from baseline to weeks 2 and 12 determined
Baseline to week 2 and 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in skin properties evaluated by elastography and ultrasonographic skin thickness
Time Frame: week 12 to week 12
Elastography assess skin properties and will be assessed in a subset of patients at baseline and week 12
week 12 to week 12
• Change from baseline to week 12 in Health-related Quality of Life assessed by EQ-5D
Time Frame: baseline to week 12
The EQ-5D is a generic health status and quality of life scale. The respondents evaluate their overall health status using the visual analogue scalend scales of 1-3 with higher values having worse health. Change=(week12 score-baseline score)
baseline to week 12
• Change from week 12 through week 20 in all participants, and up to week 36 in a subset of participants in UCLA GIT score item diarrhea or bloating, depending which was the worst symptom at the baseline evaluated separately for each patient
Time Frame: week 12 to 20 and 36
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The diarrhea scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 2.5 (worse), the bloting from 0-3. Change=(week20 score-week 12 score)
week 12 to 20 and 36
• Follow changes of UCLA total GIT score from week 12 through week 20 in all participants, and up to week 36 in a subset of participants
Time Frame: week 12 to 20 and 36
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The total scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 3 (worse). Change=(week20 score-week 12 score)
week 12 to 20 and 36
• Follow changes in mean of HAQ-DI; VAS Fatigue; ScleroId score; and patient reported global assessment from week 12 through week 20 in all participants, and up to week 36 in a subset of participants
Time Frame: week 12 to 20 and 36
See endpoints explained above for the different outcome measures and explanations
week 12 to 20 and 36
• Assess changes of overall faecal microbiome composition measured by 16sRNA based methods from week 12 through week 20 in all participants, and up to week 36 in a subset of participants
Time Frame: week 12 to 20 and 36
16sRNA based methods measure the microbiota composition and will be assessed at week 12, 20 and partly 36. Changes from to week 12 to week 20 and in a subset to week 36 will be assessed.
week 12 to 20 and 36
• Assess change of saliva, skin and urine microbiome measured by 16sRNA based methods from week 12 through week 20 in all participants
Time Frame: week 12 to 20
16sRNA based methods measure the microbiota composition and will be assessed at week 12 and 20. Changes from week 12 to week 20 will be assessed.
week 12 to 20
• Assess change in peripheral blood B cell and T cells and content of soluble molecules from week 12 through week 20 in all participants, and up to week 36 in a subset of participants
Time Frame: week 12 to 20 and 36
Blood samples will be assessed for changes from week 12 to week 20 and 36 in a subset
week 12 to 20 and 36
• Assess changes in upper GIT scores from week 12 to 20 and determine potential associations to the architecture and cellular composition of oesophagus biopsy specimens
Time Frame: week 12 to 20
The UCLA GIT score is a validated patient reported outcome measure capturing and grading GI symptoms related to SSc. The reflux scale is scored on a Visual Analog Scale from 0 (better) to 3 (worse) . Change=(week20 score-week 12 score) and assess changes in association with øsophagus biopsies
week 12 to 20
• Assess change from week 12 to 20 in Health-related Quality of Life assessed by EQ-5D from week 12 through week 20 in all participants, and up to week 36 in a subset of participants
Time Frame: week 12 to 20 and 36
The EQ-5D is a generic health status and quality of life scale. The respondents evaluate their overall health status using the visual analogue scalend scales of 1-3 with higher values having worse health. Change=(week20 and 36 score-week 12 score)
week 12 to 20 and 36

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold, MD, PhD, Oslo University Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

September 24, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 27, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

June 27, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 25, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 6, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

March 9, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 12, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 10, 2022

Last Verified

October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2019-004400-35

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Yes

IPD Plan Description

The investigators plan to publish the protocol and statistical analysis plan separately. The IPD will be published according to relevant legislation and as required by publishing authority.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Not known yet.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Not known yet.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • Study Protocol
  • Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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