D-PLEX 312 - Safety and Efficacy of D-PLEX in the Prevention of Post Abdominal Surgery Incisional Infection (SHIELD II) (D-PLEX312)

D-PLEX 312 - Phase III, Prospective, Multinational, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled, Two-arm, Double Blind Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of D-PLEX In Prevention of Post Abdominal Surgery Incisional Infection (SHIELD II)

Phase III, Prospective, Multinational, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled, Two-arm, Double Blind Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of D-PLEX Administered Concomitantly with the Standard of Care (SoC), Compared to a SoC Treated Control Arm, in Prevention of Post Abdominal Surgery Incisional Infection.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Abdominal Surgery; Surgical Site Infection; Colon Surgery; Post-Op Infection
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: D-PLEX; Other: Standard of Care (SoC)

Detailed Description

D-PLEX is a new formulation of extended controlled release of Doxycycline in the applied area for about 30 days. This study is aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of D-PLEX in prevention of post abdominal surgery incisional infection.

The study population includes male and female, 18 years old and above at screening, undergoing an elective colorectal surgery involving colon or rectal resection, with or without a stoma formation, that includes at least 1 incision that is > 20cm (target incision).

Eligible and willing subjects will be randomly allocated into 2 blinded study arms, either to the investigational arm (D-PLEX + SoC) or to the control arm (SoC only) in a 1:1 ratio. Subjects will be stratified by type of prophylactic SoC (IV antibiotic only, IV antibiotic with mechanical bowel preparation or IV antibiotic with oral antibiotics combined with mechanical bowel preparation) and by region (US versus Europe + Israel).

D-PLEX will be applied during the surgery at the final stage of incision closure. All patients will be followed up for additional 5 visits over 2 months, for safety and incisional wound assessment. This will include blood tests for hematology and chemistry as well as physician's assessment of the incisional wound.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 800
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 78000
    • University Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska
  • Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 75000
    • University Clinical Center Tuzla
  • Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 72000
    • Cantonal Hospital Zenica
• Georgia
  • Tbilisi, Georgia, 0114
    • LTD New Hospitals
  • Tbilisi, Georgia, 0102
    • LLC American Hospital Network
  • Tbilisi, Georgia, 0112
    • LTD "Israeli - Georgian Medical Research Clinic Healthycore"
  • Tbilisi, Georgia, 0186
    • LTD Multiprofile Clinic Consillium Medulla
• Germany
  • Erlangen, Germany, 91054
    • University Hospital Erlangen
  • Muenster, Germany, 48149
    • University of Muenster
• Hungary
  • Baja, Hungary, 6500
    • Bajai Szent Rókus Kórház, Sebészeti Osztály
  • Budapest, Hungary, 1145
    • Uzsoki Utcai Kórház, Sebészeti Osztály
  • Eger, Hungary, 3300
    • Heves Varmegyei Markhot Ferenc Oktatokorhaz es Rendelointezet Sebeszeti es Ersebeszeti osztaly
  • Gyöngyös, Hungary, 3200
    • Bugát Pál Kórház, Gasztroenterológia - Sebészet
  • Kecskemét, Hungary, 6000
    • Bacs-Kiskun Megyei Korhaz
  • Kistarcsa, Hungary, 2143
    • Pest Megyei Flór Ferenc Kórház Sebészeti Osztály
  • Nyíregyháza, Hungary, 4400
    • Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg Varmegyei Korhazak es Egyetemi Oktatokorhaz, Josa Andras Oktatokorhaz, Sebeszeti Osztaly
  • Szeged, Hungary, 6725
    • University of Szeged, Faculty of Medicine, Dep.of Surgery
  • Székesfehérvár, Hungary, 8000
    • Fejer-County Saint George University Teaching Hospital, Department of Surgery
• Ireland
  • Drogheda, Ireland, A92 VW28
    • Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
• Israel
  • Be'er Sheva, Israel, 8457108
    • Soroka Medical Center
  • Haifa, Israel, 3339419
    • Bnai Zion Medical Center
  • Haifa, Israel, 3436212
    • Carmel Medical Center
  • Jerusalem, Israel, 9372212
    • Shaare Zedek Medical Center
  • Nahariya, Israel, 2210001
    • Galilee Medical Center
  • Ramat Gan, Israel, 5262000
    • Sheba Medical Center
  • Rehovot, Israel, 7661041
    • Kaplan Medical Center
  • Zerifin, Israel, 70300
    • Assaf Harofeh Medical Center
• Moldova, Republic of
  • Chisinau, Moldova, Republic of, MD2004
    • IMSP Institutul de Medicina Urgenta
  • Chisinau, Moldova, Republic of, MD2025
    • IMSP Clinical Republican Hospital "Timofei Mosneaga"
  • Chisinau, Moldova, Republic of, MD2025
    • IMSP Institutul of Oncologic
  • Chisinau, Moldova, Republic of, MD2025
    • IMSP Spitalul Clinic Republican "Timofei Mosneaga"
  • Chisinau, Moldova, Republic of, MD2038
    • IMSP Spitalul Clinic Municipal "Gheorghe Paladi"
  • Chisinau, Moldova, Republic of, MD2068
    • IMSP Spitalul Clinic Municipal "Sfanta Treime"
• North Macedonia
  • Prilep, North Macedonia, 7500
    • PHI General Hospital "Borka Taleski" Prilep
  • Skopje, North Macedonia, 1000
    • PHI University Clinic for digestive Surgery
  • Skopje, North Macedonia, 1000
    • PHI University Clinic for Surgical Diseases "st.Naum Ohridski - Skopje"
  • Skopje, North Macedonia, 2000
    • PHI Clinical Hospital - Shtip
  • Strumica, North Macedonia, 2400
    • PHI General Hospital - Strumica
• Poland
  • Ostrów Mazowiecka, Poland, 07-300
    • Szpital Powiatowy im. Marii Skłodowskiej - Curie w Ostrowie Mazowieckiej SPZZOZ
  • Łódź, Poland, 91-034
    • Centrum Medyczne Med-Gastr
• Portugal
  • Aveiro, Portugal, 3810-164
    • Unidade Local de Saúde da Região de Aveiro E. P. E.
  • Braga, Portugal, 4710-243
    • Centro Clinico Academico de Braga Associação - Hospital de Braga
  • Guarda, Portugal, 6300-749
    • Unidade de Saúde Local da Guarda
• Romania
  • Braşov, Romania, 500388
    • Sf. Constantin Hospital
  • Craiova, Romania, 200642
    • Spitalul Clinic Judetean de Urgenta Craiova, Sectia Cbirurgie Generala II
  • Craiova, Romania, 200642
    • Spitalul Clinic Judetean de Urgenta Craiova, Sectia Chirurgie Generala III
  • Timisoara, Romania, 300723
    • Spitalul Clinic JudeIean de Urgenta "Pius Brinzeu", Sectia Chirurgie Generala II
  • Târgu-Mureş, Romania, 540103
    • Mures County Clinical Hospital
• Serbia
  • Belgrade, Serbia, 11000
    • First Surgical Clinic
  • Nis, Serbia, 18000
    • UCC Nis
  • Sremska Kamenica, Serbia, 21204
    • Oncology Institute of Vojvodina
  • Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, 22000
    • General Hospital Sremska Mitrovica
  • Valjevo, Serbia, 14000
    • Health Center Valjevo
• United States
  • Georgia
    • Augusta, Georgia, United States, 30912
      • Augusta Univeristy
  • Louisiana
    • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70121
      • Ochsner Medical Center
  • Missouri
    • Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
      • Washington University School of Medicine
  • Pennsylvania
    • Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, 17033
      • Penn State Health Milton S Hershey Medical Center
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75246
      • Baylor University Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 99 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects undergoing an elective colorectal surgery involving resection, with or without a stoma formation, that includes at least 1 abdominal incision that is >20cm (target incision).
2. Subjects are preoperative hemodynamically stable. (BP≤180/110 and >90/60 mmHg, and HR≤120 and >60 bpm, and temperature ≤37.50C and >35.50C).
3. Male or non-pregnant female.
4. Female of child-bearing potential should have a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine dipstick) prior to index procedure.
5. Subjects' age 18 years old and above at screening.
6. Subjects who sign the written Informed Consent Form.
7. Subjects who are willing and able to participate and meet all study requirements.
8. Survival expectancy of at least 60 days post randomization.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Subjects with suspected/diagnosed intestinal perforation, intra-abdominal abscess, or any emergency/urgent colorectal surgery with acute intestinal obstruction (ex. toxic colitis, ileus/sub-ileus, megacolon, diverticulitis, volvulus, etc.)
2. Subjects who underwent an intra-abdominal surgery within the last 6 months prior to randomization.
3. Subjects with any preoperative active infection or who are receiving any antibiotic therapy in the past 1 week prior to randomization, excluding pre-operative prophylaxis.

4. Subjects undergoing concomitant major procedures in addition to the colorectal resection.

   Female sterilization surgeries (i.e. salpingo-oophorectomy etc.), involvement of a small bowel procedure or cholecystectomy may be allowed, pending an advanced consultation and approval from the Sponsor .

5. Subjects who received any anti-cancer treatment within the last 4 weeks of surgery.
6. Subjects who received radiation for colorectal cancer to the abdomen and/or pelvis area, within the last 4 weeks of the planned abdominal surgery.
7. Subjects who received oral or IV Doxycycline or Tetracycline family antibiotics during the past 4 weeks prior to randomization.
8. Subjects with known allergy to Doxycycline and/or to the tetracycline family of drugs or to the D-PLEX's excipients.
9. Subjects with known allergies to more than 3 substances (an allergy questionnaire will be completed during the screening process).
10. Subjects with history of severe allergic reaction to any substance, having required treatment with intravenous steroids/intramuscular epinephrine, or who in the opinion of the PI is at high risk of developing severe allergic reactions.
11. Subjects with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD/ CKD stage 5).
12. Subjects with severe hepatic impairment.
13. Subjects with chronic urticaria.
14. Subjects diagnosed with CVA within the past 6 months prior to randomization.
15. Subjects who underwent any abdominal surgery and current planned index surgery involves re-opening the scar of a prior abdominal surgery performed within the last 3 years.

16. Any subject with an active malignancy or with malignancy that has not been in complete clinical remission and without maintenance chemo or immunotherapy for at least 3 years.

    Excluding: Subjects with potentially resectable non-metastatic colorectal cancer, that is the reason for the index surgery.

    Subjects who have had carcinoma in situ (or other cancer "in situ = Stage 0"), or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or basal cell carcinoma of the skin.

    Subjects with any additional non-violent cancer that does not require treatment 4 weeks prior to the surgery, and throughout the entire study duration.

17. Subjects with other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical condition.
18. Psychiatric or any other disorder that compromises ability to provide informed consent for participation in this study.
19. Chronic alcoholic or drug abuse subjects.
20. Pregnant or breast-feeding women or women of child-bearing age who refuse or are prohibited of using an effective contraceptive method of birth control throughout study participation, including the safety follow-up period.
21. Subjects who received any investigational drug within 30 days or 5 half-lives prior to randomization to the study (whichever is longer) and through the study.
22. Subjects participating in any other interventional study.
23. Subjects who in the opinion of Investigator, are not eligible to participate in the study and/or to comply with the protocol requirements (e.g. due to a cognitive or medical condition).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: D-PLEX+SoC; D-PLEX is provided to suitable and willing study subjects as an adjunct to the SoC treatment	Drug: D-PLEX; D-PLEX is a new formulation of extended release of Doxycycline. Each 5g D-PLEX vial contains 54.6mg Doxycycline free base (1.09%), which is equivalent to 63mg Doxycycline hyclate (1.26%). D-PLEX is supplied as a sterile powder to be reconstituted to paste in the operating room, using standard aseptic techniques and is intended for single administration. The non-active components of the extended release antibiotic formulation are β Tri-Calcium polymer and a lipid matrix. All formulation components are biodegradable.; Other: Standard of Care (SoC); prophylactic, pre-operation per institution guidelines
Other: Standard of Care; The SoC for prophylactic antibiotic treatment is based on international guidelines	Other: Standard of Care (SoC); prophylactic, pre-operation per institution guidelines

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To assess the anti-infective efficacy of D-PLEX over a period of 30 days post operation, by preventing surgical site infection (SSI), defined as superficial and deep infection, in the target incision(s), compared to the SoC treated control.	Infection rate as measured by the proportion of subjects with at least one abdominal incisional infection event, as determined by a blinded and independent adjudication committee, within 30 days post abdominal surgery. [abdominal incisional infection is composed of Deep Incisional Surgical Site Infection (DSSI) and Superficial Incisional Surgical Site Infection (SSSI)].within 30 days post abdominal surgery and determined by a blinded and independent adjudication committee. All-cause mortality and re-interventions in the target incision within 30 days post index surgery will be analysed as treatment failure. Incisional infection event only, occurred within 30 days post abdominal surgery and determined by a blinded and independent adjudication committee. [abdominal incisional infection is defined as Deep Incisional Surgical Site Infection (DSSI) and/or Superficial Incisional Surgical Site Infection (SSSI)].	By day 30 post surgery
Safety of D-PLEX in Prevention of Post Abdominal Surgery	Safety parameters will be evaluated by adverse events	By day 60 post surgery
Safety of D-PLEX in Prevention of Post Abdominal Surgery Incisional	Incisional wound healing will be assessed by a blinded Investigator, using a visual examination as well as Modified Vancouver Scar Scale wound assessment questionnaires. The questionnaire has a numeric scale from 0-4 in Vascularity, Pigmentation, Pliability and height	By day 60 post surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assessment of Infection rate in patient undergoing abdominal colon surgery	Infection rate as measured by the proportion of subjects with at least one abdominal incisional infection event only, occurred within 30 days post abdominal surgery and determined by a blinded and independent adjudication committee. [abdominal incisional infection is defined as Deep Incisional Surgical Site Infection (DSSI) and/or Superficial Incisional Surgical Site Infection (SSSI)].	At study visits: day 1, day 5, day 14 and day 30 post surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: PolyPid Ltd.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 15, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 14, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): May 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 27, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 27, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): June 2, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 10, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 8, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Surgical site infection; Abdominal surgery; Colon and small bowl surgery
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Wound Infection; Infections; Communicable Diseases; Surgical Wound Infection
• Other Study ID Numbers: D-PLEX 312

Drug and device information, study documents

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