Donated Antibodies Working Against nCoV (DAWN-Plasma)

A Randomized, Open-label, Adaptive, Proof-of-concept Clinical Trial of Donated Antibodies Working Against With COVID-19: DAWN-PLASMA

This a phase II, proof-of-concept study. In the present study, we investigate if the administration of blood-plasma from patients recovered from COVID-19, could be effective to treat patients who are severely ill because of a COVID-19 infection. The general idea behind the transfusion, is that plasma of recovered patients contains antibodies that could eliminate the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19, and lead to a less severe course of the disease, or a faster healing. Simply put, in this study we would like to investigate whether 'borrowed immunity' from a person who has cured from this disease, could be applied to cure other patients more rapidly.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: COVID-19
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: Convalescent Plasma; Drug: Standard of care

Detailed Description

In December 2019, a new coronavirus (the SARS-CoV-2 virus) emerged, which spread fast across the world, and has led to a pandemic. The disease caused by this virus, called COVID-19, has a mild course in a high number of infected people, but is known to have a more severe course in some. Currently, there are no successful treatments with a known effect on the course of the disease in patients suffering from COVID-19. In this study, we will examine whether plasma, a treatment that has been used in human subjects for other diseases (and is known to be safe), can be used to influence the course of COVID-19 towards a lower severity.

The aim of the study is to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma for COVID-19.

This clinical trial is an adaptive, randomized, open-label phase II proof-of-concept study to investigate the safety and effect of potentially interesting treatments, for the treatment of hospitalized adult patients suffering from COVID-19.

Because an active treatment for COVID-19 is lacking, plasma donation is now being proposed. To investigate this effect of plasma, we will compare two groups of patients. One group will get standard treatment, plus plasma from a patient recently cured from COVID-19. A second group will get standard treatment alone. In this study, 2 patients out of 3 will receive plasma, and 1 patient out of 3 will receive standard treatment alone. After the study, we will be able to establish whether plasma donation is useful or not.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 483
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Antwerpen, Belgium, 2050
    • ZNA
  • Bonheiden, Belgium, 2820
    • Imelda Ziekenhuis Bonheiden
  • Brussel, Belgium, 1090
    • UZ Brussel
  • Brussel, Belgium, 1000
    • Institut Bordet
  • Brussel, Belgium, 1000
    • UMC Sint-Pieter
  • Brussel, Belgium, 1030
    • CHU Brugmann
  • Brussel, Belgium, 1070
    • Erasmus ziekenhuis
  • Brussel, Belgium, 1200
    • Cliniques Universitaires St Luc
  • Deinze, Belgium, 9800
    • AZ Sint-Vincentius
  • Gent, Belgium, 9000
    • AZ Maria Middelares
  • Gent, Belgium, 9000
    • AZ Sint-Lucas
  • Kortrijk, Belgium, 8500
    • AZ Groeninge
  • Leuven, Belgium, 3000
    • UZ Leuven
  • Liège, Belgium, 4000
    • CHC Liège Mont Légia
  • Liège, Belgium, 4000
    • CHR Citadelle Liège
  • Liège, Belgium, 4000
    • CHU Liège Sart-Tilman
  • Mons, Belgium, 7000
    • CHU Ambroise Pare
  • Mons, Belgium, 7100
    • CHR Jolimont Mons-Hainaut
  • Roeselare, Belgium, 8800
    • AZ Delta
  • Sint-Truiden, Belgium, 3800
    • Sint-Trudo ziekenhuis
  • Tournai, Belgium, 7500
    • Centre Hôspitalier de Wallonie Picarde (CHWAPI)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject (≥18 years old) or legally authorized representative provides informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures.
2. Subject (or legally authorized representative) understands and agrees to comply with planned study procedures.
3. Male or non-pregnant female adult ≥18 years of age at time of enrolment.
4. Patient should be hospitalized

5. Has a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, defined as either:

   1. laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection as determined by PCR, or other commercial or public health assay in any specimen as diagnosed within 60 hours prior to randomization or
   2. The combination of upper or lower respiratory infection symptoms (fever, cough, dyspnea, desaturation) and typical findings on chest CT scan and absence of other plausible diagnoses

6. Illness of any duration, and at least one of the following:

   1. Radiographic infiltrates by imaging (chest x-ray, CT scan, etc.), or
   2. Clinical assessment (evidence of rales/crackles on exam) AND SpO2 ≤ 94% on room air, or
   3. Requiring supplemental oxygen.
7. ABO D typing of the patient should be done at least once and the result should be known.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Receiving invasive (any mode where a patient has been intubated endotracheally, or via tracheostomy) or non-invasive (for instance, but not restricted to CPAP, PSV, PCV, SiMV) mechanical ventilation before or upon randomization.
2. Pregnancy or breast feeding.
3. Any medical condition which would impose an unacceptable safety hazard by participation to the study.
4. Patients with a documented grade 3 allergic reaction after the administration of fresh frozen plasma (i.e. systemic reaction with cardiovascular and/or respiratory involvement)
5. Patients that have treatment restriction that excludes mechanical ventilation and/or endotracheal intubation
6. Rituximab or another anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (f.ex. obinutuzumab) has been administered during the year prior of the date of admission.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Convalescent Plasma; 4 units of convalescent plasma: 2 units of plasma are administered within 12h after randomization, but preferably as soon as practically possible; 2 units of plasma should be administered between 24h and 36h after the first infusion	Biological: Convalescent Plasma; 4 units of convalescent plasma: 2 units of plasma are administered within 12h after randomization, but preferably as soon as practically possible; 2 units of plasma should be administered between 24h and 36h after the first infusion Other investigational products may be added as part of the adaptive study design.; Drug: Standard of care; Since there are no current approved treatment options for COVID-19, the standard of care is mostly supportive.
OTHER: Standard of Care; Since there are no current approved treatment options for COVID-19, the standard of care is mostly supportive. Since there are no current approved treatment options for COVID-19, the standard of care is mostly supportive.	Drug: Standard of care; Since there are no current approved treatment options for COVID-19, the standard of care is mostly supportive.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patients requiring mechanical ventilation or death	Primary outcome of the study is the number of patients alive without mechanical ventilation at day 15 after hospitalization.	No mechanical ventilation at day 15 after hospitalization.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical status of subject at day 15 and day 30 (on a 10-point "WHO progression" ordinal scale)	0. Uninfected. Non viral RNA detected; Ambulatory, Asymptomatic, viral RNA detected; Ambulatory, Symptomatic, Independent; Ambulatory, Symptomatic, Assistance needed; Hospitalized, mild disease, No oxygen therapy needed; Hospitalized, mild disease, Oxygen by mask of nasal prongs; Hospitalized, severe disease, Oxygen by NIV or High flow; Hospitalized, severe disease, Intubation and mechanical ventilation (pO2/FiO2>=150 OR SpO2/FIO2>=200); Hospitalized, severe disease, Mechanical ventilation (pO2/FiO2<150 OR SpO2/FIO2<200) OR vasopressors (norepinephrine >0.3 microg/kg/min); Hospitalized, severe disease, Mechanical ventilation pO2/FiO2<150 AND vasopressors (norepinephrine >0.3 microg/kg/min), OR Dialysis OR ECMO; Death, Dead	day 15 and day 30

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
• Collaborators: Federal Knowledge Centre (KCE)
• Investigators: Study Director: Geert Meyfroidt, MD, PhD, UZ Leuven

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Devos T, Geukens T, Schauwvlieghe A, Arien KK, Barbezange C, Cleeren M, Compernolle V, Dauby N, Desmecht D, Grimaldi D, Lambrecht BN, Luyten A, Maes P, Moutschen M, Romano M, Seyler L, Nevessignsky MT, Vandenberghe K, van Griensven J, Verbeke G, Vlieghe E, Yombi JC, Liesenborghs L, Verhamme P, Meyfroidt G. A randomized, multicentre, open-label phase II proof-of-concept trial investigating the clinical efficacy and safety of the addition of convalescent plasma to the standard of care in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: the Donated Antibodies Working against nCoV (DAWn-Plasma) trial. Trials. 2020 Nov 27;21(1):981. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04876-0. Erratum In: Trials. 2020 Dec 14;21(1):1024.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): May 2, 2020
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): April 30, 2021
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): April 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 9, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 9, 2020
• First Posted (ACTUAL): June 12, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): October 26, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 18, 2021
• Last Verified: October 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; COVID-19
• Other Study ID Numbers: S63992

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