An Exploratory Study of PQ Grass 27600 SU

A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Exploratory Study to Explore the Efficacy and Safety of PQ Grass 27600 SU in Subjects With Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis and/or Rhinoconjunctivitis Induced by Grass Pollen Exposure

PQGrass309 is aimed at exploring the expected average treatment effect of PQ Grass 27600 SU cumulative dose on symptom and medication score in a field setting. The study will enrol adult subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis and/or rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR) induced by grass pollen exposure.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: PQ Grass; Drug: Placebo Option 1; Drug: Placebo Option 2

Detailed Description

PQGrass309 is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled exploratory study to explore the efficacy and safety of PQ Grass 27600 SU in subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis and/or rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR) induced by grass pollen exposure. The study is expected to be conducted in the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). The study will enrol enough subjects to allow treatment of approximately 150 subjects.

The aim of this exploratory field study is to explore amongst others the following:

• The efficacy and safety (up to 6 months following treatment) of a cumulative dose of 27600 standardised units (SU) of PQ Grass in the treatment of grass pollen allergy.
• The expected average treatment effect on combined symptom and medication score.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 119
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Berlin, Germany
    • Universitatsmedizin Berlin - Charite Campus Mitte - Allergie Centrum Charite
  • Dresden, Germany
    • Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus an der TU Dresden
  • Essen, Germany
    • ENT RESEARCH - Institut für klinische Studien
  • Frankfurt am Main, Germany
    • Medaimun GmbH
  • Hamburg, Germany
    • Hamburger Institut für Therapieforschung GmbH
  • Saalfeld, Germany
    • Studienzentrum Dr. Sabine Lassmann
• United States
  • Kentucky
    • Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40509
      • Allergy and Asthma Associates of Bluegrass
  • Maryland
    • White Marsh, Maryland, United States, 21236
      • Chesapeake Clinical Research, Inc.
  • New Jersey
    • Ocean Township, New Jersey, United States, 07712
      • Atlantic Research Center, LLC
  • New York
    • Cortland, New York, United States, 13045
      • Smith Allergy & Asthma Specialists
    • Horseheads, New York, United States, 14845
      • Corning Center For Clinical Research
  • North Carolina
    • Asheville, North Carolina, United States, 28801
      • Allergy Partners of Western North Carolina
  • Ohio
    • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45231
      • Bernstein Clinical Research Center, LLC
  • Wisconsin
    • Greenfield, Wisconsin, United States, 53228
      • Allergy Asthma & Sinus Center, S.C.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 63 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Informed Consent

1. Capable of giving signed informed consent and demonstrates willingness to comply with the requirements and restrictions listed in the ICF and study protocol and to attend required study visits.

2. Subject who has signed and dated the ICF.

   - Age:

3. 18 to 65 years of age inclusive, at the time of signing the ICF.

   - Sex / Contraceptive requirements:

4. Male or female.

5. Female subjects who are not of childbearing potential (defined as at least 12 months natural spontaneous amenorrhoea, or at least 6 weeks following surgical menopause) or females of childbearing potential who agree to comply with the contraceptive requirements of the study protocol.

   - Subjects and general health characteristics:

6. Good general health, as determined by the investigator, based on a medical evaluation, including medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. A subject with a clinical abnormality or laboratory parameters outside the reference range for the population being studied may be included only if the investigator agrees that the finding is unlikely to introduce additional risk factors and will not interfere with the study procedures.

7. Positive history of moderate to severe symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and/or rhinoconjunctivitis ascribed to grass (Pooideae) pollen exposure that required repeated use of antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, and/or leukotriene modifiers for relief of symptoms during the last 2 consecutive seasons prior to the study, confirmed by subject records.

   Please note: Subjects with asthma may be included, but the asthma must be well controlled (according to current Global Initiative for Asthma {GINA} guidelines [GINA, 2020]).

8. A positive SPT for grass pollen (wheals [longest diameter] ≥3 mm and histamine ≥3 mm) and a negative SPT to the negative control (wheal diameter =0) at screening.
9. Grass specific IgE class ≥2 as documented by an ImmunoCAP test at screening.
10. FEV1 ≥80% of predicted, with a FEV1/FVC ratio ≥70% and (PEFR) ≥75% predicted at screening.
11. Subjects who have no suspicion or symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection (as assessed by the investigator) or who have had no contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks prior to screening and randomisation.

Exclusion Criteria (include amongst others):

- Medical conditions:

1. Pregnant or lactating subject.

2. Moderate to severe allergy symptoms during the screening and treatment periods, and/or GPS caused by perennial allergens or seasonal allergens (other than grass) as verified by medical history and positive SPT.

   Exception: screening, treatment and collection of eDiary data can be conducted outside of the pollen season(s) of concern or perennial allergies are irrelevant due to avoidance measures (e.g., cats and dog allergy).

3. Subjects with a positive SPT at US and EU sites in regions with relevant southern grass (Bahia grass, Bermuda grass or Johnson grass) exposure.
4. Moderate to severe symptoms during the 3 years prior to Visit 1 to another seasonal or perennial allergen not tested in the SPT that cannot be avoided during the study and the symptoms of which may interfere with administration of treatment and /or impact the data collected, as determined by the investigator.
5. Presence of any medical condition that may reduce the ability to survive a serious allergic reaction.
6. History of autoimmune disease including Hashimoto's thyroiditis or other immunological disorder or other diseases (including, but not limited to, malignancy, cardiovascular, gastro-intestinal, hepatic, renal, hematological, neurological, endocrine or pulmonary disease) that in the opinion of the investigator may pose a safety risk or compromise the interpretation of efficacy of the study treatment.
7. Presence of severe or uncontrolled or partly controlled asthma as defined in the GINA guidelines (GINA 2020) or asthma that requires more than a daily dose above 400 mcg of inhaled budesonide or equivalent.
8. Emergency room visit or hospitalisation for asthma in the 12 months prior to screening and randomisation or any history of a life-threatening asthma attack.
9. Presence of non-atopic rhinitis and/or rhino-sinusitis (with or without polyps).
10. Presence of nasal polyps and/or chronic sinusitis.
11. Presence of any acute or chronic ocular disorder, other than allergic conjunctivitis, which could interfere with the evaluation of CPT.
12. Eye surgery within the past 6 months.
13. Presence of any skin conditions (e.g. skin abnormalities, tattoos) which might interfere with the interpretation of the SPT results.
14. Clinical history of Type I diabetes. Subjects with well-controlled Type II diabetes will be allowed to participate at the discretion of the investigator.
15. Any acute infection (including upper respiratory tract infections in the 14 days prior to Visit 2), which in the opinion of the investigator may pose a safety risk to the subject.
16. Clinical history of severe or serious systemic reaction in response to AIT treatment in the past.
17. Clinical history of severe or life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to foods, insect venom, exercise, drugs or idiopathic anaphylaxis.
18. Clinical history of allergy, hypersensitivity or intolerance to the excipients of the IMP.

19. Tyrosine metabolism disorders, especially tyrosinemia and alkaptonuria.

    - Prior/concomitant therapy:

20. History of any allergen SIT.
21. Inability to adhere to the washout periods for Prohibited Medications/Therapies with respect to Visit 1/1a and to refrain from using the medications indicated until after Visit 15.
22. Treatment with a preparation containing MPL (e.g., Cervarix, Shingrix, Fendrix) within 2 years prior to Visit 1 and until after completion of Visit 15 (with the exception of the IMP).
23. Unable to receive epinephrine therapy (i.e., use of epinephrine is contraindicated such as in subjects with hyperthyroidism, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, closed angle glaucoma or subjects taking other sympathomimetic).
24. Previous history of epinephrine device use.
25. β-blocker medication (including eye drops), for any indication.
26. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants. (Tricyclic antidepressants should be avoided at least 2 weeks prior to screening).
27. Any previous therapy (within 12 months prior to screening) or current therapy with anti IgE (e.g., Xolair) or anti-interleukins (e.g., mepolizumab) or any other therapy with a biologic agent.
28. Unable to refrain from any vaccination (including influenza and any potential vaccine for COVID-19) during the study (unless administered more than 30 days prior to randomisation). Please note: Emergency vaccinations (e.g., tetanus due to injury) can be administered at any time.

29. Current or past therapy (within the previous 5 years) with immunosuppressant drugs or immunomodulatory biologics.

    Other exclusions

30. Clinical history of drug or alcohol abuse which, in the investigator's opinion, could interfere with the subject's ability to participate in the study.
31. Participation in a clinical research trial with any IMP within 4 weeks of Visit 1 or concomitantly with this study
32. Personal, financial or other dependent relationship (e.g., employee or immediate relative) with the study site, Sponsor, Sponsor's representative, or another individual who has access to the study protocol.
33. Vulnerable subjects or those in judicial or governmental detention, detainment or imprisonment in a public institution.

34. Subjects likely to have prolonged periods of absence (e.g., business or personal travel) during the GPS defined as:

    • Absence of 22 days or more in similar or mixed geographic regions as determined by the investigator, with no single trip in a similar geographical region exceeding 14 days and no single trip in a non-similar geographical region exceeding 7 days,
    • Absence of 15 days or more in non-similar geographic regions as determined by the investigator, with no single trip exceeding 7 days.
35. Have changed residence between geographical regions since the last GPS. Exception: the old and new residences are in the same or similar geographical region as determined by the investigator.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: PQ Grass Standard Dosing Regimen; Cumulative dose 27600 SU	Biological: PQ Grass; Suspension for injection
Experimental: PQ Grass Alternative Dosing Regimen; Cumulative dose 27600 SU	Biological: PQ Grass; Suspension for injection
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Option 1; Suspension for injection	Drug: Placebo Option 1; Suspension for injection
Placebo Comparator: Placebo option 2; Solution for injection	Drug: Placebo Option 2; Solution for injection

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
CSMS (Combined symptom and medication score) averaged over the peak grass pollen season (GPS)	6 individual symptoms assessed in a 4 point severity scale (0-No symptoms to 3-Severe symptoms	Approximately 2-5 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
CSMS averaged over the entire (or truncated) GPS	6 individual symptoms assessed in a 4 point severity scale (0-No symptoms to 3-Severe symptoms)	Approximately 10 weeks
Total combined score (TCS) averaged over the peak GPS	6 individual symptoms in a similar fashion to CSMS assessed in a 4 point severity scale (0-No symptoms to 3-Severe symptoms)	Approximately 2-5 weeks
TCS averaged over entire (or truncated) GPS	6 individual symptoms in a similar fashion to CSMS assessed in a 4 point severity scale (0-No symptoms to 3-Severe symptoms)	Approximately 10 weeks
Daily symptom score (dSS) of the CSMS averaged over the peak and entire (or truncated) GPS	Sum of the scores (0-No symptoms to 3-Severe symptoms) for the 6 individual symptoms assessed in CSMS divided by 6	Approximately 10 weeks. Duration of the Peak Grass pollen season (GPS) to be determined as per pollen counts within the GPS
Daily medication score (dMS) of the CSMS averaged over the peak and entire (or truncated) GPS	Score 0 (no relief medication) to 3 (highest step relief medication) per day; based on at least 1 dose of the medication of the highest step taken that day	Approximately 10 weeks. Duration of the Peak Grass pollen season (GPS) to be determined as per pollen counts within the GPS
dSS of the TCS averaged over the peak GPS and entire (or truncated) GPS	Sum of the scores (0-No symptoms to 3-Severe symptoms) for the 6 individual symptoms (i.e. ranging from 0 to 18)	Approximately 10 weeks. Duration of the Peak Grass pollen season (GPS) to be determined as per pollen counts within the GPS
dMS of the TCS averaged over the peak GPS and entire (or truncated) GPS	Score 0 (no relief medication) to 3 (highest step relief medication) per day; based on at least 1 dose of the medication of the highest step taken that day	Approximately 10 weeks. Duration of the Peak Grass pollen season (GPS) to be determined as per pollen counts within the GPS
TSS during CPT, CSMS, TCS, dSS (for CSMS and TCS) and dMS (for CSMS and TCS) over the peak and entire (or truncated) GPS for subjects with a positive CPT at baseline.	CPT - Conjunctival provocation test - At screening, during randomization and pre-GPS	Approximately 10 weeks. Duration of the Peak Grass pollen season (GPS) to be determined as per pollen counts within the GPS
The probability of well days and severe days during the peak and entire (or truncated) GPS.		Approximately 10 weeks. Duration of the Peak Grass pollen season (GPS) to be determined as per pollen counts within the GPS
Pre-GPS (Visit 12) TSS measured during CPT	Pre-season	Assessment Baseline (pre-GPS)
Serum Ig responses (total IgE; grass-specific IgE and IgG4; specific IgE/total IgE and specific IgE/specific IgG4) at Visit 12 and Visit 15.		Approximately 10 weeks
RQLQ(S) measured within the GPS	Rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire with standardised activities - RQLQ(S)	Approximately 10 weeks
Frequency, severity and relationship of AEs to treatment	AEs - Adverse Events	Up to 1 year
Frequency of AEs leading to premature discontinuation from treatment or study		Up to 1 year
Frequency of AESI	AESI - Adverse events of special interest	Up to 1 year
Changes in serum chemistry values between screening and Visit 15	Including sodium, potassium and chloride concentration	6 months approximately
Changes in serum chemistry values between screening and Visit 15	Including Glucose, uric acid, urea, calcium, creatinine, total protein, phosphorus, cholesterol, albumin and total bilirubin concentration	6 months approximately
Changes in serum chemistry values between screening and Visit 15	Including alkaline phosphatase, LDH, AST, ALT, GGT, CRP.	6 months approximately
Changes in haematology values between screening and Visit 15 - RBC, WBC, Platelets	Including total WBC and differentials, total RBC, RBC indices and platelet count.	6 months approximately
Changes in haematology values between screening and Visit 15 - Haemoglobin	Haemoglobin concentration	6 months approximately
Changes in clinical laboratory values (urinalysis) between screening and Visit 15	Urinalysis (using a urine dip-stick) pH, protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, blood, nitrite, urobilinogen, leukocytes. Note: Microscopic examination will be conducted if protein, leukocytes, nitrite, and/or blood are detected. If needed, microscopic examination will include WBC, RBC, casts, and bacteria.	6 months approximately
Changes in vital signs (all subjects) at all treatment visits - Blood pressure	systolic and diastolic blood pressure	7 months approximately
Changes in vital signs (all subjects) at all treatment visits - Pulse rate		7 months approximately
Changes in vital signs (all subjects) at all treatment visits - Respiratory rate		7 months approximately
Changes in vital signs (all subjects) at all treatment visits - Body temperature		7 months approximately
Changes in PEFR (only in subjects with past or current asthma) at all treatment visits	PEFR - peak expiratory flow rate	7 months approximately

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Allergy Therapeutics
• Investigators: Study Director: Pieter-Jan de Kam, Ph.D, Clinical Director

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 19, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 18, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): October 28, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 8, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 23, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): December 29, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 19, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 17, 2022
• Last Verified: September 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: PQ Grass; Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis or Rhinoconjunctivitis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity; Nose Diseases; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Allergic; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
• Other Study ID Numbers: PQGrass309; 2020-000408-13 (EudraCT Number)

Drug and device information, study documents

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