Safety and Tolerability of Emricasan in Symptomatic Outpatients Diagnosed With Mild-COVID-19

Treatments for COVID-19 are urgently needed. Emricasan (EMR) is a pan caspase inhibitor. Caspase-1 plays a role in a form of cell death called pyroptosis. EMR inhibits pyroptosis. The Investigators have shown that peripheral blood lymphocytes of COVID-19 patients overexpress caspase-1, providing evidence for pyroptosis. A recent European study corroborate the Investigators finding as they have shown evidence for the activation of the inflammasome in COVID-19.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Covid19
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Emricasan; Other: Placebo

Detailed Description

A safety and tolerability study will be performed in 50 symptomatic outpatient mild-COVID-19 patients using Emricasan at 25mg BID dosing for 14 days with a 1:1 active: placebo of mild-COVID-19 patients receiving standard of care therapy. Although EMR has been extensively studied in humans in a total of 18 Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies, with an excellent safety and tolerance profile, it has not been used in the setting of COVID-19, therefore necessitating an initial safety and tolerability study looking at a no difference between AEs/SAEs for comparison between active and placebo group. The pharmacokinetics of EMR has been extensively studied; therefore, the Investigators will opportunistically sample patients at the end of the study to confirm that the Emricasan PK is not altered in COVID-19 patients. The primary endpoint will be cumulative incidence of AE/SAEs through day 14. Secondary endpoints will include various clinical and laboratory measures and patient reported outcomes (PROs) using a COVID-19-related assessment tool, SARS-CoV-2 viral PCR, titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing and quantitative antibodies and immunological studies as described in the protocol.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 13
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Brooklyn, New York, United States, 11203
      • SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

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. Informed consent form signed and dated by participant.
2. Men or women >/=18 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent.
3. Access to device and internet for Televisits.
4. Laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection via viral RT-PCR test. The SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test will be conducted using, if possible, an FDA acceptable product under Emergency use Authorization (EUA) or as cleared by the Center for Device and Radiological Health (CDRH). We will have confirmation of the SARS-CoV-2 testing prior to enrollment.
5. COVID-19 patients in generally healthy status without significant medical comorbidities.
6. A treatment window for first dose of up to 10 days from onset of symptoms.

7. Outpatients with symptoms of respiratory illness caused by coronavirus 2019 infection as defined below:

   • Symptoms of mild illness with COVID-19 as defined by the W.H.O. in Table 1of the Clinical Management of COVID-19 interim Guidance document, May 27, 2020, meeting the case definition for mild COVID-19 without evidence of viral pneumonia or hypoxia
   • COVID-19 severity score on an 8-point ordinal score =/< 2 as defined by the WHO

2020. 8. Clinically normal resting 12-lead ECG at Screening Visit or, if abnormal, considered not clinically significant by the Principal Investigator. 9. Normal or clinically insignificant change in the liver (ALT, AST) and kidney function (blood creatinine), CBC with differential and clotting factors (PT and PTT).

10. Understands and agrees to comply with planned study procedures. 11. Women of childbearing potential must agree to use at least one medically accepted method of contraception (e.g., barrier contraceptives [condom, or diaphragm with a spermicidal gel], hormonal contraceptives [implants, injectables, combination oral contraceptives, transdermal patches, or contraceptive rings], or intrauterine devices) for the duration of the study.

12. Background standard of care will be maintained in all treatment arms. Off-label use of any other drugs, devices, or interventions that might be used to manage COVID-19 need to be discussed with the study medical director.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects showing signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation at the time of screening and ICU patients.
2. Patients with established COVID-19 co-morbidities, other than controlled hypertension, as established by current CDC-guidelines.
3. Unable to take oral medications.
4. Hospitalized patients at screening.
5. Moderate and severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B and C) for phase 1 protocol.
6. History of severe chronic respiratory disease and requirement for oxygen therapy

7. Any uncontrolled active systemic infection (e.g. cellulitis or abscess) or infections requiring admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Note: Subjects infected with HIV-1 will be eligible for the study with undetectable viral load and are on a stable ART regimen. Investigators are required to review the subjects' medical records to confirm HIV-1 RNA suppression within the previous 3 months.

   Note: Empirical antibiotic treatment for secondary bacterial infections is allowed during the course of study.

8. Patients with elevated baseline LFT's, such as an ALT / AST > 2 X ULN determined by the hospital lab.
9. Patients with diagnosed liver cirrhosis or clinical evidence suggestive of advanced liver disease.
10. Patients with malignant tumor(s), or other serious systemic diseases.
11. Patients who are participating in any other clinical studies.
12. Patients who have a history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to leronlimab (PRO 140) are not eligible.
13. Current use of the following medications that are considered significant inhibitors of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 transporters: atazanavir, cyclosporine, eltrombopag, gemfibrozil, indinavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, rifampin, saquinavir, simeprevir, telaprevir, tipranovir, or some combination of these medications
14. History or presence of clinically concerning cardiac arrhythmias, or prolongation of Screening (pre-treatment) QTcF interval >480 milliseconds (msec)
15. Inability to provide informed consent or to comply with test requirements
16. Moderate or higher level of severity of COVID-19. Moderate COVID-19 defined as: Symptoms of moderate illness with COVID-19, which could include any symptom of mild illness or shortness of breath with exertion, but clinical signs suggestive of moderate illness with COVID-19 including, respiratory rate ≥ 25 breaths per minute, or saturation of oxygen (SpO2) < 93% on room air at sea level, or resting heart rate ≥ 90 beats per minute (unless related to fever). In elderly patient population normal resting respiratory rate is 16-25 [24].
17. Immunocompromised patients and/or patients on immunomodulators or immune suppressants other than systemic or inhaled steroids, including transplant recipients.
18. Evidence of any new or uncontrolled concomitant disease that, in the investigator's judgment, would preclude patient participation, including but not limited to cardiovascular, pulmonary, nervous system, renal, hepatic, endocrine, malignant, or gastrointestinal disorders
19. If female, planned or known pregnancy - positive urine or serum pregnancy test
20. Lactating or breastfeeding women

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo	Other: Placebo; Placebo BID *days 1-14). Oral (capsule) administration.
Active Comparator: Emricasan	Drug: Emricasan; Emricasan 25 mg BID (days 1-14). Oral (capsule) administration.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0	Incidence rate of related treatment-emergent adverse events	14 Days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patient reported outcomes as assessed by COVID-19 assessment tool	The 2020 FDA Guidance for Industry Assessing COVID-19-Related Symptoms in Outpatient Adult and Adolescent Subjects in Clinical Trials of Drugs and Biological Products for COVID-19 Prevention or Treatment is the PRO that will be used for the study.	At screening/randomization, daily televisits (Day 2 - Day 13), Day 14, Day 30 and Day 45
Number of participants that experience death during the study.	Rate of mortality events	45 Days
Number of participants the experience a related serious adverse event as assessed by CTCAE v5.0.	Cumulative incidence rate of related serious adverse events	45 Days
Number of participants that experiences a Grade 3 and 4 adverse event as assessed by CTCAE v5.0	Cumulative incidence rate of Grade 3 and 4 adverse events	45 Days
Number of participants with a discontinuation or temporary suspension of study drug	Each participant that discontinues or temporarily suspends study drug for any reason.	45 days
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0	Each participant will be assessed via performance of standard of care hematology and biochemistry labs. The results of the labs will be assessed against a set of normal ranges for the CLIA certified laboratory.	Day 1, Day 14, Day 30 and Day 45
Each participant will be tested for SARS-CoV-2 viral eradication via a sample from the nasopharynx and the sample will be tested via RT- PCR.	SARS-CoV-2 viral eradication from nasopharynx at end of treatment.	Days 14, 30 and 45
Each participant will perform a 6 minute walk test (6MWD) for distance (400-700m) walked.	Perform 6 Minute Walk Test	Days 14, 30 and 45
Each participant will be assessed for COVID-19 severity via an 8-point ordinal scale	COVID-19 severity score on the 8-point COVID-19 Severity Scale. Scores are from 1 to 8, where 1 = uninfected and 8 = death	Days 14, 30 and 45
Each participant will be tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies via standard histogram, 2D plots, tSNE, and viSNE analysis.	The following cell populations will be examined- NK, CD4 and CD8 T-cells, Tfh, Treg, CD4 and CD8 memory, B-cell memory, monocytes and dendritic cells.	Days 14, 30 and 45
Each participant will be tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 quantitative antibodies via cytokine test panel.	Immune test for titers of serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 quantitative antibodies	Days 14, 30 and 45
Each participant will be assessed for resolution of COVID19 symptoms via performance of hematology and biochemistry labs, SARS-COV-2 nasopharyngeal swab and tested via RT-PCR and immunology testing for cytokines and cell populations.	Percentage of Participants with Resolution of COVID19 symptoms	Days 14, 30 and 45

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Histogen
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Raavi Gupta, MD, SUNY Downstate

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 11, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 28, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): May 28, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 17, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 4, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2021
• Last Verified: December 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: mild, symptomatic, COVID19
• 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: EMR-COV-PR001; www.pacestudies.com (Other Identifier: Histogen)

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