SAD/MAD Safety and PK Study of QPX9003 (Novel Polymyxin) in Normal Healthy Volunteers (QPX9003)

A Phase 1, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Ascending Single and Multiple-Dose Study of the Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous (IV) QPX9003 in Healthy Adult Subjects

The worldwide spread of resistance to antibiotics among gram-negative bacteria, particularly members of the ESKAPE group of pathogens, has resulted in a crisis in the treatment of hospital acquired infections. In particular, the presence of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in hospitals around the world poses a considerable threat.

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Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Bacterial Infections
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: QPX9003 for IV Infusion; Drug: Placebo for IV infusion

Detailed Description

The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have listed multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter and MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa as serious threats [CDC, 2019]. Consistent with the global nature of these resistant bacteria, the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa as critical threats [WHO, 2017].

To combat these serious threats Qpex has developed QPX9003, a next generation polymyxin that is more potent than existing polymyxins against P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii and has exhibited less nephrotoxicity in preclinical studies.

There remains a significant unmet need for new IV agents to treat gram-negative infections due to resistant bacteria in hospital settings. Some progress has been made in the successful development of new agents to address drug-resistant infections, particularly IV agents for resistant gram-negative bacteria [Talbot et al, 2019]. While some of these agents have addressed urgent threats like carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), their activity is largely confined to strains producing serine carbapenemases; none of these agents have reliable activity against metallo beta-lactamase producing CRE. Moreover, none of these recently approved agents have activity against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii [Talbot et al, 2019]. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria, in particular carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae, A. baumannii, and P. aeruginosa, has resulted in an increase in the use of polymyxin antibiotics as salvage therapy [Biswas et al. 2017].

This Phase 1 study will assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple IV administered ascending doses (SAD/MAD) of IV QPX9003 in healthy adult subjects.

Qpex is developing IV QPX9003 which is a next generation polymyxin with activity against multi-drug resistant A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 104
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Cypress, California, United States, 90630
      • Altasciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy adult males and/or females of non-child bearing potential, 18 to 60 years of age (inclusive).
2. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 18.5 and ≤ 29.9 (kg/m2) and weight between 55.0 and 100.0 kg (inclusive).
3. Medically healthy with clinically insignificant screening results (e.g., laboratory profiles, medical histories, electrocardiograms [ECGs], physical examination) as assessed by the PI.
4. Voluntarily consent to participate in the study.

5. If male, agree to be sexually abstinent or agree to use a condom when engaging in any sexual activity from Day -1 check-in to the clinic through 30 days following the last administration of the study drug, and to not donate sperm during this same period of time.. If engaging in sexual activity with a female partner of childbearing potential, an additional method of birth control must be used.

   Approved additional methods of birth control include:

   1. Intra-uterine device (IUD) in place for at least 3 months prior to Day 1 through 30 days following the final dosing of the study drug.
   2. Barrier method (diaphragm) for at least 14 days prior to Day 1 through 30 days following the final dosing of the study drug.
   3. Stable hormonal contraceptive for at least 3 months prior to Day 1 through 30 days following the final dosing of the study drug.
   4. Surgical sterilization (vasectomy) at least 6 months prior to Day 1.

6. Females of non-childbearing potential must meet at least one of the following criteria:

   1. postmenopausal (defined as 12 months spontaneous amenorrhea) with a serum FSH leve l≥ 40 mIU/mL.

   2. have undergone one of the following sterilization procedures documented at least 6 months prior to Day 1:

      • Bilateral tubal ligation
      • Hysterectomy
      • Hysterectomy with unilateral or bilateral oophorectomy
      • Bilateral oophorectomy
   3. Females who practice true abstinence or are in same sex relationships where there is no possibility of conception.

7. In addition to meeting Inclusion Criteria 1 through 6, cCohort 12 will consist of normal healthy Chinese subjects who are either:

   a. First generation Chinese subjects born in China, with 2 Chinese biological parents and 4 Chinese grandparents born in China of full Chinese descent.

   i. Subject has lived less than or equal to 10 years outside of China. ii. In addition to mainland China, subjects or their parents and grandparents may also be from Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Mongolia, or b. Second generation Chinese subjects born outside of China with 2 Chinese biological parents and 4 grandparents born in China of full Chinese descent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History or presence of significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, hematological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, immunologic, dermatologic, neurological, or psychiatric disease.
2. Positive urine drug screen or alcohol breath test at screening or check-in (Day -1).
3. Positive testing for HIV, hepatitis B or C
4. History or presence of alcoholism or drug abuse within last 2 years
5. Use of more than 5 packs/week of tobacco/nicotine-containing product within last 6 months prior dosing.
6. Use of any prescription medication (with the exception of hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy for females) within 14 days prior to dosing.
7. Use of any over-the-counter (OTC) medication, including herbal products, probiotics and vitamins, within the 7 days prior to dosing.
8. Use of antacids, H2 receptor blockers or proton pump inhibitors 7 days prior to dosing.
9. History of any hypersensitivity reaction or anaphylaxis to any medication, including polymyxin antibiotics.
10. Participation in another investigational clinical trial within 30 days prior to Day 1 or within 5 half-lives of the previous investigational drug, whichever is longer.
11. Females who are pregnant or lactating.
12. QTcF interval >450 msec for males and >470 msec for females, or history of prolonged QT syndrome at screening or check-in.
13. Calculated creatinine clearance less than 80 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault method) at screening or check-in.
14. Subjects who have any clinically significant abnormalities on laboratory values: White blood cell count < 3,000/mm3, hemoglobin < 11g/dL or Absolute neutrophil count < 1,200/mm3 or platelet count < 120,000/mm3.
15. Liver function abnormalities defined by an elevation in bilirubin, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) or Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) 1.5 x Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) of the normal range for subjects based on age and sex.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: TRIPLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: QPX9003 for IV infusion; IV novel polymyxin antibiotic Single and Multiple IV doses x 7 days via IV infusion q6hrs	Drug: QPX9003 for IV Infusion; antibiotic; Other Names: novel IV polymyxin antibiotic
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo for Infusion; IV saline Single and Multiple IV doses x 7 days via IV infusion q6hrs	Drug: Placebo for IV infusion; Placebo comparator; Other Names: IV saline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of Treatment -Emergent Adverse events (AEs) by subject and by cohort (single, multiple and combination dose)	Number of patients with Treatment-Emergent AEs by treatment arm, severity and relationship to treatment	up to 21 days
Number of patients with changes from baseline in safety parameters (single, multiple and combination dose)	Number of patients with changes in safety parameters before and after dosing by subject and treatment arm	up to 13 days
Peak plasma Concentration measurements by subject and by cohort (Cmax) (single and combination dose)	Comparison will be performed between the cohorts for Cmax. Mean graphical presentation of the data will be reported. Statistical analysis of exposure parameters will be performed.	up to 13 days
Area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) between cohorts (single and multiple dose)	Comparison will be performed between the cohorts for AUC. Mean graphical presentation of the data will be reported. Statistical analysis of exposure parameters will be performed.	up to 13 days
Urine amount excreted by subject and by cohort (single and combination dose)-PK	Urine amount excreted will be calculated from urinary excretion data	up to 13 days
Urine % dose excreted by subject and by cohort (single and multiple dose)-PK	Urine amount of % dose excreted will be calculated from urinary excretion data	up to 13 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Qpex Biopharma, Inc.
• Collaborators: Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): June 3, 2021
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): July 14, 2022
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): July 14, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 16, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): March 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): October 10, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 6, 2022
• Last Verified: July 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: polymyxin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Bacterial Infections; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Polymyxins
• Other Study ID Numbers: Qpex-300

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
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes