Clinical Trial to Investigate the Anti-oxidant Activity of Heptex in Patients With Apparent Risk Factors of NASH (PHYLLANTEX)

A Phase II, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial to Investigate the Anti-oxidant Activity of Heptex in Patients With Apparent Risk Factors of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

A Phase II, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial to Investigate the Anti-oxidant Activity of Heptex in Patients with Apparent Risk Factors of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Rice bran; Drug: Heptex

Detailed Description

This is a phase II, randomized, double blind placebo-controlled, three-arm, parallel-group, intervention clinical trial evaluating anti-oxidant activity of Heptex; a herbal medicinal product of Aerial Parts of Phyllanthus niruri (Dukung Anak) and Fruits of Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) in patients with apparent risk factors of NASH.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 142
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Cairo, Egypt
    • National Hepatology & Tropical Medicine Research Instistute
  • Cairo, Egypt
    • Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female aged between 18 and 65 years.
2. Both male and female patients who have childbearing potential must agree to practice an acceptable method of birth control during the study and for at least 6 months after the cessation of treatment; such contraceptive methods must include at least one barrier method.
3. Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP)-confirmed hepatic steatosis.
4. Patients with elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels but less than 2.5 times the upper limit of the normal range.
5. Liver fibrosis stage F1-F2 as diagnosed by the FibroScan liver stiffness measurement of 5-10 kPa.

6. Liver condition according the following criteria;

   • Serum albumin > 3 g/dl
   • INR < 2
   • No ascites on ultrasound
   • No documented or suspected hepatic encephalopathy
7. Willing to stop any other liver support and hepatoprotective medications throughout study duration.
8. Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
9. Able and willing to complete all study visits and procedures, including compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the consentform.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant or lactating women.
2. Patients with BMI > 40 Kg/m2 or BMI < 18.5 Kg/m2.
3. Serum creatinine > 1.5 x ULN OR creatinine clearance (GFR) < 60 mL/minute.
4. Platelet count < 75,000/mm3.
5. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus as evident by HbA1c ≥ 8.5%.
6. Patients who are currently receiving Thiazolidinediones.
7. Patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).
8. History of parenteral nutrition.
9. History of liver transplant.
10. Viral hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, metabolic liver disease or auto-immune liver disease.
11. Liver cancer or serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) >100ng/ml. Patients with an AFP between 50 and 100ng/ml may be included as long as a liver ultrasound within 3 months of screening, or at screening, shows no evidence of potential hepatocellular cancer.
12. Use of drugs known to induce steatosis (valproate, amiodarone or prednisone) or to affect body weight and carbohydrate metabolism.
13. Use of drugs known to alter liver enzymes.
14. Allergy or allergic history to any of the drug components.
15. History of alcohol abuse as assessed by the investigator within the past 2 years, or an alcohol use pattern that may interfere with the patient's study compliance. Patients must have abstained from alcohol for at least 6 months prior to study start.
16. Patients with history of clinically-significant illness or any other major medical disorder that may interfere with subject treatment, assessment, or compliance with the protocol.
17. Receipt of an investigational drug within 6 months prior to screening, or active enrolment in another investigational medication or device trial.
18. Patients with any chronic illness or prior treatment which in the opinion of the investigator should preclude participation in the trial.
19. Inability to understand and cooperate with the investigators or to give valid consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Placebo (Rice bran) in 2 capsules size 1, administered PO TID on empty stomach with plenty of water.	Other: Rice bran; Placebo
Experimental: Heptex-low dose; Low dose The contents of one capsule of Heptex is equally distributed and inserted into 2 capsules size 1, administered PO TID on empty stomach with plenty of water.	Drug: Heptex; Dukung Anak 200 mg + Milk thistle 100 mg
Experimental: Heptex-high dose; High dose The contents of two capsule of Heptex is equally distributed and inserted into 2 capsules size 1, administered PO TID on empty stomach with plenty of water.	Drug: Heptex; Dukung Anak 200 mg + Milk thistle 100 mg

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
explore the anti-oxidant activity of Heptex	assessed by the change in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in patients with apparent risk factors of NASH.	36 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
explore the hepatoprotective effect of Heptex	assessed by the change in Fibrosis score (F0 to F1: 2 to 7 kPa, F2: 7.5 to 10 kPa, F3: 10 to 14 kPa, F4: 14 kPa or higher) and by the occurrence of hepatic complications.	36 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To explore the lipid-lowering effect of Heptex	To explore the lipid-lowering effect of Heptex as assessed by the change in lipid profile.	36 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Natural Wellness Egypt
• Collaborators: Ain Shams University; National Hepatology & Tropical Medicine Research Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 8, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 21, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): February 21, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 15, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 25, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 25, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2022
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: NASH
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Liver Diseases; Fatty Liver; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
• Other Study ID Numbers: NW_PHYLLANTEX_17052018

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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