Dose-Escalation Study of Artesunate Patients With IPF (SAFE-IPF)

A Dose-Escalation Study Evaluating the Safety and Tolerability of Artesunate in Participants With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (SAFE-IPF)

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive fibrotic lung disease resulting in increasing shortness of breath, cough, and low oxygen levels as a result of lung tissue scarring . This will be a single-center randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of 20 weeks including up to 4 weeks for screening, followed by 12 weeks of oral artesunate treatment across 3 dose levels (dose escalation every 4 weeks), and 4 weeks of a washout (follow-up) period in participants with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of artesunate at 3 dose levels, and to select the dose(s) to carry forward into additional clinical testing. The secondary objective includes exploring the blood biomarkers present in participants with IPF at baseline and to investigate how those biomarkers change following artesunate treatment. The exploratory objectives include assessing the changes in the K-BILD and Leicester cough questionnaire scores and change in pulmonary function after artesunate administration.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Artesuante; Other: Placebo capsules

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 15
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Joseph Wu, M.D, Ph.D.; Phone Number: (650) 736-2246; Email: joewu@stanford.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Evgenios Neofytou, M.D.; Phone Number: 6507363346; Email: neofytou@stanford.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Stanford, California, United States, 94305
      • Recruiting
      • Stanford University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participants, aged 40 years or older.
2. Diagnosis of IPF based upon ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT 2018 guidelines (55).
3. FVC percent of predicted ≥ 40%; historical FVC for entry in the study is permitted if within 3 months of screening.
4. Diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) (hemoglobin-adjusted) ≥ 30%; historical DLco for entry in the study is permitted if within 3 months of screening.
5. Participants currently receiving treatment for IPF with nintedanib or pirfenidone are allowed, provided these drugs have been given at a stable dose for at least 6 weeks before the Screening visit (stable dose is defined as the highest dose tolerated by the participant during ≥ 6 weeks).
6. Female participants of childbearing potential (i.e., ovulating, premenopausal, and not surgically sterile) and all male participants with sexual partners of childbearing potential must use highly effective methods of birth control during their participation in the study and for 60 days after the last administration of study drug. Highly effective methods of birth control are defined as those with 99% or greater efficacy.
7. Participants must agree to abstain from egg or sperm donation through 60 days, after administration of the last dose of study drug.
8. Able to read and sign a written informed consent form (ICF).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Receiving any nonapproved agent intended for treatment of fibrosis in IPF or Participation in other clinical trials.
2. Clinical evidence of active infection, including but not limited to bronchitis, pneumonia, or sinusitis that can affect FVC measurement during screening.
3. Known acute IPF exacerbation or suspicion by the Investigator of such, within 3 months of screening.
4. The extent of emphysema is greater than the fibrotic changes on the most recent HRCT scan as determined by PI.
5. Any medical condition, not limited to cardiac, hepatic, renal disease or malignancy in recent months that will make the patients ineligible for the study, as deemed significant by PI.
6. Any of the following liver function test criteria above specified limits: total bilirubin >2× the upper limit of normal (ULN); aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >3× ULN; alkaline phosphatase > 2.5× ULN, pending PI's discretion.
7. Hemoglobin levels < 10.0 g/dL.
8. Pregnant or lactating females.
9. Likely to have lung transplantation during the study (being on transplantation list is acceptable).
10. Currently receiving and expected to remain on treatment during the study with: amodiaquine, and efavirenz, nevirapine and ritonavir.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Artesunate; Experimental group	Drug: Artesuante; Artesunate capsules administered orally twice daily beginning at 10 mg for 4 weeks, followed by 20 mg for 4 weeks, and then 30 mg for 4 weeks.; Other: Placebo capsules; Placebo capsules
No Intervention: Placebo; Control

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Number of participants who experience treatment-related adverse events	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Joseph C. Wu
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joshua Mooney, MD, Stanford University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 4, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 4, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 14, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2026
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: shortness of breath, fibrosis, cough, hypoxemia
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Fibrosis; Hypoxia; Cough; Dyspnea; Anti-Infective Agents; Antiviral Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Antimalarials; Anthelmintics; Schistosomicides; Antiplatyhelmintic Agents; Artesunate
• Other Study ID Numbers: 71488

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