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Pulmonary FibrosisPhase 3IFIGENIANCT00639496

Study of the Effects of High-dose N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

A Phase 3 study testing n-acetylcysteine in people with Pulmonary Fibrosis, run by Zambon SpA at 7 sites in 7 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether NAC added to prednisone, and azathioprine has a better effect on lung function, radiology and clinical condition than placebo + prednisone in combination with azathioprine after 6 and 12 months. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Pulmonary Fibrosis
What is being tested?
n-acetylcysteine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
184 participants
Where
7 sitesin 7 countries
Study dates
Mar 2000to Jul 2003
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosis of IPF according to the International Consensus Statement
  • Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) showing no features to support an alternative diagnosis.
  • Patients in whom it was possible to determine single breath DLco.
  • Patients with newly or previously diagnosed IPF, in whom it was clinically justified to use the standardised regimen azathioprine plus prednisone

Who cannot join

  • Known intolerance to N-Acetylcysteine.
  • Patients with respiratory infections at study entry should be excluded until the infections have been treated successfully (VC and Dlco comparable with the values before the infection).
  • Patients with pre-existing disease that interferes with the evaluation of IPF: extensive old TBC lesions, significant bronchiectasis, moderate or severe COPD.
  • Patients with malignancy in the last 5 years. If the patient had a malignancy in the past and is free of malignancy for more than five years, the patient is regarded as healed.
  • Patients with heart failure.
  • Patients with hepatic function abnormalities contraindicating the use of azathioprine (i.e. clinically significant abnormalities of PTT and/or GGT).
Show all 21Show fewer
  • Patients with a renal clearance < 10ml/min and/or hematuria and/or proteinuria of collagen vascular disease origin. A renal clearance is only performed in the presence of an abnormal serum creatinine and/or serum urea level.
  • Patients who are artificially ventilated.
  • Prednisone at a dose > 0.5 mg/kg/day (or other glucocorticoids such as triamcinolone, dexamethasone or methylprednisolone at an equivalent dose) or azathioprine at a dose > 2 mg/kg/day during the last month prior to inclusion.
  • Use of other immunosuppressives (such as cyclophosphamide and colchicine) is not allowed in the last month and for the duration of the trial.
  • Any form of anticancer therapy or methotrexate are not allowed when used for more than 1 week in the past and for the duration of the trial.
  • Amiodarone or nitrofurantoin are not allowed in the last 5 years, when used for more than 1 week in the past and for the duration of the trial.
  • Allopurinol, oxypurinol, thiopurinol, anti-oxidants (e.g. vitamin E) or glutathione supplements are not allowed in the last month and during the trial.
  • The use of interferon or other antifibrotics (e.g. pirfenidone) is not allowed in the past and during the study.
  • The use of NAC therapy at a dosage of more than 600 mg/day is not allowed in the last 3 years for a total period of more than 3 months.
  • Patients suffering or having suffered from documented active ulcer within the last 3 years.
  • Patients in whom the standardised treatment regimen is contraindicated or not justified.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Known or suspected drug or alcohol abuse.
  • Patients on other investigational compounds or participating in clinical trials on investigational compounds within the last 3 months.
  • Patients expected to be non-compliant in taking the medication.

Trial locations and contacts

7 sites in 7 countries.

7 sites in 7 countries

Belgium1 site
  • U.Z. Ghent

    Ghent, B- 9000

Other trials in Belgium

France1 site
  • Hôpital A. Calmette

    Lille, F 59037

Other trials in France

Germany1 site
  • Klinikum Grosshadern

    Munich, 81377

Other trials in Germany

Italy1 site
  • U.O. di Pneumologia-Ospedale

    Arezzo, 52100

Other trials in Italy

Netherlands1 site
  • Stichting St. Antonius Ziekenhuis

    Nieuwegein, 3435 CM

Other trials in Netherlands

Spain1 site
  • Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío

    Seville, 41013

Other trials in Spain

United Kingdom1 site
  • The University of Edinburgh-Medical School

    Edinburgh, EH8 9AG

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis International Group Exploring NAC I Annual Study of the Effects of High-dose N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether NAC added to prednisone, and azathioprine has a better effect on lung function, radiology and clinical condition than placebo + prednisone in combination with azathioprine after 6 and 12 months.

Being tested
n-acetylcysteine, placebo
Keywords
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Medical subject headings
Pulmonary Fibrosis, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • n-acetylcysteineDrug

    Also called Flumucil

    600 mg x 3, for 12 months

  • placeboDrug

    Placebo

Study groups in NCT00639496
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1Experimentalpatients taking NAC 600 mg t.i.d.
Receives: Drug: n-acetylcysteine
2Placebo comparatorNot described
Receives: Drug: placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Vital capacity (VC) and diffusion capacity for CO (DLCO)

    Measured: at 6 and 12 months

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. clinical, radiologic and physiologic (CRP)-score

    Measured: at 6 and 12 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Mar 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startMar 2000
  3. Primary completionJul 2003
  4. Study completionJul 2003

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
184 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00639496
Sponsor's protocol ID
7112LAMC01
Acronym
IFIGENIA
Status last verified
Mar 2008
First submitted
13 Mar 2008
Last updated
5 Mar 2015
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Demedts M, Behr J, Buhl R, Costabel U, Dekhuijzen R, Jansen HM, MacNee W, Thomeer M, Wallaert B, Laurent F, Nicholson AG, Verbeken EK, Verschakelen J, Flower CD, Capron F, Petruzzelli S, De Vuyst P, van den Bosch JM, Rodriguez-Becerra E, Corvasce G, Lankhorst I, Sardina M, Montanari M; IFIGENIA Study Group. High-dose acetylcysteine in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2005 Nov 24;353(21):2229-42. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa042976.

    PubMed 16306520
  • Behr J, Demedts M, Buhl R, Costabel U, Dekhuijzen RP, Jansen HM, MacNee W, Thomeer M, Wallaert B, Laurent F, Nicholson AG, Verbeken EK, Verschakelen J, Flower CD, Petruzzelli S, De Vuyst P, van den Bosch JM, Rodriguez-Becerra E, Lankhorst I, Sardina M, Boissard G; IFIGENIA study group. Lung function in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis--extended analyses of the IFIGENIA trial. Respir Res. 2009 Oct 27;10(1):101. doi: 10.1186/1465-9921-10-101.

    PubMed 19860915

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing n-acetylcysteine in people with Pulmonary Fibrosis, run by Zambon SpA at 7 sites in 7 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 21 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Mar 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 7 sites in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and 2 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Vital capacity (VC) and diffusion capacity for CO (DLCO) (time frame: at 6 and 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00639496, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Mar 2015.

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