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Multiple SclerosisPhase 3NCT03710655

Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of Apitox Add-on Therapy for Improving Disability and Quality of Life in MS Patients

A Phase 3 study testing Apitox - pure honeybee toxin in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by Apimeds, Inc..

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

Determine the effects of Apitox add-on therapy on the progression of disability in all forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) utilizing the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the MS Functional Composite (MSFC) measure. b. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Multiple Sclerosis
What is being tested?
Apitox - pure honeybee toxin
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
468 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Apr 2019to Nov 2019
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 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Subjects who have provided written informed consent and authorization for disclosure of protected health information must meet the following criteria:
  • Men or women aged 18 to 65 years inclusive.
  • Confirmed diagnosis of MS as defined by the McDonald criteria [25].
  • Receiving disease modifying treatment and/or treatment for symptoms of MS at baseline. Subjects will be allowed to continue their MS treatment regimens throughout the trial (see Sections 7.4 and 7.5 for prior and allowed medications, respectively, during the trial).
  • Females of childbearing potential must be willing to use an acceptable method of contraception. A woman is considered of childbearing potential if she is not surgically sterile or if her last menstrual period was <12 months prior to Visit 1. Acceptable methods of contraception for this study include surgical sterilization, oral or depot contraceptives (taken for at least 60 days before Week 1), intrauterine devices, diaphragm with spermicide, or other methods on a subject-by-subject basis.
  • Baseline EDSS score of 0.0-6.0 (average Week -1 and Week 1 pre-dose).
  • Able to understand and be willing to comply with all study requirements, particularly the regimen for administration of investigational product.

Who cannot join

  • Any subject who meets any of the following criteria will not qualify for entry into the study:
  • A history of allergic reactions or drug hypersensitivity to honeybee venom.
  • A systemic reaction to a skin test for hypersensitivity to Apitox. Phase 3 Trial Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Apitox Add-on Therapy Protocol 02-2014 for Improving Disability and Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis 07 April 2017
  • History of abnormal MRI scan, not attributable to MS.
  • Neurological disorder other than MS, acute or chronic infection.
  • Malignant neoplasm or metastasis except for basal and squamous skin cancers.
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  • Coronary artery disease or prior myocardial infarction.
  • Use of beta-blockers, drugs considered potent CYP450 inhibitors (see a list of moderate and strong CYP450 inhibitors in Appendix 9), alcohol, or preparations containing histamine (such as Prokarin™) during the study period.
  • Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or unstable type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • Any clinically significant ECG abnormalities (e.g. ischemic changes), as determined by the Investigator.
  • Any abnormal clinical or laboratory parameter that is considered clinically significant or has Grade 3 or higher as specified in the "Guidance for Industry - Toxicity Grading Scales for Healthy Adult and Adolescent Volunteers enrolled in Preventative Vaccine Clinical Trials" (Appendix 8). Subjects with abnormal hepatic and renal labs that are considered mild (Grade 1) or moderate (Grade 2) and not clinically significant (Appendix 8) will be monitored during the trial. 11. Recent (within 1 year of screening) alcohol abuse or use of marijuana or illicit drugs.
  • 12. Females who are lactating/breastfeeding or who plan to breastfeed while on study through 2 weeks after receiving the last dose of study drug.
  • 13. Females who are pregnant or who plan to become pregnant. 14. Use of an investigational product within a period of 28 days prior to enrollment in the study that would, in the opinion of the Investigator, confound the treatment for QoL or pain reduction.
  • 15. Any condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would place the subject at increased risk or may confound the study results. DOSAGE

Trial locations and contacts

No sites are listed yet.

About this study

Official title: Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Apitox Add-on Therapy for Improving Disability and QOL in MS Patients

Determine the effects of Apitox add-on therapy on the progression of disability in all forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) utilizing the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the MS Functional Composite (MSFC) measure. b. Evaluate the safety and tolerability of add-on Apitox therapy for the treatment of patients with all forms of MS: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS). The

Read the detailed description

The primary efficacy endpoints will assess the effects of Apitox add-on therapy on the changes in EDSS and the MSFC measure from baseline (average Week -1 and Week 1 pre-dose) to Week 16 (Visit 21) versus placebo (histamine). The primary safety endpoint will evaluate, at specified visits, the effects of Apitox add-on therapy on adverse events and tolerability, vital signs, clinical laboratory values, urine pregnancy test, physical exam and 12-Lead ECG. Secondary endpoints will determine the effects of Apitox add-on therapy versus placebo on the improvement in: 1. Quality of life as measured by the MSQoL-54 questionnaire at baseline (average Week -1 and Week 1 pre-dose) and Weeks 3 (Visit 8), Week 10 (Visit 15), Week 15 (Visit 20), Week 16 (Visit 21), Week 17 (Visit 22) and Week 19 (Visit 23). 2. Ambulatory and functional disability as measured by the individual Functional System Scores (FSS) at baseline (average Week -1 and Week 1 pre-dose) and Visits 8, 15, 20, 21, 22 and 23. 3. Progression of disability utilizing the change in EDSS and MSFC obtained at baseline (average Week -1 and Week 1 1 pre-dose) and Visits 8, 15, 20, 21, 22 and 23. 3. Progression of disability utilizing the change in EDSS and MSFC obtained at baseline (average Week -1 and Week 1 pre-dose) and assessed at and Visits 8, 15, 20, 22 and 23. 4. Pain and physical function as assessed with the Pain Intensity Numerical Rating Scale (PI-NRS) and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) at baseline (average Week -1 and Week 1 pre-dose) and Visits 8, 15, 20, 21, 22 and 23. 5. Disease status using Patient Global Assessment (PGA), and Physician's Global Assessment (PhGA) at baseline (average Week -1 and Week 1 pre-dose) and Visits 8, 15, 20, 21, 22 and 23. Exploratory endpoints will assess, in a subset of subjects, changes in MS lesions from baseline (Week -2 or within the past 52 weeks) . Prior to randomization, subjects will undergo a skin test with Apitox (50 micrograms) to exclude those with systemic hypersensitivity to the product. Subjects will continue taking their regular MS treatments throughout the study. During the study, subjects will receive an additional 1 gram ascorbic acid per day and must not consume alcohol. After a screening period of up to 3 weeks, approximately 436 eligible subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either Apitox (n=218) or Placebo (n=218). The fixed histamine placebo dosage was designed to be sub-therapeutic and mimic the sensation of a bee sting. All injections will be administered intradermally according to the schedule and anatomical sites provided in Appendix 1, twice weekly for 3 weeks, and then once weekly for another 12 weeks. Each subject's starting dose will be 0.2 mL (Week 1; Visit 3) and will be escalated at every visit in 0.2 mL increments up to the maximum dose of 1.5 mL (1500 micrograms at Week 4; Visit 9). At Visits 9 through 20, subjects will continue to receive 1.5 mL Apitox or placebo for the rest of the study. A subset of the randomized subjects (n=44) will undergo MRI testing for exploratory analyses of changes in MS lesions at follow-up Visit 21 (Week 16). There are 3 follow up visits (Visits 21, 22 and 23) at 1, 2 and 4 weeks post-treatment after the last maximum dose visit (Week 15; Visit 20). During treatment, visits should be at least 3 days apart. The duration of the study is up to 22 weeks that includes up to 3 weeks of screening, 15 weeks on treatment, and 4 weeks for follow-up visits. If a subject experiences an exacerbation of MS during the study, he or she should inform the site as soon as possible. The subject's primary care physician will be consulted if appropriate additional treatment can be performed at the site; e.g. intravenous (IV) corticosteroids. The primary care physician and PI will determine if the subject will continue in the trial. If the subject is discontinued, she or he will have an early termination (ET) visit. If a subject experiences an immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reaction from Apitox or histamine study treatments, the subject will undergo emergency procedures described in Sections 5.4.5 and 5.4.6. Dosing will be carried out at clinical sites in geographical areas with access to emergency facilities (i.e., near hospital or clinic with an Emergency Care Facility). Each site has personnel trained in emergency response including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and each has rescue parenteral epinephrine available. Before discharge at Week 1 (Visit 3), each subject will be provided epinephrine for the treatment of anaphylactic shock (e.g. EpiPen® Auto-Injector) and will be advised that this should always be available to them. In the event of a severe anaphylactic reaction, subjects will stop Apitox therapy and will be discontinued from the study. This study will be monitored by a Safety Monitoring Committee (SMC). The SMC will be comprised of an independent physician, the Medical Monitor and the Investigator. The independent physician is not directly affiliated with the protocol under review. The SMC will meet to review the safety of subjects who participate in the trial and will meet, if required, to advise the sponsor if enrollment and dose escalation should continue for a specific subject

Being tested
Apitox - pure honeybee toxin, Placebo
Keywords
QOL and pain
Medical subject headings
Multiple Sclerosis, Pain

What participants receive

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

  • Apitox - pure honeybee toxinDrug

    Also called Apitoxin

    Intradermal injection of 0.01 microliters

  • PlaceboDrug

    Also called histamine

    Intradermal injection of 0.01 microliters

Study groups in NCT03710655
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
treatment groupExperimentalskin test, dose escalation, final dose of 1.5mg weekly over 16 weeks of Apitox pure honeybee toxin
Receives: Drug: Apitox - pure honeybee toxin
placebo groupPlacebo comparatorhistamine placebo administered intradermally in dose escalation, final dose of 1.5mg weekly over 16 weeks
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)

    Measured: 16 weeks

  2. MS Functional Composite (MSFC)

    Measured: 16 weeks

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Quality of life questionnaire (MSQoL-54)

    Measured: 16 weeks

  2. Functional System Scores (FSS)

    Measured: 16 weeks

  3. Pain Intensity Numerical Rating Scale (PI-NRS)

    Measured: 16 weeks

  4. Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)

    Measured: 16 weeks

  5. Patient Global Assessment (PGA)

    Measured: 16 weeks

  6. Physician's Global Assessment (PhGA)

    Measured: 16 weeks

Timeline

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

  1. First posted18 Oct 2018
  2. Study startApr 2019 (estimated)
  3. Primary completionAug 2019 (estimated)
  4. Study completionNov 2019 (estimated)

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
Model description
1-1 in two studies of 468 patients total patients 936
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
468 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03710655
Sponsor's protocol ID
MSKIM10418
Status last verified
Oct 2018
First submitted
6 Oct 2018
Last updated
18 Oct 2018
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Apitox - pure honeybee toxin in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by Apimeds, Inc..

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 7 inclusion and 14 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Oct 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

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?

Results are not available in the source record.

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

Contact Robert Brooks, PhD (3027321358 ext. 3027321358, dbrooks3@apimeds.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (time frame: 16 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 18 Oct 2018.

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