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Erythropoietic ProtoporphyriaPhase 3NCT04053270

Multicentre Phase III Erythropoietic Protoporphyria Study

A Phase 3 study testing Afamelanotide in people with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria, run by Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited.

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

This was a phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous bioresorbable afamelanotide implants in patients with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
What is being tested?
Afamelanotide
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
100 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
May 2007to 9 Dec 2009
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male or female patients with a diagnosis of EPP (confirmed by elevated free protoporphyrin in peripheral erythrocytes) of sufficient severity that they have requested treatment to alleviate their symptoms.
  • Aged 18-70 years.
  • Written informed consent prior to the performance of any study-specific procedure.

Who cannot join

  • Any allergy to afamelanotide or the polymer contained in the implant or to lignocaine or other local anaesthetic used during the administration of study medication.
  • EPP patients with significant hepatic involvement.
  • Personal history of melanoma or dysplastic nevus syndrome.
  • Current Bowen's disease, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or other malignant or premalignant skin lesions.
  • Any other photodermatosis such as PLE, DLE or solar urticaria.
  • Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS or hepatitis.
Show all 16Show fewer
  • Any evidence of clinically significant organ dysfunction or any clinically significant deviation from normal in the clinical or laboratory determinations.
  • Acute history of drug or alcohol abuse (in the last 12 months).
  • History of disorders of the gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine (including diabetes, Cushing's syndrome, Addison's disease, Peutz-Jeagher syndrome), neurological (including seizures), haematological (especially anaemia of less than 10 g/100 mL) or systemic disease judged to be clinically significant by the Investigator.
  • Major medical or psychiatric illness
  • Patient assessed as not suitable for the study in the opinion of the investigator (e.g. noncompliance history allergic to local anaesthetics, faints when given injections or giving blood).
  • Female who was pregnant (confirmed by positive serum β-HCG pregnancy test prior to baseline) or lactating.
  • Females of child-bearing potential (pre-menopausal, not surgically sterile) not using adequate contraceptive measures (i.e. oral contraceptives, diaphragm plus spermicide, intrauterine device).
  • Participation in a clinical trial of an investigational agent within 30 days prior to the screening visit.
  • Use of regular medications as specified in protocol Section 5.4 Prior and Concomitant Therapy.
  • Any factors that may affect skin reflectance measurements.

About this study

Official title: A Phase III, Multicentre, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Subcutanenous Bioresorbable CUV1647 Implants in Patients With Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP)

This was a phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous bioresorbable afamelanotide implants in patients with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP).

The study was conducted with two parallel study arms with crossover between treatments every 60 days.

Read more

Eligible patients were randomised to a treatment group, and received implants of active treatment (afamelanotide 16mg) or placebo, in an alternating crossover fashion according to the following dosing regime:

  • Group A was administered active implants on Days 0, 120, 240 and placebo implants on Days 60, 180, 300
  • Group B was administered placebo implants on Days 0, 120, 240 and active implants on Days 60, 180, 300
Read the detailed description

Afamelanotide is a man-made drug being studied for use as a preventative medication for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) sufferers. It is a synthetically produced analogue of human alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH).

The study will involve the use of an implant, which comes in the form of a small rod to be administered under the skin. The implant may contain the study drug afamelanotide or a placebo (inactive medication).

This study aims to provide insight into the effectiveness of afamelanotide under normal conditions of use in EPP patients.

Being tested
Afamelanotide, Placebo
Keywords
Erythropoietic Protoporphyria, EPP, Afamelanotide
Medical subject headings
Protoporphyria, Erythropoietic

What participants receive

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

  • AfamelanotideDrug

    16mg subcutaneous implant

  • PlaceboDrug

    Placebo subcutaneous implant

Study groups in NCT04053270
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Group AExperimentalGroup A was administered active implants on Days 0, 120, 240 and placebo implants on Days 60, 180, 300
Receives: Drug: Afamelanotide; Drug: Placebo
Group BPlacebo comparatorGroup B was administered placebo implants on Days 0, 120, 240 and active implants on Days 60, 180, 300
Receives: Drug: Afamelanotide; Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Cumulative Number of Days of Phototoxic Reactions (Study Efficacy Population)

    The cumulative number of days where a phototoxic reaction occurred was recorded in the patient diary. The reported data represent a cumulative total for days of phototoxic reactions.

    The participant scored the level of pain using an 11-point Likert pain scale, with minimum of 0 and maximum of 10. The 11-point Likert Pain scale with a value of 0 represents no pain and 10 represents worst imaginable pain.

    The primary analysis population for efficacy was revised, to analyze only participants who reported cumulative total Likert pain scores of at least 26 during the study (0-360 days). This population, which was comprised of 60 patients, is identified as the Efficacy population. Participants with less than 26 Likert pain scores were not included in the analysis.

    Measured: 0-360 days or Early Termination

  2. The Mean Number of Phototoxic Reactions (Study Efficacy Population)

    The mean number of phototoxic reactions that occurred whilst patients were on active compared with placebo implants.

    The days on which the participant experienced pain as a result of phototoxic reactions (caused by exposure to natural light) was recorded in a study diary. On each day such a reaction occurred, the participant scored the level of pain using an 11-point Likert pain scale, with minimum of 0 and maximum of 10. The 11-point Likert pain scale with a value of 0 represents no pain and 10 represents worst imaginable pain.

    The primary analysis population for efficacy was revised, to analyze only participants who reported a cumulative total Likert pain score of at least 26 during the study (0-360 days). This population, which was comprised of 60 patients, is identified as the Efficacy population.

    Participants with less than 26 Likert pain scores were not included in the analysis.

    Measured: 0-360 days or Early Termination

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Cumulative Number of Days With Sunlight Exposure (Study Efficacy Population)

    The number of days with sunlight exposure was recorded in the patient diary. The sunlight exposures were divided into the following categories: none, < 1 hour, 1 to 3 hours, 3 to 6 hours and > 6 hours per day.

    Measured: 0-360 days or Early Termination

  2. Skin Melanin Density (Study Completers Population)

    Changes in melanin density (MD) (measured by spectrophotometry) at each visit by group.

    Participants had their skin pigmentation measured by a non-invasive quantitative skin chromaticity (reflectance) reading. Reflectance by the skin of light measured at the wavelengths of 400 nm and 420 nm was recorded using a Minolta cm-2500d spectrophotometer at the following skin sites: forehead, left cheek, right inside upper arm, left medial forearm, right side of abdomen (avoiding implant insertion site), left side of sacral region/buttock.

    Melanin density was determined for each skin site using the method of Dwyer et al 1998.

    Measured: Day0, Day14, Day30, Day60, Day74, Day90, Day120, Day150, Day180, Day210, Day240, Day270, Day300, Day330, Day360 or Early Termination

  3. Change in Quality of Life Using SF36 Questionnaire (Physical Component Score) for Study Completers Population

    The Summary of SF36 change from Baseline of Physical Component Score (PCS) to the scores during treatment on Days 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 using the SF36 questionnaire.

    The SF-36 (The Short Form 36 Health Survey) consists of eight scaled scores, which are the weighted sums of the questions in each section. Each scale is directly transformed into a 0-100 scale on the assumption that each question carries equal weight.

    The higher scores represent better health-related quality-of-life.

    Measured: Day0, Day60, Day120, Day180, Day240, Day300, Day360 or Early Termination

  4. Change in Quality of Life Using SF36 Questionnaire (Mental Component Score) for Study Completers Population

    The Summary of SF36 change from Baseline of Mental Component Score (MCS) to the scores during treatment on Days 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 using the SF36 questionnaire.

    The SF-36 (The Short Form 36 Health Survey) consists of eight scaled scores, which are the weighted sums of the questions in each section. Each scale is directly transformed into a 0-100 scale on the assumption that each question carries equal weight.

    The higher scores represent better health-related quality-of-life.

    Measured: Day0, Day60, Day120, Day180, Day240, Day300, Day360 or Early Termination

Timeline

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

  1. First posted12 Aug 2019
  2. Study startMay 2007
  3. Primary completion9 Dec 2009
  4. Study completion9 Dec 2009

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
Crossover
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
100 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04053270
Sponsor's protocol ID
CUV017
Status last verified
Oct 2019
First submitted
8 Aug 2019
Last updated
10 Oct 2019
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Dwyer T, Muller HK, Blizzard L, Ashbolt R, Phillips G. The use of spectrophotometry to estimate melanin density in Caucasians. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1998 Mar;7(3):203-6.

    PubMed 9521433

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Afamelanotide in people with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria, run by Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited.

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 3 inclusion and 16 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 10 Oct 2019. 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?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 10 Oct 2019). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Cumulative Number of Days of Phototoxic Reactions (Study Efficacy Population) (time frame: 0-360 days or Early Termination). 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?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04053270, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 10 Oct 2019.

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