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COVID-19 InfectionPhase 3NeptunoNCT04784559

Trial to Determine the Efficacy/Safety of Plitidepsin vs Control in Patients With Moderate COVID-19 Infection

A Phase 3 study testing Plitidepsin, Dexamethasone and Remdesivir in people with COVID-19 Infection, run by PharmaMar at 28 sites in 8 countries.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

Treatment of patients hospitalised for management of moderate COVID-19 infection Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
COVID-19 Infection
What is being tested?
Plitidepsin, Dexamethasone and Remdesivir
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
205 participants
Where
28 sitesin 8 countries
Study dates
4 Jun 2021to 1 Mar 2023
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 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Signed informed consent obtained prior to initiation of any study-specific procedures and study treatment.
  • Documented diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, determined by either qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), antigen test by local laboratory, or any other validated method approved by the local health authority, from appropriate biological samples collected no more than 72 hours prior to study treatment on Day 1.
  • Patient meets category 5 on the 11-point WHO Clinical Progression Scale: requires hospitalisation and oxygen by mask or nasal prongs/cannula.
  • A maximum of 14 days from onset of COVID-19 symptoms to initiation of study treatment on Day 1.
  • Male or female aged ≥18 years.
  • Adequate bone marrow, liver, kidney, and metabolic function, defined by the following tests performed at local laboratory:
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  • Absolute neutrophil count ≥500/mm^3 (0.5 x 10^9/L).
  • Platelet count ≥75,000/mm^3 (75 x 10^9/L).
  • Alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) ≤3 x upper limit of normal (ULN).
  • Serum bilirubin ≤1 x ULN (or direct bilirubin <1 x ULN when total bilirubin is above ULN).
  • Calculated creatinine clearance ≥30 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault equation).
  • Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) ≤2.5 x ULN except if the patient has had recent (i.e., in the last week) shivering episodes or trauma. In that case, the level of CPK should be ≤5 x ULN.
  • Agree not to participate in another interventional clinical trial through Day 31.
  • Females of reproductive capacity must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test by local laboratory at study enrolment and must be non-lactating.
  • Females and males with partners of child-bearing potential must use effective contraception while on study treatment and for 6 months after last dose of plitidepsin. Patients in the control arm must use effective contraception during the time indicated in the approved product information (summary of product characteristics [SmPC] or leaflet). If no information is available in the approved product information, patients in the control arm must use effective contraception for at least one week after the study completion or the time indicated based on the investigator's discretion.

Who cannot join

  • Subjects with a pre-baseline (i.e., in the month preceding the current COVID-19 infection) impairment in general health condition for whatever reason except COVID-19, with a severe dependency for daily living activities (Barthel index ≤ 60/100) or chronic oxygen therapy.
  • Having received treatment for COVID-19 in another clinical trial in the prior 4 weeks, except documented allocation in a placebo arm.
  • Evidence of respiratory failure at the time of randomisation, based on resource utilisation requiring at least one of the following: endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, oxygen delivered by high-flow nasal cannula, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, ECMO, or clinical diagnosis of respiratory failure (i.e., clinical need for one of the aforementioned therapies, which could not be administered in a resource-limited setting).
  • Patients with severe COVID-19, meeting score >5 on the 11-point WHO Clinical Progression Scale or presenting, after an initial stabilisation prior to randomisation, any of clinical signs indicative of severe systemic illness, such as respiratory rate ≥30 per minute, heart rate ≥125 per minute, or PaO2/FiO2 <300. In case a direct measure of PaO2 has not been obtained, it should be imputed according to a referenced formula. For sites located over 1000 m above sea level, PaO2/FiO2 ratio will be adjusted.
  • Patients receiving, at randomisation, treatment with antiviral therapy against SARS-CoV-2 or requiring anti-inflammatory/immunomodulating drugs beyond glucocorticoids with the exceptions listed below:
  • Prior administration of dexamethasone or equivalent glucocorticoid might be acceptable if:
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  • The total daily dose is not higher than 10 mg of dexamethasone phosphate (equivalent to dexamethasone base 8.25 mg/day) or equivalent glucocorticoids.
  • The duration of the treatment does not exceed 72 hours prior to study treatment Day 1.
  • Prior administration of dexamethasone or equivalent glucocorticoid might be acceptable if:
  • The total daily dose is not higher than 10 mg of dexamethasone phosphate (equivalent to dexamethasone base 8.25 mg/day) or equivalent glucocorticoids.
  • The duration of the treatment does not exceed 72 hours prior to study treatment Day 1.
  • Prior administration of an antiviral might be acceptable in the following circumstances:
  • For small molecules (e.g., remdesivir, molnupiravir, nirmaltrevir/ritonavir), they must have been given for an earlier stage of the disease, outside a clinical trial, and there should be a documentation of objective clinical deterioration plus evidence of persisting positivity for SARS-CoV-2 in appropriate biological samples. Last dose of previous antiviral drugs should have been administered at least 24 h before randomisation.
  • For antiviral monoclonal antibodies, they must have been given for an earlier stage of the disease (including pre-exposure prophylaxis), outside a clinical trial, and there should be a documentation of objective clinical deterioration plus evidence of persisting positivity for SARS-CoV-2 in appropriate biological samples. Last dose of antiviral monoclonal antibodies should have been administered at least 1 week before randomisation.
  • Patients receiving treatment with chloroquine or derivatives within 8 weeks before enrolment or during the study.
  • Patients receiving treatment with strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors or inducers.
  • Viral illness (other than COVID-19) requiring therapy, except for patients with treated and adequately controlled (undetectable) human immunodeficiency virus infection.
  • Patients with uncontrolled known primary or secondary immunodeficiency, including chronic treatment with glucocorticoids (i.e., prednisone at a daily dose of >10 mg for >1 month, or another glucocorticoid at equipotent dose).
  • Any of the following cardiac conditions or risk factors:
  • Sinus bradycardia (<50 beats/min), sinus nodal dysfunction (sick sinus disease), atrioventricular block of any degree (PR >200 msec), or any other bradyarrhythmia (<50 beats/min), except for patients with permanent pacemakers;
  • Cardiac infarction, cardiac surgery or cardiac insufficiency episode within the last 6 months;
  • Known abnormal value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <low limit of normal (LLN)), unless documented confirmation of recovery (LVEF >LLN) in the previous month;
  • QT interval corrected using Fridericia's formula (QTcF) >450 msec for males or >470 msec for females;
  • History of known congenital or acquired QT prolongation;
  • Uncorrected hypokalaemia, hypocalcaemia (adjusted) and/or hypomagnesemia at screening;
  • Troponin test performed at local laboratory >1.5 x ULN; or
  • Need for an unreplaceable drug that prolongs QT and it is clearly associated with a known risk for torsades de pointes (TdP); in case of being already on treatment with these aforementioned drugs, a minimum of 4 half-lives of the drug is required before replacement (if feasible).
  • Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of the excipients (mannitol, macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate, and ethanol) or patients for whom dexamethasone, antihistamine H1/H2 or antiserotoninergic agents are contraindicated.
  • Females who are pregnant (negative serum or urine pregnancy test required for all females of child-bearing potential at screening) or breast feeding.
  • Females and males with partners of child-bearing potential (females who are not surgically sterile or postmenopausal defined as amenorrhea for >12 months) who are not using at least 1 protocol specified method of contraception.
  • Any other clinically significant medical condition (including major surgery within the last 3 weeks before screening) or laboratory abnormality that, in the opinion of the investigator, would jeopardise the safety of the patient or potentially impact on patient compliance or the safety/efficacy observations in the study.

Trial locations and contacts

28 sites in 8 countries.

28 sites in 8 countries

Spain17 sites
  • Hospital General Universitario de Alicante

    Alicante, 3010

  • Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol

    Badalona, Barcelona, 08916

  • Hospital Universitario HM Montepríncipe

    Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, 28668

  • Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves (HUVN)

    Granada, 18014

  • Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara

    Guadalajara, 19002

  • Hospital Universitario de Jerez de la Frontera

    Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, 11407

  • Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge

    L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08907

  • Hospital Infanta Leonor

    Madrid, 28032

  • Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

    Madrid, 28034

  • Hospital Clínico San Carlos

    Madrid, 28040

  • H. HM Sanchinarro

    Madrid, 28050

  • Hospital de Emergencias Enfermera Isabel Zendal

    Madrid, 28055

  • Hospital Quirónsalud Madrid

    Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, 28223

  • Hospital Universitario de Salamanca

    Salamanca, 37007

  • Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (IDIVAL)

    Santander, 39008

  • Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío

    Seville, 41013

  • Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro

    Vigo, Pontevedra, 36213

Other trials in Spain

Romania4 sites
  • Institutul National De Boli Infectioase "Prof. Dr. Matei Bals"

    Bucharest, 021105

  • Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infectioase si Tropicale Dr. Victor Babes - Bucharest

    Bucharest, 030303

  • Spitalul Clinic De Boli Infectioase "Sfanta Parascheva" IASI, Sectia Boli Infectioase III

    Iași, 700116

  • Spitalul Judetean de Urgenta 'Sf. Ioan cel Nou' Suceava, Sectia de Boli Infectioase

    Suceava, 720237

Other trials in Romania

Greece2 sites
  • Evangelismos Hospital General Hospital of Athens Evangelismos, Intensive Care Unit

    Athens, 106 76

  • Sotiria Hospital General Hospital of Chest Diseases of Athens "Sotiria" 3rd Department of Internal Medicine of University of Athens

    Athens, 115 27

Other trials in Greece

Brazil1 site
  • Hospital Felicio Rocho

    Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30110-934

Other trials in Brazil

Bulgaria1 site
  • "MHAT "Sveta Anna"" - Sofia AD

    Sofia, 1570

Other trials in Bulgaria

Colombia1 site
  • Clínica de la Costa Ltda.

    Barranquilla, Atlántico, 80020

Other trials in Colombia

France1 site
  • Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Tours (CHRU Tours) - Hopital Bretonneau

    Tours, 37044

Other trials in France

Mexico1 site
  • Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon - Hospital Universitario "Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez"

    Monterrey, Nuevo León, 64460

Other trials in Mexico

About this study

Official title: A Phase 3, Multicentre, Randomised, Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of Two Dose Levels of Plitidepsin Versus Control in Adult Patient Requiring Hospitalisation for Management of Moderate COVID-19 Infection

Treatment of patients hospitalised for management of moderate COVID-19 infection

Read the detailed description

This is a multicentre, open-label, controlled Phase 3 study in which adults requiring hospital admission and O2 supplementation for management of moderate COVID-19 infection will be randomised in 1:1:1 to: Plitidepsin 1.5 mg arm, Plitidepsin 2.5 mg arm and Control arm

Being tested
Plitidepsin, Dexamethasone, Remdesivir, Favipiravir
Medical subject headings
COVID-19

What participants receive

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

  • PlitidepsinDrug

    Plitidepsin 2 mg powder is provided as a sterile, preservative-free, and white to off-white lyophilised powder/cake comprising 2 mg plitidepsin and mannitol in a single-dose, 10 mL clear type 1 glass vial.

    Solvent for plitidepsin is provided as a sterile, preservative-free, clear, slightly viscous aqueous liquid (4 mL) containing macrogolglycerol ricinoleate and ethanol in a single-dose type 1 clear glass ampoule.

    For administration, vial contents are reconstituted by addition of 4 mL of solvent for plitidepsin to obtain a slightly yellowish solution containing 0.5 mg/mL plitidepsin with mannitol, macrogolglycerol ricinoleate and ethanol excipients. The required amount of plitidepsin reconstituted solution is added to bag containing 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose for IV injection and administered as an IV infusion over 60 minutes.

  • DexamethasoneDrug

    Detailed information about the formulation, posology, packaging and labelling, storage, and manufacturer is provided in the current country-specific product information. The summary of product characteristics (SmPC) and/or leaflet provides detailed product information for investigators in the European Union and/or in other regions.

  • RemdesivirDrug

    Detailed information about the formulation, posology, packaging and labelling, storage, and manufacturer is provided in the current country-specific product information. The summary of product characteristics (SmPC) and/or leaflet provides detailed product information for investigators in the European Union and/or in other regions.

  • FavipiravirDrug

    Detailed information about the formulation, posology, packaging and labelling, storage, and manufacturer is provided in the current country-specific product information. The summary of product characteristics (SmPC) and/or leaflet provides detailed product information for investigators in the European Union and/or in other regions.

Study groups in NCT04784559
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Plitidepsin 1.5 mg armExperimentalPatients will receive plitidepsin 1.5 mg/day intravenous (IV) in addition to dexamethasone on days 1 to 3.
Receives: Drug: Plitidepsin; Drug: Dexamethasone
Plitidepsin 2.5 mg armExperimentalPatients will receive plitidepsin 2.5 mg/day IV in addition to dexamethasone on days 1 to 3.
Receives: Drug: Plitidepsin; Drug: Dexamethasone
Control armActive comparatorPatients will receive dexamethasone IV on Days 1 to 3. Additionally, in accordance with local treatment guidelines, patients in this group may receive a regulatory-approved antiviral treatment.
Receives: Drug: Dexamethasone; Drug: Remdesivir; Drug: Favipiravir

What is being measured

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

  1. Time to Sustained Withdrawal of Supplementary Oxygen With no Subsequent Reutilisation During Remaining Study Period

    Time to sustained withdrawal of oxygen supplementation (in days) with no subsequent reutilisation during remaining study period is defined as the first day, from randomisation through completion of the study, on which a patient i. satisfies categories 0 to 4 on the 11-point WHO Clinical Progression Scale, and ii. has no subsequent reutilisation of oxygen supplementation (5 to 10 on the 11-point WHO Clinical Progression Scale).

    The WHO clinical progression scale provides a measure of illness severity across a range from 0 (uninfected) to 10 (dead).

    Measured: From administration date to Day 31(±3)

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Time to Sustained (i.e., With no Subsequent Readmission to Day 31) Hospital Discharge (Since Randomisation).

    Time to sustained (i.e., with no subsequent readmission to Day 31) hospital discharge (since randomization)

    Measured: From administration date to Day 31(±3)

  2. Clinical Status by the 11-category WHO Clinical Progression Scale on Day 8

    The WHO clinical progression scale provides a measure of illness severity across a range from 0 (uninfected) to 10 (dead).

    0 = Uninfected; no viral RNA detected

    1. = Ambulatory mild disease. Asymptomatic; viral RNA detected
    2. = Ambulatory mild disease. Symptomatic; independent
    3. = Ambulatory mild disease. Symptomatic; assistance needed
    4. = Hospitalized: moderate disease. Hospitalized; no oxygen therapy
    5. = Hospitalized: moderate disease. Hospitalized; oxygen by mask or nasal prongs
    6. = Hospitalized: severe diseases. Hospitalized; oxygen by NIV or high flow
    7. = Hospitalized: severe diseases. Intubation and mechanical ventilation pO2/FIO2 > 150 or SpO2/FIO2 > 200
    8. = Hospitalized: severe diseases. Mechanical ventilation pO2 /FIO2 <150 (SpO2 /FiO2 <200) or vasopressors
    9. = Hospitalized: severe diseases. Mechanical ventilation pO2 /FiO2 <150 and vasopressors, dialysis, or ECMO
    10. = dead

    Measured: Day 8 (±1)

  3. Total Duration of Advanced Oxygen Support

    Total duration of advanced oxygen support (high-flow nasal oxygen, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation -ECMO-, non-invasive ventilation or mechanical ventilation).

    Measured: From administration date to Day 31(±3)

  4. Number of Participants in Each Study Group Requiring Admission to ICU

    Number of participants in each study group requiring admission to intensive care unit

    Measured: Day 4, Day 8(±1) , Day 15(±1) and Day 31(±3)

  5. Frequency of Adverse Events

    Adverse Event Types according to the National Cancer Institute [NCI]-Common Terminology Criteria for AEs (CTCAE v.5.0):

    The number of participants who experienced treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) are presented.

    Measured: From administration date to Day 31(±3)

  6. Frequency of TEAEs of ≥Grade 3 According to NCI-CTCAE for Adverse Events (Version 5.0), TEAEs of Special Interest, Serious TEAEs, Serious Treatment-related TEAEs, TEAEs Leading to Treatment Discontinuation, and Deaths

    Frequency of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of ≥grade 3 according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE, version 5.0), TEAEs of special interest, serious TEAEs, serious treatment-related TEAEs, TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation, and deaths

    Measured: From administration date to Day 31(±3)

Timeline

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

  1. First posted5 Mar 2021
  2. Study start4 Jun 2021
  3. Primary completion1 Mar 2023
  4. Study completion1 Mar 2023

Why it stopped: Sponsor has decided to end the study prematurely based on significant difficulties in the recruitment of patients, despite the implementation of corrective measures that still failed to increase the accrual rate required for a feasible completion.

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
Patients Will be randomised in 1:1:1 to: Plitidepsin 1.5 mg arm, Plitidepsin 2.5 mg arm and Control arm
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
205 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04784559
Sponsor's protocol ID
APL-D-003-20
Other IDs
2020-005951-19
Acronym
Neptuno
Status last verified
Jan 2025
First submitted
4 Mar 2021
Last updated
21 Feb 2025
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Landete P, Caliman-Sturdza OA, Lopez-Martin JA, Preotescu L, Luca MC, Kotanidou A, Villares P, Iglesias SP, Guisado-Vasco P, Saiz-Lou EM, Del Carmen Farinas-Alvarez M, de Lucas EM, Perez-Alba E, Cisneros JM, Estrada V, Hidalgo-Tenorio C, Poulakou G, Torralba M, Fortun J, Garcia-Ocana P, Lemaignen A, Marcos-Martin M, Molina M, Paredes R, Perez-Rodriguez MT, Raev D, Ryan P, Meira F, Gomez J, Torres N, Lopez-Mendoza D, Jimeno J, Varona JF. A Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial of Plitidepsin, a Marine-Derived Compound, in Hospitalized Adults With Moderate COVID-19. Clin Infect Dis. 2024 Oct 15;79(4):910-919. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciae227.

    PubMed 39182994

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Plitidepsin, Dexamethasone and Remdesivir in people with COVID-19 Infection, run by PharmaMar at 28 sites in 8 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 15 inclusion and 31 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: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Feb 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 28 sites in Spain, Romania, Greece, Brazil, Bulgaria and 3 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. 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 21 Feb 2025). 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?

Time to Sustained Withdrawal of Supplementary Oxygen With no Subsequent Reutilisation During Remaining Study Period (time frame: From administration date to Day 31(±3)). 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 NCT04784559, 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 21 Feb 2025.

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