Open Label Study of Acthar SQ Gel Injection in Patients With Active Anterior Uveitis
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02769702 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
First Posted : May 12, 2016
Results First Posted : October 1, 2018
Last Update Posted : October 1, 2018
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Uveitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. Although uveitis often responds adequately to topical corticosteroids, there are many patients for which this treatment is either inadequate or not tolerated. A patient with inadequate response to treatment would manifest uveitis activity by slit lamp examination determination of anterior chamber cellularity. Lack of tolerance of therapy commonly manifests as ocular hypertension (greater than 21 mmHg measured by tonometry)complicating chronic topical corticosteroid administration, leading to glaucoma and permanent visual loss. Moreover, systemic corticosteroids may be required at a dose unsafe for chronic administration. In these situations, an immunosuppressive medication is often added as a "steroid-sparing" agent. If and when there is clinical response to the added immunosuppressive, the oral and/or topical corticosteroid dose can be reduced or eliminated to avoid toxicity.
There are several reasons for believing that Acthar might be beneficial in the treatment of uveitis patients. In addition to increasing adrenal production or cortisol, Acthar has another important mechanisms of action mediated by its binding of melanocortin receptors. Melanocortin down-regulates activity of B and T lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages. In animal studies, melanocortin peptides down-regulate T helper cells, up-regulate T Regulatory cells, and decrease B lymphocyte production of B Lymphocyte Stimulator. In macrophages, there is down-regulation of IL-1, IL-2, INF gamma, TNF alpha, nitric oxide and adhesion molecules. In other cells, in addition to IL-10 upregulation (monocytes), there is down-regulation of VACM and ECAM (endothelial cells), prostaglandins (fibroblasts) and MCP-1 and RANTES (renal tubules).CNS mediation of systemic inflammation may also be down-regulated by melanocortin receptor binding by Acthar.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Uveitis | Drug: Acthar | Phase 4 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 2 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Prospective Open Label Study of Acthar SQ Gel Injection in Patients With Active Anterior Uveitis Who Are Not Well Controlled With, or Intolerant of, Topical or Systemic Corticosteroids |
Study Start Date : | June 2016 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | January 6, 2017 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | January 6, 2017 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Intervention
Acthar 80 IU SC twice w eek
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Drug: Acthar
Acthar 80 IU SC twice a week
Other Name: Acthar Gel |
- Change From Baseline in Eye With Uveitis of Anterior Chamber Cellularity Graded From 0-4 on a Likert Scale Determined by Slit Lamp Examination [ Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks ]standard assessment of uveitis activity. Scores were assessed using a Likert scale using 0 to 4, higher score reflects more cellularity.
- Change in Baseline in Eye With Uveitis of Anterior Chamber Protein Graded 0-4 on a Likert Scale Determined by Slit Lamp Evaluation [ Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks ]standard assessment of uveitis activity. Scores were assessed using a Likert scale using 0 to 4, higher score reflects more protein.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Active anterior uveitis requiring oral and/or topical corticosteroid therapy
Exclusion Criteria:
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Uncontrolled glaucoma
- HIV infection or other infection for which corticosteroid therapy contraindicated
- Contraindication to ACTHAR
- Scleroderma
- Osteoporosis
- Ocular herpes simplex
- Systemic fungal infection
- Recent surgery
- Uncontrolled hypertension

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02769702
United States, Missouri | |
Washington University in St. Louis | |
Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110 |
Principal Investigator: | Richard D Brasington, MD | Washington U Rheumatology |
Responsible Party: | Washington University School of Medicine |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02769702 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
Acthar Uveitis Study |
First Posted: | May 12, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | October 1, 2018 |
Last Update Posted: | October 1, 2018 |
Last Verified: | September 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Uveitis |
Uveitis Uveitis, Anterior Iridocyclitis Uveal Diseases Eye Diseases Panuveitis |
Iris Diseases Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Hormones Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists Physiological Effects of Drugs |