A Study for Evaluation of BIV201 to Reduce Ascites and Complications in Patients With Cirrhosis and Refractory Ascites
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04112199 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : October 2, 2019
Last Update Posted : October 18, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Ascites Decompensated Cirrhosis | Drug: BIV201 continuous infusion | Phase 2 |
Terlipressin has been shown to reduce portal hypertension, improve renal function and induce natriuresis in cirrhotic patients with ascites without hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). It is approved in Europe for the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices and HRS type 1 and is usually administered as an IV bolus starting at 1 mg every 6 h and increased to 2 mg every 6 h (maximum 8 mg/day depending on response).
This study will evaluate the use of terlipressin delivered by continuous infusion for two 28 day treatment cycles for reduction of ascites accumulation and complications in adult patients with refractory ascites secondary to decompensated cirrhosis. Continuous infusion allows for a significant reduction in the daily effective dose required for treatment and improved safety of terlipressin delivered as a low-dose continuous infusion could enable its use in the outpatient setting in the prolonged treatment of patients with refractory ascites.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 30 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Thirty patients will be randomized to either BIV201 continuous infusion plus SOC or SOC alone. |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Phase 2 Randomized, Dose-Titration, Open-Label Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of BIV201 Compared to Standard of Care to Reduce Ascites and Complications in Cirrhotic Patients With Refractory Ascites |
Actual Study Start Date : | June 17, 2021 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | March 2023 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | April 2023 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: BIV201 plus Standard of Care
BIV201 continuous infusion - treatment for two 28 day cycles.
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Drug: BIV201 continuous infusion
BIV201 continuous infusion with terlipressin for a total of two 28 day cycles. Initiate treatment at 3 mg per 24 hour period and titrate stepwise up to a maximum of 8 mg per 24 hour period based on tolerability and response.
Other Name: terlipressin diacetate |
No Intervention: Standard of care
Per AASLD guidelines: diuretics and therapeutic paracentesis
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- Incidence of complications, at least grade 2 severity [ Time Frame: 180 days following randomization ]Incidence of complications, at least grade 2, during the 180 days following randomization
- Change in cumulative ascites [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]Change in cumulative ascites during the first 12 weeks following randomization versus the 12 weeks pre-treatment

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 75 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria
- Informed consent prior to any study-related procedures
- Male or female patients age 18 to 75 years old
- Cirrhosis of the liver (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, alcohol, viral and autoimmune)
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Patient has diuretic-resistant, intractable ascites or is unsuitable for treatment with diuretics and required:
o In the 60-day period from the last LVP before consent, required, between 3 and 9 LVPs, including the last LVP on or before the day of consent.
- Dates for all LVPs that occurred within 90 days prior to consent have been recorded. The volume of ascites removed at each of the LVPs must also have been recorded for the 90-day period prior to the last LVPs before consent
- Serum creatinine (SCr) ≤2.00 mg/dL determined prior to randomization
- Women of child-bearing potential (e.g. not post-menopausal for at least one year or surgically sterile) must be neither pregnant nor lactating and must agree to use adequate birth control or be abstinent for the duration of the study
- If patient is treated with ACE inhibitors or beta blockers, dose has been stable for at least 30 days prior to randomization and may be maintained on that dose for the trial duration
- If patient is treated with diuretics, patient has been on a stable daily dose for at least 10 days prior to consent
- Willing and able to comply with trial instructions
Exclusion Criteria
- Ascites with causes other than cirrhosis; such as cardiac or nephrogenic ascites or malignant ascites due to peritoneal carcinomatosis
- Urinary sodium excretion >100 mmol/day between day of consent and randomization
- Total bilirubin >5 mg/dL
- Blood clotting International normalized ratio (INR) >2.5
- Current or recent (within 3 months of consent) renal replacement therapy
- Current or recent (within 3 month of consent) hepatic encephalopathy Grade 3 or 4 (West-Haven)
- Superimposed acute liver failure/injury due to factors including acute alcoholic hepatitis, acute viral hepatitis, drugs, medications (e.g., acetaminophen), or other toxins (e.g., mushroom [Amanita] poisoning)
- History or presence of hepatic hydrothorax, known pulmonary hypertension and a history of hepatopulmonary syndrome
- Current or recent treatment (within 7 days of randomization) with octreotide, midodrine, vasopressin, dopamine or other vasopressors
- Current or recent (in the previous 60 days from consent) episode of respiratory failure requiring positive airway pressure (PAP) devices or intubation
- Sepsis episode in the previous 28 days from consent
- Episode of SBP within the 28 days prior to consent
- Episode of gastrointestinal hemorrhage (non-variceal) within 28 days prior to consent
- Episode of esophageal variceal bleed within one week prior to consent
- Ongoing documented or suspected infection
- Severe cardiovascular disease that is a contraindication to terlipressin therapy such as a history of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, advanced arteriosclerosis, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, severe coronary insufficiency or uncontrolled hypertension
- Findings suggestive of severe organic renal disease (severe proteinuria/hematuria, or abnormal renal ultrasound suggestive of obstructive renal pathology)
- Use of nephrotoxic drugs (e.g., aminoglycosides) in the 4 weeks before screening
- Severe comorbidity that in the opinion of the Investigator would affect short-term prognosis and/or disallow safe participation in the trial (such as for example, severe anemia or pancytopenia, advanced progressive neoplasia such as hepatocellular carcinoma, unless eligible for transplant)
- Patient who, in the judgment of the investigator, has been an excessive alcohol drinker in the past 12 weeks
- Patient is in the opinion of the investigator, despite previous education on sodium restriction, anticipated to remain grossly non-compliant of sodium restricted diet
- Implanted alfapump or previous recipient of alfapump that had pump removed within past 3 months
- Recipient of renal or liver transplant
- Planned elective surgery related to cirrhosis complications, for example for hernia repair
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to terlipressin
- Participation in other clinical research studies involving the treatment with other investigational drugs or evaluation with implantable devices within 30 days of consent

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): NCT04112199
United States, California | |
UCLA | |
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095 | |
United States, Florida | |
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville | |
Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32224 | |
University of Miami | |
Miami, Florida, United States, 33136 | |
United States, Indiana | |
Indiana University | |
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202 | |
United States, Maryland | |
Mercy Medical Center | |
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21202 | |
United States, Minnesota | |
Mayo Clinic | |
Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905 | |
United States, Pennsylvania | |
University of Pennsylvania | |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104 | |
United States, South Carolina | |
Medical University of South Carolina | |
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425 | |
United States, Tennessee | |
Vanderbilt University Medical Center | |
Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37212 | |
United States, Virginia | |
Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center | |
Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23249 |
Study Director: | Joseph Palumbo, MD | BioVie Inc. |
Responsible Party: | BioVie Inc. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04112199 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
CIT-002 |
First Posted: | October 2, 2019 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | October 18, 2022 |
Last Verified: | June 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Plan Description: | De-identified individual participant data for primary and secondary end-points may be made available after NDA filing. |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Terlipressin Refractory ascites |
Liver Cirrhosis Fibrosis Ascites Pathologic Processes Liver Diseases |
Digestive System Diseases Terlipressin Antihypertensive Agents Vasoconstrictor Agents |