Safety and Efficacy of NP-120 (Ifenprodil) for the Treatment of Hospitalized Patient With Confirmed COVID-19 Disease

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04382924
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: May 11, 2020
• Results First Posted: December 3, 2021
• Last Update Posted: December 3, 2021
• Sponsor: Algernon Pharmaceuticals
• Collaborator: Novotech (Australia)
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Algernon Pharmaceuticals

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this adaptive trial is to determine the clinical efficacy of Ifenprodil in the treatment of patients infected with COVID-19. This Protocol is largely based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) R&D Blueprint Clinical Trials Expert Group COVID-19 Therapeutic Trial Synopsis, and associated Master Protocol.

The choice of the primary outcome measure will be determined by a pilot study of the first 150 subjects. Subject clinical status (on a 7-point ordinal scale) at day 15 in treatment versus the control group is the default primary endpoint.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
COVID	Drug: NP-120 (Ifenprodil)	Phase 2; Phase 3

Detailed Description:

NP-120 (Ifenprodil) is an N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NDMA) inhibitor that is specific for the NR2B subunit of the NMDA Receptor. The NMDA receptor, and specifically the NR2B subunit, is involved in glutamate signaling, and is expressed on both neutrophils and T cells. In the case of neutrophils, activation of the NMDA receptor can (1) result in expression of CD11b which targets neutrophils via ICAM-1 to areas of inflammation, and (2) trigger the autocrine release of glutamate. In the case of T-cells, activation of T cells via glutamate can cause (1) T cell proliferation and, (2) the release of cytokines. The activation of T cells and cytokine release can be blocked in vitro by the addition of Ifenprodil. As such it could be a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

Ifenprodil was discovered by a genome wide RNAi assay to uncover gene targets associated with cytoprotective activity against highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza, specifically by preserving cell viability in vitro. When tested in a murine model of H5N1, the drug at clinically relevant doses: (1) improved survivability from 0% at day 6 to 40% day 14 post-infection, (2) the drug significantly reduced edema and lung injury score and (3) reduced infiltrating T cells, neutrophils and NK cells and attenuated the 'cytokine storm'. The mortality rate of H5N1 in humans is >50%, whereas the mortality rate of COVID-19 infected patients is < 5%, and both viruses cause acute lung injury and share similar pulmonary pathologies. NP-120 has also been shown to mediate anti-inflammatory responses and reduce pulmonary fibrosis in a murine model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a complication which can occur after a respiratory virus infection.

Based on the fact that H5N1 has a significantly higher mortality rate than COVID-19 but still shares similar lung pathologies, Algernon Pharmaceuticals believes Ifenprodil could reduce lung injury associated with COVID-19 infection, thereby improving lung function and accelerating patient recovery.

The purpose of this Phase 2b/3 trial is to determine the safety and efficacy of NP-120 in the treatment of COVID-19 infection.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 168 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Randomized Open Label Phase 2b/3 Study of the Safety and Efficacy of NP-120 (Ifenprodil) for the Treatment of Hospitalized Patient With Confirmed COVID-19 Disease
• Actual Study Start Date: August 5, 2020
• Actual Primary Completion Date: December 24, 2020
• Actual Study Completion Date: January 26, 2021

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Treatment Arm A; NP-120 (Ifenprodil) 20 mg TID + Standard of Care	Drug: NP-120 (Ifenprodil); Ifenprodil, 20 mg TID Ifenprodil, 40 mg TID
No Intervention: Control Arm; Standard of Care only
Experimental: Treatment Arm B; NP-120 (Ifenprodil) 40 mg TID + Standard of Care	Drug: NP-120 (Ifenprodil); Ifenprodil, 20 mg TID Ifenprodil, 40 mg TID

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Patient Clinical Status (on the WHO 7-point Ordinal Scale) at Day 15 in IP Versus SOC Control Group Patients: [ Time Frame: Day 15 ]
   1. Not hospitalized, no limitations on activities
   2. Not hospitalized, limitation on activities
   3. Hospitalized, not requiring supplemental oxygen
   4. Hospitalized, requiring supplemental oxygen
   5. Hospitalized, on non-invasive ventilation or high flow oxygen devices
   6. Hospitalized, on invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO
   7. Death

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Status on an Ordinal Scale Assessed Daily While Hospitalized and on Days 15 and 28 in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Days 1 through 28 ]

   WHO status of subjects at timepoints from baseline to day 28

   1. Not hospitalized, no limitations on activities
   2. Not hospitalized, limitation on activities
   3. Hospitalized, not requiring supplemental oxygen
   4. Hospitalized, requiring supplemental oxygen
   5. Hospitalized, on non-invasive ventilation or high flow oxygen devices
   6. Hospitalized, on invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO
   7. Death
2. NEWS Assessed Days 3, 5, 8 ,11 Daily While Hospitalized and on Days 15 and 29 in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Days 3, 5, 8, 11, 25, 29 ]

   National Early Warning Score assessed between baseline and Day 29 on subjects in 20, 40 mg TID NP-120 arms versus control group

   The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) scale is a composite of 7 physiological parameters: Respiration Rate (per minute),Oxygen Saturations (%), Any Supplemental Oxygen, Temperature (°C), Systolic BP (mmHg), Heart Rate (per minute), Level of Consciousness. The aggregate results from all 7 physiological parameters are used to obtain the NEW Score., ranging from 0 - 20. Higher values reflect a worse outcome.

3. Rate of Mechanical Ventilation in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Up to Day 28 ]
   Rate of mechanical ventilation in 20 and 40 mg TID NP-120 versus control group
4. Duration of Mechanical Ventilation (if Applicable) in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Up to day 28 ]
   Duration of mechanical ventilation in 20 and 40 mg TID subjects versus control who experience mechanical ventilation
5. Duration of Supplemental Oxygen in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Up to Day 29 ]
   Duration in patients only receiving supplemental oxygen in IP versus control group up to Day 29
6. Time to Return to Room Pressure (SpO2 > 94%) on Room Air [ Time Frame: Up to Day 29 ]

   Time to return to room pressure (SpO2 > 94%) on room air in patients in 20, 40 mg TID NP-120 groups versus control group with 94% blood oxygen levels at enrolment

   Time-to-event endpoints with competing risk were analysed for each dosing group using the Cumulative Incidence Function-CIF (KM) graphical display. Data represents the time (in Days) it took for all participants in the group to return to room pressure air (e.g. the time when the CIF curve hit 100%).

7. Duration in ICU (if Applicable) in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Up to Day 29 ]
   Duration of subject in ICU in 20 and 40 TID mg groups versus control group patients
8. Rate of Mortality in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Up to Day 29 ]
   Rate of Overall Mortality in 20, 40 mg TID groups versus control group
9. Duration of Hospitalization in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Day 15, 28 ]
10. Time to Discharge in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Day 15, 28 ]
11. Effect on the Rate of Change of Partial Pressure of Oxygen (PaO2) and PaO2/FiO2 Ratio Taken at Baseline and Measured Once Daily up to 2 Weeks of Treatment in IP Versus Control Group Patients [ Time Frame: Up to day 15, day 28 ]

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female subjects aged ≥18 years of age

2. Confirmed coronavirus infection

   1. Positive real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction of the patient's respiratory or blood specimens for COVID-19 nucleic acid
   2. Viral gene sequences in respiratory or blood specimens that are highly homologous to COVID-19
   3. Any other diagnostic test accepted by local regulatory authorities
3. Must be hospitalized and requiring supplemental oxygen, or on non-invasive ventilation or high flow oxygen devices (Score of 4 or 5 on WHO Ordinal Clinical Scale)
4. Female subjects of childbearing potential who are sexually active with a non-sterilized male partner must use at least 1 highly effective method of contraception (e.g. oral contraceptives, intrauterine device, diaphragm plus spermicide) from the time of screening and must agree to continue using such precautions for 90 days after the final dose of study drug(s)
5. Non-sterilized males who are sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential must use condom plus spermicide from day 1 through 90 days after receipt of the last dose of study drug(s)
6. Subjects (or reasonable legal designate) must have the capacity to understand, sign and date a written, informed consent form and any required authorization prior to initiation of any study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with vasodilatory shock, orthostatic hypotension, hypotension, or tachycardia at screening/baseline
2. Patients experiencing cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction at baseline
3. ALT/AST > 5 times the upper limit of normal; Child-Pugh Score 10 to 15
4. Stage 4 severe chronic kidney disease or requiring dialysis (i.e. eGFR < 30)
5. Patients on mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
6. Patients taking droxidopa
7. Pregnant and lactating women and those planning to get pregnant
8. Known or suspected allergy to the trial drug or the relevant drugs given in the trial
9. Presence of other disease that may interfere with testing procedures or in the judgement of the Investigator may interfere with trial participation or may put the patient at risk when participating in this trial
10. Know inability of patient to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study
11. Involvement in a clinical research study within 4 weeks prior to screening and/or prior enrollment in the study or plan to participate in another interventional clinical trial during the study period. Participation in observational registry studies is permitted.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Florida

Westchester Research Center

Miami, Florida, United States, 33155

United States, Illinois

Affinity Health - Loretto Hospital

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60644

United States, Missouri

Heartland Regional Medical Center

Saint Joseph, Missouri, United States, 64507

United States, Ohio

Promedica Health: Toledo Hospital and BayPark Hospital

Toledo, Ohio, United States, 43606

Australia, Queensland

Princess Alexandra Hospital

Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia, 4102

Australia, Victoria

Royal Melbourne Hospital

Parkville, Victoria, Australia, 3050

Philippines

Makati Medical Center

Manila, Philippines

Philippine General Hospital

Manila, Philippines

Lung Center of the Philippines

Quezon City, Philippines

Romania

National Institute of Infectious Diseases

Bucharest, Romania, 021105

Sponsors and Collaborators

Algernon Pharmaceuticals

Novotech (Australia)

  Study Documents (Full-Text)

Documents provided by Algernon Pharmaceuticals:

Study Protocol  [PDF] November 16, 2020

Statistical Analysis Plan  [PDF] January 15, 2021

More Information

• Responsible Party: Algernon Pharmaceuticals
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04382924
• Other Study ID Numbers: AGN120-3
• First Posted: May 11, 2020
• Results First Posted: December 3, 2021
• Last Update Posted: December 3, 2021
• Last Verified: December 2021

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: Undecided

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Ifenprodil; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; Adrenergic Antagonists; Adrenergic Agents; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Vasodilator Agents; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents