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A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Trial of Infliximab in Subjects With Pemphigus Vulgaris Receiving Prednisone


Phase 2
18 Years
N/A
Not Enrolling
Both
Pemphigus

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Trial Information

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Trial of Infliximab in Subjects With Pemphigus Vulgaris Receiving Prednisone


PV involves blistering of the outer layer of skin and mucous membranes, causing a separation
of epidermal cells. The disease occurs when the immune system produces antibodies to
specific proteins in the skin and mucous membranes; the cause for production of these
autoantibodies is unknown. Infliximab is a genetically engineered monoclonal antibody
directed against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a chemical messenger that activates an
immune response. Infliximab has been used to treat other autoimmune disorders, including
rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and Crohn's disease. This study will evaluate
the safety and efficacy of infliximab given in combination with prednisone for the treatment
of adults with PV.

This study will last 26 weeks. At study entry, all patients will be taking a stable dose of
prednisone (or an equivalent corticosteroid) of 20 to 120 mg/day for at least 2 weeks prior
to study entry. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two arms: experimental or
placebo comparator. The experimental treatment arm will receive infusions of infliximab, and
the control arm will receive placebo. Infusions will be given at study entry and Weeks 2, 6,
and 14. Before the start of each infusion, a physical exam, vital signs measurement, medical
and medication history, review of a disease activity log, a skin evaluation, and blood
collection will occur. During each infusion and for 1 hour postinfusion, patients' vital
signs will be monitored for any adverse events. Patients will need a responsible adult to
take them home after they are discharged from the treatment facility; this person should
remain with the patient overnight in case any problems arise from the treatment. The patient
will be contacted by phone that night and the next morning after infusion and will be asked
about any adverse effects they may have experienced. Those patients that experience adverse
effects may be asked to return to the treatment facility for examination. Prednisone doses
may be tapered by 15 percent every 2 weeks during the study at the investigator's
discretion.

There will be a total of 9 study visits until Week 26: screening, study entry, Week 2, and
every 4 weeks thereafter. Each study visit will include a physical exam, vital signs
measurement, medical and medication history, a review of the disease activity log and
adverse events experienced since the last visit, skin assessments, and blood collection;
patients will also be asked to complete a tuberculosis (TB) questionnaire. Patients will be
asked to complete quality of life questionnaires at study entry and Weeks 10, 18, and 26.
Skin biopsies of unaffected skin will be done at study entry and Weeks 10, 18, and 26; if
patients have PV-associated lesions, additional skin biopsies of affected skin will be done
at study entry and Week 18.


Inclusion Criteria:



- Positive direct immunofluorescence of patient's skin showing IgG or complement C3
protein on cell surface with histopathology of lesional skin biopsies consistent with
diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris

- Failure to completely respond to standard steroid therapy (equivalent to prednisone 1
to 2 mg/kg/day followed by tapering)

- Systemic corticosteroid therapy of at least 20 mg prednisone daily and no more than
120 mg/day

- Inability to reduce systemic corticosteroid dosage below 20 mg/day for at least 8
weeks

- Stable dosage of prednisone for at least 2 weeks prior to study entry

- Oral/mucosal disease or skin disease. Detailed information about this criterion can
be found in the protocol

- Willing to comply with the study protocol

- Willing to use acceptable means of contraception for the duration of the study and
for 6 months after the end of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

- Positive tuberculosis (TB) test within 1 month prior to first administration of study
drug

- History of latent or active TB prior to screening

- Signs or symptoms suggestive of TB disease by medical history or physical examination
within 3 months prior to first administration of study drug

- Posterior/anterior/lateral chest radiograph within 3 months prior to screening
showing evidence of cancer, infection, or abnormalities (apical scarring) suggestive
of previous TB

- Serious infection, hospitalization for an infection, or treatment with intravenous
(IV) antibiotics for an infection within 2 months prior to screening. Patients who
have had less serious infections are eligible for this study at the discretion of the
investigator.

- History or presence of opportunistic infections within 6 months prior to screening

- History of receiving human/murine recombinant products

- Known allergy to murine products or other chimeric proteins

- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected

- Chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection

- History of hepatitis C virus infection

- Cancer within the 5 years prior to study entry. Patients with completely resected
non-melanoma skin cancers are not excluded.

- History or presence of congestive heart failure

- History or presence of seizure or demyelinating disorder

- History of latent or active granulomatous infection, including TB, histoplasmosis, or
coccidioidomycosis

- Received a Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine within 12 months of screening

- History of lymphoproliferative disease, including lymphoma or signs and symptoms of
possible lymphoproliferative disease, such as lymphadenopathy of unusual size or
location or enlarged spleen

- Current signs or symptoms of severe progressive or uncontrolled kidney, liver, blood,
gastrointestinal, endocrine, lung, heart, neurologic, or cerebral disease

- Have had chronic or recurrent infectious disease including, but not limited to,
chronic kidney infection, chronic chest infection, sinusitis, recurrent urinary tract
infection, infected skin wound, or ulcer

- Previous treatment with infliximab, other monoclonal antibodies, or antibody
fragments

- Previous treatment with etanercept or other anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents
in the 3 months prior to screening

- Treatment with methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, plasmapheresis, IV
immunoglobulin, pulse systemic corticosteroids, or other systemic immunosuppressive
agents within the 4 weeks prior to study entry

- History of alcohol or drug abuse within the 3 years prior to study entry

- History of noncompliance to medical regimens

- History of a systemic inflammatory disease other than pemphigus vulgaris

- History of a medical condition that would interfere with participation or increase
the risk to the participant

- Unable or unwilling to undergo blood draws because of poor tolerability or lack of
easy access

- Use of any investigational drug within 30 days prior to screening OR within 5
half-lives of the investigational agent, whichever is longer

- Participation in another investigative clinical trial

- Presence of transplanted solid organ. Participants who have received a corneal
transplant more than 3 months prior to screening are not excluded.

- Require certain medications

- Other conditions or circumstances that could interfere with participant's adherence
to the study requirements

- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or plans to become pregnant

Type of Study:

Interventional

Study Design:

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Outcome Measure:

Participant Response to Treatment at Week 18

Outcome Description:

Participants classified as responders at Week 18 had: 1. Achieved a prednisone dosage <= 25% of the initial starting dose or <= 10 mg/day (whichever is greater), and 2. Had no new blisters within the previous 4 weeks.

Outcome Time Frame:

Baseline to Week 18

Safety Issue:

No

Principal Investigator

Russell P. Hall, MD

Investigator Role:

Study Chair

Investigator Affiliation:

Division of Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center

Authority:

United States: Food and Drug Administration

Study ID:

DAIT APV01

NCT ID:

NCT00283712

Start Date:

March 2006

Completion Date:

March 2011

Related Keywords:

  • Pemphigus
  • Skin Diseases
  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Pemphigus

Name

Location

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Iowa City, Iowa  52242
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19104
Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina  27710
Norris Cancer Center, University of Southern California Los Angeles, California  90033