A Phase 2b Study of Merimepodib in Combination With Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a (Pegasys®) and Ribavirin in Subjects With Chronic Hepatitis C Non-Responsive to Prior Therapy With Pegylated Interferon Alfa and Ribavirin
Data Collection
Blood-Borne Infections+16
+ Chronic Disease
+ Communicable Diseases
Treatment Study
Summary
Study start date: July 1, 2004
Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.This trial is designed to test whether or not the addition of merimepodib (MMPD) to the standard therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin will result in a positive treatment response for people who have not previously responded to this therapy. Approximately 315 subjects will be enrolled in this research study at approximately 55 clinical sites in the United States. There will be three study groups. Everyone in the study will receive Pegasys® (pegylated interferon) and Copegus® (ribavirin) at the normally prescribed doses. Two of the groups will also receive the study drug merimepodib (MMPD) twice a day, one group at each dose level being tested. The third group will take a placebo instead of MMPD, with the Pegasys® and Copegus®. After the first 24 weeks of treatment, blood tests will be done to see if subjects are responding to treatment. If they are responding, they will continue receiving study treatment in the study for another 24 weeks. If they are not responding, they will stop study treatment. Everyone who is responding will be monitored for 24 weeks after the last dose of medication, to see how long the response lasts. Evaluations will be performed during the study to look at the safety of the Pegasys®/Copegus® and MMPD or placebo combination, and to see how the combination is working by measuring Hepatitis C Virus in the blood. At some of the clinical sites performing the study, some subjects may also participate in additional testing to look at the metabolism of the drugs, or to look at the immune response to Hepatitis C virus infection and treatment.
Protocol
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.315 patients to be enrolled
Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.Treatment Study
Eligibility
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.Any sex
Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.From 18 to 70 Years
Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.Healthy volunteers not allowed
If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.Conditions
Pathology
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: The following is a summary of the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the Merimepodib Triple Combination (METRO) trial. There are also additional criteria, which will be reviewed with you by the staff at the clinical study site, to make sure you are eligible for the study. Some of the criteria are dependent on the results of blood tests and other tests that will be done at the clinical site. If you are not sure whether you meet these criteria, please call the clinical study site nearest you, and they can help you figure out if you might be eligible for the study: * You must have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. * You must have been treated with pegylated interferon (brand names are Pegasys® or Peg-Intron®) and ribavirin (brand names Rebetol® or Copegus®), for at least 12 weeks. However, you cannot have received more than one course of this combination therapy. * You must have been a "non-responder" to this treatment, meaning that the virus levels in your blood were always detectable. If you responded to the treatment and then the virus became detectable again (called a "relapse"), you would not be eligible. * You must not have used illegal drugs, or have a history of significant alcohol use, within the last year before you start the study. Pegasys® and Copegus® are not recommended for people with some illnesses. You should be in good health in general, with no illnesses that would prevent you from using Pegasys® and Copegus®. If you do not know whether you have any illness or conditions that would prevent you from using these medications, the study doctor or nurse will review your medical history with you to determine this. If you are a woman who can have children, you must be willing to use two effective methods of birth control during the study and for 6 months after the last dose of the medication. You will have monthly pregnancy tests during this time to make sure you do not become pregnant (This is recommended for anyone taking ribavirin, even when they are not in a clinical study.). If you are a male, your female partner must not be pregnant, and you both must be willing to use birth control during the time you are in the study, and for 6 months after the last dose of the medication (This is recommended for anyone taking ribavirin, even when they are not in a clinical study.).
Study Centers
These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.This study has 67 locations
Suresh Karne, M.D., Ph.D.
Huntsville, United StatesVijayan Balan, M.D.
Phoenix, United StatesMichael P. DeMicco, M.D.
Anaheim, United States