Clinical trial • Phase II • Immunology|Musculoskeletal

Methotrexate for Rheumatoid arthritis

Phase II trial of Methotrexate for Rheumatoid arthritis. open-label, adaptive. 40 participants.

Overview

Trial Therapeutic Area
Immunology|Musculoskeletal
Trial Disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Trial Stage
Phase II
Drug Modality
Small molecule

Key dates

Initial CTIS Submission Date
15-03-2024
First CTIS Authorization Date
21-05-2024

Trial design

open-label, adaptive Phase II trial across 8 sites in Portugal.

Open Label
Yes
Adaptive
True, dose-titration/adaptive dosing: DMARD-naïve patients start at 1 mg SC with subsequent titration according to clinical response at 4-week intervals for 12 weeks up to a maximum of 2.5 mg; patients with inadequate response/intolerance to oral MTX start at 2.5 mg SC with titration per clinical response.
Single Multiple Or Escalation Dose Combined
Yes
Target Sample Size
40
Trial Duration For Participant
98

Eligibility

Recruits 40 Vulnerable population selected in CTIS metadata. Participants must provide "Free written informed consent prior to any procedure required by the study." Participants are adults (≥ 18 years). No specific assent or parental consent procedures are provided in the record..

Pregnancy Exclusion
If woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP), positive pregnancy test.
Vulnerable Population
Vulnerable population selected in CTIS metadata. Participants must provide "Free written informed consent prior to any procedure required by the study." Participants are adults (≥ 18 years). No specific assent or parental consent procedures are provided in the record.

Inclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Free written informed consent prior to any procedure required by the study."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- If under oral corticosteroid therapy (≤ 10mg per day of prednisone or equivalent), must be able to be on a stable regimen from at least 4 weeks before baseline up to up to EoS."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Eligible to start treatment with an immunomodulator."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- No clinically relevant diseases other than RA captured in medical history."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- No clinically relevant findings other than RA-related captured on physical examination."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- No clinically relevant abnormalities on vital signs."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- No clinically relevant abnormalities on 12-lead ECG."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- No clinically relevant abnormalities on clinical laboratory tests."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- No evidence of clinically significant active infection."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Negative test results for anti-Human Immunodeficiency virus 1 and 2 antibodies (anti-HIV-1Ab and anti-HIV-2Ab)."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Negative results from either the hepatitis B or C serology based on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody, total hepatitis B core antibody (IgM will be measured if total anti-hepatitis B core antibody is positive), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (anti-HCVAb) markers, except for vaccinated subjects or subjects with past resolved hepatitis."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Willingness to accept and comply with all study procedures and restrictions."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- A female participant is eligible if she meets one of the following criteria: a) is of non-childbearing potential; or b) is of childbearing potential and agrees to use an highly effective contraceptive method from at least 4 weeks prior to admission to study period until at least 6 months after the last investigational product administration."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- A male participant who is sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential (pregnant or non-pregnant) must use contraception (condom) from admission until at least 90 days following the last investigational product administration."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- A male participant must ensure that his non-pregnant female partner of childbearing potential agrees to consistently and correctly use for the same period a highly effective method of contraception"}
  • {"criterion_text":"- A male participant must be willing not to donate sperm from admission until 90 days following the last investigational product administration."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- At least moderately active disease, as defined by DAS28-CRP >3.2, including: a) Tender joint count (TJC) ≥ 4 b) Swollen joint count (SJC) ≥ 4 c) C-Reactive protein (CRP) ≥ upper limit of normal; d) Documented history of positive RA factor and/or cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody test."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- DMARD-naïve RA patient or RA patient with an inadequate response or intolerance to oral MTX."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Male or female participant ≥ 18 years, at the time of signing the informed consent."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 35.0 kg/m2, inclusive."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Diagnosis of RA according to the 2010 classification criteria of the ACR/EULAR, with a Total Score ≥ 6/10."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- At least moderately active disease, as defined by DAS28-CRP >3.2 at Screening and Baseline, including: a) Tender joint count (TJC) ≥ 4; b) Swollen joint count (SJC) ≥ 4; c) C-Reactive protein (CRP) ≥ upper limit of normal; d) Documented history of positive RA factor and/or cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody test."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Chest X-ray performed in the previous 3 months not suggestive of tuberculosis."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- If under NSAIDs therapy, must be able to be in a stable dosing regimen from at least 2 weeks before baseline up to EoS."}

Exclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Known hypersensitivity / allergy reaction to MTX or any of the excipients."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- History of liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C)."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) < 90 mmHg and/or Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) <45 mmHg."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- SBP > 160 mmHg and/or DBP > 95 mmHg."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Estimated renal creatinine clearance (CLCr) below the lower limit of normal range (60 mL/min), based on CLCr calculation by the Cockcroft-Gault formula and normalized to an average body surface area of 1.73 m2"}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Positive result in drugs-of-abuse and ethanol tests."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Use of a depot injection or an implant of any drug (except for contraceptives) within the previous 6 months."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Previous treatment with any of following: a) oral or injectable gold within 4 weeks prior to Day 1; b) sulfasalazine within 4 weeks prior to Day 1; c) azathioprine within 4 weeks prior to Day 1; d) D penicillamine within 4 weeks prior to Day 1; e) cyclosporine within 8 weeks prior to Day 1; f) MTX within 4 weeks prior to Day 1; g) leflunomide within 8 weeks prior to Day 1 or a minimum 4 weeks prior to Day 1, if after 11 days of standard cholestyramine therapy; h) any cytotoxic agent, including chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, nitrogen mustard, and other alkylating agents; i) any JAK inhibitor or other small molecule immunomodulator; j) potent Pg-p inducer (e.g. rifampin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and St. John's wort) within 3 weeks prior to Day 1; k) metamizole and other hematotoxic drugs, anticonvulsants, and 5-fluorouracil within 4 weeks prior to admission; l) substances that may have adverse effects on the bone marrow (e.g. sulphonamides, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, pyrimethamine) within 4 weeks prior to Day 1."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Participation in any clinical trial within the previous 4 weeks or 5 half-lives of the investigational medicinal product (IMP)."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Blood donation or significant blood loss (≥ 450 mL) due to any reason or had plasmapheresis within the previous 2 months."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Veins unsuitable for IV puncture on either arm (for patients in the pharmacokinetics group)."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Positive Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA), in the previous 3 months, unless the patient received previous treatment for tuberculosis (with documented evidence) or presents conditions and is willing to initiate latent tuberculosis treatment (to guarantee, at least, 4 weeks of treatment before baseline)."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- If woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP), positive pregnancy test."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- If woman, she is breast-feeding."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Any other condition that the Investigator considers to render the participant unsuitable for the study."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Any recent disease or condition or treatment that, according to the Investigator, would put the participant at undue risk due to study participation."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Positive result in drugs-of-abuse and ethanol tests."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- If WOCBP, positive urinary pregnancy test."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Any other condition that the Investigator considers to render the participant unsuitable for the study period."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Known severe hypersensitivity reaction to any other drug."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Any medical condition (e.g., gastrointestinal, renal or hepatic, including peptic ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease or pancreatitis) or surgical condition (e.g., cholecystectomy, gastrectomy) that may affect drug pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion) or participant safety."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- History of drug or alcohol abuse."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- History of short QT syndrome, long QT syndrome, or clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Family history of sudden death before 40 years old, short, or long QT syndrome."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Resting heart rate < 50 bpm in ECG."}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Baseline QTcF interval > 450 msec if man or > 470 msec if woman, or < 350 msec."}

Endpoints

Primary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change from baseline in Disease Activity Score (DAS) for 28-joint count using C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) at Week 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in DAS28-CRP measured at Week 14 using 28-joint count with C-reactive protein."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change from baseline in DAS28-CRP at Weeks 4, 8, and 12.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in DAS28-CRP measured at Weeks 4, 8 and 12."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Number of subjects who achieve remission (DAS28-CRP <2.6) at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Proportion/count of subjects achieving DAS28-CRP <2.6 at Weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Number of subjects who achieve low disease activity (DAS28-CRP <3.2) at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Proportion/count of subjects achieving DAS28-CRP <3.2 at Weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Number of subjects who achieve American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20% (ACR20) response at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Proportion/count of subjects meeting ACR20 response criteria at Weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Number of subjects who achieve ACR50 response at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Proportion/count of subjects meeting ACR50 response criteria at Weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Number of subjects who achieve ACR70 response at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Proportion/count of subjects meeting ACR70 response criteria at Weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change from baseline in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in CDAI measured at Weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change from baseline in Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in SDAI measured at Weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in HAQ-DI measured at Weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change from baseline in Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) at Week 14.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in SF-36 measured at Week 14."}

Secondary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). Clinically relevant abnormalities in vital signs, 12-lead ECG, and laboratory parameters will be reported as AEs.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Incidence counts and summaries of TEAEs and SAEs; clinically relevant abnormalities in vital signs, 12-lead ECG and labs reported as adverse events."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change from baseline at each scheduled time point of measurement in laboratory parameters (hematology and biochemistry).","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in hematology and biochemistry laboratory parameters at scheduled time points."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Pharmacokinetic parameters: Cmax; Time of occurrence of Cmax; Time of observation prior to the first measurable (non-zero) drug concentration; Area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) from time of dosing to the time of last measurable concentration; AUC extrapolated to infinity; Apparent terminal elimination rate constant; Apparent terminal elimination half-life; Apparent volume of distribution; and Apparent total body clearance.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Standard non-compartmental pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, Tmax, AUC, half-life, apparent clearance and volume) derived from plasma concentration-time data."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change from baseline in DAS28-CRP every 4 weeks.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in DAS28-CRP measured every 4 weeks."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Change in SF-36 every 4 weeks.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change from baseline in SF-36 measured every 4 weeks."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Incidence of TEAEs and SAEs. Clinically relevant abnormalities in vital signs, 12-lead ECG and laboratory parameters will be reported as AEs.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Incidence counts and summaries of TEAEs and SAEs and clinically relevant abnormalities in vitals, ECG and labs reported as AEs (reiterated)."}

Recruitment

Planned Sample Size
40
Recruitment Window Months
13
Consent Approach
Participants must provide 'Free written informed consent prior to any procedure required by the study.' Participants are adults (≥ 18 years). Informed consent / subject information documents are listed (L1_ICF main, L1_ICF pregnancy, L1_ICF PK substudy, L2_Subject Card_Redacted, etc.). Patient-facing documents available in English and Portuguese.

Geography

Total Number Of Sites
8
Total Number Of Participants
40

Portugal

Earliest CTIS Part Ii Submission Date
14-05-2024
Latest Decision Or Authorization Date
04-02-2026
Processing Time Days
631
Number Of Sites
8
Number Of Participants
40

Sites

Site Name
Unidade Local De Saude Do Alto Minho E.P.E.
Department Name
Rheumatology
Contact Person Name
José Costa
Contact Person Email
jose.costa@ulsam.min-saude.pt
Site Name
Unidade Local De Saude Do Alto Ave E.P.E.
Department Name
Rheumatology
Contact Person Name
Glória Alves
Contact Person Email
gloriasousalves@gmail.com
Site Name
Unidade Local De Saude Da Guarda E.P.E.
Department Name
Rheumatology
Contact Person Name
Cláudia Vaz
Site Name
Unidade Local De Saude Da Regiao De Leiria E.P.E.
Department Name
Rheumatology
Contact Person Name
Marília Rodrigues
Site Name
Unidade Local De Saude De Gaia/Espinho E.P.E.
Department Name
Rheumatology
Contact Person Name
Patricia Pinto
Site Name
CCAB Centro Clinico Academico Braga Associacao
Department Name
Rheumatology
Contact Person Name
Diogo Almeida
Site Name
Unidade Local de Saúde de São João, E.P.E.
Department Name
Rheumatology
Contact Person Name
Miguel Bernardes
Site Name
Unidade Local de Saúde da Região de Aveiro
Department Name
Rheumatology
Contact Person Name
Anabela Barcelos

Sponsor

Primary sponsor

Full Name
Solfarcos Solucoes Farmaceuticas E Cosmeticas Lda.
Organisation Type
Pharmaceutical company
Country Of Registered Address
Portugal

Contract research organisations

Name
Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l.
Responsibilities
Codes: 4; contact VERGMSampleManagement@evotec.com
Name
Blueclinical Investigacao E Desenvolvimento Em Saude Lda.
Responsibilities
Codes: 1,10,11,12,2,5,6,8,9; contact regulatory@blueclinical.pt
Name
Viedoc Technologies AB
Responsibilities
Codes: 7; contact contact@viedoc.com

Third parties

  • {"country":"Italy","full_name":"Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l.","duties_or_roles":"Codes: 4","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"Portugal","full_name":"Blueclinical Investigacao E Desenvolvimento Em Saude Lda.","duties_or_roles":"Codes: 1,10,11,12,2,5,6,8,9","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}
  • {"country":"Sweden","full_name":"Viedoc Technologies AB","duties_or_roles":"Codes: 7","organisation_type":"Non-Pharmaceutical company"}

Investigational products

Investigational Product Name
FBL-MTX (Folate-based liposomes encapsulating Methotrexate)
Active Substance
Methotrexate
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
Subcutaneous injection
Route
Subcutaneous injection
Authorisation Status
Authorised (prodAuthStatus=1 in product listing)
Starting Dose
1 mg (DMARD-naïve) or 2.5 mg (inadequate response/intolerance to oral MTX)
Dose Levels
Initial 1 mg titrated up to 2.5 mg; or initial 2.5 mg (no further increase beyond 2.5 mg)
Frequency
Titration at 4-week intervals for 12 weeks; maximum dosage 2.5 mg every 2 weeks
Maximum Dose
2.5 mg every 2 weeks
Dose Escalation Increase
DMARD-naïve: initial 1 mg -> titrated at 4-week intervals up to 2.5 mg; Inadequate response/intolerance group: initial 2.5 mg (no escalation)

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