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A Pilot Study of the Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis With Omalizumab

A Pilot Study of the Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis With Omalizumab

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00123630
Enrollment
30
Registered
2005-07-25
Start date
2005-11-30
Completion date
2010-01-31
Last updated
2016-05-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Esophagitis

Keywords

eosinophilic esophagitis, omalizumab

Brief summary

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is an increasingly recognized condition characterized by dysphagia, food impaction or other obstructive esophageal symptoms in children and young adults. The pathophysiology of EE appears to be an allergy/atopy mediated disease. A personal and family history of allergic diseases (food allergies, atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis) has been noted in 62-85% of patients with EE. The rising incidence of EE may be related to the worldwide allergy and asthma epidemic. Current treatment of EE is directed at decreasing esophageal allergic inflammation. Oral and topical corticosteroids, cromolyn sodium, montelukast and elemental/elimination diets have all been shown to be effective. However, none of these treatments are directed at the specific pathophysiologic mechanism of EE and some have significant side effects. The shared pathogenetic mechanisms of EE and asthma suggest that therapeutic strategies directed at asthma may also be effective for EE. Specifically those targeted at the allergic immune mechanisms involved with asthma may be effective. Omalizumab is a recently developed anti-IgE antibody that has been shown to decrease the use of inhaled and oral corticosteroids, reduce the frequency of asthma exacerbations, and improve asthma related symptoms in patients with allergic asthma. The objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of omalizumab in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis

Detailed description

This is a dual-center double-blind, placebo controlled trial of omalizumab for the treatment of EE. Omalizumab will be dosed depending on the patient's body weight and baseline IgE level. Omalizumab or placebo will be administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 16 weeks. At study entry subjects will have EGD with biopsies performed to ensure the diagnosis and obtain tissue for histologic analysis. No dilation will be performed at this time. Baseline validated questionnaires for dysphagia, GERD, and atopy will also be administered. Blood will be drawn for baseline serum testing. Repeat questionnaires and rating of overall symptom improvement will be administered at 4 week intervals for the rest of the study period. At the end of the 16 week period, repeat endoscopy will be performed and biopsies taken. Esophageal dilation may be performed if clinically indicated at this time. Blood will also be drawn for repeat serum testing.

Interventions

DRUGomalizumab

omalizumab dosed IV based on IgE level and weight every 2 - 4 weeks

DRUGPlacebo

Placebo given IV once every 2-4 weeks based on weight

Sponsors

Novartis Pharmaceuticals
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
University of Utah
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male or female subjects aged 12-60 years of age with EE as defined above * Serum IgE level 30-700 IU/mL * Subjects with acceptable medical history, physical exam and laboratory test results * No history of bleeding diathesis, significant cardiopulmonary disease, or other contraindication to upper endoscopy

Exclusion criteria

* Need for esophageal dilation at enrollment due to food impaction or inability to pass endoscope * Inability of subject to provide informed consent (if ages 18-60), or inability of children (ages 12-17) to provide assent * History of esophagogastric surgery * Presence of other esophageal pathology that could account for patients' symptoms including eosinophil infiltration due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) * Incarceration * Pregnancy * Women of childbearing potential not using the contraception method(s) * Patients with elevated serum IgE levels for reasons other than atopy * Patients taking cromolyn sodium or nedocromil sodium within 1 month of visit 1 * Patients taking oral or topical corticosteroids within one month of visit 1 * Patients taking leukotriene receptor inhibitors within one month of visit 1 * Patients with severe medical condition(s) that in the view of the investigator prohibits participation in the study * Patients with a history of noncompliance to medical regimens or who were considered potentially unreliable * Use of any other investigational agent in the last 30 days * Patients with a known hypersensitivity to any ingredient of rhuMAb-E25, study rescue medication * Patients with Barrett's esophagus will be excluded if found endoscopically or pathologically at biopsy * Currently treated with omalizumab or treated with omalizumab within the past 6 months.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Change in Eosinophil Numbers Per High Power Field Proximally and Distally Between Baseline and Post-treatment and Between Both Groups16 weeks

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Placebo
Placebo 150 to 375 mg is administered SC every 2 or 4 weeks. Because the solution is slightly viscous, the injection may take 5-10 seconds to administer. Doses (mg) and dosing frequency are determined by serum total IgE level (IU/mL), measured before the start of treatment, and body weight (kg).
15
Omalizumab
Xolair (Omalizumab)150 to 375 mg is administered SC every 2 or 4 weeks. Because the solution is slightly viscous, the injection may take 5-10 seconds to administer. Doses (mg) and dosing frequency are determined by serum total IgE level (IU/mL), measured before the start of treatment, and body weight (kg).
15
Total30

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicOmalizumabPlaceboTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
15 Participants15 Participants30 Participants
Age, Continuous32 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12
28 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6
30 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10
Region of Enrollment
United States
15 participants15 participants30 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants5 Participants8 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
12 Participants10 Participants22 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 150 / 15
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 150 / 15

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Eosinophil Numbers Per High Power Field Proximally and Distally Between Baseline and Post-treatment and Between Both Groups

Time frame: 16 weeks

Population: The analysis was per protocol. There were no subjects who were withdrawn or lost to follow-up in this study.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
PlaceboChange in Eosinophil Numbers Per High Power Field Proximally and Distally Between Baseline and Post-treatment and Between Both Groups0.6 perecentage of eos per high power field
OmalizumabChange in Eosinophil Numbers Per High Power Field Proximally and Distally Between Baseline and Post-treatment and Between Both Groups-7.5 perecentage of eos per high power field
p-value: <0.05Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026