Skip to content

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study: CroFab® vs Placebo for Copperhead Snake Envenomation

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Comparing CroFab® vs Placebo With Rescue Treatment for Copperhead Snake Envenomation

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01864200
Acronym
Copperhead
Enrollment
74
Registered
2013-05-29
Start date
2013-07-31
Completion date
2015-12-31
Last updated
2017-11-22

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

Conditions

Snake Bites

Brief summary

This study will evaluate the recovery from copperhead snake bite in patients with mild or moderate venom effect. Potential subjects received CroFab antivenom or placebo. After blinded treatment and discharge, the subject returns to the clinic for follow-up assessments at day 3, 7, 14, and 28 after snake bite as well as follow-up telephone assessments on day 10, 17, and 24 after snake bite. The purpose of this study is to compare recovery in copperhead snake bite patients treated with antivenom vs placebo (no active drug) as measured by the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) at Day 14 follow-up. The primary efficacy endpoint of this study was achieved.

Detailed description

This study will evaluate the recovery from copperhead snake bite in patients with mild or moderate venom effect. Potential subjects will receive CroFab antivenom or placebo. The trial is conducted by emergency room doctors, toxicologists, or surgeons at hospitals in regions where copperhead bites are common. After blinded treatment and discharge, the subject returns to the clinic for follow-up assessments at day 3, 7, 14, and 28 after snake bite. The subject will also be called by telephone for follow-up assessments on day 10, 17, and 24 after snake bite. The purpose of this study is to compare recovery in copperhead snake bite patients treated with antivenom vs placebo (no active drug) as measured by the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) at Day 14 follow-up.The primary efficacy endpoint of this study was achieved. Treatment with CroFab® demonstrated measurable and significant improvement (less disability) over placebo: in the mITT population, the LS mean total score on the PSFS at Day 14 follow-up and treatment showed less disability in patients randomized to receive CroFab® than those receiving placebo.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALCrotalidae polyvalent immune fab (ovine)

crotalidae antivenom

BIOLOGICALPlacebo

Saline placebo

Sponsors

BTG International Inc.
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

- * Envenomation by a copperhead snake a. Snake identified by one of the following means: i.Snake or photograph of snake brought to Emergency Department ii.Patient chooses copperhead from an array of snake photographs iii.Patient envenomated in an area where only copperheads are endemic iv.Patient envenomated by a captive copperhead snake * Completion of informed consent and eligibility confirmation within 24 hours of envenomation * Envenomation on only one extremity, distal to the elbow or knee * Clinical evidence of mild or moderate venom effect (limb swelling and/or tenderness) is present (Venom effects need not be progressing.) * Patient willing and able to complete follow-up schedule of assessments * Patient is able to read, comprehend and sign the IRB approved consent document(s) * Patient is able to read and comprehend the written assessment tools (e.g., DASH, LEFS, PROMIS Physical Function Short Form 10a (PROMIS PF-10), PGIC, etc.) * Patient is ≥12 years of age * Patient is sober, competent, and able to complete verbal and written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

- * Patient has clinical evidence of severe venom effect as defined by meeting any one of the following parameters: i. Swelling to an entire extremity (all major joints affected) 1. Lower extremity: swelling crossing hip joint 2. Upper extremity: swelling crossing shoulder joint ii. INR \> 2.0 iii. Platelets \<50,000 cells / µL iv. Fibrinogen \<50 mg/dL v. Compartment syndrome vi. Systolic Blood Pressure \<90 mmHg vii. More than minimal bleeding viii. Investigator's clinical discretion * Patient has already received antivenom for the management of the current envenomation * Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding * Patient is a prisoner * Patient has a distracting injury or condition with acute pain or functional impairment, and/or is unable to make a reliable self-report of functionality status based solely on the condition of interest * Patient had a previous snake envenomation to any body area in the 30 days prior to screening/enrollment, regardless of whether antivenom was administered for the previous envenomation * Patient had an acute traumatic event, surgery, an acute medical event, or exacerbation of a pre-existing medical or surgical condition affecting the envenomated extremity within the 30 days prior to screening/enrollment * Patient has participated in a clinical study involving an investigational pharmaceutical product or device within the 3 months prior to screening that may have impact on clinical outcomes of snakebite * Patient has previously participated in this clinical study * Patient has a known history of hypersensitivity to any components of CroFab®, or to papaya or papain * Patient is otherwise unsuitable for inclusion in this study, based on the opinion of the Investigator

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Patient Specific Functional Scale Scoreat 14 day follow-upPatient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) at 14 day follow-up This is a three-item instrument, administered verbally, that is used to evaluate whether a health condition impacts a patient's ability to perform activities that are important to him/her. On the initial assessment, the patient is asked to identify up to three important activities that you are unable to do or are having difficulty with as a result of your (snakebite). The patient then provides a rating for each item, on an 11-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 (unable to perform activity) to 10 (able to perform activity at the same level as before the injury or problem). During reassessments, the subject is prompted to re-rate the same three activities. The average of up to 3 specific activity scores was recorded, and the range of possible scores is 0 - 10. Higher scores indicate less impairment.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
CroFab
Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (ovine) per approved labeling Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (ovine): crotalidae antivenom
45
Saline Placebo
Saline placebo Placebo
29
Total74

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up13
Overall StudyProtocol Violation10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicCroFabTotalSaline Placebo
Age, Continuous44 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.9
43.04 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.57
42 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.2
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants1 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants4 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants4 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
40 Participants65 Participants25 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
45 Participants74 Participants29 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
22 Participants35 Participants13 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
23 Participants39 Participants16 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
25 / 458 / 29
serious
Total, serious adverse events
1 / 451 / 29

Outcome results

Primary

Patient Specific Functional Scale Score

Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) at 14 day follow-up This is a three-item instrument, administered verbally, that is used to evaluate whether a health condition impacts a patient's ability to perform activities that are important to him/her. On the initial assessment, the patient is asked to identify up to three important activities that you are unable to do or are having difficulty with as a result of your (snakebite). The patient then provides a rating for each item, on an 11-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 (unable to perform activity) to 10 (able to perform activity at the same level as before the injury or problem). During reassessments, the subject is prompted to re-rate the same three activities. The average of up to 3 specific activity scores was recorded, and the range of possible scores is 0 - 10. Higher scores indicate less impairment.

Time frame: at 14 day follow-up

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
CroFabPatient Specific Functional Scale Score8.62 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.55
Saline PlaceboPatient Specific Functional Scale Score7.45 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.603

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