Liver Cirrhosis
Conditions
Brief summary
The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of rifaximin SSD versus placebo in preventing complications of liver cirrhosis, such as all-cause mortality (death due to all causes) or hospitalization, in subjects with early decompensated liver cirrhosis. Rifaximin, a non-systemic antibacterial agent, is currently marketed as a 550 mg tablet for the reduction in risk of recurrent overt hepatic encephalopathy, a complication of liver cirrhosis. The rifaximin SSD tablet was formulated to maximize the efficacy of rifaximin. Subjects will receive 1 of 5 doses of rifaximin SSD tablets or placebo tablets every day for 24 weeks.
Interventions
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and documented ascites. * Model End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of at least 12, MELD Na of at least 12, or Child-Pugh B (score of 7 - 9). * If applicable, has a close family or other personal contacts who can provide continuing oversight to the patient and will be available to the patient during the conduct of the trial. * If female of childbearing potential, have a negative serum pregnancy test at study start and agree to use an acceptable method of contraception during the study.
Exclusion criteria
* History of a major psychiatric disorder including uncontrolled major depression or controlled or uncontrolled psychoses within the past 24 months prior to study start. * History of alcohol abuse or substance abuse within the past 3 months prior to study start. * Documented cholestatic liver disease such as primary sclerosing cholangitis. * Had prophylactic variceal banding within 2 weeks or is scheduled to undergo prophylactic banding during the study. * Diagnosed with an infection for which the patient is currently taking oral or parenteral antibiotics. * Significant hypovolemia, or any electrolyte abnormality that can affect mental function (eg, serum sodium \< 125 mEq/L, serum calcium \> 10 mg/dL). * Severe hypokalemia, defined as serum potassium concentration \< 2.5 mEq/L. * Anemic, defined as hemoglobin concentration ≤ 8 g/dL. * Renal insufficiency with a creatinine of ≥ 1.5 mg/dL. * Presence of intestinal obstruction or inflammatory bowel disease. * Uncontrolled Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. * History of seizure disorders. * Unstable cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, categorized by a worsening in the disease condition that requires a change in treatment or medical care within 30 days of study start. * Active malignancy within the last 5 years (exceptions: basal cell carcinomas of the skin, or if female, in situ cervical carcinoma that has been surgically excised). * Has hepatocellular carcinoma. * Known human immunodeficiency virus, varicella, herpes zoster, or other severe viral infection within 6 weeks of study start. * Positive stool test for Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, Shigella, ovum and parasites, and/or Clostridium difficile (C. difficile); determined during the screening period prior to study start. * History of tuberculosis infection and/or has received treatment for a tuberculosis infection. * History of hypersensitivity to rifaximin, rifampin, rifamycin antimicrobial agents, or any of the components of rifaximin soluble solid dispersion. * Used any investigational product or device, or participated in another research study within 30 days prior to study start.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Time to all-cause mortality or hospitalization that is attributable to complications of liver disease. | Weeks 1 through 24 | The primary outcome measure will evaluate the time from start of the treatment period to death due to any cause (all-cause mortality) or hospitalization due to complications of liver disease for each patient during the 24-week treatment period. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacokinetics of rifaximin and its metabolite. | Weeks 1 through 24 | This outcome will measure the plasma levels of rifaximin and its metabolite (25-desacetyl rifaximin) for each patient during the 24-week treatment period. |
| Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events. | Weeks 1 through 24 | This outcome will evaluate the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (percentage of patients who experience adverse events following the start of the treatment period). |
| Overall hospitalization rate due to each complication of liver disease or all-cause mortality over the 24-week treatment period. | Weeks 1 through 24 | This outcome measure will determine the rate of hospitalization (percentage of patients who are hospitalized) due to each complication of liver disease or all-cause mortality over the 24-week treatment period. |
| Changes in electrocardiogram measurements | Weeks 1 through 24 | This outcome will measure the changes in measurements obtained from 12-lead electrocardiograms for each patient during the treatment period. |
| Changes in indices of health outcomes | Weeks, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 | This outcome will evaluate each patient's responses on questionnaires that assess health status. |
| Change in clinical laboratory parameters. | Weeks 1 through 24 | This outcome will measure the changes in each patient's clinical laboratory test results during the treatment period. |
Countries
Russia, United States