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An Open-label Randomized Multicenter Phase III Clinical Study Comparing Safety and Efficacy of Algeron (Cepeginterferon Alfa-2b) and and PegIntron (Peginterferon Alfa-2b) in Combination With Ribavirin as Combined Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Infected Patients

Multicenter Open-label Randomized, Comparative Clinical Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Algeron (Cepeginterferon Alfa-2b, CJSC BIOCAD, Russia) With Ribavirin Compared to PegIntron (Peginterferon Alfa-2b, Schering-Plough Labo N.V., Belgium) With Ribavirin in Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Infected Patients

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02103439
Enrollment
140
Registered
2014-04-03
Start date
2013-06-06
Completion date
2015-08-26
Last updated
2018-08-09

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

Conditions

Hepatitis, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C/ Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection

Keywords

Hepatitis C, Cepeginterferon alfa, Peginterferon, Treatment

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the noninferiority of Algeron in combination with ribavirin compared to PegIntron in combination with ribavirin in treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 infected patients

Detailed description

The course of treatment in both groups shall be 12 weeks, and efficacy analysis, i.e. rate of rapid (after the 4th week) and early (after the 12th week) virologic response will be based on polymerase chain reaction data. For patients with treatment failure after the 12th week the antiviral therapy shall be discontinued. All patients who require further anti-viral treatment will receive a combination treatment with Algeron / PegIntron and ribavirin for another 36 weeks. Sustained virologic response will be assessed 24 weeks after last dose of study treatment.

Interventions

1.5 µg/kg of body weight subcutaneously, once a week

1.5 µg/kg of body weight subcutaneously, once a week

Sponsors

Biocad
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Signed Informed Consent Form. * Chronic hepatitis C (genotypes 1а, 1b, 2, 3, 4) confirmed by positive result of hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid during \> 6 months before screening visit or accompanied with increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level \> 6 months before screening visit. * Confirmed Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 infection based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immune blotting results. * Clinically sustained phase of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 infection with absence of active opportunistic Human Immunodeficiency Virus-associated diseases for at least 30 calendar days before inclusion in the study. * Level of CD4+-lymphocytes is not less than 500 cells/mm3 for patients not requiring highly active antiretroviral therapy and which will not be assigned to antiretroviral therapy during the study period. * For patients receiving sustained highly active antiretroviral therapy for not less than 12 weeks and planning to continue comply with this treatment regimen during the following 24 weeks, level of CD4+-lymphocytes ≥300 cells/mm3, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ribonucleic acid ≤50 copies/ml. * Men and women aged 18 to 70 inclusively. * Body mass index in the range of 18 - 30 kg/m2 inclusively . * Preserved protein-synthetizing liver function (International Normalized Ratio \< 1.7, albumin \> 35 g/l). * Absence of signs of hepatic encephalopathy and ascites according to clinical examination and ultrasound examination. * Patients with preserved child-bearing potential and their partners agree to use barrier method of contraception during the whole period of therapy and during 7 months after the treatment completion. * Documentary confirmed results of liver elastography (fibroscan) during last year before enrollment in the study or patient agreement to undergo this examination during screening.

Exclusion criteria

* Intolerance of alfa-interferons, ribavirin or any components of tested drug product based on medical history. * Presence of hepatitis B, A, E markers. * Presence of documentary confirmed clinically significant concurrent liver diseases (alcoholic liver cirrhosis, drug-induced liver cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, biliary cirrhosis etc.). * Past history of Hepatitis C Virus treatment with interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alfa. * For patients receiving sustained highly active antiretroviral therapy - presence of nevirapine, stavudine, zidovudine, didanosine in treatment regimen. * Use of injectable and non-injectable interferons alfa/ interferon inducers for any indication (except for hepatitis C), radiotherapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy for one month prior to inclusion in the study. * Cholestic hepatitis (level of direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyltransferase, exceeding upper normal limit in \> 5 times). * Decompensated liver cirrhosis confirmed with results of laboratory analyses (Child-Pugh class B, C) or ultrasound examination. * Any documentary confirmed autoimmune diseases (such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, scleroderma, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, severe psoriasis). * Deviations of hematologic (hemoglobin less than lower normal limit; neutrophils \< 1.5 x 10\^9/l; thrombocytes \< 90 x 10\^9/ l) and biochemical (creatinine level \> 1.5 times higher upper normal limit, ALT is \> 10 times higher upper normal limit) parameters. * Documentary confirmed diagnosis of hemoglobinopathy (for example, thalassemia, sickle-cell anemia). * Severe depression, schizophrenia, any other mental disorders which according to the investigator are contraindications for antiviral treatment. * Epilepsy and/or central nervous system disorder. * Disorder of thyroid function (level of thyroid stimulating hormone out of the normal range). * Documentary confirmed or suspected hepatocellular carcinoma based on the results of alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) assay ≥ upper normal limit. * Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) titer measured at screening is not less than 1:640 or documentary confirmed signs of autoimmune hepatitis based on the results of biopsy. * Documentary confirmed malignant neoplasms. * Documentary confirmed lung diseases associated with respiratory failure. * Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 with immunotherapeutic vaccines within 90 days prior to screening. * Necessity in assignment of antimycobacterial therapy. * Pregnancy, lactation period. * Documentary confirmed retinopathy (for example, cytomegalovirus retinitis, macular degeneration). * Severe concurrent diseases (for example, severe arterial hypertension, sever coronary heart disease, heart failure, decompensated diabetes mellitus and other) which are contraindications for antiviral therapy according to the investigator opinion.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Early Virological Response12 weeksProportion of randomized patients achieving early virologic response - negative polymerase chain reaction result for Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid (\< 15 IU/ml) or ≥ 2log10 decrease of viral load after 12 weeks of study treatment
Early Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes12 weeksProportion of randomized patients with different Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes achieving early virologic response - negative polymerase chain reaction result for HCV ribonucleic acid (\< 15 IU/ml) or ≥ 2log10 decrease of viral load after 12 weeks of study treatment

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rapid Virological Response4 weeksProportion of randomized patients achieving rapid virologic response - negative polymerase chain reaction result for Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid (\< 15 IU/ml) after 4 weeks of treatment
Rapid Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes4 weeksProportion of randomized patients with different Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes achieving rapid virological response - negative polymerase chain reaction result for HCV ribonucleic acid (\< 15 IU/ml) after 4 weeks of treatment
Viral Breakthroughscreening data and at 4 or 12 weeks of treatment.Proportion of patients in each groups with level of Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid \> 15 IU/ml after Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid was not present or Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid was increased by more than 1log10 from baseline at 4 or 12 weeks of treatment
Biochemical Response12 weeksProportion of patients in each group with alanine aminotransferase level ≤ upper normal limit after 12 weeks of therapy

Countries

Russia

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Algeron
Algeron at a dose of 1.5 µg/kg of body weight subcutaneously, once a week, and Rebetol, orally, at a daily dose of 800 mg (for body weight \<65 kg), 1,000 mg (for body weight 65 - 85 kg), 1,200 mg (for body weight 86 - 105 kg) or 1,400 mg (for body weight \> 105 kg) Algeron: 1.5 µg/kg of body weight subcutaneously, once a week
70
PegIntron
PegIntron at a dose of 1.5 µg/kg of body weight subcutaneously, once a week, and Rebetol, orally, at a daily dose of 800 mg (for body weight \<65 kg), 1,000 mg (for body weight 65 - 85 kg), 1,200 mg (for body weight 86 - 105 kg) or 1,400 mg (for body weight \> 105 kg). PegIntron: 1.5 µg/kg of body weight subcutaneously, once a week
70
Total140

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyAdverse Event02
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject31

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicAlgeronTotalPegIntron
Age, Continuous33 years33.5 years34 years
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
2 Participants3 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants0 Participants0 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
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
68 Participants137 Participants69 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Russian Federation
70 participants140 participants70 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
25 Participants49 Participants24 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
45 Participants91 Participants46 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
70 / 7069 / 71
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 702 / 71

Outcome results

Primary

Early Virological Response

Proportion of randomized patients achieving early virologic response - negative polymerase chain reaction result for Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid (\< 15 IU/ml) or ≥ 2log10 decrease of viral load after 12 weeks of study treatment

Time frame: 12 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
AlgeronEarly Virological Response90.0 percentage of patients
PegIntronEarly Virological Response81.4 percentage of patients
p-value: 0.227Fisher Exact
Primary

Early Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes

Proportion of randomized patients with different Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes achieving early virologic response - negative polymerase chain reaction result for HCV ribonucleic acid (\< 15 IU/ml) or ≥ 2log10 decrease of viral load after 12 weeks of study treatment

Time frame: 12 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
AlgeronEarly Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes82.4 percentage of patients
PegIntronEarly Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes97.2 percentage of patients
PegIntron - HCV-1Early Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes75.8 percentage of patients
PegIntron - HCV-2/3Early Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes88.5 percentage of patients
Secondary

Biochemical Response

Proportion of patients in each group with alanine aminotransferase level ≤ upper normal limit after 12 weeks of therapy

Time frame: 12 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
AlgeronBiochemical Response68.6 percentage of patients
PegIntronBiochemical Response82.9 percentage of patients
Secondary

Rapid Virological Response

Proportion of randomized patients achieving rapid virologic response - negative polymerase chain reaction result for Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid (\< 15 IU/ml) after 4 weeks of treatment

Time frame: 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
AlgeronRapid Virological Response51.4 percentage of patients
PegIntronRapid Virological Response37.1 percentage of patients
p-value: >0.05Fisher Exact
Secondary

Rapid Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes

Proportion of randomized patients with different Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes achieving rapid virological response - negative polymerase chain reaction result for HCV ribonucleic acid (\< 15 IU/ml) after 4 weeks of treatment

Time frame: 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
AlgeronRapid Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes23.5 percentage of patients
PegIntronRapid Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes77.8 percentage of patients
PegIntron - HCV-1Rapid Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes21.2 percentage of patients
PegIntron - HCV-2/3Rapid Virological Response in Patients With Different Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes51.4 percentage of patients
Secondary

Viral Breakthrough

Proportion of patients in each groups with level of Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid \> 15 IU/ml after Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid was not present or Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid was increased by more than 1log10 from baseline at 4 or 12 weeks of treatment

Time frame: screening data and at 4 or 12 weeks of treatment.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
AlgeronViral Breakthrough0 percentage of patients
PegIntronViral Breakthrough0 percentage of patients

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