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Bezlotoxumab (MK-6072) Versus Placebo in Children With Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) (MK-6072-001)

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Efficacy of a Single Infusion of Bezlotoxumab (MK-6072, Human Monoclonal Antibody to C. Difficile Toxin B) in Children Aged 1 to <18 Years Receiving Antibacterial Drug Treatment for C. Difficile Infection (MODIFY III)

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03182907
Acronym
MODIFY III
Enrollment
148
Registered
2017-06-09
Start date
2018-03-27
Completion date
2022-05-12
Last updated
2023-07-27

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

Conditions

Clostridium Difficile Infection

Brief summary

The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of bezlotoxumab (MK-6072) in children aged 1 to \<18 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) who are receiving antibacterial drug treatment. The primary hypothesis is that the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to infinity (AUC0-inf) of bezlotoxumab after treatment of pediatric participants with bezlotoxumab is similar when compared to the AUC0-inf of bezlotoxumab after treatment of adults with bezlotoxumab.

Detailed description

Historical adult pharmacokinetic data is from NCT01241552 and NCT01513239.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALBezlotoxumab

A single intravenous (IV) infusion of 10 mg of bezlotoxumab per kg body weight. Dose may then be changed based on results from initial 12 participants.

DRUGPlacebo

A single IV infusion of placebo for bezlotoxumab consisting of either 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose.

DRUGAntibacterial drug treatment (ABD)

ABD will be administered for 10-21 days including the duration of ABD prior to the screening visit, during the screening period, and after the infusion of study treatment, per institutional guidelines, at the investigator's discretion. ABD is defined as the receipt of oral metronidazole, oral vancomycin, intravenous (IV) metronidazole concurrent with oral vancomycin, oral fidaxomicin, or oral fidaxomicin concurrent with IV metronidazole.

Sponsors

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

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

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
1 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* At screening has suspected or confirmed Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), and is receiving or is planning to receive a 10- to 21-day course of antibacterial drug treatment for CDI * At study infusion has a diagnosis of CDI confirmed by a diagnostic assay which detects the presence of C. difficile toxin in stool, and is still receiving antibacterial drug treatment for CDI * Female is not pregnant, and not breastfeeding; but if of childbearing potential agrees to follow contraceptive guidance during the treatment period and for at least 12 weeks after the last dose of study treatment * Participant and/or parent or caregiver must be able to read, understand, and complete the daily diary

Exclusion criteria

* Has an uncontrolled chronic diarrheal illness * Has a known hypersensitivity to bezlotoxumab, its active substance and/or any of its excipients * At randomization, their planned course of antibacterial drug treatment for CDI is longer than 21 days * At screening has received any listed prohibited prior and concomitant treatments and procedures * Has previously participated in this study, has previously received bezlotoxumab, has received an experimental monoclonal antibody against C. difficile toxin B, or has received a vaccine directed against C. difficile or its toxins. * Has received an investigational study agent within the previous 30 days, or is currently participating in or scheduled to participate in any other clinical study with an investigational agent during the 12-week study period

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve of Bezlotoxumab From Time 0 to Infinity (AUC0-inf)Day 1 (2 hours postdose), Days 10, 29, 57, and 85Blood samples were collected at specified intervals for the determination of AUC0-inf. AUC0-inf was defined as the area under the concentration-time curve of bezlotoxumab from time zero to infinity. Per protocol, AUC0-inf of bezlotoxumab was determined for each age cohort.
Percentage of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE)Up to approximately 12 weeksAn AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of a drug in a participant, whether or not considered drug related. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product and does not imply any judgment about causality. Per protocol, percentage of participants with AEs in the bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.
Percentage of Participants Who Discontinued Study Due to an AEUp to approximately 12 weeksAn AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of a drug in a participant, whether or not considered drug related. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product and does not imply any judgment about causality. Per protocol, percentage of participants who discontinued study due to AEs in the bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percentage of High-Risk Participants Who Experienced a SCRUp to approximately 12 WeeksSCR was ICR of baseline CDI episode (improvement in number and character of bowel movements and doesn't require further CDI therapy within 2 days after completion of up to 21 days of ABD for CDI) and no CDI recurrence (diarrhea recurrence with positive stool test for C. difficile toxin, for which participant, in investigator's opinion, requires and receives ABD for CDI). High-risk was meeting ≥1 criteria: a) was immunocompromised b) had ≥1 episodes of CDI prior to baseline episode c) had severe CDI baseline episode d) had C. difficile ribotype027 in stool at baseline CDI episode e) received ≥1 systemic ABD known to increase CDI risk. Per protocol, percentage of high-risk participants who had SCR in bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.
Percentage of Participants Who Had a Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) RecurrenceUp to approximately 12 WeeksCDI recurrence was defined as diarrhea recurrence (new episode of diarrhea after initial clinical response \[ICR\] as defined by a change in normal bowel habits for ≥2 days with either watery diarrhea or at least 6 unformed bowel movements \[UBMs\] within 48-hours) associated with a positive stool test for C. difficile toxin, and for which the participant, in the investigator's opinion, requires and receives ABD treatment for CDI. Per protocol, percentage of participants who had a CDI recurrence in the bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were reported.
Percentage of Participants Who Had Positive Antibodies to BezlotoxumabUp to approximately 12 WeeksBlood samples were collected to determine antibodies to bezlotoxumab. Per protocol, percentage of participants with treatment-emergent positive antibodies to bezlotoxumab following single infusion of bezlotoxumab were reported for each age cohort.
Percentage of Participants Who Experienced One or More Infusion Related ReactionUp to approximately 24 hours after infusion on Day 1Infusion related reaction included events meeting any of the 3 criteria: 1) acute onset of an illness involving skin, mucosal tissue, or both and at least 1 of the following: respiratory compromise, reduced blood pressure (BP) or associated symptoms of end-organ dysfunction 2) two or more of the following after onset of study infusion: involving skin-mucosal tissue, respiratory compromise, reduced BP or associated symptoms, or persistent gastrointestinal symptoms 3) reduced BP after onset of infusion or \>30% decrease in systolic BP from baseline. Per protocol, percentage of participants experiencing 1 or more infusion-related reactions within 24 hours following the start of study medication infusion were reported.
Percentage of Participants Who Had a Sustained Clinical Response (SCR)Up to approximately 12 WeeksSCR was defined as the ICR of baseline CDI episode (improvement in number and character of bowel movements and doesn't require further CDI therapy within 2 days after completion of up to 21 days of ABD treatment for CDI) and no CDI recurrence (diarrhea recurrence associated with a positive stool test for C. difficile toxin, and for which the participant, in investigator's opinion, requires and receives ABD for CDI). Per protocol, percentage of participants who had a SCR in bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.
Percentage of High-Risk Participants Who Experienced a CDI RecurrenceUp to approximately 12 WeeksCDI recurrence was defined as diarrhea recurrence (new diarrhea episode after ICR defined by change in normal bowel habits for ≥2 days with watery diarrhea or at least 6 UBMs within 48-hours) with positive stool test for C. difficile toxin for which participant, in investigator's opinion, requires and receives ABD for CDI. High-risk was meeting ≥1 criteria at/before randomization: a) was immunocompromised b) had ≥1 CDI episode prior to baseline episode c) had severe CDI baseline episode d) had C. difficile ribotype027 in stool at baseline CDI episode e) received ≥1 systemic ABD known to increase CDI risk. Per protocol, percentage of high-risk participants who experienced a CDI recurrence in the bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.

Countries

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

Participant flow

Pre-assignment details

148 participants were randomized in the study of which 143 participants received study intervention and were used for safety analysis.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Bezlotoxumab
Participants received 10 mg of bezlotoxumab per kg body weight via a single 60-minute (±10 minutes) intravenous (IV) infusion on Day 1. Additionally, participants received background ABD for 10-21 days per institutional guidelines, at the investigator's discretion.
111
Placebo
Participants received placebo for bezlotoxumab consisting of either 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose via a single 60-minute (±10 minutes) IV infusion on Day 1. Additionally, participants received background ABD for 10-21 days per institutional guidelines, at the investigator's discretion.
37
Total148

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyDeath30
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up10
Overall StudyProtocol Violation40
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Parent/Guardian02

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPlaceboTotalBezlotoxumab
Age, Continuous9.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.3
9.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.3
9.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.4
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants38 Participants29 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
27 Participants99 Participants72 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants11 Participants10 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
2 Participants5 Participants3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants7 Participants6 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants10 Participants9 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants5 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
32 Participants119 Participants87 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
18 Participants69 Participants51 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
19 Participants79 Participants60 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
6 / 1111 / 37
other
Total, other adverse events
65 / 10728 / 36
serious
Total, serious adverse events
57 / 10729 / 36

Outcome results

Primary

Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve of Bezlotoxumab From Time 0 to Infinity (AUC0-inf)

Blood samples were collected at specified intervals for the determination of AUC0-inf. AUC0-inf was defined as the area under the concentration-time curve of bezlotoxumab from time zero to infinity. Per protocol, AUC0-inf of bezlotoxumab was determined for each age cohort.

Time frame: Day 1 (2 hours postdose), Days 10, 29, 57, and 85

Population: The analysis population included all participants who received bezlotoxumab, had at least 4 postdose AUC0-inf samples and complied with the protocol.

ArmMeasureValue (GEOMETRIC_MEAN)
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 1 (12 to <18 Years Age)Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve of Bezlotoxumab From Time 0 to Infinity (AUC0-inf)56100 hr*ug/mL
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 2 (1 to <12years of Age)Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve of Bezlotoxumab From Time 0 to Infinity (AUC0-inf)43200 hr*ug/mL
90% CI: [0.95, 1.18]
90% CI: [0.75, 0.89]
Primary

Percentage of Participants Who Discontinued Study Due to an AE

An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of a drug in a participant, whether or not considered drug related. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product and does not imply any judgment about causality. Per protocol, percentage of participants who discontinued study due to AEs in the bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.

Time frame: Up to approximately 12 weeks

Population: The analysis population included all participants who received study intervention.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 1 (12 to <18 Years Age)Percentage of Participants Who Discontinued Study Due to an AE0 Percentage of participants
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 2 (1 to <12years of Age)Percentage of Participants Who Discontinued Study Due to an AE0 Percentage of participants
95% CI: [-9.7, 3.5]
Primary

Percentage of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE)

An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of a drug in a participant, whether or not considered drug related. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product and does not imply any judgment about causality. Per protocol, percentage of participants with AEs in the bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.

Time frame: Up to approximately 12 weeks

Population: The analysis population included all participants who received study intervention.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 1 (12 to <18 Years Age)Percentage of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE)88.8 Percentage of participants
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 2 (1 to <12years of Age)Percentage of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE)94.4 Percentage of participants
95% CI: [-14.5, 7.7]
Secondary

Percentage of High-Risk Participants Who Experienced a CDI Recurrence

CDI recurrence was defined as diarrhea recurrence (new diarrhea episode after ICR defined by change in normal bowel habits for ≥2 days with watery diarrhea or at least 6 UBMs within 48-hours) with positive stool test for C. difficile toxin for which participant, in investigator's opinion, requires and receives ABD for CDI. High-risk was meeting ≥1 criteria at/before randomization: a) was immunocompromised b) had ≥1 CDI episode prior to baseline episode c) had severe CDI baseline episode d) had C. difficile ribotype027 in stool at baseline CDI episode e) received ≥1 systemic ABD known to increase CDI risk. Per protocol, percentage of high-risk participants who experienced a CDI recurrence in the bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.

Time frame: Up to approximately 12 Weeks

Population: The analysis population included all participants who received study intervention, had positive local stool for C. difficile toxin, were taking ABD for CDI on infusion day, achieved ICR of baseline CDI, and were at high-risk of CDI recurrence.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 1 (12 to <18 Years Age)Percentage of High-Risk Participants Who Experienced a CDI Recurrence12.1 Percentage of participants
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 2 (1 to <12years of Age)Percentage of High-Risk Participants Who Experienced a CDI Recurrence15.2 Percentage of participants
p-value: =0.654295% CI: [-19.9, 9]Unstratified Miettinen & Nurminen method
Secondary

Percentage of High-Risk Participants Who Experienced a SCR

SCR was ICR of baseline CDI episode (improvement in number and character of bowel movements and doesn't require further CDI therapy within 2 days after completion of up to 21 days of ABD for CDI) and no CDI recurrence (diarrhea recurrence with positive stool test for C. difficile toxin, for which participant, in investigator's opinion, requires and receives ABD for CDI). High-risk was meeting ≥1 criteria: a) was immunocompromised b) had ≥1 episodes of CDI prior to baseline episode c) had severe CDI baseline episode d) had C. difficile ribotype027 in stool at baseline CDI episode e) received ≥1 systemic ABD known to increase CDI risk. Per protocol, percentage of high-risk participants who had SCR in bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.

Time frame: Up to approximately 12 Weeks

Population: The analysis population included all participants who received study intervention, had positive local stool for C. difficile toxin, were taking protocol-defined ABD for CDI on the day of infusion, and were at high risk of CDI recurrence.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 1 (12 to <18 Years Age)Percentage of High-Risk Participants Who Experienced a SCR82.5 Percentage of participants
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 2 (1 to <12years of Age)Percentage of High-Risk Participants Who Experienced a SCR82.4 Percentage of participants
p-value: =0.987395% CI: [-13, 17.4]Unstratified Miettinen & Nurminen method
Secondary

Percentage of Participants Who Experienced One or More Infusion Related Reaction

Infusion related reaction included events meeting any of the 3 criteria: 1) acute onset of an illness involving skin, mucosal tissue, or both and at least 1 of the following: respiratory compromise, reduced blood pressure (BP) or associated symptoms of end-organ dysfunction 2) two or more of the following after onset of study infusion: involving skin-mucosal tissue, respiratory compromise, reduced BP or associated symptoms, or persistent gastrointestinal symptoms 3) reduced BP after onset of infusion or \>30% decrease in systolic BP from baseline. Per protocol, percentage of participants experiencing 1 or more infusion-related reactions within 24 hours following the start of study medication infusion were reported.

Time frame: Up to approximately 24 hours after infusion on Day 1

Population: The analysis population included all participants who received study intervention.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 1 (12 to <18 Years Age)Percentage of Participants Who Experienced One or More Infusion Related Reaction0.93 Percentage of participants
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 2 (1 to <12years of Age)Percentage of Participants Who Experienced One or More Infusion Related Reaction2.78 Percentage of participants
Secondary

Percentage of Participants Who Had a Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) Recurrence

CDI recurrence was defined as diarrhea recurrence (new episode of diarrhea after initial clinical response \[ICR\] as defined by a change in normal bowel habits for ≥2 days with either watery diarrhea or at least 6 unformed bowel movements \[UBMs\] within 48-hours) associated with a positive stool test for C. difficile toxin, and for which the participant, in the investigator's opinion, requires and receives ABD treatment for CDI. Per protocol, percentage of participants who had a CDI recurrence in the bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were reported.

Time frame: Up to approximately 12 Weeks

Population: The analysis population included all participants who received any amount of study intervention, had positive local stool for C. difficile toxin, were taking protocol-defined ABD treatment for CDI on the day of infusion, and achieved an ICR of baseline CDI.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 1 (12 to <18 Years Age)Percentage of Participants Who Had a Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) Recurrence11.2 Percentage of participants
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 2 (1 to <12years of Age)Percentage of Participants Who Had a Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) Recurrence14.7 Percentage of participants
p-value: =0.570195% CI: [-20, 8]Stratified Miettinen and Nurminen method
Secondary

Percentage of Participants Who Had a Sustained Clinical Response (SCR)

SCR was defined as the ICR of baseline CDI episode (improvement in number and character of bowel movements and doesn't require further CDI therapy within 2 days after completion of up to 21 days of ABD treatment for CDI) and no CDI recurrence (diarrhea recurrence associated with a positive stool test for C. difficile toxin, and for which the participant, in investigator's opinion, requires and receives ABD for CDI). Per protocol, percentage of participants who had a SCR in bezlotoxumab and placebo groups were presented.

Time frame: Up to approximately 12 Weeks

Population: The analysis population included all participants who received any amount of study intervention, had positive local stool for C. difficile toxin, and were taking protocol-defined ABD treatment for CDI on the day of infusion.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 1 (12 to <18 Years Age)Percentage of Participants Who Had a Sustained Clinical Response (SCR)83.7 Percentage of participants
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 2 (1 to <12years of Age)Percentage of Participants Who Had a Sustained Clinical Response (SCR)82.9 Percentage of participants
p-value: =0.916595% CI: [-11.8, 17.6]Stratified Miettinen and Nurminen method
Secondary

Percentage of Participants Who Had Positive Antibodies to Bezlotoxumab

Blood samples were collected to determine antibodies to bezlotoxumab. Per protocol, percentage of participants with treatment-emergent positive antibodies to bezlotoxumab following single infusion of bezlotoxumab were reported for each age cohort.

Time frame: Up to approximately 12 Weeks

Population: The analysis population included all participants who received any amount of bezlotoxumab, had a positive local stool for C. difficile toxin, were taking protocol-defined ABD drug treatment for CDI on the day of infusion, and achieved an ICR of baseline CDI.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 1 (12 to <18 Years Age)Percentage of Participants Who Had Positive Antibodies to Bezlotoxumab2.4 Percentage of participants
Bezlotoxumab: Cohort 2 (1 to <12years of Age)Percentage of Participants Who Had Positive Antibodies to Bezlotoxumab1.7 Percentage of participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 9, 2026