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Efficacy and Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Refractory to Methotrexate

Efficacy and Safety of Faecal Microbiota Transplantation in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Refractory to Methotrexate: a 24-week, Double-Blind, Randomised Trial

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03944096
Acronym
FARM
Enrollment
30
Registered
2019-05-09
Start date
2019-04-30
Completion date
2020-07-31
Last updated
2019-05-23

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

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Keywords

fecal microbiota transplantation, methotrexate, rheumatoid arthritis

Brief summary

In this 24-week, single center, randomized, double-blind study, the investigators will evaluate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis refractory to methotrexate

Detailed description

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by painful synovium inflammation, bony erosions, immune activation. Gut microbiota plays an important role in pathophysiology of RA. FMT(fecal microbiota transplantation) is the engraftment of microbiota from a healthy donor into a recipient to achieve restoration of the normal gut microbial community structure.This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of FMT with methotrexate in patients with active RA refractory to methotrexate Objectives: 1. To evaluate the efficacy of FMT with MTX for the treatment of signs and symptoms of RA in patients refractory to MTX. 2. To evaluate the safety of FMT with MTX for the treatment of signs and symptoms of RA in patients refractory to MTX DESIGN This is a Phase 2, randomized, 24-week, double-blind, parallel group study, and 30 patients with active RA refractory to MTX will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of the following 2 parallel treatment arms: 1. FMT from healthy donor plus methotrexate 2. autologous FMT(from the participant himself/herself) plus methotrexate Escape: On week 16, all participants with inadequate response, defined as a \<20% improvement of swollen and tender joint counts from baseline can switch type and dose of DMARDs. Endpoints : 1. Primary endpoint: ACR20 response rates at 16 weeks. 2. Secondary endpoint: 1)ACR50 and ACR70 response at 16, 24 weeks,ACR20 response at 24 weeks. 2)DAS 28 (CRP) and DAS 28 (ESR) at 16 and 24 weeks. 3) EULAR response rates at 16 and 24 weeks. 4) Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) at 16 and 24 weeks. 5) Patient assessment of arthritis pain at 16 and 24 weeks. 6) Patient and physician global assessment of arthritis at 16 and 24 weeks

Interventions

PROCEDUREFMT+MTX

FMT is performed at the beginning of the study and is repeated after 4 weeks plus MTX in the same dose.

Sponsors

Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-65 years with informed consent * Fulfill the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis * Positive RF or anti-CCP antibody on screening * Have active RA shown by swollen joint count(SJC)≥4 and tender joint count(TJC)≥4 and ESR \>28 mm/hr or C-reactive protein \> 1.5 ULN * Have received methotrexate for 3 months or longer and at a stable dose of 7.5 to 25 mg/week (extremes included) for at least four weeks prior to screening and willing to continue on this regimen for the duration of the study. * Class I, II or III of the ACR 1991 Revised Criteria for Global Functional Status in RA * If taking oral steroids, these should be at a dose ≤10 mg/day of prednisone or prednisone equivalent and stable for at least four weeks prior to screening; * If taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), these must be at a stable dose for at least two weeks prior to screening; * Female subjects must have a negative pregnancy test unless they are surgically sterile or have been post-menopausal for at least one year (12 consecutive months without menses); * Women of childbearing potential must use a medically acceptable means of birth control and agree to continue its use during the study and for at least four weeks after the last dose of study drug. Sexually active men must agree to use a medically acceptable form of contraception during the study and continue its use for at least 3 months after the last dose of study drug; and * Willing to suspend the use of other adjuvant treatment for the duration of the study including acupuncture, massage, etc.

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant, lactating or further fertility requirements * History of any inflammatory rheumatological disorders other than RA; * Previously received any biologic agents. * Treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), other than background methotrexate; * Receipt of an intra-articular or parenteral corticosteroid injection within four weeks prior to screening; * Active or chronic infection, including HIV, HCV, HBV, tuberculosis. * Malignancy or history of malignancy. * Severe, progressive, or uncontrolled cardiac, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, hematologic, metabolic, endocrine or neurologic disease * unable to undergo colonoscopy.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response at 16 weeksweek 16The difference of ACR20 between Arm 1 (FMT+MTX) and Arm 2 (autologous FMT+MTX)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The American College of Rheumatology 20/50/70 (ACR20/ACR50/ACR70) response at 24 weeksweek 24The difference of ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70 between Arm 1 (FMT+MTX) and Arm 2(autologous FMT+MTX) at week 24
The Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) response at 16 weeksweek 16The change in DAS28 score from baseline to week 16 between Arm 1 (FMT+MTX) and Arm 2(autologous FMT+MTX). DAS28 = 0.56\*SQRT(TJC28) + 0.28\*SQRT(SJC28) + 0.36\*ln(CRP + 1) + 0.014\*GH + 0.96 TJC28: The number of tender joints (0-28). SJC28: The number of swollen joints (0-28). CRP: The C-Reactive Protein level (in mg/l). GH: The patient global health assessment (from 0=best to 100=worst). The 28 joint: shoulders, elbows, wrists, metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints and the knees.
The Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) response at 24 weeksweek 24The change in DAS28 score from baseline to week 24 between Arm 1 (FMT+MTX) and Arm 2(autologous FMT+MTX). DAS28 = 0.56\*SQRT(TJC28) + 0.28\*SQRT(SJC28) + 0.36\*ln(CRP + 1) + 0.014\*GH + 0.96 TJC28: The number of tender joints (0-28). SJC28: The number of swollen joints (0-28). CRP: The C-Reactive Protein level (in mg/l). GH: The patient global health assessment (from 0=best to 100=worst). The 28 joint: shoulders, elbows, wrists, metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints and the knees.
The American College of Rheumatology 50/70 (ACR50/ACR70) response at 16 weeksweek 16The difference of ACR50/70 between Arm 1 (FMT+MTX) and Arm 2 (autologous FMT+MTX)
Health Assessment Questionnaire without Didability Index (HAQ-DI) at 16 weeksweek 16The change in HAQ-DI score from baseline to week 16 between Arm 1(FMT+MTX) and Arm 2 (autologous FMT+MTX). HAQ-DI is an index measuring the quality of life related to health, which includes 20 questions in terms of three categories: from 0 to 1: mild difficulties to moderate disability, from 1 to 2: disability moderate to severe, from 2 to 3: severe to very severe disability. The mean score is recorded as the result.
Incidence of adverse events and sever adverse events (SAE) during the studyweek 24Safety profile
The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response at 16 weeksweek 16The difference of proportions of patients meeting EULAR response between Arm 1(FMT+MTX) and Arm 2 (autologous FMT+MTX) at week 16

Countries

China

Contacts

Primary ContactYue Li, MD
yuelee76@gmail.com+8618601309256

Outcome results

None listed

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