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Clazakizumab vs. Placebo - COVID-19 Infection

A Phase 2 Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Clazakizumab® [Anti-Interleukin (IL)-6 Monoclonal] Compared to Placebo for the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04494724
Enrollment
60
Registered
2020-07-31
Start date
2020-07-13
Completion date
2021-07-31
Last updated
2020-07-31

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

Conditions

COVID-19 Infection

Keywords

COVID-19, coronavirus infection, respiration, artificial, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, randomized controlled trial, respiratory distress syndrome, adult

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of treatment with clazakizumab compared to a placebo (inactive substance). We are proposing to try this drug to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Patients with COVID-19 infection have been shown to have increases in certain inflammatory processes. Clazakizumab is an antibody (immune system protein) that blocks certain inflammatory processes. The treatment plan is to attempt to inhibit or block these inflammatory processes in order to try to limit the damage COVID-19 causes to the lungs.

Detailed description

The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of clazakizumab vs placebo for the prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with COVID-19 and pulmonary manifestations. The study will compare clazakizumab to placebo in a randomized, double-blind fashion followed by an open-label dose of clazakizumab if there is no improvement or a worsening of condition occurs after 24-hours or anytime during the first 14 days after the first dose of clazakizumab or placebo. We hypothesize that clazakizumab will be safely tolerated and will reduce the risk of progression of COVID-19 to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Primary Objective: • To evaluate the safety and tolerability of clazakizumab vs placebo for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 disease and signs of pulmonary involvement Sixty adult patients with COVID-19 and signs of pulmonary involvement at Houston Methodist who are not in need of ventilator support at the time of enrollment.

Interventions

Infusion

DRUGPlacebo

Infusion

Sponsors

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Masking description

Blinded to all except investigational pharmacy. Only the optional second infusion, if determined necessary to administer, will be open-label. The patient and study team will remain blinded until data lock at the end of the study.

Intervention model description

This single-site, phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is designed to administer a single dose of clazakizumab or placebo on day 0. If, after 24 hours or up to 14 days from the first infusion, the participant's condition worsens or does not improve, the investigator may elect to provide a single, open-label dose of clazakizumab regardless of the initial group assignment. All except the investigational pharmacist will remain blinded as to the initial group assignment until data lock.

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Age \>18 at the time of screening. 2. Participant or legally authorized representative (LAR) must be able to understand and provide informed consent. 3. Hospitalized with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay from any specimen (eg, respiratory, blood, urine, stool, other bodily fluid) within the prior 72 hours. 4. C-reactive protein (CRP) \> 3.5 mg/dL 5. Evidence of pulmonary involvement with at least 2 of the following: 1. oxygen saturation at rest in ambient air with peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤ 94% 2. tachypnea with resting respiration rate \> 25 breaths/minute 3. Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/initial fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ≤ 300 mmHg 4. Chest imaging (radiograph, CT, or ultrasound) with abnormalities consistent COVID-19 pneumonia

Exclusion criteria

1. Previous hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to clazakizumab 2. Lactating or pregnant females 3. Patients with latent tuberculosis (TB) and who are not receiving treatment 4. Patients with active TB 5. Patients with known active inflammatory bowel disease, untreated diverticulitis, or gastrointestinal perforation 6. Requiring mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) 7. A significantly abnormal general serum screening lab result defined as a white blood cell (WBC) count \< 3.0 X 10\^3/mL, a hemoglobin (Hgb) \< 8.0 g/dL, a platelet count \< 50 X 10\^3/mL, an aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \> 5 times upper limit normal 8. Participation in another clinical trial investigating COVID-19-aimed agents 9. Presence of any medical or psychosocial condition, which the investigator believes, would hinder adherence to the study requirements.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Primary Endpoint24 hoursProportion of participants who experience treatment-related adverse events (TEAE) ≥ Grade 3 (CTCAE v5.0) during the first 24 hours after infusion of clazakizumab or placebo

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Infusion-related reactions during 24 hours from the time of infusion24 hoursProportion of participants who experience infusion-related reactions during the first 24 hours after infusion of clazakizumab or placebo
Patient survival at 28 days28 daysProportion of participants alive at day 28 after the first dose of clazakizumab or placebo
Patient survival at 60 days60 daysProportion of participants alive at day 60 after the first dose of clazakizumab or placebo
Requirement for open-label clazakizumab14 daysProportion of participants who require an open-label dose of clazakizumab
Time in the intensive care unit (ICU)60 daysNumber of days in the ICU following the first dose of clazakizumab or placebo
Requirement for mechanical ventilation and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)14 daysProportion of participants who need mechanical ventilation and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after the first dose of clazakizumab or placebo
Time to mechanical ventilation60 daysNumber of days from first dose of clazakizumab or placebo to requiring mechanical ventilation
Clinical status improvement assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical Progression Scale at day 1414 daysDifference in WHO Clinical Progression Scale between clazakizumab and placebo
Clinical status improvement assessed by World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical Progression Scale at day 2828 daysDifference in WHO Clinical Progression Scale between clazakizumab and placebo
Change in Radiologic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) at day 1414 daysDifference in mean or median change in radiologic assessment of lung edema (RALE) score at day 14 from baseline between clazakizumab or placebo
Change in Radiologic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) at day 2828 daysDifference in mean or median change in radiologic assessment of lung edema (RALE) score at day 28 from baseline between clazakizumab or placebo
Time in the hospital60 daysNumber of days in the hospital following the first dose of clazakizumab or placebo

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactIsioma Agboli, MD
iagboli@houstonmethodist.org713-441-6311
Backup ContactDarrel Cleere, BSN
dwcleere@houstonmethodist.org713-441-6232

Outcome results

None listed

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