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Intravenous DNase I for the Treatment of Sepsis (IDEALSepsisI)

Intravenous DNase I for the Treatment of Sepsis: A Phase I Safety and Feasibility Study in ICU Patients

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05453695
Acronym
IDEALSepsisI
Enrollment
36
Registered
2022-07-12
Start date
2023-01-17
Completion date
2026-09-30
Last updated
2026-03-03

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

Conditions

Critical Illness, Sepsis

Brief summary

Phase I dose-escalation safety and feasibility of IV DNase I in ICU septic patients.

Detailed description

In sepsis, the release of 'neutrophil extracellular traps' (NETs) by activated neutrophils may contribute to organ damage by acting as scaffolds that trap blood cells and fibrin clots. Excessive NET formation can occlude the vasculature, promoting thrombosis and tissue hypoperfusion. This is a trial on a novel IV therapy for septic patients that shows promise in multiple animal models of sepsis. The therapy, DNase I, is an enzyme that helps to dismantle NETs by digesting cell-free DNA (cfDNA), the major structural component of NETs. The objective of this study is to conduct a Phase I dose-escalation safety and feasibility of IV DNase I in ICU septic patients. The results of this study may justify a future Phase II trial of the efficacy and safety of DNase I for critically ill patients with sepsis. This trial proposes 1. \- To determine the safety, feasibility and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of using DNase I in septic patients 2. \- To evaluate clinical endpoints common in the critically ill such as organ dysfunction severity and trajectory, ICU length of stay, and mortality. 3. \- To describe the effects of DNase I on blood coagulation and NETs release 4. \- To collect samples for future studies on coagulation and immune function in sepsis.

Interventions

DRUGIntravenous DNase I

Dose-escalating intravenous infusion of DNase I

Sponsors

McMaster University
Lead SponsorOTHER
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
CollaboratorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Age of ≥18 years 2. Admitted to the ICU in the last 48 hours 3. Suspected or proven infection as the admitting diagnosis 4. A sequential (sepsis) organ function assessment (SOFA) score of ≥2 above baseline 5. Expected to remain in the ICU for ≥ 72 hours

Exclusion criteria

1. No consent/inability to obtain consent from a substitute decision-maker 2. Have other forms of clinically apparent shock, including cardiogenic, obstructive (massive pulmonary embolism, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax), hemorrhagic, neurogenic, or anaphylactic shock 3. Have a significant risk of bleeding as evidenced by one of the following: * Surgery requiring general or spinal anesthesia within 24 hours before enrolment * The potential need for surgery in the next 24 hours * Evidence of active bleeding * A history of severe head trauma requiring hospitalization * Intracranial surgery, or stroke within three months before the study * Any history of intracerebral arteriovenous malformation, cerebral aneurysm, or mass lesions of the central nervous system * A history of congenital bleeding diatheses * Gastrointestinal bleeding within five weeks before the study unless corrective surgery had been performed * Trauma is considered to increase the risk of bleeding * Presence of an epidural catheter * Need for therapeutic anticoagulation 4. Receiving DNase I by inhalation 5. Terminal illness with a life expectancy of fewer than three months 6. Pregnant and/or breastfeeding

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of patients recruited per month from the start of the studyup to 24 monthsNumber of patients recruited per month
Number of patients who completed the protocolup to 7 daysThe ability to complete study infusion and blood collection as prescribed

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Organ support free daysat Day 28Increase of three or more days free from vasopressor therapy, invasive mechanical ventilation or renal replacement therapy.
Duration of ICU admissionup to 9 monthsNumber of days since admission to discharge from the ICU
Time to Hospital dischargeup to 90 daysTime elapsed between enrolment into the study (at admission), and discharge
Mortality at Day 90up to day 90Number of patients alive at day 90
Collection of Research Biomarkers related to inflammation and coagulationup to day 14Number of patients with all sets of biomarkers
European Quality of Life (EuroQol) - 5 Domain 5 Level Scale (EQ-5D-5L) Utility ScoreAt day 90Average or median EQ-5D-5L score
Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scoreBaseline to Day 10Quantitative variable: Maximal score of SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) will be recorded; Value range 0-24 points * Delta SOFA score, defined as maximum versus minimum SOFA during ICU stay * Change in SOFA score within 48 hours

Countries

Canada

Contacts

CONTACTAlison Fox-Robichaud, MD
afoxrob@mcmaster.ca905 521 2100
CONTACTPatricia Liaw, PhD
Patricia.Liaw@taari.ca(905) 521-2100

Outcome results

None listed

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