A Clinical Trial of Zutectra in Patients Who Recently Received a Liver Transplant (ZEUS)

Biotest

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 3

Conditions

Hepatitis B

Treatments

Drug: Zutectra

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Industry

Identifiers

NCT01856413

2012-002516-51 (EudraCT Number)

BT 987

Details and patient eligibility

About

Patients who receive liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV) induced liver failure require longterm therapy to prevent HBV reinfection of the transplanted liver. The approved preventative treatment is a combination of antihepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) and oral antiviral medication. In the first 6 months after liver transplantation, patients receive treatment with intravenous HBIg to maintain blood antihepatitis B (antiHBs)antibody concentrations above 100 IU/L, the level considered safe for preventing hepatitis B reinfection.

Zutectra is an HBIg preparation for subcutaneous injection that is approved in the EU for the 'prevention of HBV reinfection in HBV DNA negative patients ≥ 6 months after liver transplantation for hepatitis B induced liver failure'. The purpose of this study is to show that earlier subcutaneous HBIg treatment with Zutectra after liver transplantation can prevent hepatitis B reinfection.

Treatment with subcutaneous HBIg (Zutectra) at home is manageable for the majority of patients and is more convenient for patients compared to intravenous treatment that must take place in the hospital setting.

Fourty patients will take part in the study at approximately 19 centres in UK, France, Italy and Spain. Patients who are eligible for the study will receive treatment with Zutectra for 24 weeks.

During the study, the safety and effectiveness of Zutectra will be assessed by checking for symptoms of hepatitis B related infection, as well as monitoring blood levels of antiHBs antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

Enrollment

49 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 75 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Written informed consent obtained prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) - not more than 3 months before OLT
Historical evidence within the last 4 weeks that HBV-DNA is undetectable at time point of signature of Informed Consent
Male and female patients (age 18-75 years)
Patients with the diagnosis of liver failure with hepatitis B infection
Patients undergoing liver transplantation or re-transplantation
HBsAg negative on day 7 or on day 14 after OLT
HBV-DNA undetectable at OLT
Serum HBs antibody concentration on day 7 or on day 14 after OLT ≥ 400 IU/l
Stable patient in a condition which in the opinion of the investigator would permit safe participation in the study
Willingness to fill out patient diary

Exclusion criteria

Re-transplantation due to viral recurrence
Positive HIV or HCV test at time of transplantation
HBV-DNA positive at OLT
Patients having received organs from HBsAg positive donors
Pregnancy or unreliable contraceptive measures or lactation period (females only)
Known intolerance to immunoglobulins or comparable substances (e.g. vaccination reaction)
Known intolerance to proteins of human origin
Participation in another interventional clinical trial within 90 days before entering the study or during the study and/or previous participation in this study (except screening failures)
Suspicion of drug and/or alcohol abuse
Inability or lacking motivation to participate in the study
Employee or direct relative of an employee of the CRO, the study site, or Biotest