A Study of the Pharmacology of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in Pregnancy

University of Pittsburgh

Status and phase

Withdrawn

Phase 1

Conditions

Influenza

Pregnancy

Treatments

Procedure: Blood Draws

Drug: Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT00873886

IRB #PRO07080362

5U10HD047905-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary research question of this study is: Does the pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir after a single oral dose differ between the pregnant and non-pregnant women?

Full description

With the pending threat of pandemic avian influenza, the disproportionate morbidity and mortality documented in previous 20th century pandemics among pregnant women, and the lack of any data for use of these vital antiviral drugs in pregnancy, study of the pharmacology of oseltamivir in pregnancy is imperative. If and when the next pandemic occurs, a better understanding of this drug's safety and pharmacologic profiles for use in pregnancy is critical given the fact that it will be used in this vulnerable patient population.

This is a pilot study of the use of oseltamivir in pregnancy. This data will be combined with data from the parallel Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit (PPRU) studies to put together a portfolio for use in understudied populations. This will allow for a re-thinking of the current status and potentially allow for small trials to be performed with patients who are suffering from influenza in pregnancy, to assess efficacy. The relevance with the pandemic strain and its corresponding Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) may have direct implications for dosing in pregnancy if lower levels of drug are documented. In addition, depending on the findings from the esterase component of the investigation, future investigation into mechanistic bases for changes in enzyme activity are possible.

Sex

Female

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

For Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) arm:
Singleton gestation prior to 24 0/7 weeks gestation
Planning to undergo a termination procedure for the incident pregnancy
Willingness to take the single-dose medication and to follow study procedures
Able to undergo informed consent.
For Esterase arm:
Singleton gestation greater than 32 completed weeks and less than 40 completed weeks of gestation
Absence of severe pregnancy complication that could affect body volume and or metabolism (i.e., preeclampsia, renal dysfunction, hepatic dysfunction [defined as serum creatinine clearance of < 30 ml/min or a known ALT/AST> 2x facility normal value], etc.)
Willingness to follow study procedures
Able to undergo informed consent
The use of medications that may affect renal metabolism is not a contraindication to participation since these subjects are only undergoing PK sampling.

Exclusion criteria

For Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) arm:
Known current in utero fetal death
Significant medical history and/or medication use as determined by the investigator that has the potential to affect results of the study or put the patient at risk from the single-dosing
Known hypersensitivity to the components of the study drug
Known hepatic or renal dysfunction (defined as serum creatinine clearance of < 30 ml/min or a known ALT/AST> 2x facility normal value)
Chronic use of street drugs (obtained via subject interview and/or medical history)
Participation in any other concurrent interventional study.
We will ask if they have a history of depression in the past requiring treatment or if they are currently actively depressed. If either of these questions yields a positive response, we will not consider the patient eligible and will not enroll the subject.
For Esterase arm:
Known current in utero fetal death
Significant medical history as determined by the investigator to potentially affect results of the study
Chronic use of street drugs (obtained via subject interview and/or medical history
Participation in any other concurrent interventional study.