MENOPUR® Versus FOLLISTIM®

Ferring

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Infertility

Treatments: Drug: Ganirelix; Drug: Progesterone in oil; Drug: Progestrone vaginal insert; Drug: follitropin beta; Drug: Menotropin

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Industry

Identifiers

NCT00802360

2008-04

Details and patient eligibility

About

To compare the efficacy and safety of highly purified menotropin (Menopur®) with that of follitropin beta (FOLLISTIM®) in patients who are undergoing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles

Full description

This multicenter, randomized, open-label exploratory study will be performed in approximately 200 healthy females undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each study center will follow its study center standard practice for in vitro fertilization (IVF) within the study parameters as noted in this protocol. The study centers will use marketed products purchased from Schraft's Pharmacy for all phases of the study (down-regulation, stimulation, ovulation induction, and luteal support). Subjects will be randomly assigned prior to the start of stimulation to highly purified menotropin (Menopur®) or follitropin beta (Follistim Pen®) for stimulation and progesterone vaginal insert (Endometrin®) or progesterone in oil for luteal support. Subjects will return to the study center for regular scheduled clinic visits as required per in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocol at the site and at specified time periods during the cycle for estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) tests, and first serum pregnancy test. All subjects will be required to complete a final study visit at completion of luteal support or negative serum pregnancy test following embryo transfer.

Enrollment: 173 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 42 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Pre-menopausal females between the ages of 18 and 42 years
2. Body mass index (BMI) of 18-34
3. Early follicular phase (day 2-4) Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) <15 IU/L and Estradiol (E2) within normal limits
4. Documented history of infertility (e.g., unable to conceive for at least one year, or for 6 months for women >38 years of age, or bilateral tubal occlusion or absence, or male factor but excluding severe male factor requiring invasive or surgical sperm retrieval. Donor sperm may be used.)
5. Transvaginal ultrasound at screening consistent with findings adequate for assisted reproductive technology (ART) with respect to uterus and adnexa
6. Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

1. Gestational or surrogate carrier, donor oocyte
2. Presence of any clinically relevant systemic disease (e.g., insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, uterine cancer)
3. Surgical or medical condition which, in the judgment of the Investigator or Sponsor, may interfere with absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of the drugs to be used
4. Previous In vitro fertilization (IVF) or Assisted reproductive technology (ART) failure due to a poor response to gonadotropins. Poor response is defined as development of 2 mature follicles or history of >2 previous failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.
5. History of recurrent pregnancy loss (>2).
6. Presence of abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin
7. Current or recent substance abuse, including alcohol or smoking >10 cigarettes per day
8. Refusal or inability to comply with the requirements of the Protocol for any reason, including scheduled clinic visits and laboratory tests
9. Participation in any experimental drug study within 30 days prior to Screening
10. Severe male factor requiring invasive or surgical sperm retrieval (e.g., microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration [MESA], testicular sperm extraction [TESE])

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

173 participants in 4 patient groups

Menopur/Endometrin

Experimental group

Description:

Highly purified menotropin (Menopur®) 225 IU from day 1-6 of menstrual cycle. May be adjusted up to 450 IU daily for more days until human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) criteria are met. Progestrone vaginal insert (Endometrin®) starts on the day following oocyte retrieval and continues for a total duration of 10 weeks or until a negative pregnancy test is obtained.

Treatment:

Drug: Menotropin

Drug: Progestrone vaginal insert

Drug: Ganirelix

Menopur/Progesterone in Oil

Experimental group

Description:

Highly purified menotropin (Menopur®) 225 IU from day 1-6 of menstrual cycle. May be adjusted up to 450 IU daily for more days until human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) criteria are met. Progesterone in Oil injections start on the day following oocyte retrieval and continue for a total duration of 10 weeks or until a negative pregnancy test is obtained.

Treatment:

Drug: Progesterone in oil

Drug: Menotropin

Drug: Ganirelix

Follistim/Endometrin

Active Comparator group

Description:

Follitropin beta (Follistim®) 225 IU from day 1-6 of menstrual cycle. May be adjusted up to 450 IU daily for more days until human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) criteria are met. Progestrone vaginal insert (Endometrin®) starts on the day following oocyte retrieval and continues for a total duration of 10 weeks or until a negative pregnancy test is obtained.

Treatment:

Drug: follitropin beta

Drug: Progestrone vaginal insert

Drug: Ganirelix

Follistim/Progesterone in Oil

Active Comparator group

Description:

Follitropin beta (Follistim®) 225 IU from day 1-6 of menstrual cycle. May be adjusted up to 450 IU daily for more days until human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) criteria are met. Progesterone in Oil injections start on the day following oocyte retrieval and continue for a total duration of 10 weeks or until a negative pregnancy test is obtained.

Treatment:

Drug: Progesterone in oil

Drug: follitropin beta

Drug: Ganirelix