NASVAC Phase-III Trial in Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) Patients

Clinical Research Organization, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 3

Conditions: Chronic Hepatitis B

Treatments: Drug: Pegylated interferon alpha 2b; Biological: NASVAC

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01374308

NASVAC01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The general objective of the present clinical trial is to compare the therapeutic efficacy of a combination therapeutic vaccine containing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) [later called NASVAC] with a commonly used antiviral drug, pegylated interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Full description

To collect and assess data on the therapeutic potential of the NASVAC in CHB patients regarding:

Reduction of the serum HBV DNA levels. Reduction in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) Clearance of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) Negativation or lowering of HBsAg Anti-HBsAg/anti-HBeAg seroconversion

An additional objective of this study is to reconfirm the safety of NASVAC in CHB patients that has previously been shown by us in Phase I-II clinical trial in CHB patients.

Enrollment: 160 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• HBsAg+ serology for more than 6 months before the beginning of the treatment.

In the last six months, according to HBeAg serostatus, for:

• HBeAg (-) patients, with a) baseline HBV DNA ≥ 103 and b) raised serum ALT (x >1 ULN) or significant hepatic necroinflammation and/or fibrosis (HAI-NI>4 and/or HAI-F >2) or liver stiffness >7.2 KPa.
• HBeAg (+) patients, with a) baseline HBV DNA ≥ 104 and b) and raised serum ALT (x >1.5 ULN) or significant hepatic necroinflammation and or fibrosis (HAI-NI>4 and/or HAI-F >2) or liver stiffness >7.2 KPa.
• Patients of both sex from 18 to 60 years-old
• No specific hepatitis B treatment at least for 6 months previous to the inclusion
• Voluntary signed informed consent to participate in the trial

Exclusion criteria

• Condition of HBV asymptomatic carrier or cirrhosis or patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma
• Positive serological markers for hepatitis C
• Positive serological markers for HIV
• Previous specific anti-hepatitis B treatment in the last 6 months.
• Critically ill patient history of heart or renal failure, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, epilepsy, immunodeficiency diseases, malignancies or any non-controlled systemic disease.
• Pregnancy or nursing women. Women in fertile age without any contraceptive methods.
• Known severe allergic conditions (degree III or IV asthma, urticaria, dermatitis, bronchitis, etc. or hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients present in the preparation).
• Severe psychiatric dysfunction or another limitation that prevents the patient's consent.
• History of Autoimmune diseases (such as SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, non controlled diabetes mellitus type 1)
• History of other hepatic diseases of different etiology (such as alcoholism, autoimmune hepatitis, drug induced hepatitis, Wilson's diseases, hemochromatosis)
• History of immune suppressive disorder or administration of immune suppressive-immune modulator drugs (including steroids) during or in the 6 months previous to the study.
• Very high transaminase levels at the beginning of treatment (ALT over 500 U/L) suggesting a not stable disease with risk for patient's health or acute flares over 15 times the upper limit of normality.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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160 participants in 2 patient groups

NASVAC

Experimental group

Description:

NASVAC will be administered every 2 weekly intra-nasally at a dose of 100 micro grams for 5 times followed by every 2 weekly administration of 100 micro grams intra-nasally plus 100 micro grams subcutaneously.

Treatment:

Biological: NASVAC

Pegylated interferon alpha 2b

Active Comparator group

Description:

Injection Pegylated interferon alpha 2b will be administered once weekly subcutaneously at a dose of 180 micro grams for 48 weeks

Treatment:

Drug: Pegylated interferon alpha 2b