Tocilizumab for the Treatment of Cytokine Release Syndrome in Patients With COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 Infection)

Emory University

Status and phase: Withdrawn; Phase 3

Conditions: SARS Coronavirus 2 Infection; Cerebrovascular Accident; Coronary Artery Disease; Malignant Neoplasm; Chronic Renal Failure; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Diabetes Mellitus

Treatments: Biological: Tocilizumab; Other: Best Practice

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04361552

STUDY00000419

P30CA138292 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

WINSHIP4998-20 (Other Identifier)

NCI-2020-02314 (Registry Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding tocilizumab to standard of care versus standard of care alone in treating cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. CRS is a potentially serious disorder caused by the release of an excessive amount of substance that is made by cells of the immune system (cytokines) as a response to viral infection. Tocilizumab is used to decrease the body's immune response. Adding tocilizumab to standard of care may work better in treating CRS in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to standard of care alone.

Full description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To decrease the length of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) and rate of 30-day mortality from CRS due to SARS-CoV-2.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To decrease the rates of intensive care unit (ICU) transfer. II. To decrease the rate of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). III. To decrease the length of ICU stay. IV. To decrease the rate of tracheostomy. V. Safety and efficacy of tociluzumab. VI. Biomarker assessment for response.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Patients receive tocilizumab intravenously (IV) every 12 hours for up to 3 doses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also receive standard of care.

ARM II: Patients receive standard of care.

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis with SARS-CoV-2 by the currently available assays (Food and Drug Administration [FDA] approved)

• Should be hospitalized and exhibit at least one of the following predictors of mortality

  • Age >= 65 years
  • Current smoker (smoked >= 100 cigarettes in life and actively smoking)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
  • Chronic renal disease (creatinine of >= 2 mg/dl)
  • Cancer
  • Patients that have C-reactive protein (CRP) >= 10 mg/L
  • D-dimer >= 0.5 mg/L
  • Procalcitonin >= 0.5 mg/L
  • Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) >= upper limit of normal (ULN)

• Patients or authorized family member willing to sign informed consent to participate in this study

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or lactating women
• Hypersensitivity to tocilizumab
• Patients or authorized family member unwilling to sign informed consent to participate in this study
• Uncontrolled tuberculosis, or any uncontrolled fungal infection (eg: candidemia)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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0 participants in 2 patient groups

Arm I (tocilizumab, standard of care)

Experimental group

Description:

Patients receive tocilizumab IV every 12 hours for up to 3 doses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also receive standard of care.

Treatment:

Other: Best Practice

Biological: Tocilizumab

Arm II (standard of care)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients receive standard of care.

Treatment:

Other: Best Practice