Treatment of UC With Novel Therapeutics (TURTLE)

Mass General Brigham

Status and phase: Enrolling; Phase 2

Conditions: Ulcerative Colitis Mild; Ulcerative Colitis

Treatments: Drug: BRS201; Drug: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06420375

2025P000585

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is a clinical trial being done to investigate the efficacy of drug BRS201 as a treatment in patients with active mild ulcerative colitis. Participation in this study will take 12 weeks long and the study is structured as a crossover study in which participants will take the study drug for 4 weeks and a placebo drug for 4 weeks in a randomized order in the form of an oral medication. Participation may also involve receiving an IV dose of the medication. The study will require participants to attend 7 study visits, all of which will be conducted at a study site. Participation will involve taking an oral medication twice daily, tracking the medication in a log, and getting blood drawn and giving a stool and urine sample for a few lab tests throughout the study.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Ability to give consent
• Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of UC for > 3 months
• History of ≥ 15 cm of colonic involvement as confirmed by colonoscopy
• Disease activity based on calprotectin > 200
• Allowed medications: mesalamine and sulfasalazine
• Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis are eligible to enroll

Exclusion criteria

• History of uncontrolled hypertension with systolic BP > 140 and systolic BP > 90
• Chronic kidney disease as defined by GFR <55mL/min
• Impaired hepatic function (transaminases elevated > 2.5 x ULN) unless due to PSC
• Evidence of C. difficile (Negative test result within 1 month is acceptable)
• Infectious Colitis or drug induced colitis
• Crohn's Disease or Indeterminate colitis
• Decompensated liver disease
• Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Use of rectal therapies
• Patients who have a confirmed malignancy or cancer within 5 years
• Congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies
• Other comorbidities including: Diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus
• High likelihood of colectomy in the next 2 months
• Participation in a therapeutic clinical trial in the preceding 30 days or simultaneously during this trial
• Patients with a history or risk of cardiovascular conditions, including arrhythmia, long QT syndrome, congestive heart failure, stroke, or coronary artery disease
• Prohibited medications: Vitamin C, prednisone, immune modulators (including but not limited to azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, thalidomide, interleukin-10, interleukin-11, and Omvoh or mirikizumab-mrkz) and biologics within the past six weeks including anti-TNF agents within the past six weeks, vedolizumab within the past six weeks, ustekinumab Risankizumab), a JAKi (tofacitinib or upadacitinib), or Velsipity (etrasimod) within the past 6 weeks. (The aim is to treat people who are having disease activity and just on mesalamine.)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Active Comparator: BRS201 Arm

Active Comparator group

Description:

In Group 1 of the study, subjects will take oral study drug at 1.2g daily, PO (2.4g with 120mg oral butyrate twice daily (240mg daily) for 4 weeks. In Group 2 of the study, subjects will take oral study drug at 1.2g twice daily, PO (2.4g daily) with 120mg oral butyrate twice daily (240mg daily) for 4 weeks. In Group 3 of the study, subjects will take oral study drug at 1.2g twice daily, PO (2.4g daily) with 120mg oral butyrate twice daily (240mg daily) for 4 weeks. Subjects will also receive a one time 2.5g dose of study drug at initiation. In Group 4 of the study, subjects will repeat the previous conditions of the group that proves to be the most effective.

Treatment:

Drug: BRS201

Placebo Comparator: Placebo Arm

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

In Group 1 of the study, subjects will take oral placebo at 1.2g daily, PO (2.4g daily) with 120mg oral butyrate twice daily (240mg daily) for 4 weeks. In Group 2 of the study, subjects will take oral placebo at 1.2g twice daily, PO (2.4g daily) with 120mg oral butyrate twice daily (240mg daily) for 4 weeks. In Group 3 of the study, subjects will take oral placebo at 1.2g twice daily, PO (2.4g daily) with 120mg oral butyrate twice daily (240mg daily) for 4 weeks. Subjects will also receive a one time 100mg dose of cyanocobalamin at initiation. In Group 4 of the study, subjects will repeat the previous conditions of the group that proves to be the most effective.

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo