Inhalations of Ultra-low Doses of Melphalan for the Treatment of Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

This non-randomised open-label prospective pilot study evaluates the safety and efficacy of inhalations of ultra-low doses of alkylating drug melphalan for the treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. All patients will receive 0,1 mg of melphalan in 5 daily inhalations 1 time per day.

It was previously shown that in ultra-low (more than 100 times lower than conventional therapeutic) doses inhalations of alkylating drug (melphalan) are effective in severe steroid-resistant bronchial asthma, a form of the disease often characterized by neutrophilic type of inflammation. The exacerbation frequency reduced after the treatment, steroid-sparing effect was shown, morphological signs of bronchial epithelial regeneration were revealed and quality of life of asthmatic patients, treated with ultra-low doses of melphalan, improved. In preclinical studies and studies with volunteers, it was found that inhalations of ultra-low doses of melphalan do not have cytotoxic properties, but have local and systemic anti-inflammatory effects and decrease the activation of lymphocytes due to blockade of heavy β-chain of the interleukin (IL)-2 surface receptor. In addition, in ultra-low concentrations, alkylating agents are able to disrupt the cell signalling through the receptor for tumor necrosis factor, thereby exerting a protective effect from the cytotoxic activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which leads to the anti-inflammatory response. It can be assumed that the inhalation use of ultra-low doses of melphalan can be effective in patients with bronchiectasis, as in a disease characterized by a neutrophilic type of inflammation, leading to the improvement of quality of life, increasing the time to the first exacerbation and decreasing of exacerbation frequency.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Signed informed consent form
* Established diagnosis witn CT scan of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis more than 12 months before the screening visit.
* Sputum expectoration not less than 3 months per year during more than 2 consecutive years
* Willing of the patient for cooperation

Non-Inclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant and lactating women and all women who are physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, who do not agree to use one or more of the following effective methods of contraception: intrauterine device or intrauterine system; hormonal contraception (implantable and oral preparations, patches); barrier methods of contraception; male sterilization (with appropriate documentation after a vasectomy about the absence of sperm in the ejaculate).

Effective contraception is used throughout the study until the last visit. "True abstinence" is acceptable only if it corresponds to the patient's preferred and habitual way of life.

Postmenopausal women (physiological menopause is defined as "no menstruation for 12 consecutive months") and women who have undergone sterilization surgery (for example, tubal occlusion, hysterectomy or bilateral salpingectomy) can be included in the study.

* A history of cystic fibrosis.
* Any exacerbation of respiratory infection requiring the use of systemic corticosteroids and / or antibiotics or hospitalization, which developed after the signing of the informed consent form and before the randomization visit (day 1, start of treatment). The criterion should be specified during the randomization visit.
* The presence of hemoptysis at the time of inclusion in the study.
* The presence of diseases of the respiratory tract, in addition to bronchiectasis, which can affect the effectiveness of the study drug and patient safety. Such conditions may include, among others, active tuberculosis, lung cancer, sarcoidosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) IV (GOLD, 2017), uncontrolled bronchial asthma with respiratory failure, high pulmonary hypertension (\> 25 mm Hg), interstitial lung disease, etc.
* Patients with a clinical significant disease of the cardiovascular system (for example, unstable angina, chronic heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) III / IV, acute myocardial infarction (within 6 months before inhalation of 1 dose), etc.
* Atrial fibrillation patients.
* Clinical significant 12-lead ECG abnormalities that may affect patient safety. The corrected QT interval (QTc) interval on the electrocardiogram (ECG in 12 leads) is more than 450 ms for men and more than 470 ms for women on screening and randomization visits.
* A history of hypersensitivity to any of the substances used in the study.
* Clinically significant deviations of laboratory parameters, indicating a significant or unstable concomitant disease, which may affect the effectiveness of the study drug or patient safety.
* Hemostasis deviation within 1 month before the first inhalation of the study drug, including confirmed:

  * Hemoglobin \<10 g / 100 ml;
  * White blood cell count \<3.0 x 10\*9 / L;
  * The absolute number of neutrophils ≤ 1.5 x 10\*9 / L;
  * Platelet count \<100 x 10\*9 / L.
* Unstable concomitant disease, such as uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, uncontrolled diabetes or other endocrine diseases; significant impairment of liver and kidney function; uncontrolled gastrointestinal diseases (for example, active peptic ulcer); uncontrolled neurological diseases; uncontrolled hematological diseases; uncontrolled autoimmune diseases or other diseases that, according to the researcher, may affect the effectiveness of the study drug and patient safety.
* Alcohol and/or drugs abuse 12 months before screening visit.
* Failure to perform tests to evaluate external respiration function, perform research procedures, or adhere to the treatment schedule provided for in the study.
* Participation in another clinical trial in which the study drug was administered less than 8 weeks before the screening visit.

Exclusion criteria:

* Informed consent withdrawn by the patient.
* The patient doesn't follow the instructions of the research staff regarding the requirements of the research protocol.
* Unable to contact patient.
* The researcher believes that participation in the study is not in the interests of the patient and / or further participation in the study is unsafe for the patient's health.
* There is a violation of the criteria for inclusion and / or non-inclusion in the study.
* The patient has developed adverse event, which, according to the researcher, makes further participation in the study unsafe for the patient.
* The licensing authority or ethics committee, for any reason, decides to discontinue the entire study or close this research center.
* A female patient becomes pregnant, is planning a pregnancy, or is breastfeeding while participating in this study.