Study of DITPA in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure

This study will assess the safety and efficacy of DITPA relative to placebo in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV congestive heart failure (CHF) who have low serum T3. DITPA is an investigational agent.

Rationale: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major public health problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV disease. Multiple studies have identified a particularly high-risk group of patients who have reduced thyroid hormone activity, specifically, low serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels. This group represents approximately 30% of patients with NYHA class III or IV disease and has significantly higher mortality rates than those with normal T3.

DITPA (3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid) is an analogue of naturally occurring thyroid hormone (T3) that has been specifically designed to improve cardiac performance with a lower potential for tachycardia in CHF patients. Although structurally similar to T3, DITPA has a propionic acid side chain and lacks an iodine at the 3' position of the outer phenolic ring. While DITPA binds to the same thyroid hormone receptors as T3, binding affinities are significantly less, suggesting partial agonistic actions. Preclinical studies with DITPA have supported a rationale for its use in patients with CHF.

Primary objective: To assess the safety and tolerability of DITPA in patients with NYHA class III/IV CHF and low serum T3.

Secondary Objective: To obtain preliminary evidence of the efficacy of DITPA in patients with NYHA class III/IV CHF and low serum T3

Design: The multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of DITPA in patients with NYHA class III or IV CHF who have low levels of serum T3 with normal levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

One hundred and fifty patients at approximately 35 centers in the U.S. will be randomized to 1 of 3 treatment groups in a 1:1:1 ratio (i.e., 50 patients per treatment group):

* DITPA at 180 mg/day (90 mg twice a day \[BID\], orally)
* DITPA at 360 mg/day (180 mg BID, orally)
* Placebo BID, orally

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Greater than or equal to 18 years of age
* NYHA class III or IV CHF
* Females must not be pregnant or lactating. Females of childbearing potential and males must use a reliable means of contraception
* Serum total T3 \<= 95 ng/dL with normal levels of TSH
* On a regimen consisting of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor antagonists, beta blockers, and diuretics for a minimum of 3 months prior to randomization
* Clinically stable for 2 weeks prior to randomization (defined as no change in functional class by NYHA, no hospitalization or ER visit, and no intravenous inotropic or vasodilator treatment for 2 weeks)
* An LVEF \<= 40%, documented within 6 months prior to randomization, or \> 6 months with confirmation of LVEF by local echocardiographic measurements within 2 weeks prior to randomization
* Able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* New onset CHF (less than 3 months prior to randomization)
* Active myocarditis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, uncorrected primary valvular disease, restrictive cardiomyopathy, uncorrected congenital heart disease, or constrictive pericarditis
* Myocardial infarction, unstable ischemic heart disease, stroke, or coronary revascularization procedure within 4 weeks prior to randomization; or an expectation of a coronary revascularization procedure, cardiac transplant, or left ventricular assist device placement being needed within 24 weeks after randomization
* History of sudden arrhythmic syncope or sustained ventricular arrhythmia, unless the patient has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for at least 12 weeks prior to randomization; history of clinically significant heart block, unless the patient has had a pacemaker at least 12 weeks prior to randomization
* History of cardiac resynchronization therapy in the last 12 weeks prior to randomization or expectation of cardiac resynchronization therapy or ventricular mechanical assistance needed within 24 weeks after randomization
* History of cardiac transplant
* Heart rate \< 50 beats per minute or \> 130 beats per minute
* Systolic blood pressure \<= 80 mm Hg
* Serum creatinine =\> 2.5 mg/dL
* Treatment with intravenous vasodilators (including nesiritide) or inotropes within 2 weeks prior to randomization
* Receipt of any other investigational agent or device within 4 weeks prior to randomization
* Diagnosis of other non-cardiac underlying medical conditions expected to impact their mortality within 24 weeks after randomization
* Drug or alcohol dependence, or other conditions which may affect study compliance
* History of thyroid disorders of any form within 24 weeks prior to randomization
* Use of thyroid supplements (levothyroxine, liothyronine, etc.) or any preparation containing thyromimetic agents within 24 weeks prior to randomization
* Supraventricular arrhythmia refractory to conventional treatment, as judged by the investigators