A Study for Evaluation of BIV201 to Reduce Ascites and Complications in Patients With Cirrhosis and Refractory Ascites

This study evaluates the addition of BIV201 (terlipressin diacetate) as a continuous infusion in addition to standard of care (diuretics and therapeutic paracentesis) for reduction of ascites and complications in adult patients with refractory ascites secondary to decompensated cirrhosis

Terlipressin has been shown to reduce portal hypertension, improve renal function and induce natriuresis in cirrhotic patients with ascites without hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). It is approved in Europe for the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices and HRS type 1 and is usually administered as an IV bolus starting at 1 mg every 6 h and increased to 2 mg every 6 h (maximum 8 mg/day depending on response).

This study will evaluate the use of terlipressin delivered by continuous infusion for two 28 day treatment cycles for reduction of ascites accumulation and complications in adult patients with refractory ascites secondary to decompensated cirrhosis. Continuous infusion allows for a significant reduction in the daily effective dose required for treatment and improved safety of terlipressin delivered as a low-dose continuous infusion could enable its use in the outpatient setting in the prolonged treatment of patients with refractory ascites.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria

* Informed consent prior to any study-related procedures
* Male or female patients age 18 to 75 years old
* Cirrhosis of the liver (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, alcohol, viral and autoimmune)
* Patient has diuretic-resistant, intractable ascites or is unsuitable for treatment with diuretics and required:

  o In the 60-day period from the last LVP before consent, required, between 3 and 9 LVPs, including the last LVP on or before the day of consent.
* Dates for all LVPs that occurred within 90 days prior to consent have been recorded. The volume of ascites removed at each of the LVPs must also have been recorded for the 90-day period prior to the last LVPs before consent
* Serum creatinine (SCr) ≤2.00 mg/dL determined prior to randomization
* Women of child-bearing potential (e.g. not post-menopausal for at least one year or surgically sterile) must be neither pregnant nor lactating and must agree to use adequate birth control or be abstinent for the duration of the study
* If patient is treated with ACE inhibitors or beta blockers, dose has been stable for at least 30 days prior to randomization and may be maintained on that dose for the trial duration
* If patient is treated with diuretics, patient has been on a stable daily dose for at least 10 days prior to consent
* Willing and able to comply with trial instructions

Exclusion Criteria

* Ascites with causes other than cirrhosis; such as cardiac or nephrogenic ascites or malignant ascites due to peritoneal carcinomatosis
* Urinary sodium excretion \>100 mmol/day between day of consent and randomization
* Total bilirubin \>5 mg/dL
* Blood clotting International normalized ratio (INR) \>2.5
* Current or recent (within 3 months of consent) renal replacement therapy
* Current or recent (within 3 month of consent) hepatic encephalopathy Grade 3 or 4 (West-Haven)
* Superimposed acute liver failure/injury due to factors including acute alcoholic hepatitis, acute viral hepatitis, drugs, medications (e.g., acetaminophen), or other toxins (e.g., mushroom \[Amanita\] poisoning)
* History or presence of hepatic hydrothorax, known pulmonary hypertension and a history of hepatopulmonary syndrome
* Current or recent treatment (within 7 days of randomization) with octreotide, midodrine, vasopressin, dopamine or other vasopressors
* Current or recent (in the previous 60 days from consent) episode of respiratory failure requiring positive airway pressure (PAP) devices or intubation
* Sepsis episode in the previous 28 days from consent
* Episode of SBP within the 28 days prior to consent
* Episode of gastrointestinal hemorrhage (non-variceal) within 28 days prior to consent
* Episode of esophageal variceal bleed within one week prior to consent
* Ongoing documented or suspected infection
* Severe cardiovascular disease that is a contraindication to terlipressin therapy such as a history of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, advanced arteriosclerosis, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, severe coronary insufficiency or uncontrolled hypertension
* Findings suggestive of severe organic renal disease (severe proteinuria/hematuria, or abnormal renal ultrasound suggestive of obstructive renal pathology)
* Use of nephrotoxic drugs (e.g., aminoglycosides) in the 4 weeks before screening
* Severe comorbidity that in the opinion of the Investigator would affect short-term prognosis and/or disallow safe participation in the trial (such as for example, severe anemia or pancytopenia, advanced progressive neoplasia such as hepatocellular carcinoma, unless eligible for transplant)
* Patient who, in the judgment of the investigator, has been an excessive alcohol drinker in the past 12 weeks
* Patient is in the opinion of the investigator, despite previous education on sodium restriction, anticipated to remain grossly non-compliant of sodium restricted diet
* Implanted alfapump or previous recipient of alfapump that had pump removed within past 3 months
* Recipient of renal or liver transplant
* Planned elective surgery related to cirrhosis complications, for example for hernia repair
* Known allergy or hypersensitivity to terlipressin
* Participation in other clinical research studies involving the treatment with other investigational drugs or evaluation with implantable devices within 30 days of consent