Clinical trial NCT01132482
Conditions: Cystic Fibrosis
Keywords: Cystic fibrosis CFTR Phosphodiesterase inhibitor Nasal potential difference Sweat test
Sponsor: National Jewish Health
Start date: 2015-10-01; Completion date: 2017-05-01
Enrollment: 19 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
Dehydrated airway surfaces resulting from sodium hyperabsorption and lack of chloride secretion are critical to the pathology that leads to the morbidity and mortality from Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Previously published work in CF cell lines has demonstrated that by increasing cGMP and restoring inhibition of ENaC, sodium hyperabsorption may be reversed following administration of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDEi,) such as sildenafil. Additionally it has been shown in CF cell lines and animal models, that phosphodiesterase inhibitors/analogues can enhance chloride secretion and/or correct surface localization of ΔF508 CFTR. The goal of this project is to translate the results of this work from the laboratory into a clinical trial in patients with CF using an FDA-approved therapy. The Specific Aims of this project are to: 1) Evaluate the effect of systemically administered phosphodiesterase inhibitors on ion transport in CF by measurement of Na+ and Cl- conductance by NPD and Na+ and Cl- concentration in sweat utilizing pilocarpine iontophoresis 2) To establish appropriate dosing of sildenafil in CF by performing a dose-escalation study during which patients are carefully monitored for side effects, plasma sildenafil levels are obtained and outcome measures are compared based on the dose of sildenafil administered. The results of this study in conjunction with those from an ongoing study examining the role of sildenafil as an anti-inflammatory in CF will aid in establishing safety, pharmacokinetics and mechanism of action of sildenafil in the treatment of CF lung disease.

Detailed description:

Arms: arm 1: Subjects will receive escalating doses of sildenafil arm 2: During the placebo arm, subjects receiving placebo will have sham dose escalation to maintain blinding.
Interventions: intervention 1: Sildenafil intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: During the course of the study, patients will receive 4 weeks of therapy: 28 days of placebo orally t.i.d. or 28 days of days of sildenafil orally t.i.d. Dosing of sildenafil will be escalated after the first week (20 mg orally t.i.d for the first week, then subjects will take 40 mg orally t.i.d. for 3 weeks). Patients not tolerating dose escalation will be discontinued from the study. intervention 2: Patients receiving placebo will have sham dose escalation to maintain blinding.

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
 
P.I. Taylor-Cousar, Jennifer 
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;;’RESEARCH PLAN 
Title: Effects of sildenafil on CFTR-dependent ion transport activity in subjects with mild-moderate CF 
lung disease 
 
Sildenafil is an attractive agent for further study in cystic fibrosis (CF). Preclinical studies have demonstrated 
that sildenafil can correct the pH and sodium abnormality in CF cells, improve F508del CFTR trafficking and 
potentiate CFTR dependent Cl- transport, and may also exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. We have shown it 
is well-tolerated in a pilot trial of CF patients1, and it also has a well-established safety profile in severe lung 
disease.2,3 We propose to test the in vitro ability of sildenafil to improve ion transport in the setting of abnormal 
CFTR in human CF subjects. 
 
Hypothesis: Systemic administration of sildenafil to patients with mild-to-moderate CF lung disease 
will correct CFTR-mediated sodium (Na) hyperabsorption, and CFTR-dependent anion secretion, 
resulting in improvements in sodium measurements in nasal potential difference and sweat electrolyte 
analysis collected by pilocarpine iontophoresis.  
 
Aim 1. Test if systemically administered phosphodiesterase inhibitors improve ion transport in CF 
a. Measure Na+  and Cl-  conductance by NPD before and after therapy 
b. Measure Na+  and Cl-  concentration in sweat utilizing pilocarpine iontophoresis before and after 
therapy 
Aim 2. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on clinically relevant outcomes in subjects with CF 
a. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on lung function in subjects with CF  
b. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on weight in subjects with CF 
c. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on pulmonary exacerbations in subjects with CF 
d. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on quality of life in subjects with CF 
Aim 3. Further evaluate the safety and tolerability of sildenafil in subjects with CF  
a. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on treatment emergent adverse events 
b. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on change in clinical laboratory measures, vital signs and physical 
exam findings           
 
 
 
Background 
In vitro effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on ion transport, pH and inflammation in CF 
CF is caused by mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene, which 
encodes a protein of the same name. CFTR belongs to a family of proteins involved in ion transport.  It is 
known to act as a chloride transport channel, and also to regulate other ion channels, including the epithelial 
sodium channel, ENaC.4 Defective transport of sodium and chloride across the respiratory epithelial cell 
membrane leads to dehydration of the periciliary liquid and mucous layers overlying the surface epithelium, 
resulting in defective mucociliary and cough clearance in the lung.5   
 
Alterations in ion transport due to absent or deficient CFTR function have also been show to effect organelle 
pH.  Poschet et al demonstrated that increased Na+ efflux (resulting from loss of inhibition by dysfunctional 
CFTR) results in intracellular positive charge loss. To compensate for this charge loss and neutralize the 
membrane potential, there is excessive H+-ATPase action, resulting in trans-Golgi network (TGN) acidification 
(Figure 1).6  Inhibition of ENaC by amiloride or the Na+/H+ pump (by acetylstrophanthidine with H+ ion 
substitution) lead to improvements in pH, thus providing evidence that Na+ transport is crucial in organellar 
hyperacidification.6  
 
One recently described consequence of intracellular hyperacidification in CF is increased activity of the 
proprotein convertase, furin.7  Furin, found both in the TGN and at the plasma membrane, activates ENaC by 
direct proteolytic processing of ENaC subunits.8  Proteolytic cleavage of ENaC is requisite for ENaC mediated 
sodium transport thought to play a causative role in CF lung diseae.9   In addition to effects on furin and ENaC, 
trans-Golgi acidification has also been postulated to contribute to CF pathogenesis by altering the function of 
glycosylation enzymes key to normal processing of the CFTR protein. The glycoslation enzymes such as 
sialyltransferases and fucosyltransferases are pH sensitive and are crucial to the processing of wtCFTR.  As 


 
P.I. Taylor-Cousar, Jennifer 
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v10.21.2015 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is thought to exhibit increased affinity for respiratory mucins due to disordered 
glycosylation pathways (undersialylated glycoconjugates), altered glycosylation due to absent CFTR activity 
may also contribute to the predisposition to P. aeruginosa highly characteristic of CF lung disease.10, 11 
 
Given the multiple detrimental effects of TGN hyperacidification, including excess furin activity, disordered 
glycosylation (leading to P. aeruginosa predisposition), and possibly dysregulated inflammation (see also 
below), the TGN pathway represents a potential therapeutic target in CF to reconcile a number of the 
downstream effects of CFTR dysfunction.  As correction of organelle pH would be expected to reduce 
excessive Na+ transport on the airway surface by blocking ENaC mediated sodium transport through inhibition 
of furin, this strategy represents a means to block excessive sodium absorption thought to contribute to 
disease pathogenesis.  
 
PDE inhibitors (PDEi) have been reported to reduce excessive sodium transport in the CF cell by increasing 
cellular cGMP and therefore, restoring ENaC inhibition; use of this drug class therefore represents an attractive 
approach to address both TGN hyperacidification and the sodium transport abnormality found in the CF airway.  
Recently, our laboratory demonstrated that the treatment of CF cell lines (including those from ΔF508 
homozygous and heterozygous patients) with the archetype PDE 5 inhibitor sildenafil led to increased 
intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and corrected endosomal hyperacidification in CF 
respiratory epithelial cells (Figure 1).12  As PDEis have demonstrated other effects likely beneficial in CF (see 
below), and are available by systemic administration, this class of agents may have inherent advantages over 
other strategies (such as inhaled medications) intended to inhibit ENaC function.13  
 
Recent studies have also shown that PDEi can potentiate CFTR-mediated chloride transport activity and also 
correct surface localization of F508del CFTR. Cobb et al showed that PDEis, including sildenafil, stimulate 
CFTR-dependent chloride transport in polarized airway cell monolayers expressing wild-type CFTR.  
Importantly, this effect was dose-dependent, and for two of the agents tested, achievable at concentrations 
below peak serum levels that occur with dosing used in systemic treatment of pulmonary hypertension.14 
Researchers have also studied the effects of sildenafil on CFTR trafficking in airway epithelial cells from CF 
and non-CF patients.  Exposure to sildenafil led to rescue of F508del CFTR to the apical membrane as 
measured by immunofluorescence localization.15  In related work, Robert et al demonstrated that a structural 
analog of sildenafil optimized for cell culture experiments, KM11060, partially restored ΔF508 trafficking in 
baby hamster kidney cells.16  In our lab, using nasal mucosal tissue from ΔF508del mice, we showed that 
transepithelial Cl- currents improved following treatment with sildenafil.17 More recently, Lubamba et al restored 
CFTR-dependent chloride transport using the nasal potential difference (NPD) assay in F508del mice, 
substantiating the approach that PDEi can restore both the cellular localization and activity of F508del CFTR in 
the airway.18  
 
Sildenafil has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects that may be beneficial in the context of the 
pro-inflammatory environment of the CF lung.  For example, in CF respiratory epithelial cells, we demonstrated 
that the excessive proinflammatory response to P. aeruginosa exposure could be reversed by treatment with 
sildenafil.12  Toward et al demonstrated that pretreatment with sildenafil inhibited LPS-induced airway 
hyperreactivity, white cell influx and NO dysfunction in two guinea pig models of airway disease. 19  Finally, 
DBA/2 mice sensitive to P. aeruginosa were fed a diet with or without sildenafil.  Following aerosol-delivered P. 
aeruginosa respiratory infection, myeloperoxidase in lung homogenates (a reflection of neutrophil infiltration) 
was reduced by 42 ± 11% (p=0.047) in animals who received sildenafil-containing diets.17   
 
In concert, these studies suggest that PDEis might be a way to reconcile both the sodium and chloride ion 
transport defects present in the CF lung, and may also address other downstream effects resulting from TGN 
hyperacidification found in CF, including disordered CFTR glycosylation, a predisposition to P. aeruginosa, and 
excessive inflammation. Based on the in vitro data suggesting a possible role for PDEi as anti-inflammatories 
in CF, we designed a single site open-label dose escalation study (Clinicaltrials.gov No.: NCT00659529) to 
evaluate the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of sildenafil in subjects with mild to moderate CF lung 
disease.1 On study day 1, subjects underwent exhaled breath condensate (EBC) measurement, lung function 
and routine laboratory testing, completed the CF Health Related Quality of life questionnaire (CFQ-R), and had 
sputum collected for bacterial counts and sputum biomarkers.  Subjects received oral sildenafil 20 or 40 mg 
p.o. t.i.d. for 6 weeks, and all evaluations were repeated at the end of 6 weeks. Twenty subjects completed the 


 
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study. There were no drug-related serious adverse events, and side effects were generally mild and consistent 
with those previously reported. There was improvement in the primary endpoint, mean sputum elastase 
(p<0.03), which is a sensitive measure of CF airway inflammation and has been shown to predict lung function 
decline in patients with CF.20  There was also a non-significant trend towards improvement in sputum IL-8 
(p=0.13). There was no difference in EBC pH, the respiratory score of the CFQ-R, or sputum microbiology 
(p=0.44, =0.88 and 1.0, respectively).   
 
Given the relative ease of testing this approach due to the clinical availability of sildenafil and other PDEis, 
these results suggest a strong need to also study the ion transport effects of sildenafil in CF.  This study 
represents an excellent opportunity to capitalize on the safety and tolerability assessments already completed 
at our institution. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sildenafil as candidate drug 
Protein kinase G-dependent smooth muscle relaxation occurs in response to elevated levels of cGMP.  
Inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5,) which is responsible for degradation of cGMP, or stimulation 
with nitric oxide (NO) can cause this effect.  Sildenafil (Revatio, Pfizer) is a PDE-5 in inhibitor.  Sildenafil-
induced increased cGMP concentration leads to pulmonary vasculature smooth muscle relaxation.  It is this 
effect that is key in treatment of pulmonary hypertension by sildenafil. 
 
A case study reported on the use of sildenafil in a patient with severe CF lung disease (genotype 
ΔF508/G551D, FEV1 1.051, 23% predicted) complicated by exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension. 
Treatment with 1 week of oral sildenafil 25 mg twice a day, followed by 4 months of 25 mg four times a day, 
lead to physiological improvement, and decreased subjective complaints of dyspnea and chest pain with 
exertion within 2 weeks of starting therapy.  Improvements in exercise tolerance were increased further after 4 
months of therapy.  Sildenafil was well-tolerated with no adverse events. 21  Although these effects were 
attributed to the reduction in pulmonary artery pressure, the more prolonged and sustained improvement 
suggests the possibility for a more global effect on the ion transport abnormality, and also demonstrates the 
relative safety of this agent even in individuals with severe lung disease. 
 
Pharmacokinetics of sildenafil 
Sildenafil is rapidly absorbed following oral administration in the fasting state with peak plasma concentrations 
occurring within 30-120 minutes (median 60 minutes) of administration.  It is metabolized by the hepatic 
microsomal isoenzymes, CYP34A and cytochrome p450 2C9 (CYP2C9) to its major metabolite N-desmethyl 
sildenafil.  The metabolite accounts for approximately 20% of the pharmacologic effects of sildenafil.  Both 
sildenafil and N-desmethyl sildenafil have a half-life of approximately 4 hours. 
 
Figure 1. Model of endosomal hyperacidification in cystic 
fibrosis respiratory epithelial cells and its correction by NO
 
and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors. Shades of pink, endosome 
lumenal acidification levels (darker color—lower pH); green boxes, 
active pumps or open channels; red boxes, inactive channels; 
yellow boxes, normal pump or channel activity. (A) In normal 
human respiratory epithelial cells, the CFTR inhibits sodium 
channels (ENaC), resulting in positive charge build-up as vacuolar 
H+ ATPase pumps protons into the endosomal lumen. The proton 
pump is sensitive to transmembrane potential build-up, and shuts 
down, resulting in physiologically normal, mild lumenal acidification 
of the endosome. (B) In CF respiratory epithelial cells, with 
defective CFTR, ENaC is no longer inhibited by CFTR, which 
allows efflux of sodium as the protons are being pumped into the 
endosomal lumen by the proton pump. The sodium efflux 
dissipates membrane potential, allowing the vacuolar H+ ATPase 
to 
extend 
its 
proton-pumping 
action, 
thus 
causing 
mild 
hyperacidification. (C) As shown in this work, nitric oxide (NO
) 
can correct endosomal hyperacidification in CF respiratory 
epithelial cells, by cGMP-dependent block of sodium transport 
through amiloride-sensitive channel ENaC. Hyperacidification can 
be corrected using sildenafil or other inhibitors specific for cGMP 
PDE5. CF, cystic fibrosis; CFTR, CF transmembrane conductance 
regulator; cGMP, cyclic GMP; PDE5, phosphodiesterase 5.  


 
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Sildenafil (Revatio®) is FDA-approved for treatment of pulmonary hypertension at an oral dose of 20 mg three 
times per day. In a large trial (n=278) of use of sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension published in the New 
England Journal of Medicine, escalating doses of sildenafil were used for 12 weeks (20 mg three times a day, 
40 mg three times a day, and 80 mg three times per day.)  There was no dose-related effect on the primary 
outcome.  Although the initial group of subjects was treated for 12 weeks, improvements in the primary 
outcome were seen at 4 weeks.22  
 
In summary, laboratory evidence that sildenafil can correct the pH and sodium abnormality in CF cells, improve 
F508del CFTR trafficking and potentiate CFTR dependent Cl- transport, and may also exhibit anti inflammatory 
properties, combined with the well-established safety profile of sildenafil in severe lung disease make it an 
attractive agent to study in patients with CF.  To date, studies have examined the in vitro ability of sildenafil to 
improve ion transport in the setting of abnormal CFTR; we propose to evaluate effects in human CF subjects. 
 
Aim 1. Test if systemically administered phosphodiesterase inhibitors improve ion transport in CF 
c. Measure Na+  and Cl-  conductance by NPD before and after therapy 
d. Measure Na+  and Cl-  concentration in sweat utilizing pilocarpine iontophoresis before and after 
therapy 
Aim 2. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on clinically relevant outcomes in subjects with CF 
a. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on lung function in subjects with CF  
b. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on weight in subjects with CF 
c. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on pulmonary exacerbations in subjects with CF 
d. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on quality of life in subjects with CF 
Aim 3. Further evaluate the safety and tolerability of sildenafil in subjects with CF  
a. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on treatment emergent adverse events 
b. Evaluate the effect of sildenafil on change in clinical laboratory measures, vital signs and physical 
exam findings           
 
Primary Endpoints 
Na+ conductance by nasal potential difference (within subject change in maximum basal PD) 
 
Secondary Endpoints 
Other measures of Na transport (mean basal PD, end-ringers profusion PD, change in PD with amiloride) 
Cl- conductance by NPD (total Cl conductance, change in PD with chloride free solution, change in PD with 
isoproteronol, total change in NPD (delta NPD)   
Sweat Na+ by pilocarpine iontophoresis 
Sweat Cl- concentration by pilocarpine iontophoresis 
Pulmonary function by spirometry 
Lung clearance index 
Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) 
Sputum nitric oxide metabolites 
Safety and tolerability (including laboratory studies, CFQ-R) 
 
Experimental Design and Methods 
Study population:  Total of 18 adults with CF will be recruited from the Colorado CF program at National 
Jewish Health. Subjects who withdraw early will be replaced until the target n of 18 is achieved. 
 
Inclusion criteria:   
1) Confirmed diagnosis of CF based on the following criteria: Positive sweat chloride ≥60mEq/liter (by 
pilocarpine iontophoresis) and genotype with two F508del CFTR mutations, and accompanied by one or more 
clinical features consistent with the CF phenotype   
2) Male or female subjects ≥ 18 years of age   
3) FEV1 ≥ 50% predicted (Hankinson)    
4) Clinically stable without evidence of acute upper or lower respiratory tract infection or current pulmonary 
exacerbation within the 14 days prior to the screening visit   
5) Ability to reproducibly perform spirometry (according to ATS criteria)   
6) Ability to understand and sign a written informed consent or assent and comply with the requirements of the  


 
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study   
7) Willing and able to perform nasal potential difference testing 
8) No changes in use of nasal medications within 2 weeks of screening visit 
9)  If on Orkambi, has been on stable Orkambi dose for at least 4 weeks at day 1.  
 
Exclusion criteria:  
1) History of hypersensitivity to sildenafil   
2) Use of an investigational agent within the 4-week period prior to Visit 1 (Day 0)   
3) Breastfeeding, pregnant, or verbal expression of unwillingness to practice an acceptable birth control 
method (abstinence, hormonal or barrier methods, partner sterilization or intrauterine device) during 
participation in the study   
4) History of significant hepatic (SGOT or SGPT > 3 times the upper limit of normal at screening, documented 
biliary cirrhosis, or portal hypertension), cardiovascular (history of aortic stenosis, coronary artery disease, 
pulmonary hypertension with right ventricular systolic pressure >55 mmHg or life-threatening arrhythmia), 
neurological (history of stroke), hematologic (history of bleeding diathesis), ophthalmologic (history of retinal 
impairment or non-arteritic ischemic optic neuritis) or renal impairment (creatinine >1.8 mg/dL.)  
5) Inability to swallow pills   
6) Previous lung transplantation   
7) Use of concomitant nitrates, α-blocker, or Ca channel blocker   
8) Use of concomitant medications known to be potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, 
ritonavir, clarithromycin, erythromycin, rifampin, verapamil)   
9) Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the investigator would compromise the safety of 
the subject or the quality of the data   
10) Weight less than 40 kg   
11) History of sputum or throat swab culture yielding Burkholderia cepacia within 2 years of screening 
12) History of nasal disease or nasal surgery that would, in the opinion of the investigator, impede accurate 
measurements of NPD 
13) Use of anticoagulant medication (e.g. heparin, coumadin) 
14) Resting room air oxygen saturation <93%  
15) Use of nighttime oxygen 
15) History of migraine headaches 
16) Baseline BP of < 90/50 mm Hg 
 
Study Design 
This study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study of sildenafil (Revatio) in clinically stable 
patients with mild-moderate CF lung disease. The length of participation for each subject will be approximately 
6 weeks, and will consist of a screening visit, 4 out-patient visits, and a follow-up phone assessment 2 weeks 
after subject’s study completion. 
 
Randomization 
Subjects will be randomized in a 2:1 fashion to sildenafil or placebo.  The randomization protocol will be 
created by Dr. Douglas Everett (Professor and Head, Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, National 
Jewish Health). The protocol will be provided directly to the study pharmacist, who will communicate 
randomization to the coordinator at the research site.   
 
Dosing 
During the course of the study, patients will receive 4 weeks of therapy: 28 days of placebo orally t.i.d. or 28 
days of days of sildenafil orally t.i.d.  Dosing of sildenafil will be escalated weekly (20 mg orally t.i.d for the first 
week, 40 mg orally t.i.d. for the second through fourth weeks.)  Patients receiving placebo will have sham dose 
escalation to maintain blinding. Patients not tolerating dose escalation will be discontinued from the study. 
 
 
Screening visit (visit 1; Day -14-0):   
Prior to conducting any study-related activities, written informed consent/assent will be obtained, signed and 
dated by the subject and/or parent/guardian.   


 
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A medical history including diagnosis of CF, current medications and other relevant past medical history will be 
obtained, and a complete physical exam will be performed by the principal investigator including nasal exam 
rating (NER), height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, respirations and baseline pulse oximetry will be 
recorded.  Any abnormal findings will be documented. Clinical laboratory tests will be performed including CBC 
with differential, chemistry profile, INR (total of 10cc of blood), and a urine pregnancy test (for females of child-
bearing potential).  A baseline EKG will be obtained. Subjects will undergo spirometry according to ATS 
criteria.23   
Initiation visit period 1 (visit 2; Day 1):  Subjects meeting entry criteria will be evaluated in the outpatient 
research unit.  CFR-Q will be administered. A limited physical exam will be performed to include vital signs and 
NER.  A urine pregnancy test will be done for females of child-bearing potential. eNO and spirometry will be 
performed.  Spontaneously expectorated sputum will be collected. Safety labs and a sildenafil trough level will 
be drawn. Each subject will undergo pilocarpine iontophoresis with sweat collection, nasal potential difference 
testing, and lung clearance index testing. Patient will then receive study medication (placebo or sildenafil.) 
Subsequent to medication dosing, vital signs will be assessed at 1 hour and 2 hours post-dose. A drop in 
systolic blood pressure of ≥ 20mmHg will be considered intolerance, and the subject will be discontinued from 
the study.  
Subjects tolerating the medication will be discharged with a 7-day supply of placebo or sildenafil 20 mg p.o. 
t.i.d. Subjects will be instructed to call the study staff (during business hours) or the pulmonary attending on 
call (after business hours) for any significant adverse events that occur (e.g. severe headache, dizziness, or 
persistent visual changes.) 
Study visit (visit 3; Day 8±3):  After 7 days of therapy, the subject will return to the study site.  Vitals signs and 
adverse events will be assessed. Safety labs and a sildenafil trough level will be drawn. Each subject will 
undergo pilocarpine iontophoresis with sweat collection, nasal potential difference testing, and lung clearance 
index testing. Medication bottles will be collected. Subject will then receive study medication (placebo or 
sildenafil 40 mg). Subsequent to medication dosing, vital signs will be assessed 1 hour and 2 hours post-dose.  
A drop in systolic blood pressure of ≥ 20mmHg will be considered intolerance. Subjects with intolerance of 
dose escalation will be discontinued from the study. Subjects tolerating medication will be given 21 days of 
placebo or sildenafil 40 mg p.o. t.i.d. 
Study visit (visit 4; Day 29+3): Subjects will return to the study site for visit 4. CFR-Q will be administered.  A 
complete physical exam will be performed to include vital signs and NER, and adverse events will be 
assessed.  eNO and spirometry will be performed.  Spontaneously expectorated sputum will be collected. 
Safety labs and a sildenafil trough level will be drawn. Each subject will undergo pilocarpine iontophoresis with 
sweat collection, nasal potential difference testing, and lung clearance index testing. Clinical laboratory tests 
will be performed including CBC with differential, chemistry profile, INR (total of 10cc of blood), and a urine 
pregnancy test (for females of child-bearing potential).  Medication bottles will be collected.   
 
Study visit (visit 5; Day 43±3):  Two weeks following study completion, the research coordinator will call 
subjects to determine if any adverse events have occurred or if there have been any changes in concomitant 
medications. 
 
Early Withdrawal  
In case of early withdrawal, an Early Withdrawal Visit will be scheduled within 7 days following the last dose of 
study medication.  Physical exam will be performed by the primary investigator including weight, temperature, 
blood pressure, respirations and pulse oximetry. Spirometry will be performed. Subject will undergo pilocarpine 
iontophoresis with sweat collection, nasal potential difference testing, and lung clearance index testing. Any 
abnormal findings will be documented. Clinical laboratory tests will be performed including CBC with 
differential, chemistry profile, and urine pregnancy test (for females of child-bearing potential.) Medication 
bottles will be collected.   
 
Concomitant medications 
All subjects should continue the same medications throughout the study period, as medically feasible, with no 
introduction of new chronic therapies during or <4 weeks prior to enrollment.  If a change in concomitant 
medications is required, the reason(s) for the change(s) will be recorded on the subject’s CRF.  Subjects who 


 
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require hospitalization for the treatment of a pulmonary exacerbation during the course of the trial will be 
withdrawn from the study. 
 
Outcome measurements and Procedures   
Nasal exam rating score will be performed at each visit using the validated system established by the CF TDN 
Center for CFTR Detection. 
Spirometry will be performed at the visits according to ATS standards.   
Spontaneously expectorated sputum will be collected for measurement of NO metabolites at the initiation and 
final visits. 
Exhaled nitric oxide will be collected prior to spirometry according to ATS standards. Subjects will be instructed 
not to eat or drink for 1 hour prior to eNO measurements. 
Pilocarpine iontophoresis will be performed and sweat collected according to CFF standards.  Sweat volume 
will be recorded and sweat rate collected.  Sweat will be collected using the Macroduct ® collection system.   
Samples will be shipped to the TDN Core laboratory in Aurora, CO for sodium and chloride concentration 
measurement.   
Nasal potential difference will be performed according to CF TDN standard operating procedure (SOP 528.01) 
Interpretation and analysis of results will be performed by a blinded investigator at the University of Alabama. 
Lung clearance index (LCI) is a measure of ventilation inhomogeneity that is obtained by multiple breath 
washout.  It has been shown to be more sensitive than FEV1 in detecting mild lung function abnormalities24-26 , 
and has been endorsed by the European CF Society Clinical Trial Network Standardization Committee.27 LCI 
measurement will be performed on an Eco Medics device using 100% O2 as described by the ECSF-TDN.24 
The CFQ-R is designed to measure CF-specific patient-reported health-related quality of life.  The 48 
questions encompass five domains including physical symptoms, role functioning (e.g. school/work), 
psychological and emotional functioning, energy/fatigue, and social functioning.  The four domains specific to 
CF that are measured are: eating disturbances, body image, embarrassment caused by symptoms, and 
treatment burden.  This questionnaire has been validated in CF patients.28  The questionnaire will be 
administered at the initial and end of treatment visits for each treatment period prior to any procedures. 
 
There is no drug interaction between ivacaftor and sildenafil.  However, because the lumacaftor portion of 
Orkambi is is a strong inducer of CYP3A, use of Orkambi with sildenafil may decrease sildenafil levels. Based 
on our previous work, average trough values at steady state for subjects with CF receiving 40 mg of sildenafil 
t.i.d. were approximately 39 ng/mL.  Sildenafil trough levels will be performed at visits 2, 3, and 4 to confirm 
non-interference of metabolism with co-administration with Orkambi.   
 
Study Drug  
Blinded study drug bottles will be packaged, labeled and shipped from a contracted pharmacy (Belmar 
Pharmacy, Lakewood, CO) based on sequence number. Sildenafil and placebo will be stored and dispensed 
through the research pharmacy at NJH.  An accurate accounting of dispensing and return of the study drug will 
be maintained by the research pharmacist at each institution. 
 
Patient reimbursement 
In accordance with TDN guidelines, patients will be reimbursed according to the following schedule: 
Visit 
Visit 1 
Visit 2 
Visit 3 
Visit 4 
Visit 5 
Total 
Payment $75 
$200 
$200 
$200 
$25 
$700 
 
Subjects who complete the screening visit, will receive the $75 payment regardless of whether they qualify for 
the study to compensate for their time and effort. 
 
Subjects who live greater than 50 miles from the study site, will be reimbursed at the current standard mileage rate 
for medical purposes. 
 


 
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Statistical analysis 
Sample size  
Using PASS 13, data from two consecutive within subject NPD measurements following treatment with 
placebo in a trial of the Na transport inhibitor QAU145 were used to perform power calculations for this study.  
Based on a 2.59 mV standard deviation of the change in conductance of the maximal basal PD with placebo, 
enrollment of 12 (sildenafil) and 6 (placebo) subjects will provide 100% power to detect a 10.4 mV change in 
maximal basal PD at the 5% significance level.29  The reported results from the VX-770-101 trial reported at 
NACFC in 2008 also indicate that this study is well-powered to detect changes in sweat chloride.30  Based on a 
standard deviation of 2.6 mEq, enrollment of 12 (sildenafil) and 6 (placebo) subjects will provide 95% power to 
detect at least a 5 mEq change from placebo at the 5% significance level. 
 
Data Analysis  
Primary outcome, baseline change in maximal basal PD measurement (mean of 2 nostrils), will be assessed 
as well as change with amilioride and total change in PD.  Secondary outcomes include the mean basal PD, 
end Ringer’s perfusion PD, change with amiloride, change with low chloride, change with isoproteronol, 
change with low chloride plus isoproteronol, and total change in NPD (delta NPD).  Analysis of NPD results will 
be performed at the Center for CFTR Detection at UAB.  All NPD tracings will be interpreted by an 
independent, blinded investigator, and no scoring will be conducted by the site investigator to prevent biased 
estimates.  All tracings will be scored with electronic assisted data analysis (developed by the UAB Center for 
CFTR detection).  Data for both the primary and the secondary endpoints (other Na and Cl conductance 
measures by NPD and the concentration of Na and Cl in sweat) will be analyzed separately as a 2X2 
crossover design using a repeated measures analysis.   
 
If emerging data from ongoing CFTR modulator trials and NPD measurements obtained using the latest NPD 
methodology suggests alternative analytic methods (including log transformation) should be used, statistical 
analysis methods will be updated prior to data base lock and analysis initiation.  If these analysis suggests 
non-normality, rank based analyses (e.g. Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon rank-sum test or other appropriate test) will 
be used. Any change in the statistical analysis plan will be finalized before database lock, and reported to the 
DSMB and CF-TDN PRC.  Data will be also be presented using descriptive analyses including individual 
patient line plots of outcome over time.  All patients will be plotted across part one and part two to discern 
carryover effects.  
 
Data from pharmacokinetic analysis will be analyzed using ANOVA in SAS v.9.2.  P-values ≤ 0.05 will be 
regarded as significant.  Data will be screened for nonnormality, and appropriate transformations as needed 
(such as log) will be applied; careful residual analysis will be performed to detect outliers and other anomalies.  
Non-parametric procedures (Proc NPAR1WAY in SAS v9.2) will be applied in cases where transformations do 
not normalize the data.  Carryover effects in the crossover design will be fit initially but discarded if they are not 
(as expected) significant.   Correlations between NPD, sweat chloride and clinical parameters will also be 
conducted.  All statistical analysis will be performed in conjunction with Dr. Steven Rowe and CCTSI 
statisticians. 
 
Mechanism for Monitoring Patient Safety 
Known Potential Toxicity of Study Drug 
In trials of sildenafil in patients without contraindications to drug administration, adverse effects were generally 
mild to moderate and transient in nature.  The overall frequency of discontinuation in Revatio® -treated 
patients at the recommended dose of 20 mg t.i.d. was low (3%) and the same as placebo (3%) Side effects 
that occurred in more than 2%, and more frequently by patients on study drug than on placebo included 
headache (67% vs. 56%) epistaxis (13% vs. 2%) flushing (15% vs. 6%) , dyspepsia (19% vs. 10%), nasal 
congestion (6% vs. 0%), insomnia (11% vs. 2%), erythema (9% vs. 2%), exacerbation of dyspnea (11% vs. 
5%), diarrhea (13% vs. 9%) , myalgia (11% vs 6%), pyrexia (9% vs 5%), gastritis (5% vs 0%), sinusitis (5% vs 
0%) and paresthesia (5% vs 0%.)  At doses higher than the recommended dose of 20mg t.i.d., incidence of 
adverse events of some symptoms was increased including flushing, diarrhea, myalgia and visual disturbances 
(mild and transient color-tinge, sensitivity to light or blurred vision.)  Incidence of retinal hemorrhage in subjects 
taking the recommended dose was 1.9% vs placebo and occurred in patients on anti-coagulation.  Patients in 
this study will not be on anticoagulation.  There was no report of priaprism in the placebo controlled trial of 


 
P.I. Taylor-Cousar, Jennifer 
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Revatio®.  Post-marketing experience of Viagra® (dosed as 50-100 mg once daily for erectile dysfunction), 
has demonstrated serious cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and vascular events, as well as priaprism and 
ischemic retinopathy.  Very rarely, cases of decreased hearing have been reported in patients taking Viagra.  It 
is not clear if this was related to taking Viagra or the patients’ medical conditions. These adverse events were 
not seen in the randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Revatio® for pulmonary hypertension.  The majority of 
these events occurred in patients with preexisting cardiovascular risk factors.  Patients with cardiovascular risk 
factors will not be included in the study.  Revatio® did cause transient decreases in supine blood pressure in 
healthy volunteers (mean maximum decrease in systolic/diastolic blood pressure 8.4/5.5mmHg.)  Subjects in 
this study will have monitoring of their blood pressure following administration of the initial doses of study drug.  
Cases of sudden decrease or loss of hearing have been reported post-marketing in temporal association with 
the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors. In some cases, medical and other factors were reported that may also 
have played a role in the otologic adverse events.  It was not possible to determine whether these reported 
events are directly related to the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, to the patient’s underlying risk factors for 
hearing loss, or a combination of these factors.  No hearing loss related to sildenafil administration was 
observed in CF subjects who participated in the pilot study performed at our institution.  
 
Adverse Events (AE) 
An adverse event will be defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally 
associated with the use of Revatio® or other protocol-imposed intervention, regardless of attribution. 
This definition will include the following: 
•AEs not previously observed in the subject that emerge during the study period, including signs or 
symptoms associated with CF that were not present prior to the study period 
• Complications that occur as a result of protocol-mandate interventions • Preexisting medical 
conditions (other than the condition being studied) judged by the investigator to have worsened in 
severity or frequency or changed in character during the protocol-specified AE reporting period  
Subjects will be questioned and/or examined by the Investigator or her designee for evidence of adverse 
events. 
Subjects having adverse events will be monitored with relevant clinical assessments and laboratory tests as 
determined by the investigator.  All adverse events will be followed to satisfactory resolution or stabilization of 
the event(s.)  Any actions taken and follow-up results will be recorded on the appropriate page of the CRF, as 
well as in the subject’s source documentation.  Follow-up laboratory results will be filed with the subject’s 
source documentation. 
For all adverse events that require the subject to be discontinued from the study, relevant clinical assessments 
and laboratory tests will be repeated until satisfactory resolution or stabilization of the event(s.) 
A serious event will be determined as follows: 
 
• It results in death 
 
• It is life threatening 
 
• It requires or prolongs inpatient hospitalization 
 
• It results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity 
• It results in a congenital anomaly/birth defect in a neonate/infant born to a mother exposed to the 
investigational product 
• It is considered a significant medical event by the investigator based on medical judgment 
Grading of AEs will be as follows: 
• Mild: Transient or mild discomfort (<48 hours); no interference with the subject’s daily 
activities; no medical intervention/therapy required 
• Moderate: Mild to moderate interference with the subject’s daily activities; no or minimal 
medical intervention/therapy required   


 
P.I. Taylor-Cousar, Jennifer 
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v10.21.2015 
• Severe:  Considerable interference with the subject’s daily activities; medical 
intervention/therapy required; hospitalization possible 
To determine the causality of AE and SAE the follow guidelines will be assessed: 
 
• Probably related 
There is a plausible temporal relationship between the onset of the AE and administration of Revatio®, 
and the AE cannot be readily explained by the subject’s clinical state, intercurrent illness, or 
concomitant therapies; and/or the AE abates or resolves upon discontinuation Revatio®. 
•Possibly related 
There is a plausible temporal relationship between the onset of the AE and administration of Revatio®, 
and an alternative etiology (e.g., preexisting medical condition, underlying disease, intercurrent illness, 
or concomitant medication) for the AE is equally or more likely than the potential relationship to 
administration of Revatio®. 
• Not related 
Evidence exists that the AE has an etiology other than administration of Revatio® (e.g., preexisting 
medical condition, underlying disease, intercurrent illness, or concomitant medication); and/or the AE 
has no plausible temporal relationship to administration of Revatio®  (e.g., cancer diagnosed 2 days 
after first dose of study drug.) 
In this pilot study, it is unlikely that there would be early (i.e. before study completion) demonstration of efficacy 
or futility.  However, unanticipated serious adverse events would result in early termination of the study. 
Criteria for Participant Discontinuation 
 
• Severe dyspnea at rest 
 
• Pregnancy 
 
• Subject refusal to continue in study 
 •Development of an adverse event that the investigator feels is a preclusion to continued subject 
participation   
 
Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB.) 
Oversight for this trial will be conducted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Development Network 
DSMB 
 
Pregnancy 
If a subject or subject’s partner becomes pregnant during the study, the subject will be discontinued from the 
study.  We will not request to follow the pregnancy or the offspring. 
 
 
Literature Cited 
1. 
Taylor-Cousar JL, Wiley C, Felton LA, et al. Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of oral sildenafil in 
adults with cystic fibrosis lung disease. Journal of cystic fibrosis : official journal of the European Cystic 
Fibrosis Society 2014. 
2. 
Galie N, Ghofrani HA, Torbicki A, et al. Sildenafil citrate therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. 
N Engl J Med 2005;353:2148-57. 
3. 
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Research N, Zisman DA, Schwarz M, et al. A controlled trial of 
sildenafil in advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med 2010;363:620-8. 
4. 
Stutts MJ, Canessa CM, Olsen JC, et al. CFTR as a cAMP-dependent regulator of sodium channels. 
Science 1995;269:847-50. 
5. 
Knowles MR, Boucher RC. Mucus clearance as a primary innate defense mechanism for mammalian 
airways. J Clin Invest 2002;109:571-7. 


 
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6. 
Poschet JF, Skidmore J, Boucher JC, Firoved AM, Van Dyke RW, Deretic V. Hyperacidification of 
cellubrevin endocytic compartments and defective endosomal recycling in cystic fibrosis respiratory epithelial 
cells. J Biol Chem 2002;277:13959-65. 
7. 
Ornatowski W, Poschet JF, Perkett E, Taylor-Cousar JL, Deretic V. Elevated furin levels in human 
cystic fibrosis cells result in hypersusceptibility to exotoxin A-induced cytotoxicity. J Clin Invest 
2007;117:3489-97. 
8. 
Ornatowski W PJ, Perkett E, Kleyman TR, Taylor-Cousar JL and Deretic V.  . Increased Furin-
Dependent ENaC Processing in Cystic Fibrosis.  . American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular 
Biology-Under revision 2009. 
9. 
Hughey RP, Bruns JB, Kinlough CL, et al. Epithelial sodium channels are activated by furin-dependent 
proteolysis. J Biol Chem 2004;279:18111-4. 
10. 
Barasch J, Kiss B, Prince A, Saiman L, Gruenert D, al-Awqati Q. Defective acidification of intracellular 
organelles in cystic fibrosis. Nature 1991;352:70-3. 
11. 
Lowe JB. Glycan-dependent leukocyte adhesion and recruitment in inflammation. Curr Opin Cell Biol 
2003;15:531-8. 
12. 
Poschet JF, Fazio JA, Timmins GS, et al. Endosomal hyperacidification in cystic fibrosis is due to 
defective nitric oxide-cylic GMP signalling cascade. EMBO Rep 2006;7:553-9. 
13. 
Donaldson SH, Bennett WD, Zeman KL, Knowles MR, Tarran R, Boucher RC. Mucus clearance and 
lung function in cystic fibrosis with hypertonic saline. N Engl J Med 2006;354:241-50. 
14. 
Cobb BR, Fan L, Kovacs TE, Sorscher EJ, Clancy JP. Adenosine receptors and phosphodiesterase 
inhibitors stimulate Cl- secretion in Calu-3 cells. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2003;29:410-8. 
15. 
Dormer RL, Harris CM, Clark Z, et al. Sildenafil (Viagra) corrects DeltaF508-CFTR location in nasal 
epithelial cells from patients with cystic fibrosis. Thorax 2005;60:55-9. 
16. 
Robert R, Carlile GW, Pavel C, et al. Structural analog of sildenafil identified as a novel corrector of the 
F508del-CFTR trafficking defect. Mol Pharmacol 2008;73:478-89. 
17. 
Poschet JF, Timmins GS, Taylor-Cousar JL, et al. Pharmacological modulation of cGMP levels by 
phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors as a therapeutic strategy for treatment of respiratory pathology in cystic fibrosis. 
American journal of physiology 2007;293:L712-9. 
18. 
Lubamba B, Lecourt H, Lebacq J, et al. Preclinical Evidence that Sildenafil and Vardenafil Activate 
Chloride Transport in Cystic Fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007. 
19. 
Toward TJ, Smith N, Broadley KJ. Effect of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, sildenafil (Viagra), in animal 
models of airways disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004;169:227-34. 
20. 
Harris PA, Taylor R, Thielke R, Payne J, Gonzalez N, Conde JG. Research electronic data capture 
(REDCap)--a metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research 
informatics support. Journal of biomedical informatics 2009;42:377-81. 
21. 
Montgomery GS, Sagel SD, Taylor AL, Abman SH. Effects of sildenafil on pulmonary hypertension 
and exercise tolerance in severe cystic fibrosis-related lung disease. Pediatric pulmonology 2006;41:383-5. 
22. 
Galie N, Ghofrani HA, Torbicki A, et al. Sildenafil citrate therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. 
N Engl J Med 2005;353:2148-57. 
23. 
ATS statement: guidelines for the six-minute walk test. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002;166:111-7. 
24. 
Horsley AR, Gustafsson PM, Macleod KA, et al. Lung clearance index is a sensitive, repeatable and 
practical measure of airways disease in adults with cystic fibrosis. Thorax 2008;63:135-40. 
25. 
Robinson PD, Latzin P, Verbanck S, et al. Consensus statement for inert gas washout measurement 
using multiple- and single- breath tests. Eur Respir J 2013;41:507-22. 
26. 
Gustafsson PM, De Jong PA, Tiddens HA, Lindblad A. Multiple-breath inert gas washout and 
spirometry versus structural lung disease in cystic fibrosis. Thorax 2008;63:129-34. 
27. 
Kent L, Reix P, Innes JA, et al. Lung clearance index: evidence for use in clinical trials in cystic fibrosis. 
Journal of cystic fibrosis : official journal of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society 2014;13:123-38. 
28. 
Quittner AL, Buu A, Messer MA, Modi AC, Watrous M. Development and validation of The Cystic 
Fibrosis Questionnaire in the United States: a health-related quality-of-life measure for cystic fibrosis. Chest 
2005;128:2347-54. 


 
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29. 
Rowe SM RG, Young H, Fulton JC, Sthanam M, Abbi S, Roberts A, Renard D, Harris JL, Danahay H, 
Waltz D and Clancy JP. Correction of Sodium Transport with Nasal Administration of the Prostasin Inhibitor 
QAU145 in CF Subjects. Pediatr Pulmonol 2008;S31:A268. 
30. 
Accurso FJ DP, Konstan MW, Dunitz J, Hornick DB, Sagel BD, Boyle MP, Uluer Q, Ahmad AM, 
Stone AJ, Olson ER, Ordonez CL, Clancy JP, Campbell PW ans Ashlock MA. Interim Results of Phase 2A 
Study of VX-770 to Evaluate Safety, Pharamacokinetics, and Biomarkers of CFTR Activity in Cystic Fibrosis 
Subjects with G551D. Pediatr Pulmonol 2008;43:A267. 
 
 
 
 
 


 
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v10.21.2015 
 
 
 
STUDY TIMELINE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phone  
call 
Visit 
Visit 
Sildenafil (n=12) 
Placebo (n=6) 
0 
1 
2 
Dose  
Screen and 
Randomize 
-2 
Dose  
escalation 
5 
4 


 
P.I. Taylor-Cousar, Jennifer 
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v10.21.2015 
STUDY FLOWCHART
 
Screening/ 
Pretherapy 
Baseline 
Treatment 
Treatment 
Follow-up 
call 
                    Visit 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
                    Day(s) 
0 
1 
8±3 
29+3 
43±3 
Informed consent 
x 
 
 
 
 
Demographics 
x 
 
 
 
 
Medical history 
x 
 
 
 
 
Concomitant medications and 
airway clearance 
x 
x 
x 
x 
x 
Bacterial colonization 
x 
 
 
 
 
Vitals signs 
x 
x 
x 
x 
 
Spirometry 
x 
x 
 
x 
 
Height 
x 
 
 
 
 
Weight 
x 
x 
 
x 
 
CFQ-R 
 
x 
 
x 
 
Complete physical examination 
x 
x 
 
x 
 
Safety labs 
x 
x 
 
x 
 
Sildenafil Trough 
 
x 
x 
x 
 
Pregnancy Test 
x 
 
 
x 
 
Nasal Potential Difference 
 
x 
x 
x 
 
Sweat testing 
 
x 
x 
x 
 
Lung clearance index 
 
x 
x 
x 
 
EKG 
x 
 
 
 
 
Study drug dispensed 
 
x 
x 
 
 
Study drug bottle return 
 
 
x 
x 
 
Adverse events 
 
x 
x 
x 
x 


 
P.I. Taylor-Cousar, Jennifer 
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v10.21.2015