Pirfenidone for Restrictive Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Despite advances in lung transplantation, the median survival remains only 55% at 5 years. The main limitation to long term survival is the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction. In approximately 30% of cases, chronic lung allograft dysfunction has a restrictive phenotype (RCLAD) characterized by fibrosis with rapid progression to respiratory failure. Approximately 60% of patients with RCLAD die within one year, as currently there are no therapies available. RCLAD, like Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), is characterized by fibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix deposition, and architectural distortion leading to progressive lung scarring and death. Given their similarities, there is keen interest in the international transplant community to investigate whether the anti-fibrotic drug pirfenidone can slow the progression of RCLAD as it does of IPF. Pirfenidone has been proved to be safe and effective in patients with IPF, and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This protocol will evaluate the safety and tolerability of pirfenidone in lung transplant recipients with RCLAD. Transplant recipients take carefully adjusted immunosuppressive medications for life to prevent rejection of the allograft. Current literature suggests the dose of tacrolimus, the main anti-rejection drug, may need to be adjusted when taken in combination with pirfenidone. The investigators will assess the side effects of pirfenidone in combination with the immunosuppressive regimen and determine the magnitude of the adjustment in tacrolimus dose. The results of this pilot study will provide the foundation for a multicenter randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy of pirfenidone in slowing the progression of RCLAD.

Detailed Description
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Despite advances in lung transplantation, median survival remains only 55% at 5 years. The primary cause of death is chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), occurring in 43% of recipients at 5 years. Recently, it has been recognized that CLAD can have an obstructive (BOS) or a restrictive (RCLAD) phenotype, also known as restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS), and that both may coexist. These phenotypes differ not only in their spirometric, radiographic and histologic features but also in their rates of progression and survival. Thus, there is a critical need to find therapies other than re-transplantation, which remains the only effective therapeutic option and explore the pathobiology driving RCLAD. RCLAD shares features with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), including its progressive and lethal course, extracellular matrix deposition, architectural distortion, fibroblast proliferation, and short telomeres in lung epithelial cells. These common features suggest RCLAD and IPF may share molecular pathogenesis. As a result, some have explored using FDA approved anti-fibrotic medications for IPF in RCLAD in case reports. This proposal aims to gather the preliminary data needed to design a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) of pirfenidone for RCLAD. To do so, the investigators first need evidence of tolerability, to understand drug interactions with the immunosuppressive regimen used to maintain allograft function and early evidence that pirfenidone may slow FVC decline and radiographic progression in RCLAD. Evidence that pirfenidone is well tolerated in transplant recipients and that it slows the progression of RCLAD would be paradigm shifting. Further, identifying subjects at risk for RCLAD before the onset of spirometric changes would allow to start therapeutic interventions sooner, maximizing their benefit. Finding biomarkers that predict response to pirfenidone would identify patients most likely to benefit.

Official Title
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Pirfenidone for Restrictive Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction

Conditions
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Restrictive Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction, Lung Transplant Rejection

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Pirfenidone


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Subject who underwent bilateral lung transplantation at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and have a diagnosis of RCLAD based on the International Heart and Lung Transplant (ISHLT) classification. The diagnosis of RCLAD is based on spirometry (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≤ 80% and FVC ≤ 80% of best post-transplant baseline) and CT scan (e.g. pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis) findings. Exclusion Criteria: FVC decline related to non-RCLAD causes (e.g. pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, etc). Patients with any severe comorbidity complicating RCLAD which might determine their prognosis and functional level (e.g. active malignant disease) within the last 12 months Patients who have resumed smoking after transplantation Renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min calculated by the CKD-Epi formula) Total bilirubin above the upper limit of the normal range (ULN) Aspartate or alanine aminotransferase (AST or ALT) > 3 times the ULN. Known allergy of hypersensitivity to Pirfenidone Pregnancy Ongoing use or expected use of any of the following therapies: Strong inhibitors of CYP1A2 (e.g. fluvoxamine or enoxacin). Moderate inhibitors of CAYP1A2 (e. g. mexiletine, thiabendazole, or phenylpropanolamine). Ciprofloxacin will be allowed only at doses equal or less than 500 mg BID. Inability to provide informed consent.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Treatment Arm<br>Subjects will receive Pirfenidone as part of treatment for their restrictive chronic lung allograft dysfunction (RCLAD). | Drug: Pirfenidone<br>* Subjects will receive pirfenidone for 52 weeks, titrated to 2403 mg/day (3 capsules, 3× daily) after a 4-week titration period (1 capsule, 3x daily for 2 weeks, 2 capsules, 3x daily for 2 weeks) for a total of 56 weeks of pirfenidone. Eligible participants will continue pirfenidone beyond 56 weeks.<br>* Other names: Esbriet;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tolerability of Pirfenidone | The primary outcome will be the number of subjects that discontinue pirfenidone due to a treatment emergent adverse event (TEAE) | From initiation of pirfenidone until discontinuation or until 56 weeks, which ever comes first. | 
| Conversion Ratio of Tacrolimus Dose | The outcome will be the ratio of tacrolimus-while-taking-pirfenidone to tacrolimus-before-pirfenidone corrected for the subject's specific steady-state tacrolimus concentration. | From initiation of pirfenidone until discontinuation or until 56 weeks, which ever comes first. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) | The investigators will evaluate change in FVC from baseline to 1 year after pirfenidone start based on pulmonary function tests done as part of routine clinical care (usually obtained every 3 months) or death, whichever comes first. | FVC change from baseline (screening) to 1 year or death, whichever comes first. | 
| Annual Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) | The investigators will evaluate change in FEV1 from baseline to 1 year based on pulmonary function tests done as part of routine clinical care (usually obtained every 3 months) or death, whichever comes first. | FEV1 change from baseline (screening) to 1 year or death, whichever comes first. | 
| Annual Change in Percent of Lung Affected by Reticulation on Chest CT Scan | The investigators will evaluate the annual change in percent of lung affected by reticulation comparing the chest CT scan at screening and a 1-year follow up CT scan performed as part of routine clinical care or death, whichever comes first. | Change between chest CT at screening and in 1-year follow up CT scan performed as part of routine clinical care or death, whichever comes first. | 
| Annual Change in Traction Bronchiectasis Score on Chest CT Scan | The investigators will evaluate the change in traction bronchiectasis score on chest CT scan at screening and in a 1-year follow up CT scan performed as part of routine clinical care or death, whichever comes first. The extent of traction bronchiectasis was first scored in each of the six lung lobes separately (right upper, middle, and lower lobes, and left upper, lingula, and lower lobes) as 0-absent, 1-mild, 2-moderate, or 3-severe, and then summed into a total traction bronchiectasis score [range 0-18 points], with higher values reflecting greater extent of traction bronchiectasis. | Change between Chest CT at screening and 1-year follow up CT scan performed as part of routine clinical care or death, whichever comes first. |