Clinical trial NCT06051045: Study to Evaluate Efficacy, Safety and Biomarkers of Bulevirtide Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis D Patients
Official title: Observational Study to Evaluate Efficacy, Safety and Biomarkers of Bulevirtide Treatment in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis D
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Conditions: Chronic Hepatitis D
Lead sponsor: Karolinska University Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-09-22
Enrollment: 400
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Males and females from the age of 18 diagnosed with chronic hepatitis D

Brief summary: The aim is to assess the efficacy and specific safety in an observational study of patients with Chronic hepatitis D (CHD) with prospective follow-up, with antiviral treatment of 2 mg Bulevirtide (BLV) +/- PEG-IFNα-2a and +/- NA given as part of the patient's routine medical care. Also, explorative endpoints of biomarkers in peripheral blood, saliva, fecal sample and/or intrahepatic markers/signatures, and quality of life outcomes will be assessed.

Detailed description: Chronic hepatitis D (CHD) is considered to be the most severe form of hepatitis. It is a rare disease in European Union countries, with status of an orphan disease. Historically, only pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFNα-2a) +/- nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) have been used off-label for treatment of CHD, with insufficient virological response and frequent relapse. The first in class entry inhibitor for treatment of CHD, bulevirtide (BLV), product name Hepcludex) has received status of conditional marketing authorization by the European Medical Agency (EMA) in July 2020.

This conditional approval was based on two phase 2 studies, with limited sample sizes. A phase 3 clinical trial of 150 participants is ongoing.

Besides need of more efficacy and safety data, knowledge about immunological cellular response in BLV treated and identification of biomarkers for treatment response is needed. Observational studies with biological samplings are thus needed.

We aimed therefore to assess the efficacy and specific safety in an observational study with prospective follow-up, with antiviral treatment of 2 mg BLV +/- PEG-IFNα-2a and +/- NA given as part of the patient's routine medical care. Also, explorative endpoints of biomarkers in peripheral blood, saliva, fecal sample and/or intrahepatic markers/signatures, and quality of life outcomes will be assessed.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age \> 18 years
2. Diagnosis of chronic HBV/HDV co-infection.
3. Have compensated liver disease (presence of portal hypertension without ongoing hepatic decompensation as ascites, variceal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy allowed).
4. Have indication for treatment of BLV, or already treated with BLV.
5. For female\* participants:

   1. Postmenopausal for at least one year, or
   2. Surgically sterile (total hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, staples, or another type of sterilization), or
   3. Abstinence from heterosexual intercourse throughout the treatment period, or
   4. Willingness to use highly effective contraception (double barrier method or barrier contraception in combination with hormonal or intrauterine contraceptive) throughout the treatment period and for 6 months after last dose of the drugs in the study.
6. Male participants must agree to use a highly effective contraception (double barrier method or barrier contraception in combination with hormonal or intrauterine contraceptive used by female partners) throughout the treatment period and for 6 months after last dose of the drugs in the study.
7. Participants who are willing to give written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any contra-indications to treatment with BLV, including any intolerance or hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or other components of BLV.
2. Pregnant or breast-feeding women.
3. Patients with predictable difficulties of follow-up according to the investigator.
4. Any other condition that, in the opinion of Investigator, precludes the patient from taking part in this study.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Percentage of patients with virological response of Hepatitis D virus (HDV) RNA < Limit of Detection (LoD) at FU 12 months after End of Treatment (EOT).
timeFrame: Continuously, up to 12 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Percentage of patients with virological response of HDV RNA < LoD
timeFrame: At Baseline, 1 and 3 months, every 3 months after treatment start up to 9 months after date of EOT.
measure: Percentage of patients with Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) < LoD
timeFrame: At Baseline, 1 and 3 months, every 3 months after treatment start up to 12 months after date of EOT.
measure: Change of HBsAg from baseline
timeFrame: From Baseline every 3 months until end of study.
measure: Percentage of patients with HDV RNA < LoD or HDV RNA reduction of at least 2 log10 compared to baseline
timeFrame: At Baseline, 1 and 3 months, every 3 months after treatment start up to 12 months after date of EOT.
measure: Percentage of patients with virological relapse, defined as HDV RNA < LoD at EOT and increase of HDV RNA to > LoD after EOT
timeFrame: At 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after date of EOT.
measure: Percentage of patients with appearance of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs)
timeFrame: At 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after date of EOT.
measure: Percentage of patients with HBV DNA level < LoD
timeFrame: From Baseline every 3 months until end of study.
measure: Percentage of patients with biochemical response, defined as normalization of alanine transaminase (ALT)
timeFrame: At Baseline, 1 and 3 months, every 3 months up to 12 months after date of EOT.
measure: Percentage of patients with combined response, defined as HDV RNA < LoD or HDV RNA reduction of at least 2 log10 compared to baseline and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) normalization
timeFrame: At Baseline, at 1, 2 and 3 months, every 3 months up to 12 months after date of EOT.
measure: Change of liver elasticity measurement level and percentage of AE of special interest
timeFrame: At Baseline, every 6 months until 12 months after date of EOT.
measure: Percentage of missed BLV doses during treatment
timeFrame: Continuously during treatment period until date of EOT.
measure: Percentage of patients with early discontinuation of treatment
timeFrame: Continuously during treatment period until date of EOT.
measure: Serious Adverse Events
timeFrame: Continuously during study period until end of study.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Stockholm
country: Sweden
facility: Karolinska University Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases
Study officials:
References: