Clinical trial NCT00081770: Peginterferon Dose Evaluations for Previously Untreated Subjects With Chronic Hepatitis C Infected With Genotype 1 (Study P03471)
Official title: Comparison of PEG-Intron 1.5µg/kg/wk Plus REBETOL vs PEG-Intron 1µg/kg/wk Plus REBETOL vs PEGASYS 180µg/wk Plus COPEGUS in Previously Untreated Adult Subjects With Chronic Hepatitis C Infected With Genotype 1
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: Hepatitis C, Chronic
Lead sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Sponsor class: INDUSTRY
First posted: 2004-04-22
Enrollment: 4469
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The objective is to compare the safety and efficacy of the following three treatment regimens in previously untreated adult subjects with chronic hepatitis C infected with Genotype 1: (1) PegIntron 1.5 µg/kg/wk in combination with weight based REBETOL (800-1400 mg/day); (2) PegIntron 1µg/kg/wk in combination with weight based REBETOL (800-1400 mg/day); and (3) PEGASYS 180 µg/wk plus COPEGUS 1000-1200 mg/day.

Detailed description: PegIntron Dose will be administered once weekly subcutaneously on the same day of the week:

Screening 2 Weight 40-50 kg Volume to Inject (mL) 0.22; Screening 2 Weight 51-60 kg Volume to Inject (mL) 0.28; Screening 2 Weight 61-75 kg Volume to Inject (mL) 0.33; Screening 2 Weight 76-85 kg Volume to Inject (mL) 0.41; Screening 2 Weight 86-104 kg Volume to Inject (mL) 0.48; Screening 2 Weight 105-125 kg Volume to Inject (mL) 0.58 from two vials

REBETOL Dosage (for Use With PegIntron):

Screening 2 Weight 40-65 kg Daily Dose 800 mg; Screening 2 Weight \>65-85 kg Daily Dose 1000 mg; Screening 2 Weight \>85-105 kg Daily Dose 1200 mg; Screening 2 Weight \>105-125 kg Daily Dose 1400 mg

The PEGASYS dose of 1 mL (180 µg) will be administered once weekly subcutaneously on the same day of the week

COPEGUS Dosage (for Use With PEGASYS):

Screening 2 Weight \<75 kg Daily Dose 1000 mg; Screening 2 Weight \> or = 75 kg Daily Dose 1200mg

NOTE: Double Blind for PegIntron; Open Label for REBETOL, PEGASYS and COPEGUS

NOTE: REBETOL is the Schering-Plough brand name for ribavirin. COPEGUS is the Hoffman-La Roche brand name for ribavirin.

Eligibility criteria: INCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Previously untreated adults with chronic hepatitis C (hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid \[HCV RNA\] quantitative polymerase chain reaction \[qPCR\] plasma positive)
* Individuals with HCV genotype 1 (mixed 1a/1b is acceptable)
* Compensated liver disease
* Pretreatment liver biopsy slides available
* Adults aged 18-70
* Individuals weighing 88-275 pounds (40-125 kg)
* Free from substance abuse for past 2 years
* Those suffering from diabetes and/or hypertension must have normal eye exams and retinal photographs (these will be done as part of the study before hepatitis C treatment is given)
* Patients and partners of patients willing to use adequate contraception during the course of the study
* Hematology laboratory results of:

  * Hemoglobin (HGB) ≥ 12 g/dL for females or ≥ 13g/dL for males
  * White Blood Cell Count (WBC) ≥ 3,000/mm\^3
  * Neutrophils ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
  * Platelets ≥ 80,000/mm\^3
* Chemistry laboratory results of:

  * Normal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), albumin, creatinine, and direct bilirubin
  * Antinuclear antibody (ANA) ≤ 1:320
  * Fasting Glucose 70-140 mg/dL Note: If glucose levels are between 116-140 mg/dL or an individual has diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin \[HbA1C\] must be ≤ 8.5%

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Previous hepatitis C treatment
* Pregnant women or partners of pregnant women
* Patients or partners of patients who intend to become pregnant any time during the 48 weeks
* Women who are breastfeeding
* Individuals with liver disease not caused by hepatitis C
* Individuals infected with the hepatitis B virus and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
* Patients with a history of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
* Known blood disorders such as hemoglobinopathy, coagulopathy, or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase \[G6PD\] deficiency
* Body organ transplant
* Any known or suspected cancer within the past 5 years
* Individuals who currently use epoetin \[EPO\], granulocyte colony stimulating factor \[G-CSF\] and/or granulocyte monocyte colony stimulating factor \[GM-CSF\]
* Those having a history of or active clinical gout
* Individuals who have chronic pulmonary disease
* Individuals who have a medical condition that would likely require systemic steroids
* Those with a history of central nervous system (CNS trauma) or seizure disorders
* Current or previous use of lithium or antipsychotic drugs
* Individuals who currently have or show signs of moderate to severe depression or history of significant psychiatric disorders
* Patients with clinically significant electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities
* Individuals with serious heart problems such as those who have had a heart attack, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or other heart problems
* Patients that weigh \> 231-275 pounds (105-125 kg) AND have a body mass index (BMI) \> 30 AND have 3 or more of the risk factors below: (a) Strong family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) which includes 2 or more first-degree relatives with CHD or family history of early CHD at age \< 55 for male relatives or \< 65 for female relatives (b) Individuals with abnormal total cholesterol and/or sub fractions (uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia) (c) Diabetes (d) Hypertension (e) Smoking

Primary outcomes:
measure: Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) Rate
timeFrame: Assessed at the end of a 24-week post-treatment follow-up
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Mean Change From Baseline in the Log Viral Load at Treatment Week 4
timeFrame: Assessed at Baseline and Treatment Week 4
measure: Virologic Response Rate at Treatment Week 12
timeFrame: Assessed at Treatment Week 12
measure: Mean Change From Baseline in the Log Viral Load at Treatment Week 2
timeFrame: Assessed at Baseline and Treatment Week 2
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
References:
citation: McHutchison JG, Lawitz EJ, Shiffman ML, Muir AJ, Galler GW, McCone J, Nyberg LM, Lee WM, Ghalib RH, Schiff ER, Galati JS, Bacon BR, Davis MN, Mukhopadhyay P, Koury K, Noviello S, Pedicone LD, Brass CA, Albrecht JK, Sulkowski MS; IDEAL Study Team. Peginterferon alfa-2b or alfa-2a with ribavirin for treatment of hepatitis C infection. N Engl J Med. 2009 Aug 6;361(6):580-93. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0808010. Epub 2009 Jul 22.
citation: Melia MT, Muir AJ, McCone J, Shiffman ML, King JW, Herrine SK, Galler GW, Bloomer JR, Nunes FA, Brown KA, Mullen KD, Ravendhran N, Ghalib RH, Boparai N, Jiang R, Noviello S, Brass CA, Albrecht JK, McHutchison JG, Sulkowski MS; IDEAL Study Team. Racial differences in hepatitis C treatment eligibility. Hepatology. 2011 Jul;54(1):70-8. doi: 10.1002/hep.24358.