Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 22
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This is a Phase I clinical trial to determine whether orally administered APL A12 at one or more doses is superior to placebo in effecting a 25% reduction in interferon (IFN) stimulation index in 1(II)-stimulated culture of peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) obtained from patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which will be the primary outcome variable. In an effort to learn more about the mechanism of action of APL A12, the investigators will assess Th1/Th2/Th3 cytokine production in supernatants from 48h and 144h cultures of PBMC stimulated by 1(II) and by APL A12 above. The investigators will assess function of CD4+ CD25+ T regs to determine whether APL A12 improves their suppressive function. Flow cytometry combined with intracellular cytokine staining will be used in an effort to determine which T cell subset(s) is/are experiencing shifts in cytokine expression.

Detailed description:
The study will have 3 treatment arms each with 10 patients who have demonstrated T cell immunity to CII and have an in vitro response to APL A12 at the screening visit. Patients will be randomized to one of the 3 treatment arms. Each of the 3 treatments will be given for 16 weeks.

In keeping with a sequential dose escalation strategy, the originally proposed randomization scheme will be modified so that subjects will be randomized to receive either the lowest dose (30 mg) or placebo (Block 1), followed by the next dose (50 mg) or placebo (Block 2). We will begin with the lowest dose (30 g/day) and enroll 6 to receive 30 g/day APL A12 and 2 to receive placebo for 16 weeks. Results will be reported to the Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) for a decision to proceed to the next block based on indications of safety. If this dose does not cause adverse events or toxicity or worsens RA, we will proceed to enroll patients to receive 30 ug, or 50 g/day APL A12 or placebo for 16 weeks. A total of 32 subjects will be randomized to obtain 24 subjects who complete the study. Recruitment was difficult. Only 22 patients were randomized. There were not enough 50mcg patients enrolled so 2 treatment groups was analyzed. Arm 1 included 30 and 50 mcg and Arm 2 represents the patients that received placebo.

Arms:
arm 1: The study will have 3 treatment arms each with 10-12 patients who have demonstrated T cell immunity to CII and have an in vitro response to APL A12 at the screening visit. Patients will be randomized to one of the 2 treatment arms (30 micrograms APL A12 or placebo). Each of the 2 treatments will be given for 16 weeks.

Intervention: Drug treatment will be stopped or interrupted if indicated and medical care will be given as appropriate.

Intervention: Drug treatment will be stopped or interrupted if indicated and medical care will be given as appropriate. arm 2: The next group will receive a higher dose (50 micrograms) and/or placebo (Block 2).

Intervention: Drug treatment will be stopped or interrupted if indicated and medical care will be given as appropriate. arm 3: Block 3 (Arm 3) will include placebo and both doses of APL/A12 to ensure 10-12 patients are enrolled in each arm ( total of approximately 32 subjects) so we will have 24 subjects who complete the 16 weeks of study treatment. Arms 2 and 3 will run simultaneously.

Intervention: Drug treatment will be stopped or interrupted if indicated.

Interventions: intervention 1: APLA12 intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Intervention: Drug treatment will be stopped or interrupted if indicated. Medical care will be provided at no cost to the patient. intervention 2: Drug treatment will be stopped or interrupted if indicated. Medical care will be provided at no cost to the patient.

Protocol document: