ACTHar in the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis

Study Purpose

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a disease in which the immune system attacks the healthy cells and tissues, causing inflammation that can damage organs in the body. About 50% of SLE patients experience inflammation in the kidneys. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness and safety of two dosing arms of ACTHar gel in treating proliferative Lupus Nephritis (LN). This study hypothesizes that both dosing arms of ACTHar are safe and effective in treating proliferative LN (Class III and IV).

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 16 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) by American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/SLICC criteria. 2. Age ≥ 16 years. 3. Active lupus nephritis defined by: a. Kidney biopsy documentation of International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) Class III or Class IV proliferative nephritis (including Class V occurring in combination with Class III or IV) within 12 months and a urine protein/creatinine ratio >1 at time of entry to study. 4. Ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Moderately severe anemia (Hgb < 8 mg/dL) 2. Neutropenia (< 1,000/mm3) 3. Thrombocytopenia (platelets < 50,000/mm3) 4. Positive purified protein derivative (PPD) test confirmed by positive Quantiferon TB gold. 5. Pulmonary fibrotic changes on chest radiograph consistent with prior healed tuberculosis. 6. Active infections that in the opinion of the investigator increase the risks to the subject. 7. Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B or C. 8. End-stage renal disease (estimated GFR clearance < 20 mL/min/1.73 m2) 9. History of cancer, except carcinoma in situ and treated basal and squamous cell carcinomas. 10. Pregnancy. 11. Lactation. 12. Unwillingness to use a medically acceptable form of birth control (including but not limited to a diaphragm, an intrauterine device, progesterone implants or injections, oral contraceptives, the double-barrier method, or a condom) 13. Previous failure to respond to MMF. 14. Use of rituximab within the past year. 15. Use of experimental therapeutic agents within the past 60 days. 16. Greater than or equal to 5 times the upper limit of normal of liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], or alkaline phosphatase) 17. Severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, hematological, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, cardiac, or neurological disease (or, in the investigator's opinion, any other concomitant medical condition that places the participant at risk by participating in this study) with the exception of diseases or conditions related to active SLE. 18. Current substance abuse

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT02226341
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Phase 4
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Columbia University
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Anca D Askanase, MD, MPH
Principal Investigator Affiliation Columbia University
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries United States
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Lupus Nephritis
Study Website: View Trial Website
Additional Details

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that mainly affects females of childbearing age. The disease is characterized by immune activation and the development of autoantibodies. About 50% of SLE patients experience inflammation of the kidneys. Lupus Nephritis (LN) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with SLE. Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF), accompanied by Prednisone, is considered the current standard of care for LN. However, long-term use of Prednisone has many serious side effects. ACTHar Gel is an FDA approved drug comprised of an active substance called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH belongs to an anti-inflammatory group called melanocortins and carries out its effects by binding to five different melanocortin receptors (MCRs). Specifically, ACTH binding to melanocortin 2 receptor subtype (MC2R) on the adrenal cortex stimulates the production of cortisol that reduces inflammation in the kidney. In addition to binding to melanocortin 1-5 receptor subtype (MC1-5R) and acting directly on kidney tissues, ACTH may bind to MCRs on various cell types, such as immune cells, and activate processes to protect the kidney. This study will evaluate the most effective dose of ACTHar gel in proliferative LN (Class III and IV) when given with MMF, the standard of care LN therapy. The intent of this study is to determine the effectiveness and safety of ACTHar gel in an attempt to change the clinical care requirements regarding steroid use in treating LN.

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Active Comparator: CellCept daily & ACTHar gel biw

Patients will be treated with CellCept 3 grams daily and ACTHar gel 80 U biw for 3 months. After 3 months, patients with complete response will stop ACTHar gel but continue CellCept 3 grams daily for another 3 months whereas patients with partial response will continue CellCept 3 grams daily and be offered the option to continue ACTHar 80 U biw for another 3 months. After 6 months, all patients will continue CellCept at a dose of 2 grams daily for another 18 months.

Active Comparator: CellCept daily & ACTHar gel qod

Patients will be treated with CellCept 3 grams daily for 3 months, and ACTHar gel 80 U qod for the first month and ACTHar gel 80 U biw for the following 2 months. After 3 months, patients with complete response will stop ACTHar gel but continue CellCept 3 grams daily for another 3 months whereas patients with partial response will continue CellCept 3 grams daily and be offered the option to continue ACTHar 80 U biw for another 3 months. After 6 months, all patients will continue CellCept at a dose of 2 grams daily for another 18 months.

Interventions

Drug: - CellCept

For both arms: CellCept 3 grams daily, oral, from Week 0-24 CellCept 2 grams daily, oral, from Week 25-144

Drug: - ACTHar gel

Arm 1: 80 U biw, subcutaneous, for 3 months. Optionally additional 3 months of 80 U biw if a patient has partial response.

Drug: - ACTHar gel

Arm 2: 80 U qod, subcutaneous, for 1 month, then 80 U biw, subcutaneous, for 2 months. Optionally additional 3 months of 80 U biw if a patient has partial response.

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

New York, New York

Status

Recruiting

Address

Columbia University - Herbert Irving Pavilion

New York, New York, 10032

Site Contact

Pooja Mahadeshwar

[email protected]

212-342-9051