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Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIg) to Restore Immune Control in People With Chronic Hepatitis B

Primary Purpose

Chronic Hepatitis B

Status
Withdrawn
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg)
Pegylated interferon alfa (pegIFN)
Sponsored by
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Hepatitis B focused on measuring HBsAg Loss, Peginterferon, Inactive Carrier

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Male or female >=18 years of age
  • Known serum HBsAg positive with a level <1,500 IU/mL measured within 144 weeks of screening
  • Hepatitis B e antigen negative at the time of screening
  • HBV DNA levels <2000 IU/mL measured on two occasions at least 24 weeks and no more than 48 weeks apart, during screening
  • ALT level <=1.5 ULN measured on two occasions at least 24 weeks and no more than 48 weeks apart, during screening

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  • Any treatment for HBV within the last 48 weeks
  • Co-infection with HDV as defined by the presence of anti-HDV
  • Co-infection with HCV as defined by the presence of anti-HCV with HCV RNA
  • Co-infection with HIV as defined by the presence of anti-HIV
  • Presence of anti-HBs
  • Cirrhosis either diagnosed by a prior liver biopsy at any time or if not available by a transient elastography score >13 kPa.
  • Decompensated liver disease as defined by serum bilirubin >2.5 mg/dL (with direct bilirubin > 0.5 mg/dL), prothrombin time of greater than 2 seconds prolonged, a serum albumin of less than 3.5 g/dL, or a history of ascites, variceal bleeding or hepatic encephalopathy.
  • Presence of other causes of liver disease, (i.e. hemochromatosis, Wilson disease, alcoholic liver disease, alpha-1-anti-trypsin deficiency).
  • A history of organ transplantation, or in the absence of organ transplantation any medical condition requiring the chronic use of more than 5 mg of prednisone (or its equivalent) daily.
  • Severe IgA deficiency
  • Severe allergic reaction to any human immunoglobulin product
  • Significant systemic illness other than liver diseases including congestive heart failure, renal failure, chronic pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus with poor control, that in the opinion of the investigator may interfere with therapy.
  • Pregnancy or for women of childbearing potential, inability or unwillingness to use an effective form of contraception during study participation.
  • Lactating women.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or the presence of a mass on imaging studies of the liver that is suggestive of HCC, or an alpha-fetoprotein level of greater than 500 ng/mL
  • eGFR < 50 ml/min, serum creatinine > 1.3 mg/dL
  • History of hypersensitivity to pegylated interferon-alpha
  • Platelet count <90 mm3/dL
  • Hgb <12 g/dL for males and <11 g/dL for females
  • Active ethanol/drug abuse/psychiatric problems such as major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe anxiety, or personality disorder that, in the investigator s opinion, might interfere with participation in the study.
  • History of malignancy or treatment for a malignancy within the past 3 years (except adequately treated carcinoma in situ or basal cell carcinoma of the skin).
  • History of immune-mediated disease, or cerebrovascular, chronic pulmonary or cardiac disease associated with functional limitation, retinopathy, uncontrolled thyroid disease, poorly controlled diabetes or uncontrolled seizure disorder, as determined by a study physician.
  • Presence of conditions that, in the opinion of the investigators, would not allow the patient to be followed in the current study.
  • Inability of subject to understand and the unwillingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Sites / Locations

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Active Comparator

Arm Label

HBIG followed by Peginterferon alfa-2a

Peginterferon alfa-2a

Arm Description

HBIg x 12 weeks followed by peginterferon alfa-2a 180mcg x 24 weeks

Peginterferon alfa-2a 180mcg x 24 weeks

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

NK cell response to the first peginterferon injection both groups
Change in TRAIL-expressing NK cell within the first 6 hours after the first peginterferon injection
Improvement of HBsAg-specific T cell responses HBIG only group
Change in the frequency of IFN-g producing T cells from baseline to week 12 as compared to HBV core and polymerase-specific T cell responses in the same patients
Improvement of HBsAg-specific T cell responses both groups
Change in the frequency of IFN-g producing T cells from baseline to week 36

Secondary Outcome Measures

HBsAg loss
Loss of HBsAg confirmed on 2 consecutive visits at least 12 weeks apart at any time off therapy (HBIg and pegIFN)
Change in HBsAg from baseline to 48 weeks off peginterferon therapy
Change in log10 HBsAg from baseline to 48 weeks off peginterferon therapy
Change in HBsAg from baseline to 24 weeks off peginterferon therapy
Change in log10 HBsAg from baseline to 24 weeks off peginterferon therapy

Full Information

First Posted
June 29, 2018
Last Updated
April 4, 2022
Sponsor
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03575208
Brief Title
Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIg) to Restore Immune Control in People With Chronic Hepatitis B
Official Title
Use of Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIg) to Restore Immune Control in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
April 2022
Overall Recruitment Status
Withdrawn
Why Stopped
Slow/Insufficient accrual
Study Start Date
February 13, 2019 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
March 29, 2022 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
March 29, 2022 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Background: Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver. When the immune system tries to clear hepatitis B, it damages the liver. Eventually, the immune system gets exhausted fighting the virus. Researchers want to see if giving large doses of an antibody (HBIg) with the drug peginterferon will boost the immune system in people with this disease. Objectives: To observe the effect of large doses of antibody against the hepatitis B surface antigen on the immune response to the virus. To see if removing hepatitis B surface antigen from the blood enhances the action of peginterferon. Eligibility: Adults ages 18 and older with hepatitis B Design: Participants will be screened twice with a medical history, physical exam, and blood and urine tests. Participants will be randomly put in one of two groups. All participants will get peginterferon for 24 weeks. One group will first get HBIg for 12 weeks. Participants in the combination group will have a 4-day clinic stay. They will have: Repeats of screening tests Eye exam Liver ultrasound The first dose of HBIg by IV over 2 hours These participants will get HBIg at the clinic up to 8 times over 12 weeks then start the peginterferon. All participants will get peginterferon for 24 weeks. They will get it by injection under the skin once a week. They may do this themselves. They will keep a drug diary. They will have 5 visits to assess response and monitoring for safety.. After stopping the study drug, participants will have 4 follow-up visits over 36 weeks. They will repeat screening tests and have 1 liver ultrasound.
Detailed Description
Up to 300 subjects with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis B who are inactive carriers (specified as those with HBV DNA levels <2,000 IU/mL over a 6-month period with ALT levels <1.5 X upper limit of normal and HBsAg level <1500 IU/mL) will be screened and 25 enrolled in a randomized trial of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) for 12 weeks followed by peginterferon alfa for 24 weeks versus peginterferon alfa-2a alone for 24 weeks. The focus of the study is to understand mechanistically what effect the removal of HBsAg will have on the immune response and action of peginterferon alfa-2a. Chronic hepatitis B is characterized by immune exhaustion, which is felt to be caused by ongoing exposure of immune cells to high levels of viral antigens such as HBsAg. Presence of viral antigen results in continuous immune cell stimulation leading to functional exhaustion and progressive loss of immune function. In this study, we will attempt to achieve elimination of circulating HBsAg from the blood of chronically infected patients by administering high doses of hepatitis B immunoglobulin followed by peginterferon alfa-2a. A control arm consisting of peginterferon alfa-2a alone will be included to allow for assessment of the effect of HBIg on response to peginterferon alfa-2a. We will investigate whether this strategy will result in restoration of and/or increase in innate immunity leading to HBsAg clearance and development of long-lasting protective immunity. The proposed study will be conducted in three phases with pre-specified stopping rules to ensure subjects are responding appropriately at the end of each phase before moving to the next phase. The primary endpoints of the trial will be restoration of HBV-specific adaptive immunity at two time points (the end of HBIg treatment (week 12) and at the end of treatment (week 36) and increase in innate immune response to peginterferon alfa-2a treatment and a secondary endpoint will be a greater than 0.5 log10 reduction in HBsAg level at the study end point (week 36).

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Chronic Hepatitis B
Keywords
HBsAg Loss, Peginterferon, Inactive Carrier

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
0 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
HBIG followed by Peginterferon alfa-2a
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
HBIg x 12 weeks followed by peginterferon alfa-2a 180mcg x 24 weeks
Arm Title
Peginterferon alfa-2a
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Peginterferon alfa-2a 180mcg x 24 weeks
Intervention Type
Biological
Intervention Name(s)
hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg)
Intervention Description
HBIg 20,000 U/L iv. Dosing interval will depend on anti-HBs levels.
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Pegylated interferon alfa (pegIFN)
Intervention Description
peginterferon alfa-2a 180 mcg weekly for 24 weeks
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
NK cell response to the first peginterferon injection both groups
Description
Change in TRAIL-expressing NK cell within the first 6 hours after the first peginterferon injection
Time Frame
6 hours after the first peginterferon injection
Title
Improvement of HBsAg-specific T cell responses HBIG only group
Description
Change in the frequency of IFN-g producing T cells from baseline to week 12 as compared to HBV core and polymerase-specific T cell responses in the same patients
Time Frame
Baseline to week 12
Title
Improvement of HBsAg-specific T cell responses both groups
Description
Change in the frequency of IFN-g producing T cells from baseline to week 36
Time Frame
Baseline to week 36
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
HBsAg loss
Description
Loss of HBsAg confirmed on 2 consecutive visits at least 12 weeks apart at any time off therapy (HBIg and pegIFN)
Time Frame
Up to week 84
Title
Change in HBsAg from baseline to 48 weeks off peginterferon therapy
Description
Change in log10 HBsAg from baseline to 48 weeks off peginterferon therapy
Time Frame
Week 84
Title
Change in HBsAg from baseline to 24 weeks off peginterferon therapy
Description
Change in log10 HBsAg from baseline to 24 weeks off peginterferon therapy
Time Frame
Week 60

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
INCLUSION CRITERIA: In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: Male or female >=18 years of age Known serum HBsAg positive with a level <1,500 IU/mL measured within 144 weeks of screening Hepatitis B e antigen negative at the time of screening HBV DNA levels <2000 IU/mL measured on two occasions at least 24 weeks and no more than 48 weeks apart, during screening ALT level <=1.5 ULN measured on two occasions at least 24 weeks and no more than 48 weeks apart, during screening EXCLUSION CRITERIA: An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: Any treatment for HBV within the last 48 weeks Co-infection with HDV as defined by the presence of anti-HDV Co-infection with HCV as defined by the presence of anti-HCV with HCV RNA Co-infection with HIV as defined by the presence of anti-HIV Presence of anti-HBs Cirrhosis either diagnosed by a prior liver biopsy at any time or if not available by a transient elastography score >13 kPa. Decompensated liver disease as defined by serum bilirubin >2.5 mg/dL (with direct bilirubin > 0.5 mg/dL), prothrombin time of greater than 2 seconds prolonged, a serum albumin of less than 3.5 g/dL, or a history of ascites, variceal bleeding or hepatic encephalopathy. Presence of other causes of liver disease, (i.e. hemochromatosis, Wilson disease, alcoholic liver disease, alpha-1-anti-trypsin deficiency). A history of organ transplantation, or in the absence of organ transplantation any medical condition requiring the chronic use of more than 5 mg of prednisone (or its equivalent) daily. Severe IgA deficiency Severe allergic reaction to any human immunoglobulin product Significant systemic illness other than liver diseases including congestive heart failure, renal failure, chronic pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus with poor control, that in the opinion of the investigator may interfere with therapy. Pregnancy or for women of childbearing potential, inability or unwillingness to use an effective form of contraception during study participation. Lactating women. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or the presence of a mass on imaging studies of the liver that is suggestive of HCC, or an alpha-fetoprotein level of greater than 500 ng/mL eGFR < 50 ml/min, serum creatinine > 1.3 mg/dL History of hypersensitivity to pegylated interferon-alpha Platelet count <90 mm3/dL Hgb <12 g/dL for males and <11 g/dL for females Active ethanol/drug abuse/psychiatric problems such as major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe anxiety, or personality disorder that, in the investigator s opinion, might interfere with participation in the study. History of malignancy or treatment for a malignancy within the past 3 years (except adequately treated carcinoma in situ or basal cell carcinoma of the skin). History of immune-mediated disease, or cerebrovascular, chronic pulmonary or cardiac disease associated with functional limitation, retinopathy, uncontrolled thyroid disease, poorly controlled diabetes or uncontrolled seizure disorder, as determined by a study physician. Presence of conditions that, in the opinion of the investigators, would not allow the patient to be followed in the current study. Inability of subject to understand and the unwillingness to sign a written informed consent document.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Marc G Ghany, M.D.
Organizational Affiliation
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
City
Bethesda
State/Province
Maryland
ZIP/Postal Code
20892
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
24225939
Citation
Liu J, Yang HI, Lee MH, Lu SN, Jen CL, Batrla-Utermann R, Wang LY, You SL, Hsiao CK, Chen PJ, Chen CJ; R.E.V.E.A.L.-HBV Study Group. Spontaneous seroclearance of hepatitis B seromarkers and subsequent risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Gut. 2014 Oct;63(10):1648-57. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2013-305785. Epub 2013 Nov 13.
Results Reference
background
PubMed Identifier
23836236
Citation
Rehermann B. Pathogenesis of chronic viral hepatitis: differential roles of T cells and NK cells. Nat Med. 2013 Jul;19(7):859-68. doi: 10.1038/nm.3251.
Results Reference
background
PubMed Identifier
26239691
Citation
Liang TJ, Block TM, McMahon BJ, Ghany MG, Urban S, Guo JT, Locarnini S, Zoulim F, Chang KM, Lok AS. Present and future therapies of hepatitis B: From discovery to cure. Hepatology. 2015 Dec;62(6):1893-908. doi: 10.1002/hep.28025. Epub 2015 Oct 27.
Results Reference
background
Links:
URL
https://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/cgi/detail.cgi?A_2018-DK-0116.html
Description
NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

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Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIg) to Restore Immune Control in People With Chronic Hepatitis B

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