Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial (PENUT Trial) (PENUT)

Recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo) is a promising novel neuroprotective agent. Epo decreases neuronal programmed cell death resulting from brain injury; it has anti-inflammatory effects, increases neurogenesis, and protects oligodendrocytes from injury. We hypothesize that neonatal Epo treatment of ELGANs will decrease the combined outcome of death or severe NDI from 40% to 30% (primary outcome), or the combined outcome of death plus moderate or severe NDI from 60% to 40% (secondary outcome) measured at 24-26 months corrected age. To determine whether Epo decreases the combined outcome of death or NDI at 24-26 months corrected age. NDI is defined as the presence of any one of the following: CP, Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition (Bayley-III) Cognitive Scale < 70 (severe, 2 SD below mean) or 85 (moderate, 1 SD below mean). CP will be diagnosed and classified by standardized neurologic exam, with severity classified by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). To determine whether there are risks to Epo administration in ELGANs by examining, in a blinded manner, Epo-related safety measures comparing infants receiving Epo with those given placebo. To test whether Epo treatment decreases serial measures of circulating inflammatory mediators, and biomarkers of brain injury. To compare brain structure (as measured by MRI) in Epo treatment and control groups at 36 weeks PMA. MRI assessments will include documentation of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), white matter injury (WMI) and hydrocephalus (HC), volume of total and deep gray matter, white matter and cerebellum, brain gyrification, and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS based on diffusion tensor imaging). As an exploratory aim, we will determine which of the above MRI measurements best predict neurodevelopment (CP, cognitive and motor scales) at 24-26 months corrected age. Anticipated outcomes: Early Epo treatment of ELGANs will decrease biochemical and MRI markers of brain injury, will be safe, and will confer improved neurodevelopmental outcome at 24-26 months corrected age compared to placebo, and will provide a much-needed therapy for this group of vulnerable infants.

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, study of Epo treatment of preterm infants 24-0/7 to 27-6/7 weeks of gestation, beginning in the first 24 hours after birth. Randomization will be stratified by site and gestational age at birth (<26 week or 26-27-6/7). Study size sample is 940 patients. We expect to evaluate 752 subjects at 24-26 months corrected age, our primary endpoint. There is no enrollment restriction based on gender, ethnicity or race. Enrollment is expected to take 24-26 months, with each subject participating through 24-26 months corrected age when neurodevelopmental outcomes are assessed. The combined outcome of death or severe NDI will be compared between Epo-treated and control subjects. All outcomes will be collected in a blinded manner. Subjects will be randomized by the data-coordinating center (DCC) to Epo treatment or placebo, and Epo treatment will continue until 32-6/7 weeks post menstrual age. Serial measurements of circulating inflammatory mediators and biomarkers of brain injury will be made. A brain MRI will be done at 36 weeks post menstrual age in the same subset of infants. Phone contact will occur at 4, 8, 12, and 18 months. Face to face follow up will occur at 24-26 months corrected age. The primary outcome is death or severe NDI at 24-26 months corrected age, with a secondary outcome of death or moderate NDI. Our primary sample size calculation is based on the conservative assumptions that Epo treatment will result in a 40% reduction in the severe NDI rate (the range in animal studies is 49-70%) and minimal impact on death. This would yield a control group rate for the primary outcome of 40.4% and an expected treated rate of 31.5% thus yielding an 8.9% lower rate of Death + NDI. Clinical information including co-morbidities of extreme prematurity, information about transfusions, and specific laboratory values were collected in the PENUT database.

Subjects will receive 6 doses of vehicle intravenously during the first 2 weeks of life. Doses will be administered at 48 hour intervals from the time of enrollment. Following high dose administration, sham subcutaneous injections will be given three times a week through to 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age.

Subjects will receive 6 doses of intravenous Epo 1000 U/kg/dose at 48 hour intervals from the time of enrollment. Following the high dose period, subjects will receive subcutaneous Epo 400 U/kg/dose three times a week until 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age.

Enrollment will occur within 24 hours of birth. Study drug will be administered intravenously for the first 6 doses. Subjects in the Epo arm will then receive 400 U/kg/dose three times a week until they reach 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age. Control infants will receive sham injections.

Subjects will receive 6 doses of vehicle intravenously during the first 2 weeks of life. Doses will be administered at 48 hour intervals from the time of enrollment. Following high dose administration, sham subcutaneous injections will be given three times a week through to 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age.

Number of Participants With Death or Severe Neurodevelopmental Impairment (NDI) at 22-26 Months Corrected Age

Severe NDI was defined as Bayley Scales of infant Development, 3rd edition composite motor score or composite cognitive score <70. This instrument is normed at 100 with standard deviation of 15. Cerebral palsy was classified as hemiplegia, diplegia, or quadriplegia, and severity was determined according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) (levels range from 0 [no impairment] to 5 [most severe impairment]). Severe cerebral palsy was defined as a GMFCS level higher than 2.

Serious adverse events were prespecified. These included any symptomatic thrombosis involving a major vessel, unrelated to an infusion catheter requiring anticoagulation therapy, hematocrit level >65% or an increase of ≥15% in hematocrit in the absence of a preceding blood transfusion, hypertension (defined by receipt of antihypertensive therapy for more than 1 month, discharge with medication, or both), severe pulmonary hemorrhage, severe necrotizing enterocolitis (defined as Bell's stage 2b or 3), severe retinopathy of prematurity resulting in laser surgery or bevacizumab therapy, severe sepsis (defined as culture-proven bacterial or fungal sepsis resulting in blood-pressure support or substantive new respiratory support), grade 3 or 4 intracranial hemorrhage, cardiac arrest that did not result in death, and death.

Brain MRI at 36 weeks PMA. Injury scoring was done using a modified scoring system of Kidokoro, with higher scores indicating greater brain injury. Scoring Range: 0-39

Plasma Epo concentrations were measured in both groups within the first 24 h after birth before study drug administration (baseline), 30 minutes after study drug administration on day 7 (peak Epo concentration) and 30 minutes before study drug on day 9 (trough Epo) and a random level on day 14 after transition to subcutaneous dosing.

Inclusion Criteria: NICU inpatients between 24-0/7 and 27-6/7 weeks of gestation Less than twenty four hours of age Parental informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Major life-threatening anomalies (brain, cardiac, chromosomal anomalies) Hematologic crises such as DIC, or hemolysis due to blood group incompatibilities Polycythemia (hematocrit > 65) Congenital infection

De-identified individual participant data will be made available through the NINDS Data Archive: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Current-Research/Research-Funded-NINDS/Clinical-Research/Archived-Clinical-Research-Datasets. The data will be de-identified and a limited access data set will be available after December 2020 through a request form on that page. Data dictionaries, in addition to study protocol, the statistical analysis plan, and the informed consent form will be included. The data will be made available upon publication of all PENUT Trial related manuscripts to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal for use in achieving the goals of the approved proposal.

The data will be made available upon publication of all PENUT Trial related manuscripts to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal for use in achieving the goals of the approved proposal.

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Current-Research/Research-Funded-NINDS/Clinical-Research/Archived-Clinical-Research-Datasets

Juul SE, Mayock DE, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ. Neuroprotective potential of erythropoietin in neonates; design of a randomized trial. Matern Health Neonatol Perinatol. 2015 Dec 2;1:27. doi: 10.1186/s40748-015-0028-z. eCollection 2015.

Starr MC, Askenazi DJ, Goldstein SL, MacDonald JW, Bammler TK, Afsharinejad Z, D Brophy P, Juul SE, Mayock DE, Hingorani SR. Impact of processing methods on urinary biomarkers analysis in neonates. Pediatr Nephrol. 2018 Jan;33(1):181-186. doi: 10.1007/s00467-017-3779-0. Epub 2017 Aug 19.

Juul SE, Comstock BA, Wadhawan R, Mayock DE, Courtney SE, Robinson T, Ahmad KA, Bendel-Stenzel E, Baserga M, LaGamma EF, Downey LC, Rao R, Fahim N, Lampland A, Frantz ID III, Khan JY, Weiss M, Gilmore MM, Ohls RK, Srinivasan N, Perez JE, McKay V, Vu PT, Lowe J, Kuban K, O'Shea TM, Hartman AL, Heagerty PJ; PENUT Trial Consortium. A Randomized Trial of Erythropoietin for Neuroprotection in Preterm Infants. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jan 16;382(3):233-243. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1907423.

Garcia MR, Comstock BA, Patel RM, Tolia VN, Josephson CD, Georgieff MK, Rao R, Monsell SE, Juul SE, Ahmad KA; PENUT Trial Consortium. Iron supplementation and the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely low gestational age newborns. Pediatr Res. 2023 Feb;93(3):701-707. doi: 10.1038/s41390-022-02160-2. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Valentine GC, Perez KM, Wood TR, Mayock DE, Comstock BA, Puia-Dumitrescu M, Heagerty PJ, Juul SE. Postnatal maximal weight loss, fluid administration, and outcomes in extremely preterm newborns. J Perinatol. 2022 Aug;42(8):1008-1016. doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01369-7. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Askenazi DJ, Halloran BA, Heagerty PJ, Schmicker RH, Brophy P, Juul SE, Hingorani S, Goldstein SL; PENUT Trial Consortium. Gestational age, sex, and time affect urine biomarker concentrations in extremely low gestational age neonates. Pediatr Res. 2022 Jul;92(1):151-167. doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01814-x. Epub 2021 Nov 30. Erratum In: Pediatr Res. 2021 Dec 13;:

German KR, Vu PT, Comstock BA, Ohls RK, Heagerty PJ, Mayock DE, Georgieff M, Rao R, Juul SE; PENUT Consortium. Enteral Iron Supplementation in Infants Born Extremely Preterm and its Positive Correlation with Neurodevelopment; Post Hoc Analysis of the Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pediatr. 2021 Nov;238:102-109.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.07.019. Epub 2021 Jul 27.

Hingorani S, Schmicker RH, Brophy PD, Heagerty PJ, Juul SE, Goldstein SL, Askenazi D; PENUT Investigators. Severe Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2021 Jun;16(6):862-869. doi: 10.2215/CJN.18841220. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Mayock DE, Xie Z, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ, Juul SE; Preterm Epo Neuroprotection (PENUT) Trial Consortium. High-Dose Erythropoietin in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates Does Not Alter Risk of Retinopathy of Prematurity. Neonatology. 2020;117(5):650-657. doi: 10.1159/000511262. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Juul SE, Vu PT, Comstock BA, Wadhawan R, Mayock DE, Courtney SE, Robinson T, Ahmad KA, Bendel-Stenzel E, Baserga M, LaGamma EF, Downey LC, O'Shea M, Rao R, Fahim N, Lampland A, Frantz ID 3rd, Khan J, Weiss M, Gilmore MM, Ohls R, Srinivasan N, Perez JE, McKay V, Heagerty PJ; Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial Consortium. Effect of High-Dose Erythropoietin on Blood Transfusions in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates: Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2020 Oct 1;174(10):933-943. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.2271. Erratum In: JAMA Pediatr. 2020 Dec 1;174(12):1224.

Askenazi DJ, Heagerty PJ, Schmicker RH, Griffin R, Brophy P, Juul SE, Mayock DE, Goldstein SL, Hingorani S; PENUT Trial Consortium. Prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGAN). Pediatr Nephrol. 2020 Sep;35(9):1737-1748. doi: 10.1007/s00467-020-04563-x. Epub 2020 Jun 2.