A Pilot Study of Boceprevir for the Treatment of Genotype 6 HCV

• Status: Unknown status
• Trial end date: 1969-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antiviral efficacy of Boceprevir-based therapy for the treatment of genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C infection.

Boceprevir has recently been approved for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection. Recent in vitro studies suggest similar efficacy against genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C infection.

The investigators therefore hypothesise that:

i) Boceprevir is a potent inhibitor of genotype 6 hepatitis C replication in vivo.

ii) Boceprevir in combination with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin for 24 weeks will cure a high proportion of patients chronically infected with genotype 6 chronic hepatitis C infection.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
• Collaborators: Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia) Pty Ltd; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
• Treatments: Peginterferon alfa-2b; Ribavirin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female, at least 18 years of age

• Asian background

• HCV treatment-naïve.

• Chronic HCV infection is defined as one of the following:

• Positive for anti-HCV antibody (Ab) or HCV RNA at least 6 months before Screening, and positive for HCV RNA and anti-HCVAb at the time of Screening; or

• Positive for anti-HCV Ab and HCV RNA at the time of Screening with a liver biopsy consistent with chronic HCV infection (or a liver biopsy performed prior to enrollment with evidence of chronic hepatitis C disease).

• Screening laboratory result indicating HCV genotype 6-infection (HCV-6).

• Plasma HCV RNA level > 10,000 IU/mL at Screening.

• IL28B C/C genotype (rs12979860)

• Per local standard practice, documented results of one of the following:

• A liver biopsy within 24 months prior to or during screening demonstrating the absence of cirrhosis, e.g., a METAVIR Score of 3 or less, Ishak score of 4 or less; or

• A screening FibroTest score of ≤ 0.72 and Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) ≤ 2; or

• A screening FibroScan result of < 9.6 kPa.

• Subjects with a non-qualifying Fibrotest/APRI or Fibroscan result may only be enrolled if they have a qualifying liver biopsy preformed within 24 months prior to or during screening.

• Candidate for PEG/RBV therapy

• Body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 36 kg/m2

• Agree to use two highly effective methods of avoiding contraception for the duration of the study and for 7 months after the last dose study medication. Females of childbearing potential must have negative pregnancy test at Screening and Baseline

• Provide written informed consent to participate in the study.

• Subjects must have the following laboratory parameters at Screening:

• ALT ≤ 10 × the upper limit of normal (ULN)

• AST ≤ 10 × ULN

• Hemoglobin ≥ 12 g/dL

• White blood cell count ≥ 2,500 cells/μL

• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 cells/mm3

• Platelets ≥ 90,000/mm3

• Prothrombin time ≤ 1.5 × ULN

• Albumin > 3 g/dL

• Direct (conjugated) bilirubin < ULN

• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) ≤ ULN

• Creatinine clearance (CLcr) ≥ 50 mL/min, as calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-genotype 6 HCV infection, or evidence of mixed genotype HCV infection

• IL28B C/T or T/T polymorphism (rs12979860)

• Any current or past clinical evidence of cirrhosis such as ascites or esophageal varices, or prior biopsy showing cirrhosis, e.g., a Metavir Score of >3 or Ishak score of > 4.

• Exceed defined thresholds for key laboratory parameters at Screening.

• Females who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, or males whose partners are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within 7 months (or per local RBV label) after their last dose of study drug.

• Positive test result for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or anti-Human immunodeficiency virus antibody (HIV Ab).

• Diagnosis of autoimmune disease, decompensated liver, disease, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, significant psychiatric illness, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hepatocellular carcinoma or other malignancy (with exception of certain skin cancers), hemoglobinopathy, retinal disease, or are immunosuppressed

• Subjects with current use of amphetamines, cocaine, opiates (e.g., morphine, heroin), or ongoing alcohol abuse are excluded. Subjects on stable methadone maintenance treatment for at least 6 months prior to Screening may be included into the study.

• Use of prohibited concomitant medications two weeks prior to baseline through the end of treatment, as defined by the product label.