Title of the study: A European multi-centre, randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Pirfenidone in bronchiolitis-obliterans-syndrome grade 1-3 in lung transplant recipients
Study design: Randomized double blinded, placebo controlled study. Eligible patients are to be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either Pirfenidone 2403 mg/d or the matching placebo treatment for 6 months.
Study objectives Primary objective:
Change in FEV1 in liters over 6 months in lung transplant recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.
Secondary objectives:
- Categorical percentage change in FEV1
- Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
- Change in Total Lung Capacity (TLC)
- Change in FEV1/FVC ratio
- Number of patients with treatment failure
- Change in BOS grade
- Change in percent predicted diffusion capacity (DLCO)
- Change in functional level as assessed by the 6MWT
- Hospital admission for any reason
- Death or re-transplantation rates
- Change in QoL as assessed by EQ5D
Methodology The study will be conducted in selected Lung Transplant expert centers across Europe.
Trial duration Enrolment duration: planned 15 months Treatment duration: 6 months
Number of patients Number of sites Number of countries ~80 patients ( ~40 per Arm) A minimum of 10 centers 7 (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, UK, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany)
Study treatment: Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive either placebo or Pirfenidone.
Pirfenidone dose will be adapted per the Investigator's Brochure in case of adverse events
Selection criteria: Inclusion criteria:
Patients can be included irrespective of pre-transplant disease, type of induction treatment and immunosuppressive treatment. The following patients will be included in the study:
- Patients >18 years of age
- Azithromycin therapy for at least 4 weeks prior to study start, with an Azithromycin dose of minimum 250 mg/day at least 3 times per week as this is considered standard therapy for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.
- Double lung transplantation is required.
- Patients must be at least 6 months after transplantation and must have documented post-transplant baseline value of FEV1 (mean of the 2 highest values measured at least 3 weeks apart according to ISHLT criteria).
- Patients must have BOS grade 1 to BOS grade 3.
- Patients must have documented progressive disease as demonstrated by all of the following criteria:
- Patients must have at least 3 FEV1-measurements in the last 6 months, each at least 3 weeks apart
- a total decline of at least 200ml in FEV1 in these last three measurements
- a decline of at least 50 ml in the last two measurements
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with lung redo transplantation, combined transplantation (including heart and lung transplantation) or single lung recipients.
- Patients with any severe comorbidity complicating BOS which might determine the prognosis and functional level of the patient (e.g. invasive aspergillosis, active malignant disease) within the last 12 months.
- FEV1 decline related to other non BOS causes (eg pneumothorax, bronchial stenosis, effusion, etc.)
- Patients who on Thorax CT at entry demonstrate new significant findings which are not compatible with BOS like interstitial fibrosis, consolidation, appearances suggesting Restrictive Allograft Syndrome (RAS) and acute pulmonary infection as cause of decline in lung function.
- Documented acute perivascular rejection higher than grade A1 or findings compatible with antibody mediated rejection
- Pregnancy or lactation (women of childbearing capacity are required to have a negative serum pregnancy test before treatment and must agree to maintain highly effective contraception by practicing abstinence or by using at least two methods of birth control from the date of consent through the end of the study).
- Renal insufficiency (Creatinine clearance <30 ml/min calculated by the CKD-Epi formula.
- Any of the following liver test criteria above the specified limit:
- Total bilirubin above the upper limit of the normal range (ULN), except in patients with predominantly unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (e.g., Gilbert's syndrome)
- Aspartate or alanine aminotransferase (AST or ALT) >3 × ULN
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to Pirfenidone
- Ongoing use or expected use of any of the following therapies:
- Strong inhibitors of CYP1A2 (e.g. fluvoxamine or enoxacin)
- Moderate inhibitors of CYP1A2 (e.g. mexiletine, thiabendazole, or phenylpropanolamine [Note: ciprofloxacin will be allowed only at doses ≤500 mg BID])
- Previous treatment with Pirfenidone after transplantation
- Patients who have resumed smoking after transplantation
Data collection At screening:
- Thorax HR-CT ( to exclude non-BOS pathology)
- Chest X Ray
- Spirometry and measurement of FEV1/FVC according to ERS criteria is required to demonstrate typical obstruction
- ECG to exclude QTc > 500ms
- Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) according to standard international criteria. At least two aliquots of 50 ml are required. BAL to exclude concurrent infections. BAL cultured for bacteria and fungi plus cytospin preparations or immunological BAL for differential counts.
- Transbronchial biopsy
- Blood samples (haematology and chemistry) including liver function tests
- Drug monitoring for immuno-suppressive treatment
Baseline:
- Height
- Weight
- Basic demographic data including medication.
- Physical examination and vital signs
- Spirometry and measurement of FEV1/FVC
- Blood samples (haematology and chemistry) including liver function tests
- Drug monitoring for immuno-suppressive treatment
- Record concomitant medications
- Body-plethysmographic measurement to assess TLC and RV
- DLco
- 6MWT
- Quality of Life questionnaire
Monthly visits (Months 1, 2, 3, 4):
- Weight
- Spirometry and measurement of FEV1/FVC according to ATS/ERS criteria.
- Safety monitoring (Record ADRs and blood lab tests, including liver tests)
- Drug monitoring for immuno-suppressive treatment
- Record concomitant medications
- Clinical Status
Endpoints: 6 Month visit (or early termination visit):
- Weight
- Spirometry and measurement of FEV1/FVC according to ATS/ERS criteria.
- Safety monitoring (Record ADRs and blood lab tests, including liver tests)
- Drug monitoring for immuno-suppressive treatment
- Record concomitant medications
- Clinical Status
- Body-plethysmographic measurement to assess TLC and RV
- DLco
- 6MWT
- Quality of Life questionnaire
Primary endpoints
- Change in FEV1 (ml) at 6 months
Secondary endpoints
Categorical percentage change in FEV1 (ml)
o Categorical percentage change in FEV1 ≥ 10 % (increase or decrease) relative to FEV1(ml) at baseline
Change of FVC in liters
Change in TLC in liters
FEV1/FVC ratio change
Number of patients with treatment failure
Change in BOS grade
Change in percent predicted DLco.
Change in functional level as assessed by the 6MWT
Hospital admission for any reason
Death or re-transplantation rates
Change in EQ5D scale
Treatment failure during the study is defined as one or more of the following:
- Redo transplantation
- Death due to respiratory causes
- Initiation of rescue therapy for worsening of BOS (worsening of BOS defined as a decline of at least 600mL in 3 consecutive months) o Photophoresis, Montelukast or other treatment considered as rescue therapy by the investigator
Statistical Methods Imputation:
In the ITT primary endpoint analysis, missing data due to treatment failure and death will be imputed as 50% of baseline FEV1. For patients lost to follow-up or who withdrew from the study for reasons not related to BOS, the last measured FEV1 (ml) will be imputed as the 6 month value.
Sample Size calculation:
Assumptions:
- SD: To determine the SD of the FEV1 decline in the population, the 5 members of the Steering committee collected the data from patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Mean decline in FEV1 (in a 6 month period) in this sample was 561 ml and the SD of the decline was 300 ml .
- Treatment effect: A meaningful treatment effect of 50% should be expected based on the mechanism of disease and preliminary data in BOS (In the publication) and personal experience.
One standard deviation (SD) of FEV1 in groups will be assumed to be 300 mL based on data from expert centers.
Monthly decline in FEV1 at onset of BOS is assumed to be approximately 75 ml, in 6 months 450 ml decline in FEV1 is expected for the placebo group.
A treatment effect of 50% reduction in decline is expected with Pirfenidone, which will lead to an expected mean decline of 225 ml in 6 months.
With a beta error of 12% (power 88%) the study will be able to detect a difference of 225 ml between the two treatment groups with a sample size of 36 patients in each group using a two-sided t-test with significance level of 0.05. An estimated 80 patients will be recruited to the trial allowing for a drop-out rate of 10%.
Concomitant treatment - Stopping Azithromycin will be allowed if not tolerated. Standard treatment is continuation of Azithromycin.
- Initiation on new bronchodilator therapy is not allowed
- Photopheresis and Montelukast are not allowed while on Pirfenidone Study Committees Steering Committee: M. Perch, P. Corris, G. Verleden, J. Gotlieb and E Verschuuren Patient Review Committee Inclusion Criteria, exclusion criteria and BOS staging for all patients enrolled will be reviewed by a committee.
Clinical Events Committee Group of physicians who will review the serious adverse events that occur during the study to adjudicate their relationship to the study drug.
DSMB Independent group to review the safety and efficacy data during the study.