The study was stopped due to futility as per protocol

Objectives The objective of this clinical trial is to assess whether ladarixin treatment has an effect to preserve β-cell function and delay the progression of T1D in adolescent and adult patients.

The safety of ladarixin in the specific clinical setting will be also evaluated.

The study will be a phase 2, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. It will randomize approximately 130-140 patients (with up to an estimated 15-20% adolescents), with recent onset (within 180 days from 1st insulin administration) type 1 diabetes (T1D), assigned (2:1) to receive either oral ladarixin treatment (400 mg b.i.d. for 13 cycles of 14 days on/14 days off - treatment group) or placebo (control group). Recruitment will be competitive among the study sites, until the planned number of patients is randomized.

Ladarixin and placebo will be both administered for 1 year. All patients will be followed-up for 24 months from the 1st administration of the study medication. After the initial 12-m treatment period, all patients will enter into a 12-month follow-up (total period 24-month after first IMP administration). The study database (DB) will be locked when the last randomized patient has completed the month 12 visit (or being lost in follow-up), and relative data have been fully reconciled and cleaned; at that point, the DB will be unblinded and all endpoints, including the 6-month primary endpoint, will be analyzed, and the follow-up will continue under open-label conditions up to month 24.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female patients aged 14-45 years, inclusive;
2. Recent onset T1D (1st IMP dose within 180 days from 1st insulin administration);
3. Positive for at least one diabetes-related auto-antibody (anti-GAD; IAA, if obtained within 10 days of the onset of insulin therapy; IA-2 antibody; ZnT8);
4. Require, or has required at some time, insulin therapy through one or more separate subcutaneous injections or Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII).
5. Fasting C peptide < 0.205nmol/L;
6. Residual beta-cell function as per peak stimulated (MMTT) C-peptide level >0.2nmol/L; MMTT should not be performed within one week of resolution of a diabetic ketoacidosis event;
7. Patient able to comply with all protocol procedures for the duration of the study, including scheduled follow-up visits and examinations;
8. Patients who have given written informed consent prior of any study-related procedure not part of standard medical care (participants under the age of 18, shall provide an assent for the study as per country requirements). Specific consent must be given by adolescents to be selected for the full PK analysis.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. A type 2 diabetes diagnosis or any other unstable chronic disease for which dose adjustment of specific medication is anticipated during the trial;
2. Moderate to severe renal impairment as per estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) 60 mL/min/1.73m2, as determined using Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) creatinine equation;
3. Hepatic dysfunction defined by increased ALT/AST > 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN) and increased total bilirubin > 3 mg/dL [>51.3 μmol/L];
4. Hypoalbuminemia defined as serum albumin < 3 g/dL;
5. QTcF > 470 msec;
6. Occurrence of an episode of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic coma in the past 2 weeks;
7. A history of significant cardiovascular disease/abnormality;
8. Known hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
9. Concomitant treatment with drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 with a narrow therapeutic index [i.e. phenytoin, warfarin, sulphonylurea hypoglycemics (e.g. tolbutamide, glipizide, glibenclamide/glyburide, glimepiride, nateglinide) and high dose amitriptyline (> 50 mg/day)];
10. Previous (past 2 weeks) and concomitant treatment with antidiabetic agents as metformin, sulfonylureas, glinides, thiazolidinediones, exenatide, liraglutide, DPP-IV inhibitors, SGLT2-inhibitors or amylin, or any medications known to influence glucose tolerance (e.g. beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, interferons, quinidine antimalarial drugs, lithium, niacin, etc.);
11. Past (past month) or current administration of any immunosuppressive medications (including oral or systemic corticosteroids) and use of any investigational agents, including any agents that impact the immune response or the cytokine system;
12. Significant systemic infection during the 4 weeks before the 1st dose of the study drug (e.g., infection requiring hospitalization, major surgery, or IV antibiotics to resolve; other infections, e.g., bronchitis, sinusitis, localized cellulitis, candidiasis, or urinary tract infections, must be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the investigator regarding whether they are serious enough to warrant exclusion);
13. History of positive status for hepatitis A (IgM), hepatitis B (not due to immunization), hepatitis C and HIV..
14. Pregnant or breast-feeding women. Unwillingness to use effective contraceptive measures up to 2 months after the end of study drug administration (females and males). Effective contraceptive measures include a hormonal birth control (e.g. oral pills, long term injections, vaginal ring, patch); the intrauterine device (IUD); a double barrier method (e.g. condom or diaphragm plus spermicide foam); abstinence.

The study proceeded under double-blind condition up to month 18 visit of the last patient randomized. Thereafter, the blind was broken and remaining follow-up will proceeded in an open fashion. This approach allowed to anticipate access to efficacy data without significantly affecting data integrity.