A Phase 2a, Randomized, Open-Label, Active-Controlled, Crossover Study to Evaluate Safety and Explore Efficacy of Different Doses of New Lipase NHS7108 Administered Orally in Participants With Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency- EPIC
A Phase 2a, Randomized, Open-Label, Active-Controlled, Crossover Study to Evaluate Safety and Explore Efficacy of Different Doses of New Lipase NHS7108 Administered Orally in Participants With Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency- EPIC
The purpose of this study is to measure the safety and explore the efficacy of 4 different doses of the new lipase NHS7108 in participants with EPI. In this study, all participants will take NHS7108 daily for 14 days and a matching dose of standard-of-care, pancrelipase (Zenpep®) for 14 days according to Treatment Sequence assignment. Both NHS7108 and Zenpep® are oral capsules that will be taken with each of the daily 3 meals and 2 snacks. Participants will interrupt all of their usual pancrelipase/pancreatin treatment for up to 8 days during screening and for the entire 2 treatment periods, where participants will take either the new lipase NHS7108 or a matching dose of the standard-of-care pancrelipase (Zenpep®). Participants will be asked to stay in a setting that allows controlled diet and 72-hour stool collection for approximately 7 days during the screening period and again for approximately 7 days at the end of each treatment period. During these 3 supervised periods, participants will receive a standardized diet with a predefined amount of fat and protein, stools will be collected in special containers and during the last day of the treatment period, blood samples will be obtained to measure fat absorption. These are essential to ensure valid assessment of participants' fat and protein absorption. Outside the 3 supervised periods, participants will be provided with guidelines and recommendations to create their own home-controlled meals and snacks according to their preferences for the remainder of the study duration.
Number of Participants:
The aim is to have 56 participants completing the study. Assuming approximately 14% drop-out rate, approximately 66 participants will be randomized to study intervention.
Study Arms and Duration:
The total study duration for each participant will be about 100 days (approximately 14 weeks), including:
Very low dose group: 10 mg NHS7108 (approximately 25,000 LU)/main meal and snack; 25,000 LU Zenpep/main meal and snack (50 mg NHS7108 [approximately 125,000 LU] per day; 125,000 LU Zenpep per day)
Low dose group: 20 mg NHS7108 (approximately 50,000 LU)/main meal and 10 mg NHS7108 (approximately 25,000 LU)/snack; 50,000 LU Zenpep/main meal and 25,000 LU Zenpep/snack (80 mg NHS7108 [approximately 200,000 LU] per day; 200,000 LU Zenpep per day)
Medium dose group: 40 mg NHS7108 (approximately 100,000 LU)/main meal and 20 mg (approximately 50,000 LU) NHS7108/snack; 100,000 LU Zenpep/main meal and 50,000 LU Zenpep/snack (160 mg [approximately 400,000 LU] NHS7108 per day; 400,000 LU Zenpep per day)
High dose group: 60 mg NHS7108 (approximately 150,000 LU)/main meal and 30 mg NHS7108 (approximately 75,000 LU)/snack; 150,000 LU Zenpep/main meal and 75,000 LU Zenpep/snack (240 mg NHS7108 [approximately 600,000 LU] per day; 600,000 LU Zenpep per day).
The dose for participants < 60 kg who are assigned to the high dose group will need to be weight-adjusted to ensure that they receive no more than 10,000 LU/kg/day.
Inclusion Criteria: Participants are eligible to be included in the study only if all of the following criteria apply:
Participant is a male or female between 18 to 85 years of age, inclusive, at the time of signing the informed consent.
Participants with clinically confirmed* chronic established (not due to a transient clinical diagnosis, i.e., acute pancreatitis) EPI and with a clinical indication for PERT.
CFA off PERT of <80% at screening
Normal body mass index (BMI) by age and sex to ensure participant's EPI is adequately controlled in the opinion of the investigator (BMI of at least 17.0 and no greater than 35.0 kg/m²)
Standard-of-care medications are allowed (antibiotics, mucolytic agents, aerosols, antacids), if on stable doses for at least 1 month prior to baseline CFA and CNA assessments and must not be altered in dose or stopped during the study.
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) modulators are allowed if on stable doses for at least 3 months prior to randomization. Participants should not start taking CFTR modulators during the duration of the study.
Contraceptive use by men and women must be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies.
Male Participants:
Female Participants:
Participants are capable of giving signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol.
Participants agree not to participate in another interventional study while participating in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply:
Female participants who are breastfeeding at the time of screening.
Previous GI surgery, except for non-invasive neonatal or early childhood procedures such as correction of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, surgical correction of Meckel's diverticulum, volvulus, or intestinal intussusception. Hernia repair, appendectomy, cesarean section, tubal ligation, hysterectomy, polypectomy, hemorrhoidectomy, or cholecystectomy are allowed if performed at least 2 years before randomization and have no impact on intestinal transit or absorption.
Participants on enteral feeding.
Participants with celiac disease.
Known allergy or adverse reaction history to any component of NHS7108, Zenpep®, omega-3 oil, and/or to any other product administered during the study, including the blue dye.
Concurrent clinically significant, at the discretion of the Investigator, hematological, renal, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, psychiatric, neurologic, or allergic disease (including drug allergies, but excluding untreated, asymptomatic, and seasonal allergies and childhood asthma) or any other disorder that in the opinion of the Investigator may put the participant at greater safety risk, influence response to study intervention, or interfere with study assessments.
Concurrent conditions having a clinically significant impact on GI motility function, with the exception of pancreatic insufficiency due to pancreatectomy or CP.
Any significant clinical/laboratory/radiological sign of unstable or unexpectedly deteriorating respiratory disease during the study duration, at the discretion of the Investigator.
Omega-3 supplements are prohibited during all the study periods and should be stopped at least 7 days prior to the baseline off-treatment fat absorption assessments.
Participants starting new medications or changing dose within 1 month before baseline off-treatment screening assessments.
Acute use of oral or intravenous antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention.
Treatment with any investigational drug or device/treatment within the 30 days or 5 half-lives of the drug (whichever is longer) prior to first dose of study intervention.
Participant has any clinically significant abnormalities in hematology, coagulation, clinical chemistry, or urinalysis at screening as judged by the Investigator OR as detailed below:
Positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody test.
Presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) at screening or within 3 months prior to first dose of study intervention.
Positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test result at screening or within 3 months prior to first dose of study intervention AND positive on reflex to hepatitis C RNA test.
Concurrent drug or alcohol addiction that in the opinion of the Investigator would preclude participation and compliance with the study procedures.
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