Trial CTRI/2020/05/024959; NCT04475588
Publication Kumar S, Exp Opin Biol Ther (2021) (published paper)
Dates: 2020-05-02 to 2020-07-07
Funding: Private (Biocon Biologics India Limited)
Conflict of interest: Yes

Methods
RCT
Blinding: Unblinded
Location : Multicenter / India
Follow-up duration (days): 30
Inclusion criteria
  • Adult male or female patients above 18 years
  • Tested positive for virologic diagnosis of SARS- CoV-2 infection (RT-PCR)
  • Hospitalized due to clinical worsening with oxygen saturation of ≤94% at rest in ambient air
  • Moderate to severe ARDS or high levels of proinflammatory markers.
    Patients were defined to have moderate to severe ARDS if they had PaO2/Fio2 ratio of < 200 or more than 25% deterioration from the immediate previous value. Alternatively, the proinflammatory markers included were baseline serum ferritin level ≥ 400 ng/mL or IL-6 levels greater than 4 times of upper limits of normal value.
Exclusion criteria
  • Known severe allergic reactions to monoclonal antibodies
  • An active tuberculosis (TB) infection/inadequately treated tuberculosis/latent tuberculosis
  • On oral anti-rejection or any immune-suppressive drugs in last 6 months
  • Those who participated in other drug clinical trials using anti-IL-6 therapy
  • Known history of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV
  • Absolute neutrophils count (ANC) <1000 / mm
  • Platelet count <50,000 / mm
  • Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) <500/mm3
Interventions
Treatment
Itolizumab
1.6 mg/kg IV infusion followed by 0.8 mg/kg once a week
Control
Standard care

Participants
Randomized
participants :
Standard care=10
Itolizumab=22
Characteristics of participants
N= 32
Mean age : NR
26 males
Severity : Mild: n=0 / Moderate: n=0 / Severe: n=30 Critical: n=0
Number of vaccinated participants: NR
Primary outcome
In the register
1. One month mortality rate;
2. Proportion of pts with deterioration of lung function as measured by:
Stable SpO2
PaO2 without increasing FiO2
3. Reduction of endotracheal intubation rate, measured as rate of pts needing intubation;
4. Reduction in proportion of pts who need:
NIV
IMV
HFNO
5. Time of duration of mechanical ventilation, for pts needing intubation
6. Change in inflammatory markers CRP, d-Dimer, ferritin
In the report
1. Reduction in mortality one month after randomization
2. Reduction in the proportion of patients with deteriorating lung functions, as measured by:
a. Stable SpO2 without increasing FiO2
b. Stable PaO2 without increasing FiO2
3. Reduction in proportion of patients who needed non-invasive ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation/endotracheal intubation, and high flow nasal oxygen
4. Reduction in inflammatory markers: Ferritin, D-dimer, LDH, CRP.
Documents
available

Protocol

Yes. In English

Statistical plan

Yes

Data-sharing willing stated in the publication:

Not reported
Risk of bias
Overall
The overall risk of bias reported in the table corresponds to the highest risk of bias for the outcomes assessed for the systematic review
Some concerns
General comment In addition to the pre-print article,study report, trial registry and the reply provided by authors were used in data extraction and risk of bias assessment. Neither study protocol nor statistical analysis plan was available. The study achieved the target sample size prespecified in the registry. There were no substantive differences between the registry and the article in population, procedures or outcomes. There was a difference between the optional follow-on dosing regimen in the article (0.8 mg/kg dose weekly regimen) and the registry (1.6 mg/kg dose every 2 weeks or 0.8 mg/kg weekly). The study achieved its pre-stated sample size. The randomization process was unconventional, and may have involved selection bias. Safety was monitored in the first five patients, with them being infused and monitored for 24-48 hours prior to infusing the next patient. Once all five patients were infused in this staggered manner, subsequent patients were enrolled such that study had patients randomized in a 2:1 ratio. Patients who were randomized, but did not receive the full infusion, were considered unevaluable and the same randomization code was used for allocation of the next patient enrolled by the study site.
On 12th of February,2021, we received additional information from authors on this study. This study was updated with data from contact with authors on April 07th, 2021.
On 14th of April, 2021, this study was updated based on the published report.