ClinicalTrials.gg
WithdrawnNCT03291249Updated Sep 12, 2019

Assessment of the Safety of Foralumab, an Oral Anti-CD3 Antibody, in Patients With NASH and T2DM

A Phase 2 interventional study of Foralumab and placebo in NASH - Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, NAFLD and T2DM (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus), sponsored by Tiziana Life Sciences LTD. Withdrawn. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 120 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-09-12.

Sponsored by Tiziana Life Sciences LTD · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was withdrawn
Due to MOH request.
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 120 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, four-arm, double-blind study. Subjects will be randomized (1:1:1:1) to receive either a daily oral placebo solution or a daily oral dose of 0.5 mg, 2.5 mg or 5.0 mg Foralumab Solution for 30 consecutive days. Subjects will record adverse events and daily administration of study medication in a subject diary. This will serve as a measure of compliance and record of safety and tolerability. Subjects will be followed up for 30 days following completion of treatment.

Study visits performed on Days 14, 30 and 60 of the study, will monitor metabolic parameters (body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference), serum lipid profiles, immunological markers (c-reactive protein [CRP] and an array of cytokines), hepatic enzymes and functions (13C-methacetin breath test [MBT]) and liver steatosis/fibrosis, which will be compared to baseline levels (Day 1).

The safety and tolerability of the treatment regimen will be determined by monitoring vital signs, laboratory values, adverse events and physical findings throughout the study. In addition, its efficacy will be established upon either reduced Day 30 serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, reduced hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) or improved homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) or HOMA of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores as compared to baseline (Day 1). In addition, to assess the efficacy of the tested Foralumab Solution regimen in improving overall subject status, a battery of exploratory metabolic, immunologic and hepatic markers will be evaluated on Days 30 and 60.

Read the detailed description

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase IIa study for assessment of the safety of Foralumab, an oral anti-CD3 antibody, in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, four-arm, double-blind study. Subjects will be randomized (1:1:1:1) to receive either a daily oral placebo solution or a daily oral dose of 0.5 mg, 2.5 mg or 5.0 mg Foralumab Solution for 30 consecutive days. Subjects will record adverse events and daily administration of study medication in a subject diary. This will serve as a measure of compliance and record of safety and tolerability. Subjects will be followed up for 30 days following completion of treatment.

Study visits performed on Days 14, 30 and 60 of the study, will monitor metabolic parameters (body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference), serum lipid profiles, immunological markers (c-reactive protein [CRP] and an array of cytokines), hepatic enzymes and functions (13C-methacetin breath test [MBT]) and liver steatosis/fibrosis, which will be compared to baseline levels (Day 1).

The safety and tolerability of the treatment regimen will be determined by monitoring vital signs, laboratory values, adverse events and physical findings throughout the study. In addition, its efficacy will be established upon either reduced Day 30 serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, reduced hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) or improved homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) or HOMA of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores as compared to baseline (Day 1). In addition, to assess the efficacy of the tested Foralumab Solution regimen in improving overall subject status, a battery of exploratory metabolic, immunologic and hepatic markers will be evaluated on Days 30 and 60.

Primary: To assess the safety and tolerability of the tested Foralumab Solution regimen in subjects with both T2DM and NASH/NAFLD Secondary: To assess the efficacy of the tested Foralumab Solution regimen in improving serum ALT levels, HbA1c, HOMA or HOMA-IR scores in subjects with both T2DM and NASH/NAFLD.

Exploratory: To assess the efficacy of the tested Foralumab Solution regimen in improving overall subject status, as measured by a battery of metabolic, immunologic and hepatic markers.

48 adult subjects (≥18 years) with T2DM and who meet the inclusion criteria for NASH or NAFLD 2a Up to 25 Foralumab (TZLS-0401) is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody directed against the CD3-epsilon (or CD3ε) antigen expressed on the surface of a type of white blood cell called T-cells, or T-lymphocytes. The Fc region of the antibody is mutated to reduce the cytokine release syndrome associated with parenteral administration of anti CD3. When administered orally, Foralumab is not absorbed and induces a signal at the level of the gut immune system to promote regulatory T cells systemically.

A once-daily oral dose of Foralumab solution (0.5, 2.5 or 5.0 mg) or placebo solution will be taken in the morning on an empty stomach for 30 consecutive days.

Group A will receive placebo solution for 30 days (n=12) Group B will receive 0.5 mg Foralumab Solution daily for 30 days (n=12) Group C will receive 2.5 mg Foralumab Solution daily for 30 days (n=12) Group D will receive 5.0 mg Foralumab Solution daily for 30 days (n=12)

A single 20 mg omeprazole pill will be concomitantly administered daily.

02

Conditions studied

  • NASH - Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
  • NAFLD
  • T2DM (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus)
03

In context

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

1,617 studies on the registry are indexed under Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; 324 are open to participants now.

Browse Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease studies →

Lead sponsor

Tiziana Life Sciences LTD is the lead sponsor of 14 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 120 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Provision of written
  • Diagnosis of T2DM
  • \< 9.0 while on standard of care
  • Historical histology-based confirmation of NASH within 12 months prior to screening OR

Diagnosis of NAFLD based on all the following:

  • Presentation of at least one other parameter of the metabolic syndrome from the following list of three:

    (i) hypertension [≥130/85 mmHg or regularly taking an antihypertensive], (ii) dyslipidemia with high serum triglycerides [≥150 mg/dL or regularly taking medicines to lower high triglyceride levels] or low serum HDL [\<50 mg/dL for women and \<40 mg/dL for men], (iii) obesity ( > 30 kg/m2) or central obesity [waistline measurement ≥ 89 cm for women and ≥ 102 cm for men])

  • > 40 IU
  • Fat fraction >10% in MRI performed during screening or up to 3 months prior to screening.
  • Agree to the use of effective measures, as defined in the protocol, if either male or female with .

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

  • Subject with cirrhosis per (fibrosis staging score >= 4) or Fibroscan® >14 kPa within 12 months of screening.
  • Presence of vascular liver disease
  • Any history or evidence of decompensated liver disease such as recurrent variceal bleeding, ascites or hepatic encephalopathy
  • Known history of chronic alcoholic liver disease, chronic or C infection, drug-induced liver injury (DILI), hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, 1-antitrypsin deficiency, primary biliary cirrhosis or secondary sclerosing cholangitis, hepatitis
  • Known antibody-positive
  • History of liver transplantation
  • \<25kg/m2
  • alcohol use
  • Score of ≥ 2 on the CAGE questionnaire, OR
  • Any subject with current significant alcohol consumption or a history of significant alcohol consumption for a period of more than 3 consecutive months any time within 1 year prior to screening, as determined by medical history (medical chart review and/or interview). Significant alcohol consumption is defined as: females: >20 g/day; males: >30 g/day, with a standard drink in the US averaging 14 g alcohol.
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Bariatric surgery within the last 5 years
  • Weight loss or gain of ≥5 kg in the past 6 months or >10% change in bodyweight in the past 12 months
  • Inadequate vascular access on physical examination
  • Lactating/breastfeeding/pregnant at screening
  • On an elemental diet or parenteral nutrition
  • Concurrent conditions
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Unstable angina, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic events, or stroke within 24 weeks of screening
  • Ongoing infectious disease, excluding recurrent urinary tract infection treated with long-term antibiotic prophylaxis
  • Any type of immune-mediated and/or malignant disease
  • Any other concurrent condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, could impact adversely on the participating subject or on the interpretation of the study data
  • Concurrent medications including:
  • Amiodarone taken within 30 days of Day 1 (MBT )
  • Beta-blockers: must be on a stable dose for at least 30 days prior to Day 1 (MBT contraindication)
  • Statins: must be on a stable dose for at least 30 days prior to Day 1 (MBT contraindication)
  • The following medications taken every day for more than 1 week over the last three months: S-adenosyl methionine (SAM-e), betaine, milk thistle and probiotic supplements (other than yoghurt) with the exception of vitamin E or gemfibrozil, which are allowed

    ** If >= 400 IU vitamin E on a regular basis or gemfibrozil, at any dose, are used, the dose must be stable for more than 3 months;

  • immunomodulatory agents including In the last 4 weeks

    • oral or parenteral antibiotics
    • daily treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin (>100 mg/day), ibuprofen, naproxen, imeloxicam, celecoxib)

In the last 3 months

  • systemic
  • daily treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin (>100mg/day), ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, celecoxib) over 4 or more weeks in the last 3 months
  • variable dose of antilipidemic agents (HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors - "statins"). Subjects on stable dose of statins are eligible if missed no more than one week of dosing over the last 3 months

In the last 12 months

o azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, cyclosporin, anti-TNF alpha therapies (infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept) or anti-integrin therapies

  • Any of the following laboratory abnormalities:
  • ≤1.0 x 109/L
  • \<100 x 109/L
  • \<10g/dL
  • Albumin \<3.5g
  • (INR) >1.5
  • Total >1.5 x upper limit of reference range (unless Gilbert's syndrome or extrahepatic source as denoted by increased indirect bilirubin fraction)
  • Either ≤60mL/minute, calculated by Cockroft Gault, or creatinine >1.5x upper limit of reference range
  • Regular use of marijuana or marijuana-related products, or use of cocaine, or street drugs, as determined by medical history (medical chart review and/or interview).
  • Subjects with symptoms of significant mental illness, inability to cooperate or communicate with the investigator, who are unlikely to comply with the study requirements, or who are unable to provide .
  • to methacetin and/or its metabolites (i.e., paracetamol, acetaminophen)
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(21)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

HbA1c

A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

Relapsed and refractory

Relapsed: the illness came back after treatment had worked. Refractory: it did not respond to treatment, or stopped responding while still on it.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

INR, PT and aPTT (clotting tests)

Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.

Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

Creatinine clearance (CrCl)

How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Placebo comparator
    Group A

    Group A will receive placebo solution for 30 consecutive days

    Other: placebo · Drug: Omeprazole 20mg

  • Experimental
    Group B

    Group B will receive 0.5 mg Foralumab Solution daily for 30 consecutive days

    Drug: Foralumab · Drug: Omeprazole 20mg

  • Experimental
    Group C

    Group B will receive 2.5 mg Foralumab Solution daily for 30 consecutive days

    Drug: Foralumab · Drug: Omeprazole 20mg

  • Experimental
    Group D

    Group B will receive 5.0 mg Foralumab Solution daily for 30 consecutive days

    Drug: Foralumab · Drug: Omeprazole 20mg

Interventions

  • Anti CD3 mAb

    Also known as: Anti CD3

  • Otherplacebo

    Placebo oral solution

  • Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor used to neutralize stomach PH

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. severity and duration for all adverse events

    Incidence, severity, and duration for all adverse events (AEs), and abnormal laboratory and physical findings up until 30 days after last dose

    Time frame: 30 days after last dose

  2. Abnormal laboratory findings

    Incidence, severity, and duration for all adverse events (AEs), and abnormal laboratory and physical findings up until 30 days after last dose

    Time frame: 30 days after last dose

  3. Abnormal physical findings

    Incidence, severity, and duration for all adverse events (AEs), and abnormal laboratory and physical findings up until 30 days after last dose

    Time frame: 30 days after last dose

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change ALT levels

    Day 30 versus Day 1 serum ALT levels

    Time frame: Day 30 versus Day 1 serum ALT levels

  2. Change in HbA1c levels

    HbA1c levels

    Time frame: Day 30 versus Day 1

  3. change in HOMA/HOMA-IR scores

    Day 30 versus Day 1 change in HOMA/HOMA-IR scores. Insulin and fasting plasma glucose will be measured to calculate HOMA/HOMA-IR

    Time frame: Day 30 versus Day 1

Other outcomes

  1. Body mass index (BMI)

    Measurment of BMI (kg/m\^2) Serum lipid profile: total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) fractions.

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  2. Change in Immunological markers

    C-reactive protein (CRP) b. T cell-associated cytokine levels (IL2, 4, 5, 6, 8,10,12, 13, IFN, TNF, TGF c. Regulatory T cell (Tregs) levels (cells positive for: CD4, CD25, CD8, CD56, CD3, CD62, CD127, NKT, FoxP3, LAP)

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  3. Cytokine levels

    Measurement of Cytokine levels Mean serum concentrations of, cytokeratin (CK)-18 fragments, C-peptide, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), adiponectin c. 13C-Methacetin breath test (MBT) Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  4. waist circumference

    measurement of waist circumference (cm)

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  5. Serum lipid profile

    Serum lipid concentration will be measured

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  6. Regulatory T cell

    Measurement of Regulatory T cell

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  7. Liver enzymes

    Measurement of Liver enzymes

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  8. Mean serum concentrations of cytokeratin (CK)-18 fragments

    Measurement of (CK)-18 fragments concentration

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  9. Mean serum concentrations of C-peptide

    Measurement of C-peptide concentration

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  10. Mean serum concentrations of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)

    Measurement of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentration

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

  11. Mean serum concentrations of adiponectin

    Measurement of adiponectin concentration

    Time frame: Day 1 versus day 30 and 60

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Start is estimated for Dec 2017; primary completion for Dec 2018, 12 months later.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Aug 21, 2017
First posted
Sep 25, 2017
StartEst.
Dec 1, 2017
Primary completionEst.
Dec 1, 2018
CompletionEst.
Jun 1, 2019
Last update
Sep 12, 2019
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 12, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03291249
Lead sponsor
Tiziana Life Sciences LTD
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 25, 2017
Start date
Dec 1, 2017 (estimated)
Primary completion
Dec 1, 2018 (estimated)
Completion
Jun 1, 2019 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 12, 2019

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is withdrawn, as verified in Aug 2017. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Studies of the drug tested here: Foralumab

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