A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 3 Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Iloprost in Subjects With Systemic Sclerosis Experiencing Symptomatic Digital Ischemic Episodes (AURORA Study)
This is a Phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of iloprost on the frequency of and relief from symptomatic digital ischemic episodes in subjects with systemic sclerosis.
Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to any
Inclusion Criteria:
* Male or female subjects must be greater than or equal to 18 years of age.
* Subjects must have a diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis as defined by the 2013 American College of Rheumatology criteria/EULAR criteria
* Subjects must have a diagnosis or history of Raynaud's Phenomenon, self-reported or reported by a physician, with at least a 2-phase color change in finger(s) of pallor, cyanosis, and/or reactive hyperemia in response to cold exposure or emotion
* Subjects must have a minimum of 10 symptomatic Raynaud's Phenomenon attacks, documented in the electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) diary, occurring over at least 3 separate days of the 3- to 5-day eligibility period
* Subjects must complete a minimum of 80% of the daily ePRO diary entry during the baseline period
* Female subjects of childbearing potential and male subjects must agree to use contraception for the duration of the study.
* Subjects must be willing and able to comply with the study requirements and give informed consent for participation in the study
Exclusion Criteria:
* Female subjects who are pregnant or breastfeeding
* Subjects with systolic blood pressure <85 mmHg
* Subjects with an estimated glomerular filtration rate <15 mL/min/1.73 m2
* Subjects with an alanine aminotransferase and/or aspartate aminotransferase value >3 × the upper limit of normal at screening
* Subjects who have a digital ulcer infection within 30 days of screening
* Subjects with a history of cervical or digital sympathectomy, or botulism toxin injections in their hands \[for RP or digital ulcers\] within 90 days of screening. Subjects should not have a planned botulism toxin or sympathectomy during their participation in the study.
* Subjects with gangrene or digital amputation within 6 months of screening
* Subjects with current intractable diarrhea or vomiting
* Subjects with a risk of clinically significant bleeding events, including those with coagulation or platelet disorders at screening
* Subjects with a history of major trauma or hemorrhage within 30 days of screening.
* Subjects with clinically significant chronic intermittent bleeding, such as active gastric antral vascular ectasia or active peptic ulcer disease, within 60 days of screening
* Subjects who have had any cerebrovascular events (eg, transient ischemic attack or stroke) within 6 months of screening
* Subjects with a history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months of screening. Subjects should not have a planned coronary procedure during their participation in the study
* Subjects with acute or chronic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class III \[moderate\] or Class IV \[severe\]) at screening
* Subjects with a history of more than mild restrictive or congestive cardiomyopathy uncontrolled by medication or implanted device
* Subjects with a history of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias
* Subjects with a history of hemodynamically significant aortic or mitral valve disease
* Subjects with a history of known pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension, or pulmonary veno-occlusive disease
* Subjects with a history of significant restrictive lung disease, defined as forced vital capacity <45% predicted and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide <40% predicted (uncorrected for hemoglobin)
* Subjects with scleroderma renal crisis within 6 months of screening
* Subjects with a concomitant life-threatening disease with a life expectancy <12 months
* Subjects who have a clinically significant disorder that, in the opinion of the Investigator, could contraindicate the administration of study drug, affect compliance, interfere with study evaluations, or confound the interpretation of study results
* Subjects who have taken or are currently taking any parenteral, inhaled, or oral prostacyclin or prostacyclin receptor agonists (eg, epoprostenol, treprostinil, iloprost, and selexipag) within 8 weeks of screening
* Subjects who have initiated or had a dose change of any of the following within 2 weeks of screening: oral, topical, or intravenous (IV) vasodilators (eg, calcium channel blockers, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors \[eg, sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil\], nitrates, and fluoxetine)
* Subjects with any history of acetaminophen intolerability (eg, allergic reaction to acetaminophen)
* Subjects with any malignancy that requires treatment during the study period, that has required treatment within 1 year of screening (including excision of skin cancer) or that is currently not in remission
* Subjects who have used any investigational medication or device for any indication within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer)
* Subjects who have participated in ES-201 or ES-301 studies and were randomized and treated with study drug
Participant flow
| Milestone | Placebo | Iloprost Injection, for Intravenous Use |
|---|
| Started | 97 | 99 |
| Completed | 97 | 99 |
| Not completed | 0 | 0 |
Outcome results
- Change in Frequency of Symptomatic RP Attacks (Primary), Least squares mean, Number of RP attacks per week: Placebo -11.47 (-13.69 to -9.25); Iloprost Injection, for Intravenous Use -12.73 (-14.92 to -10.55) (p 0.4210)
- Change in Severity of RP Attack Symptoms (Secondary), Least squares mean, Score on a scale: Placebo -2.13 (-2.51 to -1.75); Iloprost Injection, for Intravenous Use -2.19 (-2.57 to -1.82)
- Weekly Total Duration of Symptomatic RP Attacks. (Secondary), Least squares mean, Minutes: Placebo -321.04 (-385.03 to -257.05); Iloprost Injection, for Intravenous Use -326.48 (-389.53 to -263.44)
- Percentage of Responders (Secondary), Count of participants, Participants: Placebo 33; Iloprost Injection, for Intravenous Use 33
Adverse events
Time frame: All AEs and SAEs were collected during the full study period from the signing of the ICF until the last study visit, Visit 9, at day 35 (+7 days).
| Arm | Deaths | Serious adverse events | Other adverse events |
|---|
| Placebo | 0/97 (0.0%) | 0/97 (0.0%) | 78/97 (80.4%) |
| Iloprost Injection, for Intravenous Use | 0/99 (0.0%) | 1/99 (1.0%) | 99/99 (100.0%) |
Serious adverse events by term
| Term | Organ system | Placebo | Iloprost Injection, for Intravenous Use |
|---|
| Hand fracture | Injury, poisoning and procedural complications | 0/97 | 1/99 |
| Limb traumatic amputation | Injury, poisoning and procedural complications | 0/97 | 1/99 |
Other adverse events by term
| Term | Organ system | Placebo | Iloprost Injection, for Intravenous Use |
|---|
| Headache | Nervous system disorders | 38/97 | 85/99 |
| Dizziness | Nervous system disorders | 10/97 | 10/99 |
| Head discomfort | Nervous system disorders | 5/97 | 2/99 |
| Paraesthesia | Nervous system disorders | 5/97 | 1/99 |
| Nausea | Gastrointestinal disorders | 15/97 | 57/99 |
| Vomiting | Gastrointestinal disorders | 5/97 | 24/99 |
| Diarrhoea | Gastrointestinal disorders | 9/97 | 13/99 |
| Fatigue | General disorders | 9/97 | 15/99 |
| Infusion site pain | General disorders | 6/97 | 15/99 |
| Infusion site erythema | General disorders | 4/97 | 5/99 |
| Asthenia | General disorders | 2/97 | 5/99 |
| Infusion site extravasation | General disorders | 1/97 | 6/99 |
| Chills | General disorders | 1/97 | 5/99 |
| Pain in jaw | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 4/97 | 27/99 |
| Pain in extremity | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 4/97 | 6/99 |
| Myalgia | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 5/97 | 4/99 |
| Skin ulcer | Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 12/97 | 11/99 |
| Flushing | Vascular disorders | 7/97 | 28/99 |
| Palpitations | Cardiac disorders | 5/97 | 0/99 |