Assessing Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Daily Enteric-coated Aspirin in Patients With StablE Diabetes II

APPEASED II is a triple crossover, open-label, randomized controlled pilot trial preceded by a 7-day run in period, aiming to determine the feasibility of a larger confirmatory randomized trial, and to determine the regimen associated with the lowest proportion of non-responders after randomization of EC ASA 162 mg once daily, EC ASA 81 mg twice daily and chewable ASA 40 mg twice daily in patients with type 2 diabetes.The primary endpoint will be to determine, among initial ASA non-responder participants in the run-in phase, the proportion of participants that remain ASA non-responders with different formulations and dosing regimens of ASA, including EC ASA 162 mg once daily, EC ASA 81 mg twice daily and chewable ASA 40 mg twice daily. The incomplete platelet aggregation will be evaluated by the response to arachidonic acid at a concentration of 1mM, measured by LTA (Light Transmission Aggregometry). For every platelet function assessment, serum salicylate concentration will also be measured. Upon the screening visit (day 0), blood will be drawn and baseline platelet function will be assessed. A 7 day supply of aspirin will be given to participants meeting the eligibility criteria. Participants will be instructed to take 1 dose of 80 mg of enteric coated aspirin per day at the same time every day. Upon day 7, participants will return for a second visit before the intake of their daily aspirin, and therefore 24 hours after the previous dose of aspirin was taken. Blood will be drawn and platelet function will be assessed in the same manner as described previously. Participants will then take their 7th dose of aspirin under supervision, and a blood sample will be collected and platelet function will be assessed two hours later. If participants have an incomplete platelet inhibition after exposure to EC aspirin at doses of 80 mg once daily, they will be randomized to a random order of 3 different ASA regimens: EC ASA 162 mg once daily, EC ASA 81 mg twice daily and chewable ASA 40 mg twice daily. These participants will receive the pillbox containing the first assigned regimen on this visit. The 3 study arms and the run-in phase will last 7 days each, with at least 7 days of wash-out between each arm. To accommodate participants with busy schedules and to minimize follow-up losses, a longer washout period will be tolerated if the participant is unable to return to the research center after 14 days. At every visit of the randomized portion of the trial, participants will leave with the next 6-day ASA regimen in a pillbox, that is 6 doses for the once daily regimen and 13 doses for the twice daily regimens. On day 7 of all three study arms, patients will be questioned about medication adherence with the presence of the participant's pillbox. Two blood samples will be collected, one 24 hours after the last dose and one 2 hours after taking the last dose in front of the investigators. The platelet aggregation inhibition with arachidonic acid and platelet reactivity to various agonists will be assessed by LTA. Serum levels of TxB2 will also be assessed.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years;
• Participant must be naïve to ASA, defined as absence of chronic treatment with ASA within the previous 3 months, and of any ASA use within the previous 2 weeks;
• Type 2 diabetes, based on at least one of the following criteria: (5)

• Chronic treatment with oral antihyperglycemic agents or insulin therapy;
• Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) ≥ 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) (fasting is defined as no caloric intake for at least 8h);
• 2-h Plasma Glucose (2h-PG) ≥ 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT);
• A1C ≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/ml);
• Willing to attend all study visits of both the run-in and randomized phases of the trial.

Exclusion criteria

• Definitive indication for ASA, including any evidence of clinical atherosclerotic disease, previous or current;
• Known hypersensitivity to ASA;
• Patient requiring dialysis;
• Severe hepatic insufficiency or ALT > 3 x ULN;
• High-risk GI bleeding features, such as known H. pylori infection, past or present ulcer, history of bleeding from the GI tract;
• Bleeding diathesis;
• Platelet count or hemoglobin levels outside of the normal reference range;
• Planned major surgical procedure or dental procedure during the course of the study;
• Chronic inflammatory disease requiring regular anti-inflammatory treatment;
• Chronic treatment with an oral anticoagulant, an antiplatelet agent, NSAIDs or systemic steroids;
• Active cancer;
• History of hematological malignancy or myelodysplasia;
• Pregnant or lactating women;