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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02271984

Relative Bioavailability Trial of L-Praziquantel in Healthy Volunteers

This is a phase I, open-label, randomized, 5 period, crossover, single-center trial. The purpose of this trial is to assess the relative bio-availability of L-praziquantel (L-PZQ [MSC2499550A]) oral dispersible tablet (ODT) formulation (150 milligram [mg]) versus the current marketed racemate praziquantel (PZQ) (Cysticide® 500 mg) formulation in healthy male volunteers under fed conditions.

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

18 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Please contact the Merck KGaA Communication Center

Darmstadt, Germany

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy males aged 18-55 years of age (inclusive at screening)
  • Male subjects with partners of childbearing potential must have had a vasectomy or use acceptable methods of birth control (that is, condoms) and not donate sperm during, and until 90 days after the last dose of the trial medication
  • Written informed consent prior to any trial related procedure
  • Have a body weight of greater than or equal to (>=) 55.0 kilogram (kg) to less than (<) 95.0 kg and a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 29.9 kilogram per square meter (kg/m^2) (inclusive)
  • Able to communicate well with the Investigator, understanding the protocol requirements and restrictions, and willing to comply with the requirements of the entire trial
  • Non-smoker (= 0 cigarettes, pipes, cigars or others) since at least 3 months
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) recording (12-lead) without signs of clinically relevant pathology in particular corrected QT Interval (QTc) (Bazett) < 450 milliseconds (ms)
  • Vital signs (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse) in supine position and body temperature within the normal range or showing no clinically relevant deviation as judged by the medical Investigator

Exclusion criteria

  • Any surgical or medical condition, including findings in the medical history or in the prestudy assessments, or any other significant disease, that in the opinion of the Investigator, constitutes a risk or a contraindication for the participation of the subject in the study or that could interfere with the study objectives, conduct or evaluation
  • History of surgery of the gastrointestinal tract (GI), history of other GI tract diseases, or acute GI tract infections in the last 2 weeks, which could influence the GI absorption and/or motility according to the Investigator's opinion
  • Any clinically relevant abnormality in the safety laboratory parameters as judged by the Investigator
  • Have positive results from serology examination for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  • Allergy: ascertained or presumptive hypersensitivity to the active drug substance and/or formulations ingredients; history of anaphylaxis to drugs or allergic reactions in general, which the Investigator considers may affect the outcome of the trial
  • History or presence of drug abuse (amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (phenylcyclohexalpiperidine), tetrahydrocannabinol, tricyclic antidepressants, methadone, methamphetamine, oxycodone and propoxyphene) or alcohol abuse at screening and on each admission as defined by the Investigator
  • Loss or donation of more than 400 milliliter (mL) of blood within 90 days prior to first praziquantel (PZQ) administration
  • Administration of any investigational product or use of any investigational device within 60 days prior to first PZQ administration
  • Subjects who have used drugs that may affect the pharmacokinetics (PK) of PZQ from 14 days before dosing until the last PK sample, for example, phenytoin, barbiturates, primidone, carbamazapine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, felbamate, rifampicin, nelfinavir, ritonavir, griseofulvin, oral ketoconazole, on discretion of the Investigator
  • Consumption of substances known to be potent inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome -P450 enzymes (CYP P450s) such as grapefruit juice, grapefruit juice containing products, and herbal remedies or dietary supplements containing St. John's Wort, in the 2 weeks before dosing
  • Unlikely to comply with the protocol requirements, instructions and trial-related restrictions, for example, uncooperative attitude, inability to return for follow-up visits, and improbability of completing the trial
  • Non-acceptance of study breakfast (for example, vegetarians, vegans and subjects who follow special diets)
  • Excessive consumption of beverages -containing xanthine (> 5 cups ) of coffee a day, or equivalent or inability to stop consuming caffeine from 48 hours prior to drug administration until discharge from the clinic
  • Subject is the Investigator or any Sub-Investigator, research assistant, pharmacist, trial coordinator, other staff or relative thereof directly involved in the conduct of the trial
  • Vulnerable subjects (for example, persons kept in detention)
  • Legal incapacity or limited legal capacity

Treatment and study plan

MSC2499550A

Drug

Subjects will receive a single oral dose of MSC2499550A formulation at 20 mg/kg dispersed in water under fed condition in one of the intervention periods. There will be a wash-out period of at least 7 days between each intervention period.

Other names: L-PZQ

Cysticide

Drug

Subjects will receive a single oral dose of current PZQ formulation (Cysticide®) at 40 mg/kg with water, under fed condition in one of the intervention periods. There will be a wash-out period of at least 7 days between each of the intervention period.

Other names: Praziquantel

Primary outcomes

  1. Area Under the Plasma Concentration-time Curve (AUC) From Time Zero to Infinity (AUC0-inf) Adj of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ) After Dose Adjustment

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

    The AUC(0-inf) was estimated by determining the total area under the curve of the concentration versus time curve extrapolated to infinity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Time to Reach the Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ)

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

  2. Time Prior to the First Measurable (Non-zero) Concentration (Tlag) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ)

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

    Time prior to the first measurable (non-zero) concentration (tlag) of drug L-PZQ

  3. Area Under the Plasma Concentration-time Curve (AUC) From Time Zero to the Last Sampling Time at Which the Concentration is at or Above the Lower Limit of Quantification (AUC0-t) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ) After Dose Adjustment

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

    The AUC (0-t) was defined as the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve from time zero to time of last quantifiable concentration at or above the lower limit of quantification (AUC0-t) of L-PZQ.

  4. Extrapolated Area Under the Concentration Time Curve (AUC) From Time Tlast to Infinity Given as Percentage From AUC0-inf (AUCextra) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ)

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

    Extrapolated AUC from time tlast to infinity given as percentage from AUC0-inf. AUCextra =(last predicted concentration [Clast pred] divided by terminal elimination rate constant [lambda z]) divided by AUC0-inf., where Clast pred is the last predicted concentration.

  5. Maximum Observed Concentration in Plasma (Cmax) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ) After Dose Adjustment

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

  6. Apparent Terminal Half-life (T1/2) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ)

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

    The apparent terminal half-life was calculated by dividing natural log 2 with lambda z (ln2/lambda Z); where lambda Z is the terminal rate constant.

  7. Relative Bioavailability (Frel) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ)

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

    Relative bioavailability (Frel) was calculated for L-PZQ only (treatment A versus treatment B) using the formula: Frel = (AUC0-inf (test or Treatment A)/AUC0-inf (reference or treatment B)) multiplied by 100.

  8. Apparent Terminal Elimination Rate Constant (Lambda Z) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ)

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

    The lambda z was calculated as the negative of the slope of the log-linear regression of the natural logarithm concentration-time curve during the terminal phase.

  9. Apparent Total Body Clearance of Drug From Plasma (CL/f) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ)

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

    The CL/f of L-PZQ was a measure of the rate at which it was metabolized or eliminated by normal biological processes. Clearance obtained after oral dose was influenced by the fraction of the dose absorbed. The CL/F of L-PZQ from plasma was calculated using the formula: Dose divided by area under the concentration time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf).

  10. Apparent Volume of Distribution During the Terminal Phase (Vz/f) of L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ)

    Time frame: Pre-dose, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 8.0, 12.0, 16 and 24 hours post-dose

    The Vz/f was defined as the theoretical volume in which the total amount of L-PZQ required to uniformly distribute to produce the desired plasma concentration of L-PZQ. Apparent volume of distribution after oral dose (Vz/F) was influenced by the fraction absorbed. The Vz/f was calculated by dividing the dose with area under the concentration time curve from time zero to infinity multiplied with terminal elimination rate constant (lambda z) (Vz/f=Dose/( AUC0-inf* lambda z).

  11. Number of Subjects With Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and Serious TEAEs, TEAEs Leading to Death and TEAEs Leading to Discontinuation

    Time frame: From the first dose of study drug administration up to 3-10 days after the last dose of the study drug (up to a maximum of 7 weeks)

    An Adverse Event (AE) was defined as any new untoward medical occurrences/worsening of pre-existing medical condition without regard to possibility of causal relationship. A Serious Adverse Event (SAE) was an AE that resulted in any of the following outcomes: death; life threatening; persistent/significant disability/incapacity; initial or prolonged inpatient hospitalization; congenital anomaly/birth defect. TEAEs were adverse events that occurred between the first dose of study drug and up to 3-10 days after the last dose that were absent before treatment or that worsened relative to pretreatment state. Subjects who discontinued and who died due to TEAEs were also reported.

  12. Palatability Score

    Time frame: 0 min for flavor, smell, sweetness, overall liking; 2-5 minutes post dose for taste in mouth and acceptability on Day 1

    Each administration was assessed at 0 minutes on Day 1 for flavor, smell, sweetness, overall liking of the medicine and at 2-5 minutes on Day 1 for taste in mouth and acceptability to swallow using a modified 100 millimeter (mm), visual analog scale (VAS) incorporating a facial hedonic scale, where lower score (0) indicates "not acceptable/not liked at all" and higher score (100) indicates "very acceptable/liked very much".

  13. Number of Subjects With Clinical Significant Laboratory Abnormalities, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Physical Examination and Vital Signs Reported as Treatment Emergent Adverse Events

    Time frame: From the first dose of study drug administration up to 3-10 days after the last dose of the study drug (up to a maximum of 7 weeks)

    Any clinically significant changes in laboratory evaluations ECGs,physical examination (body weight) and vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate) were recorded as treatment emergent adverse events. Following parameters were analyzed for laboratory examination: hematology (haemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, mean cell hemoglobin [MCH], MCH concentration, mean cell volume, white cell count, platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, Basophils); serum chemistry (sodium, potassium, calcium, inorganic phosphate, creatinine, total protein, albumin, urea, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, triglycerides cholesterol); urinalysis (protein, glucose, ketones, pH, blood, leukocytes, nitrite); The 12-lead ECGs were recorded after the subjects had rested for at least 5 minutes in supine position.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Phase I, Open-Label, Randomized, Single Dose, Five Period, Crossover, Single Center Trial To Assess The Relative Bioavailability Of The 150 mg ODT Formulation Of L PZQ (MSC2499550A) Versus The Current 500 mg PZQ Commercial Racemate Tablet Formulation In Healthy Male Volunteers

Important dates

Study start
2014
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Oct 22, 2014
Registry last updated
Jan 3, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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