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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04447989

Safety of Sildenafil in Premature Infants With Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

This is a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, sequential dose-escalating, double-masked, safety study of sildenafil in premature infants (inpatient in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)) with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

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Key information

Age range

Up to 29 week

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

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About this study

Screening/Baseline

Research staff will document informed consent from the parent/guardian for all participants who satisfy eligibility criteria. The following information will be recorded in the case report form (eCRF) from the clinical medical record:

  • Participant demographics, including birth weight and gestational age at birth
  • Maternal race/ethnicity
  • Medical history
  • Physical examination, including actual weight
  • All mean arterial pressure (MAP) obtained in the 24 hours before the first dose
  • Concomitant medications (within 24 hours prior to start of study drug)
  • Respiratory assessment
  • Laboratory evaluations
  • Echocardiogram: If performed per local standard of care < 14 days prior to start of study drug, a study-specific echocardiogram need not be repeated. If not performed per local standard of care < 14 days prior to start of study drug, an echocardiogram will be required to confirm eligibility.
  • Cardiac catheterization reports, if performed per local standard of care < 14 days prior to start of study drug.
  • Adverse events following initial study-specific procedure

Treatment Period

The treatment period will include Days 1-28 or last day of study drug if early withdrawal of study drug. The following information will be collected and recorded while the participant is on study drug:

  • Actual weight on study Days 7 (± 1 day), 14 (± 1 day), 21 (± 1 day), and 28 (± 1 day) of study drug administration
  • Date, time, amount, and route of study drug dose
  • All concomitant medications
  • MAP

A. All MAP values obtained 24 hours after the first dose of study drug regardless of administration route.

B. MAP values will be obtained at a minimum at the following time points i. Prior to the first dose of study drug or dose escalation: 2 hours (± 5 minutes), 1 hour (± 5 minutes), and 15 minutes (± 5 minutes) ii. If administration route is IV:

  • During and following the first dose of study drug or dose escalation: MAP at start of infusion, every 15 minutes (± 5 minutes) during infusion, at end of infusion (inclusive of flush) (± 5 minutes), at 15 and 30 minutes (± 5 minutes) after end of infusion, hourly (± 15 minutes) for 4 hours, and once in the remaining 2 hours prior to the next dose.
  • For subsequent IV doses, the lowest valid MAP value should be recorded daily while on study drug.

iii. If the administration route is enteral:

  • During and following the first dose of study drug or dose escalation: MAP at start of enteral administration, then every 15 minutes (± 5 minutes) for 90 minutes (1.5 hours), then every 30 minutes (± 5 minutes) for 60 minutes (1 hour), then hourly (± 15 minutes) for 4 hours, then once in the remaining 2 hours prior to the next dose.
  • For subsequent enteral doses, the lowest valid MAP value should be recorded daily while on study drug.
  • Respiratory assessment, weekly
  • Laboratory evaluations, at least every other week
  • Echocardiograms and cardiac catheterization reports, if performed per local standard of care
  • Pharmacokinetic (PK) sampling (after Day 7)
  • Adverse events

Weaning Period (Cohorts 2 and 3)

The weaning period will begin following Day 28 of study drug or, following the last day of study drug if participant was withdrawn from study drug prior to Day 28 and the dose escalated to ≥ 0.5 mg/kg IV or ≥ 1 mg/kg enteral.

The following information will be collected and recorded while the participant is weaning from study drug:

  • Date, time, amount and route of study drug dose
  • MAP (the lowest MAP value on last day of wean should be recorded).
  • Respiratory assessment on last day of wean
  • Echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization reports, if performed per local standard of care
  • Adverse events

Follow-up Period

The follow-up period will include Days 1-28 after the last study drug dose; last study drug dose may occur prior to Day 28 for those participants who withdraw from study drug early; on Day 28 for those participants who complete the full treatment period; or after last weaning dose for those participants who require weaning. The following information will be reported in electronic data capture system (EDC) at Day 1 (+ 2 days) and 14 (± 2days) of the follow-up period (or days closest to and after Day 1 and 14, if >1 assessment is available), except for MAP, adverse events (AEs), and serious adverse events (SAEs) (which will be reported from Days 1-28 post last study drug dose) and standard of care echocardiograms or cardiac catheterization reports:

  • Physical examination, including actual weight
  • MAP (the lowest valid MAP value on follow-up Day 1, 14, 21, and 28 should be recorded).
  • Respiratory assessment
  • Laboratory evaluations
  • Echocardiogram on follow-up Day 1 (+2 days). If performed per local standard of care, a study-specific echocardiogram need not be repeated. If not performed per local standard of care on Day 1 (+2 days) of the follow-up period, an echocardiogram will need to be performed.
  • Echocardiograms and cardiac catheterization reports, if performed per local standard of care (during follow-up Days 1-28)
  • Adverse events and SAEs (during follow-up Days 1-28)

Final Study Assessment

Final study assessment will occur at the time of discharge or transfer. The following information will be collected:

  • Physical examination, including actual weight
  • Respiratory assessment
  • Echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization reports, if performed per local standard of care on the day of discharge or transfer or up to 2 days prior.
  • Global rank
  • Discharge information A. Discharge or transfer B. Death C. Duration of hospitalization
  • Record if treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was required

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Documented informed consent from parent or guardian, prior to study procedures
  • < 29 weeks gestational age at birth
  • 32-44 weeks postmenstrual age
  • Receiving respiratory support at enrollment:
  • If 32 0/7-35 6/7 weeks postmenstrual age: mechanical ventilation (high frequency or conventional)
  • If 36 0/7-44 6/7 weeks postmenstrual age: mechanical ventilation (high frequency or conventional) OR continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

Note:

  • Criteria 3 and 4 define severe BPD for the purposes of this study
  • CPAP is defined as any of the following:
  • Nasal cannula > 2 liters per minute (LPM)
  • Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP)
  • Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV)
  • Noninvasive neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA)
  • Any other device designed to provide positive pressure through a nasal device (e.g., RAM cannula, etc.)

Exclusion criteria

  • Previous enrollment and dosing in this study, protocol number (NHLBI-2019-SIL), "Safety of Sildenafil in Premature Infants with Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)"
  • Previous exposure to sildenafil within 7 days prior to randomization*
  • Previous exposure to vasopressors within 24 hours prior to randomization*
  • Previous exposure to inhaled nitric oxide within 24 hours prior to randomization*
  • Previous exposure to milrinone within 24 hours prior to randomization*
  • Evidence of pulmonary hypertension or moderate/large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) on the most recent echocardiogram performed within 14 days prior to randomization
  • Known major congenital heart defect requiring medical or surgical intervention in the neonatal period
  • Known allergy to sildenafil
  • Known sickle cell disease
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > 225 U/L < 72 hours prior to randomization
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 150 U/L < 72 hours prior to randomization
  • Any condition that would make the participant, in the opinion of the investigator, unsuitable for the study.
  • Participant will be reassessed prior to dosing to reconfirm eligibility criteria.

Treatment and study plan

Sildenafil

Drug

Sildenafil citrate injection or powder for suspension

Other names: Revatio

Placebo

Drug

dextrose 5%

Other names: Dextrose 5%

Primary outcomes

  1. Safety Based Upon Number of Participants With Hypotension

    Time frame: 28 days post last dose of study drug, up to 9 weeks

    Safety as determined by incidence of hypotension experienced by the participants through 28 days post last dose of study drug.

    Hypotension will be defined as any clinically significant low blood pressure event deemed by the treating physician to require intervention with a fluid bolus or the initiation or escalation of inotropic, vasopressor, or systemic steroid therapy with the specific intent to raise blood pressure.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Central Volume of Distribution (Vc) Population Pharmacokinetics (popPK)

    Time frame: Following the completion of 7 days (168 hours) of study drug administration

  2. Peripheral Volume of Distribution (Vp) Population Pharmacokinetics (popPK)

    Time frame: Following the completion of 7 days (168 hours) of study drug administration

  3. Clearance Population Pharmacokinetics (popPK)

    Time frame: Following the completion of 7 days (168 hours) of study drug administration

  4. Half-life Population Pharmacokinetics (popPK)

    Time frame: Following the completion of 7 days (168 hours) of study drug administration

  5. Peak Plasma Concentration Population Pharmacokinetics (popPK)

    Time frame: Following the completion of 7 days (168 hours) of study drug administration

Other outcomes

  1. Number of Participants at Each Global Rank

    Time frame: 28 days post last dose of study drug, up to 9 weeks

    Global rank is defined as clinically significant events ranked in order of decreasing perceived severity. Rank descriptions are presented from most to least severe.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Christoph Hornik

Other

Collaborators

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Registry information

Acronym: SILDI-SAFE

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 25, 2020
Registry last updated
Jan 26, 2026

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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