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NCT Number: NCT06565273

Study to Investigate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of FBL-MTX in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of FBL-MTX administered by subcutaneous route in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients.

Participants will be screened within 28 days prior to treatment period, to confirm that they meet the selection criteria for the study.

Treatment period: The treatment period will consist of eight sequential study visits, separated by a 2-week interval.

* DMARD-naïve Patients: Patients will be administered an initial dose of FBL-MTX of 1 mg, by SC route. Subsequent doses will be titrated according to clinical response at intervals of 4 weeks, for 12 weeks. Maximum dosage will be 2.5 mg, every 2 weeks. * Patients with an Inadequate Response or Intolerance to Oral MTX: Patients will be administered an initial dose of FBL-MTX 2.5 mg, by SC route. Subsequent doses will be titrated according to clinical response at intervals of 4 weeks, for 12 weeks. Maximum dosage will be 2.5 mg, every two weeks.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis Arthritis Arthritis, Rheumatoid Autoimmune Diseases Connective Tissue Diseases Immune System Diseases Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Unidade Local de Saúde da Região de Aveiro, EPE, Aveiro, Portugal

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About this study

The Sponsor is developing folate-based liposomes encapsulating methotrexate (FBL-MTX) as a putative therapy for RA, by intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) administration.

Considering the presented non-clinical and clinical data for FBL-MTX and that SC administration is the most adequate route for patient self-administration, the Sponsor intends to proceed the clinical development of FBL-MTX with the objective of providing a more patient-friendly product with at least the same efficacy.

This proof-of-concept study intends to demonstrate the plausibility of FBL-MTX SC administration in patients through the exploratory evaluation of SC FBL-MTX efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe active RA, and collection data on its safety and tolerability.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or non-pregnant female subjects with moderate-to-severe active RA, age ≥ 18 years, Body Mass Index > 35 kg/m2.
  • Diagnosis of RA according to the 2010 classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology/ European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, formerly known as European League Against Rheumatism, (ACR/EULAR), with a Total Score ≥ 6/10.
  • At least moderately active disease, as defined by DAS28-CRP >3.2 at Screening and Baseline, including:
  • Tender joint count (TJC) ≥ 4
  • Swollen joint count (SJC) ≥ 4
  • C Reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 5 mg/L
  • Documented history of positive RA factor and/or cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody test.
  • Chest X-ray performed in the previous 3 months not suggestive of tuberculosis.
  • If under nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), must be able to be on a stable regimen from at least 2 weeks before baseline up to end-of-study.
  • If under an oral corticosteroid (≤ 10 mg per day of prednisone or equivalent), must be able to be on a stable regimen from at least 4 weeks before baseline up to EoS.
  • Eligible to start treatment with an immunomodulator.
  • No evidence of clinically significant active infection.

Exclusion criteria

  • Positive Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test result.
  • Creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min.

Treatment and study plan

FBL-MTX

Drug

Patients will be administered an initial dose of FBL-MTX by subcutaneous route. Subsequent doses will be titrated according to clinical response. Maximum dosage will be 2.5 mg, every 2 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in Disease Activity Score (DAS) for 28-joint count using C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) at Week 14

    Time frame: From screening up to week 14.

    The DAS28-CRP is a combined index for measuring disease activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis. The components of the DAS28-CRP assessment include: 28 tender and swollen joint counts, CRP, and Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity, using a visual analogue scale (VAS): DAS28-CRP = 0.56*sqrt(28*Tender Joint Count) + 0.28*sqrt(28*Swollen joint count) + 0.36*ln(C-Reactive protein+1) + 0.014* global visual analogue scale + 0.96; Note: The 28 joints examined and assessed as tender or not tender for TJC and as swollen or not swollen for SJC include 14 joints on each side of the participant's body: 2 shoulders, 2 elbows, 2 wrists, 10 metacarpophalangeal joints, 2 interphalangeal joints of the thumb, 8 proximal interphalangeal joints, and 2 knees. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.

  2. Change from baseline in DAS28-CRP at Weeks 4, 8, and 12.

    Time frame: From screening up to weeks 4, 8 and 12.

    The DAS28-CRP is a combined index for measuring disease activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis. The components of the DAS28-CRP assessment include: 28 tender and swollen joint counts, CRP, and Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity, using a visual analogue scale (VAS): DAS28-CRP = 0.56*sqrt(28*Tender Joint Count) + 0.28*sqrt(28*Swollen joint count) + 0.36*ln(C-Reactive protein+1) + 0.014* global visual analogue scale + 0.96; Note: The 28 joints examined and assessed as tender or not tender for TJC and as swollen or not swollen for SJC include 14 joints on each side of the participant's body: 2 shoulders, 2 elbows, 2 wrists, 10 metacarpophalangeal joints, 2 interphalangeal joints of the thumb, 8 proximal interphalangeal joints, and 2 knees. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.

  3. Number of subjects who achieve remission (DAS28-CRP <2.6) at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.

    Time frame: From screening up to weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14.

    The DAS28-CRP is a combined index for measuring disease activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis. The components of the DAS28-CRP assessment include: 28 tender and swollen joint counts, CRP, and Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity, using a visual analogue scale (VAS): DAS28-CRP = 0.56*sqrt(28*Tender Joint Count) + 0.28*sqrt(28*Swollen joint count) + 0.36*ln(C-Reactive protein+1) + 0.014* global visual analogue scale + 0.96; Note: The 28 joints examined and assessed as tender or not tender for TJC and as swollen or not swollen for SJC include 14 joints on each side of the participant's body: 2 shoulders, 2 elbows, 2 wrists, 10 metacarpophalangeal joints, 2 interphalangeal joints of the thumb, 8 proximal interphalangeal joints, and 2 knees. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.

  4. Number of subjects who achieve low disease activity (DAS28-CRP <3.2) at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.

    Time frame: From screening up to weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14.

  5. Number of subjects who achieve American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20% (ACR20) response at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.

    Time frame: From screening up to weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14.

  6. Number of subjects who achieve ACR50 response at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.

    Time frame: From screening up to weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14.

  7. Number of subjects who achieve ACR70 response at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.

    Time frame: From screening up to weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14.

  8. Change from baseline in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.

    Time frame: From screening up to weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14.

  9. Change from baseline in Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.

    Time frame: From screening up to weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14.

  10. Change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 14.

    Time frame: From screening up to weeks 4, 8, 12 and 14.

  11. Change from baseline in Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) at Week 14.

    Time frame: From screening up to Week 14.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incidence of TEAEs and SAEs. Clinically relevant abnormalities in vital signs, 12-lead ECG, and laboratory parameters will be reported as AEs.

    Time frame: From date of screening until the date of the last post-study follow-up visit.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

SOLFARCOS - Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Solutions Ltd

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Phase IIa Proof-of-Concept Study, With Dose-Titration Based on Treat-to-Target Strategy, to Investigate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Subcutaneous Injection of Folate-based Liposomes Encapsulating Methotrexate (FBL-MTX) in Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARD)-naïve Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Active Rheumatoid Arthritis and in Patients With an Inadequate Response or Intolerance to Oral MTX.

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Aug 21, 2024
Registry last updated
Jun 11, 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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