A Phase 2, Randomized, Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled, Proof-of-Concept Trial of Oral Fexinidazole in Adults With Chronic Indeterminate Chagas Disease.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease (CD) has significant global health impact, but safe, effective treatments remain elusive. The nitroimidazole fexinidazole is a potential treatment. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-finding, proof-of-concept study was conducted in Bolivia. Adults with serologically confirmed chronic indeterminate CD and positive PCR were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 fexinidazole regimens (1200 or 1800 mg/day for 2, 4, or 8 weeks) or placebo. Target recruitment was 20 patients/arm. The primary endpoint was sustained parasitological clearance by serial negative qPCR from end of treatment (EOT) until 6 months follow-up in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Follow-up was extended to 12 months. RESULTS: Enrollment was interrupted after 4/47 patients presented with transient asymptomatic grade 3 and 4 neutropenia. Treatment of ongoing patients was stopped in all patients administered >2 weeks. A total of 40 patients received treatment with fexinidazole from 3 days to 8 weeks. Delayed-onset neutropenia (n = 8) and increased liver enzymes (n = 8) were found in fexinidazole patients vs none in the placebo arm. In the ITT analysis, sustained parasitological clearance from EOT to 12 months follow-up varied between 66.7% (1200 mg-2 week) and 100.0% (1800 mg-2 week). Rapid, sustained clearance of parasitemia was observed in all treated patients with available data, but not in any patients in the placebo group, at 12 months (P = .0056). Further exploratory exposure-response analysis suggested low dosages of fexinidazole may be safe and effective. CONCLUSIONS: Further evaluation is needed to establish fexinidazole's minimum effective dosage and risk-benefit relationship. Results suggest potential for effective treatment regimens <10 days. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT02498782.

Drug-Drug Interaction Study of Benznidazole and E1224 in Healthy Male Volunteers.

E1224 is a prodrug of ravuconazole (RVZ), an antifungal drug with promising anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity, the causative organism of Chagas disease (CD). This study was designed to assess the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety interactions of benznidazole (BNZ), the drug of choice for treatment of CD, and E1224 in healthy volunteers. This open-label, single-center, sequential, single- and multiple-oral-dose study enrolled 28 healthy male subjects. These subjects received BNZ (2.5 mg/kg) once daily on days 1 and 9 and twice daily from day 12 to day 15 and E1224 once daily from day 4 to day 15 (loading dose of 400 mg for 3 days and maintenance dose of 100 mg for 9 days). The maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration curve from zero to infinity for BNZ were comparable, whether BNZ was given alone or with E1224 at steady state, with ratios of geometric means for BNZ-RVZ to BNZ of 0.96 and 0.83 and corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of 0.91 to 1.10 and 0.80 to 0.87, respectively. However, RVZ Cmax and area under the concentration curve from zero to 24 h increased by about 35% when concomitantly administered with BNZ at steady state (ratio of geometric means for RVZ-BNZ/RVZ of 1.31 and 1.36 and corresponding 90% CIs of 1.23 to 1.39 and 1.31 to 1.41, respectively). Both compounds were well tolerated. There were no clinically relevant safety interactions between E1224 and BZN. Given these results, coadministration of RVZ and BNZ should not require any adaptation of E1224 dosing.

Dried Blood Spot Technique-Based Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method as a Simple Alternative for Benznidazole Pharmacokinetic Assessment.

Chagas disease (CD) is recognized as one of the major neglected global tropical diseases. Benznidazole (BNZ) is the drug of choice for the treatment of adults, young infants, and newborns with CD. However, the pharmacokinetics (PK) of BNZ have been poorly evaluated in all age groups, with consequent gaps in knowledge about PK-pharmacodynamic relationships in CD. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a bioanalytical method to quantify BNZ levels in small-volume whole-blood samples collected as dried blood spots (DBS). The analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography-positive electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. PK evaluation in healthy male volunteers was conducted to verify the correlation between DBS and plasma BNZ concentrations. The calibration curve was linear from 50 to 20,000 ng · ml-1 Intra- and interday precision and bias values were less than 14.87% (n = 9) and 9.81% (n = 27), respectively. The recovery rates ranged from 94 to 100% with no matrix effect. There was no hematocrit level effect in a range of 20 to 70%. The PK results obtained from DBS and plasma were comparable (r2 = 0.8295) and equivalent to previously published information on BNZ. BNZ in DBS was stable at room temperature for more than one year. This article describes the first microsampling method for measuring BNZ levels in DBS that has the potential to facilitate broad implementation of PK in clinical trials involving adult and pediatric patients in remote areas and helps to address existing knowledge gaps in the treatment of CD.

Efficacy and safety of fexinidazole for treatment of chronic indeterminate Chagas disease (FEXI-12): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: More than six million people worldwide, particularly in vulnerable communities in Latin America, are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Only a small portion have access to diagnosis and treatment. Both drugs used to treat this chronic, neglected infection, benznidazole and nifurtimox, were developed more than 50 years ago, and adverse drug reactions during treatment pose a major barrier, causing 20% of patients to discontinue therapy. Fexinidazole proved efficacious in an earlier, interrupted clinical trial, but the doses evaluated were not well tolerated. The present study evaluated fexinidazole at lower doses and for shorter treatment durations. METHODS: In this randomised, double-blind, phase 2 trial, we included adult patients (18-60 years old) with confirmed T cruzi infection by serology and PCR and without signs of organ involvement. We evaluated three regimens of fexinidazole-600 mg once daily for 10 days (6·0 g total dose), 1200 mg daily for 3 days (3·6 g), and 600 mg daily for 3 days followed by 1200 mg daily for 4 days (6·6 g)-and compared them with a historical placebo control group (n=47). The primary endpoint was sustained negative results by PCR at end of treatment and on each visit up to four months of follow-up. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03587766, and EudraCT, 2016-004905-15. FINDINGS: Between Oct 16, 2017, and Aug 7, 2018, we enrolled 45 patients (n=15 for each group), of whom 43 completed the study. Eight (19%) of 43 fexinidazole-treated patients reached the primary endpoint, compared with six (13%) of 46 in the historical control group. Mean parasite load decreased sharply following treatment but rebounded beginning 10 weeks after treatment. Five participants had seven grade 3 adverse events: carpal tunnel, sciatica, device infection, pneumonia, staphylococcal infection, and joint and device dislocation. Two participants discontinued treatment due to adverse events unrelated to fexinidazole. INTERPRETATION: The fexinidazole regimens in this study had an acceptable safety profile but did not prove effective against T cruzi infection. Development of fexinidazole monotherapy for treating T cruzi infection has been stopped. FUNDING: The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.

New regimens of benznidazole monotherapy and in combination with fosravuconazole for treatment of Chagas disease (BENDITA): a phase 2, double-blind, randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment for Chagas disease with the only available drugs, benznidazole or nifurtimox, has substantial limitations, including long treatment duration and safety and tolerability concerns. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new benznidazole monotherapy regimens and combinations with fosravuconazole, in the treatment of Chagas disease. METHODS: We did a double-blind, double-dummy, phase 2, multicentre, randomised trial in three outpatient units in Bolivia. Adults aged 18-50 years with chronic indeterminate Chagas disease, confirmed by serological testing and positive qualitative PCR results, were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1:1:1:1) to one of seven treatment groups using a balanced block randomisation scheme with an interactive response system. Participants were assigned to benznidazole 300 mg daily for 8 weeks, 4 weeks, or 2 weeks, benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks, benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks plus fosravuconazole, benznidazole 300 mg once per week for 8 weeks plus fosravuconazole, or placebo, with a 12-month follow-up period. The primary endpoints were sustained parasitological clearance at 6 months, defined as persistent negative qualitative PCR results from end of treatment, and incidence and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events, serious adverse events, and adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. Primary efficacy analysis was based on the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations and secondary efficacy analyses on the per-protocol population. Safety analyses were based on the as-treated population. Recruitment is now closed. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03378661. FINDINGS: Between Nov 30, 2016, and July 27, 2017, we screened 518 patients, and 210 were enrolled and randomised. 30 patients (14%) were assigned to each treatment group. All 210 randomised patients were included in the intention-to-treat population, and 190 (90%) were included in the per-protocol population. In the intention-to-treat analysis, only one (3%) of 30 patients in the placebo group had sustained parasitological clearance at 6 months of follow-up. Sustained parasitological clearance at 6 months was observed in 25 (89%) of 28 patients receiving benznidazole 300 mg daily for 8 weeks (rate difference vs placebo 86% [95% CI 73-99]), 25 (89%) of 28 receiving benznidazole 300 mg daily for 4 weeks (86% [73-99]), 24 (83%) of 29 receiving benznidazole 300 mg daily for 2 weeks (79% [64-95]), 25 (83%) of 30 receiving benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks (80% [65-95]), 23 (85%) of 28 receiving benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks plus fosravuconazole (82% [67-97]), and 24 (83%) of 29 receiving benznidazole 300 mg weekly for 8 weeks plus fosravuconazole (79% [64-95]; p<0·0001 for all group comparisons with placebo). Six patients (3%) had ten serious adverse events (leukopenia [n=3], neutropenia [n=2], pyrexia, maculopapular rash, acute cholecystitis, biliary polyp, and breast cancer), eight had 12 severe adverse events (defined as interfering substantially with the patient's usual functions; elevated alanine aminotransferase [n=4], elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase [n=2], elevated aspartate aminotransferase [n=1], neutropenia [n=3], leukopenia [n=1], and breast cancer [n=1]), and 15 (7%) had adverse events that led to treatment discontinuation (most of these were in the groups who received benznidazole 300 mg daily for 8 weeks, benznidazole 300 mg once per week for 8 weeks plus fosravuconazole, and benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks plus fosravuconazole). No adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were observed in patients treated with benznidazole 300 mg daily for 2 weeks or placebo. There were no treatment-related deaths. INTERPRETATION: Benznidazole induced effective antiparasitic response, regardless of treatment duration, dose, or combination with fosravuconazole, and was well tolerated in adult patients with chronic Chagas disease. Shorter or reduced regimens of benznidazole could substantially improve treatment tolerability and accessibility, but further studies are needed to confirm these results. FUNDING: Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). TRANSLATION: For the Spanish translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

In vitro and in vivo experimental models for drug screening and development for Chagas disease.

Chagas disease, a neglected illness, affects nearly 12-14 million people in endemic areas of Latin America. Although the occurrence of acute cases sharply has declined due to Southern Cone Initiative efforts to control vector transmission, there still remain serious challenges, including the maintenance of sustainable public policies for Chagas disease control and the urgent need for better drugs to treat chagasic patients. Since the introduction of benznidazole and nifurtimox approximately 40 years ago, many natural and synthetic compounds have been assayed against Trypanosoma cruzi, yet only a few compounds have advanced to clinical trials. This reflects, at least in part, the lack of consensus regarding appropriate in vitro and in vivo screening protocols as well as the lack of biomarkers for treating parasitaemia. The development of more effective drugs requires (i) the identification and validation of parasite targets, (ii) compounds to be screened against the targets or the whole parasite and (iii) a panel of minimum standardised procedures to advance leading compounds to clinical trials. This third aim was the topic of the workshop entitled Experimental Models in Drug Screening and Development for Chagas Disease, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the 25th and 26th of November 2008 by the Fiocruz Program for Research and Technological Development on Chagas Disease and Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative. During the meeting, the minimum steps, requirements and decision gates for the determination of the efficacy of novel drugs for T. cruzi control were evaluated by interdisciplinary experts and an in vitro and in vivo flowchart was designed to serve as a general and standardised protocol for screening potential drugs for the treatment of Chagas disease.

In vitro and in vivo experimental models for drug screening and development for Chagas disease

Chagas disease, a neglected illness, affects nearly 12-14 million people in endemic areas of Latin America. Although the occurrence of acute cases sharply has declined due to Southern Cone Initiative efforts to control vector transmission, there still remain serious challenges, including the maintenance of sustainable public policies for Chagas disease control and the urgent need for better drugs to treat chagasic patients. Since the introduction of benznidazole and nifurtimox approximately 40 years ago, many natural and synthetic compounds have been assayed against Trypanosoma cruzi, yet only a few compounds have advanced to clinical trials. This reflects, at least in part, the lack of consensus regarding appropriate in vitro and in vivo screening protocols as well as the lack of biomarkers for treating parasitaemia. The development of more effective drugs requires (i) the identification and validation of parasite targets, (ii) compounds to be screened against the targets or the whole parasite and (iii) a panel of minimum standardised procedures to advance leading compounds to clinical trials. This third aim was the topic of the workshop entitled Experimental Models in Drug Screening and Development for Chagas Disease, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the 25th and 26th of November 2008 by the Fiocruz Program for Research and Technological Development on Chagas Disease and Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative. During the meeting, the minimum steps, requirements and decision gates for the determination of the efficacy of novel drugs for T. cruzi control were evaluated by interdisciplinary experts and an in vitro and in vivo flowchart was designed to serve as a general and standardised protocol for screening potential drugs for the treatment of Chagas disease.