NCT04354259

Interferon Lambda for Immediate Antiviral Therapy at Diagnosis in COVID-19

Interferon Lambda for Immediate Antiviral Therapy at Diagnosis (ILIAD): A Phase II Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter Trial to Evaluate the Effect of Peginterferon Lambda for the Treatment of COVID-19

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 157 (actual)
• Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Interferon lambda is one of the main arms of the innate antiviral immune response and is critical for controlling respiratory viral infections in mice. Interferon lambda has a better side effect profile than other interferons because of the limited tissue distribution of its receptor. Peginterferon lambda is a long-acting form that has been studied extensively in human trials in viral hepatitis, confirming its safety. We propose to evaluate peginterferon-lambda in ambulatory and hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

Detailed description

The study uses an adaptive design with initial enrolment in the Ambulatory cohort (Cohort A) followed by a safety assessment before initiation of enrolment in the Hospitalized cohort (Cohort B). Ambulatory patients (Cohort A) with confirmed COVID-19 deemed well enough for home isolation will be randomized to receive a single subcutaneous injection of Peginterferon lambda 180µg or saline placebo prior to discharge. Patients will be followed remotely with visits for a repeat swab at Day 3 and 7 with the primary endpoint being the proportion positive for SARS-CoV-2 on Day 7. Safety data will be reviewed by the Data Safety and Monitoring Committee after 50% of the Ambulatory cohort (n=60) has been enrolled. If the committee approves study continuation, enrolment will continue in the Ambulatory cohort (Cohort A) and will begin in the Hospitalized cohort (Cohort B). Hospitalized patients (Cohort B) with moderate but not severe COVID-19 will be enrolled and randomized to Peginterferon lambda 180µg or saline placebo on Day 0 and 5. The primary endpoint will be clinical outcomes on the WHO ordinal scale. In addition to the primary endpoint on which the study is powered, numerous secondary endpoints will be evaluated. Samples will also be collected for ancillary studies to better understand predictors of disease severity and response to treatment.

Conditions

• Sars-CoV2
• Covid-19

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Peginterferon Lambda-1A	Peginterferon lambda is a covalent conjugate of human recombinant non-pegylated IFN lambda (IFN L) and a 20-kDa linear PEG chain. Peginterferon lambda Injection is a sterile, nonpyrogenic, ready-to-use solution (0.4 mg/mL) that is clear to opalescent, colorless to pale yellow, and essentially free of particles. Lambda Injection is provided in a 1-mL long Type I glass syringe (0.18 mg/syringe) with a staked 29-gauge, 1/2- inch, thin-walled needle. The syringe has a rigid needle shield and is stoppered with a plunger stopper. Syringes are prefilled with a solution of Peginterferon lambda Injection, mannitol, L-histidine, polysorbate 80, hydrochloric acid, and water for injection; they are intended for a single use at adjustable doses. The syringe is marked with dose indicator lines, which are used as a reference point for administering the correct dose.
OTHER	placebo	injection of 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) solution. A plastic 1 mL syringe will be prefilled by the study pharmacy. Each syringe will contain 0.5 mL (0.45 mL to match the volume of the Interferon plus 0.05 mL overfill) to allow for needle priming by the unblinded study nurse.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-05-13
• Primary completion: 2022-08-19
• Completion: 2022-12-08
• First posted: 2020-04-21
• Last updated: 2023-12-13

Locations

7 sites across 2 countries: Brazil, Canada

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study