This is a multi-center, open-label study evaluating the safety of Allocetra-OTS, in up to 24 subjects with severe COVID-19 and respiratory dysfunction. Subjects, who will be identified as suffering from COVID-19, will be recruited. After signing an informed consent by the patient and, within 24+6 hours following the time of eligibility (time 0), on Day 1, eligible recipient subjects will receive single intravenous (IV) administration of investigational product as described below. Subjects will be hospitalized for COVID-19, and later as medically indicated. Following the investigational product (IP) administration (Day 1), subjects will be followed for efficacy and safety assessments through 28 days.
Study Rationale
COVID-19, the name given to the clinical syndrome associated with the newly recognized virus
SARS-CoV-2, has become pandemic with a mortality estimated between 1-4% and complications
among hospitalized patients leading to up to 15-25% of hospital admissions being admitted to
the intensive care unit (ICU).
The term "cytokine storm" calls up vivid images of an immune system gone awry and an
inflammatory response flaring out of control. The term has captured the attention of the
public and the scientific community alike and is increasingly being used in both the popular
media and the scientific literature. Indeed, a few publications have indicated an important
part of the complications in COVID-19 are related to the cytokine storm (Huang et al. Lancet
2020, Mehta et al. Lancet 2020).
In a clinical study conducted in sepsis patients with Allocetra-OTS (ClinicalTrials.gov
Identifier: NCT03925857) we observed that administration of Allocetra-OTS to patients with
sepsis was safe and had a significant immuno-modulating effect, leading to resolution of the
cytokine storm in these patients. There were indications that this treatment may also be
efficacious, based on comparisons with mortality score prediction and historical
matched-controls, and the resolution of organ dysfunction compared to matched historical
controls.
A recent study published by Zou et al (Lancet 2020) showed increasing odds of in-hospital
death in these COVID-19 patients associated with older age and higher Sequential Organ
Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on admission.
Taken together, in patients with severe COVID-19, there may be a comparable underlying
immunological mechanism of action as was recently demonstrated by us in sepsis; that is a
hyper-inflammatory pathway associated with increased death. Therefore, a study of 5 patients
was designed to determine the safety of this treatment in patients with severe COVID-19 and
was approved by the Ministry of Health Ethical Committee. Based on the approved protocol, the
intermediate clinical results of this trial show that the drug is safe and promising.
Study Design
This is a multi-center, open-label study evaluating the safety of Allocetra-OTS, in up to 24
adult patients with severe COVID-19 and respiratory dysfunction. Subjects, who will be
identified as suffering from COVID-19, will be recruited.
After signing an informed consent by the patient and, within 24+6 hours following the time of
eligibility (time 0), on Day 1, eligible recipient subjects will receive single intravenous
(IV) administration of investigational product as described below:
● Allocetra-OTS treatment at 140 x 106 ±20% cells/kg body weight (screening body weight) in
375 mL of Ringer's lactate solution.
Subjects will be followed for efficacy and safety assessments over 28 days following
investigational product administration.
Subjects will be hospitalized for COVID-19, and later as medically indicated. Following IP
administration (Day 1), subjects will be followed for efficacy and safety assessments through
28 days. The number of visits for subjects participating in this study will be on days 3, 5,
7±1, 14±2, and 28±2. Visits on days 7 and 14 may be done via zoom or telephone.
Study Intervention, Route of Administration, and Dosage Form
Allocetra-OTS is a cell-based therapeutic composed of donor early apoptotic cells.
Patient Classification [National Institutes of Health (NIH)]-
www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/overview/management-of-covid-19/
In general, adults with COVID-19 can be grouped into the following severity of illness
categories:
- Asymptomatic or Pre-symptomatic Infection: Individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2
by virologic testing using a molecular diagnostic (e.g., polymerase chain reaction) or
antigen test, but have no symptoms.
- Mild Illness: Individuals who have any of the various signs and symptoms of COVID-19
(e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, muscle pain) without shortness of
breath, dyspnea, or abnormal chest imaging.
- Moderate Illness: Individuals who have evidence of lower respiratory disease by clinical
assessment or imaging and saturation of oxygen (SpO2) ≥94% on room air at sea level.
- Severe Illness: Individuals who have respiratory frequency >30 breaths per minute, SpO2
<94% on room air at sea level, ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction
of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) <300 mmHg, or lung infiltrates >50%
- Critical Illness: Individuals who have respiratory failure, septic shock, and/or
multiple organ dysfunction.
Standard of Care (SOC)
The SOC for COVID-19 will be according to institutional standards. Institutional SOC may
include Clexane, anti-viral agents such as Remdesivir, corticosteroids, or other agents.
Concomitant Medications
Prohibited medications: Significant immune-suppressing agents before developing COVID-19,
including chronic corticosteroids > 10 mg/day, Azathioprine, Cyclosporine, Cyclophosphamide,
and any biological treatment.
The known SOC medications to treat COVID-19; Hydroxychloroquine, Chloroquine, and
Azithromycin, are not known to have any possible interaction with Allocetra-OTS. Neither are
anti-viral agents.
Concomitant Medical Conditions
Apart from patients with a tumor or end-stage organ condition, chronic diseases like
cardiovascular or diabetes are allowed.
Biological: Allocetra-OTS
Allocetra-OTS is a cell-based therapeutic composed of donor early apoptotic cells, comprising allogeneic mononuclear enriched cell suspension with at least 40% early apoptotic cells. The suspension is prepared with Ringer's lactate solution and administered IV. It is stored at 2-8°C until 20+25 minutes before infusion and at room temperature thereafter. Each dose contains 140x10E6 ± 20% cells/ kg of recipient body weight (at screening) in a total volume of 375 mL in a transfer pack that undergoes irradiation and is administered via an adjusted filter using a volumetric pump, at a starting rate of 48 mL/hour with a gradual increase every 15-25 minutes of 15 mL/hour to a maximal rate of 102 mL/hour. The study intervention should be completed within 72 hours of completing the manufacturing process. During product administration, no other IV fluids such as Ringer's lactate or normal saline will be given in parallel unless medically indicated due to volume depletion.
Inclusion Criteria:
Up to twenty-four subjects, male or female > 18 and < 80-year-old diagnosed with COVID-19,
as defined below:
1. Laboratory confirmation of SARS-COV2 infection by reverse-transcription polymerase
chain reaction (RT-PCR) from any diagnostic sampling source.
2. Patients classified as severe or critical according to NIH severity classification.
3. All patients will be treated by treating physician with S.C. Clexane, at a minimal
dose of 40 mg a day
4. Illness with at least one of the following:
- Radiographic infiltrates by imaging (chest x-ray, CT scan, etc.), OR
- SpO2 ≤ 94% on room air, OR
- Requiring supplemental oxygen, with a P/F ratio of ≤350, ≥150
5. Signed written informed consent by the patient.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Pregnancy, lactation, and childbearing potential woman who are not willing to use
acceptable contraceptives measures for the entire study duration.
2. Combined with other organ failures (need organ support not including respirator),
including Stage 4 severe chronic kidney disease or requiring dialysis (i.e. estimated
glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30)
3. Patients with a malignant tumor, other serious systemic diseases and psychosis.
4. Patients who are participating in other clinical trials or treated with any
experimental agents that may contradict this trial (i.e, biologics)
5. Co-Infection of HIV, tuberculosis.
6. Known immunocompromised state or medications known to be immunosuppressive (see
concomitant prohibited medications on the next page).
7. Intubated patients (due to inability to sign an informed consent)
8. Patients with P/F or S/F ratio of <150 or a change in status of eligibility manifested
by a rapid decline of P/F ratio between eligibility status and actual drug delivery.
Barzilai Medical Center
Ashkelon, Israel
Hadassah Medical Center
Jerusalem, Israel
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Tel Aviv, Israel
Dror Mevorach, MD
972-2- 6777317
mevorachd@hadassah.org.il