Prospective, observational, clinical investigation of PMX cartridge use in COVID 19 patients with septic shock
This is a compassionate use protocol for a population of patients with an immediately
life-threatening condition, for whom no comparable alternative therapy options are available.
The PMX cartridge will be utilized to treat critically ill patients with septic shock who
also have COVID 19 virus. The objective will be to observe the efficacy of the PMX cartridge
with a focus on safety of use in this population.
Device: Toraymyxin PMX-20R (PMX Cartridge)
The intervention is two (2) treatment sessions of PMX cartridge administration within approximately 24 hours of each other. Each treatment session will target 2 hours with a minimum of 1 ½ hours, at a flow rate of approximately 100 mL/minute, (range of 80 to 120 mL/minute). In cases where the clinical status of the subject is improving, or if the subject suffers from a relapse and the treating physician believes an additional PMX treatment may improve the clinical outcome of the subject, they may administer an additional PMX treatment session (for a total of 3 treatment sessions) at their discretion. All subjects will continue to receive standard medical care for COVID 19 and septic shock.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age ≥ 18 years of age
2. Hypotension requiring vasopressor support: Requirement for at least one of the
vasopressors listed below, at the dose shown below, for at least 2 continuous hours
and no more than 30 hours
1. Norepinephrine > 0.05mcg/kg/min
2. Dopamine > 10 mcg/kg/min
3. Phenylephrine > 0.4 mcg/kg/min
4. Epinephrine > 0.05 mcg/kg/min
5. Vasopressin > 0.03 units/min
6. Vasopressin (any dose) in combination with another vasopressor listed above
3. The subject must have received intravenous fluid resuscitation of a minimum of 30mL/kg
administered within 24 hours of eligibility
4. Documented or suspected infection defined as definitive or empiric intravenous
antibiotic administration
5. The subject must have a screening multi-organ dysfunction score (MODS) >9
6. Endotoxin Activity Assay between ≥ 0.60 to <0.90 EA units
7. Evidence of at least 1 of the following criteria for new onset organ dysfunction that
is considered to be due to the acute illness:
1. Requirement for positive pressure ventilation via an endotracheal tube or
tracheostomy tube
2. Thrombocytopenia defined as acute onset of platelet count <150,000µ/L or a
reduction of 50% from prior known levels
3. Acute oliguria defined as urine output <0.5mL/kg/hr for at least 6 hours despite
adequate fluid resuscitation
8. Positive COVID 19 diagnosis
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Inability to obtain an informed consent from the subject, family member or an
authorized surrogate
2. Lack of commitment for full medical support
3. Inability to achieve or maintain a minimum mean arterial pressure (MAP) of ≥ 65mmHg
despite vasopressor therapy and fluid resuscitation
4. Subject has end-stage renal disease and requires chronic dialysis
5. There is clinical support for non-septic shock such as:
1. Acute pulmonary embolus
2. Transfusion reaction
3. Severe congestive heart failure (e.g. NYHA Class IV, ejection fraction < 35%)
6. Subject has had chest compressions as part of CPR during this hospitalization without
immediate return to communicative state
7. Subject has had an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within the past 4 weeks
8. Subject has uncontrolled hemorrhage (acute blood loss requiring > 3 UPC in the past 24
hours)
9. Major trauma within 36 hours of screening
10. Subject has severe granulocytopenia (leukocyte count less than 500 cells/mm3) or
severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 30,000 cells/mm3)
11. HIV infection in association with a last known or suspected CD4 count of <50/mm3
12. Subject's baseline state is non-communicative
13. Subject has sustained extensive third-degree burns within the past 7 days
14. Body weight < 35 kg (77 pounds)
15. Known hypersensitivity to Polymyxin B
16. Subject has known sensitivity or allergy to heparin or has a history of heparin
associated thrombocytopenia (H.I.T.)
17. Subject is currently enrolled in an investigational drug or device trial
18. Subject has been previously enrolled in the current trial
19. Any other condition, that in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude the
subject from being a suitable candidate for enrollment, such as end-stage chronic
illness (eg. lack of source control and bowel necrosis) with no reasonable expectation
of survival to hospital discharge
University of Connecticut Health Center
Farmington, Connecticut, United States
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Stony Brook University Hospital
Stony Brook, New York, United States