The current COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide healthcare crisis. Of concern is the large number of patients that are/will require mechanical ventilation, and the associated strain that this will place on healthcare resources. At present, there are no specific therapeutic interventions directed at COVID-19 infection. However, observational data suggest that there is a subgroup of patients that demonstrate a hyperinflammatory response in response to COVID-19 and have a higher requirement for Critical Care and higher mortality. There is a strong case for the use of the naturally occurring anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in these patients. Anakinra is a recombinant form of IL-1Ra that is licensed for clinical use. Success of use of anakinra in COVID-19 trials will be greatly enhanced by robust scientific evidence and established pharmacokinetics which inform the most effective dosing regimens. The latter is especially important when, as in the case of anakinra, drug supplies are limited, the drug has short half-life and clinical ease of application is critical.
The investigators plan a small trial of an existing drug in patients with COVID-19 at Salford
Royal NHS Foundation Trust (SRFT) and Manchester Foundation Trust (MFT). The investigators
will recruit patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection within 24 hours of being
transfer in a Critical Care department. The investigators have been testing interleukin-1
receptor antagonist: IL-1Ra (known as Anakinra) for many years. Marketed as a treatment for
rheumatoid arthritis and for some rare autoimmune diseases, we have shown Anakinra also
reduces or blocks inflammation in a number of other conditions e.g. stroke and brain
haemorrhage. The investigators have found it to be safe, easily administered and well
tolerated. As part of the global response to the SARS-COV-2 pandemic, researchers have
identified drugs that repurposing existing drugs. Anakinra has been proposed as a candidate
therapy for COVID-19 and will be used in REMAP-CAP clinical trial as an intravenous (IV)
therapy four times daily (qds). Whilst there is uncertainty about the therapeutic benefits,
the investigators wish to explore the theory that they can achieve comparable concentrations
in the blood using a subcutaneous (SC) injection twice daily (bd), as observed with IV
therapy qds. We will randomise up to 40 patients to receive either SC Anakinra twice daily or
IV Anakinra four-times daily for 14 days (or until discharge from CCU). They will measure
changes in biomarkers in both groups and use the data to inform a mathematical model to
simulate the effect the drug may have on the body. The aim is to the provide evidence that a
lower dose SC Anakinra is as effective as higher dose IV.
Drug: Anakinra 100Mg/0.67Ml Inj Syringe
100 mg interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (r-meth-Hu-IL-1Ra), anakinra; marketed as Kineret® in 0.67 mL prefilled syringe for single use
Other Name: Kineret
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient age 18 or above.
- Clinically suspected/proven COVID-19.
- Requiring organ support with one or more of:
- Non-invasive or invasive ventilatory support
- Receiving infusion of vasopressor or inotropes or both.
- No concomitant health problems that, in the opinion of the PI or designee in agreement
with the treating clinician, would interfere with participation, administration of
study drug or assessment of outcomes including safety.
Exclusion Criteria:
- More than 24h has elapsed since CCU admission.
- Death is deemed to be imminent and inevitable during the next 24h.
- One or more of: the patient, substitute decision-maker or the attending physician are
not committed to full active treatment.
- Known condition resulting in ongoing immunosuppression including neutropenia (count <
1.5 x 10^9/L) prior to hospitalisation, malignancy, latent tuberculosis or chronic
liver disease (if known).
- Previous or current treatment with anakinra or medication suspected of interacting
with anakinra, listed in the drug SmPC, known at the time of trial entry or previous
participation in this trial.
- Known to have received active treatment in a clinical trial of an investigational
immunomodulatory agent (not including corticosteroids) within 30 days prior to study
entry.
- Known to be pregnant or breast feeding or inability to reliably confirm that the
patient is not pregnant.
- Known allergy to anakinra or any of the excipients listed in the drug SmPC
- Known allergy to other products that are produced by DNA technology using the
micro-organism E. coli (e.g. Escherichia coli derived protein).
Manchester Univesity NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester, United Kingdom
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Tust
Salford, United Kingdom
Timothy Felton, Dr, Principal Investigator
University of Manchester