This clinical study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of DFV890 for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) infected patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia and impaired respiratory function.
This was a Phase II, randomized, controlled, open label multi-center study to assess the
efficacy and safety of DFV890 for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients with COVID-19
pneumonia and impaired respiratory function.
The study consisted of four distinct study periods:
Screening / Baseline visit (Day -1 to 1): lasted up to a maximum of 24 hours and comprised a
screening / baseline assessment. This visit was used to confirm that the study inclusion and
exclusion criteria were met and served as baseline assessment prior to randomization.
Treatment period (Day 1-15): Participants were randomized as soon as possible, but within a
maximum of 24 hours after screening in a 1:1 ratio receiving either DFV890 in addition to
standard of care (SoC) or SoC alone. Participants in the investigational treatment arm
received DFV890 administered for a total of 14 days in addition to SoC. Participants in the
control arm received SoC alone. Study assessments were conducted every 2 days for
hospitalized participants.
The End of Treatment (EOT) visit took place on Day 15. If participants were discharged from
the hospital prior to Day 15, assessments on the day of discharge were performed according to
the schedule listed under Day 15; participants continued to take the investigational
treatment at home to complete the 14-day treatment period and the participants returned to
the site for the Day 15/EOT assessment. If a hospital visit was not possible at Day 15, then
home nursing services were used to support the last visit.
Follow-up (Day 16-29): After completion of the treatment period, participants were observed
until Day 29 or discharged from hospital, whichever was sooner. Study assessments were
conducted every 2 days for hospitalized participants. If participants were discharged from
hospital prior to Day 29, a study visit conducted by telephone was performed on Day 29.
30-day safety follow-up assessment (Day 45): A follow-up visit for safety was conducted by
telephone.
Drug: DFV890
DFV890 25 mg tablets orally/nasogastrically administered 50 mg b.i.d for 14 days in addition to SoC.
Drug: Standard of Care (SoC)
SoC included a variety of supportive therapies that ranged from the administration of supplementary oxygen to full intensive care support, alongside the use of antiviral treatment, convalescent plasma, corticosteroids, antibiotics or other agents.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male and female patients aged 18-80 years inclusive at screening.
- Clinically diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or
by other approved diagnostic methodology within 7 days prior to randomization.
- Hospitalized with COVID-19-induced pneumonia evidenced by chest X-ray, computed
tomography scan (CT scan) or magnetic resonance scan (MR scan), taken within 5 days
prior to randomization (within 24 hours in patients in the Netherlands).
- Impaired respiratory function, defined as peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤93% on
room air or partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) / fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2)
<300 millimeter of mercury (mmHg) at screening. For cities located at altitudes
greater than 2500 m above sea level, these will be substituted with SpO2 <90% and
PaO2/FiO2 <250 mmHg.
- APACHE II score of ≥10 at screening.
- C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥20 mg/L and/or ferritin level ≥600 μg/L at screening.
- Body mass index of ≥18 to <40kg/m2 at screening.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Suspected active or chronic bacterial (including Mycobacterium tuberculosis), fungal,
viral, or other infection (besides SARS-CoV-2).
- In the opinion of the investigator, progression to death is imminent and inevitable
within the next 24 hours, irrespective of the provision of treatment.
- Intubated prior to randomization.
- Previous treatment with anti-rejection and immunomodulatory drugs within the past 2
weeks, or within the past 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is the longer) for
immunomodulatory therapeutic antibodies or prohibited drugs, with the exception of
hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine or corticosteroids:
For COVID-19 infection, ongoing corticosteroid treatment is permitted at doses as per local
SoC.For non-COVID-19 disorders, ongoing corticosteroid treatment is permitted at doses up
to and including prednisolone 10 mg daily or equivalent.
In patients in the Netherlands only, the use of hydroxychloroquine and/or chloroquine in
the past 2 weeks are exclusionary.
- Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) >5 times upper limit
of normal detected within 24 hours at screening or at baseline (according to local
laboratory reference ranges) or other evidence if severe hepatic impairment
(Child-Pugh Class C).
- Absolute peripheral blood neutrophil count of ≤1000/mm3.
- Estimated GFR (eGFR) ≤30 mL/min/1.73m2 (based on CKD-EPI formula).
- Patients currently being treated with drugs known to be strong or moderate inducers of
isoenzyme CYP2C9 and/or strong inhibitors of CYP2C9 and/or strong inducers of
cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A (CYP3A) and the treatment cannot be
discontinued or switched to a different medication prior to starting study treatment.
- Patients with innate or acquired immunodeficiencies.
- Patients who have undergone solid organ or stem cell transplantation.
Novartis Investigative Site
Caba, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Novartis Investigative Site
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Novartis Investigative Site
Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Novartis Investigative Site
Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
Novartis Investigative Site
Hvidovre, Denmark
Novartis Investigative Site
Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
Novartis Investigative Site
Hannover, Germany
Novartis Investigative Site
Wuerzburg, Germany
Novartis Investigative Site
Budapest, Hungary
Novartis Investigative Site
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Novartis Investigative Site
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Novartis Investigative Site
New Delhi, India
Novartis Investigative Site
New Delhi, India
Novartis Investigative Site
Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico CP, Mexico
Novartis Investigative Site
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Novartis Investigative Site
Harderwijk, Netherlands
Novartis Investigative Site
San Martin de Porres, Lima, Peru
Novartis Investigative Site
San Miguel, Lima, Peru
Novartis Investigative Site
Barnaul, Russian Federation
Novartis Investigative Site
Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
Novartis Investigative Site
Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
Novartis Investigative Site
Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation
Novartis Investigative Site
Moscow, Russian Federation
Novartis Investigative Site
Ryazan, Russian Federation
Novartis Investigative Site
Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
Novartis Investigative Site
St Petersburg, Russian Federation
Novartis Investigative Site
George, Western Cape, South Africa
Novartis Investigative Site
Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
Novartis Investigative Site
Madrid, Spain
Novartis pharmaceuticals, Study Director
Novartis Pharmaceuticals