Trial Outcomes & Findings for Merck Carotid Atherosclerosis Trial (MK-0000-111)(COMPLETED) (NCT NCT00804843)

NCT ID: NCT00804843

Last Updated: 2015-09-30

Results Overview

Excised carotid plaques were evaluated for the gene expression of 60 biomarkers associated with inflammation ("Hot" biomarkers) \& 25 biomarkers associated with stability ("Cold" biomarkers). Each biomarker was assayed using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction method and results were reported as a Cycle Threshold, (Ct). A Composite Score was calculated by averaging the Ct for each of the 25 "cold" genes, and subtracting the average Ct for the 60 "hot" genes. A higher composite score was associated with greater inflammation and a lower score was associated with stability (non-inflamed).

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2

Target enrollment

100 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

At time of carotid endarterectomy (after 4 to 12 weeks of dosing)

Results posted on

2015-09-30

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Statin 80 mg + Niacin Extended-release (ER)
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 80 mg Simvastatin + niacin. All other participants will receive 80 mg Atorvastatin + niacin
Statin 10 mg
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 10 mg Simvastatin. All other participants will receive 10 mg Atorvastatin.
Overall Study
STARTED
50
50
Overall Study
COMPLETED
40
43
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
10
7

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Statin 80 mg + Niacin Extended-release (ER)
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 80 mg Simvastatin + niacin. All other participants will receive 80 mg Atorvastatin + niacin
Statin 10 mg
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 10 mg Simvastatin. All other participants will receive 10 mg Atorvastatin.
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
1
0
Overall Study
Adverse Event
8
5
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
1
2

Baseline Characteristics

Merck Carotid Atherosclerosis Trial (MK-0000-111)(COMPLETED)

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Statin 80 mg + Niacin ER
n=50 Participants
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 80 mg Simvastatin + niacin. All other participants will receive 80 mg Atorvastatin + niacin.
Statin 10 mg
n=50 Participants
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 10 mg Simvastatin. All other participants will receive 10 mg Atorvastatin.
Total
n=100 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
69.68 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.42 • n=5 Participants
69.20 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.63 • n=7 Participants
69.47 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.99 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
17 Participants
n=7 Participants
32 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
35 Participants
n=5 Participants
33 Participants
n=7 Participants
68 Participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: At time of carotid endarterectomy (after 4 to 12 weeks of dosing)

Population: Only participants who completed the study, had evaluable plaque samples and were at least 80% compliant with dosing schedule were included in the analysis.

Excised carotid plaques were evaluated for the gene expression of 60 biomarkers associated with inflammation ("Hot" biomarkers) \& 25 biomarkers associated with stability ("Cold" biomarkers). Each biomarker was assayed using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction method and results were reported as a Cycle Threshold, (Ct). A Composite Score was calculated by averaging the Ct for each of the 25 "cold" genes, and subtracting the average Ct for the 60 "hot" genes. A higher composite score was associated with greater inflammation and a lower score was associated with stability (non-inflamed).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Statin 80 mg + Niacin Extended-release (ER)
n=36 Participants
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 80 mg Simvastatin + niacin. All other participants will receive 80 mg Atorvastatin + niacin
Statin 10 mg
n=34 Participants
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 10 mg Simvastatin. All other participants will receive 10 mg Atorvastatin.
Composite Score of Plaque Inflammation/Stability Gene Expression as Assayed by Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) Taqman Analysis
1.36 Cycle threshold (Ct)
Standard Deviation 1.17
0.82 Cycle threshold (Ct)
Standard Deviation 1.33

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: At time of carotid endarterectomy (after 4 to 12 weeks of dosing)

Population: Only participants who completed the study, had evaluable plaque samples and were at least 80% compliant with dosing schedule were included in the analysis.

Each excised plaque was analyzed using an assay of 20 proteins that reflect plaque composition and inflammation. Each protein was assigned scaled signs, with a lower (negative) sign associated with plaque stability and a higher (positive) sign associated with plaque inflammation/instability. The Composite Score was the average amounts of all the 20 proteins with their associated signs. A higher Composite Score is associated with more plaque instability.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Statin 80 mg + Niacin Extended-release (ER)
n=36 Participants
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 80 mg Simvastatin + niacin. All other participants will receive 80 mg Atorvastatin + niacin
Statin 10 mg
n=34 Participants
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 10 mg Simvastatin. All other participants will receive 10 mg Atorvastatin.
Plaque Instability Protein Composite Score
-7.19 Score
Standard Deviation 10.45
-10.48 Score
Standard Deviation 11.70

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: At time of carotid endarterectomy (after 4 to 12 weeks of dosing)

Population: Only participants who completed the study, had evaluable plaque samples and were at least 80% compliant with dosing schedule were to be included in the analysis. This was not performed due to technical concerns. Instead, the cholesterol content determination, if performed, will use mass spectrometry approach and would be an exploratory objective.

Cholesterol ester was to be calculated by the following formula: Cholesterol Ester = Total Cholesterol - Free Cholesterol.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

Statin 80 mg + Niacin Extended-release (ER)

Serious events: 9 serious events
Other events: 5 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Statin 10 mg

Serious events: 7 serious events
Other events: 2 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Statin 80 mg + Niacin Extended-release (ER)
n=50 participants at risk
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 80 mg Simvastatin + niacin. All other participants will recieve 80 mg Atorvastatin + niacin
Statin 10 mg
n=50 participants at risk
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 10 mg Simvastatin. All other participants will recieve 10 mg Atorvastatin.
Cardiac disorders
Atrial Fibrillation
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/50
Cardiac disorders
Coronary Artery Occlusion
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/50
Cardiac disorders
Myocardial Infarction
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
Eye disorders
Glaucoma
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/50
Gastrointestinal disorders
Gastritis
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/50
General disorders
Chest Pain
0.00%
0/50
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
Infections and infestations
Bronchitis
0.00%
0/50
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
Infections and infestations
Pyelonephritis Chronic
0.00%
0/50
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Fall
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/50
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Overdose
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/50
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Pelvic Fracture
0.00%
0/50
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Rhabdomyolysis
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/50
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)
Gastric Cancer
0.00%
0/50
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)
Myelofibrosis
0.00%
0/50
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
Nervous system disorders
Cerebrovascular Accident
2.0%
1/50 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/50

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Statin 80 mg + Niacin Extended-release (ER)
n=50 participants at risk
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 80 mg Simvastatin + niacin. All other participants will recieve 80 mg Atorvastatin + niacin
Statin 10 mg
n=50 participants at risk
Participants in Russia and Brasil will receive 10 mg Simvastatin. All other participants will recieve 10 mg Atorvastatin.
Vascular disorders
Flushing
10.0%
5/50 • Number of events 5
4.0%
2/50 • Number of events 2

Additional Information

Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp

Phone: 1-800-672-6372

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee Publications derived from the study should include input from the investigator(s) and SPONSOR. After to the multicenter publication, or 24 months after completion of the study, whichever comes first, an investigator may publish the results for the study site independently. The SPONSOR must have the opportunity to review all proposed publications 60 days prior to submission for publication/presentation. Any information identified by the SPONSOR as confidential must be deleted prior to submission.
  • Publication restrictions are in place

Restriction type: OTHER