Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine In Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS)

NCT ID: NCT03888924

Last Updated: 2024-11-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 100 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-06-17
• Study Completion Date: 2026-10-01

Brief Summary

Multiple sclerosis (MS) witnessed relevant therapeutic progress in the last decade. Following the extraordinary progress in the treatment of relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS), two major unmet needs remain to be addressed by translational research in this field: progressive MS and the "dream" of a world free of MS. As far as the latter is concerned, the investigators can hope to make the dream come true by understanding the etiology of the disease and hence design definitive cures. A more realistic and pragmatic perspective may be the prevention of the clinical onset of the disease, a research field that promises to become increasingly important as the integration of genetic data with endophenotypes, magnetic resonance imaging and other biomarkers ameliorates the ability to predict the development of the disease under clinical circumstance. Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine has been tested with encouraging results in early MS and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The knowledge that disease-modifying therapies work best when used early in the demyelinating process raises the question about whether to try this approach - which is safe, cheap and handy - in individuals with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS).

Radiologically isolated syndrome is a new entity, diagnosed when the unanticipated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding of brain spatial dissemination of focal white matter (WM) lesions highly suggestive of MS occurs in subjects without symptoms of MS, and with normal neurological examinations. Conversion to clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) were described in 84% of RIS individuals with spinal cord lesions over a median time of 1.6 years from the date of the first MRI. Whether or not to treat this condition remains currently a clinical conundrum. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine may have these characteristics since it resulted beneficial in early MS and first demyelinating episodes. Being safe, cheap and handy, the investigators propose to investigate its use to prevent progression of the demyelinating process in radiologically isolated syndrome. An approach such as BCG vaccine seems appropriate as a front-line immunomodulatory approach for RIS people. In a pilot study BCG vaccine was safe and effective in reducing disease activity at MRI, and the risk of developing persistent T1-hypointense lesions ('black holes' -BH- expression of tissue damage) in subjects with MS.

Detailed Description

Multiple sclerosis (MS) witnessed relevant therapeutic progress in the last decade. This notwithstanding, safety, quality of life and overtreatment remain elements of strong concern for the subjects. Safe and manageable therapies that can be used since the (biological) onset of the disease, without risk of overtreatment, are important unmet needs in MS.

Following the extraordinary progress in the treatment of relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS), two major unmet needs remain to be addressed by translational research in this field: progressive MS and the "dream" of a world free of MS. As far as the latter is concerned, the investigators can hope to make the dream come true by understanding the etiology of the disease and hence design definitive cures. Unfortunately this perspective is neither at hand, nor it can be taken for granted that the etiologic targets, once discovered, will be readily treatable.

A more realistic and pragmatic perspective may be the prevention of the clinical onset of the disease, a research field that promises to become increasingly important as the integration of genetic data with endophenotypes, magnetic resonance imaging and other biomarkers ameliorates the ability to predict the development of the disease under clinical circumstance.

Epidemiological data supporting vitamin D supplementation and smoking avoidance are candidate approaches for primary and secondary prevention of the disease. Among other interventions that may have characteristics compatible with those of a preventive treatment, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine has been tested with encouraging results in early MS and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The knowledge that disease-modifying therapies work best when used early in the demyelinating process raises the question about whether to try this approach - which is safe, cheap and handy - in individuals with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS).

Radiologically isolated syndrome is a new entity, diagnosed when the unanticipated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding of brain spatial dissemination of focal white matter (WM) lesions highly suggestive of MS occurs in subjects without symptoms of MS, and with normal neurological examinations. Approximately one-third and two-thirds of individuals experience respectively clinical onset and/or radiological progression over a mean follow-up of five years. However, predictors (male sex, age < 37, spinal cord involvement) of higher risk of progression have been identified and conversion to clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) were described in 84% of RIS individuals with spinal cord lesions over a median time of 1.6 years from the date of the first MRI; the same predictors have recently been shown to precede evolution toward primary progressive MS. Whether or not to treat this condition remains currently a clinical conundrum.

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine may have these characteristics since it resulted beneficial in early MS and first demyelinating episodes. Being safe, cheap and handy, the investigators propose to explore its use to prevent progression of the demyelinating process in radiologically isolated syndrome.

An approach such as BCG vaccine seems appropriate as a front-line immunomodulatory approach for RIS people. This project is proposed in the context of the activity of the Center for Experimental Neurological Therapies (CENTERS - a special project by the Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla - FISM). CENTERS is especially dedicated to phase II trials of this nature (independent, repurposing studies, that may be only funded by not-for-profit institutions).

1.2 Preliminary Results

Experimental and epidemiological evidences suggested benefit of exposure to microbial products (in the absence of infection, as is the case of vaccinations) in autoimmunity, including MS. In a pilot study BCG vaccine was safe and effective in reducing disease activity at MRI, and the risk of developing persistent T1-hypointense lesions ('black holes' -BH- expression of tissue damage) in subjects with MS. A placebo-controlled trial in people with clinically isolated syndrome supported the findings of the pilot study. The researchers observed benefit on disease activity at MRI, reduced development of BH, benefit on conversion to clinically definite MS over 5 years, during which the subjects took interferon beta beginning from six months after BCG or placebo.

The investigators consider timely an extension of the adjuvant approach to subjects with RIS, also considering recent achievements in 'metrics' suitable to analyze this condition: neuroimaging has recently allowed to improve the characterization of RIS (including the identification of individuals at higher risk of progression to MS; and to disclose cortical lesions and axonal damage in RIS brain; immune-metabolic profiling provides a complex correlation between immunometabolic cellular variables, that seems especially apt to analyze preclinical phase of neuroinflammation and to study an approach whose underlying mechanisms of actions remain largely unknown, in spite of encouraging clinical results.

1.3 Scientific rationale and main objectives

BCG vaccine showed beneficial effects on disease activity and possibly on tissue damage in relapsing-remitting MS and clinically isolated syndrome. The investigators now propose to evaluate whether and how BCG vaccine exerts favorable biological effects in individuals with RIS.

At present it is unclear whether the neuroprotective/neurorepair potential of BCG is a consequence of its ability to reduce central nervous system (CNS) inflammation or it depends on additional and specific mechanisms. Notably, neuroprotection after BCG vaccination was reported in models of Parkinson disease, suggesting a neuroprotective vaccine paradigm in which general (nonself-reactive) immune stimulation in the periphery can limit potentially deleterious microglial responses to a neuronal insult. Accordingly, convergent evidences suggest a role of BCG, as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-inducer, in another immune-mediated disease, type I diabetes: TNF receptor 2 may mediate, at least in part, beneficial effects of BCG in neuroinflammation and type 1 diabetes by favoring apoptosis of autoreactive T cells, counteracting T cell regulatory deficit and last, but not least, fostering tissue repair.

Metabolic abnormalities suggestive of axonal damage were reported in a substantial proportion of RIS subjects and cortical lesions of fronto-temporal lobes were associated with predictors of evolution to multiple sclerosis (MS), such as spinal cord involvement, presence of oligoclonal bands on cerebrospinal fluid and dissemination in time on brain MRI. The researchers aim at verifying potential beneficial effects of BCG vaccination in people with RIS, evaluating MRI metrics of macroscopic brain damage, as well as subtle tissue damage as assessed by both conventional and non conventional MRI techniques. On the immunological side the investigators will assess the immune-metabolic status of RIS people as well as their regulatory T cell potential: a multiple parameter analysis will provide a meta-immunologic profiling that has been recently shown to be impaired in MS. This will be aimed at creating a follow-up scheme which should allow to monitor RIS people over time, before and after BCG vaccine.

To reach the above purposes the investigators propose a 3 years longitudinal study project, considered appropriate taking into account the relative rarity of RIS condition as well as the need of an adequate follow-up to obtain informative outcome measures (see methods).

The groups that engendered the above achievements are collaborators of this project, thus warranting the experience and competence to pursue the proposed research.

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

BCG treated patients

a single dose of Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine

Intervention Type: DRUG

One dose (0.1 mL) contains 50 μg of the semi-dry mass of BCG bacilli, i.e. from 150,000 to 600,000 of live BCG bacilli (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin), the Brazilian Moreau substrain.

One ampoule or vial with the powder contains: 0.5 mg (from 1.5 mln to 6 mln) of live BCG bacilli (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin), the Brazilian Moreau substrain.

Powder: monosodium glutamate. Solvent: isotonic solution of sodium chloride.

Placebo treated patients

a single dose of placebo.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: DRUG

isotonic solution of sodium chloride (2mL vials).

Interventions

Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine

One dose (0.1 mL) contains 50 μg of the semi-dry mass of BCG bacilli, i.e. from 150,000 to 600,000 of live BCG bacilli (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin), the Brazilian Moreau substrain.

One ampoule or vial with the powder contains: 0.5 mg (from 1.5 mln to 6 mln) of live BCG bacilli (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin), the Brazilian Moreau substrain.

Powder: monosodium glutamate. Solvent: isotonic solution of sodium chloride.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo

isotonic solution of sodium chloride (2mL vials).

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

BCG 10 Anti-Tuberculosis Vaccine

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Male and female of any race and > 18 years old.

2. Diagnosis of RIS (4) within the last five years.

3. Signed Informed Consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pregnancy or lactation.

2. Concomitant or previous use of immunosuppressive or immunomodulating treatment (except sporadic use of corticosteroids) within the last five years.

3. Subjects with a clinically significant or unstable medical or surgical condition that would preclude safe and complete study participation. Such conditions may include cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, severe systemic mycotic infections, metabolic diseases or malignancies, primary or secondary immunodeficiencies as determined by medical history, physical exam, laboratory tests, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), and Mantoux reaction.

4. Any medical or psychiatric condition that may affect the subjects ability to give informed consent, or to complete the study, or if the subject is considered by the treating neurologist to be, for any other reason, an unsuitable candidate for this study.

5. Subjects with inability to successfully undergo MRI scans.

6. Concomitant radiotherapy.

7. Known hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine.

8. Past bone marrow stem cell transplantation and organ transplantation.

9. Other vaccinations in the previous 4 weeks.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

S. Andrea Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Giovanni Ristori

Medical director, PhD

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Giovanni Ristori

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

S.Andrea Hospital, University of Roma La Sapienza

Locations

Center for Experimental Neurological Therapies (CENTERS), S. Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome

Rome, , Italy

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Italy

Central Contacts

Giovanni Ristori, MD

Role: CONTACT

giovanni.ristori@uniroma1.it

+390633776044 ext. 6044

Facility Contacts

Giovanni Ristori, MD,PhD

Role: primary

giovanni.ristori@uniroma1.it

+390633776044

Silvia Romano, MD, PhD

Role: backup

silvia.romano@uniroma1.it

+390633776044

Other Identifiers

BCG-RIS-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id