Gadopiclenol vs. Gadobutrol for Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Pituitary MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

NCT ID: NCT06846853

Last Updated: 2025-04-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE4
• Total Enrollment: 10 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-25

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of Gadopiclenol, an FDA-approved contrast agent, for visualizing pituitary lesions on MR images by comparing with the comparator, Gadobutrol, a clinically widely used contrast agent. The study is double-blinded, so neither the participants nor the researchers know which contrast agent is being used during each scan to avoid the bias of results.

Detailed Description

Gadopiclenol (brand name Elucirem), initially invented by Guerbet, is an FDA-approved macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) with high relaxivity and high kinetic stability. The higher relaxivity allows for a lower dose of gadopiclenol, reducing the total amount of gadolinium administration (hence reducing the toxicity of gadolinium) while preserving imaging quality.

Gadopiclenol was approved by the FDA with a recommended dose of 0.05 mmol/kg for adults and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older. The PICTURE Trial demonstrated that Gadopiclenol at 0.05 mmol/kg which is half dose of standard macrocyclic GBCAs (Gadobutrol at 0.1 mmol/kg) revealed noninferiority for contrast-enhancing intracranial lesions against the background of nonenhancing brain.

A pituitary microadenoma or a Rathke's cyst is typically demonstrated on MRI by virtue of hypoenhancement of the lesion against the background of the hyperenhancing pituitary. Dynamic pituitary imaging with Gadopiclenol has not been investigated so far.

This pilot study will assess the value of Gadopiclenol at 0.05 mmol/kg vs. Gadobutrol 0.1 mmol/kg as a contrast agent for MRI in the evaluation of pituitary lesions. We hypothesize that there will be a trend that Gadopiclenol will increase the enhancement of the background pituitary gland to a similar degree. The safety data utilizing Gadopiclenol will also be evaluated. We anticipate comparable safety of 0.05 mmol/kg of Gadopiclenol and 0.1 mmol/kg Gadobutrol.

Conditions

Contrast Enhanced Images vs. Non-contrast Images; Gadopiclinol Enhanced Images vs. Gadobutrol Enhanced Images

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

Gadopiclinol (brand name, Elucirem) first group

Participants of Arm 1 will use Gadopiclinol (Brand name, Elucirem) contrast for the first MRI scan and use Gadobutrol (Brand name, Gadavist)contrast for the second MRI scan

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Gadopiclenol

Intervention Type: DRUG

The enhanced images by Gadopiclenol and Gadobutrol will be compared.

Gadobutrol (Brand name, Gadavist) first group

Participants of Arm 2 will use Gadobutrol contrast for the MRI scan and Gadopiclinol contrast for the second MRI scan.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Gadobutrol (Gadavist, BAY86-4875)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Gadobutrol will be used as a comparator

Interventions

Gadopiclenol

The enhanced images by Gadopiclenol and Gadobutrol will be compared.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Gadobutrol (Gadavist, BAY86-4875)

Gadobutrol will be used as a comparator

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Male adult patient who is at 18 years old or above, or female adult patient who is at 55 years old or above.

2. Patient presenting with known or highly suspected pituitary lesion(s) with focal areas of disrupted Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) (e.g., primary and secondary tumors) based on results of a previous imaging procedure such as Computed Tomography (CT) or MRI, which should have been performed within 12 months prior to informed consent form signature.

3. Patient scheduled for a contrast-enhanced MRI examination with a focus on pituitary for clinical reasons and agreeing to have a second contrast-enhanced MRI examination for the purpose of the trial.

4. If the patient was treated (either with radiation, surgery, biopsy or other relevant treatments) for a pituitary condition between previous imaging evaluation and trial MRI, there should still be a high suspicion of remaining lesion(s) on the basis of available clinical information.

5. Patient able and willing to participate in the trial.

6. Patient having read the information and having provided his/her consent to participate in writing by dating and signing the informed consent prior to any trial related procedure being conducted.

7. Patient affiliated to national health insurance according to local regulatory requirements.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patient presenting with known class III/IV congestive heart failure according to the New York Heart Association classification (NYHA).

2. Patient having received any investigational medicinal product within 7 days prior to trial entry or scheduled to receive any investigational treatment in the course of the trial.

3. Patient presenting with any contraindication to MRI examinations.

4. Patient previously randomized in this trial.

5. Patient having received any contrast agent (MRI or CT) within 3 days prior to first trial product administration, or scheduled to receive any contrast agent during the course of the trial or within 24 hours after the second trial product administration

6. Patient expected/scheduled to have any treatment or medical procedure (e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biopsy or surgery etc.) that may impact the aspects of the imaged lesions between the 2 MRI examinations. (Patients under corticosteroids and/or maintenance chemotherapy with a stable dose at the time of screening visit and throughout the trial can be included).

Patient with anticipated, current or past condition (medical, psychological, social or geographical) that would compromise the patient's safety or her/his ability to participate in the trial.

8. Patient unlikely to comply with the protocol, e.g. uncooperative attitude, inability to return for follow-up visits and/or unlikelihood of completing the trial.

9. Patient related to the investigator or any other trial staff or relative directly involved in the trial conduct. 10. Patient presenting with acute or chronic renal insufficiency, defined as an estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m² assessed within 1 day prior to each contrast agent injection. 11. Patient with known contra-indication(s) to the use or with known sensitivity to one of the products under investigation or to other GBCAs (such as hypersensitivity, post contrast acute kidney injury).

12. Patient who are prisoners, pregnant women, or educationally disadvantaged persons known as vulnerable population will be excluded as well to protect the rights and welfare of these participants.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 19 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

UConn Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Leo Wolansky

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University of Connecticut Health Center

Farmington, Connecticut, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Stephen MacKinnon

Role: CONTACT

irb@uchc.edu

860-679-8729

Leo Wolansky, MD

Role: CONTACT

wolansky@uchc.edu

860-387-8252

Related Links

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10090311

This study aimed to demonstrate that contrast-enhanced MRI of the central nervous system (CNS) with gadopiclenol at 0.05 mmol/kg is not inferior to gadobutrol at 0.1 mmol/kg, and superior to unenhanced MRI. The results supported the hypothesis.

Other Identifiers

25-175-1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id