CaspoNEB: Efficacy and Safety of Caspofungin Aerosols for the Curative Treatment of Pneumocystis Pneumonia
NCT ID: NCT06892951
Last Updated: 2025-03-25
Study Results
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Basic Information
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NOT_YET_RECRUITING
PHASE1/PHASE2
100 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-06-30
2028-12-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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To date, cotrimoxazole represents the gold standard anti-Pneumocystis treatment commonly associated with systemic corticosteroids in case of moderate-to-severe infection. However, treatment is long (several weeks) to achieve clearance of the fungus, which might favor lung sequelae like persistent inflammation or post-infectious fibrosis. Furthermore, therapeutic failures have been reported as high as 9-44% of patients. Five other drugs have been commonly used as curative alternatives to cotrimoxazole against P. jirovecii: pentamidine, primaquine + clindamycin, dapsone and atovaquone. Some are responsible for serious side effects, while others are complex to administer or less efficient. All exhibit clinically important drug-drug interactions. Therefore, in such a context, it is important to test new drugs and/or alternative delivery routes for existing therapies.
Echinocandin drugs, including caspofungin, are usually administered daily to treat invasive candidiasis and aspergillosis. They target the fungal cell wall, thus inhibiting the β-(1,3)-D glucan synthase enzyme. Intravenous (IV) echinocandins are generally well tolerated and are not responsibles for major drug-drug interactions. IV caspofungin was also proven effective in animal models of Pneumocystis infection and significantly improve the overall survival. Two human studies showed that in-hospital and 3-month mortality rates were similar between patients receiving daily IV echinocandin and those receiving co-trimoxazole alone. Several case reports also showed 47 successful outcomes with IV caspofungin, alone or in combination with standard treatment. A recent study reported better response and lower in-hospital mortality in patients receiving the combination of cotrimoxazole + IV caspofungin with no severe adverse events. Therefore, IV echinocandins are now recommended in the European therapeutic guidelines for non-HIV patients as a salvage therapy (CII-grade) in association with co-trimoxazole.
However, high molecular weight and elevated protein binding hamper optimal diffusion of IV caspofungin towards the lung alveoli (\<5% plasma concentration), where P. jirovecii thrives. Administration through an aerosol directly delivered into the lung may circumvent this limitation. Technical feasibility of echinocandin nebulization was demonstrated in vitro with several commercial nebulizers that provided aerosol particles with adequat size and pH to ensure lung tolerance. In vivo, nebulized caspofungin, at a dosage equivalent to the usual IV dosage, showed an excellent safety profile in rats. It also reduced the fungal burden by -99% and induced elevated and prolonged concentrations of the drug in the lungs (almost 50% of the total amounts of caspofungin initially deposited into the lungs of infected rats were still detectable at 48 hours) - largely above the usual minimal inhibitory concentrations of fungal pathogens -, while caspofungin detection was almost null in other organs and blood.
Therefore, we hypothesize herein the therapeutic interest of caspofungin aerosols in adjunction with conventional antifungal therapy, as first-line curative treatment, to enhance the clinical recovery and to reduce the morbidity due to Pneumocystis pneumonia. As no clinical trials have been worldwide initiated, human efficacy and safety data of nebulized caspofungin are still lacking and will be first investigated in this study in patients. Thus organized in two successive parts, this phase I/II clinical trial represents a mandatory prelude for this original administration modality of caspofungin.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
1. Part 1: open-label, one arm, non-randomized, three centres study including six patients with ascending scheme regarding the rhythm of administration over one week, depending on the tolerance and closely monitored in intensive care unit to ensure that caspofungin is well tolerated via the inhaled route and to provide data supporting the proposed dose for part 2 (PK modeling)
2. Part 2: comparative, two arms, add-on, multicenter, individually-randomized placebo-controlled trial
TREATMENT
QUADRUPLE
* Central randomization by an independent statistician
* Packaging and labelling of the intervention medications, nebulizers and tubing in such a manner that there is no way to determine to which treatment group (experimental or control) the participant is assigned
Study Groups
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Part 2 - randomized study (group 1)
Conventional systemic antifungal treatment (systemic co-trimoxazole or systemic second line anti-Pneumocystis salvage therapy) + aerosols of echinocandin (50 mg caspofungin) during one to seven days (according to the regimen retained from the results of part 1 from day-1 to d-7) using vibrating mesh nebulization device
Caspofungin Acetate 50 MG
The experimental treatment will be administered once daily for up to seven days, through the nebulization route by the means of a disposable vibrating mesh Aeroneb solo® nebulizer with the valved mask (Galway, Ireland). Before generating aerosol, resuspension of the caspofungin powder will be carried out in the same manner than for the IV route, into 10.5 mL saline serum. Preparation of the experimental drug (re-suspension) will be unblindly carried out in a distinct medical office by a nurse neither involved in the healthcare of the included patients, nor in the other parts of the study, data recording or outcome assessment. Once reconstituted, the suspension is expected to be limpid, with neither odour nor foam. Thereafter, its administration will be blindly completed by the clinical staff in charge of the enrolled patient.
Part 2 - randomized study (group 2)
Control group: (in part 2 only) Conventional systemic antifungal treatment (systemic co-trimoxazole or systemic second-line anti-Pneumocystis salvage therapy) + aerosols of placebo (0.9% saline in a volume equivalent to the experimental group) during one to seven days (according to the regimen retained from part 1 results) using vibrating mesh nebulization device
Physiologic saline
Procedures will be exactly the same than those described above for the experimental group, but caspofungin will be replaced during the seven days of intervention by 10mL of 0.9% saline nebulized in the control group for a 15 minute-long process of nebulization (from d-1 to d-7).
Part 1 - open study
open-label non-randomized group, with ascending scheme regarding the dose and rhythm of administration over one week, depending on the tolerance, and closely monitored in ICU to ensure that caspofungin is well tolerated via the inhaled route, and to provide data supporting the proposed administration scheme for part 2.
* the first two patients (included one by one) will receive two aerosols (5 mg) during the first week, four days apart on d-1 and d-5 (level 1);
* the third and fourth will receive two aerosols (15 mg) during the first week, four days apart on d-1 and d-5 (level 2);
* the fifth and sixth will receive two aerosols (50 mg) during the first week, four days apart on d-1 and d-5 (level 3);
* the seventh and eighth patients will receive four aerosols (50 mg) two days apart during one week, at d-1, then d-3, d-5 and d-7 (level 4);
* the last two patients will have daily aerosols during the first week, from d-1 to d-7 (level 5)
Caspofungin Acetate 50 MG
The experimental treatment will be administered once daily for up to seven days, through the nebulization route by the means of a disposable vibrating mesh Aeroneb solo® nebulizer with the valved mask (Galway, Ireland). Before generating aerosol, resuspension of the caspofungin powder will be carried out in the same manner than for the IV route, into 10.5 mL saline serum. Preparation of the experimental drug (re-suspension) will be unblindly carried out in a distinct medical office by a nurse neither involved in the healthcare of the included patients, nor in the other parts of the study, data recording or outcome assessment. Once reconstituted, the suspension is expected to be limpid, with neither odour nor foam. Thereafter, its administration will be blindly completed by the clinical staff in charge of the enrolled patient.
Interventions
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Caspofungin Acetate 50 MG
The experimental treatment will be administered once daily for up to seven days, through the nebulization route by the means of a disposable vibrating mesh Aeroneb solo® nebulizer with the valved mask (Galway, Ireland). Before generating aerosol, resuspension of the caspofungin powder will be carried out in the same manner than for the IV route, into 10.5 mL saline serum. Preparation of the experimental drug (re-suspension) will be unblindly carried out in a distinct medical office by a nurse neither involved in the healthcare of the included patients, nor in the other parts of the study, data recording or outcome assessment. Once reconstituted, the suspension is expected to be limpid, with neither odour nor foam. Thereafter, its administration will be blindly completed by the clinical staff in charge of the enrolled patient.
Physiologic saline
Procedures will be exactly the same than those described above for the experimental group, but caspofungin will be replaced during the seven days of intervention by 10mL of 0.9% saline nebulized in the control group for a 15 minute-long process of nebulization (from d-1 to d-7).
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Medical management of Pneumocystis pneumonia based on :
* Microbiological diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia
* Respiratory support (oxygen therapy or ventilatory assistance)
* Systemic co-trimoxazole therapy or systemic second-line anti-Pneumocystis salvage therapy (switch to another anti-Pneumocystis drug is possible, but should be notified) (initiated within 48 hours or less before enrolment)
* Person affiliated to a French social security system or equivalent
* Written informed consent obtained from the participant or, if the patient is not able to give consent from representative (trusted person, family member) or if the delay in obtaining the consent is assumed not compatible with the enrollment requirements, a temporary approval can be obtained from the investigator. In all cases, the patient's written informed consent will have to be obtained as soon as possible.
* Persons covered by articles L1121-5 to L1121-8 of the CSP (corresponding to all protected persons: pregnant women, parturients, nursing mothers, persons deprived of their liberty by judicial or administrative decision, minors, and persons subject to a legal protection measure: guardianship or trusteeship). Pregnancy test to be performed in all women from 15 to 45 years old who have not had an ovariectomy.
* Other indication(s) for systemic administration of an echinocandin drug
* Known allergy to echinocandin drugs
* Absolute contraindication to aerosol therapy
* Concomitant co-infection at time of diagnosis (except HIV infection)
* Severe liver impairment (i.e. documented severe liver cirrhosis (Child C), or Factor-V protein \< 50% and/or INR for prothrombin time of blood coagulation \> 1.5)
* history of toxic epidermal necrosis (TEN) and Steven-Johnson syndrome (SJS)
* Participation in other pharmacological study that focuses on echinocandins and/or anti-infectious aerosol therapy or other anti-pneumocystis treatment
* Participation in a trial with an investigational product known to have pulmonary toxicity or of which the safety is not known
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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University Hospital, Angers
OTHER_GOV
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon
OTHER
University Hospital, Bordeaux
OTHER
University Hospital, Brest
OTHER
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon
OTHER
University Hospital, Grenoble
OTHER
University Hospital, Lille
OTHER
University Hospital, Limoges
OTHER
Hospices Civils de Lyon
OTHER
University Hospital, Montpellier
OTHER
Nantes University Hospital
OTHER
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice
OTHER
Hospital Avicenne
OTHER
Henri Mondor University Hospital
OTHER
Hopital Foch
OTHER
Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades
OTHER
Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
OTHER
Poitiers University Hospital
OTHER
Reims University hospital
OTHER
Ohre Pharma
UNKNOWN
Aerogen
INDUSTRY
Wako Diagnostics
INDUSTRY
Cape Cod Incorporated
INDUSTRY
Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France
OTHER_GOV
Tours university
UNKNOWN
Amiens University Hospital
OTHER
Rennes University Hospital
OTHER
University Hospital, Tours
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Guillaume DESOUBEAUX, Prof
Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
University Hospital of TOURS
Stephan EHRMANN, Prof
Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
University Hospital of TOURS
Adrien LEMAIGNEN, Dr
Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
University Hospital of TOURS
Locations
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CHU Tours
Tours, , France
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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References
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Limper AH. Alveolar macrophage and glycoprotein responses to Pneumocystis carinii. Semin Respir Infect. 1998 Dec;13(4):339-47.
McKinnell JA, Cannella AP, Kunz DF, Hook EW 3rd, Moser SA, Miller LG, Baddley JW, Pappas PG. Pneumocystis pneumonia in hospitalized patients: a detailed examination of symptoms, management, and outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-uninfected persons. Transpl Infect Dis. 2012 Oct;14(5):510-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2012.00739.x. Epub 2012 May 1.
Lobo ML, Esteves F, de Sousa B, Cardoso F, Cushion MT, Antunes F, Matos O. Therapeutic potential of caspofungin combined with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for pneumocystis pneumonia: a pilot study in mice. PLoS One. 2013 Aug 5;8(8):e70619. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070619. Print 2013.
Wong-Beringer A, Lambros MP, Beringer PM, Johnson DL. Suitability of caspofungin for aerosol delivery: physicochemical profiling and nebulizer choice. Chest. 2005 Nov;128(5):3711-6. doi: 10.1378/chest.128.5.3711.
Ehrmann S, Mercier E, Vecellio L, Ternant D, Paintaud G, Dequin PF. Pharmacokinetics of high-dose nebulized amikacin in mechanically ventilated healthy subjects. Intensive Care Med. 2008 Apr;34(4):755-62. doi: 10.1007/s00134-007-0935-1. Epub 2007 Nov 29.
Beitler JR, Sarge T, Banner-Goodspeed VM, Gong MN, Cook D, Novack V, Loring SH, Talmor D; EPVent-2 Study Group. Effect of Titrating Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) With an Esophageal Pressure-Guided Strategy vs an Empirical High PEEP-Fio2 Strategy on Death and Days Free From Mechanical Ventilation Among Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2019 Mar 5;321(9):846-857. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.0555.
Desoubeaux G, Lemaignen A, Ehrmann S. Scientific rationale for inhaled caspofungin to treat Pneumocystis pneumonia: A therapeutic innovation likely relevant to investigate in a near future.... Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Jun;95:464-467. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.03.029. Epub 2020 Mar 16. No abstract available.
Le Gal S, Toubas D, Totet A, Dalle F, Abou Bacar A, Le Meur Y, Nevez G; Anofel Association. Pneumocystis Infection Outbreaks in Organ Transplantation Units in France: A Nation-Wide Survey. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 May 6;70(10):2216-2220. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz901.
Desoubeaux G, Dominique M, Morio F, Thepault RA, Franck-Martel C, Tellier AC, Ferrandiere M, Hennequin C, Bernard L, Salame E, Bailly E, Chandenier J. Epidemiological Outbreaks of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia Are Not Limited to Kidney Transplant Recipients: Genotyping Confirms Common Source of Transmission in a Liver Transplantation Unit. J Clin Microbiol. 2016 May;54(5):1314-20. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00133-16. Epub 2016 Mar 2.
Alanio A, Desoubeaux G, Sarfati C, Hamane S, Bergeron A, Azoulay E, Molina JM, Derouin F, Menotti J. Real-time PCR assay-based strategy for differentiation between active Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and colonization in immunocompromised patients. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2011 Oct;17(10):1531-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03400.x. Epub 2011 Apr 12.
Nevez G, Le Gal S. Caspofungin and Pneumocystis Pneumonia: It Is Time To Go Ahead. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 Sep 23;63(10):e01296-19. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01296-19. Print 2019 Oct. No abstract available.
Peghin M, Fishman JA, Grossi PA. Pneumocystis jiroveci: still troublesome to diagnose and treat. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2025 Oct 18. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000001155. Online ahead of print.
Related Links
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Supplier of the device
Supplier of the drug
Supplier of the diagnostic kit
Supplier of the diagnostic kit
Other Identifiers
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2023-508861-34-00
Identifier Type: CTIS
Identifier Source: secondary_id
2022-DR329-CaspoNEB
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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