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Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Belapectin (GR-MD-02) for the Prevention of Esophageal Varices in NASH Cirrhosis
EU CTIS ID: 2024-512619-28-00
What this study is testing
To evaluate the efficacy of 2 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg lean body mass (LBM) of belapectin (GR MD 02) compared to placebo in preventing the development of esophageal varices.
- Phase II and Phase III (Integrated)
A plain-language read of the study's public EU CTIS listing. The study team confirms the details.
Who can take part
You may be able to join if
- Male or female, ≥ 18 and ≤ 75 years old.
- Is of non-childbearing potential or if a fertile man or woman participating in heterosexual relations, agrees to use effective means of contraception (ie, 2 effective methods of contraception, one of which must be a physical barrier method).
- Lactating woman: agrees to discontinue nursing before the start of study treatment and refrain from nursing 90 days after the last dose of study treatment.
- Man: agrees to refrain from sperm donation throughout the study period and 90 days after the last dose of investigational medicinal product (IMP). Female: may not begin a cycle of ova donation or harvest throughout the study period and 90 days following the last dose of IMP.
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
- Has evidence of portal hypertension, with either one: a.platelet count <150K/mm3 (from central laboratory or historical record, e.g. detailed chart notes providing platelet numbers or copies of laboratory reports showing platelet count[s] below 150K/mm3) OR b.documented HVPG measurement >6 mmHg OR c.at least two of the following: -spleen size ≥ 14 cm -abdominal collateral circulation -documented liver transient elastography ≥20 kPa -AST/ALT >1.
You likely can't join if
- Presence of esophageal, gastroesophageal, or isolated gastric varices, based on an upper GI EGD exam conducted during Screening. Patients with portal hypertensive gastropathy could be enrolled.
- Taking an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin II receptor blocker, or β-1 selective adrenergic receptor inhibitor, unless on a stable dose and dosing regimen for at least 3 months prior to Screening, and no changes in the dose or dosing regimen are anticipated during the entire study. Subjects taking a non-selective beta blocker are not eligible to be enrolled (Investigators are encouraged to substitute another medication, if clinically warranted).
- History of major surgery during the Screening.
- History of a solid organ transplant requiring continuing immunosuppressive therapy.
- History of bariatric surgery within 1 year of randomization, or plan to undergo bariatric surgery during the study.
- Has positive screening test for illicit drugs of abuse at Screening. Positive marijuana/cannabinoids (THC) usage is not an automatic exclusion, but rather should be based upon local requirements where applicable.
See the full eligibility criteria
Who can join
- Male or female, ≥ 18 and ≤ 75 years old.
- Is of non-childbearing potential or if a fertile man or woman participating in heterosexual relations, agrees to use effective means of contraception (ie, 2 effective methods of contraception, one of which must be a physical barrier method).
- Lactating woman: agrees to discontinue nursing before the start of study treatment and refrain from nursing 90 days after the last dose of study treatment.
- Man: agrees to refrain from sperm donation throughout the study period and 90 days after the last dose of investigational medicinal product (IMP). Female: may not begin a cycle of ova donation or harvest throughout the study period and 90 days following the last dose of IMP.
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
- Has evidence of portal hypertension, with either one: a.platelet count <150K/mm3 (from central laboratory or historical record, e.g. detailed chart notes providing platelet numbers or copies of laboratory reports showing platelet count[s] below 150K/mm3) OR b.documented HVPG measurement >6 mmHg OR c.at least two of the following: -spleen size ≥ 14 cm -abdominal collateral circulation -documented liver transient elastography ≥20 kPa -AST/ALT >1.
- History confirming NASH cirrhosis, with at least one: •Historical liver biopsy showing cirrhosis with steatohepatitis (if slides or blocks are not available, the biopsy report must clearly indicate cirrhosis with steatohepatitis). •Historical liver biopsy showing steatohepatitis (if slides or blocks are not available, the biopsy report must clearly indicate steatohepatitis), and there is evidence of cirrhosis from clinical or imaging data or a second liver biopsy showing cirrhosis without all features of NASH. There is no evidence for a competing etiology. There is at least 1 coexisting or history of metabolic comorbidity at Screening: obesity (with either body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2 or waist circumference ≥102 cm [40 in, men] or ≥88 cm [35 in, women], or by ethnically appropriate cutpoints); hypertension (either on anti hypertensive drug therapy for at least 1 year or systolic/diastolic BP >140/80 mm Hg); Type 2 diabetes (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] ≥6.5%, or on anti-diabetic medication for at least 1 year); or dyslipidemia (triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL or on drug therapy for hypertriglyceridemia for at least 6 months; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≤40 mg/dL [men] or ≤50 mg/dL [women]) to corroborate a diagnosis of NAFLD. •Historical liver biopsy showing cirrhosis with steatosis but not steatohepatitis (if slides or blocks are not available, the biopsy report must clearly indicate cirrhosis with steatosis). •Historical liver biopsy showing steatosis (if slides or blocks are not available, the biopsy report must clearly indicate steatosis) but now with cirrhosis either by physical examination, imaging, or biopsy. There is no evidence for a competing etiology. There are at least 2 co existing (or history of) metabolic comorbidities (with obesity or diabetes being one of them) to corroborate a diagnosis of NAFLD. •Patient with cirrhosis with current or previous imaging showing steatosis. There is no liver histology available. There is no evidence for a competing etiology. There are at least two co-existing or history of metabolic comorbidities with obesity or diabetes being one of them to corroborate a diagnosis of NAFLD. •For patients not meeting the above mentioned criteria, a screening liver biopsy is necessary.
- Absence of HCC by valid imaging within 6 months prior to randomization.
- Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus can be enrolled, if they are adequately controlled on a stable of antidiabetic medication(s) for at least 3 months before Screening, with screening HbA1c ≤9.5%.
- Patients on therapeutic doses of vitamin E or pioglitazone can be enrolled if were on a stable regimen for at least 3 months before screening, and regimen is expected to be held constant during the trial.
- Patients on a statin can be enrolled if they are on a stable dose and regimen for at least 3 months before Screening, and the dose is expected to be held constant during the trial.
- Is not pregnant and has a negative serum pregnancy test result prior to randomization.
What rules you out
- Presence of esophageal, gastroesophageal, or isolated gastric varices, based on an upper GI EGD exam conducted during Screening. Patients with portal hypertensive gastropathy could be enrolled.
- Taking an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin II receptor blocker, or β-1 selective adrenergic receptor inhibitor, unless on a stable dose and dosing regimen for at least 3 months prior to Screening, and no changes in the dose or dosing regimen are anticipated during the entire study. Subjects taking a non-selective beta blocker are not eligible to be enrolled (Investigators are encouraged to substitute another medication, if clinically warranted).
- History of major surgery during the Screening.
- History of a solid organ transplant requiring continuing immunosuppressive therapy.
- History of bariatric surgery within 1 year of randomization, or plan to undergo bariatric surgery during the study.
- Has positive screening test for illicit drugs of abuse at Screening. Positive marijuana/cannabinoids (THC) usage is not an automatic exclusion, but rather should be based upon local requirements where applicable.
- Has participated in an investigational new drug study within 30 days or 5 half-lives whichever is longer, prior to randomization (including follow-up visits) or at any time during the current study.
- Has a history of malignancy within 5 years of randomization, except for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and adequately treated in situ uterine cervical cancer.
- Has clinically significant cardiovascular disease (eg, uncontrolled hypertension, myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to randomization, unstable angina), New York Heart Association Grade II or greater congestive heart failure, serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring intervention (eg, pacemaker/ablation) or Grade II or greater peripheral vascular disease within 12 months prior to randomization.
- Has a history of clinically significant hematologic, renal, hepatic, pulmonary, neurological, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, systemic inflammatory, metabolic or endocrine disorder or any other condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, renders the subject a poor candidate for inclusion into the study.
- Has known allergies to the IMP or any of its excipients.
- History of hepatic cirrhosis decompensation including any episode of variceal bleeding, ascites not controlled by medication, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis or overt hepatic encephalopathy (West Haven grade ≥2 as assessed by the principal investigator), OR develops signs of hepatic cirrhosis decompensation during Screening.
- Has previously received belapectin within 6 months of randomization.
- Is an employee or family member of the Investigator or study center personnel.
- Known or suspected abuse of alcohol, as per medical history.
- Alcohol dependence.
- Narcotics or any other drug abuse or dependence in the last 5 years
- Prior trans-jugular intrahepatic portal-systemic (TIPS) shunt procedure.
- Documented causes of chronic liver disease other than NASH, including but not restricted to: •Viral hepatitis, unless eradicated at least 3 years prior to Screening •acute hepatitis A infection (presence of hepatitis A immunoglobulin M [IgM] at Screening) •positive hepatitis B surface antigen •positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) ribonucleic acid (to be performed prior to randomization in case of positive HCV antibody) •Documented of drug-induced liver disease •Alcoholic liver disease •Autoimmune hepatitis •Wilson's disease •Hemochromatosis •Primary biliary cholangitis (also termed primary biliary cirrhosis) •Primary sclerosing cholangitis •Genetic hemochromatosis •Known or suspected HCC •History or planned liver transplantation, or current MELD score ≥12 •Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- History of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or positive HIV test at Screening.
- Any of the following test or score values during Screening Visit (SV) 1, SV2, and SV3 (if required/available): •serum ALT > 5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) •serum AST > 5 × ULN •serum ALP > 2 × ULN •mean platelet count < 150,000/mm3 •albumin ≤ 3.5 g/dL •INR ≥1.5 (without anticoagulant therapy) •total bilirubin ≥ 2.0 mg/dL (subjects with a documented history of Gilbert's syndrome can be enrolled if the direct bilirubin is within normal reference range) •MELD score >12 (patients on warfarin will be exempt from this criterion) •CTP Score ≥7 •estimated creatinine clearance < 45 mL/min
The study team makes the final eligibility decision.
Where it's taking place
- Israel
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Brazil
- Korea, Republic of
- Mexico
- Chile
- United States
- Australia
- Argentina
Questions & answers
Do participants get paid in this trial?
This listing doesn't specify compensation. Many trials still reimburse travel or offer a stipend, so it's worth asking the study team when you connect.
Is it free to join, and do I need insurance?
Searching and applying through BridgeMD is free. In clinical trials the study-related treatment and visits are generally provided at no cost to you. You usually don't need insurance to take part - confirm specifics with the study team.
How long does this study last?
The listing doesn't state an exact length. The study team walks you through the schedule and number of visits before you decide to enroll.
Who can join this trial?
This study is enrolling all sexes, 18-64 years, 65+ years. The study team makes the final eligibility decision.
Where is this trial taking place?
Study sites include Israel; Canada; United Kingdom; Brazil; Korea, Republic of; Mexico and 4 more location(s). Enter your location above to see the nearest site and check your eligibility.
Explore other conditions
BridgeMD is an information and trial-matching tool - not medical advice, and not the study sponsor. Details come from EU CTIS; the study team decides eligibility.