Advertisement
The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.
Original Clinical Science|Articles in Press

A randomized controlled trial of presatovir for respiratory syncytial virus after lung transplant

Open AccessPublished:February 06, 2023DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healun.2023.01.013

      Background

      Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in lung transplant recipients is associated with high morbidity. This study evaluated the RSV fusion inhibitor presatovir in RSV-infected lung transplant recipients.

      Methods

      In this international Phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT02534350), adult lung transplant recipients with symptomatic confirmed RSV infection for ≤7 days received oral presatovir 200 mg on day 1 and 100 mg daily on days 2 to 14, or placebo (2:1), with follow-up through day 28. There were 2 coprimary endpoints: time-weighted average change in nasal RSV load from day 1 to 7, calculated from nasal swabs, in the full analysis set ([FAS]; all patients who received study drug and had quantifiable baseline nasal RSV load) and time-weighted average change in nasal RSV load from day 1 to 7 in the subset of patients with pretreatment symptom duration at the median or shorter of the FAS. Secondary endpoints were changes in respiratory infection symptoms assessed using the Influenza Patient-Reported Outcomes questionnaire and lung function measured by spirometry.

      Results

      Sixty-one patients were randomized, 40 received presatovir, 20 placebo, and 54 were included in efficacy analyses. Presatovir did not significantly improve the primary endpoint in the FAS (treatment difference [95% CI], 0.10 [−0.43, 0.63] log10 copies/ml; p = 0.72) or the shorter symptom-duration subgroup (−0.12 [−0.94, 0.69] log10 copies/ml; p = 0.76). Secondary endpoints were not different between presatovir and placebo groups. Presatovir was generally well tolerated.

      Conclusions

      Presatovir treatment did not significantly improve change in nasal RSV load, symptoms, or lung function in lung transplant recipients.

      KEYWORDS

      Abbreviations:

      AE (adverse event), CARV (community-acquired respiratory virus), CI (confidence interval), FAS (full analysis set), FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), FLU-PRO (Influenza Patient-Reported Outcome), IQR (interquartile range), IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin), PCR (polymerase chain reaction), RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), SAE (serious adverse event)
      Infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is of special concern in lung transplant recipients.
      • Gottlieb J
      • Schulz TF
      • Welte T
      • et al.
      Community-acquired respiratory viral infections in lung transplant recipients: a single season cohort study.
      The estimated incidence of community-acquired respiratory virus (CARV) infections in lung transplant recipients is 15 to 50 cases per 100 patient-years, and RSV accounts for 19% of these infections (i.e., 2-10 per 100 patient-years).
      • Gottlieb J
      Community-acquired respiratory viruses.
      In addition to the acute disease burden of respiratory infection, RSV and other CARV infections are linked to chronic lung allograft dysfunction, a major source of morbidity and mortality following lung transplantation.
      • Gottlieb J
      • Schulz TF
      • Welte T
      • et al.
      Community-acquired respiratory viral infections in lung transplant recipients: a single season cohort study.
      ,
      • Belperio JA
      • Weigt SS
      • Fishbein MC
      • Lynch 3rd, JP
      Chronic lung allograft rejection: mechanisms and therapy.
      • Khalifah AP
      • Hachem RR
      • Chakinala MM
      • et al.
      Respiratory viral infections are a distinct risk for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and death.
      • Hopkins P
      • McNeil K
      • Kermeen F
      • et al.
      Human metapneumovirus in lung transplant recipients and comparison to respiratory syncytial virus.
      There is no approved treatment for RSV infection in adults, including after lung transplantation. Although ribavirin is used to treat RSV in lung transplant recipients and other immune-compromised adults, its efficacy is not established.
      • Pelaez A
      • Lyon GM
      • Force SD
      • et al.
      Efficacy of oral ribavirin in lung transplant patients with respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection.
      • Shah JN
      • Chemaly RF
      Management of RSV infections in adult recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
      • Boeckh M
      • Englund J
      • Li Y
      • et al.
      Randomized controlled multicenter trial of aerosolized ribavirin for respiratory syncytial virus upper respiratory tract infection in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.
      • Shah DP
      • Ghantoji SS
      • Shah JN
      • et al.
      Impact of aerosolized ribavirin on mortality in 280 allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with respiratory syncytial virus infections.
      • Waghmare A
      • Englund JA
      • Boeckh M
      How I treat respiratory viral infections in the setting of intensive chemotherapy or hematopoietic cell transplantation.
      Though aerosolized ribavirin is approved for RSV treatment in hospitalized infants and young children with severe lower respiratory tract infections,
      VIRAZOLE® (Ribavirin for Inhalation Solution, USP)
      Full prescribing information.
      ,
      • Chemaly RF
      • Aitken SL
      • Wolfe CR
      • Jain R
      • Boeckh MJ
      Aerosolized ribavirin: the most expensive drug for pneumonia.
      it is not recommended for routine management of RSV infection. Palivizumab is recommended for prophylaxis in children aged ≤24 months who are at high risk for severe RSV disease, but limited evidence is available for RSV treatment in children and immunocompromised adults.
      SYNAGIS® (palivizumab) injection, for intramuscular use
      Full prescribing information.
      American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious DiseasesAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Bronchiolitis Guidelines Committee
      Updated guidance for palivizumab prophylaxis among infants and young children at increased risk of hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus infection.
      • de Fontbrune FS
      • Robin M
      • Porcher R
      • et al.
      Palivizumab treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
      Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is sometimes used for RSV treatment in lung transplant recipients
      • Beaird OE
      • Freifeld A
      • Ison MG
      • et al.
      Current practices for treatment of respiratory syncytial virus and other non-influenza respiratory viruses in high-risk patient populations: a survey of institutions in the Midwestern Respiratory Virus Collaborative.
      ,
      • Gottlieb J
      • Zamora MR
      • Hodges T
      • et al.
      ALN-RSV01 for prevention of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after respiratory syncytial virus infection in lung transplant recipients.
      ; however, there is insufficient evidence supporting association with improved clinical outcomes.
      There is a continued unmet need for a specific treatment for RSV in lung transplant recipients and other adults at risk of severe RSV-related disease outcomes. Presatovir, a novel RSV fusion inhibitor, decreased RSV viral load and symptoms relative to placebo in a challenge study and had a favorable safety profile in healthy adults.
      • DeVincenzo JP
      • Whitley RJ
      • Mackman RL
      • et al.
      Oral GS-5806 activity in a respiratory syncytial virus challenge study.
      • German P
      • Xin Y
      • Chien JW
      • et al.
      Phase 1 first-in-human, single- and multiple-ascending dose, and food effect studies to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of presatovir for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection.
      • Xin Y
      • Weng W
      • Murray BP
      • et al.
      The drug-drug interaction profile of presatovir.
      This study evaluated the short-term efficacy of presatovir on RSV viral load, RSV symptoms, and lung function. The study also confirmed presatovir pharmacokinetics and safety in lung transplant recipients.

      Materials and methods

      Study design and oversight

      This was a Phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial conducted at 29 centers in 8 countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, the UK, and the US) between December 2015 and September 2017. Patients were randomized (2:1 ratio), stratified by treatment with ribavirin (yes or no) and by use of palivizumab or IVIG (yes or no), to receive once daily presatovir 200 mg on day 1 (baseline) and 100 mg on days 2 to 14, orally or via nasogastric tube, or matching placebo. Randomization was performed via interactive web response system using a randomization schedule previously prepared by an independent biostatistician not involved in study conduct. Treatment assignment was blinded to study patients, investigational site personnel, and the sponsor. Patients were followed for a total of 28 days for the core randomized clinical trial. Patients completing the core trial could participate in an optional observational registry study for up to 48 weeks after day 28 (not included in this report). The study was conducted in accordance with the International Council for Harmonisation guideline for Good Clinical Practice and the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol, amendments, and other documents were approved by local independent ethics committees or institutional review boards before study initiation. All patients provided written informed consent before participating. The trial was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02534350).

      Patients

      Adult patients who received a lung transplant >90 days prior to screening and who developed symptomatic RSV infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing ≤7 days before the baseline visit were eligible. Qualifying respiratory symptoms included any nasal congestion, earache, runny nose, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or wheezing. Patients with any transplants other than lung or heart and lung, including prior hematopoietic cell transplant, were excluded, as were those with rapidly deteriorating graft function as determined by the investigator, for any reason, prior to RSV infection. Patients with significant and confirmed respiratory coinfection ≤14 days before screening were excluded. Full eligibility criteria are provided in Supplementary Methods.

      Outcomes and assessments

      The primary efficacy outcome was time-weighted average change in nasal RSV viral load from baseline to day 7, by which time the majority of patients could be expected to have completed shedding virus. This was assessed as a coprimary endpoint among the full analysis set ([FAS], defined as patients who received ≥1 dose of study drug and who had a quantifiable baseline RSV nasal viral load) and also among the subset of the FAS who had duration of RSV symptoms at randomization that was less than or equal to the median value for the FAS. Secondary efficacy outcomes were change from baseline to day 7 in Influenza Patient-Reported Outcome (FLU-PRO) score
      • Powers JH
      • Guerrero ML
      • Leidy NK
      • et al.
      Development of the Flu-PRO: a patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument to evaluate symptoms of influenza.
      and change from baseline to day 28 in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1; % predicted) value.
      Nasal viral load was measured centrally by reverse transcription quantitative PCR by Viracor Eurofins (Lee's Summit, MO). Nasal swab specimens for viral load measurement were collected using a standardized procedure at study visits, and the FLU-PRO questionnaire was administered on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 14, 21, and 28/last study visit (details in Supplementary Methods). Study visits from day 3 to day 21 could be conducted at home by home-trial-support nurses. Spirometry testing measurements were obtained and interpreted according to American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society guidance
      • Miller MR
      • Hankinson J
      • Brusasco V
      • et al.
      Standardisation of spirometry.
      at screening or day 1/baseline and day 28/end of study; patients also obtained handheld spirometry measurements at all study visits through day 28 (details in Supplementary Methods). Change in anti-RSV antibody titer was assessed from blood samples collected at baseline and day 28 (Supplementary Methods). Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed as described in the Supplementary Methods. Safety was assessed from adverse events (AEs) reporting and clinical laboratory tests. Additional safety assessments included vital signs, electrocardiography, cardiac-related tests, and monitoring concomitant medications. Safety events were assigned grades according to the Gilead Sciences, Inc., Grading Scale for Severity of AEs and Laboratory Abnormalities.

      Statistical analysis

      Efficacy analyses were performed using the FAS and the subset of FAS patients whose duration of RSV symptoms prior to first dose of study drug was ≤ median duration for the FAS population. Safety analyses included all patients who received ≥1 full dose of study drug. Coprimary and secondary efficacy endpoints were analyzed using parametric analysis of covariance with baseline values and stratification factors as covariates. The coprimary analyses were controlled at an overall type 1 error rate at the 2-sided 0.05 level using an appropriate α allocation numerically derived utilizing the inherent correlation between the test statistics (additional details of statistical analysis are included in Supplementary Methods). The α level for the overall FAS population was 0.04, and the α level for the subset of the FAS population with ≤ median symptom duration prior to first dose was 0.017. If the hypothesis for coprimary endpoints was rejected, sequential testing was performed for secondary endpoints based on the closed testing procedure. Patient characteristics were summarized descriptively. The number and percentage of patients experiencing AEs were summarized by treatment. Missing efficacy data due to premature discontinuation were not imputed, but missing intermediate viral load and FLU-PRO data were imputed using the trapezoidal rule for time-weighted average calculations. Missing baseline safety data were replaced with screening values when available.
      Enrollment of 60 patients was estimated to provide ≥85% power to detect ≥1.2 and ≥1.5 log10 differences in the FAS population and the FAS population subset with median or shorter symptom duration, respectively. Details are provided in Supplementary Methods.
      The sponsor performed an unplanned unblinding for 5 personnel on or after June 1, 2017, prior to planned unblinding on June 26, 2017. No changes were made to any of the preplanned statistical analyses for the primary or secondary endpoints after the unplanned unblinding.

      Results

      Patient disposition and baseline characteristics

      In total, 111 lung transplant recipients with suspected RSV were screened; 61 were randomized; 60 received study drug and were included in safety analyses; and 54 were included in the FAS (Figure 1). The majority of patients were Caucasian (52/60; 87%), and 31/60 (52%) were male, with median age 58 years (25% quartile to 75% quartile [IQR], 51-65.5 years; range, 23-78 years). Patients had received lung transplant a median of 1,098 days (IQR, 570-1,776 days) prior and had median duration of symptoms of 6 days (IQR, 4-6 days; mean, 5 days; range, 1-8 days) before the first dose. Overall, 46/60 (77%) patients were planned to receive concomitant ribavirin for RSV treatment and 18% to receive palivizumab or IVIG, and 42/60 (70%) patients actually received ribavirin (31/42 [74%], 10/42 [24%], and 1/42 [2%] by oral, aerosolized, and intravenous administration, respectively). Demographic traits, baseline characteristics, lung transplant indications, and immunosuppressant use were balanced across treatment arms (Table 1). Presatovir-treated patients had a longer time from lung transplant to first dose relative to placebo-treated patients (median [IQR], 40 [26-60] versus 22 [10-49] months) (Table 1). Among presatovir-treated patients, plasma presatovir concentrations obtained were >20-fold above the plasma protein binding-adjusted 95% maximal effective concentration for RSV through day 21 (Supplementary Results and Figure S1).
      Figure 1
      Figure 1Patient disposition. *Patient discontinued study on day 7 due to diarrhea; patient discontinued study on day 9 due to abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. AE, adverse event; BOS, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome; CYP, cytochrome P450; LLOQ, lower limit of quantitation; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus.
      Table 1Patient Demographics and Baseline Characteristics, Safety Analysis Set
      CharacteristicPresatovir

      (n = 40)
      Placebo

      (n = 20)
      Age, years, mean (SD)56 (13)55 (14)
       <65 years25 (63)15 (75)
      Sex at birth
       Male21 (52)10 (50)
      Race
       Asian01 (5)
       Black or African American02 (10)
       Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander1 (3)0
       Other/unknown3 (8)1 (5)
       White36 (90)16 (80)
      Bilateral lung transplant33 (83)17 (85)
      Indication for transplant
       COPD/emphysema
      Includes 1 patient with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
      13 (33)6 (30)
       Cystic fibrosis/bronchiectasis7 (17)2 (10)
       Interstitial/fibrotic lung disease12 (30)7 (35)
       Pulmonary vascular disease2 (5)1 (5)
       Other6 (15)4 (20)
      Months from transplant to day 1, median (Q1, Q3)40 (26, 60)22 (10, 49)
      Days symptomatic before day 1, median (Q1, Q3)6 (4, 7)5 (4, 6)
      Baseline viral load, log10 copies/ml, mean (SD)5.9 (2.1)6.6 (2.1)
       Median (Q1, Q3)6.1 (4.7, 7.6)7.3 (5.3, 8.0)
      RSV subtype
       RSV A19 (48)4 (20)
       RSV B16 (40)15 (75)
       Undetectable2 (5)1 (5)
       Missing3 (8)0
      Immunosuppression
       Ciclosporin2 (5)1 (5)
       Tacrolimus38 (95)19 (95)
       Mycophenolate24 (60)12 (60)
       Azathioprine9 (23)4 (20)
       Sirolimus/everolimus3 (8)1 (5)
       Corticosteroids, systemic39 (98)20 (100)
      Intended treatment with ribavirin at randomization31 (78)15 (75)
      Actual ribavirin treatment28 (70)14 (70)
       Oral
      Shown as n (%) of patients who actually received ribavirin.
      21 (75)10 (71)
       Aerosolized
      Shown as n (%) of patients who actually received ribavirin.
      6 (21)4 (29)
       Intravenous
      Shown as n (%) of patients who actually received ribavirin.
      1 (4)0
      Intended treatment with palivizumab or IVIG at randomization
      One patient receiving presatovir received palivizumab and 1 different patient receiving presatovir received IVIG; 2 patients receiving placebo received both palivizumab and IVIG.
      8 (20)3 (15)
      Hospitalized at baseline11 (28)4 (20)
       Related to RSV infection
      Shown as n (%) of patients who were hospitalized at baseline.
      10 (91)4 (100)
      Baseline FEV1(% predicted), mean (SD)64 (25)62 (19)
       Change from prior best measure, mean (SD)−15 (−15)−16 (−12)
      Baseline FLU-PRO score, mean (SD)2 (0.6)2 (0.7)
      Pre-existing chronic lung allograft dysfunction/BOS prior to screening7 (18)2 (10)
      Pre-existing BOS prior to RSV infection4 (10)2 (10)
       Grade 0p
      Percentage out of total patients with BOS, including Grade 0p.
      1 (25)1 (50)
       Grade ≥1
      Percentage out of total patients with BOS, including Grade 0p.
      3 (75)1 (50)
      BOS, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome; CLAD, chronic lung allograft dysfunction; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FLU-PRO, Influenza Patient-Reported Outcome; IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin; Q1, first quartile; Q3, third quartile; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; SD, standard deviation.
      Data are shown as n (%) unless otherwise indicated.
      a Includes 1 patient with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
      b Shown as n (%) of patients who actually received ribavirin.
      c One patient receiving presatovir received palivizumab and 1 different patient receiving presatovir received IVIG; 2 patients receiving placebo received both palivizumab and IVIG.
      d Shown as n (%) of patients who were hospitalized at baseline.
      e Percentage out of total patients with BOS, including Grade 0p.

      Efficacy analyses

      Presatovir did not significantly decrease time-weighted average change in nasal RSV viral load from baseline to day 7, relative to placebo, in the FAS population (treatment difference: 0.10 log10 copies/ml; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.43 to 0.63; p = 0.72) or among the subset of FAS patients whose duration of symptoms was at the median or shorter of the value for the complete FAS cohort (≤6 days; treatment difference: −0.12 log10 copies/ml; 95% CI, −0.94 to 0.69; p = 0.76). In the FAS population, presatovir, with or without ribavirin use at baseline, showed no significant decrease in time-weighted average change in nasal viral load: treatment difference with ribavirin, −0.11 log10 copies/ml (95% CI, −0.69 to 0.46; p = 0.70); treatment difference without ribavirin, 0.73 log10 copies/ml (95% CI, −0.75 to 2.21; p = 0.29). Median change in nasal RSV load from baseline (Figure 2A and 2B) and median absolute nasal viral load (Figure S2) were also similar between patients receiving presatovir versus placebo throughout the study.
      Figure 2
      Figure 2Median change from baseline to day 28 in (A) the full analysis set and (B) the subset of patients with median or shorter duration of symptoms before baseline. Error bars represent the 25% and 75% quartiles. Gray box represents assessment period for the coprimary endpoints. BL, baseline.
      No significant difference in time-weighted average change in FLU-PRO score from baseline to day 7 was observed between the presatovir and placebo treatment arms (treatment difference: 0.01; 95% CI, −0.12 to 0.15; nominal p = 0.86) (Figure 3 and Figure S3). Similarly, percent change in FEV1(% predicted) from baseline to day 28 did not significantly differ between patients receiving presatovir versus placebo (treatment difference: −3.25; 95% CI, −15.58 to 9.08; nominal p = 0.60; Figure 4; handheld spirometry measurements shown in Figure S4). No significant treatment differences in the secondary endpoints were observed in the subgroup of patients whose duration of symptoms was at the median or shorter of the value in the FAS population (Table S1). Mean changes from baseline in RSV A and RSV B antibody titers were similar between patients receiving presatovir and placebo.
      Figure 3
      Figure 3Median change in FLU-PRO score from baseline to day 28 in the full analysis set. Error bars represent the 25% and 75% quartiles. FLU-PRO, influenza patient-reported outcome.
      Figure 4
      Figure 4Mean % change in FEV1(% predicted) from baseline to day 28 in the full analysis set. Error bars represent the standard deviation. FEV1, forced expiratory volume in the first second.

      Safety analysis

      AEs were similar regardless of presatovir or placebo treatment; 32/40 (80%) presatovir-treated patients reported ≥1 treatment-emergent AE compared with 17/20 (85%) placebo-treated patients. Overall, most AEs were mild to moderate in severity. Headache (13%), nausea (13%), dizziness (10%), fatigue (10%), and cough (10%) were the most frequently reported AEs following presatovir treatment (Table 2). Three (8%) patients receiving presatovir and 6 (30%) receiving placebo experienced AEs of Grade ≥3 in severity. The only Grade ≥3 AE reported by >1 patient in either treatment group was anemia, reported by 2 patients receiving presatovir (5%) and 2 receiving placebo (10%; Table 3). All 4 of these patients were also receiving ribavirin. Serious AEs (SAEs) occurred in 2 (5%) patients receiving presatovir and 4 (20%) receiving placebo. One patient each receiving presatovir had anemia and mental status change; SAEs in placebo-treated patients (n = 1 each) were hypoxemia, deep vein thrombosis, noncardiac chest pain, and combined hypoxemia, sepsis, and hypotension. No SAE was considered related to presatovir. One patient receiving presatovir and 1 patient receiving placebo discontinued study drug due to AEs of diarrhea at day 7 and combined abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting at day 9, respectively. There were no deaths, and no patient required mechanical ventilation through day 28.
      Table 2Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events Reported in ≥2 Patients
      Preferred termPresatovir

      (n = 40)
      Placebo

      (n = 20)
      Patients with any TEAE32 (80)17 (85)
      Dizziness4 (10)5 (25)
      Headache5 (13)4 (20)
      Nausea5 (13)3 (15)
      Fatigue4 (10)3 (15)
      Anemia
      All 6 patients who experienced anemia (3 assigned to presatovir, 3 to placebo) were taking ribavirin.
      3 (8)3 (15)
      Diarrhea2 (5)4 (20)
      Vomiting3 (8)3 (15)
      Cough4 (10)0
      Productive cough2 (5)2 (10)
      Flatulence2 (5)1 (5)
      FEV decreased2 (5)1 (5)
      Tremor2 (5)1 (5)
      Abdominal pain upper1 (3)1 (5)
      Blood bicarbonate decreased02 (10)
      Confusional state1 (3)1 (5)
      Deep vein thrombosis02 (10)
      Dehydration1 (3)1 (5)
      Epistaxis02 (10)
      Hemoglobin decreased2 (5)0
      Hypoxia02 (10)
      Insomnia2 (5)0
      Leukopenia2 (5)0
      Noncardiac chest pain02 (10)
      Palpitations2 (5)0
      Pollakiuria2 (5)0
      Pruritis1 (3)1 (5)
      Sputum discolored2 (5)0
      Urinary tract infection1 (3)1 (5)
      FEV, forced expiratory volume; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event.
      Data are shown as n (%).
      a All 6 patients who experienced anemia (3 assigned to presatovir, 3 to placebo) were taking ribavirin.
      Table 3Grade ≥3 TEAEs, Safety Analysis Set
      Preferred termPresatovir

      (n = 40)
      Placebo

      (n = 20)
      Grade ≥3 TEAE3 (8)6 (30)
       Anemia
      All 4 patients who experienced Grade ≥3 anemia (2 assigned to presatovir, 2 to placebo) were taking ribavirin.
      2 (5)2 (10)
       Nausea1 (3)1 (5)
       Abdominal pain01 (5)
       Deep vein thrombosis01 (5)
       Hypotension01 (5)
       Hypoxia01 (5)
       Mental status changes1 (3)0
       Noncardiac chest pain01 (5)
       Sepsis01 (5)
      Hb, hemoglobin; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event.
      Data are shown as n (%).
      Definitions of severity Grade 3 are anemia, Hb <7.5 g/dl; nausea, minimal oral intake for >48 hours or aggressive rehydration indicated; deep vein thrombosis, intervention indicated; hypotension, symptomatic with intravenous fluids indicated; hypoxia, pulse oximetry <90%; mental status changes, confusion, memory impairment, lethargy, or somnolence causing inability to perform usual social and functional activities; abdominal or noncardiac chest pain, causing inability to perform usual social and functional activities; sepsis, systemic antimicrobial treatment indicated and symptoms causing inability to perform usual social and functional activities or operative intervention other than simple incision and drainage indicated; septic shock is a Grade 4 infection event.
      a All 4 patients who experienced Grade ≥3 anemia (2 assigned to presatovir, 2 to placebo) were taking ribavirin.
      Grade ≥3 laboratory abnormalities occurred in 18 (46%) patients receiving presatovir and 5 (26%) receiving placebo (Table 4). The greatest difference was Grade 3 nonfasting hyperglycemia (glucose >250-500 mg/dl). Grade 3 increased fasting glucose was reported in 1 presatovir-treated versus 0 placebo-treated patients, and Grade 3 increased nonfasting glucose was reported in 6 presatovir-treated versus 0 placebo-treated patients. These abnormalities included 1 marked laboratory abnormality each of increased nonfasting glucose and increased fasting glucose in different patients, both of whom were missing baseline predose glucose measurements and had medical history of diabetes mellitus. The majority of patients with Grade 3 hyperglycemia had elevated glucose values at the day 1 predose assessment.
      Table 4Grade ≥3 Laboratory Abnormalities, Safety Analysis Set
      Presatovir

      (n = 40)
      At least 1 postbaseline value available.
      Placebo

      (n = 20)
      At least 1 postbaseline value available.
      Patients with ≥1 postbaseline value, n3919
      Grade ≥3 laboratory abnormality18 (46)5 (26)
       Grade 316 (41)1 (5)
       Grade 42 (5)4 (21)
      Grade ≥3 hematologic abnormalities
       Hemoglobin8 (21)3 (16)
       Lymphocytes4 (10)3 (16)
       Neutrophils, segmented01 (5)
      Grade ≥3 chemistry abnormalities
       Fasting glucose increased
      Presatovir, n = 18; placebo, n = 10.
      1 (6)0
       Nonfasting glucose increased
      Presatovir, n = 38; placebo, n = 19.
      6 (16)0
      Data are shown as n (%) unless otherwise indicated.
      Definitions of severity Grade 3 are hemoglobin, <7.5 g/dl; lymphocytes, <500/mm3; neutrophils, <750 mm3; fasting glucose increased, >250 mg/dl; nonfasting glucose increased, >250 mg/dl. Not all laboratory abnormalities were reported as adverse events by the investigator.
      a At least 1 postbaseline value available.
      b Presatovir, n = 18; placebo, n = 10.
      c Presatovir, n = 38; placebo, n = 19.

      Discussion

      In this multicenter study—among the largest randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials to date for treatment of lung transplant recipients with RSV infection—presatovir did not significantly improve measures of nasal RSV viral load relative to placebo, despite adequate plasma presatovir concentrations. Similarly, measures of symptom resolution (via FLU-PRO questionnaire) and change in lung function (assessed via FEV1) did not significantly differ in patients receiving presatovir versus placebo. Presatovir was generally well tolerated in this population. These results are consistent with other studies of presatovir in high-risk adults infected with RSV.
      • Chemaly RF
      • Dadwal SS
      • Bergeron A
      • et al.
      A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of presatovir for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus upper respiratory tract infection in hematopoietic-cell transplant recipients.
      ,
      • Marty FM
      • Chemaly RF
      • Mullane KM
      • et al.
      A phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study evaluating antiviral effects, pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of presatovir in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients with respiratory syncytial virus infection of the lower respiratory tract.
      Although presatovir did not meet the efficacy endpoints, this and other recent studies demonstrate the feasibility of clinical trials in RSV-infected lung transplant recipients. The present study incorporated novel approaches, including the use of home nursing visits to perform nasal sampling and other clinical and safety assessments. Bringing the clinical trial to the participant facilitated enrollment of an important population of patients who are often unable to participate in clinical studies due to the distance they reside from their central lung transplant center. Such research participation is imperative to improving outcomes for future generations of lung transplant patients.
      Several study design and patient population characteristics could have contributed to the failure of presatovir to meet the prespecified efficacy endpoints in this trial. Presatovir treatment may not be effective late in the disease course. The median duration of symptoms before the first dose of presatovir was 6 days (mean, 5 days). By contrast, healthy adults with established experimental RSV infections had reduced viral load and clinical symptom severity when treated with presatovir at or before RSV symptom onset in the Phase 2a RSV challenge study.
      • DeVincenzo JP
      • Whitley RJ
      • Mackman RL
      • et al.
      Oral GS-5806 activity in a respiratory syncytial virus challenge study.
      Similarly, the anti-influenza drugs, oseltamivir and baloxavir, are most effective when administered within 48 hours of symptom onset.
      • Aoki FY
      • Macleod MD
      • Paggiaro P
      • et al.
      Early administration of oral oseltamivir increases the benefits of influenza treatment.
      • Hsu J
      • Santesso N
      • Mustafa R
      • et al.
      Antivirals for treatment of influenza: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
      • Muthuri SG
      • Myles PR
      • Venkatesan S
      • Leonardi-Bee J
      • Nguyen-Van-Tam JS
      Impact of neuraminidase inhibitor treatment on outcomes of public health importance during the 2009-2010 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis in hospitalized patients.
      • Hayden FG
      • Sugaya N
      • Hirotsu N
      • et al.
      Baloxavir marboxil for uncomplicated influenza in adults and adolescents.
      Acknowledging the potential for detecting an efficacy signal only when presatovir was used early after infection, the coprimary endpoint evaluated change in RSV load among the subset of the FAS whose duration of symptoms at baseline was at the median or shorter of the value for the overall population. No significant treatment effect was observed in this subpopulation, although this approach is limited by the accuracy of patient-reported symptom duration. As a fusion inhibitor, presatovir is best poised to interrupt the viral life cycle at an early stage and would not be expected to inhibit virus production in cells that are already infected. Therefore, presatovir's mechanism of action may offer only an incremental additive antiviral effect in symptomatic patients with a relatively intact immune system, in whom any potential benefit is masked as patients improve regardless of treatment. Alternatively, presatovir's potential treatment effect could be limited to more severely immunosuppressed populations in whom its antiviral effects become the predominant mechanism to inhibit and clear ongoing viral replication. This was suggested in a subgroup analysis of a recent Phase 2 randomized controlled trial examining presatovir efficacy in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients with isolated RSV upper respiratory tract infection and significant baseline lymphopenia (<200 cells/μl).
      • Chemaly RF
      • Dadwal SS
      • Bergeron A
      • et al.
      A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of presatovir for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus upper respiratory tract infection in hematopoietic-cell transplant recipients.
      In contrast with the study of those with hematopoietic cell transplant, this trial enrolled patients regardless of RSV location in the respiratory tract (upper and lower), with the great majority not displaying the sort of immunocompromised state associated with significant lymphopenia at baseline (2 patients, both randomized to presatovir).
      Another possible explanation is that the study endpoints may not reflect potential benefits of presatovir in lung transplant recipients. The FLU-PRO score, while the best validated symptom score available, has not been validated in patients with RSV. Additionally, the mean baseline FLU-PRO scores (Table 1) in both treatment groups were only approximately 2 on a scale of 0 to 4, suggesting absence of severe symptoms at baseline.
      • Powers 3rd, JH
      • Bacci ED
      • Leidy NK
      • et al.
      Performance of the InFLUenza Patient-Reported Outcome (FLU-PRO) diary in patients with influenza-like illness (ILI).
      Although no change in FEV1(% predicted) was detected after presatovir versus placebo treatment, this endpoint was only measured at randomization and day 28 and contained significant variability among patients, as expected in a study this size.
      In conclusion, presatovir demonstrated safety but not efficacy for viral load reduction, symptom improvement, or prevention of lung function deterioration in lung transplant recipients infected with RSV. Although this study did not achieve its endpoints, it points to important considerations for design of future studies of antivirals in lung transplant recipients. Infection with CARVs, including RSV, remains a significant complication of lung transplantation and contributes to the relatively poor long-term survival of recipients.
      • Gottlieb J
      • Schulz TF
      • Welte T
      • et al.
      Community-acquired respiratory viral infections in lung transplant recipients: a single season cohort study.
      ,
      • Belperio JA
      • Weigt SS
      • Fishbein MC
      • Lynch 3rd, JP
      Chronic lung allograft rejection: mechanisms and therapy.
      • Khalifah AP
      • Hachem RR
      • Chakinala MM
      • et al.
      Respiratory viral infections are a distinct risk for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and death.
      • Hopkins P
      • McNeil K
      • Kermeen F
      • et al.
      Human metapneumovirus in lung transplant recipients and comparison to respiratory syncytial virus.
      Effective therapies to prevent or mitigate these infections will address an important unmet need with potential to improve both short- and long-term clinical outcomes after lung transplantation.

      Disclosure statement

      The study was funded by Gilead Sciences, Inc.
      JG reports grants paid to his institution from Gilead Sciences, Inc., and Zambon; consulting/advisory fees from Boehringer, Breath Therapeutics, Novartis, and Springer Health Care; and speaker fees from CSL Behring and Novartis. VA reports grants to his institution for clinical trial expenses from Gilead Sciences, Inc., during the conduct of the study and royalties for authorship from UpToDate. RK reports grants and nonfinancial support from Gilead Sciences, Inc., during the conduct of the study. MB reports honoraria from CareDx/cell-free DNA. CN reports grants or contracts and consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Sanofi Aventis, and Breath Therapeutics, a Zambon company. DP, MM, YG, and TRW are employees of Gilead Sciences, Inc., and may own stock. RJ, PG, and JWC were employees of Gilead Sciences, Inc., during the conduct of the study and may own stock. FT, TH, GD, DFD, CK, RR, RW, ARG, and MRZ report nothing to disclose.
      The authors extend our thanks to the patients and their families for their participation. Medical writing support was provided by Judith M. Phillips, DVM, PhD, of AlphaBioCom, LLC, and Gregory Bezkorovainy, MA, of AlphaScientia, LLC, and was funded by Gilead Sciences, Inc.

      Authorsʼ contributions

      JG, TRW, and MZ contributed to the first draft of the manuscript. JG, FT, TH, GD, DD, CK, RR, RW, VA, RK, MB, CN, and ARG were study investigators. DP and RJ performed virology analyses. PG performed pharmacokinetic analyses. YG performed statistical analyses. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript, provided substantive comments, and approved the final draft for submission.

      Data availability statement

      Data are available on reasonable request. Anonymized individual patient data will be shared upon request for research purposes dependent upon the nature of the request, the merit of the proposed research, the availability of the data, and its intended use. The full data sharing policy for Gilead Sciences, Inc., can be found at https://www.gileadclinicaltrials.com/transparency-policy/.

      Appendix. Supplementary materials

      References

        • Gottlieb J
        • Schulz TF
        • Welte T
        • et al.
        Community-acquired respiratory viral infections in lung transplant recipients: a single season cohort study.
        Transplantation. 2009; 87: 1530-1537
        • Gottlieb J
        Community-acquired respiratory viruses.
        Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2019; 24: 311-317
        • Belperio JA
        • Weigt SS
        • Fishbein MC
        • Lynch 3rd, JP
        Chronic lung allograft rejection: mechanisms and therapy.
        Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2009; 6: 108-121
        • Khalifah AP
        • Hachem RR
        • Chakinala MM
        • et al.
        Respiratory viral infections are a distinct risk for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and death.
        Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004; 170: 181-187
        • Hopkins P
        • McNeil K
        • Kermeen F
        • et al.
        Human metapneumovirus in lung transplant recipients and comparison to respiratory syncytial virus.
        Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008; 178: 876-881
        • Pelaez A
        • Lyon GM
        • Force SD
        • et al.
        Efficacy of oral ribavirin in lung transplant patients with respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection.
        J Heart Lung Transplant. 2009; 28: 67-71
        • Shah JN
        • Chemaly RF
        Management of RSV infections in adult recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
        Blood. 2011; 117: 2755-2763
        • Boeckh M
        • Englund J
        • Li Y
        • et al.
        Randomized controlled multicenter trial of aerosolized ribavirin for respiratory syncytial virus upper respiratory tract infection in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.
        Clin Infect Dis. 2007; 44: 245-249
        • Shah DP
        • Ghantoji SS
        • Shah JN
        • et al.
        Impact of aerosolized ribavirin on mortality in 280 allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with respiratory syncytial virus infections.
        J Antimicrob Chemother. 2013; 68: 1872-1880
        • Waghmare A
        • Englund JA
        • Boeckh M
        How I treat respiratory viral infections in the setting of intensive chemotherapy or hematopoietic cell transplantation.
        Blood. 2016; 127: 2682-2692
        • VIRAZOLE® (Ribavirin for Inhalation Solution, USP)
        Full prescribing information.
        Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC, Bridgewater, NJ2016
        • Chemaly RF
        • Aitken SL
        • Wolfe CR
        • Jain R
        • Boeckh MJ
        Aerosolized ribavirin: the most expensive drug for pneumonia.
        Transpl Infect Dis. 2016; 18: 634-636
        • SYNAGIS® (palivizumab) injection, for intramuscular use
        Full prescribing information.
        MedImmune, LLC, Gaithersburg, MD2017
        • American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases
        • American Academy of Pediatrics Bronchiolitis Guidelines Committee
        Updated guidance for palivizumab prophylaxis among infants and young children at increased risk of hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus infection.
        Pediatrics. 2014; 134: 415-420
        • de Fontbrune FS
        • Robin M
        • Porcher R
        • et al.
        Palivizumab treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
        Clin Infect Dis. 2007; 45: 1019-1024
        • Beaird OE
        • Freifeld A
        • Ison MG
        • et al.
        Current practices for treatment of respiratory syncytial virus and other non-influenza respiratory viruses in high-risk patient populations: a survey of institutions in the Midwestern Respiratory Virus Collaborative.
        Transpl Infect Dis. 2016; 18: 210-215
        • Gottlieb J
        • Zamora MR
        • Hodges T
        • et al.
        ALN-RSV01 for prevention of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after respiratory syncytial virus infection in lung transplant recipients.
        J Heart Lung Transplant. 2016; 35: 213-221
        • DeVincenzo JP
        • Whitley RJ
        • Mackman RL
        • et al.
        Oral GS-5806 activity in a respiratory syncytial virus challenge study.
        N Engl J Med. 2014; 371: 711-722
        • German P
        • Xin Y
        • Chien JW
        • et al.
        Phase 1 first-in-human, single- and multiple-ascending dose, and food effect studies to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of presatovir for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection.
        J Clin Pharmacol. 2018; 58: 1025-1034
        • Xin Y
        • Weng W
        • Murray BP
        • et al.
        The drug-drug interaction profile of presatovir.
        J Clin Pharmacol. 2018; 58: 771-780
        • Powers JH
        • Guerrero ML
        • Leidy NK
        • et al.
        Development of the Flu-PRO: a patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument to evaluate symptoms of influenza.
        BMC Infect Dis. 2016; 16: 1
        • Miller MR
        • Hankinson J
        • Brusasco V
        • et al.
        Standardisation of spirometry.
        Eur Respir J. 2005; 26: 319-338
        • Chemaly RF
        • Dadwal SS
        • Bergeron A
        • et al.
        A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of presatovir for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus upper respiratory tract infection in hematopoietic-cell transplant recipients.
        Clin Infect Dis. 2020; 71: 2777-2786
        • Marty FM
        • Chemaly RF
        • Mullane KM
        • et al.
        A phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study evaluating antiviral effects, pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of presatovir in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients with respiratory syncytial virus infection of the lower respiratory tract.
        Clin Infect Dis. 2020; 71: 2787-2795
        • Aoki FY
        • Macleod MD
        • Paggiaro P
        • et al.
        Early administration of oral oseltamivir increases the benefits of influenza treatment.
        J Antimicrob Chemother. 2003; 51: 123-129
        • Hsu J
        • Santesso N
        • Mustafa R
        • et al.
        Antivirals for treatment of influenza: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
        Ann Intern Med. 2012; 156: 512-524
        • Muthuri SG
        • Myles PR
        • Venkatesan S
        • Leonardi-Bee J
        • Nguyen-Van-Tam JS
        Impact of neuraminidase inhibitor treatment on outcomes of public health importance during the 2009-2010 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis in hospitalized patients.
        J Infect Dis. 2013; 207: 553-563
        • Hayden FG
        • Sugaya N
        • Hirotsu N
        • et al.
        Baloxavir marboxil for uncomplicated influenza in adults and adolescents.
        N Engl J Med. 2018; 379: 913-923
        • Powers 3rd, JH
        • Bacci ED
        • Leidy NK
        • et al.
        Performance of the InFLUenza Patient-Reported Outcome (FLU-PRO) diary in patients with influenza-like illness (ILI).
        PLoS One. 2018; 13e0194180