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7 active trials for Immune Suppression

Covid-19 Vaccine Response in Immunocompromised Haematology Patients

The UK Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted temporary authorisation to three Covid-19 vaccines in December 2020 and January 2021. These vaccinations include: Covid-19 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine); ChAdOx1-S vaccine (Astra Zeneca vaccine); Covid-19 mRNA vaccine (Moderna vaccine). Any other Covid-19 vaccines approved for use by the MHRA in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients are to be included in this study. The above vaccines have received temporary authorisation after placebo-controlled phase 3 studies confirmed their safety and efficacy in over 100,000 volunteers. People who were immunocompromised or were receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunoglobulin treatment were excluded from these studies. Safety, efficacy, and durability of antibody response in these studies has been assessed for up to 14 weeks only. These vaccines are being rolled out in the UK and have been recommended for use for immunosuppressed individuals including patients undergoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and those who have undergone stem cell transplantation. Though the MHRA has approved vaccination for immunocompromised patients there is no published evidence to confirm safety and efficacy in these patients. The durability of antibody response and whether this is affected by concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy treatment is also unknown. This observational study aims to evaluate the immune response to Covid-19 vaccines in haematology patients who have immune suppression either due to disease, treatment, or both. The investigators plan to measure Anti-SARS-COV2 IgG antibody levels at specified time points until 120 days after patients have received their 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccine. The investigators will also collect any adverse events reported by patient including Covid-19 infection or disease after vaccination. The study plans to recruit 50 haematology patients who are clinically assessed by a haematologist as immunosuppressed due to their disease, treatment, or both. The study also plans to recruit 30 healthy (immunocompetent) volunteers who would be the control group for comparison of antibody response and durability.

Start: March 2021
Immunosuppressive Drugs and Gut Microbiome: Pharmacokinetic- and Microbiome Diversity Effects

Kidney transplant recipients of living- and deceased donor grafts and treated with both mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus (Tac) will be included. A 12-hour pharmacokinetic (PK) investigation of both mycophenolate (MPA) and Tac will be performed in pharmacokinetic steady state conditions between 3 to 8 weeks and one year after transplantation. Feces samples will be collected before (if possible), 1 week after transplantation and at the day of the 12-hour PK investigations. Data on dietary intake and physical activity will be obtained in association with the feces sampling in all patients. Patients will be invited to a follow-up visit one year after transplantation where the 12-hour PK investigation, feces sampling, dietary and activity data collection is repeated. Standard follow-up data after renal transplantations, such as acute rejection episodes, infections, renal function, post transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM), protocol biopsies, adherence to immunosuppressive drugs, graft loss and death will be collected for all patients up to 5 years after transplantation according to standard schedule at the transplant center. A subgroup of kidney transplant recipients scheduled for living donor transplantation will be included before transplantation for pre-transplant investigations in addition to the investigations after transplantation. These patients will be randomized to either receive one week of treatment with MMF or Tac before transplantation. Feces samples and a 12-hour PK investigation will be performed after one week of treatment (before transplantation).

Start: October 2019
Effects of Fasting Strategies on Postoperative Recovery and Long-term Prognosis in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

In 2018, colorectal cancer is the third most common malignant tumor in terms of morbidity and second mortality in the world. Surgical resection is still the main treatment for colorectal cancer.With the introduction of the ERAS, the latest international and domestic guidelines for fasting before surgery all advocate shortening the fasting time. For example, 2 hours before surgery, oral take cleared fluids, including water, sugar water, fruit juice, tea and black coffee (without milk) is allowed.Solid food can be consumed 4 hours before surgery, and oral diet should be resumed as soon as possible after surgery. Changes in diet, nutritional status, and physical activity are closely related to the incidence of colorectal cancer. Therefore, we believe that the intestine may be very sensitive to different fasting times during the perioperative period. Prolonging the fasting time may improve the prognosis by improving postoperative insulin resistance, reducing inflammation and protecting anti-tumor immune function in patients with colorectal cancer.Prolonged fasting time seems to be contrary to the results of some studies, and whether it is applicable to patients with tumor surgery is unclear. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct large-scale, prospective, randomized controlled clinical studies to clarify the most suitable perioperative fasting strategy (including composition, interval, and amount) for cancer patients, which can not only reduce surgical stress and speed up postoperative rehabilitation,reduce postoperative metastasis and recurrence and improve mid- and long-term prognosis.

Start: January 2020
The Norwegian Prednisolone in Early Psychosis Study

Objective: The primary objective of this trial is to investigate whether prednisolone improves symptom severity as compared to placebo when given in addition to antipsychotic medication to patients with early-stage psychotic disorder. Secondary objectives include improvement of cognitive functioning and positive, negative and general psychopathological symptoms as well as general functioning. Study design: Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Study population: 90 men and women, with an age of 18 years and older, diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. The time interval between the onset of psychosis and study entry should not exceed five years and CRP level should be at least 3.9 mg/L. Intervention: Patients will be randomized 1:1 to either prednisolone or placebo daily for a period of 6 weeks. Identical tablets will be administered. Prednisolone will be initiated at 40 mg for three days, after which it will be phased out within 6 weeks after start, following current treatment guidelines. Main study parameters/endpoints: Primary outcome is change in symptom severity, expressed as a change in total score on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) from baseline to end of the 6-week treatment. Secondary outcomes are a 6-month follow-up assessment of PANSS, cognitive functioning (measured through a repeatable neurocognitive battery, change in GAF scores and the measurement of various immunological biomarkers. In post-hoc analyses, attempts will be made to identify baseline blood markers with predictive properties regarding improvement in the anti-inflammatory drug treatment arm. Expected benefits for consumers and care givers: A decrease in symptom severity is expected, as low grade brain inflammation may be associated with psychotic symptoms. The results may give raise to a new line of scientific research as well as treatment options for a disabling disorder.

Start: February 2018