REcovery and SURvival of patients with moderate to severe acute REspiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19: a multicentre, single-arm, Phase IV Itolizumab Trial: RESURRECT

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate safety and efficacy of Itolizumab in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with PaO2/FiO2 ratio (PFR) ≤200 requiring oxygen therapy. Design: A multicentre, single-arm, Phase-4 study with a treatment period of 30-Days and an extended follow-up period of 90-Days. Methods: Hospitalized adult patients (n=300) with SARS-CoV-2 infection, with PFR ≤200, oxygen saturation ≤94% and ≥1 elevated inflammatory markers were included from 17 COVID-19 specific tertiary hospitals in India. Patients received Itolizumab infusion 1.6 mg/kg and were assessed for 1-month and then followed up to Day-90. Results: Day-30 post-treatment safety/efficacy results and Day-90 mortality results are presented. Primary outcome measures: incidence of severe acute infusion-related reactions (IRRs) (≥Grade-3) was 1.3% and mortality rate at 1-month was 6.7% (n=20/300). Key secondary analyses: Mortality rate at Day-90 was 8.0% (24/300). 91.7% patients came off the oxygen therapy within Day-30 of treatment. By Day-7, most patients had stable/improved SpO2 without increasing FiO2. Mean PFR improved by 50% by Day-7 (p<0.001) and the trend remained consistent till Day-30. Median time of recovery was 8 days. Cumulatively, at Day-30, 260(86.7%), 256(85.3%), 132(44.0%), 113(37.6%) and 32(10.7%) patients showed >1-point, >2-point, >3-point, >4-point and 5-point improvement on the modified COVID-19 8-point ordinal scale and worsening of symptoms by >1 point, >2 points and 3-points was seen in 26(8.7%), 20(6.7%) and 6(2.0%) patients, respectively. CRP, D-dimer, LDH and serum ferritin levels significantly decreased (p≤0.01) compared with baseline. IL-6 and TNFα levels also decreased 48-hours post-infusion. Overall, 123 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 63 patients, most being Grades 1-3. Most common TEAEs were IRRs and lymphopenia; most common serious TEAEs were septic shock, worsening of ARDS and respiratory failure. No deaths were attributable to Itolizumab. Conclusion: Itolizumab shows no new safety concerns and suggests a mortality and recovery benefit at 1-month in hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen therapy.