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Evaluating Three Grams Daily Valacyclovir in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C and HSV-2 Infection (Phase I)

Information source: Department of Veterans Affairs
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.

Condition(s) targeted: Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

Intervention: Valacyclovir (Drug); Placebo (Drug)

Phase: Phase 1

Status: Recruiting

Sponsored by: Department of Veterans Affairs

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Mary J Burton, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, Jackson, MS

Overall contact:
Mary J Burton, MD, Phone: (601) 362-4471, Ext: 1842, Email: mary.burton2@va.gov

Summary

The purpose of this study is to study the effects of valacyclovir on patients who have hepatitis C and antibodies to herpes simplex type-2. Herpes simplex type 2 is a virus which causes genital herpes. Some persons with genital herpes have sores in their private areas but most persons do not have any symptoms at all. Valacyclovir is a medication which is commonly used to treat or prevent outbreaks of genital herpes. This medication is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat genital herpes. Valacyclovir has not been approved to treat chronic hepatitis C. The study will take 16 weeks. Participants will be assigned to take either the study drug, valacyclovir, or a sugar pill that looks exactly like valacyclovir. The researchers and the persons participating will not know which medication they are receiving. Study visits will occur every two weeks and will take approximately 3-45 minutes. All study visits will occur at the GV Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center.

Clinical Details

Official title: Evaluating Three Grams Daily Valacyclovir in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C and HSV-2 Infection (Phase I)

Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Primary outcome: Effect of HSV-2 suppression on HCV viral load.

Secondary outcome: Effect of 3 grams daily valacyclovir on liver tests in hepatitis C infection

Detailed description: Study is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, Phase II clinical trial. Participants will be recruited while attending regularly scheduled clinic appointments at the Jackson VAMC. Baseline Visit. Participants will be randomized 1: 1 in groups of 10 to receive valacyclovir 1. 5 gram orally twice daily or matching placebo. Enrolled participants will complete 12 weeks of assigned therapy. At the initial visit, participants will complete a short questionnaire detailing past medical/social history and relevant symptoms. Venipuncture will be performed to obtain samples for the laboratory tests. The baseline de-identified serum sample will be obtained from the clinical lab and stored in research-approved freezer space for future confirmation with the Biokit HSV-2 rapid assay. Follow-up visits will be scheduled at two-week intervals after baseline. At each visit, pill-count, compliance and tolerability of medications will be assessed using a short questionnaire. Venipuncture will be performed every four weeks (i. e., at every other follow-up visit) to provide samples for the tests described below. Information from each study visit will be recorded into the chart by the PI or RA and entered into an encrypted database on a VA server. Laboratory Tests. HSV-2 infection will be confirmed by performing the Biokit HSV-2 rapid assay on the baseline stored serum sample using methods previously described in this proposal. Laboratory tests will include 1) complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic profile, and quantitative HCV RNA; and 2) Focus HerpeSelect HSV-1 IgG for participants who were seronegative for HSV-1 at baseline. Patient's IL28-B genotype will also be assessed at baseline. The PI will review all laboratory parameters. Baseline characteristics between the groups will be compared using appropriate parametric tests. Analysis will be intention to treat with the inclusion of all subjects who were randomized to drug or placebo. The primary outcome is change in HCV viral load in the treatment group compared with placebo. Because we are expecting a 0. 5 log10 decline in HCV viral load, we will use one-sided parametric tests. All viral loads will be log10-transformed before analysis. We anticipate using a higher cut-off will eliminate false positive HerpeSelect HSV-2 IgG assays.

Eligibility

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: N/A. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Documentation of chronic HCV infection with genotype testing and previous positive

HerpeSelect HSV-2 IgG assay Exclusion Criteria:

- Antiherpes or immunomodulatory therapy during the past 30 days

- HIV or chronic hepatitis B infection

- Decompensated liver disease (ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, coagulopathy,

jaundice/icterus)

- Creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min.

- Female subject who is pregnant or nursing

- Gastrointestinal disorder which might result in malabsorption of valacyclovir

- History of erythema multiforme major, thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura or

hemolytic uremic syndrome

- Therapy for hepatitis C in the previous 6 months

Locations and Contacts

Mary J Burton, MD, Phone: (601) 362-4471, Ext: 1842, Email: mary.burton2@va.gov

G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, Jackson, MS, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, United States; Recruiting
Mary J Burton, MD, Phone: 601-362-4471, Ext: 1842, Email: mary.burton2@va.gov
Casey Young, MS, Sub-Investigator
Mary J Burton, MD, Principal Investigator
Additional Information

Starting date: November 2011
Last updated: May 12, 2015

Page last updated: August 23, 2015

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