Study of Varespladib in Patients Hospitalized With Severe COVID-19

The goals of this 2-part, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study are to define a safe dose for the population and to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of orally dosed varespladib to improve survival without respiratory failure in patients hospitalized with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), when given in addition to the institutional standard of care therapy. Mortality rates of COVID-19 are strongly linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which may be, additionally, correlated with elevations of secretory phospholipase 2 (sPLA2) and widespread loss of functioning lung tissue. Upregulation of sPLA2 is thought to be involved in the dysregulated inflammatory cascade pathways (increased markers of immune activation, also known as cytokine release syndrome) and enzymatic degradation of lung surfactant linked to the development of ARDS. It is believed that treatment with varespladib, a potent inhibitor of sPLA2, might prevent or mitigate progression of pulmonary dysfunction in COVID-19 patients by two mechanisms: suppression of sPLA2-induced inflammation and, uniquely, preservation of pulmonary surfactant by direct inhibition of the enzyme responsible for surfactant phospholipid degradation: sPLA2. Data from previous phase 2 clinical trials of varespladib suggested it had potential to reduce mortality in severely septic patients with ARDS, particularly when treatment was initiated within 18 hours of identification of organ failure. The study will be conducted in two parts. Both parts will be randomized and double-blind. Part 1 will be dose-finding in four parallel treatment groups randomized to treatment with varespladib (at 250 mg once daily \[QD\], twice daily \[BID\], or three times daily \[TID\] \[250, 500, or 750 mg/day\]) or placebo in a 5:5:5:3 ratio. After all participants in Part 1 have completed Day 28, a data safety monitoring board (DSMB) will review the safety results from Part 1, including all available safety data through Day 60, and will recommend the dose regimen to be used in Part 2. Part 2 will randomize an additional 72 participants to the dose regimen selected from Part 1 or placebo in a 1:1 ratio. In both parts of the study, eligible participants will be enrolled and randomized to receive active varespladib or placebo in addition to institutional standard of care for 7 days. Participants will be assessed daily per standard of care while hospitalized and on a regular basis after discharge. The Day 1, 4, 7, 14, and 28 visits will be performed in person (either at the hospital/site or via a home health provider) to assess safety, obtain blood and urine samples for laboratory tests, and obtain clinical outcome data. The Day 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 45, and 60 visits for discharged participants may be conducted by phone or via electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) devices. Efficacy will be assessed by respiratory failure-free survival at Day 28. Safety will be assessed by evaluating adverse events (AEs), vital sign measurements, use of oxygen therapies, changes in levels of biomarkers, clinical laboratory test results, electrocardiograms (ECGs), physical examination findings, and concomitant medications and therapies. A DSMB will evaluate safety data at specified intervals during both parts of the trial. Pharmacokinetic (PK) samples will be drawn from all participants in Part 1 and in a subset of approximately 14 participants in Part 2 in order to enable estimation of PK parameters in approximately 22 participants receiving active treatment with varespladib.