A Dose-Escalation Study Evaluating the Safety and Tolerability of Artesunate in Participants With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (SAFE-IPF)
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive fibrotic lung disease resulting in increasing shortness of breath, cough, and low oxygen levels as a result of lung tissue scarring . This will be a single-center randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of 20 weeks including up to 4 weeks for screening, followed by 12 weeks of oral artesunate treatment across 3 dose levels (dose escalation every 4 weeks), and 4 weeks of a washout (follow-up) period in participants with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of artesunate at 3 dose levels, and to select the dose(s) to carry forward into additional clinical testing. The secondary objective includes exploring the blood biomarkers present in participants with IPF at baseline and to investigate how those biomarkers change following artesunate treatment. The exploratory objectives include assessing the changes in the K-BILD and Leicester cough questionnaire scores and change in pulmonary function after artesunate administration.
• Participants, aged 40 years or older.
• Diagnosis of IPF based upon ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT 2018 guidelines (55).
• FVC percent of predicted ≥ 40%; historical FVC for entry in the study is permitted if within 3 months of screening.
• Diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) (hemoglobin-adjusted) ≥ 30%; historical DLco for entry in the study is permitted if within 3 months of screening.
• Participants currently receiving treatment for IPF with nintedanib or pirfenidone are allowed, provided these drugs have been given at a stable dose for at least 6 weeks before the Screening visit (stable dose is defined as the highest dose tolerated by the participant during ≥ 6 weeks).
• Female participants of childbearing potential (i.e., ovulating, premenopausal, and not surgically sterile) and all male participants with sexual partners of childbearing potential must use highly effective methods of birth control during their participation in the study and for 60 days after the last administration of study drug. Highly effective methods of birth control are defined as those with 99% or greater efficacy.
• Participants must agree to abstain from egg or sperm donation through 60 days, after administration of the last dose of study drug.
• Able to read and sign a written informed consent form (ICF).