A randomised, controlled, double blind, escalating dose study of alicaforsen enema in active ulcerative colitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an enema formulation of alicaforsen, an antisense inhibitor of intercellular adhesion molecule, after 1, 3, and 6 months.


METHODS
This was a randomised, placebo controlled, double blind, escalating dose multicentre study in 40 patients with mild to moderately active distal ulcerative colitis (disease activity index (DAI) 4-10). Patients were assigned to four dosing cohorts of 10 patients each (eight active, two placebo). Each patient received 60 ml of alicaforsen enema (0.1, 0.5, 2, or 4 mg/ml or placebo) once daily for 28 consecutive days. Safety and efficacy (DAI and clinical activity index) scores were evaluated up to six months after initiation of dosing.


RESULTS
At day 29, alicaforsen enema resulted in dose dependent improvement in DAI (overall p = 0.003). Alicaforsen 4 mg/ml improved DAI by 70% compared with the placebo response of 28% (p = 0.004). Alicaforsen 2 and 4 mg/ml improved DAI status by 72% and 68% compared with a placebo response of 11.5% at month 3 (p = 0.016 and 0.021, respectively). Specifically, DAI improved from 5.6 to 1.6 and from 6.3 to 2.5 in the 2 and 4 mg/ml groups compared with placebo (7.5 to 6.1). None of the patients in the 4 mg/ml group compared with 4/8 placebo patients required additional medical or surgical intervention over baseline during the six month period after starting the enema treatment. The safety profile was favourable.


CONCLUSIONS
Alicaforsen enema showed promising acute and long term benefit in patients with mild to moderate descending ulcerative colitis. Alicaforsen enemas had a favourable safety profile. These findings require verification in larger randomised controlled clinical trials.
van Deventer
S J H
SJ
Academisch Medisch Centrum, Room G2, 129, Poli Inglammatoire Darmzietkten, Meibergdreef 9, NL 1105 AZ, Amsterdam Ziodoost, the Netherlands. S.J.vanDeventer@amc.uva.nl.
Tami
J A
JA
Wedel
M K
MK
D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054735:Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D054735:Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides; D013873:Thionucleotides; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C089753:alicaforsen