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Martinaud C, Bagri A, Tsai CT, de Assis RR, Gatmaitan M, Robinson PV, Seftel D, Khan S, Felgner PL, Corash LM. Characterization of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in lyophilized plasma prepared with amotosalen-UVA pathogen reduction. Transfusion 2023; 63:1633-1638. [PMID: 37615329 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected patients exhibit disease ranging from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia, multi-organ failure, and death. convalescent COVID plasma (CCP) from recovered patients with high levels of neutralizing antibodies has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy to reduce the morbidity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in some studies. The development of assays to characterize the activity of CCP to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 infectivity offers the possibility to improve potential therapeutic efficacy. Lyophilization of CCP may increase the availability of this therapy. We hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 antibody profiles of pooled lyophilized pathogen-reduced CCP from COVID-19-recovered blood donors retains virus-neutralizing efficacy as reported for frozen pathogen-reduced CCP. METHODS Pooled lyophilized pathogen-reduced plasma was prepared from recovered COVID plasma donors. Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were characterized in each donor plasma prior to pathogen reduction and lyophilization and after lyophilization of individual CCP, and in the lyophilized CCP pool. Several complimentary assays were used to characterize antibody levels, neutralizing capacity, and the spectrum of antigen reactivity. The mean values for individual plasma samples and the value in the pool were compared. RESULTS The mean ratio for antibody binding to SARS-CoV-2 antigens before and after treatment was 0.95 ± 0.22 mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) units. Antibody activity to an array of influenza virus antigens demonstrated a mean activity ratio of 0.92 ± 0.12 MFI before and after treatment. CONCLUSIONS The antibody activity in pooled pathogen-reduced lyophilized CCPs demonstrated minimal impact due to pathogen reduction treatment and lyophilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Martinaud
- Blood Donation Screening Laboratory, French Military Blood Institute, Clamart, France
| | - Anil Bagri
- Cerus Corporation, Concord, California, USA
| | - Cheng-Ting Tsai
- ENable Biosciences Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Rafael R de Assis
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | | | | | - David Seftel
- ENable Biosciences Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Saahir Khan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine Health, Orange, California, USA
| | - Philip L Felgner
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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Wilkinson RJ, Donovan J, Thwaites GE, van Crevel R, Wasserman S. Treatment of tuberculous meningitis: Overdue for concerted action. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2023; 142:102361. [PMID: 37394302 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2023.102361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Wilkinson
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom.
| | - Joseph Donovan
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 9HT, United Kingdom
| | - Guy E Thwaites
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK; Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Reinout van Crevel
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK; Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sean Wasserman
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
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Lorenc A, Rooshenas L, Conefrey C, Wade J, Farrar N, Mills N, Paramasivan S, Realpe A, Jepson M. Non-COVID-19 UK clinical trials and the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, challenges and possible solutions. Trials 2023; 24:424. [PMID: 37349850 PMCID: PMC10286467 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07414-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the operationalisation of non-COVID-19 clinical trials globally, particularly site and participant recruitment and trial success/stoppage. Trials which anticipate recruitment challenges may embed methods such as the QuinteT Recruitment Intervention (QRI) to help identify and understand the sources of challenges. Such interventions can help shed light on pandemic-related challenges. This paper reports our experience of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on conducting clinical trials with an embedded QRI, highlighting how the QRI aided in identifying challenges and potential solutions, particularly related to the site set-up and participant recruitment. MAIN BODY We report on 13 UK clinical trials which included a QRI. Information is from QRI data and researchers' experience and reflections. In most trials, recruitment was lower than even the lowest anticipated rates. The flexibility of the QRI facilitated rapid data collection to understand and document, and in some instances respond to, operational challenges. Challenges were mostly logistical, pandemic-related and beyond the control of the site or central trial teams. Specifically: disrupted and variable site opening timelines -often due to local research and development (R&D) delays- shortages of staff to recruit patients; fewer eligible patients or limited access to patients; and intervention-related factors. Almost all trials were affected by pandemic-related staffing issues including redeployment, prioritisation of COVID-19 care and research, and COVID-19-related staff illness and absence. Trials of elective procedures were particularly impacted by the pandemic, which caused changes to care/recruitment pathways, deprioritisation of services, reduced clinical and surgical capacity and longer waiting lists. Attempted solutions included extra engagement with staff and R&D departments, trial protocol changes (primarily moving online) and seeking additional resourcing. CONCLUSION We have highlighted wide-ranging, extensive and consistent pandemic-related challenges faced by UK clinical trials, which the QRI helped to identify and, in some cases, address. Many challenges were insurmountable at individual trials or trials unit level. This overview highlights the need to streamline trial regulatory processes, address staffing crises, improve recognition of NHS research staff and for clearer, more nuanced central guidance on the prioritisation of studies and how to deal with the backlog. Pre-emptively embedding qualitative work and stakeholder consultation into trials with anticipated difficulties, moving some processes online, and flexible trial protocols may improve the resilience of trials in the current challenging context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Lorenc
- QuinteT Group, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK.
| | - Leila Rooshenas
- QuinteT Group, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Carmel Conefrey
- QuinteT Group, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Julia Wade
- QuinteT Group, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Nicola Farrar
- QuinteT Group, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Nicola Mills
- QuinteT Group, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Sangeetha Paramasivan
- QuinteT Group, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Alba Realpe
- QuinteT Group, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Marcus Jepson
- QuinteT Group, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
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Dal-Ré R. Is it reasonable to label a trial as pragmatic whose investigators do not? The UK RECOVERY COVID-19 trial case. Clin Trials 2023; 20:319-321. [PMID: 36740750 PMCID: PMC9902778 DOI: 10.1177/17407745231152851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Dal-Ré
- Epidemiology Unit, Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Macnair A, Nankivell M, Murray ML, Rosen SD, Appleyard S, Sydes MR, Forcat S, Welland A, Clarke NW, Mangar S, Kynaston H, Kockelbergh R, Al-Hasso A, Deighan J, Marshall J, Parmar M, Langley RE, Gilbert DC. Healthcare systems data in the context of clinical trials - A comparison of cardiovascular data from a clinical trial dataset with routinely collected data. Contemp Clin Trials 2023; 128:107162. [PMID: 36933612 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2023.107162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Routinely-collected healthcare systems data (HSD) are proposed to improve the efficiency of clinical trials. A comparison was undertaken between cardiovascular (CVS) data from a clinical trial database with two HSD resources. METHODS Protocol-defined and clinically reviewed CVS events (heart failure (HF), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), thromboembolic stroke, venous and arterial thromboembolism) were identified within the trial data. Data (using pre-specified codes) was obtained from NHS Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) HF and myocardial ischaemia audits for trial participants recruited in England between 2010 and 2018 who had provided consent. The primary comparison was trial data versus HES inpatient (APC) main diagnosis (Box-1). Correlations are presented with descriptive statistics and Venn diagrams. Reasons for non-correlation were explored. RESULTS From 1200 eligible participants, 71 protocol-defined clinically reviewed CVS events were recorded in the trial database. 45 resulted in a hospital admission and therefore could have been recorded by either HES APC/ NICOR. Of these, 27/45 (60%) were recorded by HES inpatient (Box-1) with an additional 30 potential events also identified. HF and ACS were potentially recorded in all 3 datasets; trial data recorded 18, HES APC 29 and NICOR 24 events respectively. 12/18 (67%) of the HF/ACS events in the trial dataset were recorded by NICOR. CONCLUSION Concordance between datasets was lower than anticipated and the HSD used could not straightforwardly replace current trial practices, nor directly identify protocol-defined CVS events. Further work is required to improve the quality of HSD and consider event definitions when designing clinical trials incorporating HSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archie Macnair
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK; Health Data Research, UK; Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Matthew Nankivell
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - Macey L Murray
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK; Health Data Research, UK; NHS DigiTrials, NHS Digital, 7 and 8 Wellington Place, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 4AP, UK
| | - Stuart D Rosen
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Sally Appleyard
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK
| | - Matthew R Sydes
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK; Health Data Research, UK; BHF Data Science Centre, Health Data Research UK (Central Office), Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Sylvia Forcat
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - Andrew Welland
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - Noel W Clarke
- The Christie and Salford Royal Hospitals, Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen Mangar
- Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Howard Kynaston
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University Medical School, Cardiff, UK
| | - Roger Kockelbergh
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - John Deighan
- Patient representative, MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - John Marshall
- Patient representative, MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - Mahesh Parmar
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - Ruth E Langley
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - Duncan C Gilbert
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, UK; University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK.
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Blagden SP, Yu LM, Ellis S, Hughes H, Shaaban A, Fennelly-Barnwell J, Lythgoe MP, Cooper AM, Maignen FM, Buckland SW, Kearns PR, Brown LC. Additional consensus recommendations for conducting complex innovative trials of oncology agents: a post-pandemic perspective. Br J Cancer 2023; 128:474-477. [PMID: 36434156 PMCID: PMC9702707 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-02051-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In our 2020 consensus paper, we devised ten recommendations for conducting Complex Innovative Design (CID) trials to evaluate cancer drugs. Within weeks of its publication, the UK was hit by the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Large CID trials were prioritised to compare the efficacy of new and repurposed COVID-19 treatments and inform regulatory decisions. The unusual circumstances of the pandemic meant studies such as RECOVERY were opened almost immediately and recruited record numbers of participants. However, trial teams were required to make concessions and adaptations to these studies to ensure recruitment was rapid and broad. As these are relevant to cancer trials that enrol patients with similar risk factors, we have added three new recommendations to our original ten: employing pragmatism such as using focused information sheets and collection of only the most relevant data; minimising negative environmental impacts with paperless systems; and using direct-to-patient communication methods to improve uptake. These recommendations can be applied to all oncology CID trials to improve their inclusivity, uptake and efficiency. Above all, the success of CID studies during the COVID-19 pandemic underscores their efficacy as tools for rapid treatment evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P Blagden
- Department of Oncology, Old Road Campus Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Ly-Mee Yu
- Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephanie Ellis
- London Hampstead Research Ethics Committee, Health Research Authority, Elephant and Castle, London, UK
| | - Helen Hughes
- Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Abeer Shaaban
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Mark P Lythgoe
- Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, UK
| | - Alison M Cooper
- The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, London, UK
| | | | | | - Pamela R Kearns
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Louise C Brown
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, 90 High Holborn, London, UK
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Pilz S, Ioannidis JPA. Does natural and hybrid immunity obviate the need for frequent vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 in the endemic phase? Eur J Clin Invest 2023; 53:e13906. [PMID: 36366946 PMCID: PMC9878177 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has entered its endemic phase and we observe significantly declining infection fatality rates due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On this background, it is crucial but challenging to define current and future vaccine policy in a population with a high immunity against SARS-CoV-2 conferred by previous infections and/or vaccinations. Vaccine policy must consider the magnitude of the risks conferred by new infection(s) with current and evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants, how these risks vary in different groups of individuals, how to balance these risks against the apparently small, but existent, risks of harms of vaccination, and the cost-benefit of different options. More evidence from randomized controlled trials and continuously accumulating national health data is required to inform shared decision-making with people who consider vaccination options. Vaccine policy makers should cautiously weight what vaccination schedules are needed, and refrain from urging frequent vaccine boosters unless supported by sufficient evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Pilz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - John P A Ioannidis
- Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Health, Biomedical Data Science, and Statistics and Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Ioannidis JP, Powis SH. COVID-19 models and expectations - Learning from the pandemic. Adv Biol Regul 2022; 86:100922. [PMID: 36241518 PMCID: PMC9546779 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2022.100922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John P.A. Ioannidis
- Departments of Medicine, of Epidemiology and Population Health, of Biomedical Science and of Statistics, and Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, USA,Corresponding author. 1265 Welch Rd, Medical School Office Building, Room X306, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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