This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of adjunct metformin added to standard-of-care multi-drug therapy (MDT) in patients with multibacillary leprosy, and explore its effects on immunological endpoints. A double-blind, placebo controlled proof-of-concept trial will be performed in which patients with newly diagnosed multibacillary leprosy will be randomized (1:1) to metformin 1000mg OD versus placebo for 24 weeks in addition to MDT during 48 weeks. The main research question is whether adjunctive metformin, combined with MDT, will improve the clinical outcomes of patients with multibacillary leprosy by mitigating leprosy reactions, thereby reducing nerve damage and corticosteroid use and its associated morbidity. The second aim is to explore whether adjunct metformin, added to MDT, has an acceptable tolerability and safety in patients with multibacillary leprosy.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized proof-of-concept Phase 2 trial will be performed evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of adjunct metformin combined with standard of care MDT to mitigate leprosy reactions. Patients with newly diagnosed multibacillary leprosy will be randomized (1:1) to metformin 1000mg OD versus placebo for 24 weeks in addition to MDT during 48 weeks. The trial aims to enroll 166 patients, aged between 18-65 years old, in leprosy endemic areas in Indonesia. Primary endpoints are the proportion of participants experiencing a leprosy reaction during the full duration of the study and the proportion of participants with at least one adverse event within the first 28 weeks of the study. Secondary endpoints are the severity and time to first leprosy reaction, the number of leprosy reactions, the cumulative corticosteroid usage, and quality of life. The total study follow-up is 48 weeks. This METLEP trial is financially supported by the Leprosy Research Initiative (grant number: FP20\\4).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
166
Sitanala Leprosy Hospital
Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia
RECRUITINGPalangga Health Center
Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
RECRUITINGBajeng Health Center
Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
RECRUITINGAbe Pantai Community Health Center
Jayapura, Special Region of Papua, Indonesia
RECRUITINGHamadi Community Health Center
Jayapura, Special Region of Papua, Indonesia
WITHDRAWNJayapura Utara Community Health Center
Jayapura, Special Region of Papua, Indonesia
RECRUITINGThe proportion of participants experiencing a leprosy reaction
Proportion of participants experiencing a leprosy reaction during study follow-up
Time frame: 48 weeks
The proportion of participants with at least one adverse events
The proportion of participants with at least one adverse events within the first 28 weeks of the study
Time frame: 28 weeks
The proportion of participants experiencing a Type 1 Reactions (T1R)
Proportion of participants experiencing a T1R at 12, 24 and 48 weeks.
Time frame: 12, 24 and 48 weeks
The proportion of participants experiencing a Type 2 Reactions (T2R)
Proportion of participants experiencing a T2 R at 12, 24 and 48 weeks.
Time frame: 12, 24 and 48 weeks
The time to the first leprosy reaction
Time to first leprosy reaction over the full 48 weeks.
Time frame: 48 weeks
The time to the first Type 1 Reactions (T1R)
Time to first T1R over the full 48 weeks.
Time frame: 48 weeks
The time to the first Tipe 2 Reaction (T2R)
Time to first T2R over the full 48 weeks.
Time frame: 48 weeks
The difference in the number of T1R episodes
The difference in the number of T1R episodes
Time frame: 48 weeks
The difference in the number of T2R episodes
The difference in the number of T2R episodes
Time frame: 48 weeks
The severity of T1R, based on investigator-assessed validated Clinical Severity Scores
The severity of T1R based on the Modified Type 1 Reactions Clinical Severity Scale. The score ranges from 0-48. A higher score means a worse outcome.
Time frame: 48 weeks
The severity of T2R, based on investigator-assessed validated Clinical Severity Scores
The severity of T2R based on the ENLIST ENL Severity Scale. The score ranges from 0-30. A higher score means a worse outcome.
Time frame: 48 weeks
The proportion of participants with at least one serious adverse event
The proportion of participants with at least one serious adverse event within the first 28 weeks of the trial.
Time frame: 28 weeks
Total number of adverse events
The total number of adverse events within the first 28 weeks of the trial.
Time frame: 28 weeks
The cumulative corticosteroid usage
Cumulative corticosteroid usage over the full 48 weeks.
Time frame: 48 weeks
The proportion of participants experiencing clinical nerve function impairment
Proportion of participants experiencing clinical nerve function impairment developed over the full duration of the study.
Time frame: 48 weeks
The difference in Quality of Life between start and end of treatment intervention, and end of study by means of SF-36 questionnaires
The difference in Quality of Life between start and end of treatment intervention, and end of study by means of the 36-Item short form survey instrument (SF-36). This is a 36-item patient-reported questionnaire that covers eight health domains. Scores for each domain are 0 to 100, with a higher score defining a more favorable health state (0 points means maximum impact on quality of life, 100 means no impact on quality of life).
Time frame: 24 and 48 weeks
The difference in Quality of Life between start and end of treatment intervention, and end of study by means of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaires.
The difference in Quality of Life between start and end of treatment intervention, and end of study by means of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The DLQI is calculated by summing the score of each question resulting in a maximum of 30 and a minimum of 0 points. A higher score defines a less favorable health state and the more quality of life is impaired.
Time frame: 24 and 48 weeks
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.