Safety and efficacy of affinity-purified, anti-tumor necrosis factor-α, ovine fab for injection (CytoFab) in severe sepsis

Todd W. Rice, Arthur P. Wheeler, Peter E. Morris, Harold L. Paz, James A. Russell, Tonya R. Edens, Gordon R. Bernard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a critical inflammatory mediator in sepsis. This trial was designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of polyclonal ovine anti-TNF fragment antigen binding (Fab) fragments (CytoFab) on plasma TNF-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentrations and the number of shock-free and ventilator-free days in severely septic patients. DESIGN: Phase II, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted from September 1997 to July 1998. SETTING: Nineteen intensive care units in the United States and Canada. PATIENTS: Eighty-one septic patients with either shock or two organ dysfunctions. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive CytoFab, infused as a 250-units/kg loading dose, followed by nine doses of 50 units/kg every 12 hrs, or 5 mg/kg human albumin as placebo. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: CytoFab promptly reduced plasma TNF-α (p = .001) and IL-6 concentrations (p = .002) compared with placebo. CytoFab also significantly decreased TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (p < .001). The number of shock-free days did not differ between CytoFab and placebo (10.7 vs. 9.4, respectively) (p = .270). CytoFab increased mean ventilator-free days (15.0 vs. 9.8 for placebo; p = .040) and ICU-free days (12.6 vs. 7.6 for placebo; p = .030) at day 28. All-cause, 28-day mortality rates were 37% (14/38) for placebo recipients, compared with 26% (11/43) for CytoFab recipients (p = .274). No differences in incidences of adverse events, laboratory, or vital sign abnormalities were observed between groups. Although 41% of CytoFab-treated patients developed detectable plasma levels of human anti-sheep antibodies, none demonstrated clinical manifestations during the 28-day study. CONCLUSIONS: CytoFab is well tolerated in patients with severe sepsis, effectively reducing serum and BAL TNF-α and serum IL-6 concentrations and increasing the number of ventilator-free and ICU-free days at day 28.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2271-2281
Number of pages11
JournalCritical Care Medicine
Volume34
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2006

Keywords

  • Cytokines
  • Phase II clinical trial
  • Polyclonal
  • Randomized controlled trial
  • Septic shock
  • Tumor necrosis factor-α

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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