NCT02690103

Brief Summary

Current treatments for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have severe side effects and are very expensive. There is a need to explore effective natural therapies against HCV that are less toxic and more cost-effective. 37 chronic HCV infected patients were randomized into two groups and treated with PEG interferon plus ribavirin for the first group or Biobran, an arabinoxylan from rice bran (1 g/day) for the second group. Viremia level, liver enzymes, γ-interferon (IFN-γ) levels in serum, and toxicity were checked before and three months after treatment.

Trial Health

100
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
37

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2012

Typical duration for phase_2

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 1, 2012

Completed
2.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 1, 2015

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 1, 2015

Completed
8 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 8, 2016

Completed
16 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 24, 2016

Completed
Last Updated

February 24, 2016

Status Verified

February 1, 2016

Enrollment Period

2.9 years

First QC Date

February 8, 2016

Last Update Submit

February 23, 2016

Conditions

Keywords

ArabinoxylanHCVViremiaBiobranPEG interferon

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Effect of BioBran on the viraemia levels in chronic HCV infected patients

    3-month post treatment

Study Arms (2)

Group 1

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients are treated with 180µg of pegylated IFN (Pegasys-Roche) subcutaneously weekly for three months. In addition, they are given ribavirin according to their body weight (1200 mg for those over 75 kg and 1000 mg for those under 75 kg).

Drug: pegylated IFNDrug: Ribavirin

Group 2

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients are treated with Biobran, at a dose of 1g per day, allocated in packets, taken orally with meals for the three months duration of the study. Biobran is a denatured hemicellulose that is obtained by reacting rice bran hemicellulose with multiple carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes from Shiitake mushrooms. It is a polysaccharide that contains ß-1, 3-glucans, and activated hemicellulose.

Dietary Supplement: Biobran

Interventions

Patients are treated with 180µg of pegylated IFN (Pegasys-Roche) subcutaneously weekly for three months.

Group 1
BiobranDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Biobran, at a dose of 1g per day, allocated in packets, taken orally with meals for the three months duration of the study. Biobran is a denatured hemicellulose that is obtained by reacting rice bran hemicellulose with multiple carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes from Shiitake mushrooms. It is a polysaccharide that contains ß-1, 3-glucans, and activated hemicellulose. Biobran was kindly provided by Daiwa Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.

Group 2

Ribavirin is prescribed according to patients body weight (1200 mg for those over 75 kg and 1000 mg for those under 75 kg).

Group 1

Eligibility Criteria

AgeUp to 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients diagnosed with chronic HCV infection and chronic active liver diseases.

You may not qualify if:

  • Patients diagnosed with chronic HBV , HIV infection , autoimmune disorders , any heart diseases , any kidney diseases or any blood disease , any neoplastic disorders.
  • Pregnant or lactating ladies , and drug abusers will be excluded.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Related Publications (29)

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    BACKGROUND
  • Sievert W, Altraif I, Razavi HA, Abdo A, Ahmed EA, Alomair A, Amarapurkar D, Chen CH, Dou X, El Khayat H, Elshazly M, Esmat G, Guan R, Han KH, Koike K, Largen A, McCaughan G, Mogawer S, Monis A, Nawaz A, Piratvisuth T, Sanai FM, Sharara AI, Sibbel S, Sood A, Suh DJ, Wallace C, Young K, Negro F. A systematic review of hepatitis C virus epidemiology in Asia, Australia and Egypt. Liver Int. 2011 Jul;31 Suppl 2:61-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02540.x.

    PMID: 21651703BACKGROUND
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    PMID: 21091831BACKGROUND
  • Ghoneum M. Anti-HIV activity in vitro of MGN-3, an activated arabinoxylane from rice bran. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998 Feb 4;243(1):25-9. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1997.8047.

    PMID: 9473473BACKGROUND
  • Ghoneum M. Enhancement of human natural killer cell activity by modified arabinoxylane from rice bran (MGN-3). Int J Immunotherapy 1998; XIV(2):89-99.

    BACKGROUND
  • Ghoneum M, Abedi S. Enhancement of natural killer cell activity of aged mice by modified arabinoxylan rice bran (MGN-3/Biobran). J Pharm Pharmacol. 2004 Dec;56(12):1581-8. doi: 10.1211/0022357044922.

    PMID: 15563765BACKGROUND
  • Cholujova D, Jakubikova J, Czako B, Martisova M, Hunakova L, Duraj J, Mistrik M, Sedlak J. MGN-3 arabinoxylan rice bran modulates innate immunity in multiple myeloma patients. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2013 Mar;62(3):437-45. doi: 10.1007/s00262-012-1344-z. Epub 2012 Sep 2.

    PMID: 22941038BACKGROUND
  • Perez-Martinez A, Valentin J, Fernandez L, Hernandez-Jimenez E, Lopez-Collazo E, Zerbes P, Schworer E, Nunez F, Martin IG, Sallis H, Diaz MA, Handgretinger R, Pfeiffer MM. Arabinoxylan rice bran (MGN-3/Biobran) enhances natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity against neuroblastoma in vitro and in vivo. Cytotherapy. 2015 May;17(5):601-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2014.11.001. Epub 2014 Dec 23.

    PMID: 25541298BACKGROUND
  • Cholujova D, Jakubikova J, Sedlak J. BioBran-augmented maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Neoplasma. 2009;56(2):89-95. doi: 10.4149/neo_2009_02_89.

    PMID: 19239320BACKGROUND
  • Ghoneum M, Agrawal S. Activation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells in vitro by the biological response modifier arabinoxylan rice bran (MGN-3/Biobran). Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2011 Oct-Dec;24(4):941-8. doi: 10.1177/039463201102400412.

    PMID: 22230400BACKGROUND
  • Ghoneum M, Agrawal S. Mgn-3/biobran enhances generation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells via upregulation of dec-205 expression on dendritic cells. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2014 Oct-Dec;27(4):523-30. doi: 10.1177/039463201402700408.

    PMID: 25572732BACKGROUND
  • Ghoneum M, Jewett A. Production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma from human peripheral blood lymphocytes by MGN-3, a modified arabinoxylan from rice bran, and its synergy with interleukin-2 in vitro. Cancer Detect Prev. 2000;24(4):314-24.

    PMID: 11059563BACKGROUND
  • Noaman E, Badr El-Din NK, Bibars MA, Abou Mossallam AA, Ghoneum M. Antioxidant potential by arabinoxylan rice bran, MGN-3/biobran, represents a mechanism for its oncostatic effect against murine solid Ehrlich carcinoma. Cancer Lett. 2008 Sep 18;268(2):348-59. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2008.04.012. Epub 2008 Jun 12.

    PMID: 18554778BACKGROUND
  • Ghoneum M, Badr El-Din NK, Abdel Fattah SM, Tolentino L. Arabinoxylan rice bran (MGN-3/Biobran) provides protection against whole-body gamma-irradiation in mice via restoration of hematopoietic tissues. J Radiat Res. 2013 May;54(3):419-29. doi: 10.1093/jrr/rrs119. Epub 2013 Jan 3.

    PMID: 23287771BACKGROUND
  • Ghoneum M. Anti-HIV activity by MGN-3 in vitro. XI International Conference on AIDS. Vancouver, July 7-12, 1996.

    BACKGROUND
  • Tazawa K, Ichihashi K, Fuji T, Omura K, Anazawa M, Maeda H. The orally administration of the Hydrolysis Rice Bran prevents a common cold syndrome for the elderly people based on the immunomodulatory function. J Trad Med 2003; 20:132-41.

    BACKGROUND
  • Caroleo B, Gallelli L, Staltari O, De Sarro G, Guadagnino V. Serum transaminase elevations during pegylated interferon treatment of chronic HCV hepatitis probably induced by polyethylene glycol. Intervirology. 2008;51(6):407-9. doi: 10.1159/000205266. Epub 2009 Mar 4.

    PMID: 19258719BACKGROUND
  • Kleppinger EL, Ragan AP. Elevated hepatic transaminases associated with the use of interferon alfacon-1 and ribavirin. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2009 Mar 1;66(5):465-8. doi: 10.2146/ajhp080243.

    PMID: 19233994BACKGROUND
  • Levent G, Ali A, Ahmet A, Polat EC, Aytac C, Ayse E, Ahmet S. Oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in patients with chronic hepatitis C patients before and after pegylated interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin therapy. J Transl Med. 2006 Jun 20;4:25. doi: 10.1186/1479-5876-4-25.

    PMID: 16787540BACKGROUND
  • Tatsumi T, Takehara T, Miyagi T, Nakazuru S, Mita E, Kanto T, Hiramatsu N, Hayashi N. Hepatitis C virus-specific CD8+ T cell frequencies are associated with the responses of pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatol Res. 2011 Jan;41(1):30-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2010.00734.x. Epub 2010 Oct 7.

    PMID: 21040277BACKGROUND
  • Sreenarasimhaiah J, Jaramillo A, Crippin J, Lisker-Melman M, Chapman WC, Mohanakumar T. Concomitant augmentation of type 1 CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses during successful interferon-alpha and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Hum Immunol. 2003 May;64(5):497-504. doi: 10.1016/s0198-8859(03)00041-7.

    PMID: 12691700BACKGROUND
  • Baranova I, Vishnyakova T, Bocharov A, Chen Z, Remaley AT, Stonik J, Eggerman TL, Patterson AP. Lipopolysaccharide down regulates both scavenger receptor B1 and ATP binding cassette transporter A1 in RAW cells. Infect Immun. 2002 Jun;70(6):2995-3003. doi: 10.1128/IAI.70.6.2995-3003.2002.

    PMID: 12010990BACKGROUND
  • Rice CM. New insights into HCV replication: potential antiviral targets. Top Antivir Med. 2011 Aug-Sep;19(3):117-20.

    PMID: 21946389BACKGROUND
  • Alter HJ, Liang TJ. Hepatitis C: the end of the beginning and possibly the beginning of the end. Ann Intern Med. 2012 Feb 21;156(4):317-8. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-156-4-201202210-00014. No abstract available.

    PMID: 22351718BACKGROUND
  • Park Y, Pham TX, Lee J. Lipopolysaccharide represses the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 and scavenger receptor class B, type I in murine macrophages. Inflamm Res. 2012 May;61(5):465-72. doi: 10.1007/s00011-011-0433-3. Epub 2012 Jan 13.

    PMID: 22240665BACKGROUND
  • Scheel TK, Rice CM. Understanding the hepatitis C virus life cycle paves the way for highly effective therapies. Nat Med. 2013 Jul;19(7):837-49. doi: 10.1038/nm.3248.

    PMID: 23836234BACKGROUND
  • Frese M, Schwarzle V, Barth K, Krieger N, Lohmann V, Mihm S, Haller O, Bartenschlager R. Interferon-gamma inhibits replication of subgenomic and genomic hepatitis C virus RNAs. Hepatology. 2002 Mar;35(3):694-703. doi: 10.1053/jhep.2002.31770.

    PMID: 11870386BACKGROUND
  • Schmidt J, Blum HE, Thimme R. T-cell responses in hepatitis B and C virus infection: similarities and differences. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2013 Mar;2(3):e15. doi: 10.1038/emi.2013.14. Epub 2013 Mar 27.

    PMID: 26038456BACKGROUND
  • Salama H, Medhat E, Shaheen M, Zekri AN, Darwish T, Ghoneum M. Arabinoxylan rice bran (Biobran) suppresses the viremia level in patients with chronic HCV infection: A randomized trial. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2016 Dec;29(4):647-653. doi: 10.1177/0394632016674954. Epub 2016 Oct 31.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hepatitis C, ChronicViremia

Interventions

polysaccharide MGN3Ribavirin

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hepatitis CBlood-Borne InfectionsCommunicable DiseasesInfectionsHepatitis, Viral, HumanVirus DiseasesFlaviviridae InfectionsRNA Virus InfectionsHepatitis, ChronicHepatitisLiver DiseasesDigestive System DiseasesChronic DiseaseDisease AttributesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsSepsisSystemic Inflammatory Response SyndromeInflammation

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

RibonucleosidesNucleosidesNucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides

Study Officials

  • Hosny Salama, MD

    Cairo University, Egypt

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Abdel Rahaman Zekry, PhD

    Cairo University, Egypt

    STUDY DIRECTOR
  • Mamdouh Ghoneum, MD

    University of California , Los Angeles, USA

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Tarneem Darwish, MD

    Cairo University , Egypt

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Dalia Omran, MD

    Cairo University , Egypt

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Rasha Ahmed, MD

    Cairo University , Egypt

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Sherif Mousa, MD

    Cairo University , Egypt

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Sherine Abdel alim, MD

    Cairo University , Egypt

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Hany Khattab, MD

    Cairo University , Egypt

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Mervat Al Ansary, MD

    Cairo University , Egypt

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Nemat Kasem, MD

    Cairo University , Egypt

    STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 8, 2016

First Posted

February 24, 2016

Study Start

July 1, 2012

Primary Completion

June 1, 2015

Study Completion

June 1, 2015

Last Updated

February 24, 2016

Record last verified: 2016-02