Sugammadex as Rescue Therapy

NCT05661409 | Completed Phase 4 Results DMC FDA Drug

• 2 other identifiers: STUDY00004369UL1TR002378
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are commonly used in the practice of anesthesiology for skeletal muscle relaxation to facilitate tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, and to provide optimal surgical conditions. In order to prevent residual NMB, it is vital to adequately reverse any use of a non-depolarizing NMBA. This was historically done using an anticholinesterase such as neostigmine, which would increase the concentration of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction leading to the return of neuromuscular transmission. Unfortunately, there are disadvantages to the use of an anticholinesterase. It was in this context that sugammadex was found to be a valuable addition to the anesthesiologist's armamentarium. It is a modified γ-cyclodextrin that encapsulates the aminosteroid NMBAs rocuronium and vecuronium. This project is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled dose-response trial that aims to determine the time taken to achieve adequate reversal comparing five doses of sugammadex as rescue therapy following inadequate reversal with neostigmine. The study team will recruit patients aged 18 years and above from the main operating room and outpatient surgery center at Grady Memorial Hospital who are undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, who has received NMB, received neostigmine for NMB reversal, and achieved a TOF count ≥ 3 twitches but not a TOF ratio of 0.9 fifteen minutes after neostigmine was given. Those with a TOF count \< 3 twitches will drop out of the study as there are already specified doses of sugammadex for that level of NMB

Conditions

Neuromuscular Blockade

Keywords

Neostigmine; Sugammandex

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The Time Taken to Achieve a TOF Ratio of 0.9 After Administration Sugammadex

  The time taken to achieve a time of train (TOF) ratio of 0.9 after the use of the intervention drug versus placebo in a patient population that has already received neostigmine for NMB reversal. Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring will be carried out using electromyography, which measures the TOF ratio every 20 seconds. The TOF count (between 0 to 4) and the TOF ratio (0 to 1) would be measured and recorded at baseline and after administration of the study drug. If the TOF ratio remains \< 0.9 after this, or if the patient exhibits any symptoms or signs of residual NMB blockade, a further 2 mg/kg dose of sugammadex would be given until the patient achieves a TOF ratio of 0.9.

  10 minutes post administration of study drug

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• The Percentage of Patients Who Achieve a TOF Ratio of 0.9

  1 minute, 2 minutes and 10 minutes post administration of study drug

Study Arms (6)

Sugammadex 2 mg/kg

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Drug: Sugammadex

Sugammadex 1 mg/kg

EXPERIMENTAL

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Drug: Sugammadex

Sugammadex 0.5 mg/kg

EXPERIMENTAL

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Drug: Sugammadex

Sugammadex 0.25 mg/kg

EXPERIMENTAL

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Drug: Sugammadex

Sugammadex 0.125 mg/kg

EXPERIMENTAL

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Drug: Sugammadex

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

The inclusion of a placebo group would allow the study team to examine if patients may recover spontaneously over that time without needing any sugammadex at all, and what parameters may predict that subset of patients. It will also improve the dose response modelling, in that randomization has been weighted so that patients who are least likely to need sugammadex (i.e. if they achieved a TOF count of 4 twitches without fade) are more likely to be in the placebo group or at the lowest dose of sugammadex that is being tested.

Drug: Placebo

Interventions

Sugammadex DRUG

Sugammadex is a FDA-approved drug that is in routine clinical use for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated.

Sugammadex 0.125 mg/kg; Sugammadex 0.25 mg/kg; Sugammadex 0.5 mg/kg; Sugammadex 1 mg/kg; Sugammadex 2 mg/kg

Placebo DRUG

Normal saline will be used as placebo. The inclusion of a placebo group would allow us to examine if patients may recover spontaneously over that time without needing any sugammadex at all, and what parameters may predict that subset of patients. It will also improve the dose response modelling, in that randomization has been weighted so that patients who are least likely to need sugammadex (i.e. if they achieved a TOF count of 4 twitches without fade) are more likely to be in the placebo group or at the lowest dose of sugammadex that is being tested.

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients aged 18 years and above who will undergo an elective surgery in the main operating room or outpatient surgery center at Grady Memorial Hospital
• Receive general anesthesia (standardized to sevoflurane for maintenance)
• Receive rocuronium for NMB
• Receive neostigmine for NMB reversal
• Achieve a TOF count of at least 3 twitches but not a TOF ratio of 0.9 fifteen minutes after neostigmine has been given
• Able and willing to provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy and/or lactating
• BMI ≥ 40
• Severe renal impairment, i.e. chronic kidney disease stages IV and V as defined by GFR \< 30 ml/min/1.73 m2
• Severe hepatic impairment, i.e. Child-Pugh score C
• Pre-existing neuromuscular disease
• Anticipated need for postoperative intubation, and/or known hypersensitivity reactions to rocuronium, neostigmine and/or sugammadex.
• Adults unable to consent
• Prisoners
• Cognitively impaired or Individuals with Impaired Decision-Making Capacity
• Individuals who are not able to clearly understand English

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Emory University: lead
• National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS): collaborator
• Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance (CTSA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Grady Memorial Hospital

Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Sugammadex

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

gamma-Cyclodextrins; Cyclodextrins; Macrocyclic Compounds; Polycyclic Compounds; Dextrins; Starch; Glucans; Polysaccharides; Carbohydrates

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Matthew K. Whalin
• Organization: Emory University

mwhalin@emory.edu

404-616-5014

Study Officials

• Matthew Whalin, MD

  Assistant Professor

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 4
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 14, 2022
• First Posted: December 22, 2022
• Study Start: July 21, 2023
• Primary Completion: August 2, 2024
• Study Completion: August 2, 2024
• Last Updated: September 5, 2025
• Results First Posted: September 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: Beginning 3 months and ending 5 years following article publication.
• Access Criteria: Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal, to achieve aims in the approved proposal. Proposals should be directed to Dr. Whalin at mwhalin@emory.edu To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

Locations

US (1)