Tuberculosis

Briefly, during a one to two hour visit, subjects will provide written informed consent and then undergo: 1. brief medical history and vital signs, 2. full pulmonary function tests, 3. proton MRI, 4. spin-density, diffusion weighted, and/or dissolved phase 129-Xe MRI, 5. Low-dose thoracic CT Full pulmonary function tests including spirometry, plethysmography and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO), Multiple Breath Nitrogen Washout (MBNW) to measure Lung Clearance Index (LCI), and Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) will be performed according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines. MedGraphics Elite Series, MedGraphics Corporation. St. Paul, Minnesota USA and/or nDD EasyOne Spirometer, nDD Medical Technologies Inc. Andover, Massachusetts USA will be used. All measurements will be performed in the Pulmonary Function Laboratory at Robarts Research Institute. Subjects will be placed in the 3T Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner with one of three 129-Xe chest coils fitted over their torso and chest. Hearing protection will be provided to each subject to muffle the noise produced by the gradient radiofrequency (RF) coils. A pulse oximeter lead will be attached to all of the subjects to monitor their heart rate and oxygen saturation. MRI will be performed for up to a period of 30 minutes. All subjects will have supplemental oxygen available via nasal cannula at a flow-rate of 2 liters per minute as a precaution in the event of oxygen desaturation. Thoracic low dose CT will be performed with the same inhalation breath-hold volume and maneuver (nitrogen gas only) used for MRI to obtain participant-specific high resolution images of lung anatomy (tissue structure and airway morphology).

The GENESIS study is a multicenter, prospective, non-interventional, clinical study with a target of 12,000 subjects and an anticipated total duration of 36 months. The aim of study GENESIS is to provide a pilot map of HLA genetic variation in the Greek population in order to be used in medical research and for possible clinical applications (evaluation of possible correlations with selected underlying diseases). During the study, each subject will conduct one visit to the participating cite, in which they will provide: 1. Demographic information \[i.e. date of birth, gender, race, ancestry (including information about the subject's grandparents' birthplace), height, weight\], 2. Other information about smoking/vaping, alcohol consumption, arterial blood pressure, diagnosed diseases (if any), current treatments (if any), and 3. Recent (up to 12 months prior to sample collection) results if/when are available from clinical lab tests such as blood count (Hct, Hb, RBC, WBC, PLT count), including a metabolic panel, liver enzymes and biochemical parameters (Glu, HbA1c, TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, ALT, AST, ALP, γGT, bilirubin, LDH, insulin, C-peptide). Upon completion of the data registry, two buccal swabs will be collected per subject and they will be stored at ALTP premises until their shipment to Galatea.Bio. All buccal swab samples will be subjected to genetic material (DNA) extraction. The DNA samples will be further proceeded for HLA genotyping analysis. A follow up analysis will be performed in selected DNA samples via full low-pass whole genome sequencing (LP-WGS), which aims to further investigate the association between the HLA region and autoimmune diseases. Upon completion of the analysis, an individualized ancestry report will be securely made available to all study subjects which they can access, as and if they elect to.

The emergence and prevalence of drug-resistant TB in recent years has made TB control more challenging, and MDR-TB is more serious type of drug-resistance TB with a cure rate of just over half, even with the latest treatment regimens. Treatment modalities other than drugs should be considered for patients with drug-resistant TB who have poor treatment efficacy, for patients with drug-resistant TB who are unresponsive to treatment, and for other patients for whom an effective treatment regimen cannot be composed. The human immune system plays an important role in the infection, development, treatment and regression of tuberculosis.Mtb is an intracellularly parasitic bacterium that evades host immune clearance.Immunotherapy for TB can kill intracellularly parasitic Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, by inducing a host-specific immune response.The combination of antituberculosis chemotherapy and immunotherapy has the potential to open up new avenues for the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB. In recent years, several studies by our team and others addressing host immune mechanisms have shown that γδ T cells play an important role in the fight against TB infection.Vγ2Vδ2 T cells (also known as Vγ9Vδ2 T cells) are a specific subset of γδ T cells, the only γδ T cells capable of recognizing TB phosphoantigens, and are found only in human and non-human primates. Our previous study demonstrated that zoledronic acid, an anti-osteoporotic and osteoprotective drug, induced the production of endogenous ligands for Vγ2Vδ2T cells and activated Vγ2Vδ2T cells. Zoledronic acid in combination with interleukin 2 can significantly expand Vγ2Vδ2T cells, and the expanded Vγ2Vδ2T cells can effectively kill intracellular parasitic Mycobacterium tuberculosis, it can also promote the production of more anti-tuberculosis effectors by Vγ2Vδ2T cells and widely stimulate the production of functional cytokines by CD4 and CD8 T cells. The primate experiments conducted by our team in the ABSL-III laboratory of Wuhan University demonstrated that phosphoantigen/interleukin 2 in a macaque model of tuberculosis infection induced lung phosphoantigen-specific Vγ2Vδ2 T cell expansion and migration, reduced Mycobacterium tuberculosis load in vivo, and effectively improved immune resistance to tuberculosis lung necrosis, demonstrating that targeted Vγ2Vδ2 T cell Immunotherapy of Vγ2Vδ2 T cells has a significant therapeutic effect on TB infection in monkeys , and is also safe for use in macaques. Accordingly, the investigators propose a drug combination (zoledronic acid/interleukin 2) that specifically amplifies Vγ2Vδ2 T cells in combination with anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 10 million people fell ill with tuberculosis (TB) in 2019, and 1.4 million people died from this disease. Among infectious agents, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains the major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Control of the disease is increasingly complicated due to growing numbers of infections with multi-drug resistant strains. In Germany, we witnessed a sharp increase of new cases (7.3 cases per 100,000) in 2015. From 2016 to 2017 the incidence decreased, while the numbers in 2018 (5,429 reported TB cases; 6.5 cases per 100,000) kept almost unchanged. Migrants from high incidence areas account for the majority of all TB patients (67,1% in 2019). While pulmonary TB (PTB) is the most common manifestation, any other organ can be involved. Extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) constitutes for 27,8% (1,321) of all cases in Germany. While the overall incidence of TB is decreasing in industrialized countries, the proportion of EPTB has been constantly increasing in Germany and other European countries. The reasons for this are not fully understood. An extensive retrospective study performed in China showed a significantly higher proportion of multi-drug resistant TB among patients with EPTB than among patients with PTB. This clearly highlights the need for improved EPTB control measures in order to avoid the development of drug resistance and to achieve the goal of TB eradication on a national and international level (e.g. WHO End-TB-strategy) which is further challenged by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The mEX-TB project focuses on EPTB with the main goal of optimizing clinical management of EPTB patients. A prospective clinical cohort of EPTB will be established, involving multiple researchers and clinical sites (Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Borstel, Hamburg, Bonn, Cologne), which will enable us to conduct detailed clinical and translational studies addressing this disease entity. Description: Study population, research design and research methods Adult patients newly diagnosed with EPTB (N=150) will prospectively be enrolled into the study. PTB patients (N=30) will also be included and serve as a control group to test the technical feasibility. In addition, a healthy control group (N=30) will be added, mainly to address aim 1. Clinical data will be collected using standardized questionnaires over the whole treatment period for each individual. Additionally, body fluids (blood, urine) will be collected and stored in a central biobank (Cologne). However, not all contributing centers will be able to provide high quality peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for storage. In order not to lose patients with incomplete sample collections, the cohort study will have several strata: 1. EPTB patients (N=100) with clinical data (e.g. weight gain, imaging results etc.) and a full collection of bio samples (routine laboratory parameters, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), PAXgene RNA/DNA tubes for gene signatures, absolute and relative CD4/CD8 cell count, Vitamin D (25(OH)D), urine, plasma) 2. EPTB patients (N=50) with clinical data (e.g. weight gain, imaging results, microbiology results etc.) plus/minus a partial collection of bio samples (e.g. routine laboratory results, Vitamin D (25(OH)D), PAXgene, plasma) 3. Healthy controls (N=30) and a full collection of bio samples as described for stratum 1 at one timepoint. Data collection Pseudonymized clinical and laboratory data will be recorded at the following time points: diagnosis/ treatment initiation (day 0 / +/- 7 days); 4 weeks post treatment initiation (+/- 7 days); 3 months post treatment initiation (+/- 7 days); 6 months post treatment initiation (+/- 7 days); 3 months post end of treatment (+/- 7 days). In patients requiring treatment of more than 6 months (i.e. multi-drug resistant TB, disseminated TB etc.) data will be collected regularly until end of treatment. Pseudonymization of patient data and acquisition of biomaterial is performed through a patient ID-generator. A paper case report form (CRF) will be used to collect patient data. The CRF data will be then transferred to an electronic database. Outcome: Laboratory based biomarkers for assessing treatment responses similar to sputum conversion used for PTB are not available in most cases of EPTB. Unspecific inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) can be utilized to assess early treatment response. We will systematically and longitudinally assess radiologic parameters (lesion size in CT, ultrasonography or MRI), laboratory findings and clinical signs (e.g. weight gain, less pain, absence of fever etc.). We will then exploit response algorithms specifically evaluated for EPTB patients initiating anti-TB treatment. A combination of three clinical parameters will be used 1) improvement in reported symptoms 2) weight gain (any weight gain or ≥ 5% weight gain) 3) regression of lymph node swelling, pleural or peritoneal effusion or other local findings, during and after treatment. A combination of these parameters predicts favorable or unfavorable outcome early during the treatment process. Aims: Our aim is to assess the treatment response using these parameters, supported by two independent clinicians and experts in the field (blind review). Data will be correlated with blood based biomarker findings described below. The main objectives of this study are the development of EPTB specific biomarkers for improved EPTB diagnostics and assessment of treatment responses by correlating immunological and blood based parameters and signatures with clinical features at baseline and longitudinally. For this purpose, our biomarker study will focus on two major aims: Study aim I: Evaluation of blood biomarkers as diagnostic tools for EPTB Sputum or lung fluid based laboratory diagnostics as performed with PTB is not possible in most cases of EPTB. Blood based biomarkers are required. * We will focus on two approaches: 1) blood derived gene expression signatures associated with tuberculosis; 2) T-cell based assays (e.g. TAM-TB assay). * For this aim, we will first investigate markers that have already been analyzed in PTB patients. We will also be able to investigate EPTB specific markers in an unbiased fashion if necessary. Study aim II: Evaluation of blood biomarkers predicting treatment response or failure and cure in EPTB * Predicting cure or the risk of treatment failure is crucial for the management of EPTB. Various outcome definitions for PTB are based on culture and smear results which is not applicable in EPTB. Our aim is to correlate blood based biomarkers with the treatment response which we will assess with well-defined clinical parameters. * For this aim we will continue with our evaluation of plasma IP-10 as a simple and cost-effective treatment response marker. Additional plasma-based markers have been described in our proposal. More complex markers/signatures (gene expression via RNA-seq and T-cell response based) will be applied using technical approaches similar to the ones exploited in Aim 1. We will primarily focus on signatures that have already been evaluated for PTB. The overarching goal of this unique multicenter cohort of patients with EPTB is the development.

The efficacy and usability of a new portable CPAP device will be assessed in different clinical settings. The study will take place in three hospitals in Italy, with the objective of collecting data to support the future implementation of the device as a first-aid support tool for patients with respiratory failure in real-world scenarios.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health issue and one of the top ten causes of death from a single infectious disease worldwide. China is among the countries with the highest TB burden, ranking third globally for total TB cases and second for drug-resistant TB cases. PAN-TB is an innovative concept in TB treatment, aiming to develop a universal regimen effective for all forms of active TB, including both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant strains. The primary goal of the PAN-TB regimen is to simplify the treatment process, reduce costs, and improve treatment success rates. The ideal Target Regimen Profile (TRP) for PAN-TB includes superior efficacy compared to standard treatment for non-drug-resistant TB, a reduced treatment duration from the current 4-6 months to 2-3 months, and improved safety and tolerability. This project aims to explore a new ultra-short-course treatment regimen for both drug-sensitive (DS-TB) and drug-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB), which aligns with the latest trends in TB treatment both domestically and internationally. The regimen also has significant practical implications for enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing patient burden. Furthermore, the study will explore the identification of new biomarkers closely linked to treatment outcomes over the course of full-cycle therapy.

This Phase 1 study is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple intravenous doses of BWC0977 when administered to healthy adult volunteers. This is a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending dose, multi-cohort trial. A total of 64 healthy volunteers are expected to be enrolled in 8 Cohorts. The study will be conducted in two phases: A single ascending dose (SAD) phase, followed by a multiple ascending dose (MAD) phase. In SAD, participants in Cohorts 1 - 2 will receive one dose of BWC0977 or placebo. In MAD, participants in cohorts 3 - 7 will receive multiple doses of BWC0977 or placebo for 7-10 consecutive days (as per the schedule). In both parts, sequential cohorts will be exposed to increasing doses of BWC0977.

This is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled clinical study designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic characteristics of different doses of JDB0131 benzenesulfonate tablets compared with delamanid in combination with bedaquiline, linezolid, levofloxacin (moxifloxacin)/clofazimine, etc. in the treatment of patients with drug-resistant (including rifampicin-resistant) tuberculosis for 8 weeks.

This Phase III clinical study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sudapyridine (WX-081) in combination with a background regimen (BR) for the treatment of rifampicin-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. The study will be conducted at multiple centers, employing a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled design. The study will consist of three phases: Screening Phase: Duration: Up to 2 weeks. Approximately 450 participants with rifampicin-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis will be screened for eligibility. Treatment Phase: Participants will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio into two groups: 1. Sudapyridine Group: Sudapyridine (WX-081) with placebo and BR. 2. Bedaquiline Group: Bedaquiline with placebo and BR. Treatment duration: 24 weeks. Background Regimen Phase: After completing the treatment phase, participants in both groups will continue to receive the background regimen (BR) until Week 72. The study aims to test the hypothesis that Sudapyridine (WX-081), when combined with a background regimen, is effective and safe for treating rifampicin-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. The data collected from this study will include primary and secondary endpoints related to efficacy and safety, PK/PD data, and cardiac safety evaluations. The sample size of approximately 450 participants is designed to provide adequate power to detect a statistically significant difference in outcomes between treatment groups. Comprehensive data validation procedures and a robust statistical analysis plan will ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results.

Participants will receive Adebrelimab intravenously in combination with carboplatin /Cisplatin and etoposide during the induction phase (2 Cycles ). Thereafter, participants will receive concurrent chemoradiotherapy(thoracic radiation therapy and SBRT for metastases,combination with carboplatin /Cisplatin and etoposide for 1-2 Cycles).Then participants will receive Adebrelimab combination with carboplatin /Cisplatin and etoposide for 1-2 Cycles,followed by Adebrelimab maintenance until persistent radiographic PD, intolerable toxicity or withdrawal of consent during the maintenance phase.