Efficacy of ultra-short, response-guided sofosbuvir and daclatasvir therapy for Hepatitis C: a single arm mechanistic pilot study (preprint)

ABSTRACT Background WHO has called for research into predictive factors for selecting persons who could be successfully treated with shorter durations of direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for Hepatitis C. We evaluated early virological response as a means of shortening treatment and explored host, viral and pharmacokinetic contributors to treatment outcome. Methods Duration of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir (SOF/DCV) was determined according to day 2 (D2) virologic response for HCV genotype (gt) 1- or 6-infected adults in Vietnam with mild liver disease. Participants received 4 or 8 weeks treatment according to whether D2 HCV RNA was above or below 500 IU/ml (standard duration is 12 weeks). Primary endpoint was sustained virological response (SVR12). Those failing therapy were retreated with 12 weeks SOF/DCV. Host IFNL4 genotype and viral sequencing was performed at baseline, with repeat viral sequencing if virological rebound was observed. Levels of SOF, its inactive metabolite GS-331007 and DCV were measured on day 0 and 28. Results Of 52 adults enrolled, 34 received 4 weeks SOF/DCV, 17 got 8 weeks and one withdrew. SVR12 was achieved in 21/34 (62%) treated for 4 weeks, and 17/17 (100%) treated for 8 weeks. Overall 38/51 (75%) were cured with first-line treatment (mean duration 37 days). Despite a high prevalence of putative NS5A-inhibitor resistance associated substitutions (RAS), all first-line treatment failures cured after retreatment (13/13). We found no evidence treatment failure was associated with host IFNL4 genotype, viral subtype, baseline RAS or DCV levels. SOF metabolite levels were higher in those failing 4-week therapy. Conclusions Shortened SOF/DCV therapy, with retreatment if needed, reduces DAA use while maintaining high cure rates. D2 virologic response alone does not adequately predict SVR12 with 4 weeks treatment. Funding Funded by the Medical Research Council (grant MR/P025064/1) and The Global Challenges Research Fund (Wellcome Trust Grant 206/296/Z/17/Z).) Clinical trial number ISRCTN17100273

Considerations for Causality Assessment of Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Complications of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines: from Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis to Functional Neurological Disorder (preprint)

Worldwide SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns for prevention of COVID-19 are currently underway. In clinical trials and in open-label monitoring the vaccines have shown efficacy against COVID-19 and there have been limited and transient side effects. Previous vaccination campaigns have taught us that neurological adverse events to vaccinations can occur. In this review, we summarise what is already known about neurological and neuropsychiatric adverse events of COVID-19 vaccinations, and place this in the context of historical vaccination campaigns. There have been a number of neurological and neuropsychiatric adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) in association with SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, however in each case there is either no definitive evidence currently to support causality or recognised adverse events are extremely rare. Causality assessment aids such as the Causality Assessment of an Adverse Event Following Immunization from the World Health Organisation and the Bradford Hill criteria may help us better understand potential neurological and neuropsychiatric adverse events to COVID-19 vaccinations. Functional neurological disorder (FND) can be precipitated by the process of vaccination and has previously been noted to potentially spread between individuals, particularly in younger communities. Importantly FND does not implicate the vaccine constituents and therefore should not hamper ongoing vaccination campaigns. Although neurological and neuropsychiatric AEFI may occur after SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, at present there are no common causally associated neurological adverse events. It is likely that some patients will develop FND in response to vaccination, although this does not implicate vaccine constituents. In cases of future serious neurological or neuropsychiatric AEFIs, judicious and rapid assessment of causality must occur. In general, the benefits of ARS-CoV-2 vaccination at present outweigh the risks from a neurological standpoint, although in specific situations the risk-benefit ratio will vary depending on geographic and demographic factors as well as population risk factors. Ensuring as minimal disruption as possible to ongoing swift worldwide vaccination campaigns is essential to establish the herd immunity required to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spectrum, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Neurological and Psychiatric Complications of COVID-19: A UK-Wide Cross-Sectional Surveillance Study (preprint)

Background: SARS-CoV2 is associated with neurological and psychiatric complications including cerebrovascular events, encephalopathy and peripheral nerve disease. Detailed clinical data, including factors associated with recovery, is lacking, hampering prediction modelling and targeted therapeutic interventions. We studied COVID-associated neurological and psychiatric complications, to investigate the key clinical features, including those associated with outcome.Methods: This UK-wide cross-sectional surveillance study of neurological and psychiatric complications of COVID-19 in adult hospitalised patients captured detailed data on demographics/risk factors, pre-COVID-19 Rockwood frailty score, comorbidities, neurological presentation and outcome. A priori clinical case definitions, based on criteria adopted by the World Health Organisation, were used, with cross-specialty independent adjudication for discrepant cases. Patients meeting multiple clinical case definitions were identified. Cases of stroke were compared to normative data during the equivalent time-period prior to the pandemic. Multivariable logistic regression was performed using demographic and clinical variables, to determine the factors associated with outcome.Findings: 267 cases were included. Cerebrovascular events were most frequently reported (131, 49%), followed by central disorders (95, 36%) including delirium (28, 11%), central inflammatory (25, 9%), psychiatric (25, 9%), and other encephalopathies (17, 7%), including a severe encephalopathy not meeting delirium criteria; and peripheral nerve-disorders (41, 15%). 27% of cerebrovascular events occurred in patients <60 years. Relative to those >60 years old, the younger patients presented with delayed onset from respiratory symptoms, higher rates of multi-vessel occlusion (31%) and more frequently had systemic thrombotic events. Nevertheless, in both younger and older stroke cases there was an association with conventional, modifiable, cerebrovascular risk factors. The timing of neurological presentation varied between disease groups. In 34 cases (13%), clinical case definitions overlapped, and these cases were more likely to require intensive care and ventilation. Regardless of clinical case definition, older age, a higher pre-COVID-19 frailty score, and a high admission white cell count independently associated with a poor outcome. Limited recovery was most common for those with cerebrovascular events. Interpretation: COVID-19 is associated with a broad spectrum of presentations throughout the nervous system, at varied time points relative to respiratory disease. Outcomes vary between disease groups, with cerebrovascular disease conferring the worst prognosis, but this effect was less marked than the pre-morbid factors of age and frailty. A severe encephalopathy occurs after COVID-19 and is associated with requiring intensive care and ventilation. COVID-19 is associated with large and multi-vessel stroke in young people, often with non-CNS thrombotic disease and requires further study. Nevertheless, conventional, modifiable risk factors were associated with stroke, even in younger people, suggesting the potential for public health intervention for this and future pandemics. These clinical data should be combined with blood and neuroimaging biomarkers so that patients can be stratified to targeted existing or novel therapeutics.

Design and implementation of the multi-arm, multi-stage Therapeutics for Inpatients with COVID-19 (TICO) platform master protocol: An Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) initiative (preprint)

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a public health emergency. Safe and effective therapies are urgently needed. Methods: Therapeutics for Inpatients with COVID-19 (TICO), is a global multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS) platform master protocol, which facilitates the rapid evaluation of the safety and efficacy of candidate anti-viral therapeutic agents for adults hospitalized with COVID-19. The protocol design allows multiple therapeutic agents to be evaluated in an efficient and scientifically rigorous manner, with efficiencies delivered by the MAMS design, and began by studying neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. TICO employs an agile and robust approach to futility and safety evaluation at 300 patients enrolled (Stage 1), with subsequent expansion to full sample size and an expanded target population (Stage 2) if the agent shows an acceptable safety profile and evidence of efficacy. Two ordinal outcomes applied early (Day 5) determine the efficacy signals of the investigational agents(s) and progression to Stage 2. These ordinal outcomes assess both respiratory and other organ failure events, recognizing the broad range of COVID-19 morbidity. In Stage 2, overall efficacy is assessed using the primary outcome of time to sustained recovery, assessed over 90 days. This approach to early futility assessment using an early intermediate outcome and a primary endpoint out to 90 days allows the study team to make rapid decisions on safety and potential efficacy of novel agents while ultimately focusing on patient-centered, longer-term outcomes. The implementation of TICO across a global network allows for continued enrollment despite variations in geographic epidemiology. Study Status: The TICO master protocol moved from conception to first patient enrolled in approximately 9 weeks, a testament to the expedited regulatory and ethics review, coupled with flexible and responsive study operations. The first agent to be tested using this protocol, LY-CoV-555, enrolled N=326 participants before undergoing Stage 1 futility and safety assessment. Two additional agents will enter the study in November 2020, with other agents planned. Conclusion: The TICO MAMS platform trial has been implemented efficiently across a global network of sites and several trial networks. It will generate results rapidly for multiple novel neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutics agents.

UK-Wide Surveillance of Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Complications of COVID-19: The First 153 Patients (preprint)

Background: Increasingly neurological complications of COVID-19 are identified, mostly in small series. Larger studies have been limited by both geography and specialty.Consequently, the breadth of complications is not represented. Comprehensive characterization of clinical syndromes is critical to rationally select and evaluate potential therapies.Methods: During the exponential pandemic phase, we developed coordinated online portals for rapid notification across the spectrum of major UK neuroscience bodies, representing neurology, stroke, psychiatry, and intensive care. Evidence of infection and clinical case definitions were applied prospectively. Cases were compared to overall Government Public Health COVID-19 reporting.Findings: Within three weeks, 153 cases were notified, both geographically and temporally representative of overall COVID-19 Public Health reports. Median (range) age was 71 (23-94) years. 77 (62%) had a cerebrovascular event: 57 (74%) ischemic strokes, nine (12%) intracerebral hemorrhages, and one CNS vasculitis.The second most common group were 39 (31%) who had altered mental status, including 16 (41%) with encephalopathy of whom seven (44%) had encephalitis. The remaining 23 (59%) had a psychiatric diagnosis of whom 21 (92%) were new diagnoses; including ten (43%) with psychosis, six (26%) neurocognitive (dementia-like) syndrome, and 4 (17%) an affective disorder. Cerebrovascular events predominated in older patients. Conversely, altered mental status, whilst present in all ages, had disproportionate representation in the young.Interpretation: This is the first nationwide, cross-specialty surveillance study of acute complications of COVID-19 in the nervous system. Alteration in mental status was common, reflecting encephalopathy/encephalitis and primary psychiatric diagnoses, often in young patients.These data provide valuable and timely information urgently needed by clinicians, researchers, and funders to inform immediate steps in COVID-19 neuroscience research and health policy throughout the areas of neurology and neuropsychiatry.