Safety and efficacy of inhaled PEG-ADM in ARDS patients: a randomised controlled trial

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of inhaled pegylated adrenomedullin (PEG-ADM) for the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation.

A Phase 2a/b randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre trial was conducted. Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome were assigned to receive PEG-ADM 960 μg or 1920 μg, or placebo. The primary endpoints were safety, efficacy, and ventilator-free survival at Day 28. Efficacy was assessed using ventilator-free survival and the clinical utility index, a composite endpoint that includes extravascular lung water index, oxygenation index, non-pulmonary Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score.

Ninety patients were randomised (PEG-ADM 960 μg: n = 29; PEG-ADM 1920 μg: n = 30; placebo: n = 31). Both dosages of PEG-ADM were well tolerated, with adverse event profiles similar to placebo. However, no significant efficacy was observed on the clinical utility index. Ventilator-free survival at Day 28 was lower in the PEG-ADM 960 μg group (52%) compared with the PEG-ADM 1920 μg (67%) and placebo (65%) groups. No significant differences were noted in overall mortality or the need for continued ventilation at Days 28 and 60.

Inhaled PEG-ADM was well tolerated in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, but it did not improve clinical outcomes, which led to the early discontinuation after the first part of the trial for futility.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04417036 (date of registration: 4 June 2020).