Publications by authors named "Michael H Silverman"

Established treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with Child-Pugh cirrhosis B (CPB, moderate hepatic dysfunction) are lacking. A recently published randomized phase 2 study in CPB HCC investigating the safety and efficacy of namodenoson (25 mg BID), an A3 adenosine-receptor agonist vs. placebo, suggested a favorable safety profile and a positive efficacy signal in patients with HCC with a CPB score of 7 (CPB7).

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The A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) is over-expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Namodenoson, an A3AR agonist, induces de-regulation of the Wnt and NF-kB signaling pathways resulting in apoptosis of HCC cells. In a phase I healthy volunteer study and in a phase I/II study in patients with advanced HCC, namodenoson was safe and well tolerated.

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Reduction of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recurrence is an essential endpoint for CDI-directed antibiotic development that is often not evaluated until Phase III trials. The purpose of this project was to use a functional and metagenomic approach to predict the potential anti-CDI recurrence effect of ibezapolstat, a DNA polymerase IIIC inhibitor, in clinical development for CDI. As part of the Phase I ibezapolstat clinical study, stool samples were collected from 22 healthy volunteers, who were given either ibezapolstat or vancomycin.

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Background: This study was the first human validation of the gram-positive bacterial DNA polymerase IIIC target in patients with Clostridioides difficile infection. The primary objectives were to assess clinical cure rates and adverse events (AEs). Secondary objectives were to evaluate plasma/fecal pharmacokinetics, microbiologic eradication, microbiome and bile acid effects, and sustained clinical cure (SCC) with ibezapolstat.

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Background: Namodenoson, an A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist, improved liver function/pathology in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) preclinical models.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of namodenoson for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with or without NASH METHODS: This phase 2 study included 60 patients with NAFLD (ALT ≥60 IU/L) who were randomised (1:1:1) to oral namodenoson 12.5 mg b.

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Namodenoson, an A3 adenosine-receptor agonist, showed promising results in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and moderate hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh B; CPB) in a phase I/II clinical study. This phase II study investigated namodenoson as second-line therapy in such patients. Patients were randomized 2:1 to twice a day (BID) namodenoson (25 mg; = 50) or placebo ( = 28).

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Background: Clostridioides difficile infection is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections in the USA, with limited treatment options. Ibezapolstat is a novel DNA polymerase IIIC inhibitor with in vitro activity against C. difficile.

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Article Synopsis
  • Antimicrobial drug resistance is becoming a critical global issue, with a lack of new antibiotics being developed to combat it.
  • The review discusses a new type of antibacterial agent that works by targeting bacterial DNA polymerase IIIC, offering a fresh approach to treatment that avoids cross-resistance with existing antibiotics.
  • The article highlights the historical progression of these inhibitors, from the discovery of HPUra in the 1960s to the promising new drug candidate ACX-362E, which is currently being tested for Clostridioides difficile infections.
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Interleukin-17 and interleukin-23 play major roles in the inflammatory process in psoriasis. The Gi protein-associated A adenosine receptor (AAR) is known to be overexpressed in inflammatory cells and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with autoimmune inflammatory conditions. Piclidenoson, a selective agonist at the AAR, induces robust anti-inflammatory effect in psoriasis patients.

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The aim of the present phase I first-in-human study was to investigate the safety/efficacy of dTCApFs (a novel hormone peptide that enters cells through the T1/ST2 receptor), in advanced/metastatic solid tumors. The primary objective of this open-label dose-escalation study was to determine the safety profile of dTCApFs. The study enrolled patients (aged ≥18 years) with pathologically confirmed locally advanced/metastatic solid malignancies, who experienced treatment failure or were unable to tolerate previous standard therapy.

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Schemes for classifying skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) pose limitations for clinicians and regulatory agencies. Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are a subset of SSTIs. We developed and are proposing a classification to harmonize current schemes for SSTIs and DFIs.

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Background: CF101, an adenosine A3 receptor agonist, is an orally bioavailable small molecule drug presenting an anti-psoriatic effect demonstrated in a Phase 2 clinical trial in psoriasis patients.


Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of CF101 treatment in a Phase 2/3 study in patients with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis.


Methods: This multicenter, double-blind, 2-segment, placebo-controlled study randomized subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis to CF101 1 or 2 mg, or placebo twice daily.

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Background: Preclinical studies have demonstrated that MIS416, a bacterially derived immune modulator, targets myeloid cells following systemic delivery. MIS416 stimulated myeloid cells have the capacity to regulate innate inflammation, a potential therapeutic target for progressive multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: To determine the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics and maximum tolerated dose and/or recommended Phase 2 dose of MIS416.

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Purpose: The first-in-human phase 1 trial examined the dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetic profile, and antitumor activity of TLC388, a novel camptothecin with a unique lactone ring modification, in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Experimental Design: TLC388 was administered intravenously to patients with metastatic chemotherapy refractory solid tumors on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Patients underwent tumor assessments every other cycle.

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Background: The A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) is overexpressed in the tumor and in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The orally active drug candidate CF102, an A(3)AR agonist, induces apoptosis of HCC cells via deregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway. In this open label phase I/II trial, the safety and clinical effects of CF102 were assessed in patients with advanced unresectable HCC.

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Ongoing safety monitoring of clinical trials of investigational treatments must operate at levels that range from the minute and detailed - namely, mathematical treatment of trial data - to the philosophical and societal - namely, ethical concerns for individuals and populations. Between those two poles lies a realm of environmental and pragmatic considerations that reflect the goals, biases, risk-tolerance, and constraints of study sponsors and organizers. These factors, while more difficult to quantify or, at times, to justify, also have a meaningful impact on the approach to safety monitoring and the resulting actions and outcomes.

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The protection of patient safety is the principal responsibility of clinical trial investigators, and must be assured even if that were to prevent successful completion of a trial. Yet, the decision to prematurely stop a blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial can be extremely complicated, involving a tangle of ethical, statistical, and practical issues. Questions are quickly answered when conclusive evidence of harm has been established for trial participants, or when the potential for harm exceeds an acceptable limit of comfort for an oversight body.

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Purpose: Myelofibrosis is a myeloid malignancy associated with anemia, splenomegaly, and constitutional symptoms. Patients frequently harbor JAK-STAT activating mutations that are sensitive to TG101348, a selective small-molecule Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor.

Patients And Methods: In a multicenter phase I trial, oral TG101348 was administered once a day to patients with high- or intermediate-risk primary or post-polycythemia vera/essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis.

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Objective: To explore the safety and efficacy of CF101, an A(3) adenosine receptor agonist, in patients with moderate to severe dry eye syndrome.

Design: Phase 2, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.

Participants: Sixty-eight patients completed the study, 35 patients in the placebo group and 33 patients in the CF101 group.

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Objectives: A6 is a novel peptide that interferes with single-chain urokinase plasminogen activator activity and has shown anti-angiogenic, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive properties. We evaluated clinical efficacy and safety of subcutaneously administered A6 in women with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Methods: Women with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer in clinical remission after first-line chemotherapy with 2 consecutive increases of CA125 values above normal but with no disease on physical examination or imaging studies were randomly assigned to receive daily subcutaneous injections of placebo, low-dose A6 (150 mg), or high-dose A6 (300 mg) until disease progression or end of study participation.

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Objective: Adenosine exerts antiinflammatory effects via activation of the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR), a Gi protein-associated cell-surface receptor, overexpressed in synovial tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CF101 is a highly specific orally bioavailable A3AR agonist.

Methods: This was a multicenter study, blinded to dose, designed to assess the clinical activity and safety of CF101 in active RA.

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Targeting the A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) to combat inflammation is a new concept based on two findings. First, A(3)AR is highly expressed in inflammatory cells, whereas low expression is found in normal tissues. This receptor was also found to be overexpressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, reflecting receptor status in the remote inflammatory process.

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OBJECTIVE.: Trial designs for novel nonsurgical, nonablative therapies for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and 3 (CIN 2,3) must ensure patient safety while providing sufficient time to show clinical effects. We propose an observation period based on literature and current practice.

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