Endotoxin mediated circulatory collapse remains a theoretical target in the treatment of sepsis.
But, eritoran won’t be one of the agents used to ameliorate its effects.
After a phase II trial found sepsis patients randomized to eritoran had 37.5% mortality compared with 56.3% in the placebo group, the manufacturer sponsored a multi-national, multi-center phase III trial enrolling 1,951 patients. And, in short – no mortality benefit overall, and no individual subgroups of severe sepsis with any indication of benefit. The authors comments speak wistfully of the early favorable results before finally concluding: “Eritoran joins a long list of other experimental sepsis treatments that do not improve outcomes in clinical trials in these critically ill patients.”
Interestingly, the study concluded in 2010 – meaning it took 2 1/2 years for the results to reach publication. The reader will have to derive their own interpretation regarding whether this had anything to do with being negative results from a manufacturer-sponsored trial.
“Effect of Eritoran, an Antagonist of MD2-TLR4, on Mortality in Patients With Severe Sepsis”