The immunomodulating activity of trimodulin (polyvalent IgM, IgA, IgG solution): a post hoc analysis of the phase II CIGMA trial

BACKGROUND: The phase II CIGMA trial performed in 160 patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) found treatment with trimodulin (human polyvalent immunoglobulin [Ig]: ~ 23% IgM, ~ 21% IgA, ~ 56% IgG) was associated with a lower mortality in those patients with elevated baseline serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or subnormal IgM. METHODS: In this post hoc analysis, the pharmacodynamic effects of trimodulin treatment (182.6 mg/kg/day for 5 days) were investigated on Ig replenishment, cellular markers of inflammation (absolute neutrophil [ANC] and lymphocyte [ALC] count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]), and soluble markers of inflammation (procalcitonin [PCT] and CRP). The impact of these pharmacodynamic effects on mortality was also evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, baseline serum levels of IgM, IgG, and ALC were significantly lower, and ANC, NLR, PCT and CRP significantly higher in sCAP patients (p < 0.0001). Low Ig concentrations increased with trimodulin. Normalization of ANC (analysis of variance [ANOVA] p = 0.016) and PCT (ANOVA p = 0.027) was more rapid with trimodulin compared with placebo. These and other effects were more evident in patients with low baseline IgM levels. Normalization of PCT and CRP levels was both steadier and faster with trimodulin treatment. In patients with low baseline ALC, trimodulin was associated with a lower 28-day all-cause mortality rate (14.5% vs 32.1% in placebo, p = 0.043) and more ventilator-free days ([VFD]; median VFD: 3.5 vs 11 in placebo, p = 0.043). These numerical differences were greater if baseline IgM was also low (low ALC, low IgM: 8.1% mortality vs 34.1% placebo, p = 0.006; 3 VFD vs 15 VFD, p = 0.009, respectively). Results were consistent in patients with high baseline CRP (low ALC, high CRP: 10.9% mortality vs 34.1% placebo, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: This post hoc pharmacodynamic analysis of a blinded phase II trial suggests that trimodulin compensates for, and more rapidly modifies, the dysregulated inflammatory response seen in sCAP patients. Trimodulin was associated with significantly lower mortality and more VFD in subgroups with high CRP and low ALC. This effect was particularly marked in patients who also had low baseline IgM values. These findings require confirmation in prospective trials. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-023-04719-9.