The TELO-SCOPE Study: Attenuating Telomere Attrition With Danazol. Is There Scope to Dramatically Improve Health Outcomes for Adults and Children With Pulmonary Fibrosis

Last updated: July 31, 2025
Sponsor: The University of Queensland
Overall Status: Terminated

Phase

2

Condition

Lung Injury

Cystic Fibrosis

Telomere Related Diseases

Treatment

Danazol

Placebo

Clinical Study ID

NCT04638517
TELO-SCOPE
  • Ages > 5
  • All Genders

Study Summary

TELO-SCOPE is a national, multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised (2:1) trial which will test the hypothesis that, compared to placebo, the addition of danazol to standard of care in pulmonary fibrosis associated with short telomeres is safe and will result in reduced telomere attrition.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Males and females aged >5 years, able to take capsules orally.

  2. Fibrosing interstitial pneumonia (Idiopathic PF, idiopathic non-specificinterstitial pneumonia, chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pleuroparenchymalfibroelastosis, unclassifiable interstitial lung disease (ILD)) diagnosed accordingto the current international guidelines.

  3. Age-adjusted peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length < 10th centile on Flow-FISH.

  4. FVC > 40% predicted.

  5. DLCO > 25% predicted.

  6. If receiving background pirfenidone / nintedanib, stable dose for 28 days prior toscreening.

  7. Able to understand and sign a written informed consent form (or legally authorisedrepresentative).

  8. Agreement to use a medically approved form of non-hormonal contraception (if ofchild-bearing potential) (noting that oral contraceptives are advised not to be usedconcurrently with danazol).

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Actively or imminently listed for lung transplantation.

  2. Undergone, awaiting, or likely to require bone marrow transplantation within 12months.

  3. Concurrent enrolment in another study.

  4. Females with a positive pregnancy test at screening or currently breastfeeding.

  5. Pelvic infection.

  6. Past jaundice with oral contraceptives.

  7. Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding.

  8. Undiagnosed ovarian/uterine masses

  9. Any history of malignancy likely to result in significant disability or likely torequire significant medical or surgical intervention within the next 12 months.

  10. History of androgen-dependent tumour.

  11. Any condition other than PF that, in the opinion of the investigator, is likely toresult in the death of the participant within the next 12 months.

  12. History of end-stage liver disease or ALT or AST > 3 times the upper limit ofnormal.

  13. History of end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis.

  14. Markedly impaired cardiac function.

  15. Known increased risk of or history of thromboembolism (e.g. Factor V Leiden, ProteinC or S deficiency).

  16. Uncontrolled hypertension.

  17. Uncontrolled lipoprotein disorder.

  18. Poorly-controlled diabetes mellitus.

  19. History of marked or persistent androgenic reaction to previous gonadal steroidtherapy.

  20. History of epilepsy induced or worsened by previous gonadal steroid therapy.

  21. History of raised intracranial pressure.

  22. Known intolerance to danazol.

  23. Porphyria.

  24. Use of any of the following agents within 28 days before screening: danazol or otherandrogen therapy, warfarin or other anticoagulant, carbamazepine, phenytoin,investigational therapy, cytotoxic therapy, tacrolimus, cyclosporine.

  25. Professional singer due to potential for voice change.

  26. Competitive athletes.

  27. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) above the upper limit of normal (adult males only).

Study Design

Total Participants: 29
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Danazol
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
September 07, 2021
Estimated Completion Date:
January 16, 2025

Study Description

TELO-SCOPE is a national, multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial which will be conducted in subjects aged >5 years with a multi-disciplinary diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis and with age-adjusted telomere length below the 10th centile in adults; and for children (age < 16 years), a confirmed diagnosis of Dyskeratosis Congenita (DC). Consenting participants who meet all other inclusions and no exclusions will be randomised (n=50, 2:1 (danazol:placebo)) to receive danazol (maximum tolerated dose (up to 800mg daily, two-divided doses) or matched placebo, for 12 months in addition to standard of care background therapy. The primary outcome is change in telomere length at 12 months.

Connect with a study center

  • John Hunter Hospital

    Newcastle, New South Wales 2305
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

    Sydney, New South Wales 2050
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Sydney Children's Hospital

    Sydney, New South Wales 2031
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • The Children's Hospital Westmead

    Sydney, New South Wales 2145
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • The Prince Charles Hospital

    Brisbane, Queensland 4032
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Royal Adelaide Hospital

    Adelaide, South Australia 5000
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • The Alfred

    Melbourne, Victoria 3004
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • The Austin

    Melbourne, Victoria 3084
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Fiona Stanley Hospital

    Perth, Western Australia 6150
    Australia

    Site Not Available

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