A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Using an Orally Administered Oxalate Decarboxylase (OxDC)

Background Hyperoxaluria is typically associated with excessive oxalate intake in the diet, decreased dietary calcium, hyperabsorption of oxalate, or increased endogenous production of oxalate. The disorder spectrum extends from recurrent kidney stones to ESKD. This clinical trial sought to evaluate the effectiveness of an acid stable oxalate decarboxylase (OxDC) to reduce urinary oxalate in healthy subjects on a high-oxalate diet. Methods In this prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial, 33 healthy volunteers were randomized into two crossover sequences separated by a 2-day washout period. A controlled high-oxalate diet (750-800 mg oxalate, 500-550 mg calcium daily) was utilized, and six 24-hour urine collections were measured. Subjects were given approximately 1000 U (micromoles per minute per milligram) of OxDC or placebo with meals three times daily during the 4 days of treatment. Results Urinary oxalate significantly decreased with OxDC treatment. The baseline corrected within-subject mean reduction in 24-hour urinary excretion (after OxDC dosing versus high-oxalate baseline preceding treatment) was 12.5 mg or 29% (P < 0.001). OxDC treatment was effective (.5% reduction) in 31 of 33 subjects (94%). Compared with placebo, OxDC produced a 24% reduction (P < 0.001) in 24-hour oxalate excretion. Other urinary parameters (creatinine, uric acid, citrate, magnesium, calcium) were not affected by OxDC. No serious adverse events and no product-related adverse events occurred. Conclusions An orally administered OxDC is capable of significantly reducing urinary oxalate levels in healthy volunteers on a high-oxalate diet without affecting creatinine clearance, urine creatinine, or other solutes related to supersaturation of calcium oxalate.