PRIMULA: This phase III trial is combining two drugs (Pracinostat and Azacitidine) in patients with newly diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)A Phase III, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter, Randomized Study Of Pracinostat In Combination With Azacitidine In Patients ≥18 Years With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia Unfit For Standard Induction Chemotherapy

Inclusion

1. Male or female patient ≥ 18 years of age with newly diagnosed, histologically or cytologically confirmed, AML including de novo, secondary to antecedent hematologic disorders, or treatment-related disease with intermediate or unfavorable-risk cytogenetics

2. Unable to receive intensive chemotherapy regimens at enrollment, based on one of the following:

   I. Age ≥ 75 years, or

   II. Age < 75 years with at least 1 of the following co-morbidities:

   1. An ECOG performance status of 2
   2. Clinically significant cardiovascular disease defined as:

   i. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 50%, measured within 3 months prior to Day 1 confirmed by ECHO/MUGA ii. Congestive heart failure requiring medical therapy iii. Chronic stable angina requiring medical therapy iv. Prior cerebrovascular accident with sequelae c. Clinically significant pulmonary disease defined as: i. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≤ 65% of expected ii. Lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) ≤ 65% of expected Confirmed by pulmonary tests. d. Diabetes mellitus with symptomatic end-organ damage (e.g., retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, vasculopathy) e. Autoimmune inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematous, inflammatory bowel disease, or similar) requiring chronic disease modifying therapy (e.g., etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, rituximab, methotrexate, or similar) f. Class III obesity defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) > 40 kg/m2 g. Renal impairment defined as serum creatinine > 1.3 mg/dL (> 115 µmol/L) or creatinine clearance <70 ml/min h. Clinically significant cognitive impairment defined as requiring medical therapy and/or assistance with activities of daily living

3. 20% blasts in bone marrow
4. Peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count 30,000/µL For cyto-reduction, hydroxyurea is allowed during screening and up to Cycle 1, Days 1-14, to reduce WBC count to < 30,000 µL prior to Day 1. After Cycle 1, Day 14, hydroxyurea is prohibited.
5. ECOG performance status ≤ 2

6. Adequate organ function as evidenced by the following laboratory findings:

   1. Total bilirubin ≤ 2 × upper limit of normal (ULN) or < 3 x ULN for patients with Gilbert-Meulengracht Syndrome
   2. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 × ULN
7. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN according to institutional standards or creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
8. QT-interval corrected according to Fridericia's formula (QTcF) ≤ 450 ms on electrocardiogram (ECG) at Screening
9. Male patient who is surgically sterile, or male patient who is willing to agree to remain completely abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or who use barrier contraceptive measures and agree to refrain from donating sperm during the entire study treatment period and for 3 months after the last administration of study drug
10. Female patient who is of childbearing potential willing to use adequate contraceptive measures while participating on study, OR willing to completely abstain from heterosexual intercourse during the entire study treatment period
11. Female patient who is of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test result within 3 weeks prior to starting study drugs.
12. Willing to provide voluntary written informed consent before performance of any study related procedure not part of normal medical care
13. Willing and able to understand the nature of this study and to comply with the study and follow-up procedures.