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A Safety Study of Tocilizumab to Improve Transplant Rates in Highly Sensitized Patients Awaiting Kidney Transplantation

A Phase I/II Trial of Tocilizumab + Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) as Agents to Reduce Donor-Specific Anti-HLA Antibodies (DSA) and Improve Transplant Rates in Highly-HLA Sensitized Patients Awaiting Kidney Transplantation

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01594424
Enrollment
10
Registered
2012-05-09
Start date
2012-06-30
Completion date
2015-05-31
Last updated
2016-08-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

Keywords

Donor-Specific Anti-HLA Antibodies, Kidney Transplantation

Brief summary

In this Phase I/II trial, 10 highly sensitized patients will be entered after informed consent and will receive Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) at 2 gm/kg + Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg x 5 doses on days 15, 45, 75, 105, 119, 135, and 149. If robust reductions in anti-HLA antibody are seen, patients will progress to kidney transplantation when an acceptable crossmatch is achieved with a living donor (LD) or deceased donor (DD). Those receiving transplants will also receive Tocilizumab infusion monthly X7 doses post-transplant. All subjects will have intensive monitoring of Donor Specific Antibodies (DSA), viral PCRs, and routine post-transplant labs. At 6 months post-transplant, those who have retained their transplanted kidney will have a protocol biopsy.

Interventions

DRUGTocilizumab

Tocilizumab 8mg/kg on Days 0, 15, 30, 45, 75, 105, 119, 135, 149, and 180

DRUGIntravenous Immunoglobulin

All HS who meet criteria for desensitization will receive IVIG 10% (2.0 g/kg \[maximum 140 g per dose\] on days 1 and 30).

Sponsors

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* End-stage renal disease. * No known contraindications for therapy with IVIG 10%/Actemra®. * Age 18-65 years at the time of screening. * CPRA \> 50% demonstrated on 3 consecutive samples, UNOS wait time sufficient to allow DD offers, history of sensitizing events, positive crossmatch with the intended donor. LDs with DSA and Crossmatch positivity. * Subject/Parent/Guardian must be able to understand and provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* Major surgery (including joint surgery) within 8 weeks prior to screening or planned major surgery within 6 months following randomization. * Treatment with any investigational agent within 4 weeks (or 5 half-lives of the investigational drug, whichever is longer) of screening. * Previous treatment with any cell-depleting therapies, including investigational agents or approved therapies, some examples are CAMPATH, anti-CD4, anti-CD5, anti¬CD3, anti-CD19 and anti-CD20 within 6 months of baseline. * Treatment with intravenous gamma globulin, plasmapheresis or Prosorba column within 6 months of baseline * Immunization with a live/attenuated vaccine within 2 months prior to baseline. * Previous treatment with TCZ (an exception to this criterion may be granted for single dose exposure upon application to the sponsor on a case-by-case basis). * Any previous treatment with alkylating agents such as chlorambucil, (within 1 year) or with total lymphoid irradiation. Exclusions for General Safety: * History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to human, humanized or murine monoclonal antibodies. * Evidence of serious uncontrolled concomitant cardiovascular, nervous system, pulmonary (including obstructive pulmonary disease), hepatic, endocrine (include uncontrolled diabetes mellitus) or gastrointestinal disease (including complicated diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease.) * Current liver disease as determined by principal investigator unless related to primary disease under investigation * Known active current or history of recurrent bacterial, viral, fungal, mycobacterial or other infections (including but not limited to tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial disease, Hepatitis B and C, and herpes zoster, but excluding fungal infections of nail beds). These are limited to non-access related infections. * Any major episode of infection requiring hospitalization or treatment with IV antibiotics within 4 weeks of screening or oral antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to screening. * Active TB requiring treatment within the previous 3 years. Patients should be screened for latent TB and, if positive, treated following local practice guidelines prior to initiating TCZ. Patients treated for tuberculosis with no recurrence in 3 years are permitted. * Primary or secondary immunodeficiency (history of or currently active) unless related to primary disease under investigation. * Evidence of active malignant disease, malignancies diagnosed within the previous 10 years (including hematological malignancies and solid tumors, except basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix uteri that has been excised and cured), or breast cancer diagnosed within the previous 20 years unless related to primary disease under investigation. * Pregnant women or nursing (breast feeding) mothers. * Patients with reproductive potential not willing to use an effective method of contraception. * History of alcohol, drug or chemical abuse within 1 year prior to screening. * Neuropathies or other conditions that might interfere with pain evaluation unless related to primary disease under investigation. * Patients with lack of peripheral venous access. * Body weight of \> 150 kg. Laboratory

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Serious Infectious Complications Following Transplantation24 monthspatients will be in the study for up to 2 years

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
IVIG + Tocilizumab (TCZ)
All patients received IVIg 10% (2.0 g/kg \[maximum 140 g per dose\] on days 1 and 30) and TCZ (8 mg/kg administered on day 15, then monthly for 6 months). If transplanted, patients received IVIg on day 0; TCZ on day 2 and TCZ monthly for 6 months patients received alemtuzumab 30 mg subcutaneously x1 dose as induction and were maintained on triple regimen with tacrolimus (target level of 7 to 9 ng/mL in first 6 months; then 5-7 ng/mL between 6 and 12 months; then 3-5 ng/mL thereafter); mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone taper.
10
Total10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicIVIG + Tocilizumab (TCZ)
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
10 Participants
Age, Continuous48 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12
Region of Enrollment
United States
10 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
4 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
6 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
8 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
4 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Participants With Serious Infectious Complications Following Transplantation

patients will be in the study for up to 2 years

Time frame: 24 months

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
IVIG + Tocilizumab (TCZ)Number of Participants With Serious Infectious Complications Following Transplantation2 participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 7, 2026