Skip to content

Ruxolitinib as First Line Treatment in Primary Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (R-HLH)

Efficacy of Ruxolitinib as First Line Treatment in Primary Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in Children: a Phase 2, Multicentre, Non-comparative Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05762640
Acronym
R-HLH
Enrollment
20
Registered
2023-03-09
Start date
2024-11-10
Completion date
2028-03-01
Last updated
2026-04-23

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

Conditions

Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

Keywords

Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, Lymphohistiocytic activation syndrome, Ruxolitinib, Jakavi

Brief summary

The purpose of this project is to study the survival of patients until Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation following the use of Ruxolitinib as first-line treatment associated to corticosteroids in primary HLH.

Detailed description

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a devastating inflammatory condition caused by uncontrolled proliferation of activated lymphocytes and macrophages secreting an excess of inflammatory cytokines. Treatment of HLH aims at decreasing inflammation and requires also treatment of the underlying trigger, if any. The principal goal of the induction therapy is to suppress the life-threatening inflammatory process. Once remission of HLH achieved, patients require allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), the only curative therapy to date. Despite significant treatment progress, mortality remains high. The study aims to implement a targeted treatment that is less aggressive than conventional approaches (Etoposide / ATG / Alemtuzumab). A better understanding of the pathophysiology of primary HLH has opened new avenues for targeted therapy. The central cytokine of the HLH process is IFNγ. IFNγ as well as most cytokines that are elevated in HLH, signal via Janus Kinase (JAK) and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)-associated receptors. Ruxolitinib, a selective JAK1/2 inhibitor has shown its efficacy in mouse models of HLH, where it significantly reduced disease manifestations and enhanced survival. Notably, Ruxolitinib diminished CD8+ T-cell accumulation and cytokine production, while sparing degranulation and cytotoxicity. Recently, Ruxolitinib has also been used successfully in humans in isolated cases of refractory primary and secondary HLH. This is a National, phase II, non-comparative and non-randomized, study in France with 9 participating centers. The chosen experimental plan is a Simon's Optimal 2-Step Design.

Interventions

DRUGRuxolitinib

Form: tablets, 50 mg/m2/day in two administrations. Maximum dose is 100 mg/day. Administration in association with Methylprednisolone IV (or Prednisolone PO) starting at 2 mg/kg/day in two administrations. Duration of treatment: until D-1 of conditioning for allogeneic HSCT OR 9weeks for patients who are not eligible for HSCT.

Sponsors

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Lead SponsorOTHER
URC-CIC Paris Descartes Necker Cochin
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 22 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient aged 0 to 22 years * Patient with HLH syndrome confirmed by at least one of the two criteria: 1. Confirmed genetic diagnosis of a condition predisposing to primary HLH (see table 1 and table 2) or abnormal expression of perforin, MUNC13-4, SAP or XIAP in FACS and/or positive family history OR 2. Presence of at least 5 of the 8 following HLH diagnostic criteria: * Fever * Splenomegaly * Cytopenia (affecting at least two cell lineages) * Haemoglobin \< 9 g/dl (\<10 g/dL in neonates) * Platelets \< 100,000/µL * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \< 1,000/µL * Hypertriglyceridemia and/or hypofibrinogenemia * Fasting triglycerides ≥ 3 mmol/l * Fibrinogen \<1.5 g/L * Haemophagocytosis found in a histological sample (without evidence of a malignant process or an underlying rheumatic disorder) * Decreased or absent NK function * Ferritin ≥ 500 µg/l * Presence of activated T cells in the immune phenotyping as evidenced by expression of the activation marker DR (superior to the normal value of the laboratory) OR CD25 soluble (sIL-2 receptor) ≥ 2,400 U/mL. * Patient with no previous specific treatment for HLH syndrome * For patients of childbearing age : using an effective method of contraception during the trial, and through to 90 days after EOS for male participants and 30 days after EOS for female participants * Freely given, informed and written consent of legal representative of the participant or consent of the adult participant * Affiliation to Social Security.

Exclusion criteria

* Previous treatment with ATG, Alemtuzumab, Etoposide, JAK-inhibitors, rifampicin and/or anti-Interferon gamma antibodies. St. John's Wort, or any other strong CYP3A4 inducers. * Previous treatment with corticosteroids and/or cyclosporine A for more than 14 days * Isolated CNS disease. * Contraindication to receive Ruxolitinib: * History of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients * Pregnant or lactating female patient * Contraindication to receive methylprednisolone or prednisolone * History of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients * Any infectious condition with the exception of infections, which are the trigger for lymphohistiocytic activation. * Patient with acute very severe renal impairment (Creatinine Clearance \<15 mL/min/1.73m²) who are NOT receiving dialysis. * Patient with Grade 4 hepatic failure according to the CTCAE v5.0 of 27 November 2017 (Life-threatening consequences; moderate to severe encephalopathy; coma) * Past or know active tuberculosis * Known rheumatologic disorder. * Known active malignancy. * Patient who is taking another investigational agent or is enrolled in another treatment protocol. * Patient who cannot tolerate administration of drugs PO or through NG

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Survival until HSCTDay 0 until HSCT, up to 8 weeks

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of patients achieving a complete responseDay 7, Day 14, Day 21, Day 28, Week 8, and Day-1 of the conditioning for HSCTTo evaluate the efficacy of Ruxolitinib
Rate of patients achieving a partial responseDay 7, Day 14, Day 21, Day 28, Week 8, and Day-1 of the conditioning for HSCTTo evaluate the efficacy of Ruxolitinib
Delay to obtain complete responseDay 0 up to Day-1 of the conditioning for HSCTTo evaluate the efficacy of Ruxolitinib
Delay to obtain partial responseDay 0 up to Day-1 of the conditioning for HSCTTo evaluate the efficacy of Ruxolitinib
Incidence of HLH reactivationDay 0 up to Day-1 of the conditioning for HSCTHLH reactivation after achieving complete or partial response.
Timing of HLH reactivationDay 0 up to Day-1 of the conditioning for HSCTHLH reactivation after achieving complete or partial response.
Occurrence of a viral infection de novo or worsening of pre-existing viral infection(s)During Ruxolitinib treatmentTo evaluate treatment tolerance
Occurrence of adverse effects reported in the product information for RuxolitinibDuring Ruxolitinib treatmentTo evaluate treatment tolerance
Concentration of Ruxolitinib in bloodBlood sampling: Day 0, weekly until week 8 of treatment and at Day-8 prior to the conditioning for HSCTto evaluate Pharmacokinetics
Concentration of Ruxolitinib in cerebrospinal fluidBlood sampling: Day 0, weekly until week 8 of treatment and at Day-8 prior to the conditioning for HSCTto evaluate Pharmacokinetics
Cytokine profile and gene expressionDay 0, Weekly until week 8 of treatmentAssess through measurement of IFNγ, TNFα, Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2, IL-10, IL-18, IL-1b, and CXCL9

Countries

France

Contacts

CONTACTDespina MOSHOUS, MD, PhD
despina.moshous@aphp.fr01 44 49 48 23
CONTACTLaure CHOUPEAUX
laure.choupeaux@aphp.fr01 44 38 17 11
STUDY_CHAIRDespina MOSHOUS, MD, PhD

Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 24, 2026