Siltuximab for antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplant
Official title: A Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Siltuximab for the Treatment of Antibody-Mediated Rejection after Lung Transplantation
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11394141 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial gives siltuximab to people with antibody-mediated rejection after a lung transplant to try to control the immune response harming the new lung.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $544,885 |
| NIH project number | 4R33HL169189-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394141 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have received a lung transplant and are diagnosed with antibody-mediated rejection, including evidence of donor-specific HLA antibodies and clinical signs of graft injury, are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without antibody-mediated rejection, those with longstanding irreversible chronic lung allograft dysfunction, or those with uncontrolled serious infections are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
You would be offered a Phase 1 trial of siltuximab, a drug that blocks the inflammatory protein IL-6, for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after a lung transplant. The study begins with small doses to check safety, side effects, and to identify an appropriate dose. You would have regular blood tests to track donor-specific antibodies and immune markers, lung function tests, and clinical monitoring for rejection or infection. If the drug calms the immune attack, it may help protect your transplanted lung and slow progression to chronic lung allograft dysfunction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, siltuximab could reduce immune-driven injury after AMR and help improve short- and long-term survival of lung transplants.
How similar studies have gone: Blocking IL-6 has shown promise in other transplant and immune settings and in small case series, but using siltuximab for lung transplant AMR is novel and not yet proven in randomized trials.
Where this research is happening
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Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hachem, Ramsey — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Hachem, Ramsey
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Phase 1 trial of siltuximab for antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplant
A early-stage study tests whether siltuximab can help people who have antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplantation.
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Targeted delivery of immune-suppressing agents to the lung graft to prevent rejection
A study at Northwestern University will test a new, targeted approach to prevent lung transplant rejection by delivering immune-suppressing drugs directly to the graft while blocking early signals that trigger rejection.
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Role of plasma cells in chronic rejection after lung transplantation
This research looks at how certain immune cells called plasma cells may drive chronic rejection in people who have had lung transplants and how this could lead to new ways to protect the transplant.
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Non-invasive infection detection after lung transplant
A non-invasive blood test using phage-based signals could help doctors detect lung infections early in people who have had a lung transplant.
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Investigating the role of plasma cells in lung transplant rejection
This study is looking at how certain immune cells, called plasma cells, might play a role in lung transplant rejection, especially for patients dealing with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, and it hopes to find new ways to help improve the success of lung transplants.
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Sending anti-rejection medicine directly to blood vessels in transplanted lungs
This project tests tiny drug carriers that deliver anti-rejection medicine straight to the blood vessels of transplanted lungs to help people who receive lung transplants.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.