New oral cladribine formulation for treating generalized myasthenia gravis
Official title: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, 3-Arm, 3-Period Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of a New Formulation of Oral Cladribine Compared With Placebo in Participants With Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (MyClad)
Run by Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany · NCT06463587 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new pill for people with generalized myasthenia gravis to see if it helps them feel better compared to a sugar pill.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 264 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Industry-sponsored |
| Drugs / interventions | eculizumab, rozanolixizumab, ravulizumab, nipocalimab, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, prednisone |
| Locations | 154 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 153 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 25, 2024 |
| Main results expected | August 23, 2028 |
| Study ends | November 12, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | October 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06463587 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older diagnosed with generalized myasthenia gravis, particularly those with specific antibody profiles.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with mild forms of myasthenia gravis or those not meeting the inclusion criteria may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of a new formulation of oral cladribine in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) compared to a placebo. The study is structured into three periods: a double-blind placebo-controlled pivotal period, a blinded extension, and a retreatment period. It aims to assess not only the immediate effects of the treatment but also its long-term safety and the pharmacokinetics of the new formulation. Participants will be monitored for sustained efficacy and the need for retreatment over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve the management of generalized myasthenia gravis, offering patients a new oral therapy option.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise with similar treatments for myasthenia gravis, indicating potential for success with this new formulation.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults of ≥ 18 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent. * Diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis with generalized muscle weakness, meeting clinical criteria for Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Class II to IVa classification. * In participants positive for Acetylcholine receptor antibody (anti-AChR) or muscle-specific kinase antibody(anti-MuSK) * In participants that are autoantibody seronegative i.e. not positive for anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibodies and participants who are positive for anti-low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 antibodies (anti-LRP4) * Has a Screening and Baseline MG-ADL score more than or equal to (\>=) 6 with \>= 50 percentage (%) of the total score due to non-ocular symptoms. Screening and Baseline MG-ADL scores must be stable. The difference between the Screening and Baseline scores should not be more than 2 and there should be no reported MG exacerbation during the Screening period * If treated with oral corticosteroids: should be on a stable daily dose for at least 3 months prior to and during screening. In such case, the daily dose of oral steroids should not exceed 20 milligrams(mg)/day for prednisone/ prednisolone, 16 mg/day for methylprednisolone, 3 mg/day for dexamethasone, or 80 mg for hydrocortisone or equivalent doses for other corticosteroids. * If treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor should be on a stable daily dose (pyridostigmine dose ≤ 480 mg/day or neostigmine ≤ 300 mg/day) for at least 3 months prior to and during screening * Have a body weight \>= 40 kilograms * Other protocol defined inclusion criteria could apply Exclusion Criteria: * Immunologic disorder other than MG or any other condition requiring chronic oral, intravenous, intramuscular, or intraarticular corticosteroid therapy. Well-controlled thyroid disease, as per the Treating Investigator or the participants regular treating physician recorded in the source documents, is not exclusionary * Molecularly characterized or suspected congenital myasthenic syndrome, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, inherited myopathy, muscular dystrophy, acquired myopathy or any other neurologic or systematic disease that mimics MG muscular weakness * Active, clinically significant viral, bacterial, or fungal infection, including brain MRI or chest X-ray findings consistent with signs of infection such as PML or TB, or any major episode of infection requiring hospitalization or treatment with parenteral anti-infectives within 8 weeks prior or during Screening, or completion of oral anti-infectives within 8 weeks prior or during Screening. Vaginal candidiasis, onychomycosis, and genital or oral herpes simplex virus considered by the Investigator to be sufficiently controlled would not be exclusionary * Has a history of or current diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB) or is currently undergoing treatment for latent TB infection or has an untreated latent TB infection as determined by documented results within 3 months of the Screening Visit of a positive TB skin test . * Active malignancy, or history of cancer or signs of malignancy in any Screening assessment * Treatment with nonsteroidal immunosuppressants, used in gMG, such as azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus within 4 weeks prior to randomization * Treatment with FcRn or complement inhibitors (such as eculizumab, rozanolixizumab efgartigimod, ravulizumab, zilucoplan or nipocalimab) within 8 weeks prior to randomization * History of thymectomy within 6 months prior to Screening. * History of generalized seizures (except for history of febrile seizures during the participant's childhood). * Negative or indeterminate for Varicella Zoster Virus antibodies at screening * History of myasthenic crisis in the last 12 months prior to and during screening * History of recurrent infections (that is 3 or more infections per year documented in available source data) within the last 2 years * Discontinuation of treatment with any non-steroidal immunosuppressants used in gMG, such as azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus within the last 6 months prior to Screening * If treated with non-steroidal immunosuppressants for gMG, the dose at Screening higher than 50 mg/day for azathioprine, 500 mg/day for mycophenolate mofetil, 1 mg/day for tacrolimus, 50 mg/day for cyclosporine, 25 mg/day for cyclophosphamide, or 7.5 mg/week for methotrexate * Participation in clinical study of any investigational drug within 6 months, or 5 half-lives of the investigational drug used in the previous clinical study prior to randomization, whichever is longer. However, participants with any prior exposure to cladribine may not enter the study regardless of timing of exposure * Other protocol defined exclusion criteria could apply
Where it's running
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Arizona Neuroscience Research, LLC
Phoenix, Arizona, United States Recruiting -
University of Connecticut Health Center - Department of Medicine
Farmington, Connecticut, United States Recruiting -
The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates Foggy Bottom South Pavilion
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States Recruiting -
Neurology of Central Florida Research Center, LLC
Altamonte Springs, Florida, United States Recruiting -
SFM Clinical Research, LLC
Boca Raton, Florida, United States Recruiting -
University of Florida Health Science Center - 300120311
Jacksonville, Florida, United States Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
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Neurology Associates, P. A.
Maitland, Florida, United States Recruiting -
University of South Florida - PARENT - PARENT
Tampa, Florida, United States Recruiting -
University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc. - 3901 Rainbow (MAIN)
Kansas City, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
UNC Hospitals - PARENT
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Miami Valley Hospital South
Centerville, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
Clinical Trials of South Carolina - Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Erlanger Health, Inc. - 1123255
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States Recruiting -
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute - Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
Dallas, Texas, United States Recruiting -
ANESC Research
El Paso, Texas, United States Recruiting -
Baylor Scott & White Neurology - McKinney
McKinney, Texas, United States Recruiting -
The University of Vermont Medical Center
Burlington, Vermont, United States Recruiting -
BCN Research
Greenfield, Wisconsin, United States Recruiting -
Expertia S.A- Mautalen Salud e Investigación
Ciudad Autonoma Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Instituto de Investigaciones Neurologicas Raul Carrea, FLENI - de Investigaciones Clinicas del área de Cardiología y enfermedades metabólicas asociadas
Ciudad Autonoma Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Instituto de Investigaciones Metabolicas (IDIM)
Ciudad Autonoma Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Hospital Cordoba
Córdoba, Argentina Recruiting -
Fundacion Rosarina de Neurorehabilitacion
Rosario, Argentina Recruiting -
INECO Neurociencias Oroño
Rosario, Argentina Recruiting -
CER San Juan Centro Polivalente de Asistencia e Inv. Clinica
San Juan, Argentina Recruiting -
Centro de Investigaciones Medicas Tucuman
San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina Recruiting -
Brain and Mind Research Institute
Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia Recruiting -
Sunshine Coast University Hospital
Birtinya, Queensland, Australia Recruiting -
Princess Alexandra Hospital - PARENT
South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Recruiting -
John Hunter Hospital - PARENT
City of Burnside, South Australia, Australia Recruiting -
Box Hill Hospital - PARENT
Box Hill, Victoria, Australia Recruiting -
Gold Coast University Hospital - PARENT
Southport, Australia Recruiting -
UZ Leuven
Leuven, Belgium Recruiting -
C. H. R. de la Citadelle - Account 1
Liège, Belgium Recruiting -
Medical Center Hera - branch Montana
Montana, Bulgaria Recruiting -
UMHAT 'Dr. Georgi Stranski', EAD
Pleven, Bulgaria Recruiting -
UMHAT "Sv. Georgi", EAD
Plovdiv, Bulgaria Recruiting -
MHATNP "Sv.Naum", EAD - Third Neurology Clinic
Sofia, Bulgaria Recruiting -
UMHATEM 'N.I. Pirogov', EAD
Sofia, Bulgaria Recruiting -
Burnaby Hospital - Fraser Health Multiple Sclerosis Clinic
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada Recruiting -
The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College
Anhui Sheng, Anhui, China Recruiting -
Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China Recruiting -
Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China Recruiting -
The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine - 300164595
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Recruiting -
Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University
Zunyi, Guizhou, China Recruiting -
Shijiazhuang People's Hospital
Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China Recruiting -
Henan Provincial People's Hospital
Zhengzhou, Henan, China Recruiting -
Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Changsha, Hu'nan, China Recruiting
+104 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: US Medical Information
- Email: eMediUSA@emdserono.com
- Phone: 888-275-7376
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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SHR-2173 injection added to standard care for generalized myasthenia gravis
This Phase 2 trial tests whether SHR-2173 added to usual treatment helps adults with generalized myasthenia gravis more than a placebo add-on.
-
Ravulizumab for Generalized Myasthenia Gravis in Chinese Adults
This trial tests ravulizumab in Chinese adults with generalized myasthenia gravis to see if it helps symptoms while checking safety and how the drug behaves in the body.
-
Tracking Real-Life Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms in Patients on Rozanolixizumab
This observational study follows adults with generalized myasthenia gravis who are treated with Rozanolixizumab to see how their symptoms and fatigue change in real life.
-
ADAPT Forward master protocol testing multiple regimens for generalized myasthenia gravis
This platform tests several drug regimens, including efgartigimod IV and empasiprubart IV, in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis to find safer and more effective treatment combinations.
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Adding empasiprubart to efgartigimod for AChR-antibody positive generalized myasthenia gravis
This trial will test whether adding empasiprubart to efgartigimod infusions helps people with AChR-antibody positive generalized myasthenia gravis who have only had a partial response to efgartigimod.
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Oral steroid tapering for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis on ravulizumab.
This study will try a predefined prednisone taper to see if adults with generalized myasthenia gravis on ravulizumab can safely reduce their daily steroid dose.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.