Combination treatment for chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease
Official title: A Phase II b Study of Axatilimab in Combination With Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease
Run by University of Miami · NCT06663722 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new combination treatment with Axatilimab and light therapy to see if it helps people with chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease who haven't responded well to other treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 12 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 49 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Miami Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | ruxolitinib, ibrutinib, prednisone, Axatilimab |
| Locations | 3 sites (San Francisco, California and 2 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 5, 2025 |
| Main results expected | May 5, 2030 |
| Study ends | May 5, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | June 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06663722 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are individuals aged 12 and older who have received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and have chronic GVHD requiring new therapy.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have not undergone allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation or those with early-stage GVHD 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 study evaluates the effectiveness of a combination treatment using Axatilimab and Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) for patients suffering from chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease (cGVHD). Participants must have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and have experienced inadequate responses to at least two prior lines of therapy. The study aims to determine if this novel combination can improve patient outcomes in managing cGVHD symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new effective option for patients with chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease who have not responded to existing therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have explored treatments for cGVHD, but the specific combination of Axatilimab and ECP is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested together.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Recipient of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).
2. Age greater or equal to 12.
3. Chronic GVHD per 2014 National Institutes of Health Consensus Criteria (NCC) (Jagasia et al. 2015) or overlap syndrome requiring new therapy in patients with at least 2 prior lines of therapy, steroid refractoriness, or steroid dependence:
1. Prior systemic lines of therapy may include corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) or sirolimus, or other systemic immunosuppressive agent such as ruxolitinib, belumosudil, or ibrutinib. GVHD prophylaxis does not count as a prior line of therapy.
2. Steroid refractory is defined as any of the following criteria:
* i. Manifestations progress despite the use of ≥ 1 mg/kg/day prednisone for at least 1 week
* ii. Manifestations persist without improvement despite treatment with ≥ 0.5 mg/kg/day or 1 mg/kg every other day for at least four weeks.
* iii. Recurrence after a CR, or
* iv. Progression after a PR.
3. Steroid dependence is defined as inability to control cGVHD symptoms while tapering prednisone below 0.25 mg/kg/day on at least two occasions separated by at least 8 weeks. There must be evidence of clinically active cGVHD.
4. For patients receiving approved or commonly used agents, all GVHD systemic treatments should be discontinued except for corticosteroids and drugs being continued from GVHD prophylaxis at screening.
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-3 as assessed at Screening.
6. Platelet count \> 50,000 platelets/μL and absolute neutrophil count \> 1,000 cells/μL as measured at Screening.
7. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN), unless attributed to presumed cGVHD as measured at Screening.
8. Stable dose of corticosteroids for at least 14 days prior to treatment.
9. Sexually mature individuals must use contraception as described in Section 4.12. For individuals less than 18 years of age, sexual maturity will be determined as per treating pediatrician.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Pregnancy or breast-feeding.
2. Active relapse of underlying malignancy.
3. History or the presence of interstitial pneumonitis or drug-related pneumonitis.
4. Active gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
5. Inability to tolerate volume shifts associated with ECP (e.g., inadequate renal, hepatic, pulmonary and cardiac function (ejection fraction (EF) \< 40%) per Investigator discretion.
6. History of myositis.
7. History of splenectomy.
8. History of pancreatitis.
9. History of other malignancy (within 3 years of Screening) unless treated with curative intent and approved by Principal Investigator (PI).
10. Significant, uncontrolled, or active comorbid conditions or are unable to adhere to the study requirements.
11. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or active hepatitis B (Hep B) or active hepatitis C (Hep C) infection.
12. Prior colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1R) targeted therapies.
13. Prior history of ECP treatment failure or intolerance.
14. Intolerance to methoxsalen, heparin, or citrate products.
15. Patients with aphakia due to risk of increased retinal damage or photosensitive disease (albinism, systemic lupus erythematosus, porphyria).
16. Lack of stable IV access. Acceptable forms include central venous catheter, peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), or peripheral IV line per institutional guidelines.
17. Insurance denial of coverage for the ECP procedure.
Where it's running
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting -
University of Miami
Miami, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Trent P Wang, DO — University of Miami
- Study coordinator: Trent P Wang, DO
- Email: trentwang@med.miami.edu
- Phone: +1 (305) 2436444
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Axatilimab versus best available therapy for children with chronic graft-versus-host disease after two or more prior treatments
This trial will test axatilimab against the best available treatments in children aged 2–17 whose chronic graft-versus-host disease has not responded to at least two prior systemic therapies.
-
Axatilimab to treat skin thickening (sclerosis) from chronic graft‑versus‑host disease
This trial tests whether axatilimab can improve or stop worsening skin thickening (sclerosis) in adults with chronic graft‑versus‑host disease after a donor stem cell transplant.
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Evaluating axatilimab and corticosteroids for treating chronic graft-versus-host disease
This study is testing if adding a new drug called axatilimab to standard steroids can help people aged 12 and older who have recently developed moderate to severe chronic graft-versus-host disease feel better.
-
Axatilimab at Three Doses for Chronic GVHD
This study tests three dose levels of axatilimab in people 2 years and older whose chronic graft-versus-host disease has not responded to at least two prior treatments.
-
Belumosudil vs. Ruxolitinib for hepatic cGVHD after HSCT
This trial tests whether belumosudil or ruxolitinib works better for hepatic chronic GVHD after a stem cell transplant in people 12 and older.
-
Belumosudil vs Best Available Therapy for chronic graft-versus-host disease
In people aged 12 and up with chronic graft-versus-host disease, the study tests belumosudil to see if it works better than the doctor’s choice of best available therapy after prior treatments have failed.
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.