Clinical trial Recruiting at 3 sites Phase 2 Interventional Ages 12 and up

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

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages12 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment49 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Miami
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsruxolitinib, ibrutinib, prednisone, Axatilimab
Locations3 sites (San Francisco, California and 2 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMay 5, 2025
Main results expectedMay 5, 2030
Study endsMay 5, 2030
Registry record updatedJune 22, 2026
Trial IDNCT06663722 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

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.