Evaluating a gene therapy drug for patients with high triglycerides and pancreatitis

A Multi-center, Open Label, Multi-arm, Dose Ascending Clinical Trial for Evaluation of Safety and Tolerance of Gene Therapy Drug GC304 in the Treatment of Primary Hypertriglyceridemia Patients With History of Acute Pancreatitis

This study is testing a new gene therapy drug to see if it can help people with high triglycerides and a history of pancreatitis feel better when other treatments haven't worked.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 7 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 60 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: GeneCradle Inc (industry)
• Locations: 1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT05860569 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to assess the safety and tolerance of the gene therapy drug GC304 administered intravenously to patients with primary hypertriglyceridemia who have experienced recurrent acute pancreatitis. The study will involve a dose-escalation approach and will monitor participants over a period of 52 weeks, followed by a long-term follow-up of up to 5 years. Eligible patients must have specific genetic mutations and elevated triglyceride levels that are poorly managed by standard treatments. The trial will take place in China at Peking Union Medical College.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals diagnosed with primary hypertriglyceridemia, particularly those with genetic mutations in GPIHBP1 or LPL genes and a history of acute pancreatitis.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have the specified genetic mutations or those whose triglyceride levels are well-managed by existing treatments may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a novel therapeutic option for patients suffering from severe hypertriglyceridemia and recurrent pancreatitis.

How similar studies have performed: While gene therapy approaches are emerging, this specific application for treating primary hypertriglyceridemia with recurrent pancreatitis is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed as primary hypertriglyceridemia poorly managed by regular treatment and dietary control, with episode of acute pancreatitis twice or once of severe acute pancreatitis within 5 years;
* Fasting plasma triglycerides (TG) levels above 5.65 mmol/L (intake of dietary fat \<30 g within 24 hours before blood taken);
* Homozygous or heterozygous mutations in GPIHBP1 or LPL genes by genetic screening;
* The patients within reproductive age take effective contraceptive measures voluntarily entering screening stage until 6 months after the trial;
* The patients fully understand and are able to comply with the requirements of the treatment and are willing to complete the trial as planned, including voluntary compliance with the trial procedures, acceptance of low-fat dietary requirements, and provide of biological samples.
* Be able to understand the procedures and methods of the trial and voluntarily participate with the signature of the informed consent by the patient or his/her guardian.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient who is known to be allergic to any ingredient of a trial drug (including immunosuppressants) or has any disease prohibited from the treatment;
* Patient who is having active bacteria, fungi, viruses or other infections;
* Patient who is intolerant of immunosuppressive drugs or steroids;
* Patient who is with any of the following clinical history of serious illness or existing serious illness:

  1. unrelieved abdominal pain caused by acute onset of pancreatitis or by other causes；
  2. disease history of malignancy or currently suffering from any malignant tumor;
  3. autoimmune diseases;
  4. disease history of epilepsy or mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, mania, anxiety, etc.);
  5. heart diseases: cardiomyopathy and myocarditis; structural heart diseases; coronary heart disease (acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction); pericardial disease; severe arrhythmias (severe tachycardia requiring pacemakers, severe rapid arrhythmias, and other arrhythmias beyond the control of medications) ; New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification heart function grading ≥III or Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≤50%;
  6. poorly controlled diabetes (fasting blood glucose ≥11.1mmol/L);
  7. with systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 150mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 100mmHg after treatment with a stable dose (at least 4 weeks) of antihypertensive drugs;
* The results of the laboratory examination at screening meet either of the following:

  1. Aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) \> 2 × upper limit of normals (ULN);
  2. Total bilirubin \> upper limit of normals (ULN);
  3. Creatinine \> upper limit of normals (ULN);
  4. Phosphatase kinase \> 2 × upper limit of normals (ULN);
  5. Glomerular filtration rate estimate \< 50 mL/min (estimated by the Cockroft-Gault formula);
  6. Positive hepatitis B surface antigen, positive hepatitis C antibody, positive HIV antibody or positive syphilis spiral antibody before or during screening;
  7. A positive blood pregnancy test;
* AAV5 neutralizing antibody levels above 1:100
* Person who has used a clinical trial drug within 1 month (30 days) prior to screening, or who plans to participate in other clinical trials during the trial period;
* Blood loss/donation of more than 400 mL (except for female physiological blood loss) within 3 months (90 days) before screening, and receiving blood transfusion or using blood products;
* Person who has undergone major surgery within 3 months (90 days) prior to screening, or who has undergone surgery that could significantly affect the course or safety evaluation of the trial drug;
* Alcohol consumption was high in the first 3 months (90 days), i.e. the average alcohol intake was greater than 3 units/day (Male) or 2 units/days (female) (1 unit = 18ml alcohol, such as beer 360 ml with 5% alcohol, 12% wine 150ml, 40% liquor 45ml); or who cannot abstain from drinking during the trial;
* Women who are pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding, or all persons of reproductive age who are unable to take effective contraceptives until 3 months after the completion of the study;
* Patients who have poor compliance or who may not be able to complete the test for other reasons, or whom the investigator considers inappropriate to participate in the trial.

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing Municipality

• Peking Union Medical College — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: GeneCradle, Inc. China

Conditions: Hypertriglyceridemia, Familial