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Gene therapy for heart failure patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy

A Phase 2, Adaptive, Double-blinded, Placebo Controlled, Randomized, Multi-center Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Intracoronary Infusion of AB-1002 in Adult Subjects With New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III Heart Failure and Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Phase 2 Interventional AskBio Inc · NCT05598333

This study is testing a new gene therapy to see if it can help people with heart failure caused by non-ischemic cardiomyopathy feel better and improve their heart function.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment150 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorAskBio Inc Industry-sponsored
Locations45 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 44 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05598333 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 2 clinical trial evaluates the safety and efficacy of a single dose of AB-1002, administered through intracoronary artery infusion, in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and NYHA Class III heart failure symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: two treatment doses or a placebo. The study will last approximately 37 months, including a 52-week observation period after dosing, followed by four years of long-term follow-up for safety and efficacy assessments. The trial aims to gather data on the potential benefits of gene therapy in improving heart function and patient outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults over 18 with chronic non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and NYHA Class III heart failure symptoms.

Not a fit: Patients with ischemic heart disease or those who do not meet the specific inclusion criteria may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could significantly improve heart function and quality of life for patients with advanced heart failure.

How similar studies have performed: While gene therapy approaches are being explored, this specific method of phosphatase inhibition via intracoronary infusion is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in similar studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject must be age ≥18 years of age, at the time of signing the informed consent.
2. Chronic non-ischemic cardiomyopathy
3. 15% ≤ LVEF ≤ 35% by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at screening
4. 6MWT \>50 meters
5. Medically stable, NYHA Class III HF for a minimum of 4 weeks while on appropriate medical therapy (defined below) including, but not limited to:

   1. Beta blocker therapy and ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) or sacubitril/valsartan combination therapy (Entresto) for ≥ 90 days prior to enrollment.

      May also receive aldosterone antagonist therapy. Doses of the above medications must be stable for ≥ 30 days prior to enrollment; and
   2. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (Zareba et al 2011), if clinically indicated, must have been implanted ≥ 90 days prior to enrollment. Internal cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) must be implanted, if clinically indicated ≥ 30 days prior to enrollment.
6. Women of childbearing potential must use at least one of the following acceptable birth control methods throughout the study and for 6 months after IP administration:

   * Surgically sterile (bilateral tubal ligation, hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy) 6 months minimum prior to IP administration
   * Intrauterine device in place for at least 90 days prior to receiving IP
   * Barrier methods (diaphragm plus spermicide or condom) starting at least 30 days prior to receiving IP
   * Abstinence (the subject must be willing to remain abstinent from screening to 6 months after receiving IP). Females are allowed to claim abstinence as their method of contraception only when it is the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject
   * Surgical sterilization of the partner(s) (vasectomy) for \>180 days prior to IP administration
   * Hormonal contraceptives starting \> 90 days prior to IP. If hormonal contraceptives are started less than 90 days prior to receiving IP, subjects must agree to use a barrier method (diaphragm plus spermicide or condom) from screening through 90 days after initiation of hormonal contraceptives
7. Males subjects capable of fathering a child:

   * Must agree to use a condom and should also be advised of the benefit for a female partner to use a highly effective method of contraception as a condom may break or leak when having sexual intercourse with a woman of childbearing potential who is not currently pregnant from IP administration through 6 months after the time of IP administration
   * Must agree not to donate sperm for 6 months after time of receiving IP
   * Documented evidence of vasectomy in males for 180 days minimum prior to receiving IP is an acceptable form of contraception
   * Males who claim abstinence as their method of contraception are allowed, provided they agree to use barrier methods should they become sexually active from screening through 6 months after receiving IP. Males are allowed to claim abstinence as their method of contraception only when it is the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject
8. Appropriate candidate for protocol-specified intracoronary infusion in the judgment of the infusing interventional cardiologist

   Exclusion Criteria:

   Subjects are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply:
9. Chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy secondary to obstructive coronary artery disease
10. Intravenous (IV) inotropic therapy, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) or percutaneous cardiac assist device therapy within 30 days prior to enrollment
11. Restrictive cardiomyopathy, obstructive cardiomyopathy, pericardial disease, amyloidosis, infiltrative cardiomyopathy, uncorrected thyroid disease, or dyskinetic LV aneurysm
12. Cardiac surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 30 days prior to screening
13. Uncorrected Third degree heart block
14. Clinically significant myocardial infarction (MI) in the judgment of the subject's physician (e.g., ST elevation MI \[STEMI\] or large non-STEMI) within 6 months prior to enrollment
15. Prior heart transplantation, left ventricular reduction surgery (LVRS), cardiomyoplasty, passive restraint device (e.g., CorCap™ Cardiac Support Device), surgically implanted LVAD or cardiac shunt
16. Likely to receive cardiac resynchronization therapy, cardiomyoplasty, LV reduction surgery, heart transplant, conventional revascularization procedure, or valvular repair within 3 months of IP dosing in judgement of investigator.
17. Known hypersensitivity to contrast dyes (not easily controlled by antihistamines) used for angiography; history of, or likely need for, high-dose steroid pretreatment prior to contrast angiography.
18. Expected survival \< 1 year in the judgment of the investigator
19. Active or suspected infection within 48 hours prior to intra-coronary infusion as evidenced by fever or positive culture
20. Known intrinsic liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatitis A, chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection). If serology is positive and PCR is known to be negative, subject may be eligible (confirm with medical monitor).
21. Liver function tests (alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\], aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\], alkaline phosphatase) \> 2x upper limit of normal (ULN) within 30 days prior to enrollment.
22. Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5, dialysis dependent or eGFR\<15 within 30 days prior to enrollment
23. Bleeding diathesis or thrombocytopenia defined as platelets \<50,000 platelets/μL within 30 days prior to enrollment
24. Anemia defined as hemoglobin \<10 g/dL or transfusion dependent within 30 days prior to enrollment
25. Neutropenia defined as absolute neutrophils \<1500 mm3 within 30 days prior to enrollment
26. Known AIDS or HIV-positive status, or a previous diagnosis of immunodeficiency with an absolute neutrophil count \<1000 cells/mm3
27. Previous participation in a study of gene transfer
28. Receiving investigational intervention or participating in another clinical study within 30 days of another investigational drug administration prior to administration of AB-1002 that may impact the therapeutic potential of AB-1002.
29. Pregnancy or breastfeeding or plans to become pregnant within the next 12 months at the time of screening
30. Subjects with any other condition which in the opinion of the investigator would preclude participation in the study (including risk for non-compliance and any intercurrent conditions that pose an undue medical hazard, or which could interfere with the interpretation of the study results)
31. Malignant neoplasm within 5 years of dosing, with the exception of those with negligible risk of metastasis or death (such as adequately treated carcinoma in situs of the cervix, basal or squamous cell skin cancer, localized prostate cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ)
32. Any documented history of non-compliance with medications, illicit drug use or laboratory evidence of illicit drug use during screen period

Where this trial is running

Birmingham, Alabama and 44 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions Congestive Heart Failure
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.