Rezpegaldesleukin (NKTR-358) for people with new-onset type 1 diabetes

Rezpegaldesleukin (NKTR-358) in New Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

This Phase 2 trial will test whether rezpegaldesleukin, given as a subcutaneous injection every two weeks, can help preserve insulin production in people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 66 (estimated)
• Ages: 8 Years to 45 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (NIH)
• Drugs / interventions: teplizumab, rituximab, immunotherapy
• Locations: 3 sites (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and 2 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07142252 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial will enroll 66 participants diagnosed with type 1 diabetes within 100 days and randomize them 2:1 to rezpegaldesleukin or placebo. Participants receive subcutaneous injections at the study site every 14 days for 26 weeks, with follow-up visits through 12 months from baseline. Mixed meal tolerance tests at screening, baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months will measure stimulated C-peptide to track residual beta-cell function. Standard intensive diabetes management is continued alongside the investigational or placebo injections.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people aged 8–45 diagnosed with type 1 diabetes within 100 days who are positive for at least one islet autoantibody, have a stimulated C-peptide ≥0.2 pmol/mL, meet the study weight criteria, and can comply with intensive diabetes management.

Not a fit: People diagnosed more than 100 days earlier, those with very low stimulated C-peptide, or those without islet autoantibodies are unlikely to receive benefit from this treatment.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could help preserve remaining insulin-producing beta cell function and reduce insulin needs for people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

How similar studies have performed: Early-phase studies of low-dose or engineered IL-2 agents, including NKTR-358, have shown expansion of regulatory T cells in autoimmune conditions, but clear clinical benefit in type 1 diabetes has not yet been established.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Provide informed consent or assent as appropriate and if \< 18 years of age have a parent or legal guardian provide informed consent.
* Age ≥ 8 and ≤ 45 years at the time of signing informed consent and (as applicable) assent A.
* Diagnosis of T1D within 100 days of randomization.
* Positive for at least one islet cell autoantibody; GAD65A, mIAA (if obtained within 10 days of the onset of insulin therapy), IA-2A, ICA, or ZnT8A.
* Stimulated C-peptide of ≥ 0.2 pmol/mL measured during MMTT conducted at least 21 days from diagnosis of diabetes.
* Participants ≥ 18 years old to have body weight ≥ 35 kg and ≤ 130kg.
* Participants \< 18 years old to have body weight \> 5th and \<98th percentile for age and sex.
* Willing to comply with intensive diabetes management.
* All CMV and/or EBV seronegative participants must be CMV and EBV PCR negative within 30 days of randomization and may not have had signs or symptoms of a CMV or EBV-compatible illness lasting longer than 7 days within 30 days of randomization.
* All CMV seropositive participants must be CMV PCR negative and all EBV seropositive participants must have a EBV PCR viral load \< 2,000 IU/mL within 30 days of randomization. All participants may not have had signs or symptoms of a CMV or EBV-compatible illness lasting longer than 7 days within 30 days of randomization.
* Must meet "TrialNet Eligibility Minimum Immunization Recommendations" found in Appendix A of the MOO.
* Be at least 4 weeks from last live vaccination prior to randomization.
* Participants that are not already immunized against the current year's influenza are required to receive non-live influenza vaccination at least 2 weeks prior to randomization when vaccine for the current or upcoming flu season is available.
* Be willing to forgo vaccines (other than killed influenza and COVID-19) during the treatment phase and the 3 months after study drug treatment period.
* If a female participant with reproductive potential, must be willing to avoid pregnancy (abstinence or highly effective contraceptive method) through the completion of the study and undergo pregnancy testing prior to each study visit.
* Males of reproductive age must use an adequate contraceptive method during the treatment phase and for 3 months following the last dose of study drug.

A Only adult participants ≥ 18 years old are permitted to be included in the first 18 enrolled participants in this study. Participants ≥ 12 and \< 18 years of age are only permitted to screen for this study if the safety review of the first 18 adult participants is assessed favorably by the TrialNet DSMB in consultation with Nektar Safety Group. Once an additional 17 participants ages 12 to 45, including at least 9 participants aged 12-17, enroll and complete through the 6-month visit and have the safety review assessed favorably by the TrialNet DSMB in consultation with Nektar Safety Group, then the trial is permitted to screen and enroll the remaining 31 enrollees ≥ 8 and ≤ 45 years old. If data at either juncture do not support expansion into the pediatric ages, the trial will enroll the remaining participants to reach the target sample size with the currently approved age thresholds. See protocol sections 2.5 and 3.5 for additional details.

Exclusion Criteria:

* One or more screening laboratory values as stated

  * Neutrophils \< 1,500 /μL
  * Lymphocytes \< 800 /μL
  * Platelets \< 100,000 /μL
  * Hemoglobin \< 6.2 mmol/L (10.0 g/dL)
  * Eosinophils \> 1,000 /μL
  * Potassium \> 5.5 mmol/L or \< 3.0 mmol/L
  * Sodium \> 150 mmol/L or \< 130 mmol/L
  * Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) \< 60 mL/min/1.73m2
  * AST or ALT or ALP \> 2 times the upper limit of normal based on lab reference range
  * Total Bilirubin ≥ 1.5 times upper limit of normal unless diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome
  * Serum creatinine \> 2 times the upper limit of normal
* Current or ongoing use of non-insulin pharmaceuticals that affect glycemia within 7 days of the screening visit or any prohibited concomitant medication as listed in section 3.7.
* Concurrent treatment with systemic immunosuppressive agents (including biologics or steroids) - intranasal and inhaled corticosteroids are permitted as well as eye and ear drops containing corticosteroids.
* Have active signs or symptoms of acute infection at the time of randomization.
* Active acute or chronic infection requiring medical treatment (antibiotics, antiviral, antifungal) within 4 weeks of baseline visit unless approved by the Infectious Disease Committee.
* Have evidence of prior or current tuberculosis infection as assessed by Purified Protein Derivative (PPD), interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) or by history.
* Any present malignancies or history of malignancy within the past 5 years, other than a successfully treated nonmelanoma skin cancer.
* Be currently pregnant or lactating or anticipate becoming pregnant during the study.
* History of severe cardiac disease (i.e. myocardial infarction, unstable ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accident, stroke, stage 3 or 4 heart failure).
* Have evidence of current or past HIV or Hepatitis B infection.
* Have evidence of active Hepatitis C infection.
* History of organ allograft.
* Hypersensitivity to IL-2, PEG, or any components of the active drug.
* Had major surgery within 12 weeks before the screening visit or anticipates requiring major surgery during the study.
* Has any autoimmune disease other than T1D, stable thyroid, stable asthma, inactive Graves' disease or celiac disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematous) or has any other disease that may be affected by immunotherapy.
* Screening 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) with findings suggestive/indicative of acute ischemia, clinically important heart disease or clinically important arrhythmias.
* Current or history thrombotic events within six months prior to randomization
* Known or untreated clinically significant hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
* Prior treatment within 12 months of randomization with an immune modulating/immune depleting agents, such as teplizumab (TZield), thymoglobulin (ATG) or rituximab.
* Prior treatment within 6 months of randomization with a metabolic therapy intended to alter the disease course of T1D (e.g. teplizumab).
* Has significant and uncontrolled disease/condition in the investigator's opinion that may adversely affect study participation or may compromise the study results or increase participant risk.

Where this trial is running

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and 2 other locations

• University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
• Vanderbilt University — Nashville, Tennessee, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• University of British Columbia — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Jessica Conaty

Conditions Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus; TrialNet; T1D