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Tebapivat for treating anemia in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes

A Phase 2a/2b, Open-label, Proof of Concept (Phase 2a) and Open-label (Phase 2b), Multicenter, Efficacy, and Safety Study of AG-946 in Participants With Anemia Due to Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Phase 2 Interventional Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · NCT05490446

This study is testing if a new drug called tebapivat can help people with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes reduce their need for blood transfusions.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment82 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorAgios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations45 sites (Lakewood, California and 44 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05490446 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of tebapivat in participants with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS). It aims to establish proof of concept in Phase 2a and assess the drug's impact on achieving transfusion independence in Phase 2b. Participants will be monitored for their transfusion history and overall response to the treatment. The study involves multiple locations in California to facilitate participant recruitment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a documented diagnosis of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and a low transfusion burden.

Not a fit: Patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes or those requiring frequent blood transfusions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could improve the quality of life for patients by reducing their dependence on blood transfusions.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise with similar approaches in treating myelodysplastic syndromes, but the specific use of tebapivat is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

Phase 2a

1. At least 18 years of age at the time of providing informed consent;
2. Documented diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification (Arber et al, 2016), that meets Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) classification of lower-risk disease (risk score: ≤3.5) and \<5% blasts as determined by the participant's bone marrow biopsy/aspirate during the Screening Period;
3. Nontransfused or with low transfusion burden (LTB), based on transfusion history from the participant's medical record, according to revised International Working Group (IWG) 2018 criteria:

   * Nontransfused (NTD): \<3 red blood cell (RBC) units in the 16-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug and no transfusions in the 8-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug, or
   * LTB: 3 to 7 RBC units in the 16-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug and \<4 RBC units in the 8-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug;
4. A hemoglobin (Hb) concentration \<11.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL) during the 4-week Screening Period;
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status score of 0, 1, or 2;
6. If taking iron chelation therapy, the iron chelation therapy dose must have been stable and started ≥56 days before administration of the first dose of study drug;
7. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must be abstinent of sexual activities that may result in pregnancy as part of their usual lifestyle or agree to use a highly effective method of contraception from the time of providing informed consent, throughout the study, and for 28 days after the last dose of study drug; if the highly effective method of contraception is hormonal contraception, then an acceptable barrier method must also be used. Men with partners who are WOCBP must be abstinent of sexual activities that may result in pregnancy as part of their usual lifestyle or agree to use a condom from the time of providing informed consent throughout the study and for 28 days after the last dose of study drug;
8. Written informed consent from the participant before any study-related procedures are conducted and willing to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study.

Phase 2b

1. At least 18 years of age at the time of providing informed consent;
2. Documented diagnosis of MDS according to WHO classification (Arber et al, 2016), that meets IPSS-R classification of lower-risk disease (risk score: ≤3.5) and \<5% blasts as determined by the participant's bone marrow biopsy/aspirate during the Screening Period;
3. With LTB, or high transfusion burden (HTB), based on transfusion history from the participant's medical record, according to revised IWG 2018 criteria:

   1. LTB: 3 to 7 RBC units from at least 2 transfusion episodes in the 16-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug AND \<4 RBC units in the 8-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug, or
   2. HTB: ≥8 RBC units in the 16-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug AND ≥4 RBC units in the 8-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug

   If a participant's transfusion burden does not fall into either the LTB or HTB category, as defined per IWG 2018 criteria, then the transfusion burden will be categorized based on their transfusion history in the 16-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug.
4. Pretransfusion Hb concentration available for a minimum of 2 and at least half (50%) of the transfusions received in the 16-week period before administration of the first dose of study drug
5. A Hb concentration \<10.0 g/dL during the 4-week Screening Period;
6. Up to 2 prior therapies including erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) (eg, erythropoietin \[EPO\], EPO + granulocyte colony-stimulating factor \[G-CSF\]) and/or luspatercept;
7. ECOG Performance Status score of 0, 1, or 2;
8. If taking iron chelation therapy, the iron chelation therapy dose must have been stable and started ≥56 days before administration of the first dose of study drug;
9. WOCBP must be abstinent of sexual activities that may result in pregnancy as part of their usual lifestyle or agree to use a highly effective, from the time of providing informed consent throughout the study and for 28 days after the last dose of study drug; if the highly effective method of contraception is hormonal contraception, then an acceptable barrier method must be used. Men with partners who are WOCBP must be abstinent of sexual activities that may result in pregnancy as part of their usual lifestyle or agree to use a condom from the time of providing informed consent throughout the study and for 28 days after the last dose of study drug;
10. Written informed consent from the participant before any study-related procedures are conducted and willing to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

Phase 2a

1. Known history of acute myeloid leukemia (AML);
2. Secondary MDS, defined as MDS that is known to have arisen as a result of chemical injury or treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation for other diseases;
3. Prior exposure to a pyruvate kinase activator and/or disease-modifying agents for underlying MDS:

   * Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) such as lenalidomide; at the Investigator's discretion and in consultation with the Medical Monitor, participants who received ≤1 week of treatment with IMiDs may not be excluded, provided their last dose was ≥8 weeks before administration of the first dose of study drug
   * Hypomethylating agents (HMAs); at the Investigator's discretion and in consultation with the Medical Monitor, participants who received ≤2 doses of HMAs may not be excluded, provided that their last dose was ≥8 weeks before administration of the first dose of study drug
   * Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) inhibitors
   * Immunosuppressive therapy (IST)
   * Allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplant;
4. Currently receiving treatment with ESAs±G-CSF and/or luspatercept. Treatment with ESAs±G-CSF must have been stopped for ≥28 days before administration of the first dose of study drug; treatment with luspatercept must have been stopped for ≥65 days before administration of the first dose of study drug;
5. History of active and/or uncontrolled cardiac or pulmonary disease within 6 months before providing informed consent, including but not limited to:

   * New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure or clinically significant dysrhythmia
   * Myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, or unstable hypertension; high risk thrombosis; hemorrhagic, embolic, or thrombotic stroke; deep venous thrombosis; or pulmonary or arterial embolism
   * Heart rate-corrected QT interval using Fridericia's method of ≥470 milliseconds for female participants and ≥450 milliseconds for male participants, except for right or left bundle branch block
   * Severe pulmonary fibrosis as defined by severe hypoxia, evidence of right-sided heart failure, and radiographic pulmonary fibrosis \>50%
   * Severe pulmonary hypertension as defined by severe symptoms associated with hypoxia, right-sided heart failure, and oxygen indicated;
6. History of hepatobiliary disorders, as defined by:

   * Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \>2.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless due to hemolysis and/or hepatic iron deposition) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \>2.5 × ULN (unless due to hepatic iron deposition)
   * Serum bilirubin \>ULN, if the elevation is associated with clinically symptomatic choledocholithiasis, cholecystitis, biliary obstruction, or hepatocellular disease;
7. Renal dysfunction, as defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<45 milliliters per minute (mL/min)/1.73 m\^2;
8. Active infection requiring systemic antimicrobial therapy at the time of providing informed consent. If antimicrobial therapy is required during the Screening Period, screening procedures should not be performed while antimicrobial therapy is being administered, and the last dose of antimicrobial therapy must be administered ≥7 days before administration of the first dose of study drug;
9. Major surgery within 12 weeks before administration of the first dose of study drug. Participants must have completely recovered from any previous surgery before administration of the first dose of study drug;
10. For any malignancy except MDS: History of malignancy (active or treated) ≤5 years before providing informed consent for nonmelanomatous skin cancer in situ, cervical carcinoma in situ, or breast carcinoma in situ;
11. Positive test for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab) with evidence of active HCV infection, or positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg);
12. Positive test for HIV-1 Ab or HIV-2 Ab;
13. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \<500/microliter (μL) (0.5 × 10\^9/L);
14. Platelet count ≤75,000/μL during Screening (75 × 10\^9/L) platelet transfusions within 28 days before Screening or during Screening;
15. Nonfasting triglyceride concentration \>500 mg/dL;
16. Receiving inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) that have not been stopped for ≥5 days or a time frame equivalent to 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) before administration of the first dose of study drug;
17. Current enrollment or past participation (within 4 weeks or a time frame equivalent to 5 half-lives of the investigational study drug before administration of the first dose of study drug or, whichever is longer) in any other clinical study involving an investigational treatment or device;
18. Known allergy to tebapivat or its excipients;
19. Pregnant or breastfeeding;
20. Any medical, hematologic, psychological, or behavioral condition(s) or prior or current therapy that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may confer an unacceptable risk to participating in the study and/or could confound the interpretation of the study data. Also excluded are:

    * Participants who are institutionalized by regulatory or court order;
    * Participants with any condition(s) that could create undue influence (including but not limited to incarceration, involuntary psychiatric confinement, and financial or familial affiliation with the Investigator or Sponsor).

Phase 2b

1. Known history of AML;
2. Secondary MDS, defined as MDS that is known to have arisen as a result of chemical injury or treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation for other diseases;
3. Prior exposure to a pyruvate kinase activator, including exposure to tebapivat in the Phase 2a part of this study, and/or disease-modifying agents for underlying MDS:

   * Imetelstat; at the Investigator's discretion and in consultation with the Medical Monitor, participants who received ≤2 doses of imetelstat may not be excluded, provided that their last dose was ≥8 weeks before administration of the first dose of study drug
   * IMiDs such as lenalidomide; at the Investigator's discretion and in consultation with the Medical Monitor, participants who received ≤1 week of treatment with IMiDs may not be excluded, provided their last dose was ≥8 weeks before administration of the first dose of study drug
   * HMAs; at the Investigator's discretion and in consultation with the Medical Monitor, participants who received ≤2 doses of HMAs may not be excluded, provided that their last dose was ≥8 weeks before administration of the first dose of study drug
   * IDH inhibitors
   * IST
   * Allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplant;
4. Currently receiving treatment with ESAs±G-CSF and/or luspatercept. Treatment with ESAs±G-CSF must have been stopped for ≥28 days before administration of the first dose of study drug; treatment with luspatercept must have been stopped for ≥65 days before administration of the first dose of study drug;
5. History of active and/or uncontrolled cardiac or pulmonary disease within 6 months before providing informed consent, including but not limited to:

   * New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure or clinically significant dysrhythmia
   * Myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, or unstable hypertension; high risk thrombosis; hemorrhagic, embolic, or thrombotic stroke; deep venous thrombosis; or pulmonary or arterial embolism
   * Heart rate-corrected QT interval using Fridericia's method of ≥470 milliseconds for female participants and ≥450 milliseconds for male participants, except for right or left bundle branch block
   * Severe pulmonary fibrosis as defined by severe hypoxia, evidence of right-sided heart failure, and radiographic pulmonary fibrosis \>50%
   * Severe pulmonary hypertension as defined by severe symptoms associated with hypoxia, right-sided heart failure, and oxygen indicated
6. History of hepatobiliary disorders, as defined by:

   * Serum AST \>2.5 × ULN (unless due to hemolysis and/or hepatic iron deposition) and ALT \>2.5 × ULN (unless due to hepatic iron deposition)
   * Serum bilirubin \>ULN, if the elevation is associated with clinically symptomatic choledocholithiasis, cholecystitis, biliary obstruction, or hepatocellular disease
7. Renal dysfunction, as defined by an eGFR \<45 mL/min/1.73 m\^2;
8. Active infection requiring systemic antimicrobial therapy at the time of providing informed consent. If antimicrobial therapy is required during the Screening Period, screening procedures should not be performed while antimicrobial therapy is being administered, and the last dose of antimicrobial therapy must be administered ≥7 days before administration of the first dose of study drug;
9. Major surgery within 12 weeks before administration of the first dose of study drug. Participants must have completely recovered from any previous surgery before administration of the first dose of study drug;
10. For any malignancy except MDS: History of malignancy (active or treated) ≤5 years before providing informed consent, except for nonmelanomatous skin cancer in situ, cervical carcinoma in situ, or breast carcinoma in situ.;
11. Positive test for HCV Ab with evidence of active HCV infection, or positive test for HBsAg;
12. Positive test for HIV-1 Ab or HIV-2 Ab;
13. ANC \<500/μL (0.5 × 10\^9/L);
14. Platelet count \< 75,000/μL (75 × 10\^9 /L) during Screening; platelet transfusions within 28 days before Screening or during Screening;
15. Nonfasting triglyceride concentration \>500 mg/dL;
16. Receiving inhibitors of P-gp that have not been stopped for ≥5 days or a time frame equivalent to 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) beforeadministration of the first dose of study drug;
17. Current enrollment or past participation (within 4 weeks or a time frame equivalent to 5 half-lives of the investigational study drug before administration of the first dose of study drug or, whichever is longer) in any other clinical study involving an investigational treatment or device;
18. Known allergy to tebapivat or its excipients;
19. Pregnant or breastfeeding;
20. Any medical, hematologic, psychological, or behavioral condition(s) or prior or current therapy that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may confer an unacceptable risk to participating in the study and/or could confound the interpretation of the study data. Also excluded are:

    * Participants who are institutionalized by regulatory or court order
    * Participants with any condition(s) that could create undue influence (including but not limited to incarceration, involuntary psychiatric confinement, and financial or familial affiliation with the Investigator or Sponsor).
21. Known clinically significant anemia due to iron, vitamin B12, or folate deficiencies, autoimmune or hereditary hemolytic anemia, hypothyroidism, or any type of known clinically significant bleeding.

Where this trial is running

Lakewood, California 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 Myelodysplastic SyndromesAnemiaLower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.