Using a monoclonal antibody with transplanted islet cells for brittle Type 1 Diabetes

A Pilot Study Assessing the Safety of Using a Monoclonal Antibody Against Cluster of Differentiation 40 (CD40) Ligand to Achieve a Calcineurin Inhibitor-free Immunosuppression Regimen in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D) and Problematic Hypoglycemia Undergoing Islet Cell Transplantation

This study is testing if a new antibody can help people with brittle Type 1 Diabetes keep their transplanted insulin-producing cells safe and improve their blood sugar control.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase1; Phase2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 70 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Chicago (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: Basiliximab
• Locations: 1 site (Chicago, Illinois)
• Trial ID: NCT06305286 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of a monoclonal antibody called AT-1501 in combination with transplanted human pancreatic islet cells in adults with brittle Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The aim is to prevent the immune system from attacking the transplanted islet cells, which are responsible for insulin production, thereby improving blood sugar control. Participants will undergo islet cell transplantation and be monitored for insulin production and blood sugar levels. The study will also assess the effectiveness of AT-1501 in reducing the need for standard immunosuppressive medications that can be harmful to islet cells.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-65 with a long-standing diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes and a history of severe hypoglycemic events.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have brittle Type 1 Diabetes or those who have not experienced unexplained severe hypoglycemic events may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve insulin production and blood sugar control for patients with brittle Type 1 Diabetes.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of monoclonal antibodies in transplantation is being explored, this specific combination of AT-1501 and islet cells is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women 18-65 years of age.
2. A diagnosis of T1D ≥5 years with onset of disease at \<40 years of age.
3. Ability to provide informed consent.
4. Able to comply with study procedures, including the requirement to utilize continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
5. Involvement in appropriate diabetes management in accordance with the standard of care, as directed by an endocrinologist or diabetologist with at least 4 (quarterly) clinical evaluations within the 12 months prior to Screening; using CGM\*: using an insulin pump or multiple daily injection (MDI) of insulin therapy; and, unable to achieve acceptable metabolic control because of the occurrence of unexplained SHEs- at least 3 unexplained SHEs not secondary to a missed meal or dosing error, in the 12 months prior to Screening.

   \*CGM will be provide to subjects who otherwise qualify for study participation but have not used CGM previously.
6. At least 3 unexplained SHEs not secondary to a missed meal or dosing error, in the 12 months prior to Screening.
7. HbA1c level 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) to 9.5% (80 mmol/mol), inclusive.
8. Absence of stimulated C-peptide (\<0.3 ng/mL) in response to a 240-minute mixed- meal tolerance test (MMTT).
9. Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) as defined by a Clarke Score \[Clarke 1995\] of 4 or more at the time of Screening, during the Screening period, and within the last 6 months prior to the transplant.
10. If female, must be surgically sterile or 2 years postmenopausal. Women of childbearing potential may be enrolled if a serum pregnancy test is negative at screening/baseline. Women of childbearing potential and men with partners that are of childbearing potential must agree to use 2 forms of highly effective methods of contraception from Screening, throughout the study, and while receiving immunosuppressive therapy for the functioning graft after the conclusion of the study. Contraception use must continue for 90 days after the last administration of the study drug (see Appendix 5). Male participants must refrain from donating sperm for the duration of the study and agree to not donate sperm for 90 days after last administration of the study drug.
11. Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negative test result at the time of Thymoglobulin infusion.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any previous solid organ or islet allotransplant.
2. Body mass index (BMI) \>30 kg/m2.
3. Weight ≤50 kg.
4. Insulin requirement \>1.0 unit/kg/day or \<15 units/day.
5. Uncontrolled proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
6. Blood pressure: systolic blood pressure (SBP) \>140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \>90 mmHg.
7. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation \<60 mL/min/1.73 m2.
8. Diagnosis of macroalbuminuria (\>300 mg/g creatinine).
9. For female participants: Positive pregnancy test, presently breast-feeding, or unwillingness to use effective contraceptive measures for the duration of the study and 90 days after discontinuation. For male participants: intent to procreate during the duration of the study or within 90 days after discontinuation or unwillingness to use effective measures of contraception.
10. History of malignancy except for completely resected squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin.
11. History of a thromboembolic event (TE), known hypercoagulable state, or condition requiring long-term anticoagulation.

    a. Participants with a history of clotted venous access not requiring long- term anticoagulation may be included at the Principal Investigator's discretion if they have no other history of TEs or known hypercoagulable state.
12. Known heparin allergy.
13. Receiving treatment for a medical condition requiring chronic use of systemic steroids, except for physiologic replacement for example in Addison disease.
14. Presence of ongoing active infection including tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, hepatitis C. Laboratory evidence of active infection even in the absence of clinical symptoms of infection is exclusionary.
15. Invasive aspergillus, histoplasmosis or coccidioidomycosis infection within one year prior to Screening.
16. Negative screen for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) by immunoglobulin G (IgG) determination.
17. Current treatment with any immunosuppressive regimen, and treatment with biologic immune modulating agents, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonists, azathioprine, Mercaptopurine (6- MP), or systemic corticosteroids in the previous 5 years.
18. Persistent elevation of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) value greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN); elevation of total bilirubin \>1.5 ULN.
19. Any history of receiving experimental cell or gene therapy. Exposure to any other experimental or investigational agent within 30 days or 5 half-lives; whichever is longer.
20. History of substance abuse within the past 6 months.
21. Allergy to the Boost drink necessary for MMTT
22. Severe cardiovascular disease characterized by any one of these conditions: a) stroke;

    b) recent myocardial infarction (within past 6 months); c) evidence of ischemia on functional cardiac exam within the last year; d) left ventricular ejection fraction \<30%.
23. History of significant gastrointestinal disease such as symptomatic cholecystolithiasis; acute or chronic pancreatitis; symptomatic peptic ulcer disease; severe unremitting diarrhea, vomiting or other disorders potentially interfering with the ability to absorb oral medications.
24. Significant hyperlipidemia despite medical therapy defined as fasting low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol \>130 mg/dL and/ or triglycerides \>200 mg/dL.
25. History of any conditions that can interfere in the assessment of HbA1c due to increased red blood cell turnover or requirement for regular blood transfusions such as sickle cell disease (HbSS, hematopoietic blood stem cell (HbSC), HbS/beta thalassemia); Beta thalassemia major; Alpha Thalassemia (HbH) disease, Hemoglobin H-Constant Spring.
26. History of any other acute or chronic medical condition or pre-planned medical/surgical procedure that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, would compromise the safety of participants or the integrity of study results; non- compliance with recommended diabetes care in the preceding 12 months.
27. Baseline Hb below the lower limits of normal at the local laboratory; lymphopenia (\<1,000/µL), neutropenia (\<1,500/µL), or thrombocytopenia (platelets \<100,000/µL). Participants with lymphopenia are allowed if the Principal Investigator determines there is no additional risk and obtains clearance from a hematologist.
28. Any coagulopathy or medical condition requiring long-term anticoagulant therapy (e.g., warfarin) after islet cell transplantation (low-dose aspirin treatment is allowed) or participants with an international normalized ratio (INR) \>1.5. The use of Plavix is allowed only when portal vein access is obtained using a mini-laparotomy procedure at the time of islet cell transplant.
29. History of factor V deficiency.
30. Administration of live attenuated vaccine(s) within 2 months of Screening.
31. Any previous treatment with Tegoprubart (AT-1501) or any other anti-CD40L therapy
32. Baseline Panel-reactive Antibody (PRA) over 20%
33. Patients with COVID-19 positive PCR tests at the time of Thymoglulin infusion.

Where this trial is running

Chicago, Illinois

• University of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Piotr Witkowski, MD PhD — University of Chicago
• Study coordinator: Piotr Witkowski, MD PhD

Conditions Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus; Tegoprubart; Eledon; islets; islet cell transplantation; islet transplantation; AT-1501