Using blinatumomab to treat difficult cases of childhood lupus

Clinical Trial of Blinatumomab in Refractory/Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Children

This study is testing if a medication called blinatumomab can help children with tough cases of lupus feel better and manage their symptoms.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 6 (estimated)
• Ages: 5 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: The Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: belimumab, rituximab, obinutuzumab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, adalimumab, golimumab, infliximab, Ustekinumab, Anifrolumab, Secukinumab, baricitinib, tofacitinib, upadacitinib, filgotinib, ibrutinib, zanubrutinib, Fenebrutinib, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, prednisone, blinatumomab
• Locations: 2 sites (Hangzhou, Zhejiang and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06789107 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of blinatumomab in treating refractory or active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in children. Participants aged 5 years and older will receive two courses of blinatumomab injections over five consecutive days, followed by a 52-week monitoring period to assess treatment outcomes. The study will focus on improvements in symptoms and disease activity, as well as the identification of any side effects or adverse events associated with the treatment. Regular blood tests and assessments will be conducted to gather data on disease markers and overall health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 5 years and older diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus who have not responded adequately to multiple prior treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with mild or well-controlled systemic lupus erythematosus may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new therapeutic option for children suffering from refractory systemic lupus erythematosus.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of blinatumomab in this context is novel, other studies have shown promising results with similar biologic therapies in autoimmune conditions.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for enrollment:

1. Age: ≥ 5 years old.
2. Diagnosis: Diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) based on the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria.
3. Positive Antibody: At least one of the following antibodies positive within 12 months before screening or during the screening period:

   * Antinuclear antibody (ANA) ≥ 1:80.
   * Anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody above the upper limit of normal (ULN).
   * Anti-Smith (Anti-Sm) antibody above the ULN.
4. Treatment Resistance: Inadequate response to at least three of the following:

   * Oral corticosteroids (OCS),
   * Antimalarials,
   * Conventional immunosuppressants (e.g., cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, leflunomide),
   * Biologics (e.g., TULIP-2, belimumab, rituximab). At least one treatment must involve immunosuppressants or biologics.
5. SLEDAI-2000 Score: ≥ 6 based on the SLEDAI-2000 scoring system.
6. Stable Standard Treatment: Currently receiving one or more of the following treatments at a stable dose:

   * OCS (e.g., prednisone acetate or equivalent) at a stable dose for ≥7 days prior to initiation;
   * Antimalarials: Dose stable for at least 7 days prior to the first dose.
   * Conventional immunosuppressants: Stable dose for at least 4 weeks before screening and throughout the study.
7. Laboratory Parameters:

   * Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≥ 0.5 × 10⁹/L.
   * Peripheral CD19+ B cell count ≥ 25 cells/μL.
   * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 0.5 × 10⁹/L.
   * Hemoglobin ≥ 80 g/L.
   * Platelet count ≥ 75 × 10⁹/L \*.
   * Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 55% with no significant ECG abnormalities.
   * Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73m².
   * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 × ULN; total bilirubin ≤ 2 × ULN.
   * No severe pulmonary lesions, SpO₂ ≥ 92%.
8. Contraception: Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test and agree to use effective contraception during the study and for 1 year after infusion.
9. Informed Consent: The participant and their legal guardian must provide written informed consent, demonstrating understanding of the study objectives and willingness.

   * Note: For SLE patients with thrombocytopenia below the inclusion threshold due to immune-related causes, and without active bleeding, investigators may use clinical discretion to determine eligibility.

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded:

1. Central nervous system disease: active or unstable lupus-related neuropsychiatric disease within 60 days, including epilepsy, confusion, cerebrovascular events, etc.;
2. Acute severe nephritis: renal replacement therapy within 3 months before the screening period or ongoing, or significant kidney disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, may occur and lead to the need for high-dose glucocorticoid (prednisone dose ≥ 2 mg/kg/d or equivalent of other hormones), cyclophosphamide or escalated MMF treatment within the first 3 months of the study;
3. Severe antiphospholipid syndrome within 12 months before or during screening；
4. Congenital heart disease or a history of acute myocardial infarction within 6 months before screening, or severe arrhythmia (including polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, etc.); or combined with moderate to large pericardial effusion, severe myocarditis, etc.; or unstable vital signs, patients who need blood pressure-raising drugs to maintain blood pressure;
5. Suffering from other diseases that require long-term administration of glucocorticoids or immunosuppressive agents;
6. Having active infections or uncontrollable infections that require systemic treatment within one week before screening;
7. Having received solid organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation within three months before screening; or having grade 2 or higher acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) within two weeks before screening;
8. History of severe recurrent or chronic infections, especially recurrent or chronic infections associated with respiratory problems.
9. Immunoglobulin G levels below the lower limit (5-8 years: \<4.5 g/L, 9 years and older: \<6.0 g/L);
10. History of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or positive serology indicating current or past HBV infection. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; positive HIV antibody test) and active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (detectable HCV ribonucleic acid \[RNA\]). Active cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection;
11. A history of tuberculosis or active tuberculosis; or latent tuberculosis treated before the baseline; or subjects with an indeterminate test result who screened positive for PPD or T-spot can be retested, but if the repeat test is also indeterminate, they are excluded;
12. Had a history of macrophage activation syndrome within 1 month prior to screening;
13. Had received any anti-CD19 or anti-CD20 therapy, such as rituximab, obinutuzumab, ocrelizumab, or ofatumumab, within 3 months prior to screening or during screening;
14. Received a JAK inhibitor, Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, or tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, such as baricitinib, tofacitinib, upadacitinib, filgotinib, ibrutinib, or zanubrutinib and Fenebrutinib, during screening;
15. Treatment with cyclophosphamide or a biologic agent within 4 weeks prior to enrollment, including but not limited to adalimumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, Infliximab), Belimumab, Ustekinumab, Anifrolumab, Secukinumab, or Atacicept;
16. Intolerance or contraindication to the investigational therapy, including a history of severe allergies or allergic reactions to monoclonal antibodies, or a known hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in belimumab injection;
17. Live vaccine within 4 weeks prior to screening;
18. Positive blood pregnancy test;
19. Patients with known malignant diseases such as tumors before screening;
20. Patients who have participated in other clinical trials within 3 months prior to enrollment;
21. Patients with depression or suicidal tendencies;
22. Other situations where the investigator believes the patient is not suitable for participation in the study.

Where this trial is running

Hangzhou, Zhejiang and 1 other locations

• Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine — Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (Recruiting)
• Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine — Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jianhua Mao, PhD, MD — The Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine
• Study coordinator: Jianhua Mao, PhD, MD

Conditions Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; Children; Blinatumomab