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Using Tocilizumab to improve outcomes in lung transplant patients

Targeting Inflammation and Alloimmunity in Lung Transplant Recipients With Tocilizumab (CTOT-45)

Phase 2 Interventional National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · NCT06033196

This study is testing if adding Tocilizumab to the usual treatment can help lung transplant patients have better health outcomes compared to those who get a placebo.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment350 (estimated)
Ages12 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
SponsorNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) NIH
Drugs / interventionstocilizumab, cyclophosphamide
Locations21 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 20 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06033196 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This trial involves 350 primary lung transplant recipients who will be randomly assigned to receive either Tocilizumab, administered in six doses over 20 weeks, alongside standard triple maintenance immunosuppression, or a placebo with the same immunosuppression regimen. The primary goal is to determine if the addition of Tocilizumab leads to better outcomes compared to placebo, measured by a composite endpoint that includes chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), the need for re-transplantation, and mortality. Participants must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being listed for a primary lung transplant and having adequate serum immunoglobulin levels.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals who are listed for a primary lung transplant and meet the specified inclusion criteria.

Not a fit: Patients who have previously undergone desensitization therapy or those not listed for a lung transplant may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve survival and reduce complications for lung transplant recipients.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of Tocilizumab in this context is novel, similar immunosuppressive strategies have shown promise in other transplant settings.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

Study Entry:

1. Subject and/or parent guardian must be able to understand the purpose of the study and willing to participate and sign informed consent/assent
2. Greater than or equal to 30 kg body weight
3. Listed or received for a primary lung transplant
4. No previous or planned desensitization therapy prior to transplant
5. Serum Immunoglobulin G (IgG) level greater than 400 mg/dL. Patients treated with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) for hypogammaglobulinemia are eligible for enrollment if their serum IgG level is greater than 400 mg/dL 14 or more days after the most recent IVIG treatment
6. For women of child-bearing potential, willingness to use highly-effective contraception; according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women's Health (http://www.fda.gov/birthcontrol).

   Female participants of child-bearing potential must consult with their physician and determine the most suitable method(s) from this list to be used for the duration of the study. Those who choose oral contraception must agree to use a second form of contraception after administration of study drug for a period of 1 year after the last dose of study drug
7. Tested negative for latent TB infection (LTBI) using a PPD or interferon-gamma release assay (i.e., QuantiFERON-TB, T-SPOT.TB) within 1 year prior to transplant or has completed appropriate LTBI therapy within the 1 year prior to transplant
8. Vaccinations must be up to date per the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT) Guidance for Patients in Transplant Trials

Randomization:

1. Provide written informed consent for the study participation, and agree to continue in the study
2. Received a single or bilateral lung transplant
3. Agreement to use contraception; according to the FDA Office of Women's Health (http://www.fda.gov/birthcontrol), there are a number of birth control methods that are more than 80% effective. Female participants of child-bearing potential must consult with their physician and determine the most suitable method(s) from this list to be used for the duration of the study. Those who choose oral contraception must agree to use a second form of contraception after administration of study drug for a period of 1 year after the last dose of study drug
4. Negative physical crossmatch at the time of transplant or a crossmatch result that did not require specific treatment per the site's clinical protocol
5. Underwent bronchoscopy and found to have satisfactory bronchial anastomotic healing
6. No desensitization therapy prior to transplant
7. Negative pregnancy test (serum or urine) for women of child-bearing potential within 48 hours prior to randomization
8. Recipient of lungs that have been supported with ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) devices are permitted

Exclusion Criteria:

Study Entry:

1. Listed for multi-organ transplant (e.g., heart-lung, liver-lung, kidney-lung)
2. Prior history of allogeneic organ or cellular transplantation
3. Received treatment to deplete Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) antibodies before transplantation
4. Currently breast-feeding a child or plans to become pregnant during the timeframe of the study follow up period
5. History of severe allergic and/or anaphylactic reactions to humanized or murine monoclonal antibodies
6. Known hypersensitivity or previous treatment with ACTEMRA(R) (tocilizumab) within the last 3 months
7. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
8. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen or core antibody positive
9. Hepatitis C virus PCR positive (HCV+) patients who have failed to demonstrate sustained viral remission (2 consecutive PCR or Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) negative tests at least 24 weeks apart), with or without anti-viral treatment;
10. Chronic infection with Burkholderia cenocepacia or Burkholderia gladioli
11. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease; if there is a history of NTM pulmonary disease, culture conversion is necessary for eligibility
12. Presence of active malignancy or history of malignancy less than 5 years in remission, excluding adequately treated in-situ cervical carcinoma, low grade prostate carcinoma, or adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
13. History of hemolytic-uremic syndrome/ thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
14. History of demyelinating disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammation demyelinating polyneuropathy)
15. Current treatment with alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide
16. History of gastrointestinal (GI) tract perforation
17. History of inflammatory bowel disease except fully excised ulcerative colitis
18. Any history of diverticulitis (event if not perforated) or confirmed diverticular bleeding. (Diverticulosis is not an exclusion).
19. Patients with a platelet count \< 100,000/mm\^3 (last measurement within 7 days prior to enrollment)
20. Patients with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \< 2,000/mm\^3 (last measurement within 7 days prior to enrollment)
21. Patients with Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) or Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) levels \>3 times upper limit of normal
22. Patients who use illegal drugs
23. Smoking or vaping within 6 months of listing for transplant
24. Use of investigational drugs within 4 weeks prior to enrollment
25. Any condition that in the opinion of the site Principal Investigator (PI) introduces undue risk by participating in this study

Randomization:

1. Recipient of multi-organ or tissue transplants
2. Clinically stable, without clinical evidence of untreated infection
3. Received a live virus vaccine within 30 days prior to randomization
4. Received treatment to deplete HLA antibodies before transplantation to improve the possibility of transplantation
5. Patients with known donor-specific antibody that will require intervention based on local clinical protocols
6. History of GI tract perforation
7. History of inflammatory bowel disease except fully excised ulcerative colitis
8. History of diverticulitis (diverticulosis is not an exclusion) or diverticular bleeding
9. History of severe allergic anaphylactic reactions to humanized or murine monoclonal antibodies
10. Known hypersensitivity to ACTEMRA® (tocilizumab)
11. Previous treatment with ACTEMRA® (tocilizumab) within the last 3 months.
12. Recipient or donor with infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
13. Recipient with hepatitis B virus surface antigen or hepatitis B core antibody positive
14. Hepatitis B negative transplant recipient that received a transplant from a Hepatitis B core antibody positive donor unless the recipient has a Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAb) titer \>10U/L
15. Recipient of a hepatitis C virus nucleic acid test (NAT) positive donor organ
16. Latent TB infection (LTBI) and has not completed appropriate therapy
17. Chronic infection with Burkholderia cenocepacia or Burkholderia gladioli
18. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease; if there is a history of NTM pulmonary disease, culture conversion is necessary for eligibility
19. Presence of active malignancy (except for non-melanoma skin cancer)
20. History of hemolytic-uremic syndrome/ thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
21. History of demyelinating disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammation demyelinating polyneuropathy)
22. Current treatment with alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide
23. Patients with AST or ALT levels \> 1.5 times upper limit of normal (last measurement within 1 day prior to randomization)
24. Patients with platelet count \<100,000/mm\^3 (last measurement within 1 day prior to randomization)
25. Patients with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \<2,000/mm\^3 (last measurement within 1 day prior to randomization)
26. Patients who are administered anti-thymocyte globulin as induction therapy in the immediate post- transplant period
27. Patients who have been treated in the past 3 months, or for whom it is anticipated that treatment with any immunomodulatory biological agents post-transplant are excluded
28. Use of an investigational drug after transplant
29. Smoking or vaping since enrollment
30. Any condition that in the opinion of the site PI introduces undue risk by participating in this study

Where this trial is running

Phoenix, Arizona and 20 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 Lung TransplantTocilizumabImmunosuppressionACTEMRA
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.