RCT Comparing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Versus Alemtuzumab in MS

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2024-03-21
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study is a randomized multicentre, multinational, treatment interventional study of RRMS patients with breakthrough inflammatory disease activity in spite of ongoing standard immunomodulatory medication. The study has two treatment arms; arm A: HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) and arm B: alemtuzumab, a registered immunomodulatory treatment of RRMS. A pre-planned 3-year follow-up extension period will be performed depending on future funding.

The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness and side effects of a new treatment intervention in RRMS; HSCT, and, thereby, the value of HSCT in clinical practice. Data from recently published patient series indicate that HSCT may have a significantly higher treatment effect than currently registered RRMS immunomodulatory treatments. This study will determine the relative role of HSCT versus alemtuzumab.

• Phase: Phase 3
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Haukeland University Hospital
• Treatments: Alemtuzumab; Cyclophosphamide; Lenograstim

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age between ≥18 to ≤50, both genders

2. Women of childbearing potential* (WOCBP) and men in a sexual relation with WOCBP must be ready and able to use highly effective methods of birth control per ICH M3 (R2) that result in a low failure rate of less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly.

3. Diagnosis of RRMS using revised McDonald criteria of clinically definite MS1

4. An EDSS score of 0 to 5.5

5. Significant inflammatory disease activity in the last year despite treatment with standard disease modifying therapy (interferon beta, glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide, fingolimod, natalizumab)

a. Significant inflammatory disease activity is defined by: i. One or more clinically reported multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse(s), ii. AND 1 or more T1 Gd-enhanced lesion(s), iii. OR three or more new or enlarging T2 lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) The relapse(s) must have been treated with iv or oral high dose corticosteroids prescribed by a neurologist, and must have occurred 3 or more months after the onset of an immunomodulatory treatment, as MS immunomodulatory treatment may reach full effect after 3 months or more2.

6. The patient is a RRMS-patient referred from neurological departments in Norway, Denmark, Sweden or possibly other European countries to an assigned study site.

7. Signed informed consent and expected patient cooperation regarding the treatment schemes and procedures planned in the treatment and follow-up periods must be obtained and documented according to ICH GCP and national/local regulations.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Known hypersensitivity or other known serious side effects for any of the study medications, including co-medications such as high-dose glucocorticosteroids

2. Any illness or prior treatment that in the opinion of the investigators would jeopardize the ability of the patient to tolerate aggressive chemotherapy or high-dose glucocorticosteroids

3. Any ongoing infection, including Tbc, CMV, EBV, HSV, VZV, hepatitis virus, toxoplasmosis, HIV or syphilis infections, as well as heaptitis B surface antigen positivity and/or hepatitis C PCR positivity verified at Visit 1

4. Patients without a history of chickenpox or without vaccination against varicella zoster virus (VZV), unless tested for antibodies to VZV. VZV negative patients can only be included if they receive vaccination against VZV at least 6 weeks prior to inclusion.

5. Current or previous treatments with long-term effects that may influence the treatment effects or potential toxicities/side effects of the treatment arms. This includes, but is not restricted to previous treatment with rituximab, mitoxantrone, alemtuzumab, cladribin and ocrelizumab

6. Immunocompromised patients, or patients currently reveiving immunosuppressive or myelosuppressive therapy

7. Treatment with glucocorticoids or ACTH within one month prior to start of study treatment

8. Having experienced an MS relapse within one month prior to study inclusion

9. Prior or current major depression

10. Prior or current psychiatric illness, mental deficiency or cognitive dysfunction influencing the patient ability to make an informed consent or comply with the treatment and follow-up phases of this protocol.

11. Prior or current alcohol or drug dependencies

12. Cardiac insufficiency, cardiomyopathy, significant cardiac dysrhytmia, unstable or advanced ischemic heart disease (NYHA III or IV)

13. Significant hypertension: BP > 180/110

14. Active malignancy, or prior history of malignancy except localized basal cell, squamous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix.

15. Known untreated or unregulated thyroid disease

16. Failure to willingly accept or comprehend risk of irreversible sterility as a side effect of therapy

17. WBC < 1,5 x 109/L if not caused by a reversible effect of documented ongoing medication. If WBC < 1,5 x 109/L is caused by a reversible effect of documented ongoing medication the WBC count must be > 1,5 x 109/L before start of study treatment.

18. Platelet (thrombocyte) count < 100 x 109/L

19. ALAT and/or ASAT more than 2 times the upper normal reference limit (UNL)

20. Serum creatinine > 200 µmol/L

21. Serum bilirubin > ULN

22. Moderate or severely impaired kidney function (creatinine-clearance below 60 ml/min)

23. Presence of metallic objects implanted in the body that would preclude the ability of the patient to safely have MRI exams

24. Diagnosis of primary progressive MS

25. Diagnosis of secondary progressive MS

26. Treatment with natalizumab and fingolimod within the last 2 months, and treatment with dimetylfumurat within the last month (washout must be performed as specified in section 5.1) prior to start of study medication.

27. Use of teriflunomide (Aubagio®) within the previous 2 years unless cleared from the body (plasma concentration < 0.02 mcg/ml following elimination from the body with cholestyramine or activated powdered charcoal) as specified in section 5.1 prior to start of study medication.

28. Any hereditary neurological disease such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease or Spinocerebellar ataxia

29. Any disease that can influence the patient safety and compliance, or the evaluation of disability

30. History of hypersensitivity reaction to rabbit

31. Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or who plan to become pregnant within the timeframe of this study

32. Currently enrolled in another investigational device or drug study, or less than 30 days since ending another investigational device or drug study(s), or receiving other investigational treatment(s). Patients participating in a purely observational trial will not be excluded.