Canakinumab With Darbepoetin Alfa in PTs With Lower-Risk MDS Who Have Failed ESA

NCT04798339 | Active Not Recruiting Phase 1 DMC FDA Drug

• 2 other identifiers: MCC-20552CACZ885TUS02T
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 13
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This study is a multi-institution, open-label, Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating the toxicity and efficacy of canakinumab in combination with darbepoetin alfa in patients with lower-risk MDS who have failed prior treatment with an Erythropoietin Stimulating Agent (ESA)

Conditions

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Keywords

MDS

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Phase 1b: Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)

  Maximum tolerated Dose will be determined by testing increasing doses of canakinumab along with a fixed dose of darbepoetin alfa. Patients will be followed for at least 1 cycle before the safety of each cohort can be fully assessed and decisions made for dose escalation in the next cohort. The MTD is defined as the dose level below which DLT is manifested in ≥33% of the patients or at dose level 2 if DLT is manifested in \<33% of the patients (with at 6 patients treated at the MTD).

  up to 28 days per cohort

• Phase 2: Rate of Hematologic Improvement-Erythroid (HI-E) response

  To determine the rate of hematologic improvement-erythroid (HI-E) response, defined as red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) of at least 8 weeks in transfusion dependent patients or a mean Hgb increase of \>/=1.5g/dL above baseline sustained for at least 8 weeks in non-transfusion dependent patients.

  8 - 12 weeks from baseline

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Phase 1b and Phase 2: Duration of Hematologic Improvement-Erythroid (HI-E) response

  Up to 12 months per cohort

• Phase 1b and Phase 2: Degree in reduction of PRBC Transfusions

  at 24 weeks per cohort

• Phase 2: Overall Response Rate (ORR)

  Up to 60 months

• Phase 2: Duration of Response

  Up to 60 months

• Phase 2: Overall Survival (OS)

  Up to 60 months

Study Arms (3)

Phase 1b: Dose Level 1

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients will be treated at dose level 1: Canakinumab 150 mg by subcutaneous injection on day 1 of each 28 day cycle. Darbepoetin alfa will be administered subcutaneously at a dose of 300mg on days 1 and 15 of each cycle.

Drug: Canakinumab Injection; Drug: Darbepoetin Alfa

Phase 1b: Dose Level 2

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients will be treated at dose level 2: Canakinumab 300 mg by subcutaneous injection on day 1 of each 28 day cycle. Darbepoetin alfa will be administered subcutaneously at a dose of 300mg on days 1 and 15 of each cycle.

Drug: Canakinumab Injection; Drug: Darbepoetin Alfa

Phase 2: Treatment at Maximum Tolerated Dose

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients will be treated with Darbepoetin alfa subcutaneously at a dose of 300 mg on days 1 and 15 of each cycle plus the maximum tolerated dose of Canakinumab.

Drug: Canakinumab Injection; Drug: Darbepoetin Alfa

Interventions

Canakinumab Injection DRUG

Participants will be treated at 1 of 2 dose levels of Canakinumab, beginning at 150 mg and increasing to 300 mg or the Maximum Tolerated Dose

Also known as: Ilaris

Phase 1b: Dose Level 1; Phase 1b: Dose Level 2; Phase 2: Treatment at Maximum Tolerated Dose

Darbepoetin Alfa DRUG

Participants will receive Darbepoetin alfa subcutaneously at a dose of 300mg on days 1 and 15 of each cycle

Also known as: Aranesp

Phase 1b: Dose Level 1; Phase 1b: Dose Level 2; Phase 2: Treatment at Maximum Tolerated Dose

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adequate organ function as defined by laboratory values per protocol
• Documented diagnosis of MDS by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, further meeting the following criteria according to disease risk classification
• Patients must be transfusion dependent, defined as requirement for transfusion of at least 3 units of Packed Red Blood cells (PRBCs) 16 weeks for a Hgb\<9.0g/dL or, in non-transfusion dependent patients (\<3 units of PRBCs transfused in the preceding 16 weeks), must have a baseline Hgb of \<9.0 g/dL at time of study enrollment
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status \</=2.
• Women of child bearing potential must have negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 28 days prior to start of study drug.
• Women of child bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence; tubal ligation, partner's vasectomy) prior to Cycle 1 Day 1 and for the duration of study participation.

You may not qualify if:

• Use of chemotherapeutic agents or experimental agents (agents that are not commercially available) for the treatment of MDS within 14 days of the first day of study drug treatment.
• Previous treatment with a hypomethylating agent (such as azacitidine, decitabine or investigational hypomethylating agent).
• Use of concurrent growth factors such as G-CSF, GM-CSF, or thrombopoietin mimetics during study except in cases of febrile neutropenia, where G-CSF can be used for short term. Growth factors must be stopped two weeks prior to study.
• Patient has any of the following cardiac abnormalities: (a) Uncontrolled, symptomatic congestive heart failure as designated by the treating physician (b) Myocardial infarction ≤ 6 months prior to enrollment (c) Unstable angina pectoris as designated by the treating physician (d) Serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia as designated by the treating physician. (e) Uncontrolled hypertension as designated by the treating physician
• Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (no laboratory testing is required), or active infection with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.
• Active tuberculosis (Tb) infection or documented, untreated latent Tb infection (all patients should undergo Tb risk evaluation prior to enrollment with Tb screening performed as per local guidelines,
• Active, uncontrolled infection at the time of enrollment, except in cases of localized infections that are unlikely to lead to a systemic infection such as onychomycoses or dental caries. Patients with new fever (\> 38.0 C) or respiratory symptoms are required to undergo laboratory screening for COVID-19
• Have undergone prior allo-HSCT for the treatment of MDS, or other hematologic disorder, or prior solid organ transplant.
• Any serious or uncontrolled medical disorder that, in the opinion of the investigator, may increase the risk associated with study participation or study drug administration, impair the ability of the subject to receive protocol therapy, or interfere with the interpretation of study results.
• Prior malignancy active within the previous 2 years except for locally curable cancers that have been apparently cured, such as basal or squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the prostate, cervix, or breast.
• Patients with a condition requiring systemic treatment with corticosteroids within 14 days of study drug administration (i.e. prednisone at doses of \>10mg). Inhaled or topical steroids and adrenal/pituitary replacement doses \>10mg daily prednisone equivalents are permitted.
• Patients undergoing concurrent treatment with agents targeting tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) or IL-1 within 28 days of study enrollment.
• Patients who have received a live-virus vaccine within 30 days before study drug administration (patients should not be treated with live-virus vaccine while undergoing therapy).
• History of allergy or hypersensitivity to either darbepoetin alfa or the study drug or its components.
• Women of child bearing potential who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute: lead
• Novartis Pharmaceuticals: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Moffitt Cancer Center

Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

Location

Emory-Winship Cancer Institute

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

Location

Related Links

• Moffitt Cancer Center Clinical Trials website

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Interventions

canakinumab; Darbepoetin alfa

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bone Marrow Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Erythropoietin; Colony-Stimulating Factors; Glycoproteins; Glycoconjugates; Carbohydrates; Proteins; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins

Study Officials

• David A Sallman, MD

  Moffitt Cancer Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 11, 2021
• First Posted: March 15, 2021
• Study Start: March 30, 2021
• Primary Completion: May 26, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: October 31, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (2)