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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05618301

Motixafortide and Natalizumab to Mobilize CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells for Gene Therapies in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-based gene therapies now offer curative potential for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), with decreased toxicity compared to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. However, effective HSC-based gene therapy depends on collecting sufficient HSCs to generate the therapeutic product, and currently available mobilization regimens carry unacceptable risk for patients with SCD or do not reliably yield optimal numbers of HSCs for gene therapy.

The investigators hypothesize that HSC mobilization with motixafortide (CXCR4i) alone and the combination of motixafortide plus natalizumab (VLA-4i) will be safe and tolerable in SCD patients. In addition, the investigators hypothesize that combined CXCR4 and VLA-4 blockade with motixafortide plus natalizumab will result in a rapid, robust, and synergistic increase in HSC mobilization to peripheral blood (PB) in patients with SCD, when compared to motixafortide alone.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult patients at least 18 years old
  • Diagnosis of sickle cell disease (hemoglobin SS or Sβ0 genotype)
  • Receiving automated RBC exchanges via apheresis-capable central venous access or willing to have apheresis-capable venous access placed.
  • Able to hold hydroxyurea, voxelotor, and/or crizanlizumab for at least 60 days prior to mobilization
  • Able to hold iron chelation for at least 7 days prior to mobilization
  • ECOG performance status ≤ 1
  • Normal bone marrow and organ function at screening as defined below:
  • Leukocytes ≥ 2,000/uL
  • Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/uL
  • Platelets ≥ 75,000/uL
  • AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 3.0 x IULN at time of screening
  • Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min by Cockcroft-Gault
  • Baseline oxygen saturation ≥ 92% on room air
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 45% (Of note, transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) will not be required for study. However, if the treating physician has clinical concerns for active cardiac disease for which a TTE is clinically warranted as standard of care, then an EF of ≥ 45% will be required).
  • The effects of motixafortide and natalizumab on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation, and 3 months after completion of the study. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of the study, and 3 months after completion of the study.
  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document (or that of legally authorized representative, if applicable).

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients may not have a history of receiving the following therapies: prior HCT or prior gene therapy
  • Currently receiving concomitant immunosuppressants including 6-mercaptopurine, azathioprine, cyclosporine, methotrexate or concomitant inhibitors of TNF-α.
  • Patient may not have a history of significant alloantibodies which, in the opinion of the treating physician and study investigator, significantly increase the risk of participation in this clinical trial.
  • Currently receiving any other investigational agents.
  • A history of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
  • A history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to motixafortide or natalizumab.
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection (including but not limited to HIV, active/untreated Hepatitis C and/or active/untreated Hepatitis B), ongoing/active vaso-occlusive pain crisis or uncontrolled SCD-related symptoms, symptomatic congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia.
  • Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum/urine pregnancy test within 7 days of study entry and prior to each study agent administration/HSC mobilization.
  • Determined by the investigator to be unable or unlikely to comply with the study procedures included in this protocol.

Treatment and study plan

Motixafortide

Drug

Motixafortide is to be administered as a subcutaneous injection at a dose of 1.25 mg/kg

Other names: BL-8040

Natalizumab

Drug

Natalizumab will be administered as an IV infusion at a flat dose of 300 mg

Other names: Tysabri

Leukapheresis

Procedure

Leukapheresis consisting of a 1 Blood Volume procedure

Primary outcomes

  1. Safety and tolerability as assessed by the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs)

    Time frame: Through 28 days following administration of either motixafortide and/or natalizumab (estimated to be 8 weeks and 4 days)

    • All toxicities will be graded using NCI-CTCAE Version 5.0
    • A DLT is an event occurring during the DLT period of 28 days following administration of either motixafortide and/or natalizumab that is considered to be at least possibly, probably or definitely related to study treatment by the investigator, and that meets the criteria below:
    • Hematologic criteria
    • Any Grade 5 adverse event
    • Any Grade 4 adverse event, excluding Grade 4 hemolysis, bilirubin increase, leukocytosis, erythrocytosis, thrombocytosis, anemia, leukopenia, or febrile neutropenia
    • Non-hematologic criteria
    • Any Grade 4 or 5 adverse event.
    • Any Grade 3 or higher arterial or venous thromboembolic event
    • Any Grade 2 or 3 adverse event that does not resolve within 4 weeks; with the exception of <grade 2 injection site reactions.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) mobilized via leukapheresis per liter (L) of total volume (tV) processed following motixafortide alone and motixafortide + natalizumab

    Time frame: Day 2 and Day 60

  2. Number of CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) mobilized via leukapheresis per liter (L) of adjusted volume (aV) processed, following motixafortide alone and motixafortide + natalizumab

    Time frame: Day 2 and Day 60

    -The adjusted volume will be calculated as the total volume (tV) processed minus the volumes processed to establish/re-establish the HSC collection interface (iV) to yield an adjusted volume (aV) (i.e. tV-iV=aV). The number of apheresis alarms along with the amount of time, flow rate and volumes processed to establish the interface will be recorded during apheresis and entered into the eCRF. Use of aV will control for the effect of any apheresis alarms; which pause the centrifuge leading to loss of the collection interface.

  3. Change in kinetics of CD34+ HSC mobilization in response to motixafortide alone and motixafortide + natalizumab in SCD patients, as assessed by CD34+ cells/ul in peripheral blood

    Time frame: From baseline through Day 60

  4. Frequency of adverse events

    Time frame: From start of treatment through 8 weeks following completion of all treatment (estimated to be 16 weeks and 4 days)

    -All adverse events will be graded using NCI-CTCAE Version 5.0

  5. Change in peak CD34+ HSC mobilization in response to motixafortide alone and motixafortide + natalizumab in SCD patients, as assessed by CD34+ cells/ul in peripheral blood

    Time frame: From baseline through Day 60

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Washington University School of Medicine

Other

Collaborators

  • Ayrmid Pharma
  • BioLineRx, Ltd.
  • Biogen

Registry information

Official study title

A Pilot Safety and Feasibility Study to Evaluate Motixafortide (CXCR4/SDF-1 Inhibition) and Natalizumab (VLA-4/VCAM-1 Inhibition) as a Novel Regimen to Mobilize CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells for Gene Therapies in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Nov 16, 2022
Registry last updated
Aug 11, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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