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NCT Number: NCT07589842

Use of Low Doses of Interleukin-2 in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that affect around 1% of the population. Matenral immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy is a risk factor for ASD in children (Han 2021), mediated by maternal secretion of IL-17a, which disrupts neurodevelopment (Choi 2016). MIA causes a long-lasting disruption of the Tregs/Th17 balance in offspring (decrease in anti-inflammatory Tregs/increase in pro-inflammatory Th17s) via epigenetic mechanisms (Lim 2021; Ellul 2021). In a mouse model of MIA, adoptive transfer of Tregs was able to normalise autistic behaviour, highlighting the importance of Tregs in maintaining the autistic phenotype (Xu, 2021). In this same model, we have shown that IL-2fd (i) stimulates Tregs, (ii) corrects meningeal inflammation (iii) normalises synaptic connectivity and (iv) normalises autistic behaviour in the offspring (Ellul 2025). In humans, the use of low doses of interleukin-2 (IL2-fd) (ILT-101) leads to activation and selective expansion of Tregs and a reduction in Th17 (Klatzmann 2015), including in children (Rosenzwajg 2020). We hypothesise that the use of IL2-fd (ILT-101) in ASD patients born to mothers with a history of MIA could correct the Tregs deficiency and improve autistic symptoms.

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Key information

Age range

6 year–8 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Robert Debré Hospital

Paris, 75019, France

About this study

"A - Information and Inclusion: Patient identification and the proposal to participate in the research protocol will take place in the various screening units of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Robert Debré Hospital, conducted by a child psychiatrist.

Inclusion and consent form signing will take place at the CIC (Clinical Investigation Center of Robert Debré Hospital) during the initial visit.

B - Patient follow-up during the trial:

Initial visit - The initial visit will take place at the CIC of Robert Debré Hospital. Randomization will then be carried out under the responsibility of the Robert Debré URC.

Follow-up visits - Subsequent visits for treatment administration will take place at the CIC. During these visits, patients will be assessed for clinical efficacy (Day 85, Day 169, Day 275) as well as safety/tolerance (Day 0, Day 8, Day 85, Day 169). They will also undergo biological sampling (Treg and Th17) on Day 0, Day 8, Day 29, and Days 85, 169, and 275.

C - End of study at Day 275.

Product presentation and origin:

ILT-101 will be provided free of charge by ILTOO Pharma, and the placebo will be prepared and supplied by AGEPS; both will be packaged in a double-blind manner. The administration schedule will be the same for ILT-101 and the placebo up to Day 169.

On Day 1, Day 29, Day 85, and Day 169, administration of the investigational treatment will take place at the CIC. From Day 2 to Day 5, Day 30 to Day 33, Day 57 to Day 61, Day 84 to Day 89, Day 113 to Day 117, Day 141 to Day 145, and Day 170 to Day 173, injections of ILT-101/placebo will be administered at the patients' homes by nurses from the Hospital-at-Home Department (AP-HP home hospitalization service)."

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 6 to 8 years
  • Meeting DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder
  • ASD severity classified as moderate or severe on the ADOS
  • Mother with :

(i) an autoimmune disease (as listed by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association: https://www.aarda.org/diseaselist/) that began during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, or that was present prior to pregnancy and experienced a relapse (defined as a change in disease activity leading to a change/modification of treatment) during pregnancy; (ii) a maternal infection (viral or bacterial) during pregnancy, defined as a fever greater than 38.5°C for at least 48 hours and documented (medical consultation, biological sample, prescription of antipyretic and/or antibiotic). Infections by a pathogen with a well-documented direct cerebral effect (CMV) will be excluded.

  • Consent of parental authority and social security affiliation
  • One of whose parents lives in the HAD pediatric intervention area.

Exclusion criteria

  • Recent change in ASD management (behavioral therapy within 6 weeks, introduction of psychotropic molecules within 2 weeks)
  • Contraindication to IL2 use (hypersensitivity, cancer history, active infection, obesity, transplant history, vaccination with live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks)
  • Participation in another therapeutic trial within the last 3 months
  • BMI >95th percentile or BMI <5th percentile
  • Participants who have already received a genetic diagnosis of ASD of the 'syndromic' type by DNA chip chromosome analysis
  • Participants with hyperchloremia or hypernatremia
  • Participant with uncontrolled epilepsy.
  • Participants who are related to a person involved in the study at the investigating centre, the clinical research organisation (CRO) or the sponsor.

Treatment and study plan

ILT-101 ld-(IL2)

Drug

ILT-101 (0.8 MUI/m²/day) subcutaneously. Daily administration for 5 consecutive days (D1 to D5) every 4 weeks for 6 months (i.e. 7 courses of 5 days each).

NaCl (0,9%)

Drug

Placebo (NaCl 0,9%), subcutaneously. Same administration schedule as for ILT-101.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Tregs (in % of CD4+ cells and absolute value) between baseline and Day 8, compared with ILT-101 and placebo.

    Time frame: At Day 8

    To evaluate the stimulation of the Tregs of 6 to 8-years-old children with ASD whose mothers had MIA during pregnancy, by low doses of interleukin-2 (ILT-101) on day 8 versus placebo.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Score of Vineland II Adaptive Behavior Composite- Total Score

    Time frame: at Day 0, Day 85, Day 169 and Day 275

    To assess the effect at Day 85 and Day169 of low doses of interleukin-2 (ILT-101) versus placebo on the Vineland II global score and the persistent effect at Day 275.

  2. Score of Brief Observation of Social

    Time frame: at Day 0, Day 85, Day 169 and Day 275

    Effect at Day 85 and Day 169 of ILT-101 versus placebo on the patient's other clinical dimensions (social cognition, repetitive behaviour and stereotypies, hyperactivity) and the residual effect at Day 275;

  3. Score of Social Responsiveness Scale - total score

    Time frame: at Day 0, Day 85, Day 169 and Day 275

    Effect at Day 85 and Day 169 of ILT-101 versus placebo on the patient's other clinical dimensions (social cognition, repetitive behaviour and stereotypies, hyperactivity) and the residual effect at Day 275;

  4. Score of Autism Diagnostic observation schedule-2

    Time frame: at Day 0, Day 85, Day 169 and Day 275

    Effect at Day 85 and Day 169 of ILT-101 versus placebo on the patient's other clinical dimensions (social cognition, repetitive behaviour and stereotypies, hyperactivity) and the residual effect at Day 275;

  5. Score of Repetitive behaviour and stereotypies: Aberrant Behavior Checklist

    Time frame: at Day 0, Day 85, Day 169 and Day 275

    Effect at Day 85 and Day 169 of ILT-101 versus placebo on the patient's other clinical dimensions (social cognition, repetitive behaviour and stereotypies, hyperactivity) and the residual effect at Day 275;

  6. Score of Global functional impact: Clinical Global Improvement

    Time frame: at Day 0, Day 85, Day 169 and Day 275

    Effect at Day 85 and Day 169 of ILT-101 versus placebo on the patient's other clinical dimensions (social cognition, repetitive behaviour and stereotypies, hyperactivity) and the residual effect at Day 275;

  7. Score of Global functional impact: Caregiver Strain Index

    Time frame: at Day 0, Day 85, Day 169 and Day 275

    Effect at Day 85 and Day 169 of ILT-101 versus placebo on the patient's other clinical dimensions (social cognition, repetitive behaviour and stereotypies, hyperactivity) and the residual effect at Day 275;

  8. Treg Th17 assays (in % of CD4+ and absolute value) and CD25

    Time frame: at Day 0, Day 8, Day 29, Day 85, Day 169 and Day 275

    Measurement of Tregs, Th17 and CD25 at Day 0, Day 8, Day 29 then at , Day 8 and Day 169 and the residual effect at Day 275; as well as the correlation between the biological response and socio-communicative symptoms at Day 85 and Day 169 and the residual effect at Day 275

  9. Score of Pediatric adverse event rating scale

    Time frame: at Day 0, Day 8, Day 29, Day 85, Day169 and Day 275

    Tolerance

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Pierre ELLUL, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

0033140034131

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Other

Collaborators

  • Iltoo Pharma

Registry information

Acronym: ALaDIN

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2029
First posted
May 15, 2026
Registry last updated
May 15, 2026

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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