ALS20-101 Lentiviral Gene Therapy for Beta Thalassemia

Recruiting now · Phase 1/Phase 2

Conditions studied: Beta-Thalassemia

In brief

The main goal of this study is to find out if the blood disorder called transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia can be safely treated by modifying blood stem cells. This is done by collecting blood stem cells from the subject, modifying those cells, adding a healthy beta globin gene, and then giving them back to the subject. It is hoped that these modified cells will decrease the need for blood transfusions. The gene modified blood stem cells are called CHOP-ALS20 ("study drug"). This experimental gene therapy has not been tried on human beings before and is not FDA approved.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06364774

Run by

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

People needed

12

Starts

2025-04-14

Expected to finish

2027-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-15

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 40. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 18 to < 40 years at the time of consent
• Diagnosis of transfusion dependent beta thalassemia (β0 β0, β+β0, β+β+, βEβ0, βEβ+,β0 or β+ /βA + alpha triplication(s)). Transfusion-dependent is defined as a history of receiving at least 120 mL/kg/year packed red blood cells or at least 8 transfusions per year in the past two years. The first 2 subjects enrolled must have a non- β0 β0 genotype.
• Genetic confirmation of α and β thalassemia diagnosis (β0β0, β+β0, β+β+, βEβ0, βEβ+, β0 or β+ /βA + alpha triplication(s)) by a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified laboratory is required.
• Clinically stable, Karnofsky score at least 70, and eligible to undergo Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).
• Female subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use acceptable method(s) of contraception from consent through at least 6 months after CHOP-ALS20 infusion
• Male subjects of reproductive capacity must agree to use effective contraception from start of mobilization through at least 6 months after CHOP-ALS20 infusion
• All potential treatment options including allogeneic HSCT (HLA-matched related, HLA-matched unrelated, and haploidentical) as well as FDA approved gene therapy options have been thoroughly discussed with the independent hematologist and/or transplant physician and subject agrees to proceed with this clinical trial.

You may not qualify if…

• Prior receipt of HSCT or gene therapy
• More than one alpha globin gene deletions/mutations.
• Any prior or current malignancy (excluding adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin)
• Known cancer predisposition syndrome
• Positive for HIV-1, HIV-2, Human T Cell Lymphotropic Virus-1,2 (HTLV-1, HTLV-2) or active hepatitis B or active hepatitis C infection
• Clinically significant active bacterial, viral (including COVID-19 and influenza), fungal, or parasitic infection (temporary exclusion)
• Clinically significant bleeding disorder
• Evidence of cardiac dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction <50% or shortening fraction <27%) or clinically significant arrhythmia
• Evidence of advanced liver disease (ALT >5x the upper limit of normal (ULN), prothrombin time >1.5 x ULN, direct bilirubin > 3x ULN) not attributable to iron chelation therapy, or evidence of bridging fibrosis on liver biopsy or fibrosis stage of F3 or higher by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) if obtained as part of clinical care
• Liver R2 or R2 MRI or liver biopsy with liver iron concentration 15 mg/g dw (temporary exclusion)
• Diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLco) <50% of predicted (corrected for Hb)
• Pulse oximetry in room air <92%
• Evidence of renal dysfunction (creatinine >1.5x ULN or Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) <70 ml/min/1.73 m2 based on cystatin C/creatinine equation)
• Cardiac T2 MRI < 10 ms
• Platelet count <100,000/mcL or absolute neutrophil count <1000/mcL except if attributed to benign ethnic neutropenia
• Unable to receive red cell transfusion (significant allo/auto immunization)
• Uncontrolled systemic hypertension
• Uncontrolled seizure disorder
• Diagnosis of a significant psychiatric disorder that could seriously impede the ability to participate in the study as determined by the investigator
• Immediate family member with a known or suspected Familial Cancer Syndrome
• Contraindication to anesthesia
• For female subjects, pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Participation in another clinical trial of an investigational drug within 30 days or 5 drug half-lives, whichever is longer, of screening (temporary exclusion)
• Any other condition that would render the subject ineligible for mobilization/apheresis and/or HSCT as determined by the investigator

Where it is running

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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