This is a Phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to determine the efficacy and safety of luspatercept (ACE-536) versus placebo in adults with non-transfusion dependent beta (β)-thalassemia. The study is divided into the Screening Period, Double-blind Treatment Period (DBTP), Open-label Phase (OLP), and Post-Treatment Follow-up Period (PTFP). It is planned to randomize approximately 150 subjects at a 2:1 ratio of luspatercept versus placebo.
The primary objective is: \- To evaluate the effect of luspatercept (BMS-986346) versus placebo on anemia, as measured by mean hemoglobin concentration in the absence of transfusions over a continuous 12-week interval, from Week 13 to Week 24, compared to baseline. The secondary objectives are: * To evaluate the effect of luspatercept versus placebo in anemia-related symptoms in participants with β-thalassemia, as measured by non-transfusion dependent β-thalassemia-patient reported outcome (NTDT-PRO) over continuous 12-week intervals (from Weeks 13 to 24 and from Weeks 37 to 48) compared to baseline. * To evaluate the effect of luspatercept versus placebo on functional and health-related quality of life (QoL) as measured by Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaires * To evaluate the long-term effect of luspatercept versus placebo on anemia, as measured by mean hemoglobin concentration in the absence of transfusions over a continuous 12-week interval from Week 37 to Week 48, compared to baseline * To evaluate the effect of luspatercept versus placebo on iron overload, as measured by liver iron concentration (LIC) and iron chelation therapy (ICT) daily dose * To evaluate the effect of luspatercept versus placebo on iron overload, as measured by serum ferritin * To evaluate the duration of erythroid response * To evaluate the effect of luspatercept versus placebo on physical activity measured by 6-minute walk test (6MWT) Safety and Pharmacokinetics (PK) Objectives * To evaluate safety and tolerability of luspatercept, including immunogenicity * To evaluate population pharmacokinetics (PK) of luspatercept in subjects with β-thalassemia The exploratory objectives are: * To evaluate the effect of luspatercept versus placebo on measures of extra-medullary hematopoietic (EMH) masses, bone mineral density, splenomegaly, pulmonary hypertension, and leg ulcers, when present * To evaluate the effect of luspatercept versus placebo on the β-thalassemia severity as measured by the NTDT severity score system * To evaluate the effect of luspatercept versus placebo on the β-thalassemia severity as measured by the Morbidity-free Survival parameters * To examine the relationship of baseline and change in serum Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF11) and other related biomarkers with response to treatment with luspatercept * To examine the effect of luspatercept on fetal hemoglobin (HbF) * To examine the effect of luspatercept on Health Resource Utilization (HRU)
Subjects will start with luspatercept at 1 mg/kg dose level every 3 weeks and can be dose escalated up to 1.25 mg/kg.
Placebo, Subcutaneous, every 21 days
Best Supportive Care (BSC)
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
Local Institution - 501
Los Angeles, California, United States
Children's Hospital and Research Center at Oakland
Percentage of Participants Achieving Erythroid Response (Week 13 to Week 24)
Erythroid Response is defined as an increase from baseline ≥1.0 g/dL in mean of hemoglobin values over a continuous 12-week interval from Weeks 13 to 24 of treatment in the absence of transfusions. Baseline hemoglobin (Hb) is the average of 2 or more Hb measurements at least 1 week apart within 4 weeks prior to Dose 1.
Time frame: From Week 13 to Week 24 of study treatment
Mean Change From Baseline in Non-Transfusion Dependent β-thalassemia-Patient Reported Outcome (NTDT-PRO) Tiredness and Weakness (T/W) Domain Score (Week 13 to Week 24)
The NTDT-PRO assesses the severity of anemia-related symptoms with a daily recall of symptoms composed of 6 items: 1. Tiredness (lack of energy) when not doing physical activity 2. Tiredness when doing physical activity 3. Weakness (lack of strength) when not doing physical activity 4. Weakness when doing physical activity 5. Shortness of breath when not doing physical activity 6. Shortness of breath when doing physical activity. The Tiredness/Weakness (T/W) domain score is the average score of items 1 through 4 above. T/W domain score ranges from 0 (best outcome, no tiredness/weakness) to 10 (worst outcome, extreme tiredness/weakness). Weekly T/W Scores are the average of daily scores for that week. The mean of weekly scores over a continuous 12-week period (from Week 13 to Week 24) are compared to the T/W Domain Score at baseline. Baseline is defined as the last value taken on or before the first dose of study drug administered in Week 13.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 13 through week 24)
Mean Change From Baseline in Hemoglobin Values in the Absence of Transfusion (Week 13 to Week 24)
Mean change from baseline in mean of hemoglobin (Hb) values over a continuous 12-week interval from Week 13 to Week 24 in the absence of transfusions. Baseline was defined as the average of 2 or more Hb measurements at least 1 week apart within 4 weeks before Dose 1 Day 1.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 13 through week 24)
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Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
145
Oakland, California, United States
Local Institution - 503
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Local Institution - 102
Athens, Greece
Local Institution - 101
Athens, Greece
Local Institution - 205
Cagliari, Italy
Universita degli Studi di Cagliari - ASL8
Cagliari, Italy
Local Institution - 202
Genoa, Italy
Local Institution - 201
Milan, Italy
...and 6 more locations
Percentage of Participants Achieving Erythroid Response (Week 37 to Week 48)
Erythroid Response is defined as an increase from baseline ≥1.0 g/dL in mean of hemoglobin values over a continuous 12-week interval from Weeks 37 to 48 of treatment in the absence of transfusions. Baseline hemoglobin (Hb) is the average of 2 or more Hb measurements at least 1 week apart within 4 weeks prior to Dose 1.
Time frame: Assessed over a continuous 12 week period (from week 37 through week 48)
Mean Change From Baseline in Mean Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) Fatigue Subscale Score (Week 13 to Week 24)
The FACIT-F is a multidimensional, self-report quality of life instrument which includes the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) questionnaire (27 items over 4 different domains), and the Fatigue subscale (FS) component (13 items). FACIT-F version 4 has been used for this study. For the Fatigue subscale, each of the 13 items is scored from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("very much"). The scores from individual items are summed to generated the final FS score, which ranges from 0 (best outcome) to 52 (worst outcome). The questionnaire is completed every other dose, and the mean of FS scores from Week 13 to Week 24 is compared to the FS score at baseline (last score available before start of study treatment). Baseline is defined as the last value taken on or before the first dose of study drug administered in Week 13.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 13 through week 24)
Mean Change From Baseline in Non-Transfusion Dependent β-thalassemia-Patient Reported Outcome (NTDT-PRO) Shortness of Breath (SoB) Domain Score (Week 13 to Week 24)
The NTDT-PRO V2.1 assess the severity of anemia-related symptoms associated with NTD β-thalassemia. It is a daily electronic diary with recall of symptoms during the past 24 hours, composed of 6 items: 1. Tiredness (lack of energy) when not doing physical activity 2. Tiredness (lack of energy) when doing physical activity 3. Weakness (lack of strength) when not doing physical activity 4. Weakness (lack of strength) when doing physical activity 5. Shortness of breath when not doing physical activity 6. Shortness of breath when doing physical activity. The Shortness of Breath (SoB) domain score represents the average score of items 5 and 6 above. SoB domain score ranges from 0 (best outcome, no shortness of breath) to 10 (worst outcome, extreme shortness of breath). Weekly SoB Scores represent the average of daily scores for that week. The mean of weekly scores over a continuous 12 week period (from Week 13 to Week 24) are compared to the SoB Domain Score at baseline.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 13 through week 24)
Mean Change From Baseline in Hemoglobin Values in the Absence of Transfusion (Week 37 to Week 48)
Mean change from baseline in mean of hemoglobin (Hb) values over a continuous 12-week interval from Week 37 to Week 48 in the absence of transfusions. Baseline was defined as the average of 2 or more Hb measurements at least 1 week apart within 4 weeks before Dose 1 Day 1.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 37 through week 48)
Mean Change From Baseline in Mean Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) Fatigue Subscale Score (Week 37 to Week 48)
The FACIT-F is a multidimensional, self-report quality of life instrument which includes the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) questionnaire (27 items over 4 different domains), and the Fatigue subscale (FS) component (13 items). FACIT-F version 4 has been used for this study. For the Fatigue subscale, each of the 13 items is scored from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("very much"). The scores from individual items are summed to generated the final FS score, which ranges from 0 (best outcome) to 52 (worst outcome). The questionnaire is completed every other dose, and the mean of FS scores from Week 37 to Week 48 is compared to the FS score at baseline (last score available before start of study treatment). Baseline is defined as the last value taken on or before the first dose of study drug administered in Week 37.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 37 through week 48)
Mean Change From Baseline in Non-Transfusion Dependent β-thalassemia-Patient Reported Outcome (NTDT-PRO) Tiredness and Weakness (T/W) Domain Score (Week 37 to Week 48)
NTDT-PRO V2.1 assess the severity of anemia-related symptoms. It's a daily recall of symptoms during the past 24 hours, composed of 6 items: 1. Tiredness (lack of energy) when not doing physical activity 2. Tiredness when doing physical activity 3. Weakness (lack of strength) when not doing physical activity 4. Weakness when doing physical activity 5. Shortness of breath when not doing physical activity 6. Shortness of breath when doing physical activity. The Tiredness/Weakness (T/W) domain score represents the average score of items 1 through 4 above. T/W domain score ranges from 0 (best outcome, no tiredness/weakness) to 10 (worst outcome, extreme tiredness/weakness). Weekly T/W Scores represent the average of daily scores for that week. The mean of weekly scores over a continuous 12-week period (from Week 37 to Week 48) are compared to the T/W Domain Score at baseline. Baseline is defined as the last value taken on or before the first dose of study drug administered in Week 37.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 37 through week 48)
Mean Change From Baseline in Non-Transfusion Dependent β-thalassemia-Patient Reported Outcome (NTDT-PRO) Shortness of Breath (SoB) Domain Score (Week 37 to Week 48)
NTDT-PRO V2.1 assess the severity of anemia-related symptoms. It is a daily recall of symptoms during the past 24 hours, composed of 6 items: 1. Tiredness (lack of energy) when not doing physical activity 2. Tiredness when doing physical activity 3. Weakness (lack of strength) when not doing physical activity 4. Weakness when doing physical activity 5. Shortness of breath when not doing physical activity 6. Shortness of breath when doing physical activity. The Shortness of Breath (SoB) domain score represents the average score of items 5 and 6 above. SoB domain score ranges from 0 (best outcome, no shortness of breath) to 10 (worst outcome, extreme shortness of breath). Weekly SoB Scores represent the average of daily scores for that week. The mean of weekly scores over a continuous 12-week period (from Week 37 to Week 48) are compared to the SoB Domain Score at baseline. Baseline is defined as the last value taken on or before the first dose of study drug administered in Week 37.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 37 through week 48)
Percentage of Participants With an Increase From Baseline ≥ 3 in Mean Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) Fatigue Subscale Score (Week 13 to Week 24)
The FACIT-Fatigue, is a multidimensional, self-report quality of life instrument. It consists of 27 core items, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) questionnaire, which assesses patient function in 4 domains: Physical, Social/Family, Emotional, and Functional well-being, which is further supplemented by a 13-item measure designed to capture cancer-related fatigue, the Fatigue subscale (FS). The items are measured on a response scale with five options (0 = not at all to 4 = very much). Participants completed the questionnaire at screening and every other dose. Baseline is defined as the last value taken on or before the first dose of study drug administered in Week 13. Score is calculated by multiplying the sum of item scores by the n of items in the scale, then divided by n of items answered.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 13 through week 24)
Percentage of Participants With an Increase From Baseline ≥ 3 in Mean Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) Fatigue Subscale Score (Week 37 to Week 48)
The FACIT-Fatigue, is a multidimensional, self-report quality of life instrument. It consists of 27 core items, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) questionnaire, which assesses patient function in 4 domains: Physical, Social/Family, Emotional, and Functional well-being, which is further supplemented by a 13-item measure designed to capture cancer-related fatigue, the Fatigue subscale (FS). The items are measured on a response scale with five options (0 = not at all to 4 = very much). Participants completed the questionnaire at screening and every other dose. Baseline is defined as the last value taken on or before the first dose of study drug administered in Week 37. Score is calculated by multiplying the sum of item scores by the n of items in the scale, then divided by n of items answered.
Time frame: Baseline and over a continuous 12 week period (from week 37 through week 48)
Mean Change From Baseline in the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) Scores of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36)
The SF-36v2 is a 36-item generic PRO questionnaire used to assess patient-reported outcomes. The SF-36 yields scores for 8 domains of health: Physical Functioning (PF), Role-Physical (RP), Bodily Pain (BP), General Health (GH), Vitality (VT), Social Functioning (SF), Role Emotional (RE), and Mental Health (MH) as well as physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. Scores from each of the 8 domains of health are first normalized based on US general population means, then aggregated and transformed so that the scores from each of the 8 domains of health will contribute differently to the determination of PCS and MCS summary scores. PCS and MCS scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a better quality of life. Baseline is defined as the last value taken on or before the first dose of study drug administered.
Time frame: From baseline to Week 24 and from baseline to Week 48 of study treatment
Percentage of Participants With Improvement of Iron Overload
Iron overload was measured by Liver Iron Concentration (LIC) and Iron Chelation Therapy (ICT) daily dose. Improvement is defined as: - For participants with baseline LIC ≥3 mg/g: ≥20% reduction in LIC or ≥ 33% decrease in ICT daily dose - For participants with baseline LIC \<3 mg/g: no increase in LIC \>1 mg/g and not starting treatment with ICT, or no increase in ICT daily dose ≥ 33% (if on ICT at baseline)
Time frame: Week 24 and Week 48 of study treatment
Mean Change From Baseline in Serum Ferritin
Baseline mean serum ferritin is calculated during the 24 weeks on or prior to dose 1 day 1. Post-baseline mean serum ferritin is calculated as mean of ferritin values during the last 24 weeks on or prior to the end date of the first 24 week or 48 week treatment
Time frame: Week 24 and Week 48 of study treatment
Mean Change From Baseline in Liver Iron Concentration (LIC)
LIC was measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Baseline is defined as the last value on or before the first dose of study drug is administered; Postbaseline is defined as the closest visit at Week 24 or Week 48. Participants with LIC value \>43 are not included in the analysis.
Time frame: Week 24 and Week 48 of study treatment
Percentage of Participants Who Are Transfusion-Free Over 24 Weeks
Transfusion free is defined as the absence of any transfusion during Week 1-24 of study treatment. Participants who discontinued treatment prior to Week 24 were not considered as transfusion free during Week 1-24.
Time frame: From first dose to Week 24
Percentage of Participants Who Are Transfusion-Free Over 48 Weeks
Transfusion free is defined as the absence of any transfusion during Week 1-48 of study treatment. Participants who discontinued treatment prior to Week 48 were not considered as transfusion free during Week 1-48.
Time frame: From first dose to Week 48
Duration of the Mean Hemoglobin Increase From Baseline ≥1.0 g/dL
This outcome measure is the cumulative mean of the duration of hemoglobin response for the ≥ 1.0 g/dL during any 12-week rolling period. Any hemoglobin values within 21 days after a transfusion were excluded from the analysis.
Time frame: From baseline up to approximately 56 months
Mean Change From Baseline in the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) Distance
The 6MWT is typically used to objectively assess functional exercise capacity and response to medical interventions in patients with various moderate to severe diseases. Particiapnts are asked to walk as quickly as possible without running along a 30-meter corridor for six minutes, and the total distance covered during that time is measured. Baseline is defined as the last value on or before the first dose of study drug is administered. Postbaseline is defined as the closest visit at Week 24 or Week 48.
Time frame: From baseline to Week 24 and from baseline to Week 48 of study treatment
Percentage of Participants With an Increase From Baseline ≥1.5 g/dL in Mean Hemoglobin Values in the Absence of Transfusion
Percentage of participants who have an increase from baseline ≥1.5 g/dL in mean of hemoglobin (Hb) values over a continuous 12-week interval from Week 13 to Week 24 in the absence of transfusions. Baseline was defined as the average of 2 or more Hb measurements at least 1 week apart within 4 weeks before Dose 1 Day 1.
Time frame: From Week 13 to Week 24 of study treatment
Percentage of Participants With a Decrease From Baseline ≥ RD (= 1) in the Non-Transfusion Dependent β-thalassemia-Patient Reported Outcome (NTDT-PRO) Tiredness and Weakness (T/W) Domain Score
The responder definition (RD) threshold is the individual participant score change over a predetermined time period that will be interpreted as a treatment benefit. The RD for the NTDT-PRO T/W domain score was defined as ≥ 1-point decrease (ie, RD = -1) from baseline over the time from Week 13 to Week 24 or from Week 37 to Week 48. Participants with missing NTDT-PRO T/W scores at the indicated 12-week period are classified as non-responders in the analysis.
Time frame: From Week 13 to Week 24 and from Week 37 to Week 48 of study treatment
Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events
An Adverse Event (AE) is defined as any new untoward medical occurrence or worsening of a pre-existing medical condition in a clinical investigation participant administered study treatment and that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. Adverse events are graded on a scale from 1 to 5, with Grade 1 being mild and asymptomatic; Grade 2 is moderate requiring minimal, local or noninvasive intervention; Grade 3 is severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; Grade 4 events are usually severe enough to require hospitalization; Grade 5 events are fatal.
Time frame: From first dose to 63 days after last dose (up to approximately 56 months)
Number of Participants With Anti-drug Antibody (ADA) Positive Test for Luspatercept
Presence of anti-drug (ACE-536/Luspatercept) antibodies was assessed every 24 weeks from serum samples. A participant is counted as 'positive' if there is any positive result captured during the study.
Time frame: From first dose and up to 2 years following last dose, up to approximately 56 months
Apparent Clearance (CL/F) of Luspatercept
Apparent Clearance (CL/F) of Luspatercept
Time frame: Doses 1 to 16: at predose (must be collected before first dose), Dose 2 Day 1, Dose 4 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 1, Dose 8 Day 1, Dose 12 Day 1, Dose 16 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 8, Dose 6 Day 15, and every 6 doses (at Dose 22, 28, etc.), up to approx. 48 months
Apparent Volume of Distribution of the Central Compartment (V1/F) of Luspatercept
Apparent Volume of Distribution of the Central Compartment (V1/F) of Luspatercept
Time frame: Doses 1 to 16: at predose (must be collected before first dose), Dose 2 Day 1, Dose 4 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 1, Dose 8 Day 1, Dose 12 Day 1, Dose 16 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 8, Dose 6 Day 15, and every 6 doses (at Dose 22, 28, etc.), up to approx. 48 months
Time to Reach Maximum Concentration (Tmax) of Luspatercept
Time to Reach Maximum Concentration (Tmax) of Luspatercept
Time frame: Doses 1 to 16: at predose (must be collected before first dose), Dose 2 Day 1, Dose 4 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 1, Dose 8 Day 1, Dose 12 Day 1, Dose 16 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 8, Dose 6 Day 15, and every 6 doses (at Dose 22, 28, etc.), up to approx. 48 months
Maximum Concentration (Cmax) of Luspatercept
Maximum Concentration (Cmax) of Luspatercept
Time frame: Doses 1 to 16: at predose (must be collected before first dose), Dose 2 Day 1, Dose 4 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 1, Dose 8 Day 1, Dose 12 Day 1, Dose 16 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 8, Dose 6 Day 15, and every 6 doses (at Dose 22, 28, etc.), up to approx. 48 months
Maximum Concentration From Steady State (Cmax,ss) of Luspatercept
Maximum Concentration From Steady State (Cmax,ss) of Luspatercept
Time frame: Doses 1 to 16: at predose (must be collected before first dose), Dose 2 Day 1, Dose 4 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 1, Dose 8 Day 1, Dose 12 Day 1, Dose 16 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 8, Dose 6 Day 15, and every 6 doses (at Dose 22, 28, etc.), up to approx. 48 months
Area Under the Curve From Steady State (AUCss) of Luspatercept
Area Under the Curve From Steady State (AUCss) of Luspatercept
Time frame: Doses 1 to 16: at predose (must be collected before first dose), Dose 2 Day 1, Dose 4 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 1, Dose 8 Day 1, Dose 12 Day 1, Dose 16 Day 1, Dose 6 Day 8, Dose 6 Day 15, and every 6 doses (at Dose 22, 28, etc.), up to approx. 48 months