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.
Beta thalassemia major is a hereditary blood disorder that requires lifelong regular transfusions and is associated with significant morbidity, early mortality, and decreased quality of life. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is potentially curative but limited availability of suitable donors as well as risks of graft versus host disease limit its applicability. Gene addition of a functional beta globin gene may be an alternative treatment option. The primary objective is to assess the safety of treatment with autologous hematopoietic stem cells transduced with a novel lentiviral vector (ALS20) in subjects 18 to \<36 years old with transfusion dependent beta thalassemia. The secondary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with autologous hematopoietic stem cells transduced with a novel lentiviral vector (ALS20) in subjects 18 to \< 36 years old with transfusion dependent beta thalassemia. Study Design: This is a single arm pilot, phase 1/2 study of up to 12 subjects ages 18 to \<36 years who have transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (genotypes β0β0, β+β0, β+β+, βEβ0, βEβ+, dominant β thalassemia). The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of infusing autologous hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) transduced with the novel lentiviral vector ALS20 that encodes the human βA-T87Q-globin, following myeloablative conditioning with busulfan. The main risks of this study involve risks of the genetic modification of the stem cells and the busulfan chemotherapy conditioning. Genetic modification of blood stem cells may increase the risk of blood cancer. The main risks of busulfan conditioning include prolonged low blood counts, liver injury, infertility, and cancer. There also is a risk of failure of the modified blood stem cells to grow.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
12
novel lentiviral vector ALS20
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
RECRUITINGNeutrophil Engraftment
time to neutrophil engraftment
Time frame: within 42 days after infusion
Platelet Engraftment
time to platelet engraftment
Time frame: through end of treatment, an average 1 year
Overall Survival at 2 years
Survival status after treatment ends
Time frame: 2 years after treatment ends
Incidence of transplant related mortality
Incidence of transplant related mortality within 100 days and within 1 year after infusion
Time frame: 1 year after infusion
Incidence of Graft Versus Host Disease
any clinical evidence of graft versus host disease (GVHD)
Time frame: through end of treatment, an average of 1 year
Incidence of Vector-Derived Replication Competent Lentivirus
The detection of vector-derived replication competent lentivirus in any subject throughout the study until end of treatment.
Time frame: through end of treatment, an average of 1 year
Insertional Oncogenesis
The number of subjects with insertional oncogenesis
Time frame: through the end of the study, up to 24 months
Clonal Predominance
The number of subjects with clonal predominance
Time frame: through the end of the study, up to 24 months
maintain total hemoglobin level of 9.0 g/dL or higher
The proportion of subjects able to discontinue regular red cell transfusions and maintain total hemoglobin level of 9.0 g/dL or higher (average over 1-year period) in the absence of red cell transfusion(transfusion independence). Success is defined as a minimum of 4 to 6 subjects achieving this endpoint.
Time frame: through the end of the study, up to 24 months
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