A phase 3 study of obexelimab in patients with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN13110963 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13110963 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | NCT05786573 |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | 2022-501005-12-00 |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 1007139 |
| Protocol serial number | ZB012-03-002, IRAS 1007139, CPMS 54861 |
| Sponsor | Zenas BioPharma (USA) LLC |
| Funder | Zenas BioPharma (USA) LLC |
- Submission date
- 21/03/2023
- Registration date
- 14/09/2023
- Last edited
- 27/11/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Haematological Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Warm autoimmune haemolytic anemia (wAIHA) is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune cells attack and destroy red blood cells leading to anemia. Symptoms include fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, and an enlarged spleen.
Standard first-line treatment for wAIHA is daily doses of corticosteroids. However, long term treatment can lead to significant toxicity and complications. B cell directed therapies have obtained promising results in clinical trials, for example, rituximab which is becoming the preferred second-line therapy.
Obexelimab (a B cell targeted therapy) is an investigational drug being developed by Zenas BioPharma, which means it has not yet been approved for the treatment of a disease by any regulatory agencies and can only be tested in a study like this one. This study will test obexelimab administered as a subcutaneous injection (under the skin) given once a week.
The purpose of this study is to learn more about how safe and how well obexelimab works to treat wAIHA.
Who can participate?
Adults over 18 years, diagnosed with wAIHA for at least 3 months and currently receiving treatment for wAIHA or have previously received treatment for wAIHA.
What does the study involve?
This study is divided into three parts:
• Part A: Safety and Dose Confirmation Run-in Period. All patients will receive obexelimab and this part will provide preliminary safety, tolerability, and efficacy data.
• Part B: Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled. Half (50%) of the patients who enroll will receive placebo. This part will evaluate the efficacy and safety of obexelimab.
• Part C: Open-label extension portion. This part will look at how obexelimab works over an extended period of time. If participants complete Part A or B, they will be eligible to enroll in Part C.
Approximately 134 patients will participate in this global study. Participants in Parts A and B will be on the study for 40 weeks, and participants in Part C will be on the study for an additional 52- week treatment period and a 12-week follow-up. During this time, they will have several visits to have tests and procedures to check their health and the effects of the study drug.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Taking part in this study may or may not help to treat your wAIHA. Your health could improve, stay the same, or get worse. However, the data we get from you during this study may help doctors learn more about the study drug and whether or not it provides any benefit to patients with wAIHA, and this may help future patients with wAIHA.
The safety of obexelimab has been studied in 198 people of whom 40 received the subcutaneous injection form used in this study. When obexelimab was given as the intravenous form, there was a serious but uncommon risk for allergic reactions and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during infusion. Obexelimab treats wAIHA by changing your immune system which may cause you risk for infections. When obexelimab was given as the subcutaneous form, there were mild to moderate side effects at the site of injection including redness, pain, and swelling. Other common side effects include dizziness, headache, and abdominal pain.
Where is the study run from?
Zenas BioPharma (USA) LLC
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2022 to September 2026
Who is funding the study?
Zenas BioPharma (USA) LLC
Who is the main contact?
Allen Poma (Vice President, Clinical Development) allen.poma@zenasbio.com
Contact information
Scientific
1000 Winter Street
Suite 1200
Waltham
MA 02451
United States of America
| Phone | +1 857-273-0413 |
|---|---|
| UKStart-upteam.SM@ppd.com |
Principal investigator
Ethelbert Road
Canterbury
CT1 3NG
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 1227 766877 |
|---|---|
| gillian.evans4@nhs.net |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Interventional double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Scientific title | A phase 3, multicenter, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, with a safety and dose confirmation run-in period, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of obexelimab in patients with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (SApHiAre) |
| Study acronym | SApHiAre |
| Study objectives | Administration of obexelimab will lead to a higher proportion of wAIHA patients with hemoglobin ≥10 g/dl and ≥2 g/dl increase from baseline without the requirement for blood transfusion or glucocorticoid rescue therapy |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 08/09/2023, London -City & East Research Ethics Committee (2nd Floor, 2 Redman Place, Stratford, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom; n/a; cityandeast.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 23/LO/0335 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia |
| Intervention | In Part A (safety and dose confirmation run-in period), obexelimab will be administered as a subcutaneous injection for 24 weeks. In Part B (randomised control period), participants will be randomised with interactive response technology (IRT), and obexelimab or placebo will be administered as a subcutaneous injection for 24 weeks. Participants from Part A and Part B may continue to receive obexelimab in Part C (open label extension (OLE) period). Participants who do not enroll in the OLE period will return to the clinic for a safety follow-up visit 12 weeks after Week 24. In Part C, obexelimab will be administered for up to 52 weeks. Subjects in Part C will return to the clinic for a safety follow-up visit 12 weeks after Week 52. |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Phase | Phase III |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Obexelimab |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Part A: Safety and Dose Confirmation Run-in Period (SRP) |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
There are no secondary outcome measures |
| Completion date | 30/09/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 134 |
| Key inclusion criteria | PARTS A AND B: INCLUSION CRITERIA 1. Males and females, ≥ 18 years of age 2. Clinically diagnosed with wAIHA for at least 3 months and currently receiving treatment for wAIHA or have previously received treatment for wAIHA. 3. Diagnosis of primary or secondary wAIHA documented by a positive direct antiglobulin test specific for anti-IgG or anti-IgA. 4. Failed at least 1 prior wAIHA treatment regimen. 5. At least one sign or symptom of anemia as assessed by the investigator at screening. 6. Other inclusion criteria apply. |
| Key exclusion criteria | PARTS A AND B: EXCLUSION CRITERIA 1. Have cold antibody AIHA, cold agglutinin syndrome, mixed type (i.e., warm, and cold) AIHA, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. 2. Have any other associated cause of hereditary or acquired hemolytic anemia. 3. For the RCP only, patients with secondary wAIHA not due to autoimmune disorders, including LPDs. 4. Received a transfusion within 2 weeks prior to randomisation. 5. Use of B cell-depleting, B cell-targeted, or other biologic immunomodulatory agents within the 6 months prior to randomisation. 6. Received IV Ig or epoetin alfa within 6 weeks prior to randomisation. 7. Receiving more than 2 concomitant medications for the treatment of wAIHA. 8. Other exclusion criteria apply. |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/09/2023 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/03/2025 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Japan
- Poland
- Spain
- Taiwan
- Türkiye
- United States of America
Study participating centres
80 Newark Street
London
E1 2ES
United Kingdom
Derriford Road
Crownhill
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
United Kingdom
Leicester
LE5 4PW
United Kingdom
London
NW1 2BU
United Kingdom
Canterbury
CT1 3NG
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The Sponsor is committed to the responsible sharing of clinical data with the goal of advancing medical science and improving patient care. Independent researchers will be permitted to use anonymised data collected from participants during this study to conduct additional scientific research, which may be unrelated to the study medication. This data will be obtained from study publications once the research has been completed. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
27/11/2024: Ethics approval details added. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/10/2024 to 31/03/2025.
04/10/2023: Internal review.
21/03/2023: Trial's existence confirmed by NHS HRA.
