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Cardiac TransplantPhase 2NCT05300451

Daratumumab in HLA Desensitization Prior to Transplantation

A Phase 2 study testing Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj in people with Cardiac Transplant, run by Barry A. Boilson at 1 site in United States.

Enrolling by invitation

Enrolling by invitation. The study team selects and invites participants, usually from an existing group of patients.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to learn about how well the drug daratumumab/hyaluronidase-fihj (DARZALEX Faspro™) helps to lower high levels of HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) antibodies in a person waiting for a heart transplant. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Cardiac Transplant
What is being tested?
Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
10 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
31 Mar 2022to Dec 2026
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

General Inclusion Criteria:

  • Absolute neutrophil count > 1,500
  • Total bilirubin < 1.5x institutional upper limit normal (ULN)
  • AST/ALT < 2. 5 - 3x ULN (Options for patients with liver dysfunction may be available)
  • Creatinine clearance > 20 ml/min

Specific Inclusion Criteria [HLA Desensitization Group]

  • Calculated PRA (cPRA) greater than 50%.
  • Currently actively listed for heart or combined heart and kidney transplantation.
  • Negative pregnancy test (if woman of childbearing potential) If able to become pregnant or father a child, agreement to use one of the birth control methods described in this protocol
  • Able to provide informed consent

General Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior or current exposure to any of the following: daratumumab or other anti-CD-38 therapies, exposure to an investigational drug (including investigational vaccine) or invasive investigational medical device for any indication within 4 weeks or 5 pharmacokinetic half-lives, whichever is longer.
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) < 50% of predicted normal. Note that FEV1 testing is required for participants suspected of having COPD and participants must be excluded if FEV1 is < 50% of predicted normal.
  • Moderate or severe persistent asthma within the past 2 years, or uncontrolled asthma of any classification. Note that participants who currently have controlled intermittent asthma or controlled mild persistent asthma are allowed to participate.
  • Woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding. Participant is: known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Seropositive for hepatitis B (defined by a positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]). Subjects with resolved infection (i.e., subjects who are HBsAg negative with antibodies to total hepatitis B core antigen [anti-HBc] with or without the presence of hepatitis B surface antibody [anti-HBs]) must be screed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) measurement of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels. Those who are PCR positive will be excluded. EXCEPTION: Subjects with serologic findings suggestive of HBV vaccination (anti-HBs positivity as the only serologic marker) AND a known history of HBV vaccination, do not need to be testing for HBV DNA by PCR; Seropositive for hepatitis C (except in the setting of a sustained virologic response [SVR], defined as aviremia at least 12 weeks after completion of antiviral therapy).

Clinically significant cardiac disease, including: myocardial infarction within 6 months before randomization, or unstable or uncontrolled disease/condition related to or affection cardiac function (e.g., unstable angina, congestive heart failure, New York Heart Association Class III-IV); Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia

Specific Exclusion Criteria [HLA Desensitization Group]

  • Patients listed for combined heart and liver transplantation will be excluded, as our unique experience with combined heart liver transplant (liver placed first), has demonstrated that in those cases high levels of circulating HLA antibodies may not increase the risk of hyperacute rejection.
  • Seropositivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Seropositivity for hepatitis B (defined by a positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]). Subjects with resolved infection (ie, subjects who are HBsAg negative but positive for antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen [anti-HBc] and/or antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen [anti-HBs]) must be screened using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) measurement of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels. Those who are PCR positive will be excluded. EXCEPTION: Subjects with serologic findings suggestive of HBV vaccination (anti-HBs positivity as the only serologic marker) AND a known history of prior HBV vaccination, do not need to be tested for HBV DNA by PCR.
  • Seropositivity for hepatitis C (except in the setting of a sustained virologic response [SVR], defined as aviremia at least 12 weeks after completion of antiviral therapy).
  • Patients unable to give informed consent will also be excluded.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

United States1 site
  • Mayo Clinic Rochester

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Phase II Prospective Study Evaluating the Role of Daratumumab in HLA Desensitization Prior to Transplantation

The purpose of this study is to learn about how well the drug daratumumab/hyaluronidase-fihj (DARZALEX Faspro™) helps to lower high levels of HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) antibodies in a person waiting for a heart transplant.

Read the detailed description

Daratumumab is an IgG1k, CD38-targeting monoclonal antibody, and the IV formulation was United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved in 2015 for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Daratumumab has not been approved for the indication being studied in this current trial and has been granted investigational new drug (IND) approval by the FDA (IND 157466) for use in this research.

Subjects treated for HLA desensitization will be in the study for 16 weeks. Each subject will receive daratumumab/hyaluronidase-fihj 1800mg/30000u subcutaneously once a week for 8 weeks.

Subjects will have close follow-up for several weeks afterwards with usual testing to monitor for rejection after transplantation. This includes echocardiograms, heart biopsy or MRI and blood tests.

Janssen Biotech, Inc. is providing the daratumumab/hyaluronidase-fihj (DARZALEX Faspro™) for the study.

Being tested
Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj
Keywords
Sensitisation, HLA

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihjBiological

    Also called DARZALEX FASPRO®

    Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj for subcutaneous (under the skin) injection has different dosing and administration instructions compared to daratumumab for intravenous (in the vein) infusion. Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj contains recombinant hyaluronidase, which mimics hyaluronidase, a naturally occurring substance that increases permeability of subcutaneous tissue. This makes it possible for 15 mL containing 1,800 mg of daratumumab to be administered in approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Subjects will receive a 1800mg/30000u injection subcutaneously weekly for a total of 8 doses

Study groups in NCT05300451
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
HLA Desensitization GroupExperimentalSubjects awaiting cardiac transplantation with high levels of circulating Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) antibodies will receive daratumumab/hyaluronidase-fihj.
Receives: Biological: Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Effect of daratumumab therapy on human leukocyte antibody (HLA) titers in resistant antibody mediated rejection (AMR)

    Levels of HLA titers by measure of fluorescence intensity levels (MFI) of donor specific antibodies (DSA).

    Measured: Sixteen weeks

  2. Effect of daratumumab therapy on HLA antibody titers in sensitization (pre-transplant)

    Assessed as calculated panel of reactive antibodies (cPRA) and absolute HLA antibody levels (MFI)

    Measured: Sixteen weeks

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Effect of daratumumab on cardiac contractility in HLA sensitized patients

    As measured by a change in left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction percentage.

    Measured: One month post completion

  2. Effect of daratumumab on Cardiac Systolic Strain in HLA sensitized patients

    Assessed by echocardiogram and measured by a change in Global LV Longitudinal Peak Systolic Strain percentage, which is the measure of the degree of change in cardiac shape that occurs during systole and diastole.

    Measured: One month post completion

  3. Effect of daratumumab on Left Ventricular Filling Pressure Ratio in HLA sensitized patients

    Assessed by echocardiogram and measured as a change in the ratio (E/e') between early mitral inflow velocity and mitral annual diastolic velocity.

    Measured: One month post completion

  4. Effect of daratumumab on Right Ventricular Systolic Pressure (RVSP) in HLA sensitized patients

    Assessed by echocardiogram as a change in approximate pulmonary arterial systolic pressure. Units are mmHg (millimeters of mercury).

    Measured: One month post completion

  5. Effect of daratumumab on incidence of acute CMR post-transplant in sensitized patients

    Evidence of CMR (cellular mediated rejection) based on post-transplant biopsy findings. CMR is scored as follows:

    • Grade 0R: no rejection.
    • Grade 1R, mild: interstitial or perivascular infiltrate (or both) with £1 focus of myocyte damage.
    • Grade 2R, moderate: ³2 foci of infiltrate with associated myocyte damage.
    • Grade 3R, severe: diffuse infiltrate with multifocal myocyte damage, with or without edema, hemorrhage, or vasculitis.

    Measured: Time Frame: Weeks 2, 3 and 4 post-transplant

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Mar 2022
  2. Study start31 Mar 2022
  3. Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
10 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05300451
Sponsor's protocol ID
20-012885
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
8 Feb 2022
Last updated
9 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj in people with Cardiac Transplant, run by Barry A. Boilson at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Effect of daratumumab therapy on human leukocyte antibody (HLA) titers in resistant antibody mediated rejection (AMR) (time frame: Sixteen weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 9 Oct 2026.

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