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Steroid-refractory Acute Graft-versus-host DiseasePhase 2BALDERNCT06075706

Trial of Efficacy and Safety of MC0518 Versus Best Available Therapy in Participants With Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft Versus Host Disease

A Phase 2 study testing MC0518 and BAT in people with Steroid-refractory Acute Graft-versus-host Disease, run by medac GmbH at 36 sites in 5 countries.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this trial is the comparative evaluation of overall response rate (ORR) in paediatric participants with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGvHD) at Visit Day 28 after treatment with MC0518 or first used best available therapy (BAT). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 28 days to 17 years
What is being tested?
MC0518 and BAT
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
49 participants
Where
36 sitesin 5 countries
Study dates
13 Nov 2023to Jun 2031
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 28 days to 17 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Participant had a previous allogeneic HSCT as indicated for non-malignant (including inborn errors of metabolism, primary immunodeficiencies, haemoglobinopathies, and bone marrow failure syndromes) or hematological malignant disease or neuroblastoma.
  • Participant has been clinically diagnosed with Grade II to IV aGvHD according to Harris et al. A biopsy of the involved organs with aGvHD is encouraged but not required.
  • Participant has experienced failure of previous first-line aGvHD treatment (that is, SR-aGvHD), defined as:
  • aGvHD progression within 3 to 5 days of therapy onset with >=2 milligram per kilogram per day (mg/kg/day) of prednisone equivalent or
  • failure to improve within 5 to 7 days of treatment initiation with >=2 mg/kg/day of prednisone equivalent or
  • incomplete response after greater than (>) 28 days of immunosuppressive treatment including at least 5 days with >=2 mg/kg/day of prednisone equivalent.
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  • Male or female participant who is >=28 days and <18 years of age and has a minimum body weight of 3.2 kilograms (kg) at the Screening Visit.
  • Participant has an estimated life expectancy of >28 days.
  • Participant, if female and of childbearing potential, agrees to use a highly effective contraceptive measure starting at the Screening Visit and continuing throughout the entire trial period.
  • Participant, if a fertile male, agrees to sexual abstinence or to use a condom during sexual activity with their female partner of childbearing potential or pregnant partner. Additionally, if their partner is a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP), then their partner must use an additional highly effective contraceptive method during sexual activity starting at the Screening Visit and continuing throughout the entire trial period.
  • A written informed consent of the participant's parent(s) / legal guardian(s) (and participant's assent, when applicable) has been obtained according to national regulations.

Who cannot join

  • Participant has overt relapse or progression or persistence of the underlying disease.
  • Participant has received the last HSCT for a solid tumor disease other than neuroblastoma.
  • Participant has graft-versus-host disease overlap syndrome.
  • Participant has received systemic first-line treatment for aGvHD other than steroids and a prophylaxis with other than calcineurin inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, anti-thymocyte globulin, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, abatacept, or cyclophosphamide. Note: In vitro or in vivo graft manipulation to prevent graft-versus-host disease (example, T-cell depletion) during HSCT is permitted. Restart of initial prophylaxis with calcineurin inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, or mycophenolate mofetil after aGvHD onset is permitted.
  • Participant has received prior mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) treatment, including MC0518/Obnitix®.
  • Participant has a known pregnancy (as confirmed by a positive pregnancy test result at the Screening Visit) and / or is breastfeeding.
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  • Participant has a known hypersensitivity to MC0518 and / or its excipients (dimethyl sulfoxide, human serum albumin, isotonic sodium chloride solution).
  • Participant has a known hypersensitivity or any contraindication to the Investigator's choice BAT (extracorporeal photopheresis, anti thymocyte globulin, etanercept, infliximab, or ruxolitinib) and / or its excipients. For a list of excipients please refer to the respective Summary of Product Characteristics.
  • Participant has an underlying or current medical or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would interfere with the evaluation of the participant.
  • Participant has an uncontrolled infection (examples, sepsis or multi-organ failure) including significant bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic infection requiring treatment.
  • Participant has received treatment with any other investigational agent within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) before the Screening Visit.

Trial locations and contacts

36 sites in 5 countries.

36 sites in 5 countries

France11 sites
  • CHU de Bordeaux - Hopital des Enfants

    Bordeaux, 33000

  • CHU Grenoble Alpes - Hopital Couple Enfant (HCE)

    La Tronche, 38700

  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille CHU Lille - Hopital Jeanne de Flandre HJF

    Lille, 59037

  • Institut d'Hematologie et d'Oncologie Pediatrique (IHOPe)

    Lyon, 69373

  • CHU de Marseille-Hopital de la Timone

    Marseille, 13385

  • Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire (CHRU) Montpellier - hopital Arnaud de Villeneuve

    Montpellier, 34295

  • CHU de Nantes - Hopital Mere Enfant

    Nantes, 44093

  • Hopital Robert Debre

    Paris, 75019

  • CHU de Rouen - Hopital Charles Nicolle

    Rouen, 73038

  • CHRU de Strasbourg - Hopital de Hautepierre

    Strasbourg, 67000

  • CHRU Nancy, Hopitaux de Brabois

    Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, 54511

Other trials in France

Germany9 sites
  • Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Klinik fur Kinder- und Jugendmedizin

    Aachen, 52074

  • Universitaetsklinikum Essen

    Essen, 45147

  • Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe

    Frankfurt, 60596

  • Universitaetsklinikum Freiburg - Zentrum fuer Kinder- und Jugendmedizin (ZKJ)

    Freiburg im Breisgau, 79106

  • Justus-Liebig-Universitaet Giessen

    Giessen, 35392

  • Medizinische Hochschule Hannover MHH

    Hanover, 30625

  • Department of Pediatrics, Jena University Hospital

    Jena, 7747

  • Universitaetsklinikum Leipzig - Abteilung fuer Paediatrische Onkologie, Haematologie und Haemostaseologie

    Leipzig, 4103

  • Universitaetsklinikum Muenster (UKM) - Klinik fuer Kinder- und Jugendmedizin - Paediatrische Haematologie und Onkologie

    Münster, 48129

Other trials in Germany

Spain8 sites
  • Hospital Universitario Vall dHebron

    Barcelona, 8035

  • Hospital Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona (HSJDB)

    Barcelona, 8950

  • Hospital Niño Jesus

    Madrid, Madrid, 28009

  • Hospital Infantil Universitario La Paz

    Madrid, 28046

  • Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga IBIMA - sede Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga HRUM Hospital Carlos Haya

    Málaga, 29011

  • Instituto Murciano de Investigacion Biosanitaria (IMIB) Virgen de la Arrixaca

    Murcia, 30120

  • Clinica Universitaria de Navarra

    Pamplona, Navarre, 31008

  • Hospital Universitari I politecnic La Fe Jose

    Valencia, 46026

Other trials in Spain

Italy5 sites
  • IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S.Orsola Malpighi

    Bologna, 40138

  • Pediatric Clinic Onco Hematology San Gerardo Hospital

    Monza, 20052

  • U.O.C. Oncoematologia Pediatrica, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo

    Pavia, 27100

  • Hematology and Cellular Therapy Ospedale Bambino Gesu

    Rome, 165

  • A.O.U. Citta della Salute e della Scienza di Torino Ospedale Infantile Regina Margherita

    Turin, 10126

Other trials in Italy

Poland3 sites
  • Dzieciecy Szpital Kliniczny im. A.Gebali w Lublinie

    Lublin, 20-093

  • Szpital Kliniczny im. Karola Jonschera UM

    Poznan, 60-572

  • Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and BMT, Wroclaw Medical University

    Wroclaw, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, 50-556

Other trials in Poland

About this study

Official title: A Randomised, Open-label, Controlled, Multicentre, Phase 2 Trial of First-line Treatment With Mesenchymal Stromal Cells MC0518 Versus Best Available Therapy in Paediatric Participants With Steroid-refractory Acute Graft-versus-host Disease After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (BALDER Trial)

The purpose of this trial is the comparative evaluation of overall response rate (ORR) in paediatric participants with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGvHD) at Visit Day 28 after treatment with MC0518 or first used best available therapy (BAT).

Being tested
MC0518, BAT

What participants receive

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

  • MC0518Biological

    MC0518 will be intravenously infused immediately after thawing.

  • BATBiological

    BAT including ECP, ATG, etanercept, infliximab or RUX will be administered based on Investigator's decision.

Study groups in NCT06075706
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MC0518ExperimentalParticipants will be treated with intravenous infusions of MC0518 at a dose of 1 to 2*10^6 cells per kilogram (cells/kg) (based on body weight at the Screening Visit). Infusions will be administered once a week for 4 weeks (Visit Day 1, 8, 15, and 22). Participants with partial response (PR) on Day 28 will have 2 additional MC0518 infusions administered on Day 29 and 36.
Receives: Biological: MC0518
Best Available Therapy (BAT)Active comparatorParticipants will receive one of the following systemic BATs based on the Investigator's decision: extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), etanercept, infliximab or ruxolitinib (RUX).
Receives: Biological: BAT

What is being measured

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

  1. Number of Participants With Overall Response (OR)

    OR is defined as complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) at Day 28 relative to acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) status at baseline. CR is defined as resolution of aGvHD in all involved organs. PR is defined as improvement in 1 stage in at least 1 or more organs involved with aGvHD symptoms without progression in others.

    Measured: At Day 28

Secondary outcomes (21)
  1. Number of Participants With Freedom From Treatment Failure (FFTF) Until 6 Months (Day 180)

    FFTF is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date of the event. An event is defined as death, relapse or progression of the underlying disease, or addition or change to any further systemic immunosuppressive aGvHD therapy.

    Measured: Up to 6 months (Day 180)

  2. Overall Survival (OS)

    Overall survival is defined as the time from randomization to the date of death due to any cause.

    Measured: Up to Month 24

  3. Number of Participants With aGvHD Response

    aGvHD response will be categorized as OR (CR + PR), CR, PR, and NR. NR is defined as the absence of CR or PR.

    Measured: At Days 28, 60, 100 and 180

  4. Change From Baseline in aGvHD Grades

    aGvHD grades: Grade 0- no organ involvement (that is, Stage 0 skin, Stage 0 liver, and Stage 0 gastrointestinal [GI]); Grade I-Stage 1 - 2 skin without liver/GI involvement; Grade II- Stage 3 skin and / or Stage 1 liver and / or Stage 1 GI; Grade III- Stage 2 - 3 liver and / or Stage 2 - 3 GI; Grade IV- Stage 4 skin and / or Stage 4 liver and/or Stage 4 GI.

    Measured: Baseline, Days 8, 15, 22, 28, 60, 100 and 180

  5. Time to Response

    Time to response is defined as the time from the date of the first treatment administration to the date of response (CR or PR).

    Measured: From the date of the first treatment administration to the date of the first response (CR or PR) (up to 5 years)

  6. Duration of Response

    Duration is defined as the time from the date of the first OR (CR or PR) to the date of aGvHD assessed as NR compared to the baseline assessment, or the date of addition of or change to any further systemic aGvHD therapy (except changes in steroid treatment), in responders.

    Measured: Up to Month 24

  7. Number of Participants With Best Overall Response (OR)

    Best OR is defined as the achievement of an OR at any time point up to and including Day 28.

    Measured: Up to Day 28

  8. Cumulative Dose of Steroids for SR-aGvHD per Kilogram (kg) of Body Weight

    The cumulative dose of steroids given for SR-aGvHD per kg of body weight from the date of the first treatment administration until Day 28, Day 60, and until Visit Month 24 will be analyzed.

    Measured: From the date of the first treatment administration up to Day 28, Day 60, and Month 24

  9. Number of Participants With Chronic Graft-versus-host Disease (cGvHD)

    Number of participants with cGvHD will be reported.

    Measured: From Day 60 up to Month 24

  10. Time to Chronic Graft-versus-host Disease (cGvHD)

    Time to cGvHD is defined as the time between the last day of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to the first episode of cGvHD.

    Measured: From Day 60 up to Month 24

  11. Number of Participants With Graft Failure (GF)

    Number of participants with GF will be reported.

    Measured: Baseline up to Month 24

  12. Number of Participants With Relapse or Progression in Participants With Underlying Malignant Disease

    Number of participants with relapse or progression in participants with underlying malignant disease will be reported.

    Measured: From randomization up to Month 24

  13. Time to Relapse or Progression in Participants With Underlying Malignant Disease

    Time to relapse or progression is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date of relapse or progression until Month 24.

    Measured: From randomization up to Month 24

  14. Event-free Survival (EFS)

    EFS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date of the event. An event is defined as GF, relapse or progression of the underlying disease, or death due to any cause.

    Measured: From the date of randomization to date of GF, relapse or progression of the underlying disease, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first (up to Month 24)

  15. Non-relapse Mortality (NRM)

    NRM is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date of the event. An event is defined as death without previous relapse or progression of the underlying disease.

    Measured: From the date of randomization to the date of death without previous relapse or progression of the underlying disease (up to Month 24)

  16. Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)

    An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a trial participant administered a trial treatment that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this trial treatment.

    Measured: Up to Month 24

  17. Number of Participants With Adverse Reactions (ARs) by Severity

    An AR is defined as all noxious and unintended responses to a trial treatment related to any dose administered / procedure performed. Severity will be graded based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0: Grade 1- Mild; Grade 2- Moderate; Grade 3- Severe; Grade 4- Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated; Grade 4- Death related to the AE.

    Measured: Up to Month 24

  18. Change From Baseline in Performance Score Based on Karnofsky Scale

    The Karnofsky performance score (KPS), which is reported on an ordinal scale from 0 to 100, provides a rough measure of the participant's (recipient age greater than or equal to [>=] 16 years) well-being, including their ability to conduct activities of daily living and functional capacity. Higher score indicates normal, no complaints and no evidence of disease.

    Measured: Baseline, Days 8, 15, 22, 28, 60 and 100

  19. Change From Baseline in Performance Score Based on Lansky Scale

    A Lansky score (recipient age >=1 year and less than [<] 16 years) will be recorded pre-treatment and measured serially at regular intervals after treatment. The score is a standard performance score that measures overall function of the child with a scale range from 0 to 100. Higher score indicates full activeness.

    Measured: Baseline, Days 8, 15, 22, 28, 60 and 100

  20. Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) 4.0 Generic Core Scale Score

    The PedsQL Generic Core Scales instrument is a standardized, established, and validated questionnaire in pediatric populations that systematically assesses the participants' and parents' / legal guardians' perceptions of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The Generic Core Scales module consists of 23 items measuring the core dimensions of health on physical, emotional, social, and school functioning that can be used for self- and proxy-reports in age groups ranging from 2 to 18 years (child self-report ages: 5 to 7, 8 to 12, 13 to 18; parent-proxy report ages: 2 to 4, 5 to 7, 8 to 12, 13 to 18). The scores of this questionnaire range from 0 to 100 , where higher scores indicate better HRQoL.

    Measured: Baseline, Days 28, 60, 100 and 180

  21. Change From Baseline in PedsQL™ Stem Cell Transplant Module Scale Score

    The PedsQL™ Stem Cell Transplant Module is a disease-specific module of the PedsQL™ for toddlers (2 to 4 years of age), young children (5 to 7 years of age), children (8 to 12 years of age), and adolescents (13 to 18 years of age) and was designed to measure the quality of life in participants undergoing stem cell transplantation. It consists of the following HRQoL domains: pain and hurt, fatigue / sleeping problems / weakness, nausea, worry / anxiety about disease / treatment, nutritional problems, neurocognitive problems, communication about disease / treatment, loneliness, physical functioning and additional somatic complaints (pruritus, skin inflammation, oral problems, eyes or breathing) including patients' and parents' assessment. The scores of this disease-specific module of the PedsQL™ range from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better HRQoL.

    Measured: Baseline, Days 28, 60, 100 and 180

Timeline

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

  1. First posted10 Oct 2023
  2. Study start13 Nov 2023
  3. Primary completion11 Feb 2026
  4. Study completionJun 2031 (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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
49 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06075706
Sponsor's protocol ID
MC-MSC.2/aGvHD
Other IDs
2023-503952-28-00, 2023
Acronym
BALDER
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
4 Oct 2023
Last updated
14 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing MC0518 and BAT in people with Steroid-refractory Acute Graft-versus-host Disease, run by medac GmbH at 36 sites in 5 countries.

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

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 36 sites in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland. 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?

Number of Participants With Overall Response (OR) (time frame: At Day 28). 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 14 Apr 2026.

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