ImmunologyCOVIFERONNCT06762002
Impaired Type I IFN Immunity Due to Autoantibodies or a Genetic Defect: a Prospective National Cohort
An observational study of Immunology and Allergy, run by Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France at 9 sites in France.
Trial summary
The major role of human genetic factors in the immune response to infections is now well established, particularly for viral infections. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the following results have identified 1) several inborn errors of immunity (IEI) affecting the response or production of type I interferons… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Immunology, Allergy, Genetic Diseases
- What is being tested?
- blood sample
- How many people
- 500 participants
- Where
- 9 sitesFrance
- Study dates
- 9 Apr 2025to Jan 2029
- How long will I take part?
- 3 Years
- Phase
- Observational
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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adults with auto-Abs against IFN-I or an IEI-IFN-I who: 1) either have or have had a clinical disease (COVID-19 related, other viral infections, adverse effect of vaccination, auto-immune disorders); or 2) are healthy (e.g. blood donor, relatives of a participant).
Who may be able to join
- Age >18 years
- History of carrying 1) auto-Abs against type I IFNs or 2) IEI impairing the response to, or the production of, type I IFNs (IFN-I-IEI)
- Affiliated to social security
- Written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Participation to an interventional clinical trial on a pharmacological treatment
- Clinical condition leading to life expectancy less than 1 year
- Subject to a legal protection measure (safeguard of justice, curatorship, tutorship)
- Individuals deprived of freedom
Trial locations and contacts
9 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
9 sites in 1 country
France9 sites, 9 recruiting
- Recruiting
Cic Lille
Lille
Dominique DEPLANQUE, PU-PH, 03 20 44 68 91, dominique.deplanque@univ-lille.fr
Dominique DEPLANQUE, PU-PU
- Recruiting
LYON HCL
Lyon
Alexandre BELOT, PU-PH, 04 27 85 61 26, alexandre.belot@chu-lyon.fr
Alexandre BELOT, PU-PU
- Recruiting
Cic Montpellier
Montpellier
Florence GALTIER, PH, 04 67 33 23 29, f-galtier@chu-montpellier.fr
Florence GALTIER, PH
- Recruiting
Cic Bichat
Paris
Xavier-Marie DUVAL, PU-PH, 01 40 25 71 48, xavier.duval@aphp.fr
Xavier-Marie DUVAL, PU-PU
- Recruiting
Cic Creteil
Paris
Philippe LE CORVOISIER, PU-PH, 06 88 25 81 15, philippe.lecorvoisier@aphp.fr
Philippe LE CORVOISIER, PU-PU
- Recruiting
Cic La Salpetriere
Paris
Joe-Elie SALEM, PU-PH, 01 42 17 85 31, joe-elie.salem@aphp.fr
Joe-Elie SALEM, PU-PU
- Recruiting
Cic Necker
Paris
Michaela SEMERARO, PH, 01 42 19 27 16, michaela.semeraro@aphp.fr
Michaela SEMERARO, PH
- Recruiting
Cic St Louis
Paris
Jean-Jacques KILADJIAN, PU-PH, 01 42 49 94 94, jean-jacques.kiladjian@aphp.fr
Jean-Jacques KILADJIAN, PU-PU
- Recruiting
Cic Tours
Tours
Valérie GISSOT, PH, 02 34 37 96 53, valerie.gissot@univ-tours.fr
Valérie GISSOT, PH
About this study
The major role of human genetic factors in the immune response to infections is now well established, particularly for viral infections. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the following results have identified 1) several inborn errors of immunity (IEI) affecting the response or production of type I interferons (type I IFNs) in around 4% of adult patients with severe clinical disease, and 2) the presence of type I IFN-neutralizing autoantibodies (auto-Abs) in around 15% of severe cases, and 20% of deaths. The investigators would like to carry out a longitudinal immunological and clinical follow-up study on a prospective cohort of patients with either a genetic defect affecting the type I IFN-dependent immune response, or anti-IFN-I auto-Abs, to monitor the incidence of infectious and/or autoimmune events in these individuals, the evolution of neutralizing power, and the kinetics of auto-Abs. This should lead to a better understanding of the prevention and management of these patients.
The research design is a national multicenter prospective cohort of adults with 1) anti-IFN-I auto-Abs or 2) IEI- IFN-I, with follow-up from 1 to 4 years. These individuals may be: 1) patients who have or have had clinical disease (related to COVID-19, other viral infections, autoimmune disorders); or 2) "healthy" participants (e.g. blood donors, relatives of an IEI patient).
Read more
Follow-up will include:
- yearly visits to the Clinical Investigation Center (CIC) or a clinical department with blood sampling;
- specific visit in case of hospitalization for infectious events or adverse effects of vaccination, exacerbation or new diagnosis of auto-immune disease, new diagnosis of cancer, or SARS-CoV-2 infection whether or not patients are admitted to hospital, with blood sampling.
In addition, a retrospective "passive" follow-up will be implemented through matching with the data from the SNDS (National Health Data System), in order to collect clinical events of and healthcare resource consumption. Moreover, matching with controls adults from the national CONSTANCES cohort, not carrying auto-Abs against type I IFNs nor IEI-IFN-I, will be performed. (ratio 3:1; matching on age (+/- 5 years), gender and geographic region of recruitment). Individuals under long-lasting immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs will not be eligible. Follow-up of controls, which will be carried out as part of the CONSTANCES cohort, will include web-based questionnaires, every 12 months, in addition to linking with SNDS data as already done in this cohort.
Inclusion visit:
After signing the consent form, the following tests will be performed:
- Demographic characteristics (sex, age, country of birth)
- Medical history from participant and family member(s) including infectious and auto-immune diseases, cancers and vaccination status and side effects
- Blood samples for:
- full blood cell count;
- classical autoimmune investigations (anti-nuclear, anti-ENA, native anti-DNA, anti- thyroid antibodies, rheumatoid factor);
- immunophenotyping*;
- auto-Abs against type I IFNs, other cytokines*, or other target proteins* (dosage and neutralization activity);
- Genetic explorations by whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing*;
- Biobanking (DNA, plasma/sera; cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
- these biological analyses will be carried out as part of dedicated COVIFERON RHU5 workpackages.
In addition, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza will be offered to these subjects as a priority, as part of their usual care.
Follow-up visits :
Annual visits to the CIC :
- Medical history since last visit, including infectious, auto-immune and oncologic events, vaccination status and side effects
- Blood samples for:
- full blood cell count;
- classical autoimmune investigation (anti-nuclear, anti-ENA, native anti- DNA, anti-thyroid antibodies, rheumatoid factor);
- immunophenotyping;
- Auto-Abs against type I IFNs, other cytokines, or other target proteins (dosage and neutralization)
- Biobanking (DNA, plasma, cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs))
Additional specific visit in the event of a clinical event of interest, at any time during follow-up:
- In case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, whatever the severity of the disease: blood sampling for determination and neutralization of type I anti-IFN autoAbs, CBC, and biobanking (plasma and PBMC) and teleconsultation with the CIC in charge of patients, as soon as possible.
- In the event of hospitalization for infectious events or exacerbation or new diagnosis of an auto-immune disease: blood sampling for determination and neutralization of anti-IFN-I autoAbs, CBC, and biobanking (plasma and PBMCs) and collection of the hospitalization report in the case report form on a dedicated page.
- Conditions
- Immunology, Allergy, Genetic Diseases, Infectious Diseases
- Being tested
- blood sample
- Keywords
- covid-19, auto-immunity, Type I interferon, kinetics, infectious diseases
- Medical subject headings
- Hypersensitivity, Genetic Diseases, Inborn, Communicable Diseases, COVID-19
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
blood sampleOther
After signature of consent form,blood samples will be collected for full blood cell count;classical autoimmune investigations, immunophenotyping;auto-Abs against type IIFNs, other cytokines, or other target proteins ,Genetic explorations by whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing;Biobanking
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects with auto-Abs against type I IFNs or inborn errors of immunity | The study examines how autoantibodies (auto-Abs) against type I interferons (IFNs) and inborn errors of immunity affect susceptibility to infectious diseases, especially COVID-19. Individuals with auto-Abs against type I IFNs have impaired immune responses to viral infections, putting them at higher risk for severe COVID-19, leading to worse outcomes like pneumonia or cytokine storms. Those with inborn errors of immunity have genetic defects that weaken immune function, increasing vulnerability to infections, including COVID-19. The study compares these groups to understand immune dysfunctions and identify potential therapeutic targets. Receives: Other: blood sample |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
primary endpoint n°1 : quantitative dosage of auto-Abs against type I IFNs
Method: Quantitative trait will be measured by Gyros using commercially available internal control antibodies.
Measured: year 0, year 1, year 2 and year 3
primary endpoint n°2 : neutralization capacity evaluation of auto-Abs against type I IFNs
The neutralization capacity will be performed as previously reported using an in vitro luciferase system in HEK293 cells
Measured: year 0, year 1, year 2 and year 3
Secondary outcomes (6)
Cumulative incidence of clinical events of interest, i.e. infectious events, autoimmune diseases or cancers
Method: annual medical visits, SNDS (PMSI, DCIR). Incidence density rate is defined as the number of newly disease individuals on the sum of time periods for all disease-free individual-at-risk
Measured: Year 0, year 1, year 2 and year 3
Clinical and biological factors associated with clinical outcomes
the potential predictor variables will be assessed by bivariate logistic regressions where occurrence of clinical events is the variable to be explained. Factors associated with a p-value less than 0.20 will be included in the multivariate logistic model. Backward selection on pvalue will be applied. Internal validity of the final model will be estimated by cross-validation (Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation method). Discrimination will be assessed by the area under the ROC curve and its 95% confidence interval.
Measured: Year 0, year 1, year 2 and year 3
Cumulative incidence of the same clinical events of interest, in control participants who are negative for auto-Abs, matched by age and sex followed through the large CONSTANCES cohort
Cumulative incidence of the same clinical events of interest, in control participants who are negative for auto-Abs, matched by age and sex followed through the large CONSTANCES cohort (Constances database), and its 95% confidence interval: Incidence density rate is defined as the number of newly disease individuals on the sum of time periods for all disease-free individual-at-risk.
Measured: Year 0, year 1, year 2 and year 3
Genetic factors associated with the development of auto-Abs against type I IFNs
searching for homozygous deletions using in-house HMZDelFinder-opt method of imagine institue
Measured: Year 0, year 1, year 2 and year 3
Genetic factors associated with the development of auto-Abs against type I IFNs
Searching for rare candidate coding variants in patients by following an optimal filtering strategy that imagine have optimized over the last 10 years based on multiple variant-level and gene-level criteria to select the candidate variants
Measured: year 0, year 1, year 2 and year 3
Genetic factors associated with the development of auto-Abs against type I IFNs
Using gene-level criteria to select candidate variants such as the negative selection level measured by the CoNeS approach.
Measured: year 0, year 1, year 2 and year 3
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Jan 2025
- Study start9 Apr 2025
- Primary completionJan 2029 (estimated)
- Study completionJan 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for ImmunologyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, FranceThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 500 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 3 Years
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06762002
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- C22-73
- Other IDs
- 2023-A02663-42
- Acronym
- COVIFERON
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 18 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Bastard P, Gervais A, Le Voyer T, Rosain J, Philippot Q, Manry J, Michailidis E, Hoffmann HH, Eto S, Garcia-Prat M, Bizien L, Parra-Martinez A, Yang R, Haljasmagi L, Migaud M, Sarekannu K, Maslovskaja J, de Prost N, Tandjaoui-Lambiotte Y, Luyt CE, Amador-Borrero B, Gaudet A, Poissy J, Morel P, Richard P, Cognasse F, Troya J, Trouillet-Assant S, Belot A, Saker K, Garcon P, Riviere JG, Lagier JC, Gentile S, Rosen LB, Shaw E, Morio T, Tanaka J, Dalmau D, Tharaux PL, Sene D, Stepanian A, Megarbane B, Triantafyllia V, Fekkar A, Heath JR, Franco JL, Anaya JM, Sole-Violan J, Imberti L, Biondi A, Bonfanti P, Castagnoli R, Delmonte OM, Zhang Y, Snow AL, Holland SM, Biggs C, Moncada-Velez M, Arias AA, Lorenzo L, Boucherit S, Coulibaly B, Anglicheau D, Planas AM, Haerynck F, Duvlis S, Nussbaum RL, Ozcelik T, Keles S, Bousfiha AA, El Bakkouri J, Ramirez-Santana C, Paul S, Pan-Hammarstrom Q, Hammarstrom L, Dupont A, Kurolap A, Metz CN, Aiuti A, Casari G, Lampasona V, Ciceri F, Barreiros LA, Dominguez-Garrido E, Vidigal M, Zatz M, van de Beek D, Sahanic S, Tancevski I, Stepanovskyy Y, Boyarchuk O, Nukui Y, Tsumura M, Vidaur L, Tangye SG, Burrel S, Duffy D, Quintana-Murci L, Klocperk A, Kann NY, Shcherbina A, Lau YL, Leung D, Coulongeat M, Marlet J, Koning R, Reyes LF, Chauvineau-Grenier A, Venet F, Monneret G, Nussenzweig MC, Arrestier R, Boudhabhay I, Baris-Feldman H, Hagin D, Wauters J, Meyts I, Dyer AH, Kennelly SP, Bourke NM, Halwani R, Sharif-Askari NS, Dorgham K, Sallette J, Sedkaoui SM, AlKhater S, Rigo-Bonnin R, Morandeira F, Roussel L, Vinh DC, Ostrowski SR, Condino-Neto A, Prando C, Bonradenko A, Spaan AN, Gilardin L, Fellay J, Lyonnet S, Bilguvar K, Lifton RP, Mane S; HGID Lab; COVID Clinicians; COVID-STORM Clinicians; NIAID Immune Response to COVID Group; NH-COVAIR Study Group; Danish CHGE; Danish Blood Donor Study; St. James's Hospital; SARS CoV2 Interest group; French COVID Cohort Study Group; Imagine COVID-Group; Milieu Interieur Consortium; CoV-Contact Cohort; Amsterdam UMC Covid-19; Biobank Investigators; COVID Human Genetic Effort; CONSTANCES cohort; 3C-Dijon Study; Cerba Health-Care; Etablissement du Sang study group; Anderson MS, Boisson B, Beziat V, Zhang SY, Vandreakos E, Hermine O, Pujol A, Peterson P, Mogensen TH, Rowen L, Mond J, Debette S, de Lamballerie X, Duval X, Mentre F, Zins M, Soler-Palacin P, Colobran R, Gorochov G, Solanich X, Susen S, Martinez-Picado J, Raoult D, Vasse M, Gregersen PK, Piemonti L, Rodriguez-Gallego C, Notarangelo LD, Su HC, Kisand K, Okada S, Puel A, Jouanguy E, Rice CM, Tiberghien P, Zhang Q, Cobat A, Abel L, Casanova JL. Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs are present in ~4% of uninfected individuals over 70 years old and account for ~20% of COVID-19 deaths. Sci Immunol. 2021 Aug 19;6(62):eabl4340. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abl4340.
PubMed 34413139Zhang Q, Bastard P, Liu Z, Le Pen J, Moncada-Velez M, Chen J, Ogishi M, Sabli IKD, Hodeib S, Korol C, Rosain J, Bilguvar K, Ye J, Bolze A, Bigio B, Yang R, Arias AA, Zhou Q, Zhang Y, Onodi F, Korniotis S, Karpf L, Philippot Q, Chbihi M, Bonnet-Madin L, Dorgham K, Smith N, Schneider WM, Razooky BS, Hoffmann HH, Michailidis E, Moens L, Han JE, Lorenzo L, Bizien L, Meade P, Neehus AL, Ugurbil AC, Corneau A, Kerner G, Zhang P, Rapaport F, Seeleuthner Y, Manry J, Masson C, Schmitt Y, Schluter A, Le Voyer T, Khan T, Li J, Fellay J, Roussel L, Shahrooei M, Alosaimi MF, Mansouri D, Al-Saud H, Al-Mulla F, Almourfi F, Al-Muhsen SZ, Alsohime F, Al Turki S, Hasanato R, van de Beek D, Biondi A, Bettini LR, D'Angio' M, Bonfanti P, Imberti L, Sottini A, Paghera S, Quiros-Roldan E, Rossi C, Oler AJ, Tompkins MF, Alba C, Vandernoot I, Goffard JC, Smits G, Migeotte I, Haerynck F, Soler-Palacin P, Martin-Nalda A, Colobran R, Morange PE, Keles S, Colkesen F, Ozcelik T, Yasar KK, Senoglu S, Karabela SN, Rodriguez-Gallego C, Novelli G, Hraiech S, Tandjaoui-Lambiotte Y, Duval X, Laouenan C; COVID-STORM Clinicians; COVID Clinicians; Imagine COVID Group; French COVID Cohort Study Group; CoV-Contact Cohort; Amsterdam UMC Covid-19 Biobank; COVID Human Genetic Effort; NIAID-USUHS/TAGC COVID Immunity Group; Snow AL, Dalgard CL, Milner JD, Vinh DC, Mogensen TH, Marr N, Spaan AN, Boisson B, Boisson-Dupuis S, Bustamante J, Puel A, Ciancanelli MJ, Meyts I, Maniatis T, Soumelis V, Amara A, Nussenzweig M, Garcia-Sastre A, Krammer F, Pujol A, Duffy D, Lifton RP, Zhang SY, Gorochov G, Beziat V, Jouanguy E, Sancho-Shimizu V, Rice CM, Abel L, Notarangelo LD, Cobat A, Su HC, Casanova JL. Inborn errors of type I IFN immunity in patients with life-threatening COVID-19. Science. 2020 Oct 23;370(6515):eabd4570. doi: 10.1126/science.abd4570. Epub 2020 Sep 24.
PubMed 32972995Bastard P, Rosen LB, Zhang Q, Michailidis E, Hoffmann HH, Zhang Y, Dorgham K, Philippot Q, Rosain J, Beziat V, Manry J, Shaw E, Haljasmagi L, Peterson P, Lorenzo L, Bizien L, Trouillet-Assant S, Dobbs K, de Jesus AA, Belot A, Kallaste A, Catherinot E, Tandjaoui-Lambiotte Y, Le Pen J, Kerner G, Bigio B, Seeleuthner Y, Yang R, Bolze A, Spaan AN, Delmonte OM, Abers MS, Aiuti A, Casari G, Lampasona V, Piemonti L, Ciceri F, Bilguvar K, Lifton RP, Vasse M, Smadja DM, Migaud M, Hadjadj J, Terrier B, Duffy D, Quintana-Murci L, van de Beek D, Roussel L, Vinh DC, Tangye SG, Haerynck F, Dalmau D, Martinez-Picado J, Brodin P, Nussenzweig MC, Boisson-Dupuis S, Rodriguez-Gallego C, Vogt G, Mogensen TH, Oler AJ, Gu J, Burbelo PD, Cohen JI, Biondi A, Bettini LR, D'Angio M, Bonfanti P, Rossignol P, Mayaux J, Rieux-Laucat F, Husebye ES, Fusco F, Ursini MV, Imberti L, Sottini A, Paghera S, Quiros-Roldan E, Rossi C, Castagnoli R, Montagna D, Licari A, Marseglia GL, Duval X, Ghosn J; HGID Lab; NIAID-USUHS Immune Response to COVID Group; COVID Clinicians; COVID-STORM Clinicians; Imagine COVID Group; French COVID Cohort Study Group; Milieu Interieur Consortium; CoV-Contact Cohort; Amsterdam UMC Covid-19 Biobank; COVID Human Genetic Effort; Tsang JS, Goldbach-Mansky R, Kisand K, Lionakis MS, Puel A, Zhang SY, Holland SM, Gorochov G, Jouanguy E, Rice CM, Cobat A, Notarangelo LD, Abel L, Su HC, Casanova JL. Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with life-threatening COVID-19. Science. 2020 Oct 23;370(6515):eabd4585. doi: 10.1126/science.abd4585. Epub 2020 Sep 24.
PubMed 32972996