MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome)Phase 2DarbeLusNCT07096297
Luspatercept + Darbepoetin in MDS
A Phase 2 study testing Luspatercept and Darbeopoetin in people with MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome), run by Yale University at 4 sites in United States.
Trial summary
This is a single arm open-label Phase II trial of luspatercept and darbepoetin alfa in non-mutated SF3B1 , lower-risk, RBC transfusion dependent MDS participants with an endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) level < 500 IU/L. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome)
- What is being tested?
- Luspatercept and Darbeopoetin
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 4 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 16 Dec 2025to Aug 2030
- Phase
- Phase 2
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
Who may be able to join
- Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
- Participant is 18 years or older at the time of signing informed consent.
- Participant has lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) defined as very low, low and intermediate risk by International Prognostic Scoring System-Revised (IPSS-R) criteria (3).
- Bone marrow biopsy within 90 days of screening demonstrated less than 5% blasts in the aspirate and/or core biopsy. If no bone marrow biopsy was done within 90 days of screening it is mandatory to repeat it at screening. Otherwise, bone marrow biopsy is optional at screening to obtain correlative study samples.
- Absence of SF3B1 mutation and del5q.
- Endogenous serum erythropoietin alfa (EPO) level < 500 IU/L.
Show all 23Show fewer
- Participant is transfusion dependent defined as ≥ 2 packed red blood cell (PRBC) units/8 weeks for a minimum of eight weeks immediately prior to screening. The maximum consecutive timeframe participants may be RBC transfusion-free within this 8-week time period is six weeks.
- Red blood cell transfusions administered when hemoglobin levels were > 9.0 g/dL and/or RBC transfusions administered for elective surgery, infections or bleeding events will not be counted in above.
- Participant has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-3 (Appendix 1. ECOG Performance Status Scale).
- Participant has adequate organ function defined as:
- Serum aspartate aminotransferase/serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST/SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT/SGPT) ≤ 3 x ULN, unless considered due to organ involvement by the participant's myeloid malignancy (in that case a cut off ≤ 5 x ULN will be used).
- Serum direct bilirubin < 1.5 x ULN.
- Creatinine clearance > 30 mL/min based on the Cockroft-Gault glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation.
- Participants must adhere to the following reproductive and contraceptive requirements while on study treatment and for three months after the last dose of luspatercept and darbepoetin alfa:
- General Requirements: i. Participants must not be pregnant or breastfeeding. ii. Participants must not donate gametes (i.e., eggs or sperm) or freeze gametes for future use related to assisted reproduction.
- For participants of childbearing potential: i. Participant of childbearing potential is defined as an individual who is premenopausal and capable of becoming pregnant, including those using contraception, those who are single, or those with partners who have had a vasectomy.
- A negative highly sensitive pregnancy test must be obtained at screening, and a negative serum or urine pregnancy test must be obtained within 72 hours starting on treatment, and participants must agree to further pregnancy tests throughout the study as required per the site's institutional guidelines.
- Participants must agree to use two methods of contraception of which one must be highly effective for three months after the last dose of luspatercept and darbepoetin alfa.
- For Partners of Participants: i. If the participant's partner is of childbearing potential, the partner must also practice a highly effective method of contraception while the participant is on study treatment and for three months after the last dose of luspatercept and darbepoetin alfa, unless the participant is vasectomized.
- Highly effective methods of contraception include, but are not limited to: i. Combined hormonal contraception (estrogen and progestogen) that inhibits ovulation (oral, intravaginal, or transdermal).
- Progestogen-only hormonal contraception that inhibits ovulation (oral, injectable, or implantable).
- Non-hormonal (cooper) intrauterine device (IUD). iv. Intrauterine hormone-releasing system. v. Bilateral tubal occlusion. vi. Sexual abstinence (the reliability of abstinence must be evaluated concerning the duration of the clinical study and the participant's lifestyle).
- A vasectomized partner (provided the partner is the sole sexual partner of the study participant of childbearing potential and that the vasectomized partner has received medical confirmation of the surgical success).
Who cannot join
- Prior treatment with ESA, luspatercept, hypomethylating agents or lenalidomide/thalidomide/other immunomodulating drug (IMiDs).
- Exception 1: Participants can have received ≤ 2 doses of prior epoetin alfa or ≤ 1 dose darbepoetin alfa if ≥ 8 weeks from date of consent.
- Exception 2: Participants can have received ≤ 1 week of treatment with lenalidomide ≥ 8 weeks from the date of consent, at the sponsor-investigator's discretion.
- After signing consent, the participants are not allowed to receive any of these drugs: other RBC hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., Interleukin-3), granulocyte colony stimulating factors (i.e., G-CSF, GM-CSF), except in cases of neutropenic fever, cytotoxic, chemotherapeutic, targeted or investigational agents/therapies, azacitidine, decitabine or other hypomethylating agents, lenalidomide, thalidomide and other immunomodulating drugs (IMiDs), hydroxyurea, androgens, unless to treat hypogonadism, oral retinoids (topical retinoids are permitted), arsenic trioxide, interferon and interleukins.
- Participants with history of seizures at any time.
- Participants with any of the following conditions within six months prior to screening:
Show all 24Show fewer
- Stroke.
- Thrombosis/thromboembolism.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Uncontrolled angina.
- Acute decompensated cardiac failure or New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III-IV heart failure.
- Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia as determined by the investigator.
- Participant has immediate life-threatening, severe complications of their myeloid malignancy such as uncontrolled bleeding, pneumonia with hypoxia or shock, and/or disseminated intravascular coagulation.
- Participants with uncontrolled hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) of ≥ 150 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 100 mmHg despite adequate treatment. Participant with history of cerebrovascular accident (including ischemic, embolic, and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident), transient ischemic attack.
- Participant has active viral infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or active infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or active infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Participants with HIV that is controlled (not detectable viral load) with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are eligible to participate.
- Participant has active uncontrolled systemic fungal, bacterial, or viral infection (defined as ongoing signs/symptoms related to the infection without improvement despite appropriate antibiotics, antiviral therapy, and/or other treatment).
- Participant who is pregnant or lactating.
- Pregnant participants are excluded from this study because luspatercept has shown in animal studies to be potentially associated with fetal harm.
- Because there is an unknown but potential risk for AE in nursing infants secondary to treatment, lactating participants are excluded from this study.
- Participant with prior history of malignancies, other than MDS, unless the participant has been free of the disease for ≥ 5 years. However, participants with the following history/concurrent conditions are allowed:
- Basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
- Carcinoma in situ of the cervix.
- Carcinoma in situ of the breast.
- Incidental histologic finding of prostate cancer (T1a or T1b using the tumor, nodes, metastasis TNM clinical staging system).
Trial locations and contacts
4 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States4 sites, 4 recruiting
- Not yet recruiting
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611
Elizabeth Morrin, 3126951331, Elizabeth.Morrin@northwestern.edu
Yasmin M Abaza, MD
- Not yet recruiting
The Ohio State University - The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute: Comprehensive Cancer Center (
Columbus, Ohio, 43210
Ashley Galterio, 614-685-9828, CTO.Implementation@osumc.edu
Umu Borate, MD
- Not yet recruiting
Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center of UT Southwestern
Dallas, Texas, 75235
Michael Mccane, 2146486553, michael.mccane@utsouthwestern.edu
Yazan Madanat, MD
- Recruiting
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, 06510
Farah Fasihuddin, 203-494-4610, farah.fasihuddin@yale.edu
Maximilian Stahl, MD
About this study
Official title: A Phase II Study of Luspatercept Plus Darbepoetin Alfa in Non-mutated SF3B1 Lower-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes
This is a single arm open-label Phase II trial of luspatercept and darbepoetin alfa in non-mutated SF3B1 , lower-risk, RBC transfusion dependent MDS participants with an endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) level < 500 IU/L.
Read the detailed description
This is a single arm open-label Phase II trial of luspatercept and darbepoetin alfa in non-mutated SF3B1 , lower-risk, RBC transfusion dependent MDS participants with an endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) level < 500 IU/L.
Each participant will be treated with luspatercept in combination with darbepoetin alfa every 21 days (three weeks). Both agents will be administered on day 1 of each 21-day (three weeks) cycle. Based on the individual participant's response to combination therapy of luspatercept and darbepoetin alfa, the doses of luspatercept and/or darbepoetin alfa can be either decreased or increased.
- Conditions
- MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome)
- Being tested
- Luspatercept, Darbeopoetin
- Keywords
- SF3B1 wild type, RBC transfusion dependent, lower risk, non-mutated SF3B1
- Medical subject headings
- Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
LuspaterceptDrug
Luspatercept will be administered every 3 weeks (21 days) at a starting dose of 1.0 mg/kg (Dose Level 0). Luspatercept will be administered to participants by the study staff at the clinical site and administration will be documented in the participant's source record. Participants must have Hgb, blood pressure and weight assessed (changes of body weight of ≤ ± 5% do not require a dose adjustment) prior to each luspatercept dose administration. Subcutaneous injections will be given in the upper arm, thigh, and/or abdomen. Volume for subcutaneous injection will be per institutional standard/guidelines.
DarbeopoetinDrug
Darbepoetin alfa will be administered every 3 weeks (21 days), at a starting dose of 300 ug (Dose Level 0). Darbepoetin alfa will be administered to participants by the study staff at the clinical site and administration will be documented in the participant's source record. Darbepoetin alfa will be administered as a subcutaneous injection by the site staff in the upper arm, thigh, and/or abdomen per institutional standard/guidelines.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Luspatercept + Darbepoetin | Experimental | Each participant will be treated with luspatercept every 21 days (three weeks) in combination with darbepoetin alfa every 21 days (three weeks). Both agents will be administered on day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Based on the individual participant's response to combination therapy of luspatercept and darbepoetin alfa, the doses of luspatercept and/or darbepoetin alfa can be either decreased or increased. The starting dose is luspatercept at 1.0 mg/kg (Dose Level 0) and darbepoetin alfa 300 µg (Dose Level 0). Receives: Drug: Luspatercept; Drug: Darbeopoetin |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mean Rate of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence
Mean rate of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least any consecutive 84 days (≥ 12 consecutive weeks) during weeks 1-24 compared to baseline in non-mutated SF3B1, lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients treated with Luspatercept plus Darbepoetin Alfa
Measured: 24 weeks
Mean Rate of Hemoglobin Increase
Mean rate of hemoglobin ≥ 1.5 g/dL during weeks 1-24 compared to baseline in non-mutated SF3B1, lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients treated with Luspatercept plus Darbepoetin Alfa.
Measured: 24 weeks
Secondary outcomes (16)
Mean rate of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥8 Consecutive Weeks During Weeks 1-24
Mean rate of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 8 consecutive weeks during weeks 1-24 compared to baseline. Assessed as the proportion of participants who achieve RBC-TI within the first 24 weeks of the study.
Measured: 24 weeks
Mean rate of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥8 Consecutive Weeks During Weeks 1-48
Mean rate of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 8 consecutive weeks during weeks 1-48 compared to baseline. Assessed as the proportion of participants who achieve RBC-TI within the first 48 weeks of the study.
Measured: 48 weeks
Mean rate of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥12 Consecutive Weeks During Weeks 1-24
Mean rate of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 12 consecutive weeks during weeks 1-24 compared to baseline. Assessed as the proportion of participants who achieve RBC-TI within the first 24 weeks of the study.
Measured: 24 weeks
Mean rate of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥12 Consecutive Weeks During Weeks 1-48
Mean rate of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 12 consecutive weeks during weeks 1-48 compared to baseline. Assessed as the proportion of participants who achieve RBC-TI within the first 48 weeks of the study.
Measured: 48 weeks
Mean rate of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥24 Consecutive Weeks During Weeks 1-24
Mean rate of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 24 consecutive weeks during weeks 1-24 compared to baseline. Assessed as the proportion of participants who achieve RBC-TI within the first 24 weeks of the study.
Measured: 24 weeks
Mean rate of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥24 Consecutive Weeks During Weeks 1-48
Mean rate of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 24 consecutive weeks during weeks 1-48 compared to baseline. Assessed as the proportion of participants who achieve RBC-TI within the first 48 weeks of the study.
Measured: 48 weeks
Duration of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥8 Weeks
To determine the duration of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 8 consecutive weeks. This outcome measure will evaluate how long participants maintain RBC-TI for a minimum of 8 weeks during the study period.
Measured: Assessed throughout the entire study period, approximately 2.5 years
Duration of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥12 Weeks
Duration of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 12 consecutive weeks. Assessed as how long participants maintain RBC-TI for a minimum of 12 weeks during the study period.
Measured: Assessed throughout the entire study period, approximately 2.5 years
Duration of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥24 Weeks
To determine the duration of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 24 consecutive weeks. Assessed as how long participants maintain RBC-TI for a minimum of 24 weeks during the study period.
Measured: Assessed throughout the entire study period, approximately 2.5 years
Median Time to Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥8 Consecutive Weeks
Median time to achieve red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 8 consecutive weeks. Assessed as the median duration of time it takes for participants to achieve RBC-TI for a minimum of 8 weeks during the study period.
Measured: Assessed throughout the entire study period, approximately 2.5 years
Median Time to Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥12 Consecutive Weeks
Median time to achieve red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 12 consecutive weeks. Assessed as the median duration of time it takes for participants to achieve RBC-TI for a minimum of 12 weeks during the study period.
Measured: Assessed throughout the entire study period, approximately 2.5 years
Median Time to Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence for ≥24 Consecutive Weeks
Median time to achieve red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) for at least 24 consecutive weeks. Assessed as the median duration of time it takes for participants to achieve RBC-TI for a minimum of 24 weeks during the study period.
Measured: Assessed throughout the entire study period, approximately 2.5 years
Mean rate of Hematological Improvement Based on MDS 2018 IWG Response Criteria
Mean rate of hematological improvement (HI) in participants as defined by the Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) 2018 International Working Group (IWG) response criteria.
Measured: Assessed throughout the entire study period, approximately 2.5 years
Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) Using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) will be assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30. This outcome measure will evaluate participants' overall quality of life, functional status, and symptom burden at various time points throughout the study. Scoring Range: 0 to 100 for each scale. Functioning Scales: Higher scores = better functioning. Symptom Scales: Higher scores = worse symptoms. Global Health Status/QOL Scale: Higher scores = better overall QOL.
Measured: At baseline, every 21 days during the treatment period, during the 24 week response assessment (approximately 169 days after beginning study treatment), at the end of treatment visit and during the 42 day follow up visit
Changes in Anemia Outcome Measures Using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Anemia (FACT-An) Questionnaire
Changes in anemia-related quality of life using the FACT-An questionnaire. This outcome measure will evaluate the impact of anemia on participants' well-being, including physical, social, and emotional functioning, at various time points throughout the study. Scoring Range: 0 to 188 total. Higher scores=better QOL.
Measured: At baseline, every 21 days during the treatment period, during the 24 week response assessment (approximately 169 days after beginning study treatment), at the end of treatment visit and during the 42 day follow up visit
Changes in Quality of Life Using the Quality of Life in Myelodysplasia Scale (QUALMS-P) Questionnaire
Changes in quality of life specific to myelodysplasia using the QUALMS-P questionnaire. This outcome measure will evaluate the effects of myelodysplasia on participants' day-to-day life and overall well-being at various time points throughout the study. Total score 0-100. Higher scores=better QOL.
Measured: At baseline, every 21 days during the treatment period, during the 24 week response assessment (approximately 169 days after beginning study treatment), at the end of treatment visit and during the 42 day follow up visit
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Jul 2025
- Study start16 Dec 2025
- Primary completionAug 2030 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Yale UniversityThe 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Yale University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Maximilian Stahl, Yale University
- Investigators
- Maximilian Stahl, MD, Principal investigator, Yale University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07096297
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2000039532
- Acronym
- DarbeLus
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 14 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No