TocIlizumab in Chronic Antibody-mediated Rejection in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Overview

This multi-center study is an investigator-driven randomized controlled parallel group open-label clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of addition of anti-IL-6 antibody tocilizumab (TCZ) to the standard of care (SOC) treatment as compared to the SOC alone in reducing the decline of graft function in kidney transplant recipients with chronic antibody-mediated rejection (cAMR). A total of 50 recipients will be allocated to receive either TCZ (n=25) added to the standard of care (SOC) or SOC alone (n=25) for a period of 24 months. Patients will be followed for an additional 12 months. Protocol kidney graft biopsies will be performed at 12 and 24 months. The primary outcome is the mean rate of change in graft function as assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope from baseline to 24 months after start of treatment.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. The subject has given their written informed consent to participate in the study
2. Recipient of living donor or deceased donor kidney transplant
3. Age ≥18 years
4. At least 12 months post-transplantation at randomization
5. Biopsy-proven diagnosis of cAMR according to the Banff 2017 criteria in index biopsy
6. eGFR ≥20 ml/min/1.73 m2
7. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) IgG-positive
8. For female participants of childbearing potential:
   • use of adequate contraception and a negative pregnancy test
9. Subject known to have COVID-19 previously must meet all of the following conditions:
   • Asymptomatic for at least 1 month before the start of screening
   • Re-established on background immunosuppressants for at least 1 month prior to the randomization

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability to tolerate any of the SOC treatment- tacrolimus, mycophenolate acid (MPA) or prednisolone
2. Recipient of multi-organ transplants
3. De novo or recurrent renal disease that is considered to be the predominant cause of the current graft dysfunction
4. Active viral infections such as BK virus (BKV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), EBV, COVID-19, hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing
5. Ongoing serious infections as per Investigator's opinion
6. History of recurrent infections requiring hospitalization
7. History of tuberculosis (TB)
8. Active TB or latent TB (positive QuantiFERON-TB-Gold test, Chest X-ray)
9. Abnormal liver function tests alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), bilirubin > 1.5 x upper limit of normal)
10. Other significant liver disease as per Investigator's opinion
11. Neutropenia (<2 x109/L) or thrombocytopenia (<100 x109/L)
12. Signs of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
13. Signs of malignancy. Exceptions are basal cell carcinoma/squamous cell carcinoma or non-malignant melanoma
14. History of malignancy, unless subject has been considered to have fully recovered from malignancy since > 2 years, without any signs of relapse
15. History of diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease or gastrointestinal perforation
16. Active alcohol or illicit substance abuse
17. Serious medical or psychiatric illness likely to interfere with participation in the study as per Investigator's opinion
18. Mental inability that results in difficulties in understanding the meaning of study participation
19. Woman of childbearing potential who is unwilling/unable to use an acceptable method to avoid pregnancy for the entire study period and for up to 8 weeks after the last dose of study drug
20. Woman with a positive pregnancy test or who is pregnant or breastfeeding
21. Current or recent (within last 3 months) participation in another clinical drug trial