Overview

This is a trial in which 350 primary lung transplant recipients will be randomized (1:1) to receive either Tocilizumab (six doses over 20 weeks) plus standard triple maintenance immunosuppression or placebo (sterile normal saline) plus standard triple maintenance immunosuppression (Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate Mofetil, corticosteroids).

The primary objective is to test the hypothesis that treatment with triple maintenance immunosuppression plus Tocilizumab (TCZ) is superior to triple maintenance immunosuppression plus placebo (saline) as defined by a composite endpoint of a) CLAD, b) listed for re-transplantation, and c) death

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

Study Entry:

1. Subject and/or parent guardian must be able to understand the purpose of the study and willing to participate and sign informed consent/assent
2. Greater than or equal to 30 kg body weight
3. Listed for a primary lung transplant
4. No previous or planned desensitization therapy prior to transplant
5. Serum Immunoglobulin G (IgG) level greater than 400 mg/dL. Patients treated with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) for hypogammaglobulinemia are eligible for enrollment if their serum IgG level is greater than 400 mg/dL 14 or more days after the most recent IVIG treatment
6. For women of child-bearing potential, willingness to use highly-effective contraception; according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women's Health (http://www.fda.gov/birthcontrol).

   Female participants of child-bearing potential must consult with their physician and determine the most suitable method(s) from this list to be used for the duration of the study. Those who choose oral contraception must agree to use a second form of contraception after administration of study drug for a period of 1 year after the last dose of study drug

7. Tested negative for latent TB infection (LTBI) using a PPD or interferon-gamma release assay (i.e., QuantiFERON-TB, T-SPOT.TB) within 1 year prior to transplant or has completed appropriate LTBI therapy within the 1 year prior to transplant
8. In the absence of contraindication, vaccinations must be up to date per the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT) Guidance for Patients in Transplant Trials

   Randomization

9. Provide written informed consent for the study participation, and agree to continue in

   the study

10. Undergoing single or bilateral lung transplant
11. Agreement to use contraception; according to the FDA Office of Women's Health (http://www.fda.gov/birthcontrol), there are a number of birth control methods that are more than 80% effective. Female participants of child-bearing potential must consult with their physician and determine the most suitable method(s) from this list to be used for the duration of the study. Those who choose oral contraception must agree to use a second form of contraception after administration of study drug for a period of 1 year after the last dose of study drug
12. Negative physical crossmatch, if the results are available at the time of randomization
13. No desensitization therapy prior to transplant
14. Negative pregnancy test (serum or urine) for women of child-bearing potential within 48 hours prior to transplant
15. Negative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for the recipient prior to transplant as per institutional policy
16. Negative SARS-CoV2 PCR testing for the donor prior to transplant as per institutional policy
17. Recipient of lungs that have been supported with ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) devices are permitted

Exclusion Criteria:

Study Entry:

1. Listed for multi-organ transplant (e.g., heart-lung, liver-lung, kidney-lung)
2. Prior history of organ or cellular transplantation
3. Received treatment to deplete Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) antibodies before transplantation
4. Currently breast-feeding a child or plans to become pregnant during the timeframe of the study follow up period
5. History of severe allergic and/or anaphylactic reactions to humanized or murine monoclonal antibodies
6. Known hypersensitivity or previous treatment with ACTEMRA(R) (tocilizumab)
7. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
8. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen or core antibody positive
9. Hepatitis C virus PCR positive (HCV+) patients who have failed to demonstrate sustained viral remission (2 consecutive PCR or Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) negative tests at least 24 weeks apart), with or without anti-viral treatment;
10. Chronic infection with Burkholderia cenocepacia or Burkholderia gladioli
11. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease; if there is a history of NTM pulmonary disease, culture conversion is necessary for eligibility
12. Presence of active malignancy or history of malignancy less than 5 years in remission, excluding adequately treated in-situ cervical carcinoma, low grade prostate carcinoma, or adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
13. History of hemolytic-uremic syndrome/ thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
14. History of demyelinating disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammation demyelinating polyneuropathy)
15. Current treatment with alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide
16. History of gastrointestinal (GI) tract perforation
17. History of inflammatory bowel disease except fully excised ulcerative colitis
18. History of diverticulitis (diverticulosis is not an exclusion) or diverticular bleeding;
19. Patients with a platelet count < 100,000/mm^3 (last measurement within 7 days prior to enrollment)
20. Patients with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 2,000/mm^3 (last measurement within 7 days prior to enrollment)
21. Patients with Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) or Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) levels >3 times upper limit of normal
22. Patients who use illegal drugs
23. Use of investigational drugs within 4 weeks prior to enrollment
24. Any condition that in the opinion of the site Principal Investigator (PI) introduces undue risk by participating in this study

    Randomization

25. Recipient of multi-organ or tissue transplants
26. Received a live virus vaccine within 30 days prior to randomization
27. Received treatment to deplete HLA antibodies before transplantation to improve the possibility of transplantation
28. Patients with known donor-specific antibody that will require intervention based on local clinical protocols
29. History of GI tract perforation
30. History of inflammatory bowel disease except fully excised ulcerative colitis
31. History of diverticulitis (diverticulosis is not an exclusion) or diverticular bleeding
32. History of severe allergic anaphylactic reactions to humanized or murine monoclonal antibodies
33. Known hypersensitivity or previous treatment with ACTEMRA(R) (tocilizumab)
34. Recipient or donor with infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
35. Recipient with hepatitis B virus surface antigen or hepatitis B core antibody positive
36. Hepatitis B negative transplant recipient that received a transplant from a Hepatitis B core antibody positive donor unless the recipient has a Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAb) titer >10U/L
37. Recipient of a hepatitis C virus nucleic acid test (NAT) positive donor organ
38. Latent TB infection (LTBI) and has not completed appropriate therapy
39. Chronic infection with Burkholderia cenocepacia or Burkholderia gladioli
40. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease; if there is a history of NTM pulmonary disease, culture conversion is necessary for eligibility
41. Presence of active malignancy (except for non-melanoma skin cancer)
42. History of hemolytic-uremic syndrome/ thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
43. History of demyelinating disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammation demyelinating polyneuropathy)
44. Current treatment with alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide
45. Patients with AST or ALT levels > 1.5 times upper limit of normal (last measurement within 1 day prior to randomization)
46. Patients with platelet count <100,000/mm^3 (last measurement within 1 day prior to randomization)
47. Patients with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <2,000/mm^3 (last measurement within 1 day prior to randomization)
48. Patients who are administered or intended to be administered cytolytic (such as anti-thymocyte globulin) or anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody agents as induction therapy in the immediate post- transplant period
49. Patients who have been treated in the past 3 months, or for whom it is anticipated that treatment with any immunomodulatory biological agents post-transplant are excluded
50. Use of an investigational drug after transplant
51. Any condition that in the opinion of the site PI introduces undue risk by participating in this study