Hematopoietic Cell Proliferation clinical trials

US Phase I Study of ECT-001-CB in Patients With Sickle-Cell Disease

The application of experimental hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) therapy in sickle-cell disease (SCD) must strike a balance between the underlying disease severity and the possibility of a direct benefit of the treatment, particularly in pediatric populations. Clinical studies in adults with SCD have focused on interventions that prolong survival and improve the quality of life. Unlike children, adults with SCD are much more likely to have a debilitating complication. As a result, the risk/benefit ratio of HCT is very favorable in adults, particularly if an approach to HCT that defines an acceptable level of toxicity can be established. Whereas hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only curative treatment currently available for patients with SCD, the morbidity, the frequent irreversible damage in target organs and the mortality reported in the natural course of patients with severe SCD are strong incentives to perform HSCTs in younger age groups. For those who lack a matched related donor, CB transplant is an appealing option, but despite been less problematic, CB accessibility related to cell dose of appropriately matched cord blood unit (CBU) remains a significant issue. Through a 7-day culture process of a CBU's hematopoietic stem cell HSCs with the UM171 compound, the total cell dose is increased mitigating this limitation. UM171-CB expansion (ECT-001-CB) allows a greater CB accessibility, the selection of better matched cords that might translate into favourable clinical outcomes as reported in previous trials, including a lower risk of graft-versus-host disease. After CB selection and ex-vivo expansion, ECT-001-CB transplant will follow a myeloablative reduced-toxicity conditioning regimen consisting of rATG, busulfan and fludarabine with doses of all agents optimized to the individual using model-based dosing and will be followed by standard supportive care and GVHD prophylaxis consisting of tacrolimus and MMF.