Faculty Collaboration Database

Repeated intravenous cardiosphere-derived cell therapy in late-stage Duchenne muscular dystrophy (HOPE-2): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet 2022 Mar 12;399(10329):1049-1058

Date

03/14/2022

Pubmed ID

35279258

DOI

10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00012-5

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85125937566 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   33 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) ameliorate skeletal and cardiac muscle deterioration in experimental models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The HOPE-2 trial examined the safety and efficacy of sequential intravenous infusions of human allogeneic CDCs in late-stage Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

METHODS: In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial, patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, aged 10 years or older with moderate upper limb impairment, were enrolled at seven centres in the USA. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) using stratified permuted blocks to receive CAP-1002 (1·5 × 10⁸ CDCs) or placebo intravenously every 3 months for a total of four infusions. Clinicians, caregivers, patients, and clinical operations personnel were fully masked to treatment groups. The primary outcome was the change in mid-level elbow Performance of Upper Limb version 1.2 (PUL 1.2) score at 12 months, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in all individuals who received an investigational product. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03406780.

FINDINGS: Between March 1, 2018, and March 31, 2020, 26 male patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were enrolled, of whom eight were randomly assigned to the CAP-1002 group and 12 to the placebo group (six were not randomised due to screening failure). In patients who had a post-treatment PUL 1.2 assessment (eight in the CAP-1002 group and 11 in the placebo group), the mean 12-month change from baseline in mid-level elbow PUL1.2 favoured CAP-1002 over placebo (percentile difference 36·2, 95% CI 12·7-59·7; difference of 2·6 points; p=0·014). Infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions without long-term sequelae were observed in three patients, with one patient discontinuing therapy due to a severe allergic reaction. No other major adverse reactions were noted, and no deaths occurred.

INTERPRETATION: CAP-1002 cell therapy appears to be safe and effective in reducing deterioration of upper limb function in patients with late-stage Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Various measures of cardiac function and structure were also improved in the CAP-1002 group compared with the placebo group. Longer-term extension studies are needed to confirm the therapeutic durability and safety of CAP-1002 beyond 12 months for the treatment of skeletal myopathy and cardiomyopathy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

FUNDING: Capricor Therapeutics.

Author List

McDonald CM, Marbán E, Hendrix S, Hogan N, Ruckdeschel Smith R, Eagle M, Finkel RS, Tian C, Janas J, Harmelink MM, Varadhachary AS, Taylor MD, Hor KN, Mayer OH, Henricson EK, Furlong P, Ascheim DD, Rogy S, Williams P, Marbán L, HOPE-2 Study Group

Authors

Matthew Harmelink MD Chief, Associate Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Erika L. Pyzik PAC APP Mgr Hybrid in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Cardiomyopathies
Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
Child
Double-Blind Method
Humans
Male
Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne
Treatment Outcome