New drug combo may shield kids from transplant complications

NCT ID NCT03924401

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tests whether adding the drug abatacept to standard care can prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in children receiving stem cell transplants from unrelated donors. GVHD occurs when donor cells attack the patient's body, causing serious illness. The trial will enroll 30 children with non-cancerous blood disorders and follow them for up to 3 years to see if abatacept reduces GVHD without harming immune recovery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Abatacept (Orencia)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could offer a safer way to prevent GVHD in children receiving stem cell transplants, reducing severe complications and improving recovery.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial with only 30 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Adding abatacept could also increase infection risk.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

aplastic anemia Fanconi anemia graft versus host disease sickle cell disease thalassemia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

  • Children's of Alabama

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States

  • Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center

    New York, New York, 10032, United States

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

  • Hackensack Meridian Health

    Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601, United States

  • Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children

    Wilmington, Delaware, 19803, United States

  • Oishei Children's Hospital

    Buffalo, New York, 14203, United States

  • University of Mississippi Medical Center, Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

    Jackson, Mississippi, 39216, United States