New stem cell transplant aims to ease severe blood disorders
NCT ID NCT07599176
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026 · Updated 15 times
Summary
This clinical trial tests a partial stem cell transplant for people with severe sickle cell disease or beta-thalassemia who need regular blood transfusions. The transplant uses a lower-intensity conditioning regimen with alemtuzumab, low-dose radiation, and abatacept to help donor cells take hold. The goal is to achieve long-term donor cell levels that reduce disease complications. The study is currently recruiting 90 participants.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- stem cell transplant with alemtuzumab, total body irradiation, and abatacept
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a long-term treatment option for severe sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, reducing the need for blood transfusions.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early phase 1/2 trial with a small number of participants. Risks include graft-versus-host disease, infection, and the possibility that the transplant may not work as hoped.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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About 90 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2026
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2035
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government research agency
The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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4 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
* INCLUSION CRITERIA RECIPIENT: Participants must fulfill one disease category (1 or 2) and 3 1. Patients with sickle cell disease at high risk for disease related morbidity or mortality, defined by having an end-organ damage (A, B, C, D, OR E) or complication(s) not ameliorated by sickle cell-specific therapies (F): A. Stroke defined as a clinically significant neurologic event that is accompanied by an infarct on cerebral MRI ORb B. Abnormal trans-cranial Doppler examination (\>=200 cm/s); OR C. Silent cerebral infarct defined as an infarct-like lesion based on an MRI signal abnormality at least 3 mm in one dimension and visible in two planes on FLAIR or T2- weighted images (or similar image with 3D imaging) and documented neurological examination performed by a neurologist demonstrating the participant has a normal neurologic examination, or an abnormality on examination that could not be explained by the location of the brain lesion(s); OR D. Sickle cell related renal insufficiency defined by a creatinine level \>=1.5 times the upper limit of normal and kidney biopsy consistent with sickle cell nephropathy OR nephrotic syndrome OR creatinine clearance \<60mL/min/1.73m2 for patients \<16 years of age or \<50mL/min for patients \>16 years of age OR requiring peritoneal or hemodialysis; OR Age (Years): \<= 5 / Upper limit of normal serum creatinine (mg/dl): 0.8 Age (Years): 5 \< age \<= 10 / Upper limit of normal serum creatinine (mg/dl): 1.0 Age (Years): 10 \< age \<= 15 / Upper limit of normal serum creatinine (mg/dl): 1.2 Age (Years): \> 15 / Upper limit of normal serum creatinine (mg/dl): 1.3 E. Tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV) of \>=2.5 m/s in patients at least 3 weeks after a vaso-occlusive crisis; OR F. Recurrent severe priapism defined as at least two episodes of an erection lasting \>=4 hours requiring medical intervention (e.g. aspiration, injection of vasoconstrictor, prior penile surgery.); OR G. Sickle hepatopathy defined as EITHER ferritin \>1000mcg/L OR direct bilirubin \>0.4 mg/dL at baseline; OR H. Vaso-occlusive crises: more than 1 hospital admission per year while on a therapeutic dose of sickle cell treatment /medication; OR I. Acute chest syndrome (ACS): any ACS while on sickle cell treatment /medication 2. Patients with beta-thalassemia who have grade 2 or 3 iron overload, determined by the presence of 2 or more of the following: * Portal fibrosis by liver biopsy * Inadequate chelation history (defined as failure to maintain adequate compliance with chelation with deferoxamine initiated within 18 months of the first transfusion and administered at least 5 days each week) * Hepatomegaly of greater than 2 cm below the costochondral margin or by other imaging scans 3. Non disease specific * Ages \>=4 years and less than 65 years old * Fully matched human leukocyte antigen (HLA) donors at A, B, C, and DR loci (8 of 8 or 10 of 10) * Ability to comprehend and willing to sign an informed consent, assent obtained from minors when applicable. Negative serum or urine beta-HCG, when applicable * Agree to use birth control throughout the study and 3 months after abatacept or sirolimus administration. * Female subjects must agree to use a medically acceptable method of birth control such as oral contraceptive, intrauterine device, barrier and spermicide, or implant/injection from start of screening until immunosuppression is stopped. * Male subjects must agree to use effective contraception (including condoms) from start of screening until immunosuppression is stopped. DONOR: * Fully matched human leukocyte antigen (HLA) donors at A, B, C, and DR loci (8 of 8 or 10 of 10) are intended for this study. * Donors age 4 or older and \>=15 kg (or weight deemed acceptable by IR for line placement, DTM for apheresis, and pediatric consult service) eligible to donate hematopoietic stem cells, are eligible for this study. * Donors will be evaluated in accordance with existing Standard NIH Policies and Procedures for determination of eligibility and suitability for clinical donation. Donors will sign on a separate protocol, 20-H-0099 NHLBI standard of care protocol for the mobilization and collection of HSCs. Note that participation in this study is offered to all eligible donors, but is not required for a donor to make a stem cell donation, so it is possible that not all donors will enroll onto this study. EXCLUSION CRITERIA RECIPIENT: * Karnofsky or Lanksy performance status of \<40 * Diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide \<35% predicted: DLCO corrected for hemoglobin or KCO (corrected for lung volume). This criterion may be omitted in young children (e.g. near age 5) or other individuals who may have difficulty understanding or complying with instructions of testing. * Baseline oxygen saturation of \<85% or PaO2 \<70 * Left ventricular ejection fraction: \<35% estimated by ECHO * Transaminases \>5x upper limit of normal for age * Evidence of uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infections (currently taking medication and progression of clinical symptoms) within one month prior to starting the conditioning regimen * Major anticipated illness or organ failure incompatible with survival from HCT * Pregnant or breastfeeding DONOR: * Pregnant or breastfeeding * Cognitively impaired subjects
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
RECRUITINGBethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Nonmyeloablative allogeneic peripheral blood mobilized hematopoietic precursor cell transplantation for severe congenital anemias including sickle cell disease (SCD) and B-Thalassemia
- Can an antioxidant supplement calm sickle cell blood cells?
- Can a softer transplant cure sickle cell disease?
- Mindfulness on your phone: a new test for sickle cell pain and sleep
- Can a single stem cell infusion rewrite the code of beta thalassemia?
- Urine and MRI: a new hope for spotting silent kidney injury in sickle cell kids?