New drug combo shows promise for rare blood disorder
NCT ID NCT04328727
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether adding eltrombopag (a platelet booster) to standard immune-suppressing drugs (r-ATG and cyclosporine A) helps patients with severe aplastic anemia, a rare condition where the bone marrow stops making enough blood cells. Thirty-six East-Asian adults and children who had not yet been treated took part. The main goal was to see how many achieved normal blood counts by 26 weeks.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- eltrombopag (a drug that boosts platelet production), rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (an immune-suppressing drug), and cyclosporine A (an immune-suppressing drug)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could help more patients with severe aplastic anemia achieve normal blood counts, reducing the need for transfusions and improving quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study (36 patients) with no control group, so results may not apply broadly. The drugs can cause serious side effects like infections or bleeding.
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 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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36 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2020
- Finished
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Dec 2024
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
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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6 to 100 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: * Written study informed consent and (where applicable) assent from the subject, parent, or guardian must be obtained prior to participation in the study. * Subjects of East Asian ethnicity aged ≥ 6 years old at the time of written informed consent and assent form (if applicable). * SAA characterized by: * Bone marrow cellularity \< 25%, or 25-50% with \< 30% residual hematopoietic cells and pancytopenia, with at least two of the following parameters in peripheral blood: * Absolute neutrophil count \< 0.5×109/L * Platelet count \< 20×109/L * Absolute reticulocyte count \< 20×109/L * HSCT not suitable or available as a treatment option (determined as per local practices or national guidelines), or has been refused by subject. Exclusion Criteria: * Prior IST with any ATG/ALG , alemtuzumab, high dose cyclophosphamide (≥ 45 mg/kg/day), CsA within 6 months, or prior thrombopoietin receptor agonists. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (age ≥ 16 years) \>2, or Lansky performance status (age \< 16 years) \<50. * Prior and/or active medical history of: * Known underlying congenital/inherited bone marrow failure or aplastic anemia (e.g.,such as but not limited to Fanconi anemia, congenital dyskeratosis, congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia, or Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome) * Symptomatic paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and/or PNH clones \>50% of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) or RBC at time of enrollment * Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) * Any cytogenetic abnormalities on karyotyping or FISH within 30 days of study enrollment (an evaluable karyotyping with at least 10 metaphases is mandatory for eligibility) * Other known or suspected underlying primary immunodeficiency * Any concomitant malignancies that have not fully recovered from treatment or have not been disease-free for 5 years * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \>3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). * Creatinine ≥ 2.5×local ULN * Past medical history of thromboembolism within 6 months, and/or prior or current antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). * Presence of clinically active uncontrolled significant (of such severity that it would preclude the subject's ability to consent, be compliant with study procedures, tolerate protocol therapy) infection, including bacterial, fungal, mycobacterial, parasitic or viral infection, or any concurrent condition that, in the Investigator's opinion, would jeopardize the safety of the subject or compliance with the protocol * Any severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions which could cause unacceptable safety risks or compromise compliance with the protocol, such as: * Known hepatocellular disease (e.g. active hepatitis or cirrhosis) * Impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter the absorption of study treatment (e.g., ulcerative disease, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome) * Active skin, mucosa, ocular or GI disorders of Grade \> 1 * Presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or positive hepatitis C antibody test result at screening. A positive serology for Hepatitis B (HB) is considered as a positive test for HBsAg. In addition, if serology is negative for HBsAg but hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) is positive (regardless of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) status), a hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA test will be performed and if positive the patient will be excluded. * Cardiac disorder (subjects with congestive heart disease of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification Grade II/III/IV (for pediatric subjects, refer to the Grade II/III/IV of Modified ross heart failure classification for Children) should not be enrolled; subjects with NYHA Grade II due to cardiac disorder should not be enrolled but those with NYHA Grade II due to aplastic anemia (AA) may be enrolled.), arrhythmia with a risk of thrombosis (e.g. atrial fibrillation), pulmonary hypertension, or uncontrolled hypertension (\>180/100 mmHg).
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Novartis Investigative Site
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
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Novartis Investigative Site
Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
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Novartis Investigative Site
Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China
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Novartis Investigative Site
Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
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Novartis Investigative Site
Tianjin, 300020, China
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Novartis Investigative Site
Tianjin, 300052, China
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Novartis Investigative Site
Nagoya, Aichi-ken, 466 8560, Japan
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Novartis Investigative Site
Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
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Novartis Investigative Site
Chuo Ku, Tokyo, 104 8560, Japan
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Novartis Investigative Site
Seoul, 03080, South Korea
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Novartis Investigative Site
Seoul, 06351, South Korea
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Novartis Investigative Site
Kaohsiung City, 83301, Taiwan
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- New drug cocktail aims to free aplastic anemia patients from transfusions
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- New stem cell infusion could boost transplant success in rare blood disorder