Can a targeted antibody stop severe hepatitis from destroying Children's livers?
NCT ID NCT07744919
First seen Aug 04, 2026 · Last updated Aug 05, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a medicine called emapalumab, which calms a specific part of the immune system, can prevent liver failure in children aged 1 year and older with severe hepatitis that hasn't improved with steroids. The study includes a screening group to observe all severe hepatitis cases and an intervention group that receives emapalumab alongside steroids. The goal is to see if this combination can control the immune attack on the liver and avoid the need for a transplant.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- emapalumab (a monoclonal antibody) combined with steroids
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a new treatment to prevent liver failure in children with severe hepatitis, potentially avoiding the need for liver transplants.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase study with a small number of participants. The drug may not work for all children, and there are risks of side effects from immune suppression.
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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About 28 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Sep 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2032
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
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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1 year to 30 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 (Screening Cohort): * Age: Participants must be ≥ 1 year of age at the time of screening. * Evidence of Severe Hepatic Injury of all etiology (not just iSH/ iSH-T): Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 1000 U/L documented within 7 days prior to enrollment. Exclusion Criteria (Screening Cohort): * Any condition impairing informed consent/assent or protocol compliance Inclusion Criteria (Intervention Cohort; patients who meet Intervention Cohort eligibility can bypass Screening Cohort enrollment): * Steroid-refractory, steroid-dependent, or relapse of hepatitis after stopping steroids and have an Indeterminate etiology of hepatitis based on standard of care, age appropriate evaluation * Age: ≥ 1 year * ALT ≥ 1000 U/L prior to initiation of any immune modulatory therapy * Evidence of T-cell activation at initial diagnosis, as indicated by one of the following: * sIL2R \> 2× upper limit of normal (ULN) * CXCL9 \> 5× ULN * CD8+ T-cell infiltration in the liver * INR \< 2.0 without evidence of hepatic encephalopathy Exclusion Criteria (Intervention Cohort; patients who meet Intervention Cohort eligibility can bypass Screening Cohort enrollment): * Patients with known Liver failure (defined as INR \>2 on two consecutive occasions without hepatic encephalopathy (HE), or INR ≥1.5 with evidence of HE) * Evidence of chronic liver disease or parenchymal nodularity as demonstrated on imaging (US, CT, or MRI) * Evidence of hepatic encephalopathy * Severe acquired aplastic anemia at presentation * Organ dysfunction assessment defined below: * Renal dysfunction: eGFR \< 30 mL/min/1.73m² or * Mechanical Ventilation * Persistent systemic infection despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy * Active infection with Hepatitis A, B, C, HIV, or herpes simplex virus * Active mycobacteria (typical and atypical), Histoplasma Capsulatum, Herpes zoster infections. * Patients with positive respiratory viral infection, including adenovirus, rhinovirus/enterovirus, SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, only if they also have declining respiratory function needing positive pressure support. Suspected primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis based on patients with a history of consanguinity and/or central nervous system dysfunction or other clinical manifestations that is exaggerated compared to the degree of liver dysfunction (as judged by the site investigator and study team) * Diagnosis of Autoimmune Hepatitis, Wilson Disease, inborn error of metabolism, acute drug or toxin-induced liver injury, or ischemic liver injury * History of severe hypersensitivity or allergy to any component of this study regimen * History of confirmed malignancy * History of recreational drug use within the past 4 weeks, excluding cannabinoids * Therapy with an immunosuppressive agent or an experimental drug within the past 6 weeks * Pregnant, planning to become pregnant during study window, or breastfeeding at time of study entry * Patients of reproductive potential are not eligible unless they have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method (e.g. hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine device, or double-barrier method) for the duration of their study participation. Patients must maintain adequate contraception for at least 4 weeks after their last dose of emapalumab. * Live-virus vaccination within 4 weeks of study entry or anticipated need for a live or live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks after the last dose of emapalumab * Peceived Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine within 12 weeks prior to screening * Patient or parent/guardian unable to give informed consent or unable to comply with the treatment protocol * Prisoners will be excluded
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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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Arthur M. Blank Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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