Experimental drug KZR-616 tested for rare muscle disorders
NCT ID NCT04033926
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase 2 trial tested a drug called KZR-616 (zetomipzomib) in 25 adults with active polymyositis or dermatomyositis, two rare diseases that cause muscle inflammation and weakness. Participants received either the drug or a placebo for 16 weeks, then switched to the other treatment for another 16 weeks. The study measured changes in a muscle improvement score to see if the drug helps control symptoms.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- KZR-616 (also called zetomipzomib)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for people with polymyositis or dermatomyositis, helping control muscle inflammation and weakness.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small Phase 2 trial with only 25 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drug may not show clear benefit over placebo, and side effects are still being studied.
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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25 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2020
- Finished
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Apr 2022
- 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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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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: 1. Adult patients at least 18 years of age 2. Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18 to 40 kg/m\^2 3. Diagnosis of probable or definite DM or PM by the 2017 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Classification Criteria 4. Must have their data reviewed by an adjudication committee to confirm eligibility unless at least 1 of the following is present: 1. Muscle biopsy with evidence of active myositis within the last 6 months prior to or at Screening 2. Electromyography or magnetic resonance imaging with evidence of active myositis within the last 6 months prior to Screening 3. A creatine kinase (CK) ≥4 × upper limit of normal (ULN). 5. Must have demonstrable muscle weakness as measured by the Manual Muscle Testing-8 muscle Groups (MMT-8) with a score ≥80/150 but ≤136/150 units and any 2 of the following: 1. Physician Global Assessment (MDGA) visual analog scale (VAS) ≥2 cm 2. Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PtGADA) VAS ≥2 cm 3. At least one muscle enzyme laboratory measurement ≥1.3 × ULN 4. Myositis Disease Activity Assessment Tool (MDAAT) Extramuscular Global Activity VAS ≥1 cm. 6. Documented inadequate response OR have demonstrated documented toxicity or intolerance to prior standard of care therapies 7. Has had age-appropriate cancer screening that is up to date and negative for evidence of malignancy as per local standard of care Exclusion Criteria: 1. Has significant muscle damage or has a muscle damage VAS score ≥5 cm on the MDI 2. Any other form of myositis or myopathy other than PM or DM 3. Any condition that precludes the ability to quantitate muscle strength 4. Has severe interstitial lung disease or has a pulmonary damage VAS score ≥5 cm on the Myositis Damage Index (MDI) 5. Presence of autoinflammatory disease 6. Use of nonpermitted medications or treatments within the specified washout periods prior to screening 7. Patient has had recent serious or ongoing infection, or risk for serious infection 8. Any of the following laboratory values at Screening: 1. Estimated glomerular filtration rate \<45 mL/min 2. Hemoglobin \<10 g/dL 3. White blood cell (WBC) count \<3.0 × 10\^9/L 4. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \<1.5 × 10\^9/L (1500/mm\^3) 5. Platelet count \<100 × 10\^9/L 6. Serum AST or serum ALT \>2.5 × ULN (unless considered consistent with muscle origin) 7. Serum alkaline phosphatase \>2.5 × ULN 8. Total bilirubin \>1.5 × ULN (3 × ULN for patients with documented Gilbert's syndrome) 9. Thyroid stimulating hormone outside of the central laboratory normal range 10. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) \<500 mg/dL. 9. Presence of New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure, or uncontrolled blood pressure, or prolonged QT interval 10. Major surgery within 12 weeks before Screening or planned during the study period 11. Clinical evidence of significant unstable or uncontrolled diseases 12. Any active or suspected malignancy, including myeloproliferative or lymphoproliferative disorder, or history of documented malignancy within the last 5 years before Screening or within 3 years of diagnosis of myositis, except appropriately excised and cured cervical carcinoma in situ or basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
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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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KZR Research Site
Beverly Hills, California, 90211, United States
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KZR Research Site
Orange, California, 92868, United States
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KZR Research Site
Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
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KZR Research Site
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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KZR Research Site
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
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KZR Research Site
Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States
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KZR Research Site
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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KZR Research Site
Great Neck, New York, 11021, United States
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KZR Research Site
Duncansville, Pennsylvania, 16635, United States
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KZR Research Site
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
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KZR Research Site
Austin, Texas, 78756, United States
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KZR Research Site
Henrico, Virginia, 23233, United States
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KZR Research Site
Prague, Czechia
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KZR Research Site
Göttingen, Germany
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