Could a single infusion of 'Peacekeeper' cells let kidney transplant patients ditch most of their meds?
NCT ID NCT06552169
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether a single infusion of a patient's own regulatory T cells (TRK-001) can prevent the immune system from attacking a new kidney. 34 living-donor kidney transplant recipients will either receive standard anti-rejection drugs alone or those drugs plus the cell infusion. The goal is to see if the cell therapy allows patients to safely reduce to just one anti-rejection medication a year after transplant, while avoiding rejection and other complications.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- regulatory T cells (TRK-001) plus standard immunosuppression drugs
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could allow kidney transplant recipients to safely reduce their lifelong anti-rejection medications to just one drug, lowering side effects and improving quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (34 people) testing safety and feasibility. The cell therapy may not work as hoped, and reducing immunosuppression could increase rejection risk. Long-term benefits are uncertain.
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 34 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jun 2025
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2031
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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 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 All inclusion criteria must be met prior to randomization. 1. Males or females aged 18-65 years as of the date of informed consent who will undergo a single organ, living donor kidney transplant. 2. Donor aged 18-65 years as of the date of organ donation. A certain degree of HLA matching between the donor and the recipient is not required. 3. Blood type compatibility between recipient and donor must be established as follows. Recipient A to Donor A or O; Recipient B to Donor B or O; Recipient AB to Donor A, B, AB, or O; Recipient O to Donor O. 4. No prior organ transplant of any kind. 5. Women of childbearing potential must agree to use a medically acceptable method of contraception throughout the trial. A list of the medically acceptable methods of contraception are listed in the informed consent document. 6. Male patients must agree to use birth control following the initiation of standard-of-care immunosuppression and for a minimum of 6 months following kidney transplant. 7. Subjects (recipients) must be able to understand the consent form and give written informed consent prior to any trial procedure. 8. If donor informed consent is required by IRB/IEC, donor must be able to understand the consent form and give written informed consent prior to any trial procedure. Note: Donor informed consent is required for donors participating in the research assay collections. Exclusion Criteria Based on SOC Pre-Transplant Evaluation The following exclusion criteria must be determined prior to randomization per SOC pre-transplant evaluation. 1. Known sensitivity or contraindication to thymoglobulin, everolimus, sirolimus, or tacrolimus or other immunosuppression medication prescribed. 2. Subjects with a positive crossmatch by virtual cross matching or complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) cross matching or flow cytometry cross matching (FCXM). 3. Subjects with PRA \>80% per SOC pre-transplant assessment. PRA must be repeated prior to transplant if patient receives a blood product transfusion after the initial assessment. 4. Subjects with current or historic donor specific antibodies. 5. Body Mass Index (BMI) of \< 16 kg/m2 or \> 38 kg/m2 per SOC pre-transplant evaluation. 6. Subjects who are pregnant or nursing mothers. 7. Subjects whose life expectancy is severely limited by diseases other than renal disease, per judgement of an investigator. 8. Ongoing active drug or alcohol substance abuse, per judgement of an investigator. 9. Major ongoing psychiatric illness or recent history of noncompliance with current medical therapy, per judgement of an investigator. 10. Significant cardiovascular disease (e.g.): * Significant non-correctable coronary artery disease, per judgement of an investigator * Ejection fraction below 30% per SOC echocardiogram if an echocardiogram is performed for an individual subject as part of their pre-transplant evaluation * History of recent (\< 12 months) myocardial infarction at time of informed consent * History of recent (within 3 months) vascular intervention(s) for coronary artery disease at the time of informed consent * Documented arrhythmias that require a pacemaker or medical therapy for control. 11. Subjects who require use of chronic anticoagulation medications. Use of anti-platelet medications will be allowed in absence of a documented arrhythmia. 12. Malignancy within 3 years, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. 13. Serologic evidence of active infection with HCV, HIV or HBV per SOC pre-transplant evaluation. Historical data within three months of transplant are acceptable. 14. Subjects with a total white blood cell count \< 4,000/mm3; platelet count \< 50,000/mm3; triglyceride \> 400 mg/dL; total cholesterol \> 300 mg/dL, prothrombin time \<8.4 seconds or \>15.7 seconds, activated partial thromboplastin time \<21.6 or \> 42.3 seconds, fibrinogen \<177 mg/dL or \>598 mg/dL, and INR \<0.64 or \>1.4. 15. Subjects with underlying renal disease etiologies with high risk of disease recurrence such as primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and others per investigator discretion. 16. Subjects requiring the use of chronic immunosuppressive medication to control an underlying renal disease, or a disease with extrarenal manifestations (i.e., inflammatory bowel disease). Subjects requiring chronic or intermittent use of inhaled corticosteroids for respiratory conditions will be allowed. 17. Diabetic subjects with an HbA1c of \>8%. The following exclusion criteria must be determined prior to transplant per SOC pre-transplant evaluation. 18. Subjects with an active infection considered clinically significant by an investigator that has not resolved prior to transplant. Exclusion Criteria Prior to Leukapheresis (Arm 2) 1. Subjects with an active infection considered clinically significant by an investigator that has not resolved prior to leukapheresis. 2. Subjects with PRA \>80%, if repeated after SOC pre-transplant assessment. (PRA must be repeated prior to leukapheresis if patient receives a blood product transfusion after the initial assessment). 3. Subjects who are pregnant or nursing. 4. Subjects who received an investigational drug within 30 days prior to leukapheresis. 5. Subjects who received anti-T cell therapy within 30 days prior to leukapheresis. 6. Subjects who do not meet pre-leukapheresis clearance parameters per institutional practices or per investigator discretion. Exclusion Criteria Prior to TRACT Cellular Product Infusion (Arm 2) 1. Subjects with an active infection considered clinically significant by the investigator that has not resolved prior to planned Treg infusion. 2. Subjects with a new, clinically significant medical condition that, per investigator opinion, would impact the ability to safely administer TRK-001. 3. Subjects who experience a rejection episode of the kidney graft prior to the planned Treg infusion. 4. Subjects who are pregnant or nursing. Women who are of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test before infusion of TRK-001. 5. Subjects who received an investigational drug within 30 days prior to infusion. 6. Subjects who received anti-T cell therapy within 30 days prior to infusion.
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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
7 sites in 2 countries. 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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Chang Gung Medical Foundation Hospital
RECRUITINGTaoyuan, 333, Taiwan
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Mayo Clinic in Arizona
RECRUITINGPhoenix, Arizona, 85054, United States
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Mayo Clinic in Minnesota
RECRUITINGRochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
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National Cheng Kung University Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGTainan, 704, Taiwan
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National Taiwan University Hospital
RECRUITINGTaipei, 100229, Taiwan
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Northwestern Memorial Hospital
RECRUITINGChicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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Taichung Veterans General Hospital
RECRUITINGTaichung, 407219, Taiwan
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