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Kidney Transplant RecipientPhase 1RTB-016NCT05975450

Subcutaneous Abatacept in Renal Transplant Recipients

A Phase 1 study testing Abatacept 125Mg/Ml Syringe in people with Kidney Transplant Recipient, run by Idelberto Badell at 2 sites in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

After a kidney transplant, patients take drugs called anti-rejection drugs (immunosuppressives) to prevent their bodies from rejecting the new kidney. At present it is not possible to have a successful transplant without these drugs. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Kidney Transplant Recipient
What is being tested?
Abatacept 125Mg/Ml Syringe
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
16 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
2 Aug 2023to 14 Feb 2025
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Must be able to understand and provide informed consent.
  • Male or Female, 18-70 years of age at the time of enrollment (all races and ethnicities)
  • Negative crossmatch (virtual or physical) at the time of transplant
  • No less than 8 weeks, no more than 20 weeks post-transplant at enrollment
  • A first-time renal transplant who has been treated with belatacept from the time of transplant, receiving tacrolimus (target trough 3-5 ng/ml), mycophenolate mofetil (or mycophenolic acid or azathioprine), prednisone (also see exclusion criteria).
  • eGFR ≥ 40ml/min/m2 [using 2021 the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation].
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  • Prior documented evidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seropositivity must be available.
  • Female study participants of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test before enrollment.
  • Agreement to use contraception that is more than 80% effective.
  • Vaccines are current as per the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT) guidance for patients in transplant trials.
  • Study participants must have a negative purified protein derivative (PPD) or negative testing for tuberculosis using an approved Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test, such as QuantiFERON®-Gold tuberculosis (TB) or T-SPOT®-TB assay. PPD or IGRA testing must be documented to have been performed within the 52 weeks before enrollment. Patients with latent TB may become eligible after completion of treatment.

Who cannot join

  • Inability or unwillingness of a study participant to give written informed consent or comply with the study protocol.
  • Recipient of previous organ transplant of any type.
  • Multi-organ transplant.
  • Calculated Panel Reactive Antibody (cPRA) >80 at the time of enrollment.
  • History of any episode of biopsy-proven Banff rejection (including borderline rejection or any grade of acute TCMR) before enrollment.
  • History of any malignancy including lymphoma within 5 years of enrollment. Study participants with curatively treated non-melanomatous skin cancer or curatively treated cervical carcinoma in situ may be enrolled.
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  • Any past or current issue which in the opinion of the investigator may pose additional risks to the participant in the study, may interfere with the study participant's ability to comply with the study requirements, or may impact the quality or interpretation of the data obtained from the study.
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): individuals known to be HIV positive.
  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV): any study participant who receives a kidney from a seropositive or HCV RNA PCR-positive donor is ineligible. Any study participant who was HCV RNA PCR positive at transplant is ineligible. Any study participant with a history of HCV seropositivity or HCV infection who has not met the criteria for sustained spontaneous clearance or sustained viral response to therapy is ineligible.
  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV): Individuals with any of the following are NOT eligible:
  • Recipient or donor positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
  • Recipient or donor positive for antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc)
  • Recipient or donor is known to have had a positive HBV DNA PCR
  • Evidence of CMV viremia or clinical CMV infection at any time after transplant.
  • Kidney recipients who were CMV seronegative who received an organ from a CMV seropositive donor.
  • BK viremia of greater than 4.3 DNA log copies/ml (greater than 20,000 copies/ml) at any time post-transplant.
  • Active uncontrolled infection within 1 month of enrollment.
  • Clinically significant proteinuria (urinary protein/Cr ratio >1.0).
  • Receiving belatacept at a dose other than 5 mg/kg body weight.
  • Receiving mycophenolate mofetil at a dose of less than 1000 mg daily (or mycophenolic acid or azathioprine equivalent).
  • Receiving prednisone at a dose greater than 5 mg daily.
  • Presence of donor-specific antibody by Luminex single antigen bead assay.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites
  • Emory Clinic

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322

  • Emory Hospital

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Early Substitution of Subcutaneous Abatacept for Belatacept as Costimulation Blockade to Minimize Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI) Exposure After Kidney Transplantation

After a kidney transplant, patients take drugs called anti-rejection drugs (immunosuppressives) to prevent their bodies from rejecting the new kidney. At present it is not possible to have a successful transplant without these drugs. These drugs make it possible for a person who receives the transplant to accept the "foreign" kidney. Most patients who get a transplant need to take anti-rejection medications for the rest of their lives, or for as long as the kidney continues to work.

Researchers are looking to learn whether abatacept is as good as belatacept in preventing rejection, whether there are other benefits or harms associated with abatacept treatment, and possibly allows greater flexibility on patient's travel and time since abatacept is self-administered at home.

Read more

This study is being done to answer these questions:

Are weekly abatacept injections under the skin a safe and effective substitute for monthly belatacept intravenous (IV) infusions? and How well does the kidney function after switching from belatacept to abatacept?

Read the detailed description

This is a Phase I, open-label, prospective, single-arm single-center study to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of a regimen substituting subcutaneous abatacept early post-transplant in place of intravenous belatacept as an immunosuppressant in first-time renal transplant recipients.

There is a single arm in this study; the Investigational (abatacept) group. Participants will be assigned to a treatment regimen between 2 and 5 months after transplantation. The study drug will be administered until month 12 post-transplant; at that point, all participants will be transitioned to a physician-directed immunosuppressive regimen post-study.

Being tested
Abatacept 125Mg/Ml Syringe
Keywords
Renal Transplant, abatacept

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Abatacept 125Mg/Ml SyringeDrug

    Also called Orencia

    Participants on a qualifying belatacept regimen (with low-dose tacrolimus, mycophenylate mofetil (MMF), and prednisone) will have their maintenance regimen changed from i.v. Belatacept to s.c. abatacept, which will continue through week 52 (month 12) post-transplant:

    Costimulation blockade:

    • Abatacept 125 mg subcutaneous weekly
Study groups in NCT05975450
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
AbataceptExperimentalParticipants on a qualifying belatacept regimen will have their maintenance regimen changed from i.v. Belatacept to s.c. abatacept. The study drug will be administered until month 12 post-transplant; at that point, all participants will be transitioned to a physician-directed immunosuppressive regimen post-study.
Receives: Drug: Abatacept 125Mg/Ml Syringe

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Number of Participants Who Are Compliant With Self-administration

    Compliance and self-administration will be measured using the abatacept administration logs and autoinjector accountability.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  2. Number of Participants Who Remain Free of Biopsy-proven Acute T-cell Mediated Rejection (aTCMR) or Antibody-mediated Rejection (ABMR) as Defined by Banff Criteria at or Before 12 Months After Transplantation.

    For-cause biopsies may be performed as dictated by the clinical team. A for-cause biopsy (i.e., graft dysfunction) may be performed in cases of increased serum creatinine, proteinuria, or other clinical symptoms at the discretion of the site Investigator.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  3. Number of Participants Presenting Serious Adverse Events

    Assessments of serious adverse events will be completed at each study visit from the time abatacept starts through 12 months post-transplant.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  4. Number of Participants With Serious Infections

    Any serious infection requiring hospitalization or prolonged therapy, including but not limited to treatment ≥ 20 days, will be documented.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  5. Number of Patients With Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Viremia Stratified by the Magnitude

    All subjects will be monitored for CMV infection by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the blood per the Emory Transplant Center standard of care protocol, CMV viremia stratified by count ≥35 but <10,000 or ≥ 10,000.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  6. Number of Patients With BK Viremia Stratified by the Magnitude

    Undetected, >0 but < 1,000, ≥ 1,000 but <10,000, or ≥ 10,000 - 100,000, ≥100,000 or stratified by log, which is reported as a result.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  7. Number of Participants Who Develop Any Malignancy

    Incidence of any malignancy, including Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD)

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. Number of Participants Experiencing the Composite Outcome of Death or Allograft Failure

    Death and/or allograft failure at or before 12 months after transplantation

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  2. Number of Participants With Biopsy-proven Acute T-cell Mediated Cellular Rejection (BP-aTCMR)

    Incidence of biopsy-proven acute T-cell mediated cellular rejection (BP-aTCMR)

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  3. Number of Participants Treated for Rejection

    The number of participants treated for rejection with any of the following: i) corticosteroids within 12 months, ii) T-cell depleting therapy within 12 months, iii) any other treatment for rejection within 12 months of transplantation

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  4. Number of Participants Treated for Acute Rejection Due to Clinical Suspicion Rather Than BP-aTCMR or BP-aABMR Within 12 Months of Transplantation.

    For-cause biopsies may be performed as dictated by the clinical team. A for-cause biopsy (i.e., graft dysfunction) may be performed in cases of increased serum creatinine, proteinuria, or other clinical symptoms at the discretion of the site Investigator.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  5. Number of Participants With Biopsy-proven Active Antibody-mediated Rejection (BP-aABMR)

    For-cause biopsies may be performed as dictated by the clinical team. A for-cause biopsy (i.e., graft dysfunction) may be performed in cases of increased serum creatinine, proteinuria, or other clinical symptoms at the discretion of the site Investigator.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  6. Number of Participants With Changes in Allograft Biopsies for the 5 Categories of aTCMR Specified in the Banff Schema

    For-cause biopsies may be performed as dictated by the clinical team. A for-cause biopsy (i.e., graft dysfunction) may be performed in cases of increased serum creatinine, proteinuria, or other clinical symptoms at the discretion of the site Investigator.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  7. Time to Changes in Allograft Biopsies for the 5 Categories of aTCMR Specified in the Banff Schema

    Calculations will be made from the start of abatacept through to 12 months post-transplant. A for-cause biopsy (i.e., graft dysfunction) may be performed in cases of increased serum creatinine, proteinuria, or other clinical symptoms at the discretion of the site Investigator.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  8. Number of Participants Who Develop De-novo Donor Specific Antibody (DSA)

    Number of participants who develop de-novo DSA

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

  9. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)

    The eGFR will be calculated at the time abatacept is started and 12 months post-transplant

    Measured: Baseline and 12 months post-transplantation

  10. Number of Days to Events [TCMR, ABMR, De-novo Specific Antibodies (DSA) Formation, Graft Loss].

    All events will be documented, and calculations will be made from the start of abatacept through 12 months post-transplant.

    Measured: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted3 Aug 2023
  2. Study start2 Aug 2023
  3. Primary completion14 Feb 2025
  4. Study completion14 Feb 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
16 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05975450
Sponsor's protocol ID
STUDY00005929
Other IDs
U01AI138909
Acronym
RTB-016
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
26 Jul 2023
Last updated
3 Apr 2026
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Abatacept 125Mg/Ml Syringe in people with Kidney Transplant Recipient, run by Idelberto Badell at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 22 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 3 Apr 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Number of Participants Who Are Compliant With Self-administration (time frame: Up to 12 months post-transplantation, an average of 8 months). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Apr 2026.

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