Monoclonal antibody HCV-AbXTL68 in patients undergoing liver transplantation for HCV: Results of a phase 2 randomized study

A randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study evaluated the safety and efficacy of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-Ab(XTL)68, a neutralizing, high-affinity, fully human, anti-E2 monoclonal antibody, in 24 HCV-positive patients undergoing liver transplantation. HCV-Ab(XTL)68 or placebo was administered at doses from 20-240 mg as 2-4 infusions during the first 24 hours after transplantation, followed by daily infusions for 6 days, weekly infusions for 3 weeks, and either 2 or 4 weekly infusions for 8 weeks. Serum concentrations of total anti-E2 obtained during daily infusions of 120-240 mg HCV-Ab(XTL)68 were 50-200 microg/mL above concentrations in the placebo group. Median serum concentration of HCV RNA dropped below baseline in all groups immediately after transplantation. On day 2, median change from baseline in HCV RNA was -1.8 and -2.4 log in the 120-mg and 240-mg groups, respectively, compared with -1.5 log with placebo. The difference was lost after day 7 when the dosing frequency was reduced. The coincidence of increases in anti-E2 with decreases in HCV RNA concentration indicate that the dose-related changes in HCV RNA concentration were a result of HCV-Ab(XTL)68 administration in the 120- and 240-mg groups. The overall incidence of nonfatal serious adverse events was higher with placebo (60%) vs. all active treatments combined (42%). In conclusion, HCV-Ab(XTL)68 may decrease serum concentrations of HCV RNA in patients after liver transplantation. Studies evaluating more frequent daily dosing at doses >120 mg are necessary to investigate sustained viral suppression in this population.