Aim: To report the first study of temelimab, a monoclonal antibody neutralizing the pathogenic human endogenous retrovirus type W envelope, in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Materials and methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial recruited adult patients with T1D within 4 years postdiagnosis and remaining C-peptide secretion. Sixty-four patients were randomized (2:1) to monthly temelimab 6 mg/kg or placebo during 24 weeks followed by a 24-week, open-label extension, during which all patients received temelimab. The primary objective was the safety and tolerability of temelimab. The secondary objective was to assess the pharmacodynamics response such as C-peptide levels, insulin use, HbA1c, hypoglycaemia and autoantibodies.
Results: Temelimab was well tolerated without any group difference in the frequency or severity of adverse events. Concerning exploratory endpoints, there was no difference in the levels of C-peptide, insulin use or HbA1c between treatment groups at weeks 24 and 48. The frequency of hypoglycaemia events was reduced with temelimab (P = 0.0004) at week 24 and the level of anti-insulin antibodies was lower with temelimab (P < 0.01); the other autoantibodies did not differ between groups.
Conclusions: Temelimab appeared safe in patients with T1D. Pharmacodynamics signals (hypoglycaemia and anti-insulin antibodies) under temelimab were observed. Markers of β-cell functions were not modified by treatment. These results need to be further explored in younger patients with T1D with earlier disease onset.
Keywords: disease-modifying drug, endogenous retrovirus, human endogenous retroviruses, monoclonal antibody, phase II study, temelimab, type 1 diabetes.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.