Safety and Efficacy of Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (PHOMS)

Randomized, Controlled, Open-label Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

PHOMS Study is a randomized, controlled, open-label, prospective, and multicentric clinical trial involving outpatients diagnosed with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) or Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). The primary objective is the safety profile assessment of the investigational intervention (Extracorporeal Photopheresis -ECP) and its preliminary efficacy evaluation, while the secondary objective is the assessment of the immune response profile in MS patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive
• Intervention / Treatment: Combination product: Extracorporeal Photopheresis; Combination product: MS standard of care

Detailed Description

PHOMS patients will be randomly allocated (2:1) in a parallel assignment involving two groups of participants: Group A (Experimental group, n = 30): ECP plus Multiple Sclerosis (MS) standard of care, or Group B (Control group, n = 15) receiving MS standard of care alone. The PHOMS Study standard of care is defined by Disease-modifying Therapy (DMT) recommended by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). The Study will be conducted within Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) and Yas Clinic Khalifa City (YCKC) Hospital, including patient assessment and inclusion, randomization, ECP procedures (Group A), and follow-up consultations, according to the approved Protocol and Good Clinical Practices (GCPs) principles. The primary objective is the safety profile assessment of the investigational intervention (ECP), to be assessed by procedure tolerability, the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), adverse events of special interest (AESIs), and serious adverse events (SAEs) according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v5.0), and the World Health Organization - Uppsala Monitoring Center (WHO-UMC) causality assessment system. The ECP preliminary efficacy assessment, as another primary objective, will be assessed by the proportion of subjects with no evidence of disease progression at 1 year; while the secondary objective is the assessment of the immune response profile in MS patients. All subjects will undergo longitudinal Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), 25-foot walk ambulation test, 9-hole peg test, and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) testing at baseline and every 3 months through 1 year. Blood will be collected for immunological testing at baseline, months 3, 6, 9, and 12; and subjects will also undergo neuroimaging with brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at baseline, and months 6 and 12 following initiation of treatment, while Chest X-Ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiogram can be required at the discretion of the Investigator. The trial is approved by the institutional Research Ethics Committees (RECs), and written informed consent will be obtained from all patients. PHOMS Study will be conducted following the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) GCP Guidelines. The authors are responsible for designing the trial and for compiling and analyzing the data.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Arab Emirates
  • Abu Dhabi Emirate
    • Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates, 4600
      • Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Demonstrate Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between 3 to 6.5 at screening.

2. Documented EDSS progression in the 2 years prior to screening of 1 point or greater for patients with an EDSS score less than 6 at baseline, and greater than or equal to 0.5 for patients with an EDSS score greater than or equal to 6.0 at baseline *.

   * If documented EDSS scores are not available, a written summary of the clinical evidence of disability progression over the last 2 years, and retrospective assessment of EDSS score from data in the medical records, must be submitted for review by the principal investigators.

3. Documented initial onset characterized by a relapsing-remitting course as described in the Diagnostic Criteria.
4. Age ≥ 18 ≤ 75 years.
5. Weight > 40 kg.
6. Hematocrit ≥ 28 % (with or without transfusion support).
7. Platelet count > 100,000 per μL (with or without transfusion support).
8. Willingness to use at least 1 reliable method of birth control (e.g., abstinence, oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, barrier method with spermicide, or surgical sterilization) throughout the study for all men and women of childbearing potential.
9. Willingness to participate in all PHOMS Study tests, visits, and procedures (including the ECP), as outlined in the informed consent.
10. Patients must have adequate peripheral venous access to initiate ECP therapy, and central line insertion shall be required.
11. The patient agrees to participate in the trial and signs the PHOMS Study informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Absolute medical contraindication to receive ECP.

2. Laboratory evidence of any of the following:

   • White blood cells (WBC) < 2,000 cells per uL.
   • Serum transaminase levels > x 2 UNL.
   • Creatinine Clearance < 60 mL/min.
3. Concurrent diagnosis of a neurological condition that would interfere with the assessment of MS, or an autoimmune disease or inflammatory condition that is chronically treated with immunosuppressive agents.
4. Evidence of known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active (not including latent) Hepatitis B.
5. Uncontrolled infection requiring treatment at study entry.
6. Hypersensitivity or allergy to psoralen (methoxalen).
7. Hypersensitivity or allergy to both heparin and citrate products (If hypersensitive or allergic to only one of these products, exclusion does not apply).
8. Inability to tolerate fluid changes associated with ECP (e.g., inadequate renal, hepatic, pulmonary and cardiac function leading to enable patient to tolerate extracorporeal volume shifts associated with ECP).
9. Presence of aphakia or photosensitive disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, porphyrias, etc.).
10. Women who are pregnant and/or lactating.
11. Use of any investigational drug/treatment at the time of enrollment or within the previous 60 days, or five elimination half-lives, or until the expected pharmodynamic effect has returned to baseline, whichever is longer.
12. Inability to undergo MRI scans.
13. Contraindication to gadolinium due to past allergic, hypersensitive, or adverse reaction or impaired renal function. Patients receiving a steroid prep prior to gadolinium administration due to history of hypersensitivity or allergy to other agents or due to prior mild reaction to gadolinium will not be excluded from the study.
14. Poor venous access.
15. Previous history of skin cancer, leukemia / lymphoma / myeloma, or bone marrow transplant.
16. Patients taking Coumadin who are unable to switch from oral anticoagulants to enoxaparin.
17. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
18. Poor cardiac function.
19. Severe hypotension.
20. Any other disease or condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, could interfere with participation according to the PHOMS Study Protocol, or with the ability of the patients to cooperate and comply with study procedures.
21. Inability to provide informed consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group A (ECP + SoC Group); Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) plus Multiple Sclerosis (MS) standard of care	Combination product: Extracorporeal Photopheresis; ECP procedures will be performed using a Therakos Cellex integrated, closed photopheresis system (Therakos, Inc., a Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Company). ECP will administered according to the following schedule (Group A): Weeks 1-8: Twice per week (16 sessions). Weeks 9-16: Once per week (8 sessions). Weeks 17-24: Once every 2 weeks (4 sessions). Total: 28 sessions (within 24 weeks).; Other Names: Extracorporeal Photoimmunotherapy; Photochemotherapy; Combination product: MS standard of care; Disease-modifying Therapy -DMT, recommended by the American Academy of Neurology -AAN; Other Names: Disease-modifying Therapies
Active Comparator: Group B (SoC Group); MS standard of care alone (SoC, defined by Disease-modifying Therapy -DMT, recommended by the American Academy of Neurology -AAN	Combination product: MS standard of care; Disease-modifying Therapy -DMT, recommended by the American Academy of Neurology -AAN; Other Names: Disease-modifying Therapies

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tolerability to ECP procedures (Group A patients)	Proportion of patients tolerating the ECP procedures reaching the cycles' goal.	Weeks 0-24
Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), adverse events of special interest (AESIs), and serious adverse events (SAEs)	Proportion of patients referring TEAEs, AESIs, and SAEs assessed by CTCAE v5.0.	Weeks 0-52
Tolerability to TEAEs, AESIs, and SAEs	Proportion of patients tolerating TEAEs, AESIs, and SAEs, and finalizing the Study	Weeks 0-52
Clinical improvement (25-foot walk)	Proportion of patients with clinical improvement from baseline in 20% or greater increase in the timed 25-foot walk	Baseline, months 3, 6, 9, and 12
Clinical improvement (9-hole peg test)	Proportion of patients with clinical improvement from baseline in 20% or greater increase in the 9-hole peg test	Baseline, months 3, 6, 9, and 12
Clinical improvement (36-Item Short Form Survey)	Proportion of patients with clinical improvement from baseline in 20% or greater increase in the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)	Baseline, months 3, 6, 9, and 12
Clinical improvement (EDSS baseline low score)	Proportion of patients with clinical improvement from baseline in 1 point or greater increase in EDSS score (in subjects with baseline EDSS scores between 3 and 5.5)	Baseline, months 3, 6, 9, and 12
Clinical improvement (EDSS baseline high score)	Proportion of patients with clinical improvement from baseline in 0.5 point or greater increase in EDSS score (in subjects with baseline EDSS scores ≥ than 6)	Baseline, months 3, 6, 9, and 12
Occurrence of clinical relapse at any point in the study	Proportion of patients demonstrating new or recurrent neurological symptoms consistent with MS, symptoms last 24 to 48 hours, or development of new MS symptoms over days to weeks	Weeks 0-52

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Immune response profile (cellular)	Analysis of the biomarkers CD3, CD4, CD8, CD11c, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD25, CD27, CD28, CD38, CD45, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD56, CD57, CD66b, CD123, CD127, CD161, CD294, CCR4, CCR6, CCR7, CXCR3, CXCR5, for identification of immune cells and subsets analysis	Baseline, months 3, 6, 9, and 12
Immune response profile (humoral)	IgG, IgA, IgM levels will be assessed for characterization of the humoral response profile	Baseline, months 3, 6, 9, and 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Yendry Ventura Carmenate, M.D., Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Castillo-Aleman YM, Lumame S, Castelo C, Mir R, Ventura-Carmenate Y, Al-Kaabi FM. Recurrent clumping in the extracorporeal photopheresis circuit using acid citrate dextrose solution A. J Clin Apher. 2024 Jun;39(3):e22117. doi: 10.1002/jca.22117. No abstract available.
• Castillo-Aleman YM, Villegas-Valverde CA, Ventura-Carmenate Y, Al-Kaabi FM, Lumame S, Castelo C, Mir R, Brylev L, Atieh M, Haider MT, Bencomo-Hernandez AA. Mononuclear cell recruitment during extracorporeal photopheresis: Partial results of a phase 1/2 randomized clinical trial in multiple sclerosis. Transfus Apher Sci. 2025 Apr;64(2):104095. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2025.104095. Epub 2025 Feb 9.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 26, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): April 27, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 25, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 8, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): December 23, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 7, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 1, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis; Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis; Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis; Extracorporeal Photopheresis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Demyelinating Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Multiple Sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive; Therapeutics; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Drug Therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Phototherapy; Extracorporeal Circulation; PUVA Therapy; Ultraviolet Therapy; Photopheresis; Photochemotherapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: CT.005.2.0.PHOMS; DOH/CVDC/2022/155 (Other Identifier: Abu Dhabi Health Research and Technology Ethics Committee (ADHRTC))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No