A Phase Ⅰb/Ⅱa Clinical Study of IMC-003 Injection for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Receiving Background Therapy.

July 20, 2026 updated by: ImmuneCare Biopharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Multiple-dose, Dose-escalation Phase Ib/IIa Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Preliminary Efficacy of IMC-003 Injection in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Receiving Background Therapy.

This is a Phase Ib/IIa clinical study of IMC-003 treatment in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients receiving background therapy

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

120

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • China
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University
        • Contact:
    • Changchun
      • Jilin City, Changchun, China
        • Recruiting
        • The First Hospital of Jilin University
        • Contact:
    • Fujian
      • Fuzhou, Fujian, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Fujian Medical University Union Hospita
        • Contact:
      • Xiamen, Fujian, China
        • Recruiting
        • Xiamen Hospital of T.C.M.
        • Contact:
    • Gansu
      • Lanzhou, Gansu, China
        • Recruiting
        • Gansu Provincial Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Guangdong
      • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
        • Recruiting
        • Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Guizhou
      • Guiyang, Guizhou, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University
        • Contact:
    • Henan
      • Zhengzhou, Henan, China
        • Recruiting
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University
        • Contact:
      • Zhengzhou, Henan, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Fuwai Center China Cardiovascular Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Hubei
      • Wuhan, Hubei, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University
        • Contact:
      • Wuhan, Hubei, China
    • Hunan
      • Changsha, Hunan, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
        • Contact:
    • Jiangsu
      • Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
        • Recruiting
        • Xuzhou Central Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Jiangxi
      • Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University
        • Contact:
    • Liaoning
      • Shenyang, Liaoning, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • General Hospital of the Northern Theater Command
        • Contact:
    • Shangdong
      • Jinan, Shangdong, China
        • Recruiting
        • Qilu Hospital of Shandong University
        • Contact:
    • Shanghai Municipality
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
        • Recruiting
        • Shanghai Tongji Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Shanghai Chest Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Sichuan
      • Chengdu, Sichuan, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • West China Hospital, Sichuan University
        • Contact:
      • Chengdu, Sichuan, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Tianjin Municipality
      • Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University
        • Contact:
      • Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China
        • Recruiting
        • Tianjin Medical University General Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Yunnan
      • Kunming, Yunnan, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Kunming Yan'an Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Zhejiang
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine
        • Contact:
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
        • Recruiting
        • The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Participants aged 18-75 years old (inclusive), any gender;

  2. Patients diagnosed with WHO Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) via right heart catheterization (RHC) before dosing (see Appendix 1), including the following subtypes:

    • Idiopathic PAH;
    • Heritable PAH;
    • Drug- or toxin-induced PAH;
    • Inactive, connective tissue disease-associated PAH;
    • Simple congenital heart disease with left-to-right shunt-related PAH, at least 1 year post-repair surgery;
  3. Symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension, WHO functional class II or III ;

  4. Must also meet the following hemodynamic criteria:

    • Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) at rest ≥25 mmHg;
    • Pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) ≤15 mmHg;
  5. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) measured by RHC within 10 days before initial dosing ≥5 Wood Units (400 dyn·sec·cm-5), prior RHC results before screening are acceptable if they meet study requirements;

  6. Receiving stable doses of background PAH therapy (i.e., for at least 90 days before first dosing, individualized target doses for each therapy reached and stable); for subcutaneous prostacyclin users, a 10% variation around the optimal dose is allowed following medical practice, detailed as follows:

    • Background PAH therapy refers to approved PAH-specific drugs, including ERA and/or PDE-5i or sGC stimulators and/or prostacyclin analogs or receptor agonists (subcutaneous). Note: PAH background therapy drugs should meet the following doses: Macitentan 10 mg qd, Ambrisentan 10 mg qd; Sildenafil ≥20 mg tid, Tadalafil 20-40 mg qd; Riociguat 2 mg or 2.5 mg tid; Selexipag 0.8-1.6 mg bid; Subcutaneous treprostinil ≥20 ng/kg/min. Note: Drugs used for acute pulmonary vasoreactivity testing are not considered background therapy.
  7. During screening and within 10 days before first dosing, the mean of two 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) tests should be ≥150m and ≤450m, with a maximum difference of 15% (based on the higher value); the two tests should be at least 4 hours apart and no longer than 1 week apart (if the difference exceeds 15%, repeat once within 4 hours to 1 week).
  8. Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test before dosing, agree to regular urine or serum pregnancy tests during treatment (any one), use highly effective contraception before dosing, during treatment (including dosing interruption) and for 16 weeks (112 days) after the last dose, and avoid blood or egg donation for 16 weeks (112 days) after the last dose.
  9. Male participants agree to use condoms, defined as using latex condoms or non-latex condoms made from non-natural (animal) membranes (e.g., polyurethane) during sexual activity with pregnant women or women of childbearing potential during the dosing period (including any interruption) and for 16 weeks (112 days) after the last dose, even if they have successfully undergone a vasectomy, and to avoid donating sperm during this time;
  10. Participants understand and follow the study procedures, voluntarily participate, and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1) Diagnosed with WHO Group 2, 3, 4, or 5 pulmonary hypertension. 2) Diagnosed with the following PAH subtypes in WHO Group 1:

  • HIV-associated PAH
  • Portal hypertension-associated PAH
  • Schistosomiasis-associated PAH
  • PAH associated with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease or pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis

  • PAH patients with known positive acute pulmonary vasoreactivity test 3) History of echocardiogram within 6 months before screening showing left ventricular ejection fraction <45%, or pre-dose echocardiogram showing left ventricular ejection fraction <45%, or as assessed by the investigator, acute decompensated heart failure occurring within 30 days before screening, or evidence or history of clinically significant heart disease (including but not limited to: significant (≥2+) mitral or aortic valve regurgitation, restrictive or congestive cardiomyopathy, or pericardial constriction).

    4) Poorly controlled hypertension at rest during the screening period: seated systolic BP >160 mmHg or seated diastolic BP >100 mmHg, or pre-dose systolic BP <90 mmHg on Day 1.

    5) Pre-dose ECG Fridericia corrected QT interval (QTcF) ≥470 ms for men, ≥480 ms for women, or personal/family history of long QT syndrome (LQTS) or sudden cardiac death.

    6) Any symptomatic coronary artery disease event (previous myocardial infarction, PCI, CABG, or angina), or history of cerebrovascular accident within 3 months before screening. Note: if coronary angiography shows no obstruction (lumen stenosis ≤50%), angina may not be an exclusion.

    7) Use of IV positive inotropic agents (such as dobutamine, dopamine, norepinephrine, vasopressin, milrinone, levosimendan, etc.) within 30 days before the screening visit.

    8) History of arterial or deep vein thrombosis within 6 months before dosing, or any spontaneous bleeding of any severity within 2 months before dosing.

    9) Untreated mild or more severe obstructive sleep apnea history. 10）Previous or planned heart or lung transplant, or expected lifespan <12 months as assessed by the investigator.

    11) Diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other clinically significant lung diseases.

    12) Exclusion if there is evidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) from a chest CT within 1 year before screening or a lung function test (PET) within 6 months before screening; if these test results are not available, or if the chest CT within 1 year shows mild or more severe ILD, a lung function test (PET) or chest CT must be done during the screening period, and patients with ILD detected are excluded.

    13) Before administration, hemoglobin (Hb) > the upper limit of normal (ULN) for their gender or <90 g/L, platelet count ≤100×10⁹/L, neutrophils <1.5×10⁹/L, AST or ALT >3×ULN, total bilirubin >1.5×ULN, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73m² (defined according to CKD-EPI 2021 formula).

    14) History of portal hypertension or chronic liver disease, including positive Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and/or positive Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) with HBV-DNA levels above the normal range; positive Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and positive HCV-RNA; positive HIV serology; positive Treponema pallidum antibody (TP-Ab) (if Treponema pallidum serology is positive, a non-Treponema pallidum serology test should be done, and if negative and judged by the investigator as a cured past syphilis infection, the patient can be included).

    15) Currently participating in other clinical studies; or has participated in a medical device or drug clinical study within 30 days before screening (except those who only signed the ICF but did not receive investigational drug or device intervention), or still within 5 half-lives (t1/2) of an investigational product (whichever is longer).

    16) Previously received treatment targeting the TGF-β superfamily (e.g., Sotatercept), including participation in clinical trials.

    17) Known allergies to large molecule protein products/monoclonal antibodies, the study drug or its excipients, or drugs of the same type.

    18) Started a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation exercise program within 90 days before screening, or planning to start one during the study (participants who have maintained a stable program and will continue during the study are eligible).

    19) History of opportunistic infections (e.g., invasive candidiasis or Pneumocystis pneumonia within 6 months before dosing); severe local infections (e.g., cellulitis, abscess) or systemic infections (e.g., sepsis) within 4 weeks before screening.

    20) Major surgery within 8 weeks before the first dose, or participants not fully recovered from previous surgery before the first dose.

    21) If receiving corticosteroid therapy, any of the following within 30 days before the first dose: taken >20 mg/day of prednisone (or equivalent) or started a new dose/change in dose ≤20 mg/day, the participant is excluded; stable ≤20 mg/day prednisone (or equivalent) within 30 days before the first dose is allowed. For connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension patients on immunosuppressive therapy, if the treatment has been stable for less than 3 months prior to dosing; any participant who has received CRA-T therapy is excluded.

    22) History of malignancy or current malignancy (excluding basal cell carcinoma excised with no evidence of metastasis for 3 years, or treated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia with unknown recurrence status).

    23) Autoimmune disease, except for PAH etiology-related diseases included in this study.

    24) History of chronic kidney disease, or acute kidney injury requiring acute dialysis within 3 months before screening regardless of past kidney disease history.

    25) Pregnant or breastfeeding women. 26) Participants deemed unsuitable for the study by the investigator.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Experimental: IMC-003
Subjects will receive eight injection treatments with IMC-003, once every three weeks.
Drug: IMC-003 and PAH background therapy
Subjects will receive 8 injections of IMC-003 and will also need to have stable background treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Placebo Comparator: placebo of IMC-003
Subjects will receive eight injection treatments with placebo of IMC-003, once every three weeks.
Drug: IMC-003 placebo and PAH background therapy
Subjects will receive 8 injections placebo of IMC-003 and will also need to have stable background treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Phase Ib
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Primary Endpoints

  • Safety and Tolerability: Incidence and frequency of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) (according to CTCAE v6.0 from NCI);
  • abnormalities in vital signs, physical exams（The units for height are centimeters and for weight are kilograms ）, lab tests, 12-lead ECG, echocardiography, etc., before and after medication.

Primary Efficacy Endpoint

- Change in hemodynamic indicator pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) from baseline at Week 24 of treatment.
24 weeks
Phase IIa
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Primary efficacy endpoint:

- Change in hemodynamic parameter pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) from baseline after 24 weeks of treatment.

Safety endpoints:

  • Occurrence and frequency of AE and SAE;
  • Any abnormalities in vital signs, physical exams（The units for height are centimeters and for weight are kilograms ）, lab tests, 12-lead ECGs, and echocardiograms before and after treatment.
24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of participants meeting composite improvement criteria . Other hemodynamic-related changes. Changes in heart MRI-related indicators. Changes in 6MWD. Changes in WHO FC classification. Changes in NT-proBNP. The rate at which the disease worsens
Time Frame: 24 weeks

  1. At 24 weeks of treatment, the proportion of participants who achieved the composite improvement criteria :

    • Six-minute walk distance increased by ≥30 meters from baseline
    • NT-proBNP decreased by ≥30% from baseline, or NT-proBNP levels remained/achieved <300 ng/L
    • WHO functional class improved by at least 1 level from baseline, or maintained at WHO FC II
  2. At 24 weeks of treatment, changes in other hemodynamic-related indicators from baseline
  3. At 24 weeks of treatment, changes in heart-related MRI indicators from baseline
  4. After treatment, assess the change in 6MWD from baseline at the end of the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th treatment cycles
  5. After treatment, the change in WHO functional class from baseline at the end of each treatment cycle
  6. After treatment, the change in NT-proBNP from baseline at the end of each treatment cycle
  7. The rate of disease progression at 24 weeks of treatment
24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

ImmuneCare Biopharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Zhicheng Jing, M.D., Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 30, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 9, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 20, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IMC-003-Ⅱ-01

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

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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