A Phase 2 interventional study of Eltrombopag in Fanconi Anemia, sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 6 Years to 99 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-16.
Sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
Background:
Fanconi anemia is a genetic disease. Some people with it have reduced blood cell counts. This means their bone marrow no longer works properly. These people may need blood transfusions for anemia (low red blood cells) or low platelet counts or bleeding. Researchers want to see if a new drug will help people with this disease.
Objective:
To find out if a new drug, eltrombopag, is effective in people with Fanconi anemia. To know how long the drug needs to be given to improve blood counts.
Eligibility:
People at least 6 years old with Fanconi anemia with reduced blood cell counts.
Design:
Participants will be screened with blood and urine tests. They will repeat this before starting to take the study drug.
Participants will take eltrombopag pills by mouth once a day for 24 weeks. They will be monitored closely for side effects.
Participants will have blood tests every 4 weeks while on eltrombopag.
Participants will visit NIH 3 months and 6 months after starting eltrombopag. At these visits, participants will:
Answer questions about their medical history, how they are feeling, and their quality of life
Have a physical exam
Have blood and urine tests
Have a bone marrow sample taken by needle from the hip. The area will be numbed.
If participants blood cell counts improve, they might join the extended access part of the study. They may continue eltrombopag for up to 3 years, with dose adjustment, taper, interruption, discontinuation, or re-initiation according to protocol criteria.
After 24 weeks of treatment, if there is no improvement in blood cell counts, participants will stop taking eltrombopag. They will return for an optional follow-up visit that repeats the study visits.
Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disease that often presents as a bone marrow failure (BMF) syndrome but also can affect any other organ. Etiologically, loss of function mutations in more than 21 different gene members of the FA core complex (i.e. FANCA-FANCV) have been associated with FA. The FA core complex is involved in interstrand cross-link DNA damage repair during cell division. Impaired DNA repair causes genomic instability which consequently can cause apoptosis of the cell or malignant transformation. In addition to impaired DNA repair mechanisms, FA cells exhibit increased sensitivity to pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) and elevated levels of these cytokines have been associated with bone marrow failure in subjects with FA and other inherited bone marrow failure syndromes.
Patients with FA may present with congenital anomalies, such as microcephaly or short stature. However, the failure of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment to produce sufficient numbers of peripheral blood cells, and progression to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) are the greatest risk factors for morbidity and mortality, particular in young patients with FA. In a few reported cases, spontaneous somatic reversion of inherited mutations has resulted in a selective growth advantage of corrected HSCs that subsequently restored hematopoiesis. However, therapeutic options are limited in FA. Although HSC transplantation outcomes have significantly improved over the past two decades, donor availability, graft failure, and FA-specific transplant toxicities are still significant hurdles towards a curative treatment of FA-associated BMF. Moreover, attempts at genetic correction of FA are not yet ready for patient care.
The thrombopoietin (TPO) mimetic eltrombopag (EPAG) has recently been shown to be effective in restoring tri-lineage hematopoiesis in patients with treatment refractory acquired severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Of particular interest for patients with FA is the observation that EPAG also improves the repair of double strand DNA breaks, a mechanism that is impaired in patients with FA. Additionally, our pre-clinical studies indicate that EPAG evades IFN-gamma blockade of signal transduction from the TPO receptor (cMPL) resulting in improved survival and proliferation of HSCs. Based on these clinical and pre-clinical studies, we hypothesize that EPAG will improve peripheral blood cell counts in patients with FA and thus reduce morbidity and mortality.
This phase II clinical trial proposes to treat patients with FA for 6 months with EPAG to assess safety and efficacy at improving hematological manifestations of FA. Responders at 6 months will be able to continue EPAG on the extension part of this protocol for an additional 3 years. Translational studies will explore EPAG effects on DNA repair activity, apoptosis, global transcriptome and TPO signaling pathways in patient's hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs).
One or more of the following three clinically-significant cytopenias:
Transfusion Units: Single donor apheresis platelets have become the primary source of platelets in the US. Therefore, one transfused, single donor platelet apheresis product is considered 1 unit for protocol purposes. In the rare case that a patient received pooled platelet products, each completed platelet transfusion (1 bag) independent of donor units pooled, will be counted as 1 unit transfused. In analogy, each completed platelet transfusion will be counted as one unit in pediatric patients independent of the administered volume.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they are using highly effective methods of contraception during dosing and for 30 days after the last dose of EPAG. Highly effective contraception methods include:
History or current diagnosis of cardiac disease indicating significant risk of safety for patients participating in the study such as uncontrolled or significant cardiac disease, including any of the following:
Participants with Fanconi anemia will receive daily eltrombopag. Doses will be administered as follows: Non Asian populations * Ages 6 to 11: 75 mg daily; may increase up to 150 mg during the extension phase. * Ages 12 and older: 150 mg daily; may increase up to 300 mg during the extension phase. East Asian, South East Asian populations * Ages 6 to 11: 37.5 mg daily; may increase up to 150 mg during the extension phase. * Ages 12 and older: 75 mg daily; may increase up to 300 mg during the extension phase.
Drug: Eltrombopag
Daily dose (first 6 months) * Non-Asian (6-11): 75 mg * Non-Asian (\>=12): 150 mg * East Asian, South East Asian (6-11): 37.5 mg * East Asian, South East Asian (\>=12): 75 mg
Also known as: EPAG
Proportion of Drug Responders
Defined as one or more of the following: Peripheral Blood Response: * Platelet count increases of at least 20,000/uL above baseline or stable platelet counts with transfusion independence for those participants that were transfusion dependent prior to treatment for a minimum of 8 consecutive weeks prior to response assessment; * An increase in hemoglobin by \> 1.5g/dL or a reduction in the units of PRBC transfusions by at least 50% during the eight consecutive weeks prior to response assessment - compared with the pretreatment transfusion number in the previous 8 weeks; * At least a 100% increase in ANC in participants with a pretreatment absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of \<0.5 x 10\^9/L, or an ANC increase \>0.5 x 10\^9/L Bone Marrow Response: * \>= 2-fold increase in normal marrow CD34+ cells by CD34 immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry, and/or * \>= 2-fold increase in normal marrow cellularity as measured by standard stains (H\&E) of bone marrow biopsy/aspirate sections.
Time frame: 6 months (+/- 14 day window)
Toxicity Profile: Number of Participants With Eltrombopag-Related Adverse Events During the First 6 Months, Overall and by Event Term and Maximum CTCAE Grade
The table reports the number of participants with at least one related adverse event overall and, for each event term, the number by maximum grade (Grade 1-2 or Grade 3 or higher). Each participant was counted once in the overall row and once per event term at the highest grade experienced; event-term categories are not mutually exclusive. Adverse events were assessed by the investigator as possibly, probably, or definitely related to eltrombopag, and were graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0: Grade 1 (mild), Grade 2 (moderate), Grade 3 (severe or medically significant), Grade 4 (life-threatening), and Grade 5 (death related to adverse event).
Time frame: Up to 6 months (+/- 14 day window)
Number of Participants With a Protocol-Defined Hematologic Response at Month 3
Participants with an evaluable Month 3 assessment were responders if they met at least one criterion: 1. platelet response: platelet count increased by ≥20,000/µL from baseline, or, if platelet-transfusion dependent before treatment, stable counts with transfusion independence for ≥8 consecutive weeks before assessment; 2. erythroid response: hemoglobin increased by \>1.5 g/dL, or packed red blood cell transfusion units decreased by ≥50% during the 8 weeks before assessment versus the 8 weeks before treatment; 3. neutrophil response: for pretreatment absolute neutrophil count \<0.5 × 10\^9/L, absolute neutrophil count increased by ≥100% or by \>0.5 × 10\^9/L; or 4. bone marrow response: ≥2-fold increase from baseline in normal marrow CD34-positive cells by immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry and/or ≥2-fold increase in marrow cellularity by hematoxylin and eosin staining.
Time frame: Month 3 (+/- 14 day window)
Number of Participants Who Relapsed During the Extension Phase
Among participants who met the protocol-defined response criteria at Month 6 and entered the extension phase, the number who subsequently lost a previously achieved hematologic response. Relapse was assessed using serial peripheral blood counts, transfusion requirements, and bone marrow evaluations obtained during protocol follow-up. Each participant was counted once at the first documented relapse.
Time frame: From entry into the extension phase at Month 6 through up to 3 years of extension-phase follow-up, corresponding to up to Month 42 after initiation of eltrombopag
Number of Participants With Clonal Evolution During Study Follow-up
Number of participants who developed at least one new cytogenetic abnormality and/or new morphologic evidence of progression to myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia after baseline. Clonal evolution was assessed using serial bone marrow morphology and chromosomal analysis by standard cytogenetic techniques. A myelodysplastic syndrome fluorescence in situ hybridization panel could be performed when clinically indicated and at the principal investigator's discretion. Each participant was counted once in the overall measure.
Time frame: From baseline through the end of study follow-up, up to 42 months after initiation of eltrombopag
Number of Participants With Adverse Events During the Extension Phase
Among participants who entered the extension phase, the number who experienced one or more hematologic or nonhematologic adverse events during extended eltrombopag therapy and follow-up. Adverse events were graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 and summarized by event term, maximum grade, seriousness, investigator-assessed relationship to eltrombopag, and action taken with study treatment. Each participant was counted once per adverse-event term at the maximum reported grade.
Time frame: From entry into the extension phase at Month 6 through up to 3 years of extension-phase treatment and follow-up, corresponding to up to Month 42 after initiation of eltrombopag
Change From Baseline in Health-Related Quality-of-Life Scores at Months 3 and 6
Within-participant change from baseline in health-related quality-of-life scores at Months 3 and 6. Age-appropriate adult, pediatric, or parent-proxy questionnaires were used, as applicable. The protocol-specified measures included: * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Health. * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep Disturbance. * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Applied Cognition-Abilities. * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Anxiety. * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression. * Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy measures addressing anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. Changes from baseline were summarized separately for each instrument or domain and evaluated overall and in relation to hematologic treatment response.
Time frame: Baseline, Month 3 (+/- 14 day window), and Month 6 (+/- 14 day window)
Number of Participants With Fanconi Anemia-Associated Organ-System Findings at Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6
Number of participants with clinically identified findings involving organ systems commonly affected in Fanconi anemia at baseline, Month 3, and Month 6. Prespecified categories included skin lesions, endocrine dysfunction, and new head and neck, oropharyngeal, gastrointestinal, anogenital, or skin cancers. Findings at Months 3 and 6 were compared with baseline to identify newly diagnosed, worsened, improved, or unchanged abnormalities. Participants were counted once within each applicable category at each assessment.
Time frame: Baseline, Month 3 (+/- 14 day window), and Month 6 (+/- 14 day window)
| Milestone | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Started | 25 |
| Completed | 22 |
| Not completed | 3 |
| Withdrew: Screen fail (did not meet eligibility criteria) | 3 |
| Milestone | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Started | 22 |
| Completed | 21 |
| Not completed | 1 |
| Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject | 1 |
| Milestone | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Started | 20 |
| Completed | 5 |
| Not completed | 15 |
| Withdrew: Death | 2 |
| Withdrew: Physician decision | 3 |
| Withdrew: Pursue drug combination not permitted on the study | 2 |
| Withdrew: Participants remaining active on-study at the august 1, 2025 reporting time | 8 |
Defined as one or more of the following: Peripheral Blood Response: * Platelet count increases of at least 20,000/uL above baseline or stable platelet counts with transfusion independence for those participants that were transfusion dependent prior to treatment for a minimum of 8 consecutive weeks prior to response assessment; * An increase in hemoglobin by \> 1.5g/dL or a reduction in the units of PRBC transfusions by at least 50% during the eight consecutive weeks prior to response assessment - compared with the pretreatment transfusion number in the previous 8 weeks; * At least a 100% increase in ANC in participants with a pretreatment absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of \<0.5 x 10\^9/L, or an ANC increase \>0.5 x 10\^9/L Bone Marrow Response: * \>= 2-fold increase in normal marrow CD34+ cells by CD34 immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry, and/or * \>= 2-fold increase in normal marrow cellularity as measured by standard stains (H\&E) of bone marrow biopsy/aspirate sections.
| Participants | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Proportion of Drug Responders | 21 |
The table reports the number of participants with at least one related adverse event overall and, for each event term, the number by maximum grade (Grade 1-2 or Grade 3 or higher). Each participant was counted once in the overall row and once per event term at the highest grade experienced; event-term categories are not mutually exclusive. Adverse events were assessed by the investigator as possibly, probably, or definitely related to eltrombopag, and were graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0: Grade 1 (mild), Grade 2 (moderate), Grade 3 (severe or medically significant), Grade 4 (life-threatening), and Grade 5 (death related to adverse event).
| Participants | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Number of participants with at least one treatment-related adverse event, during the first 6 months | 18 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increased, Grade 1-2 | 7 |
| Alanine aminotransferase increased, Grade 1-2 | 6 |
| Blood bilirubin increased, Grade 1-2 | 5 |
| Iron deficiency, Grade 1-2 | 4 |
| Abdominal pain, Grade 1-2 | 3 |
| Diarrhea, Grade 1-2 | 3 |
| Constipation, Grade 1-2 | 2 |
| Yellow skin discoloration, Grade 1-2 | 2 |
| Dry Mouth, Grade 1-2 | 1 |
| Yellow sclera discoloration, Grade 1-2 | 1 |
| Alanine aminotransferase increased, Greater than or equal to Grade 3 | 1 |
Participants with an evaluable Month 3 assessment were responders if they met at least one criterion: 1. platelet response: platelet count increased by ≥20,000/µL from baseline, or, if platelet-transfusion dependent before treatment, stable counts with transfusion independence for ≥8 consecutive weeks before assessment; 2. erythroid response: hemoglobin increased by \>1.5 g/dL, or packed red blood cell transfusion units decreased by ≥50% during the 8 weeks before assessment versus the 8 weeks before treatment; 3. neutrophil response: for pretreatment absolute neutrophil count \<0.5 × 10\^9/L, absolute neutrophil count increased by ≥100% or by \>0.5 × 10\^9/L; or 4. bone marrow response: ≥2-fold increase from baseline in normal marrow CD34-positive cells by immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry and/or ≥2-fold increase in marrow cellularity by hematoxylin and eosin staining.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Among participants who met the protocol-defined response criteria at Month 6 and entered the extension phase, the number who subsequently lost a previously achieved hematologic response. Relapse was assessed using serial peripheral blood counts, transfusion requirements, and bone marrow evaluations obtained during protocol follow-up. Each participant was counted once at the first documented relapse.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Number of participants who developed at least one new cytogenetic abnormality and/or new morphologic evidence of progression to myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia after baseline. Clonal evolution was assessed using serial bone marrow morphology and chromosomal analysis by standard cytogenetic techniques. A myelodysplastic syndrome fluorescence in situ hybridization panel could be performed when clinically indicated and at the principal investigator's discretion. Each participant was counted once in the overall measure.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Among participants who entered the extension phase, the number who experienced one or more hematologic or nonhematologic adverse events during extended eltrombopag therapy and follow-up. Adverse events were graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 and summarized by event term, maximum grade, seriousness, investigator-assessed relationship to eltrombopag, and action taken with study treatment. Each participant was counted once per adverse-event term at the maximum reported grade.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Within-participant change from baseline in health-related quality-of-life scores at Months 3 and 6. Age-appropriate adult, pediatric, or parent-proxy questionnaires were used, as applicable. The protocol-specified measures included: * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Health. * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep Disturbance. * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Applied Cognition-Abilities. * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Anxiety. * Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression. * Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy measures addressing anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. Changes from baseline were summarized separately for each instrument or domain and evaluated overall and in relation to hematologic treatment response.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Number of participants with clinically identified findings involving organ systems commonly affected in Fanconi anemia at baseline, Month 3, and Month 6. Prespecified categories included skin lesions, endocrine dysfunction, and new head and neck, oropharyngeal, gastrointestinal, anogenital, or skin cancers. Findings at Months 3 and 6 were compared with baseline to identify newly diagnosed, worsened, improved, or unchanged abnormalities. Participants were counted once within each applicable category at each assessment.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Collected over From the first dose of eltrombopag through the August 1, 2025 data cutoff, for a maximum of 42 months per participant. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag | 2/22 (9.1%) | 10/22 (45.5%) | 22/22 (100%) |
| Event | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Febrile neutropeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders | 4/22 |
| Bronchopulmonary hemorrhageRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 2/22 |
| Karyotypic abnormality (monosomy 7)Blood and lymphatic system disorders | 1/22 |
| Sinus bradycardiaCardiac disorders | 1/22 |
| DiarrheaGastrointestinal disorders | 1/22 |
| DysphagiaGastrointestinal disorders | 1/22 |
| Neutropenic colitisGastrointestinal disorders | 1/22 |
| Lower gastrointestinal hemorrhageGastrointestinal disorders | 1/22 |
| Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhageGastrointestinal disorders | 1/22 |
| Elevated liver function testsInvestigations | 1/22 |
| Event | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Alanine aminotransferase increasedInvestigations | 17/22 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increasedInvestigations | 17/22 |
| Blood bilirubin increasedInvestigations | 16/22 |
| CoughRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 10/22 |
| EcchymosisSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 10/22 |
| Alkaline phosphatase increasedInvestigations | 9/22 |
| Upper respiratory infectionInfections and infestations | 9/22 |
| FeverGeneral disorders | 8/22 |
| HyperglycemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders | 8/22 |
| ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders | 7/22 |
| Age, Categorical(Participants) | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| <=18 years | 21 |
| Between 18 and 65 years | 1 |
| >=65 years | 0 |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Female | 11 |
| Male | 11 |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 10 |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 12 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 0 |
| Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 |
| Asian | 3 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 |
| Black or African American | 2 |
| White | 13 |
| More than one race | 2 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 2 |
| Complementation group(Participants) | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| FANC-A | 18 |
| FANC-C | 2 |
| FANC-E | 1 |
| FANC-G | 1 |
| Hemoglobin(g/dL) | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Median | 7.7 (4.0 to 11.8) |
| Neutrophil count(cells x10^9/L) | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Median | 0.56 (0.15 to 1.95) |
| Platelet count(cells x10^9/L) | Participants With Fanconi Anemia Receiving Eltrombopag |
|---|---|
| Median | 26 (2 to 56) |
3 further baseline measures are reported on the registry.
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)