Renal Function Improvement Following ANG-3777 Treatment in Patients at High Risk for Delayed Graft Function After Kidney Transplantation

BACKGROUND: Patients (20%-50%) undergoing renal transplantation experience acute kidney injury resulting in delayed graft function. ANG-3777 is an hepatocyte growth factor mimetic that binds to the c-MET receptor. In animal models, ANG-3777 decreases apoptosis, increases proliferation, and promotes organ repair and function. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial of patients undergoing renal transplantation with <50 cc/h urine output for 8 consecutive hours over the first 24 hours posttransplantation, or creatinine reduction ratio <30% from pretransplantation to 24 hours posttransplantation. Subjects were randomized as 2:1 to 3, once-daily IV infusions of ANG-3777, 2 mg/kg (n = 19), or placebo (n = 9). Primary endpoint: time in days to achieve ≥1200 cc urine for 24 hours. RESULTS: Patients treated with ANG-3777 were more likely to achieve the primary endpoint of 1200 cc urine for 24 hours by 28 days posttransplantation (83.3% versus 50% placebo; log-rank test: χ2 = 2.799, P = 0.09). Compared with placebo, patients in the ANG-3777 arm had larger increases in urine output; lower serum creatinine; greater reduction in C-reactive protein and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; fewer dialysis sessions and shorter duration of dialysis; fewer hospital days; significantly less graft failure; and higher estimated glomerular filtration rate. Adverse events occurred in a similar percentage of subjects in both arms. Events per subject were twice as high in the placebo arm. CONCLUSIONS: There was an efficacy signal for improved renal function in subjects treated with ANG-3777 relative to placebo, with a good safety profile.