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Sarilumab with Belumosudil for the Treatment of Belumosudil-Refractory Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease

Trial Status: approved

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects and best dose of sarilumab when given with belumosudil for the treatment of chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) that does not respond to treatment with belumosudil alone (belumosudil-refractory). Sometimes when patients undergo stem cell transplant, the transplanted cells from a donor can attack the body's normal cells (called graft-versus-host disease). Sarilumab is a type of drug called a “monoclonal antibody”. Sarilumab has been specifically shown to block the action of a protein called interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the body. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a protein in the immune system that has been shown to play an important role in inflammation. Inflammation is associated with complications of cGVHD. Belumosudil is a type of drug called kinase inhibitor. Kinases are proteins inside cells that help cells live and grow. Belumosudil is believed to block one of the chemical signals that leads to the immune reaction that causes cGVHD. The study drug, belumosudil, may also help to limit inappropriate scarring of tissues (fibrosis). Giving sarilumab with belumosudil may be safe and tolerable in treating patients with belumosudil-refractory cGVHD.