An open-label, multi-center, phase I/II study to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of DFT383 in pediatric participants with nephropathic cystinosis, followed by a long-term extension phase. The purpose of this clinical study is to assess safety, tolerability, and efficacy of DFT383 in participants aged 2 to 5 years with nephropathic cystinosis. The study consists of a Core Phase and a long-term Extension Phase. DFT383 is a cellular gene therapy. This study includes an active arm (Cohort 1) of participants treated with study treatment DFT383 and a concurrent reference arm (Cohort 0). Participants in Cohort 0 will not receive study treatment and will only participate in the Core Phase of the study. The study is not randomized and Cohort 0 aims to collect prospective and concurrent data in this rare disease.
Phase 1 trials primarily test safety and dosing in a small number of participants (typically 20–100). Results do not yet speak to efficacy. FDA approval is typically many years away from this stage.
Phase 2 trials begin testing efficacy in a larger patient group (100–300). This is often where biotech binary events occur — positive Phase 2 data can significantly advance a company's pipeline narrative, while failures can be terminal for a program.
Currently recruiting: the trial is enrolling patients. A data readout is not expected until after enrollment closes and the follow-up period is complete.
Novartis AG (NVS) is the sponsoring company for this trial. BiotechSign currently grades this company D (36/100) based on composite catalyst signals across its full pipeline. This trial is one data point in that overall catalyst picture.