HORUS-Cytomegalovirus Open Proof-of-concept Exploratory Trial

Summary

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following organ transplantation. Cell-mediated immunity plays a crucial role in controlling CMV replication after transplantation. Immune monitoring involves the use of immune biomarkers to dynamically estimate the risk of CMV replication. This approach allows for the individualization of preventive and therapeutic strategies, improving patient outcomes. The HORUS-COPE trial is designed to assess the effect of immune modulation on CMV replication kinetics and to explore the performance of a selected immune signature during antiviral therapy for CMV infection to stratify patients based on their risk of not responding to immune modulation.

Timeline

Start

2026-04

Primary completion

2028-01

Completion

2028-03

Publications

• Background Qazi Y, Shaffer D, Kaplan B, Kim DY, Luan FL, Peddi VR, Shihab F, Tomlanovich S, Yilmaz S, McCague K, Patel D, Mulgaonkar S. Efficacy and Safety of Everolimus Plus Low-Dose Tacrolimus Versus Mycophenolate Mofetil Plus Standard-Dose Tacrolimus in De Novo Renal Transplant Recipients: 12-Month Data. Am J Transplant. 2017 May;17(5):1358-1369. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14090. Epub 2017 Jan 4.
• Background Viana LA, Cristelli MP, Basso G, Santos DW, Dantas MTC, Dreige YC, Requiao Moura LR, Nakamura MR, Medina-Pestana J, Tedesco-Silva H. Conversion to mTOR Inhibitor to Reduce the Incidence of Cytomegalovirus Recurrence in Kidney Transplant Recipients Receiving Preemptive Treatment: A Prospective, Randomized Trial. Transplantation. 2023 Aug 1;107(8):1835-1845. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000004559. Epub 2023 Jul 20.
• Background Kaminski H, Kamar N, Thaunat O, Bouvier N, Caillard S, Garrigue I, Anglicheau D, Rerolle JP, Le Meur Y, Durrbach A, Bachelet T, Savel H, Coueron R, Visentin J, Del Bello A, Pellegrin I, Dechanet-Merville J, Merville P, Thiebaut R, Couzi L. Incidence of cytomegalovirus infection in seropositive kidney transplant recipients treated with everolimus: A randomized, open-label, multicenter phase 4 trial. Am J Transplant. 2022 May;22(5):1430-1441. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16946. Epub 2022 Jan 19.
• Background Kaminski H, Marseres G, Yared N, Nokin MJ, Pitard V, Zouine A, Garrigue I, Loizon S, Capone M, Gauthereau X, Mamani-Matsuda M, Coueron R, Duran RV, Pinson B, Pellegrin I, Thiebaut R, Couzi L, Merville P, Dechanet-Merville J. mTOR Inhibitors Prevent CMV Infection through the Restoration of Functional alphabeta and gammadelta T cells in Kidney Transplantation. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2022 Jan;33(1):121-137. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2020121753. Epub 2021 Nov 1.
• Background Poglitsch M, Weichhart T, Hecking M, Werzowa J, Katholnig K, Antlanger M, Krmpotic A, Jonjic S, Horl WH, Zlabinger GJ, Puchhammer E, Saemann MD. CMV late phase-induced mTOR activation is essential for efficient virus replication in polarized human macrophages. Am J Transplant. 2012 Jun;12(6):1458-68. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2012.04002.x. Epub 2012 Mar 5.
• Background Clippinger AJ, Maguire TG, Alwine JC. The changing role of mTOR kinase in the maintenance of protein synthesis during human cytomegalovirus infection. J Virol. 2011 Apr;85(8):3930-9. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01913-10. Epub 2011 Feb 9.
• Background Asberg A, Jardine AG, Bignamini AA, Rollag H, Pescovitz MD, Gahlemann CC, Humar A, Hartmann A; VICTOR Study Group. Effects of the intensity of immunosuppressive therapy on outcome of treatment for CMV disease in organ transplant recipients. Am J Transplant. 2010 Aug;10(8):1881-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2010.03114.x. Epub 2010 May 10.
• Background Dubrawka CA, Progar KJ, January SE, Hagopian JC, Nesselhauf NM, Malone AF. Impact of antimetabolite discontinuation following cytomegalovirus or BK polyoma virus infection in kidney transplant recipients. Transpl Infect Dis. 2022 Dec;24(6):e13931. doi: 10.1111/tid.13931. Epub 2022 Aug 26.
• Background Kaminski H, Garrigue I, Couzi L, Taton B, Bachelet T, Moreau JF, Dechanet-Merville J, Thiebaut R, Merville P. Surveillance of gammadelta T Cells Predicts Cytomegalovirus Infection Resolution in Kidney Transplants. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2016 Feb;27(2):637-45. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2014100985. Epub 2015 Jun 8.
• Background Bestard O, Kaminski H, Couzi L, Fernandez-Ruiz M, Manuel O. Cytomegalovirus Cell-Mediated Immunity: Ready for Routine Use? Transpl Int. 2023 Nov 7;36:11963. doi: 10.3389/ti.2023.11963. eCollection 2023.
• Background Kotton CN, Kumar D, Manuel O, Chou S, Hayden RT, Danziger-Isakov L, Asberg A, Tedesco-Silva H, Humar A; Transplantation Society International CMV Consensus Group. The Fourth International Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Cytomegalovirus in Solid Organ Transplantation. Transplantation. 2025 Jul 1;109(7):1066-1110. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000005374. Epub 2025 Apr 9. No abstract available.
• Background Manuel O, Kralidis G, Mueller NJ, Hirsch HH, Garzoni C, van Delden C, Berger C, Boggian K, Cusini A, Koller MT, Weisser M, Pascual M, Meylan PR; Swiss Transplant Cohort Study. Impact of antiviral preventive strategies on the incidence and outcomes of cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant recipients. Am J Transplant. 2013 Sep;13(9):2402-10. doi: 10.1111/ajt.12388. Epub 2013 Aug 5.

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Indications