King's College Hospital recruits world's first patient in Phase 3 trial of erlitercept for lower-risk MDS
核心洞察
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has recruited the first patient globally into the Takeda Pharmaceuticals (搜索) TAK-226-3001 Phase 3 trial.
The trial evaluates erlitercept (搜索) against standard-of-care erythropoietin for treating anaemia in adults with lower-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (搜索) (MDS).
The study aims to recruit 300 patients globally, with participants able to remain in the trial for up to five years.
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has become the first hospital in the world to recruit a patient into a major international clinical trial investigating a potential new treatment for a rare form of blood cancer. The Takeda Pharmaceuticals (搜索) TAK-226-3001 Phase 3 trial is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of erlitercept (搜索), a novel therapy designed to treat anaemia in adults living with lower-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (搜索) (MDS).
The treatment will be compared against the current standard of care, erythropoietin, which is widely used to manage the condition. King's College Hospital is one of only two UK centres participating in the study, which aims to recruit 300 patients globally. Participants may remain in the trial for up to five years, enabling researchers to assess the long-term impact of the treatment.
Disease Background and Unmet Need
MDS is a rare pre-leukaemic blood disorder that affects around 4 in every 100,000 people in the UK, predominantly older adults. The condition impairs the body's ability to produce healthy blood cells, often causing severe anaemia and significantly reducing quality of life. Patients also face an increased risk of developing acute leukaemia.
Dr Austin Kulasekararaj, Consultant Haematologist at King's and Chief Investigator of the study, explained the current treatment limitations: "The only approved treatment in the UK for 'lower risk' MDS is supportive treatment with erythropoietin (natural hormone) injections and if this fails, patients start needing blood transfusions. This trial could provide a fantastic opportunity for our patients to benefit from this therapy."
Trial Design and Objectives
The TAK-226-3001 trial is a Phase 3 study comparing the safety and effectiveness of erlitercept (搜索) with the standard treatment (erythropoietin) to treat anaemia in adults with 'lower risk' Myelodysplastic Syndromes (搜索) (MDS). The study is recruiting 300 people who have the option to stay in the study for up to five years.
As a nationally recognised specialist centre for MDS, King's continues to play a leading role in the development of innovative treatments for patients with complex blood disorders. Dr Kulasekararaj noted: "King's College Hospital is a National Reference Centre for MDS, and patients are referred to us for cutting-edge clinical trials to improve their outcomes and quality of life."
Accelerated Recruitment and Research Infrastructure
The trial is being delivered with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Facility at King's, which helped the Trust recruit the first patient ahead of new national timelines introduced by the Government in April 2026. These targets were designed to accelerate the set-up of clinical research studies across the UK, helping patients gain faster access to potentially life-changing therapies while strengthening the country's position as a global leader in medical research.
Elka Giemza, Clinical Research Facility Manager, added: "The King's CRF is thrilled to have recruited the very first participant to an important study helping to treat this rare disease. A special thank you to our research nurse, Tamera Osei-Mintah, and the entire CRF team for their hard work and relentless determination. Their ability to set up and recruit to this study so rapidly is a fantastic achievement."
Research remains a cornerstone of patient care at King's. The Trust consistently ranks among the UK's leading NHS organisations for research recruitment and manages more than 1,200 active studies each year, spanning discovery science, translational research, clinical trials, data-enabled research and population health programmes.