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IMAAVY™

(nipocalimab-aahu)

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This information is intended for US healthcare professionals to access current scientific information about J&J Innovative Medicine products. It is prepared by Medical Information and is not intended for promotional purposes, nor to provide medical advice.

IMAAVY - Alternative Dosing Intervals in Patients with Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Last Updated: 09/04/2026

SUMMARY

  • The company cannot recommend any practices, procedures, or usage of IMAAVY that deviate from the approved labeling.
  • Please refer to the local labeling for relevant information regarding the dosage of IMAAVY.
  • ENERGY is a phase 2/3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of IMMAVY vs PBO for the treatment of wAIHA.1
    • Durable hemoglobin (Hgb) response was achieved by 21.1% of patients in the IMAAVY 15 mg/kg every 2 weeks (Q2W) group compared to 7.7% of patients in the PBO group.
    • The most commonly reported (≥10%) adverse events (AEs) occurring in the IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W group were wAIHA (27.0%), diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness, peripheral edema, and headache (10.8% each).

Clinical DATA

Phase 2/3 Study: ENERGY

Fattizzo et al (2026)1 evaluated the efficacy and safety of IMAAVY in adults with wAIHA in a phase 2/3 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, PBO-controlled study.

Study Design/Methods

  • The study included adults (≥18 years of age) diagnosed with primary or secondary wAIHA for ≥3 months, defined as having all of the following1,2:
    • Hemoglobin (Hgb) <10 g/dL
    • Signs of hemolysis (lactic dehydrogenase [LDH] >upper limit of normal [ULN], or indirect bilirubin >ULN, or haptoglobin [Hp] <lower limit of normal [LLN])
    • Direct antiglobulin test (DAT) positive for immunoglobulin G (IgG) ± complement component 3d (C3d)
  • The study consisted of a 2-week screening phase, followed by a 24-week, double-blind, PBO-controlled treatment phase, a 144-week open-label extension (OLE) phase, and safety follow-up at 8 weeks after the last infusion.1
  • Eligible patients were randomized (1:1:1) to receive IV IMAAVY 30 mg/kg Q4W, IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W, or matching PBO Q2W through week 24.
  • Efficacy analyses were performed using the full analysis set (all randomized patients excluding 3 patients randomized to receive IMAAVY 30 mg/kg IV Q2W, a regimen which was subsequently discontinued).
  • The safety analysis population included all randomized patients who received any dose of study treatment, including the 3 patients who received IMAAVY 30 mg/kg Q2W.

Results

Baseline Demographics

Baseline Demographic Characteristics1
Characteristics
IMAAVY
15 mg/kg Q2W
(n=38)

PBO
(n=39)

Age, years, mean (SD)
53.1 (18.98)
59.9 (15.73)
Female, n (%)
22 (57.9)
20 (51.3)
Race, n (%)
   White
17 (44.7)
20 (51.3)
   Black or African American
1 (2.6)
1 (2.6)
   Asian
15 (39.5)
13 (33.3)
   Others/not reported
5 (13.2)
5 (12.8)
wAIHA disease classification,a n (%)
   Primary wAIHA
33 (86.8)
32 (82.1)
   Secondary wAIHA
5 (13.2)
7 (17.9)
Time since diagnosis of disease, months, median (IQR)
44.2
(20.8-81.2)

23.1
(17.2-71.1)

Hgb >8.5 g/dL,a n (%)
22 (57.9)
25 (64.1)
Hgb, g/dL, mean (SD)
8.6 (1.33)
9.0 (1.42)
FACIT-Fatigue score, mean (SD)
35.0 (10.54)
31.1 (12.16)
Monospecific DAT performed at screening, n
38
38
   IgG positive only, n (%)
17 (44.7)
24 (63.2)
   IgG positive and C3d positive, n (%)
21 (55.3)
14 (36.8)
Concurrent treatment for wAIHA, n (%)
34 (89.5)
36 (92.3)
   Any corticosteroid
33 (86.8)
30 (76.9)
   Immunosuppressants or corticosteroids at >20 mg/day of
   prednisone or equivalenta

15 (39.5)
18 (46.2)
   No treatment or ≤20 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent
   with no immunosuppressantsa

23 (60.5)
21 (53.8)
Prednisone equivalent corticosteroid dose, mg/day, mean (SD)
17.9 (22.7)
15.4 (17.8)
Prior treatments for wAIHA, n (%)
   Rituximab
21 (55.3)
19 (48.7)
   Splenectomy
6 (15.8)
4 (10.3)
Abbreviations: C3d, complement component 3d; DAT, direct antiglobulin test; FACIT, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy; Hgb, hemoglobin; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IQR, interquartile range; PBO, placebo; Q2W, every 2 weeks; SD, standard deviation; wAIHA, warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
aStratification factors (primary or secondary wAIHA; Hgb ≤8.5 g/dL or >8.5 g/dL; immunosuppressants or corticosteroids at >20 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent or no such treatment).

Efficacy

Primary Endpoint and Primary Endpoint Related Analyses (Pre-planned)
  • Durable Hgb response was achieved by 21.1% (8/38) of patients in the IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W group compared to 7.7% (3/39) in the PBO group (P=0.044; not significant).1
  • The mean time to first durable Hgb response was 5.0 weeks and 10.6 weeks in the IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W and PBO groups, respectively.
  • The median duration of durable response from the double-blind period including those continuing the same dose into the OLE was 15.1 (interquartile range [IQR], 9.6-22.9) weeks in the IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W group and 4.9 (IQR, 4.1-15.9) weeks in the PBO group.
  • An increase in mean Hgb change from baseline of 0.6 g/dL was observed at week 1 with IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W.
  • Additional prespecified Hgb response related analyses are summarized in Table: Components of Durable Hgb Response.

Components of Durable Hgb Response1
n (%)
IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W
(n=38)

Nominal
P-valuea vs PBO

PBO
(n=39)

Hgb ≥10 g/dL and increase of ≥2 g/dL for ≥3 consecutive visits by week 24
9 (23.7)
0.020
3 (7.7)
Hgb increase of ≥2 g/dL for ≥3 consecutive visits by week 16
9 (23.7)
0.027
3 (7.7)
Hgb ≥10 g/dL for ≥3 consecutive visits by week 16
14 (36.8)
0.498
14 (35.9)
Hgb increase of ≥2 g/dL for ≥1 visit by week 24
18 (47.4)
<0.001
6 (15.4)
Hgb ≥10 g/dL and increase of ≥2 g/dL for ≥1 visit by week 24
16 (42.1)
0.004
6 (15.4)
Abbreviations: Hgb, hemoglobin; PBO, placebo; Q2W, every 2 weeks.
aAll P-values for IMAAVY vs PBO are nominal against a 1-sided α=0.02499. These endpoints were not controlled for multiple comparisons. Therefore, the P-value is nominal, and statistical significance has not been established

Key Secondary Endpoints

FACIT-Fatigue Total Score Endpoint Results1
IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W
(n=37)

Nominal
P-valuea vs PBO

PBO
(n=37)

Change from baseline at week 24, mean (SD)
1.2 (6.07)
0.267
0.6 (3.42)
Abbreviations: FACIT, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy; PBO, placebo; Q2W, every 2 weeks; SD, standard deviation.
aAll P-values for IMAAVY vs PBO are nominal against a 1-sided α=0.02499. Based on the statistical analysis plan, the statistical significance has not been established.

  • Corticosteroid dose reduction from baseline to week 24 was observed in the IMAAVY group (see Table: Corticosteroid Dose Reduction).
    • The mean (SD) absolute prednisone-equivalent daily dose reduction was 2.5 (6.8) and 0.7 (2.7) mg for IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W and PBO groups, respectively.

Corticosteroid Dose Reduction1
IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W
(n=32)

Nominal
P-valuea vs PBO

PBO
(n=28)

Mean (SD) percent reduction in daily dose of prednisone or equivalent from baseline to week 24, %
-14.0 (30.42)
0.055
-3.9
(16.33)

Abbreviations: PBO, placebo; Q2W, every 2 weeks; SD, standard deviation.
aAll P-values for IMAAVY vs PBO are nominal against a 1-sided α=0.02499. Based on the statistical analysis plan, the statistical significance has not been established.

Safety

  • Overall, TEAEs were comparable between PBO and IMAAVY 15 mg/kg Q2W group. For a summary of adverse events, see Table: Summary of AEs

Summary of AEs1
AE, n (%)
IMAAVY
15 mg/kg Q2W
(n=37)

PBO
(n=39)

TEAEs
30 (81.1)
35 (89.7)
   Related AEs
10 (27.0)
4 (10.3)
AEs leading to death
2 (5.4)
0
   Related AEs leading to
   death

0
0
SAEs
6 (16.2)
14 (35.9)
AEs leading to treatment discontinuation
5 (13.5)
1 (2.6)
AEs of interest
   Grade ≥3 infections
3 (8.1)
5 (12.8)
   Infusion reactions
3 (8.1)
2 (5.1)
   Malignancy
0
0
   Activation of latent virus
1 (2.7)
0
   MACE
2 (5.4)
0
   DVT and/or PE
0
0
   Hypoalbuminemia
0
0
AEs reported in ≥10% of patients in any group
   wAIHAa
10 (27.0)
20 (51.3)
   Diarrhea
4 (10.8)
3 (7.7)
   Fatigue
4 (10.8)
3 (7.7)
   COVID-19
2 (5.4)
4 (10.3)
   Dizziness
4 (10.8)
3 (7.7)
   Pyrexia
3 (8.1)
1 (2.6)
   Peripheral edema
4 (10.8)
1 (2.6)
   Nasopharyngitis
3 (8.1)
4 (10.3)
   Headache
4 (10.8)
2 (5.1)
   Asthenia
0
3 (7.7)
Abbreviations: AE, adverse event; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; MACE, major adverse cardiovascular event; PBO, placebo; Q2W, every 2 weeks; SAE, serious adverse event; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event; VTE, venous thromboembolism; wAIHA, warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
aEvents could include disease flares, ongoing disease activities etc.

Literature Search

A literature search of MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, BIOSIS Previews®, and DERWENT® (and/or other resources, including internal/external databases) was conducted on 31 August 2026.

References

1 Fattizzo B, Murakhovskaya I, Ueda Y, et al. Nipocalimab for warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia: results from the phase 2/3 randomized, double-blind ENERGY study. [published online ahead of print August 28, 2026]. Blood. doi:10.1182/blood.2026034036.  
2 Fattizzo B, Murakhovskaya I, Ueda Y, et al. Supplement to: Nipocalimab for warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia: results from the phase 2/3 randomized, double-blind ENERGY study. [published online ahead of print August 28, 2026]. Blood. doi:10.1182/blood.2026034036.  

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