Exploratory Study Evaluating the Relevance of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 for Staging and Identifying Progressing Patients With Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis

Exploratory Study Evaluating the Relevance of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 for Staging and Identifying Progressing Patients With Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy caused by amyloid fibril deposition, leading to heart failure and arrhythmias. Despite advances in diagnosis, the disease remains commonly unrecognized and presents heterogeneously. Recent therapies targeting transthyretin stabilization and gene silencing have improved outcomes, but current staging systems based on biological and functional markers have limited ability to guide treatment.

Imaging techniques such as cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) provide tissue characterization, but noninvasive molecular imaging of myocardial fibrotic activity remains limited. Positron emission tomography (PET) tracers targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAPI), labeled with gallium-68 (68Ga), offer a promising approach to detect and quantify fibroblast activity associated with myocardial remodeling.

This study aims to evaluate [68Ga]Ga-FAPI PET imaging for staging ATTR-CM and distinguishing patients with disease progression under therapy. The investigators hypothesize that [68Ga]Ga-FAPI uptake reflects fibrotic activity correlating with disease severity and progression. If validated, [68Ga]Ga-FAPI PET could serve as a novel biomarker for improved staging and personalized strategies in ATTR-CM.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men or women ≥ 18 years

• Definite ATTR-CM diagnosis based on the 2021 ESC expert consensus

• Written and signed informed consent (obtained on the screening day at the latest and before any investigation)

• Affiliation with French social security system or beneficiary from such system

• Women must meet one of the following criteria at the time of inclusion:

  • present a negative pregnancy test (blood test) before the injection of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 and use highly1 effective contraceptive measures for a duration of 6 months after the PET with [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46;
  • or be post-menopausal (aged over 50 with amenorrhea for at least 12 months after stopping all exogenous hormone treatments);
  • or (if under 50 years of age) have been in amenorrhea for at least 12 months after stopping exogenous hormone treatments and with luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels corresponding to post-menopausal levels;
  • or have undergone irreversible surgical sterilization by hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy or bilateral salpingectomy (this operation must be documented);

• Male patients will be required to use male contraception (condoms) for a duration of 3 months after the PET;

• Women partners will be required to use an acceptable2 contraceptive measure (as they will not receive the trial drug) for a duration of 3 months after the PET;

• Male partners will be required to use male contraception (condoms) for a duration of 6 months after the PET.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of Myocardial infarction or myocarditis
• Severe aortic stenosis
• Current or prior participation in a clinical trial evaluating a TTR-targeted gene-silencing therapy (TTR= transthyretin) or an amyloid-depleting treatment for cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR-CM).
• Any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. A serum pregnancy test will be performed at the start of the study and within 48 hours prior to PET for all female subjects of childbearing potential.
• Patient under guardianship or trusteeship.
• Patient under judicial protection.
• Patient unable to understand spoken or written French
• Known hypersensitivity to gallium-68, to any excipient or derivative