A Study to Evaluate the Effects of Rituximab on Immune Responses in Subjects With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving Background Methotrexate

NCT ID: NCT00282308

Last Updated: 2017-08-10

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

103 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2006-01-23

Study Completion Date

2012-05-28

Brief Summary

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This was a Phase II, randomized, open-label, multicenter study designed to evaluate the immune response to vaccines after administration of 1000 mg of rituximab in subjects with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were receiving background methotrexate (MTX).

Detailed Description

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Patients were randomized to 2 groups in this study: Group A (active group) and Group B (control group). Patients with active rheumatic arthritis treated with rituximab in combination with methotrexate (Group A) were compared with patients treated with methotrexate alone (Group B).

Group A

Group A patients received rituximab 1000 mg intravenously (IV) on Days 3 and 17 of the 36 week treatment period.

At Day 1 and at Week 24, patients received an intradermal injection of 0.1 mL of C. albicans on the volar surface of the forearm. Forty-eight to 72 hours after each injection, patients were evaluated for a delayed-type hypersensitivity response by measuring the diameter of induration (palpable raised, hardened area of the forearm skin).

At Week 24, patients received a tetanus toxoid adsorbed booster vaccine (1 mg in 0.5 mL) intramuscular (IM) injection in the deltoid muscle. Serum levels of tetanus toxoid titers were obtained at Day 3 immediately prior to the first administration of rituximab, and immediately prior to and 4 weeks after administration of the tetanus toxoid adsorbed vaccine.

At Week 28, patients received an IM injection of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (0.5 mL) in the deltoid muscle. Serum levels for antibodies to 12 pneumococcal serotypes were measured at Day 3 immediately prior to the first administration of rituximab, and immediately prior to and 4 weeks after administration of the pneumococcal vaccine.

At Weeks 32 and 33, patients received subcutaneous (SC) keyhole limpet hemocyanin 1 mg. Serum anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin antibody levels were measured at Day 3 immediately prior to the first administration of rituximab, and immediately prior to and 4 weeks after the first administration of keyhole limpet hemocyanin.

Samples were obtained for the determination of serum rituximab concentration (pharmacokinetics), peripheral blood CD19 counts (pharmacodynamics), and the presence of human anti-chimeric antibodies from all patients in Group A.

Group A patients completed the treatment period at Week 36 and, if qualified, had the option of entering the optional extension re-treatment period. Patients who did not qualify for or who did not choose to receive the optional extension re-treatment entered the approximately 1-year safety follow-up period. After the safety follow-up period, patients who remained peripherally CD19-positive B-cell depleted entered the B-cell follow-up period where they were followed every 12 weeks until their peripheral CD19-positive B cells returned to baseline values or the lower limit of normal, whichever was lower.

Group B

Because the immune response to vaccines was not likely to be influenced by the knowledge of treatment assignment or the time-of-year administration, vaccinations of Group B patients were administered sooner than in the Group A 36 week treatment period.

At Day 1 and at Week 12, patients received an intradermal injection of 0.1 mL of C. albicans on the volar surface of the forearm. Forty-eight to 72 hours after each injection, patients were evaluated for a delayed-type hypersensitivity response by measuring the diameter of induration (palpable raised, hardened area of the forearm skin).

On Day 1, patients received a tetanus toxoid adsorbed booster vaccine (1 mg in 0.5 mL) IM injection in the deltoid muscle. Serum levels of tetanus toxoid titers were obtained immediately prior to and 4 weeks after administration of the tetanus toxoid adsorbed vaccine.

At Week 4, patients received an IM injection of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (0.5 mL) in the deltoid muscle. Serum levels for antibodies to 12 pneumococcal serotypes were measured at Day 1, and immediately prior to and 4 weeks after administration of the pneumococcal vaccine.

At Weeks 8 and 9, patients received SC keyhole limpet hemocyanin 1 mg. Serum anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin antibody levels were measured at Day 1, and immediately prior to and 4 weeks after the first administration of keyhole limpet hemocyanin.

Upon completion of the Week 12 visit, Group B patients with active rheumatic arthritis, defined as a swollen joint count (SJC) ≥ 4 (66 joint count) and a tender joint count (TJC) ≥ 6 (68 joint count) were eligible for treatment with 2 infusions of rituximab 1000 mg IV, 14 days apart. Patients received the first infusion of rituximab within 2 weeks after completing the Week 12 visit and after the second C. albicans skin test had been read. Patients received methylprednisolone 100 mg IV before each infusion of rituximab.

Group B patients who received treatment with rituximab completed the treatment period through Week 36 and, if qualified, had the option of entering the optional extension re-treatment period. Patients who did not qualify for or who did not choose to receive the optional extension re-treatment entered the approximately 1-year safety follow-up period. After the safety follow-up period, patients who remained peripherally CD19-positive B-cell depleted entered the B-cell follow-up period where they were followed every 12 weeks until their peripheral CD19-positive B cells returned to baseline values or the lower limit of normal, whichever was lower.

Group B patients who did not qualify for and/or did not choose treatment with rituximab completed the study at the end of the primary study period (Week 12).

Conditions

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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Rituximab + methotrexate (Group A)

Patients received 2 intravenous infusions of rituximab 1000 mg, 14 days apart + methotrexate 10-25 mg/wk orally or subcutaneously during the Treatment Period.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Rituximab

Intervention Type DRUG

Rituximab was supplied in single-use vials.

Methotrexate

Intervention Type DRUG

Methylprednisone

Intervention Type DRUG

Patients received methylprednisolone 100 mg intravenously before each infusion of rituximab.

C. albicans

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Patients received an intradermal injection of C. albicans (0.1 mL) on the volar surface of the forearm.

Tetanus toxoid adsorbed booster vaccine

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Patients received an intramuscular injection of the tetanus toxoid adsorbed booster vaccine (1 mg in 0.5 mL) in the deltoid muscle.

23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Patients received an intramuscular injection of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (0.5 mL) in the deltoid muscle.

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Patients received a subcutaneous injection of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (1 mg)

Methotrexate (Group B)

Patients received methotrexate 10-25 mg/wk orally or subcutaneously during the Treatment Period.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Methotrexate

Intervention Type DRUG

C. albicans

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Patients received an intradermal injection of C. albicans (0.1 mL) on the volar surface of the forearm.

Tetanus toxoid adsorbed booster vaccine

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Patients received an intramuscular injection of the tetanus toxoid adsorbed booster vaccine (1 mg in 0.5 mL) in the deltoid muscle.

23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Patients received an intramuscular injection of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (0.5 mL) in the deltoid muscle.

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Patients received a subcutaneous injection of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (1 mg)

Interventions

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Rituximab

Rituximab was supplied in single-use vials.

Intervention Type DRUG

Methotrexate

Intervention Type DRUG

Methylprednisone

Patients received methylprednisolone 100 mg intravenously before each infusion of rituximab.

Intervention Type DRUG

C. albicans

Patients received an intradermal injection of C. albicans (0.1 mL) on the volar surface of the forearm.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Tetanus toxoid adsorbed booster vaccine

Patients received an intramuscular injection of the tetanus toxoid adsorbed booster vaccine (1 mg in 0.5 mL) in the deltoid muscle.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

Patients received an intramuscular injection of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (0.5 mL) in the deltoid muscle.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin

Patients received a subcutaneous injection of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (1 mg)

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Other Intervention Names

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Rituxan MabThera

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 18-65 years.
* Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for at least 6 months.
* Receiving treatment for RA on an outpatient basis.
* Use of methotrexate (MTX) at a dose of 10-25 mg/wk (oral \[PO\] or subcutaneous \[SC\]) for at least 12 weeks prior to Day 1, with the dose stable during the last 4 weeks prior to Day 1 (first day of the treatment period).
* If taking a background corticosteroid, use of the corticosteroid must be for at least 12 weeks prior to Day 1 at a stable dose during the last 4 weeks prior to Day 1.
* If taking one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), use of a stable dose for at least 2 weeks prior to Day 1.

Exclusion Criteria

* Rheumatic autoimmune disease other than RA or significant systemic involvement secondary to RA; Sjogren's syndrome with RA is permitted.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Genentech, Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Ariella Kelman, M.D.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Genentech, Inc.

Locations

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Univ of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Site Status

Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Research, Pllc

Paradise Valley, Arizona, United States

Site Status

Sun Valley Arthritis Center

Peoria, Arizona, United States

Site Status

Desert Medical Advances

Palm Desert, California, United States

Site Status

Inland Rheumatology; Clinical Trials, Inc.

Upland, California, United States

Site Status

Arthritis Associates of South Florida

Delray Beach, Florida, United States

Site Status

The Arthritis Center

Palm Harbor, Florida, United States

Site Status

Center For Arthritis; Research Dept

South Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status

Intermountain Orthopaedics

Boise, Idaho, United States

Site Status

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Univ of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

Evanston, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Springfield Clinic

Springfield, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Kentuckiana Center For Better Bone & Joint Healthx

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Site Status

Clinical Research Network

Slidell, Louisiana, United States

Site Status

Johns Hopkins University; Rheumatology

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Rheumatology, P.C.; Medical Arts Building

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Site Status

Borgess Research Institute

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Site Status

Justus Fiechtner MD - PP

Lansing, Michigan, United States

Site Status

Center for Rheumatology, State Uni. of New York

Albany, New York, United States

Site Status

Aair Research Center

Rochester, New York, United States

Site Status

University of Rochester - Strong Memorial Hospital

Rochester, New York, United States

Site Status

Physicians East Pa

Greenville, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Health Research of Oklahoma, Llc

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Site Status

Oregon Health Sciences Uni

Portland, Oregon, United States

Site Status

Altoona Arthritis & Osteo Center

Duncansville, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Rheumatology Associates

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Site Status

Medical University of S. Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Site Status

Arthritis Associates

Hixson, Tennessee, United States

Site Status

Arthritis Care & Diagnostic Center

Dallas, Texas, United States

Site Status

Arthritis Clinic of Northern Virginia

Arlington, Virginia, United States

Site Status

Arthritis Northwest, Spokane

Spokane, Washington, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Bingham CO 3rd, Looney RJ, Deodhar A, Halsey N, Greenwald M, Codding C, Trzaskoma B, Martin F, Agarwal S, Kelman A. Immunization responses in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with rituximab: results from a controlled clinical trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Jan;62(1):64-74. doi: 10.1002/art.25034.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 20039397 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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U3374g

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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