Rituximab and Belimumab for Lupus Nephritis

NCT ID: NCT02260934

Last Updated: 2020-12-01

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

43 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-07-09

Study Completion Date

2019-02-08

Brief Summary

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In this experimental study, researchers will try to find out if treatment of lupus nephritis with a combination of rituximab and cyclophosphamide (CTX), or a combination of rituximab and CTX followed by treatment with belimumab is safe and if this drug combination can block the immune system attacks.

Detailed Description

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Lupus nephritis is a severe form of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with active disease in the kidneys. SLE is a complex disease in which the body's own immune system attacks some of the body parts: the skin, the joints, the kidneys, the nervous system, the heart, the lungs and the blood. The cause of SLE is not known. Treatment for SLE usually involves drugs that are designed to block the immune system attacks. When SLE affects the kidneys (nephritis), stronger immune suppressing treatment is usually needed.

The drugs used in treatment of lupus nephritis often do not cure the disease and can cause serious side effects, including lowering the immune system too much. When the immune system is too low, a person is at a higher risk of getting infections. Therefore, research into new treatments with fewer serious side effects is needed for lupus nephritis.

Conditions

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Lupus Nephritis

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/Cyclophosphamide (RC)

Prednisone taper to 10 mg/day by week 12 and continue prednisone 10 mg/day to week 96.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Rituximab

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Rituximab 1000mg intravenously (IV) at week 0 and week 2

Cyclophosphamide

Intervention Type DRUG

Cyclophosphamide (750 mg) intravenously (IV) at week 0 and week 2.

Prednisone

Intervention Type DRUG

* Week 0 and Week 2: Prednisone (40 mg/day; taper to 10 mg/day by week 12)
* Continue prednisone 10 mg/day to week 96

Methylprednisolone

Intervention Type DRUG

Week 0 and Week 2:

Solumedrol (100 mg) IV

Diphenhydramine

Intervention Type DRUG

Diphenhydramine (50 mg, or equivalent dose of similar antihistamine) will be given orally 1 hour (plus or minus 15 minutes) before each infusion of rituximab.

Acetaminophen

Intervention Type DRUG

Acetaminophen (650 mg) will be given orally 1 hour (plus or minus 15 minutes) before each infusion of rituximab.

Rituximab/Cyclophosphamide/Belimumab (RCB)

1. Belimumab (10 mg/kg IV) at weeks 4, 6, 8, and every 4 weeks to week 48.
2. Prednisone taper to 10 mg/day by week 12, and continue prednisone 10 mg/day to week 96.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Rituximab

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Rituximab 1000mg intravenously (IV) at week 0 and week 2.

Cyclophosphamide

Intervention Type DRUG

Cyclophosphamide (750 mg) intravenously (IV) at week 0 and week 2.

Prednisone

Intervention Type DRUG

* Week 0 and Week 2: Prednisone (40 mg/day; taper to 10 mg/day by week 12)
* Continue prednisone 10 mg/day to week 96

Methylprednisolone

Intervention Type DRUG

Week 0 and Week 2: Solumedrol (100 mg) IV

Diphenhydramine

Intervention Type DRUG

Diphenhydramine (50 mg, or equivalent dose of similar antihistamine) will be given orally 1 hour (plus or minus 15 minutes) before each infusion of rituximab.

Acetaminophen

Intervention Type DRUG

Acetaminophen (650 mg) will be given orally 1 hour (plus or minus 15 minutes) before each infusion of rituximab.

Belimumab

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

The RCB Group will receive IV belimumab 10mg/kg at weeks 4, 6, 8, and then every 4 weeks through week 48

Interventions

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Rituximab

Rituximab 1000mg intravenously (IV) at week 0 and week 2

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide (750 mg) intravenously (IV) at week 0 and week 2.

Intervention Type DRUG

Prednisone

* Week 0 and Week 2: Prednisone (40 mg/day; taper to 10 mg/day by week 12)
* Continue prednisone 10 mg/day to week 96

Intervention Type DRUG

Methylprednisolone

Week 0 and Week 2:

Solumedrol (100 mg) IV

Intervention Type DRUG

Diphenhydramine

Diphenhydramine (50 mg, or equivalent dose of similar antihistamine) will be given orally 1 hour (plus or minus 15 minutes) before each infusion of rituximab.

Intervention Type DRUG

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (650 mg) will be given orally 1 hour (plus or minus 15 minutes) before each infusion of rituximab.

Intervention Type DRUG

Rituximab

Rituximab 1000mg intravenously (IV) at week 0 and week 2.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide (750 mg) intravenously (IV) at week 0 and week 2.

Intervention Type DRUG

Prednisone

* Week 0 and Week 2: Prednisone (40 mg/day; taper to 10 mg/day by week 12)
* Continue prednisone 10 mg/day to week 96

Intervention Type DRUG

Methylprednisolone

Week 0 and Week 2: Solumedrol (100 mg) IV

Intervention Type DRUG

Diphenhydramine

Diphenhydramine (50 mg, or equivalent dose of similar antihistamine) will be given orally 1 hour (plus or minus 15 minutes) before each infusion of rituximab.

Intervention Type DRUG

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (650 mg) will be given orally 1 hour (plus or minus 15 minutes) before each infusion of rituximab.

Intervention Type DRUG

Belimumab

The RCB Group will receive IV belimumab 10mg/kg at weeks 4, 6, 8, and then every 4 weeks through week 48

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Other Intervention Names

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Rituxan Cytoxan Deltasone Solu-Medrol Tylenol Rituxan Cytoxan Deltasone Solu-Medrol Tylenol Benlysta

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria.
2. Positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) or positive anti-ds DNA test results at visit -1 or any time within 14 days before visit -1.
3. Active proliferative lupus nephritis, as defined by either of the following:

* Kidney biopsy documentation within the last 3 months of International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) proliferative nephritis: Class III, Class IV, or Class V in combination with Class III or IV.
* Active urinary sediment and kidney biopsy documentation within the last 12 months of ISN/RPS proliferative nephritis: Class III, Class IV, or Class V in combination with Class III or IV. Active urinary sediment is defined as any one of the following:
* \>5 RBC/hpf in the absence of menses and infection;
* \>5 White blood cell per high powered field (WBC/hpf) in the absence of infection; or
* Cellular casts limited to RBC or WBC casts.
4. Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) \>1 at study entry based on a 24-hour collection.
5. Ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. New onset lupus nephritis, defined as lupus nephritis for which the participant has not yet been treated with either mycophenolate mofetil or cyclophosphamide.
2. Neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count \<1500/mm\^3).
3. Thrombocytopenia (platelets \<50,000/mm\^3).
4. Moderately severe anemia (Hgb \< mg/dL).
5. Moderately severe hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG \<450 mg/dL) or Immunoglobulin A (IgA) \<10mg/dL.
6. Positive QuantiFERON -Tuberculosis (TB) Gold test results.
7. Pulmonary fibrotic changes on chest radiograph consistent with prior healed tuberculosis.
8. Active bacterial, viral, fungal, or opportunistic infections.
9. Evidence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (as assessed by HBsAg and anti-HBc) or hepatitis C.
10. Hospitalization for treatment of infections, or parenteral (IV or IM) antibacterials, antivirals, anti-fungals, or anti-parasitic agents within the past 60 days.
11. Chronic infection that is currently being treated with suppressive antibiotic therapy, including but not limited to tuberculosis, pneumocystis, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, herpes zoster, and atypical mycobacteria.
12. History of significant infection or recurrent infection that, in the investigator's opinion, places the participant at risk by participating in this study.
13. Receipt of a live-attenuated vaccine within 3 months of study enrollment.
14. End-stage renal disease (eGFR \<20 mL/min/1.73m\^2).
15. Concomitant malignancies or a history of malignancy, with the exception of adequately treated basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix.
16. History of transplantation.
17. History of primary immunodeficiency.
18. Pregnancy.
19. Breastfeeding.
20. Unwillingness to use an FDA-approved form of birth control (including but not limited to a diaphragm, an intrauterine device, progesterone implants or injections, oral contraceptives, the double-barrier method, or a condom).
21. Use of cyclophosphamide within the past 6 months.
22. Use of anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) medication, other biologic medications, or experimental non- biologic therapeutic agents within the past 90 days, or 5 half-lives prior to screening, whichever is greater.
23. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasmapheresis, or leukopheresis within the past 90 days.
24. Use of investigational biologic agent within the past 12 months.
25. Prior treatment with rituximab, belimumab, atacicept, or other biologic B cell therapy.
26. Liver function test \[aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or alkaline phosphatase\] results that are \>=2 times the upper limit of normal.
27. Severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, hematological,gastrointestinal, pulmonary, cardiac, or neurological disease, either related or unrelated to SLE, with the exception of active lupus nephritis (or, in the investigator's opinion, any other concomitant medical condition that places the participant at risk by participating in this study).
28. Comorbidities requiring corticosteroid therapy, including those which have required three or more courses of systemic corticosteroids within the previous 12 months.
29. Current substance abuse or history of substance abuse within the past year.
30. History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to chimeric or fully human monoclonal antibodies.
31. History of anaphylactic reaction to parenteral administration of contrast agents.
32. Lack of peripheral venous access.
33. History of severe depression or severe psychiatric condition.
34. History of suicidal thoughts within the past 2 months or suicidal behavior within the past 6 months, or a significant suicide risk in the investigator's opinion.
35. Inability to comply with study and follow-up procedures.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Immune Tolerance Network (ITN)

NETWORK

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

NIH

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Betty Diamond, M.D.

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

David Wofsy, M.D.

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University of California San Francisco, Department of Medicine

Maria Dall'Era, M.D.

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University of California San Francisco, Department of Medicine

Cynthia Aranow, M.D.

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

Locations

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University of Alabama, Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Site Status

UCLA Medical Center: Division of Rheumatology

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status

University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California, United States

Site Status

University of Colorado Denver: School of Medicine: Division of Rheumatology

Aurora, Colorado, United States

Site Status

Colorado Kidney Care

Denver, Colorado, United States

Site Status

Emory University School of Medicine

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Site Status

Washington University in St. Louis

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Site Status

Feinstein Institute, North Shore Hospital

Manhasset, New York, United States

Site Status

New York University, Langone Medical Center

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

Weill Cornell Medical College: Hospital for Special Surgery -

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

Columbia University Medical Center

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

University of North Carolina School of Medicine:

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center:

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Site Status

University of Texas Southwestern

Dallas, Texas, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Atisha-Fregoso Y, Malkiel S, Harris KM, Byron M, Ding L, Kanaparthi S, Barry WT, Gao W, Ryker K, Tosta P, Askanase AD, Boackle SA, Chatham WW, Kamen DL, Karp DR, Kirou KA, Sam Lim S, Marder B, McMahon M, Parikh SV, Pendergraft WF 3rd, Podoll AS, Saxena A, Wofsy D, Diamond B, Smilek DE, Aranow C, Dall'Era M. Phase II Randomized Trial of Rituximab Plus Cyclophosphamide Followed by Belimumab for the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021 Jan;73(1):121-131. doi: 10.1002/art.41466. Epub 2020 Dec 1.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 32755035 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Related Links

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https://www.niaid.nih.gov/

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/dait

Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT)

http://www.immunetolerance.org/

Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) website

Other Identifiers

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CALIBRATE

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

DAIT ITN055AI

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id