Rituximab for the Treatment of Wegener's Granulomatosis and Microscopic Polyangiitis

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is the most common type of small blood vessel inflammation in adults. ANCA-associated vasculitis includes Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Rituximab is a man-made antibody used to treat certain types of cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of rituximab in treating patients with WG and MPA. Study hypothesis: Rituximab is not inferior to conventional therapy in its ability to induce disease remission by Month 6.
ConditionVasculitis
Wegener's Granulomatosis
Microscopic Polyangiitis
InterventionDrug: Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide placebo (rituximab group)
Drug: Cyclophosphamide plus rituximab placebo (control group)
Drug: Azathioprine
Drug: Methylprednisolone (or other glucocorticoid)
Drug: Prednisone
PhasePhase 2/Phase 3
SponsorNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Responsible PartyNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT00104299
First ReceivedFebruary 24, 2005
Last UpdatedOctober 17, 2013
Last verifiedOctober 2013

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateFebruary 24, 2005
Last Updated DateOctober 17, 2013
Start DateJanuary 2005
Estimated Primary Completion DateJanuary 2010
Current Primary Outcome MeasuresDisease Remission [Time Frame: 6 months post-randomization] [Designated as safety issue: No]A Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG) score of 0 with prednisone taper successfully completed at six months. The BVAS/WG is a validated disease activity index. The BVAS/WG is designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis and consists of a set of items divided into nine organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease.
Current Secondary Outcome Measures
  • Rate of Selected Adverse Events Experienced by Participants Receiving Rituximab Versus Those Receiving Conventional Therapy [Time Frame: Through common close-out (defined as 18 months after the last participant is enrolled in the trial)] [Designated as safety issue: Yes]The adverse event rate for the following events considered related to vasculitis: Death; Grade 2 or higher leukopenia or thrombocytopenia; Grade 3 or higher infections; Hemorrhagic cystitis (grade 2 or lower needs confirmation by cytoscopy); Malignancy; Venous thromboembolic event (deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism); Hospitalization resulting either from the disease or from a complication due to study treatment; Infusion reactions (within 24 hours of infusion) that result in the cessation of further infusions (including cytokine release allergic reaction); Cerebrovascular accident
  • Percentage of Participants Who Have a BVAS/WG Score of 0 and Have Successfully Completed the Glucocorticoid Taper by 6 Months Post-randomization [Time Frame: 6 months post-randomization] [Designated as safety issue: No]The 2-sided 95% CI of the percentage of participants who have a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and have successfully completed the glucocorticoid taper by 6 months post-randomization and the 2-sided 95% CI of the difference between two arms for assessing the superiority of rituximab to control
    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease
  • The Duration of Complete Remission (BVAS=0, Off Glucocorticoids), the Time to Limited and/or Severe Flare After Remission in the Two Treatment Groups [Time Frame: 18 months post-randomization] [Designated as safety issue: No]Duration of complete remission is defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and a completing taper of Prednisone to the first flare, BVAS/WG score of greater than 0, or an increase in Prednisone dosing.
    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease
  • The Duration of Remission (BVAS=0), the Time to Limited and/or Severe Flare After Remission in the Two Treatment Groups [Time Frame: 18 months post-randomization] [Designated as safety issue: No]Duration of remission is defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and a completing taper of glucocorticoid by 6 months post-randomization to the first flare, BVAS/WG score of greater than 0, or an increase in Prednisone dosing.
  • Time to Remission (BVAS=0) From the Visit 1 Baseline Visit in the Two Treatment Groups [Time Frame: 18 months post-randomization] [Designated as safety issue: No]Time to complete remission is defined as the number of days from baseline visit (Visit 1) to a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0.
    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease
  • Time to Complete Remission (BVAS=0, Off Glucocorticoids) From the Visit 1 Baseline Visit in the Two Treatment Groups [Time Frame: 18 months post-randomization] [Designated as safety issue: No]Time to complete remission is defined as the number of days from baseline visit (Visit 1) to a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and completing taper of glucocorticoid by 6 months post-randomization.
    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleRituximab for the Treatment of Wegener's Granulomatosis and Microscopic Polyangiitis
Official TitleRituximab Therapy for the Induction of Remission and Tolerance in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (ITN021AI)
Brief Summary
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is the most common type
of small blood vessel inflammation in adults. ANCA-associated vasculitis includes Wegener's
granulomatosis (WG) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Rituximab is a man-made antibody
used to treat certain types of cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the
effectiveness of rituximab in treating patients with WG and MPA.

Study hypothesis: Rituximab is not inferior to conventional therapy in its ability to induce
disease remission by Month 6.
Detailed Description
Current conventional therapies for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are associated with high
incidences of treatment failure, disease relapse, substantial toxicity, and patient
morbidity and mortality. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma. This study will evaluate the efficacy of rituximab with glucocorticoids in
inducing disease remission in patients with severe forms of AAV (WG and MPA).

The study consists of two phases: a 6-month remission induction phase, followed by a
12-month remission maintenance phase. All participants will receive at least 1 g of pulse
intravenous methylprednisolone or a dose-equivalent of another glucocorticoid preparation.
Depending on the participant's condition, he or she may receive up to 3 days of intravenous
methylprednisolone for a total of 3 g of methylprednisolone (or a dose-equivalent). During
the remission induction phase, all participants will receive oral prednisone daily (1
mg/kg/day, not to exceed 80 mg/day). Prednisone tapering will be completed by the Month 6
study visit.

Next, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arms. Arm 1 participants will
receive rituximab (375 mg/m^2) infusions once weekly for 4 weeks and cyclophosphamide (CYC)
placebo daily for 3 to 6 months. Arm 2 participants will receive rituximab placebo infusions
once weekly for 4 weeks and CYC daily for 3 to 6 months. During the remission maintenance
phase, participants in Arm 1 will discontinue CYC placebo and start oral azathioprine (AZA)
placebo daily until Month 18. Participants in Arm 2 will discontinue CYC and start AZA daily
until Month 18. Participants who fail treatment before Month 6 will be crossed over to the
other treatment arm unless there are specific contraindications. Participants in either
group who reach clinical remission before they complete 6 months of therapy may switch from
CYC/placebo to AZA/placebo if directed by their physicians.

All participants will be followed for at least 18 months. Initially, study visits are
weekly, progressing to monthly and then quarterly visits as the study proceeds. Blood
collection will occur at each study visit.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 2/Phase 3
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Condition
  • Vasculitis
  • Wegener's Granulomatosis
  • Microscopic Polyangiitis
InterventionDrug: Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide placebo (rituximab group)
375 mg/m^2 infusions once weekly for 4 week
Other Names:
RituxanDrug: Cyclophosphamide plus rituximab placebo (control group)
2 mg/kg/day orally for months 1-3
Other Names:
CytoxanDrug: Azathioprine
2 mg/kg/day orally for months 4-6
Other Names:
imuranDrug: Methylprednisolone (or other glucocorticoid)
1 g/day intravenously for up to 3 days within 14 days prior to receiving rituximab
Other Names:
MedrolDrug: Prednisone
During the remission induction phase, all participants will receive oral prednisone daily (1 mg/kg/day, not to exceed 80 mg/day). Prednisone tapering will be completed by the Month 6 study visit.
Other Names:
Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Meticorten, Orasone
Study Arm (s)
  • Experimental: Rituximab
  • Active Comparator: Control Group

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusCompleted
Estimated Enrollment197
Estimated Completion DateJanuary 2010
Estimated Primary Completion DateDecember 2008
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Weight of at least 88 pounds(40 kilograms)

- Diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis or microscopic polyangiitis according to the
definitions of the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference

- Newly diagnosed patient of Wegener's granulomatosis or microscopic polyangiitis OR
must be experiencing a disease flare characterized by: (a) active disease with a
Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's granulomatosis (BVAS/WG) of 3 or
greater that would normally require treatment with CYC; OR (b) disease severe enough
to require treatment with CYC; OR (c) must be positive for either PR3-ANCA (ANCA
directed against proteinase 3) or MPO-ANCA (ANCA directed against myeloperoxidase)at
the screening

- Willing to use acceptable forms of contraception for the duration of the study and
for up to 1 year after stopping study medications

- Willing to report pregnancies (female participants or male participants' partners)
occurring at any time during the study and for up to 1 year after stopping study
medications

- Parent or guardian willing to provide informed consent, if applicable

Exclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of Churg-Strauss Syndrome according to the definitions of the Chapel Hill
Consensus Conference

- Have limited disease that would not normally be treated with CYC

- Requires mechanical ventilation because of alveolar hemorrhage

- History of severe allergic reactions to human or chimeric monoclonal antibodies

- Active systemic infection

- Have a deep-space infection, such as osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, or pneumonia
complicated by pleural cavity or lung abscess, within 6 months prior to study entry

- History of or current hepatitis B or C infection

- HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infected

- Acute or chronic liver disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, may
interfere with the study

- History of or active cancer diagnosed within the last 5 years. Individuals with
squamous cell or basal cell carcinomas of the skin and individuals with cervical
carcinoma in situ who have received curative surgical treatment may be eligible for
this study.

- History of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease

- Other uncontrolled disease, including drug and alcohol abuse, that may interfere with
the study

- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
GenderBoth
Ages15 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsNot Provided
Location CountriesUnited States, Netherlands

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT00104299
Other Study ID NumbersDAIT ITN021AI
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeYes
Information Provided ByNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Study SponsorNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
CollaboratorsImmune Tolerance Network (ITN)
Genentech
Investigators Study Chair: John H. Stone, MD, MPH Johns Hopkins UniversityStudy Chair: Ulrich Specks, MD Mayo Clinic
Verification DateOctober 2013

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

University of Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21224
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02118
Mayo Clinic Foundation
Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, New York, United States, 10128
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710
The Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
University Hospital Groningen
Groningen, Netherlands, 9713 GZ