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A Study on The Safety of Administering Rituximab at A More Rapid Rate in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT01382940
Lead Sponsor
Hoffmann-La Roche
Brief Summary

This study was designed to evaluate the safety of administering rituximab at a more rapid infusion rate in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to biopharmaceuticals that treat diseases by interfering with tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF therapies), and were receiving methotrexate therapy for more than eight weeks.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
351
Inclusion Criteria
  • Adult patients, ≥ 18 years of age
  • Rheumatoid arthritis of ≥ 6 months duration, diagnosed according to the revised 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria
  • Inadequate response to at least one approved anti-TNF agent (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, golimumab, or certolizumab)
  • Patients who have received 1 to 2 prior courses of rituximab (RTX) may be enrolled, provided their most recent course of RTX occurred over 6 months but no more than 9 months prior to baseline. The RTX dosage must have been two 1000 mg infusions per course administered at the standard approved rate
  • Methotrexate treatment between 10 and 25 mg/week (oral or parenteral) for at least 8 weeks immediately prior to baseline

Key

Exclusion Criteria
  • Major surgery (including joint surgery) within 8 weeks prior to screening or planned surgery within 6 months following baseline
  • Rheumatic autoimmune disease other than rheumatoid arthritis
  • Functional class IV as defined by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria
  • Prior history of or current inflammatory joint disease other than rheumatoid arthritis
  • History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to human, humanized or murine monoclonal antibodies
  • Previous serious infusion reaction to any prior biologic therapy
  • Known active current or history of recurrent infection
  • Evidence of chronic hepatitis B or C infection
  • Pregnant or lactating women
  • Body weight of > 150 kg

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
RituximabantihistamineRituximab intravenous (IV) infusions were administered over a 4.25-hour period on Day 1, and over a 2-hour period on Day 15 (first course) and on Days 168 and 182 (second course). All participants continued to receive methotrexate as prescribed by their treating physician. Premedication included methylprednisolone, an antihistamine and acetaminophen.
RituximabrituximabRituximab intravenous (IV) infusions were administered over a 4.25-hour period on Day 1, and over a 2-hour period on Day 15 (first course) and on Days 168 and 182 (second course). All participants continued to receive methotrexate as prescribed by their treating physician. Premedication included methylprednisolone, an antihistamine and acetaminophen.
RituximabmethotrexateRituximab intravenous (IV) infusions were administered over a 4.25-hour period on Day 1, and over a 2-hour period on Day 15 (first course) and on Days 168 and 182 (second course). All participants continued to receive methotrexate as prescribed by their treating physician. Premedication included methylprednisolone, an antihistamine and acetaminophen.
RituximabmethylprednisoloneRituximab intravenous (IV) infusions were administered over a 4.25-hour period on Day 1, and over a 2-hour period on Day 15 (first course) and on Days 168 and 182 (second course). All participants continued to receive methotrexate as prescribed by their treating physician. Premedication included methylprednisolone, an antihistamine and acetaminophen.
RituximabacetaminophenRituximab intravenous (IV) infusions were administered over a 4.25-hour period on Day 1, and over a 2-hour period on Day 15 (first course) and on Days 168 and 182 (second course). All participants continued to receive methotrexate as prescribed by their treating physician. Premedication included methylprednisolone, an antihistamine and acetaminophen.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Percentage of Participants Experiencing Any Infusion-related Reaction (IRR) Associated With the Second Rituximab InfusionWithin 24 hours of beginning infusion on Day 15

The primary criterion for assessing safety of the faster infusion was the incidence of infusion related reaction (IRRs). IRRs were adverse events (AEs) that occurred within 24 hours of beginning infusion that were among a pre-specified list of preferred terms from the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). "Incidence" is defined as the percentage of participants experiencing an IRR.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Percentage of Participants Experiencing Any IRR or SIRR Associated With the Third Rituximab InfusionWithin 24 hours of beginning infusion on Day 168

IRRs are AEs that occurred within 24 hours of beginning infusion that were included on a pre-specified list of MedDRA preferred terms, and an SIRR is an IRR that suggests a significant hazard, contraindication, side effect or precaution.

Percentage of Participants Experiencing Any Serious IRR (SIRR) Associated With the Second Rituximab InfusionWithin 24 hours of beginning infusion on Day 15

A serious infusion-related reaction (SIRR) is an IRR that meets the definition of a serious adverse event. A serious adverse event (SAE) is any experience that suggests a significant hazard, contraindication, side effect or precaution.

Percentage of Participants Experiencing Any Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) Grade 3 or 4 Adverse Events (AEs) Associated With the Second Rituximab InfusionWithin 24 hours of beginning infusion on Day 15

The intensity of AEs were graded on a 5-point scale (Grade 1 to 5) according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 (CTCAE v. 4.0), where Grade 1 indicates "Mild" severity and Grade 5 indicates "Death". The CTCAE defines Grades 3 and 4 as follows: - Grade 3 means "Severe", indicating considerable interference with the patient's daily activities; medical intervention/therapy required; and hospitalization possible. - Grade 4 means "Life-threatening, Disabling", based on extreme limitation in activity; significant medical intervention/therapy required, and hospitalization probable.

Percentage of Participants Experiencing Any Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) Grade 3 or 4 Adverse Events (AEs) Associated With the Third Rituximab InfusionWithin 24 hours of beginning infusion on Day 168

The intensity of AEs experienced within 24 hours of beginning infusion were graded on NCI's CTCAE (v. 4.0) intensity scale from Grade 1 ("Mild") to Grade 5 ("Death"). Grade 3 AEs are "Severe" and Grade 4 AEs are "Life-threatening, Disabling".

Percentage of Participants Experiencing the Stopping, Slowing or Interrupting of the Third Rituximab InfusionDuring the infusion (a 2-hour period) on Day 168

Participants who experienced a moderate or serious IRR had their infusion interrupted immediately and received aggressive symptomatic treatment. The CTCAE includes the following severity descriptions: - "Moderate" means mild to moderate interference with the patient's daily activities, no or minimal medical intervention/therapy required; - "Severe" means considerable interference with the patient's daily activities, medical intervention/therapy required, hospitalization possible. If the IRR was moderate, the infusion was not to be restarted before all the symptoms disappeared, and then at half the rate. If the participant tolerated the reduced rate for 30 minutes, the infusion rate was increased to the next rate on the protocol-specified infusion schedule. If the symptoms did not resolve with treatment, the participant was withdrawn from the treatment period of the study. Participants who experienced a severe IRR to rituximab treatment were discontinued from the study.

Percentage of Participants Experiencing the Stopping, Slowing or Interrupting of the Second Rituximab InfusionDuring the infusion (a 2-hour period) on Day 15

Participants who experienced a moderate or serious IRR had their infusion interrupted immediately and received aggressive symptomatic treatment. The CTCAE includes the following severity descriptions: - "Moderate" means mild to moderate interference with the patient's daily activities, no or minimal medical intervention/therapy required; - "Severe" means considerable interference with the patient's daily activities, medical intervention/therapy required, hospitalization possible. If the IRR was moderate, the infusion was not to be restarted before all the symptoms disappeared, and then at half the rate. If the participant tolerated the reduced rate for 30 minutes, the infusion rate was increased to the next rate on the protocol-specified infusion schedule. If the symptoms did not resolve with treatment, the participant was withdrawn from the treatment period of the study. Participants who experienced a severe IRR to rituximab treatment were discontinued from the study.

Trial Locations

Locations (84)

Uni Of Alabama,Birmingham; Medicine - Rheumatology

🇺🇸

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Clnical & Translational Reseach Center for Alabama, PC

🇺🇸

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

ArthroCare, Arthritis Care; and Research P.C.

🇺🇸

Gilbert, Arizona, United States

Valley Arthritis Care

🇺🇸

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Catalina Pointe Rheumatology

🇺🇸

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Medvin Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Whittier, California, United States

Triwest Research Associates

🇺🇸

La Mesa, California, United States

Brigid Freyne-Private Practice; Internal Medicine, Rheum

🇺🇸

Murrieta, California, United States

Desert Medical Advances; Rheumatology

🇺🇸

Palm Desert, California, United States

San Diego Arthritis Med Clnc

🇺🇸

San Diego, California, United States

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Uni Of Alabama,Birmingham; Medicine - Rheumatology
🇺🇸Birmingham, Alabama, United States

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