Eculizumab For the Acute Attack of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Attack
• Interventions: Drug: Intravenous Methylprednisolone (IVMP); Drug: Complement protein C5 inhibitor

• Registration Number: NCT07184840
• Lead Sponsor: Tianjin Medical University General Hospital

Brief Summary

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a relapsing, inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system characterized by the pathogenic anti-aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-IgG). The objectives of this study are to assess the efficacy and safety of eculizumab for treatment of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders during acute phase who are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-positive. Eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, inhibits the terminal complement protein C5 and prevents its cleavage into C5a and the formation of C5b-9 (MAC), has approved for preventive treatment of NMOSD. Given the high efficacy of C5 inhibition, eculizumab is proposed to potentially provide rapid relief from astrocyte destruction by reducing MAC formation, which could contribute to the fast alleviation of neurological deficit during NMO acute attack. The potential of eculizumab warrants further investigation as a treatment for acute neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders attacks.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-09
• Study First Submitted: 2025-09-08
• Study Start: 2025-09-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-09-14
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-14
• Study First Posted: 2025-09-22
• Last Update Posted: 2025-09-22
• Primary Completion: 2026-08-31
• Study Completion: 2026-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 110

Inclusion Criteria

1. Anti-AQP4 antibody seropositive.

2. Male or female patients ≥18 years old

3. Body weight ≥ 35 kg

4. Acute optic neuritis and/or transverse myelitis enrolled within 28 days from the attack, with a change in neurological exam that meet an increase of OSIS at least 2 points of baseline compared to that of prior attack.

5. A female subject is eligible to enter the trial if she is:

   • Not pregnant or breastfeeding, not intending to conceive during the course of the trial

Exclusion Criteria

1. Use of IVIg within 3 weeks prior to screening
2. Unresolved meningococcal infection
3. Any systemic bacterial or other infection which is clinically significant in the opinion of the Investigator and has not been treated with appropriate antibiotics
4. Participation in any other investigational drug study or was exposed to an investigational drug or device within 30 days of screening.
5. Has previously received treatment with eculizumab
6. Hypersensitivity to murine proteins or to one of the excipients of eculizumab
7. Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, might interfere with thepatient's participation in the trial, poses any added risk for the patient, or confounds the assessment of the patients

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intravenous Methylprednisolone (IVMP) arm	Intravenous Methylprednisolone (IVMP)	IVMP arm: 1000mg methylprednisolone x5d, oral prednisone 60mg, 5mg weekly decline + antibiotics
IVMP+Eculizumab arm	Intravenous Methylprednisolone (IVMP)	IVMP+Eculizumab arm: eculizumab (900 mg) will be administered intravenously once per week for a total of four doses (days 1, 8, 15, and 22) in conjunction with IVMP and oral prednisone (60mg, 5mg weekly decline). All enrolled patients will receive antibiotic prophylaxis against N meningitidis.
IVMP+Eculizumab arm	Complement protein C5 inhibitor	IVMP+Eculizumab arm: eculizumab (900 mg) will be administered intravenously once per week for a total of four doses (days 1, 8, 15, and 22) in conjunction with IVMP and oral prednisone (60mg, 5mg weekly decline). All enrolled patients will receive antibiotic prophylaxis against N meningitidis.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Proportion of improvement in OSIS from baseline to Day 28 by 2 points or more	Acute attack to Day 28	The Optic-Spinal Impairment Score (OSIS) was developed to measure the disability status of subjects with demyelinating disease. It allows an objective quantification of the level of functioning that could be widely and reproducibly used by researchers and health care providers. OSIS score ranges from 0 to 25, which includes four primary functions: Visual Acuity (VA) (0-8), Motor Function (0-7), Sensory Function (0-5), and Sphincter Function (0-5). The higher scores reflect more severe disability. A decrease of at least 2 points in the overall OSIS score on day 28 compared to the baseline was regarded as a significant improvement.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change of OSIS from baseline to Day 28	Acute attack to Day 28	The Optic-Spinal Impairment Score (OSIS) was developed to measure the disability status of subjects with demyelinating disease. It allows an objective quantification of the level of functioning that could be widely and reproducibly used by researchers and health care providers. OSIS score ranges from 0 to 25, which includes four primary functions: Visual Acuity (VA) (0-8), Motor Function (0-7), Sensory Function (0-5), and Sphincter Function (0-5). Higher scores indicate more severe disability. A decrease in the overall OSIS score from baseline was used to measure neurological improvement.
Change of EDSS from baseline to Day 28	Acute attack to Day 28	EDSS and its associated functional system (FS) score provide a system for quantifying disability and monitoring changes in the level of disability over time. EDSS consists of 7 FS (visual FS, brainstem FS, pyramidal FS, cerebellar FS, sensory FS, bowel and bladder FS, and cerebral FS) which are used to derive EDSS score ranging from 0 (normal neurological exam) to 10 (death from MS). A negative change from baseline in the overall EDSS score indicates neurological improvement.
Proportion of subjects that require plasma exchange or immunoadsorption at day 10 post treatment initiation.	Acute attack to Day 10	PLEX Rescue was conducted only if a patient was not responding to the IVMP or IVMP+Eculizumab treatment as per the previous definition used; the assessment was made on day 10 after the IVMP/eculizumab initiation.
Change of OSIS from baseline to Day 7, 14, 21, and Week 12.	Acute attack to Week 12	The Optic-Spinal Impairment Score (OSIS) was developed to measure the disability status of subjects with demyelinating disease. OSIS score ranges from 0 to 25, which includes four primary functions: Visual Acuity (VA) (0-8), Motor Function (0-7), Sensory Function (0-5), and Sphincter Function (0-5). A decrease in OSIS indicates improvement.
Change of EDSS from baseline to Day 7, 14, 21, and Week 12	Acute attack to Week 12	EDSS and its associated functional system (FS) score provide a system for quantifying disability and monitoring changes in the level of disability over time. A decrease in EDSS indicates improvement.
Changes in Muscle Strength by MRC Scale for patients presenting with an acute relapse of myelitis at Days 7, 14, 21,28 and Week 12.	Acute attack to Week 12	Muscle Power Assessment (MRC) was developed to assess the muscle power of limbs. A score of 0-5 was used to grade the power. Increasing disability of muscle power is reflected in an decreasing MRC score.
Changes in visual acuity in subjects presenting with an acute relapse of optic neuritis at Days 7, 14, 21,28, and Week 12	Acute attack to Week 12	Visual Acuity was measured with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity test on a scale from 100 letters (Snellen equivalent of 20/10) to 0 letters (Snellen equivalent of \<20/800). Higher scores indicate better visual acuity and lower scores indicate worse visual acuity.
Changes of pRNFL measured by OCT in subjects presenting with an acute relapse of optic neuritis at Days 28, and Week 12	Acute attack to Week 12	The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) was analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements
Changes of mGCIPLT measured by OCT in subjects presenting with an acute relapse of optic neuritis at Day 28, and Week 12	Acute attack to Week 12	The macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) was analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements
To evaluate the changes of Nfl from baseline to Day 28	Acute attack to Day 28	Serum neurofilament light chain (NfL): Blood sample will be obtained to determine the level of Nfl.
To evaluate the changes of GFAP from baseline to Day 28	Acute attack to Day 28	Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP):Blood sample will be obtained to determine the level of GFAP.
To evaluate the changes of complement activity (CH50) from baseline to Day 28	Acute attack to Day 28	CH50: Blood sample will be obtained to determine the hemolytic activity of serum complement.
To compare the change in MRI lesion size by T2 weighted imaging and T1 post-contrast imaging from baseline to Week 12	Acute attack to Week 12	MRIs will be analyzed for counting the numbers of new lesions by T2 hyper-intensity in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve, and the volume of T1 post-contrast enhancement.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Tianjin Medical University General Hospital; 🇨🇳 Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China