This was a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) compared with placebo in combination with MMF in subjects diagnosed with International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) 2003 Class III or IV lupus nephritis.
In addition to receiving study drug (rituximab or placebo), participants in each treatment group received mycophenolate mofetil at a starting dose of 1500 mg/day IV in 3 divided doses and were titrated up by 500 mg/week to 3000 mg/day by Week 4, as tolerated. Participants in each treatment group also received methylprednisolone 1000 mg IV prior to and 3 days following the first study drug infusion and methylprednisolone 100 mg IV prior to the other study drug infusions. Participants in each treatment group also received diphenhydramine 50 mg orally and acetaminophen 1000 mg orally 30-60 minutes prior to each study drug infusion. From Days 2 to 16, participants in each treatment group received prednisone 0.75 mg/kg/day orally (maximum dose of 60 mg) except on the day of the second methylprednisolone dose. On Day 16, a taper was initiated to achieve a dose of 10 mg/day by Week 16.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
144
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved a Complete Renal Response (CRR), a Partial Renal Response (PRR), or no Renal Response (NRR) at Week 52
A participant had a CRR if they met the following 3 criteria: (1) Normalization of serum creatinine (SC) as evidenced by a SC level ≤ the upper limit of the normal range of central laboratory values or a SC level ≤ 15% greater than Baseline, if Baseline SC was within the normal range of the central laboratory values; (2) Inactive urinary sediment (as evidenced by \< 5 red blood cells/high-power field (RBCs/HPF) and absence of red cell casts; (3) Urinary protein (UP) to creatinine ratio (CR) \< 0.5. A participant had a PRR if they met the following 3 criteria: (1) A SC level ≤ 15% above Baseline; (2) RBCs/HPF ≤ 50% above Baseline and no RBC casts; (3) 50% improvement in the UP to CR, with 1 of the following conditions met: If the Baseline UP to CR was ≤ 3.0, then a UP to CR of \< 1.0 or if the Baseline UP to CR was \> 3.0, then a UP to CR of ≤ 3.0. A participant had a NRR if they did not achieve either a CRR or PRR.
Time frame: Week 52
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved a Complete Renal Response at Week 24 and Maintained it to Week 52
A participant had a complete renal response if they met the following 3 criteria: (1) Normalization of serum creatinine as evidenced by a serum creatinine level ≤ the upper limit of the normal range of central laboratory values or a serum creatinine level ≤ 15% greater than Baseline, if Baseline serum creatinine was within the normal range of the central laboratory values; (2) Inactive urinary sediment (as evidenced by \< 5 red blood cells/high-power field and absence of red cell casts; (3) Urinary protein to creatinine ratio \< 0.5.
Time frame: Week 24 to Week 52
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved a Complete Renal Response at Week 52
A participant had a complete renal response if they met the following 3 criteria: (1) Normalization of serum creatinine as evidenced by a serum creatinine level ≤ the upper limit of the normal range of central laboratory values or a serum creatinine level ≤ 15% greater than Baseline, if Baseline serum creatinine was within the normal range of the central laboratory values; (2) Inactive urinary sediment (as evidenced by \< 5 red blood cells/high-power field and absence of red cell casts; (3) Urinary protein to creatinine ratio \< 0.5.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: Week 52
Percentage of Participants With a Baseline Urine Protein to Creatinine Ratio of > 3.0 Who Achieved a Urine Protein to Creatinine Ratio of < 1.0 at Week 52
Time frame: Baseline to Week 52
British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) Index Score Over 52 Weeks
The BILAG Index assesses 86 clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory measures of systemic lupus erythematosus in 8 organ system domains: General, mucocutaneous, neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, vasculitis, renal, and hematologic. Most of the 86 items are rated on the following scale: 0=Not present, 1=Improving, 2=Same, 3=Worse, 4=New. Some items are rated as either Yes or No. A single alphabetic score of A (very active) through E (not or never active) for each of the 8 domains is determined from the rating of the individual items in each domain. The total BILAG score is the sum of the scores of the 8 domains where A=9, B=3, C=1, D=0, and E=0. The total score ranges from 0 to 72 with a higher score indicating greater lupus activity. To calculate a BILAG score over the 52 week treatment period of the study, the area under the response-time curve of BILAG scores assessed every 4 weeks was divided by the number of days in the time curve minus the Baseline BILAG score.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 52
Time to Achieve a Complete Renal Response
Time frame: Baseline to Week 52
Change From Baseline in the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Expanded Health Survey Physical Function Score at Week 52
The systemic lupus erythematosus Expanded Health Survey is based on the Short Form 36 Health survey with additional questions specific to lupus. The physical function component score of the survey can range from 0-100. A higher score indicates better health. A positive change score indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 52
Change From Baseline in Anti-double-stranded DNA at Week 52
Time frame: Baseline to Week 52
Change From Baseline in C3 and C4 Complement Levels at Week 52
Time frame: Baseline to Week 52