Clinical trial NCT06933134: Prospective Validation of a Pharmacological Biomarker for Low-Dose Rituximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Official title: Prospective Validation of a Pharmacological Biomarker for Low-Dose Rituximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Keywords: pharmacological biomarker
rituximab
retreatment
low dose
Lead sponsor: University Hospital, Tours
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-04-18
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: CASE_ONLY
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Adult patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis meeting ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria on standard-dose rituximab with a good clinical response.

Brief summary: Evaluation of the prediction of clinical response to rituximab at a dose of 1000 mg once using a pharmacological model including several pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters.

Detailed description: Rituximab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody which is effective in RA. The dose indicated in the marketing authorisation is 1000 mg twice per cycle. However, rituximab is associated with adverse events, and more specifically the risk of infection, which seems to be dose-dependent. The dose of 1000 mg once a cycle has been evaluated and is non-inferior for maintenance treatment. Lower doses than 1000 mg once could also be sufficient, but there is a lack of predictive criteria to guide clinicians in their search for the minimal effective dose for a given patient.

In our center, a PK-PD model including several parameters (body surface area, serum IgG concentration, residual rituximab concentrations and CD4+ T-cell count) has enabled to quantify part of the concentration-effect relationship of rituximab in this indication and at standard dose (1000 mg twice at 15-day intervals). On the basis of this model, a model for predicting clinical response has been developed.with reliable prediction of clinical response.

The aim of this study is to apply this model to patients receiving low-dose rituximab (1000 mg once per cycle) and to evaluate the prediction of clinical response to low-dose rituximab using this model.

Correlation and coefficient of determination between DAS28-CRP observed 6 months after a second low-dose cycle and DAS-28 predicted by a PK-PD model taking into account gender, body surface area, IgG concentration, rituximab concentration and CD4 T-cell count.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

. Age ≥ 18 years

* Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis meeting ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria.
* Candidates for a Low Dose regimen: on standard dose rituximab and with a good clinical response according to the referring rheumatologist. No maximum duration of use of standard-dose rituximab has been defined.
* In the case of co-prescription of csDMARDs (Methotrexate, Leflunomide, Salazopyrine, Plaquenil), the dose must have been stable for 3 months.
* If corticosteroids are co-prescribed, the dose should be ≤ 10 mg/d and stable for 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Other associated targeted disease-modifying therapy
* Sjögren's syndrome or other associated inflammatory rheumatism
* Fibromyalgia or other pathology having an impact on the assessment of disease activity
* Any active haematological disease affecting lymphocytes (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, T lymphoma).
* Opposition to data processing
* No inclusion of persons covered by articles L. 1121-5 to L. 1121-8 and L. 1122-1-2 of the Public Health Code (e.g. minors, protected adults, etc.).

Primary outcomes:
measure: Observed Disease Activity Score(DAS) 28-CRP
timeFrame: 6 months after a second low-dose cycle
measure: Calculated DAS28-CRP
timeFrame: 6 months after a second low-dose cycle
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Prevalence observed DAS28-CRP
timeFrame: 3 months and 6 months of the first and second cycle of low-dose rituximab
measure: Description of events
timeFrame: From enrolment to 12 months
measure: prevalence calculated DAS28-CRP
timeFrame: 6 months of the second cycle of low-dose rituximab
measure: CD4 T cell count
timeFrame: 6 months of a second cycle of low dose rituximab.
measure: immunoglobulin G level
timeFrame: 6 months of a second cycle of low dose rituximab.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Tours
country: France
facility: University hospital
Study officials:
References: