Safety and Tolerability of Rituxan With Methotrexate and Etanercept or Methotrexate and Adalimumab in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo Controlled Study to Evaluate the Tolerability and Safety of Rituximab When Given in Combination With Methotrexate and Etanercept (Enbrel) or Methotrexate and Adalimumab (Humira) in Subjects With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerability and safety of rituximab in combination with methotrexate (MTX) and etanercept or adalimumab in participants with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The secondary objective was to explore the efficacy of rituximab in combination with MTX and etanercept or adalimumab in participants with active RA.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: IDEC-C2B8 (rituximab); Drug: Methotrexate; Drug: Etanercept; Drug: Adalimumab; Drug: Methylprednisolone; Dietary supplement: Folate; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

The study consists of 4 parts: screening, treatment, post-treatment, and safety follow-up. Prior to Day 1, participants were discontinued from all disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) except MTX and etanercept or adalimumab. All participants who met eligibility criteria and were enrolled in the trial were randomized to receive 500 mg rituximab or placebo on Day 1 and Day 15. A subset of 18 participants was enrolled initially and followed through Week 12 for safety. The remaining 42 participants were to be enrolled after the last participant in the subset completed Week 12 and the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) conducted a safety review and approved enrollment of these additional participants. Participants were dosed on Day 1 and Day 15 and followed for 56 weeks, while remaining on their current dose of MTX and etanercept or adalimumab throughout the study. The primary endpoint was assessed at Week 24.

All participants in double-blind treatment, including those who received placebo or rituximab, who met the open label inclusion/exclusion criteria anytime from Week 24 through Week 40, were eligible to enter the open label retreatment phase. These participants received open label rituximab on Day 1 and Day 15 of the retreatment phase, and were followed monthly until Week 24 then every 2 months until Week 56, while remaining on their current dose of MTX and etanercept or adalimumab throughout the study. Participants received 1 course of open label treatment only.

All participants were required to return for safety follow-up (SFU) assessments at Weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 after withdrawal or completion of the study. Participants whose peripheral CD20+ B cells remained depleted at the end of the SFU periods for the primary and OL portions of the study entered extended safety follow-up (ESFU). Assessments for ESFU were performed at 12-week intervals until peripheral B-cell levels returned to within normal range or baseline level (whichever was lower).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 54
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Alabama
    • Huntsville, Alabama, United States, 35801
      • Research Site
  • Arizona
    • Paradise Valley, Arizona, United States, 85253
      • Research Site
  • California
    • Palm Desert, California, United States, 92260
      • Research Site
  • Florida
    • Jupiter, Florida, United States, 33458
      • Research Site
    • Sarasota, Florida, United States, 34239
      • Research Site
  • Idaho
    • Boise, Idaho, United States, 83702
      • Research Site
  • Michigan
    • Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States, 49048
      • Research Site
  • Missouri
    • St. Louis, Missouri, United States, 63141
      • Research Site
  • Ohio
    • Chardon, Ohio, United States, 44024
      • Research Site
    • Mayfield Village, Ohio, United States, 44143
      • Research Site
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73103
      • Research Site
    • Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, 74135
      • Research Site
  • Pennsylvania
    • Duncansville, Pennsylvania, United States, 16635
      • Research Site
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75231
      • Research Site
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77074
      • Research Site
    • San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78217
      • Research Site
  • Utah
    • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84132
      • Research Site
  • Vermont
    • Burlington, Vermont, United States, 05401
      • Research Site

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Must give written informed consent. If required by local law, candidates must also authorize the release and use of protected health information (PHI).
2. Male or female participants, between 18 and 65 years of age, who have a diagnosis of active RA for at least 6 months, diagnosed according to the revised 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
3. Must have at least 5 tender and 5 swollen joints at Screening and Day 1.
4. Must have been treated with etanercept at 50 mg per week (25 mg twice per week or 50 mg once per week) or adalimumab at 40 mg every other week for at least 12 weeks immediately prior to Day 1.
5. Must have been treated with methotrexate (MTX) greater than or equal to 15 mg per week and less than or equal to 25 mg per week (dose may be as low as 10 mg if unable to tolerate higher dose) for at least 12 weeks immediately prior to Day 1, at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks.
6. Must be willing to receive oral folate.
7. Oral glucocorticoids must not exceed 10 mg per day of prednisone (or equivalent dose) and must have been administered at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to Day 1.
8. Any concomitant non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) must be stable for at least 2 weeks prior to Day 1.

9. For participants of reproductive potential (males and females), use of a reliable means of contraception (e.g., hormonal contraceptive, patch, intrauterine device, physical barrier) throughout study participation.

   Exclusion Criteria:

   Exclusions Related to RA

10. Rheumatic autoimmune disease other than RA, or significant systemic involvement secondary to RA (e.g., vasculitis, pulmonary fibrosis, or Felty's syndrome). Secondary Sjögren's syndrome or secondary limited cutaneous vasculitis with RA is permitted.
11. Functional Class IV as defined by the ACR Classification of Functional Status in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
12. History of, or current, inflammatory joint disease other than RA (e.g., gout, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, seronegative spondyloarthropathy, Lyme disease) or other systemic autoimmune disorder (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], inflammatory bowel disease, scleroderma, inflammatory myopathy, mixed connective tissue disease, or any overlap syndrome).

13. Diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, also known as juvenile RA, and/or RA before age 16.

    Exclusions Related to General Health

14. Any surgical procedure, including bone/joint surgery/synovectomy (including joint fusion or replacement) within 12 weeks prior to baseline or planned within 24 weeks of randomization.
15. Lack of peripheral venous access.
16. Pregnancy or breast feeding.
17. Significant cardiac or pulmonary disease (including obstructive pulmonary disease).
18. History of chronic heart failure (CHF), SLE-like syndrome, neuropathy or myelitis, optic neuritis, or pancytopenia while on etanercept or adalimumab.
19. Evidence of significant uncontrolled concomitant disease such as, but not limited to, nervous system, renal, hepatic, endocrine, or gastrointestinal disorders which, in the investigator's opinion, would preclude subject participation.
20. Primary or secondary immunodeficiency (history of, or currently active), including known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
21. Known active infection of any kind (excluding fungal infections of nail beds), or any major episode of infection requiring hospitalization or treatment with IV anti infectives within 4 weeks of Day 1 or completion of oral anti infectives within 2 weeks of Day 1.
22. History of positive purified protein derivative (PPD) not adequately treated.
23. History of deep space/tissue infection (e.g., fasciitis, abscess, osteomyelitis) within 52 weeks of Day 1.
24. History of serious infection or opportunistic infection in the last 2 years (to screen for a chest infection, a chest radiograph will be performed at Screening if one was not performed within 12 weeks prior to Screening).
25. History of seizures.
26. History of cancer, including solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, and carcinoma in situ (except basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that have been excised and cured).
27. Any neurological (congenital or acquired), vascular, or systemic disorder that might affect any of the efficacy assessments, in particular, joint pain and swelling (e.g., Parkinsons disease, cerebral palsy, diabetic neuropathy).

28. Currently active alcohol or drug abuse or history of alcohol or drug abuse (as determined by the Investigator) within 1 year prior to Day 1.

    Exclusions Related to Medications

29. History of a severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction to a biologic agent or known hypersensitivity to any component of rituximab or to murine proteins.
30. Previous treatment with an anti alpha 4 integrin agent or costimulation modulator.
31. Concurrent treatment with any biologic agent other than etanercept or adalimumab, or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) other than MTX. Treatment with any biologic or DMARD except etanercept or adalimumab, and MTX must be discontinued 14 days prior to baseline, except for the following: azathioprine for 28 days; leflunomide for 8 weeks (or 14 days after 11 days of standard cholestyramine or activated charcoal washout).
32. Previous treatment with any cell depleting therapies, including investigational agents (e.g., Campath [alemtuzumab], anti-CD4, anti-CD5, anti-CD3, anti-CD19, anti CD11a, anti-CD22, B lymphocyte stimulator/B-cell activating factor [BLys/BAFF], and anti-CD20).
33. Treatment with another investigational drug within 4 weeks prior to Day 1 or 5 half lives of the investigational drug (whichever is the longer).
34. Receipt of a live/attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to Day 1.
35. Intra-articular or parenteral glucocorticoids within 4 weeks prior to Day 1.

36. Intolerance or contraindications to IV glucocorticoids.

    Exclusions Related to Laboratory Findings

37. For women of childbearing potential, a positive serum pregnancy test at screening and/or a positive urine pregnancy test on Day 1.
38. Positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
39. Positive hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) associated with positive hepatitis B viral DNA (HBV DNA).
40. Positive hepatitis C antibody.
41. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >2.5 times upper limit of normal.
42. Hemoglobin <8.0 g/dL.
43. Levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and/or immunoglobulin M (IgM) below 5.0 and 0.4 mg/mL, respectively.

44. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <1500/mL.

    Miscellaneous Exclusions

45. Current enrollment in any other investigational or other drug study.
46. Treatment with IV Gamma Globulin or the Prosorba® Column within 6 months of the Screening visit.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Double-blind/Open Label Rituximab; The double-blind rituximab treatment group received rituximab 500 mg by intravenous (IV) infusion on Day 1 and Day 15. After 24 weeks (primary endpoint completion), participants continued post-treatment follow-up (PTFU) visits through Week 56, and entered a 48-week Safety Follow-Up (SFU). At any time between Week 24 and Week 40 of PTFU, eligible participants could enter the rituximab open label (OL) arm, and "restart" the 56-week treatment/follow-up schedule (rituximab 500 mg by IV infusion on Day 1 and Day 15) prior to the 48-week SFU. Prior to rituximab infusion, participants were premedicated with methylprednisolone 100 mg IV. Participants received folate ≥5 mg weekly. Background therapy (stable dose for the duration of the study) included: a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor; either etanercept 50 mg subcutaneous injection (SC) weekly or adalimumab 40 mg SC once every 2 weeks; methotrexate (MTX) 15 to 25 mg by mouth or by intramuscular injection (IM) weekly.	Biological: IDEC-C2B8 (rituximab); Participants will receive 500 mg rituximab on Day 1 and Day 15; Other Names: Rituxan; Drug: Methotrexate; Participants must have been treated with MTX ≥15 mg per week and ≤25 mg per week (dose may have been as low as 10 mg if unable to tolerate higher dose) for at least 12 weeks immediately prior to Day 1, at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks and was continued for the study duration.; Drug: Etanercept; Participants must have been treated with etanercept at 50 mg per week (25 mg twice per week or 50 mg once per week).; Other Names: Enbrel; Drug: Adalimumab; Participants must have been treated with adalimumab at 40 mg every other week for at least 12 weeks immediately prior to Day 1.; Other Names: Humira; Drug: Methylprednisolone; Methylprednisolone 100 mg IV was administered by slow infusion to be completed at least 30 minutes prior to each infusion of rituximab or placebo.; Dietary supplement: Folate; All subjects also received a stable dose of folate (≥5 mg per week).
Other: Double-blind Placebo/Open Label Rituximab; The double-blind placebo treatment group received saline solution IV on Day 1 and Day 15. After 24 weeks (primary endpoint completion), participants continued post-treatment follow-up (PTFU) visits through Week 56, and entered a 48-week Safety Follow-Up (SFU). At any time between Week 24 and Week 40 of PTFU, eligible participants could enter the rituximab open label (OL) arm, and "restart" the 56-week treatment/follow-up schedule (rituximab 500 mg by IV infusion on Day 1 and Day 15) prior to the 48-week SFU. Prior to each infusion of placebo, participants were premedicated with methylprednisolone 100 mg IV. Participants received folate ≥5 mg weekly. Background therapy (stable dose for the duration of the study) included: a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor; either etanercept 50 mg subcutaneous injection (SC) weekly or adalimumab 40 mg SC once every 2 weeks; methotrexate (MTX) 15 to 25 mg by mouth or by intramuscular injection (IM) weekly.	Drug: Methotrexate; Participants must have been treated with MTX ≥15 mg per week and ≤25 mg per week (dose may have been as low as 10 mg if unable to tolerate higher dose) for at least 12 weeks immediately prior to Day 1, at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks and was continued for the study duration.; Drug: Etanercept; Participants must have been treated with etanercept at 50 mg per week (25 mg twice per week or 50 mg once per week).; Other Names: Enbrel; Drug: Adalimumab; Participants must have been treated with adalimumab at 40 mg every other week for at least 12 weeks immediately prior to Day 1.; Other Names: Humira; Drug: Methylprednisolone; Methylprednisolone 100 mg IV was administered by slow infusion to be completed at least 30 minutes prior to each infusion of rituximab or placebo.; Dietary supplement: Folate; All subjects also received a stable dose of folate (≥5 mg per week).; Drug: Placebo; Participants will receive placebo on Day 1 and Day 15

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of Participants With at Least One Serious Infection Through Week 24	An infection was considered serious if it required intravenous (IV) antibiotics or met the regulatory definition of a serious adverse event (SAE). An SAE was any event that resulted in death, resulted in a congenital anomaly in a child of a participant in the study, caused or prolonged an inpatient hospitalization, resulted in significant or persistent disability, or was considered by the investigator to be an important medical event that may have required intervention to prevent any of the above-listed outcomes.	Through Week 24
Number of Participants With Any Infections or Any Grade 3/4 Infections Through Week 24	Infections were defined as adverse events that map to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) system organ class (SOC) of "infections and infestations" and also included other infectious events that do not map to this SOC (e.g., cholecystitis, pleurisy, conjunctivitis, acne, tongue ulceration). Participants with multiple infections were calculated only once. The severity of all reported adverse events, including infections, was graded and reported according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. This scale defines the severity of an adverse event as follows: Grade 1 = a mild adverse event, Grade 2 = a moderate adverse event, Grade 3 = a severe adverse event, and Grade 4 = a life-threatening or disabling adverse event.	Through Week 24
Maximum Duration of Infections Through Week 24	Infections were defined as adverse events that map to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) system organ class (SOC) of "infections and infestations" and also included other infectious events that do not map to this SOC (e.g., cholecystitis, pleurisy, conjunctivitis, acne, tongue ulceration). For participants with multiple infections, only the infection with the longest duration was included in this analysis.	Week 24
Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) Through Week 24	An AE was any sign (including an abnormal laboratory result that the investigator determined to be clinically significant), symptom, or diagnosis/disease that is unfavorable or unintended, that was new, or if pre-existing, worsened in a participant and that did not necessarily have a causal relationship with the treatment. An SAE was any event that resulted in death, resulted in a congenital anomaly in a child of a participant in the study, caused or prolonged an inpatient hospitalization, resulted in significant or persistent disability, or was considered by the investigator to be an important medical event that may have required intervention to prevent any of the above-listed outcomes.	Through Week 24
Number of Participants With Clinically Significant Immunological and Laboratory Assessment Findings	The following immunological assessments were conducted: autoantibody concentrations for RF, anti-cyclic-citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody concentrations, quantitative immunoglobulin levels, and lymphocyte assessments of T- and B-cell populations, determined using whole blood expanded fluorescent-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. The following laboratory assessments were performed: hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC) with differential, and platelet counts; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, creatinine, random glucose, potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, and phosphorous; blood, protein, and glucose (microscopic examination, if abnormal and applicable).	Through Week 24

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of Participants Achieving an American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) Response at Week 24	An ACR20 response is defined as a 20% reduction in the number of both swollen and tender joints, and a 20% reduction in the score or results of at least 3 of the following 5 core set measurement tools: Patient and physician assessment of patient disease activity (DA) in previous 24 hours on a visual analog scale (VAS, no DA to maximum DA); patient assessment of pain in previous 24 hours on a VAS (none to unbearable); Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do); and C reactive protein or, if missing, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.	Week 24
Proportion of Participants Achieving an American College of Rheumatology 50 (ACR50) Response at Week 24	An ACR50 response is defined as a 50% reduction in the number of both swollen and tender joints, and a 50% reduction in the score or results of at least 3 of the following 5 core set measurement tools: Patient and physician assessment of patient disease activity (DA) in previous 24 hours on a visual analog scale (VAS, no DA to maximum DA); patient assessment of pain in previous 24 hours on a VAS (none to unbearable); Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do); and C reactive protein or, if missing, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.	Week 24
Proportion of Participants Achieving an American College of Rheumatology 70 (ACR70) Response at Week 24	An ACR70 response is defined as a 70% reduction in the number of both swollen and tender joints, and a 70% reduction in the score or results of at least 3 of the following 5 core set measurement tools: Patient and physician assessment of patient disease activity (DA) in previous 24 hours on a visual analog scale (VAS, no DA to maximum DA); patient assessment of pain in previous 24 hours on a VAS (none to unbearable); Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do); and C reactive protein or, if missing, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.	Week 24

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Biogen
• Collaborators: Hoffmann-La Roche; Genentech, Inc.

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Greenwald MW, Shergy WJ, Kaine JL, Sweetser MT, Gilder K, Linnik MD. Evaluation of the safety of rituximab in combination with a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor and methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: results from a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2011 Mar;63(3):622-32. doi: 10.1002/art.30194.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 1, 2006
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 1, 2006
• First Posted (Estimate): March 2, 2006

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 28, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 27, 2015
• Last Verified: August 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Connective Tissue Diseases; Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antimetabolites; Antineoplastic Agents; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Antiemetics; Gastrointestinal Agents; Glucocorticoids; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Neuroprotective Agents; Protective Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Dermatologic Agents; Reproductive Control Agents; Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; Abortifacient Agents; Folic Acid Antagonists; Methylprednisolone; Etanercept; Adalimumab; Rituximab; Methotrexate
• Other Study ID Numbers: 102-RA-201