A Study to Evaluate Two Doses of Ocrelizumab in Patients With Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (BEGIN)

Genentech

Status and phase: Terminated; Phase 3

Conditions: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Treatments: Drug: Ocrelizumab; Drug: Placebo; Drug: Prednisone; Drug: Methylprednisolone; Drug: Immunosuppressive regime (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil or methotrexate)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Industry

Identifiers

NCT00539838

ACT4071g

WA20499

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a Phase III, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab compared to placebo when combined with a single stable background immunosuppressive medication and a corticosteroid regimen in patients with moderately to severely active systemic lupus erythematosus, who do not have moderate to severe glomerulonephritis.

Enrollment: 33 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 16 years or above at the time of screening
• Diagnosis of SLE
• Active disease at screening

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of active moderate to severe glomerulonephritis
• Currently active retinitis, poorly controlled seizure disorder, acute confusional state, myelitis, stroke or stroke syndrome, cerebellar ataxia, or dementia
• Lack of peripheral venous access
• Pregnancy or breast feeding mothers
• History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to humanized, chimeric or murine monoclonal antibodies or i.v. immunoglobulin
• Known severe chronic pulmonary disease
• Evidence of significant or uncontrolled concomitant diseases in any organ system not related to SLE, which, in the investigator's opinion, would impair patient participation
• Concomitant condition which has required treatment with systemic corticosteroid (excluding topical or inhaled) at any time in the 52 weeks prior to screening
• Known HIV or chronic active Hepatitis B or chronic active Hepatitis C infection
• Known active infection of any kind (but excluding fungal infection of nail beds or oral thrush which has resolved before Day 1) within 30 days prior to Day 1. In addition, any major episode of infection requiring hospitalization or treatment with intravenous anti-infectives in the 30 days prior to Day 1 or oral anti-infectives in the 14 days prior to Day 1
• History of serious recurrent or chronic infection
• History of cancer (except basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has been excised and cured)
• History of alcohol or drug abuse in the 52 weeks prior to screening
• Major surgery in the 4 weeks prior to screening excluding diagnostic surgery
• Previous treatment with CAMPATH-1H
• Previous treatment with a BAFF directed treatment in the 12 months prior to screening
• Previous treatment with a B-cell targeted therapy other than one directed at BAFF
• Treatment with any investigational agent, other than those above, in the 28 days prior to screening or five half-lives of the investigational drug (whichever is longer)
• Receipt of any live vaccine in the 6 weeks prior to Day 1
• Intolerance or contraindication to oral or i.v. corticosteroids
• Treatment with a second immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drug in the 8 weeks prior to Day 1
• Prednisone dose of ≥ 0.7 mg/kg/day (or equivalent) for > 7 of the previous 30 days prior to screening
• Treatment with cyclophosphamide or a calcineurin inhibitor in the 12 weeks prior to screening
• Positive hepatitis BsAg or hepatitis C serology. Patients who are HBsAg negative but HBcAb positive may be enrolled with a negative DNA test

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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33 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Ocrelizumab 1000 mg

Experimental group

Description:

Ocrelizumab was administered i.v. at a dose on Days 1 and 15, followed by 1000 mg i.v. at Week 16 and then every 16 weeks

Treatment:

Drug: Prednisone

Drug: Methylprednisolone

Drug: Ocrelizumab

Drug: Immunosuppressive regime (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil or methotrexate)

Ocrelizumab 400 mg

Experimental group

Description:

Ocrelizumab was administered at a dose 400 mg i.v. on Days 1 and 15, followed by 400 mg i.v. at Week 16 and then every 16 weeks

Treatment:

Drug: Prednisone

Drug: Methylprednisolone

Drug: Ocrelizumab

Drug: Immunosuppressive regime (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil or methotrexate)

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo infusions were administered on Days 1 and 15, followed by placebo infusion at Week 16 and then every 16 weeks

Treatment:

Drug: Immunosuppressive regime (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil or methotrexate)

Drug: Placebo