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VasculitisPhase 2/3RAVENCT00104299

Rituximab for the Treatment of Wegener's Granulomatosis and Microscopic Polyangiitis

A Phase 2/3 study testing Azathioprine, Methylprednisolone (or other glucocorticoid) and Prednisone in people with Vasculitis and Wegener's Granulomatosis, run by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at 8 sites in 2 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is the most common type of small blood vessel inflammation in adults. ANCA-associated vasculitis includes Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Rituximab is a man-made antibody used to treat certain types of cancer. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 15 years and older
What is being tested?
Azathioprine, Methylprednisolone (or other glucocorticoid) and Prednisone
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
197 participants
Where
8 sitesin 2 countries
Study dates
Jan 2005to Jan 2010
Phase
Phase 2/3
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 15 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Weight of at least 88 pounds(40 kilograms)
  • Diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis or microscopic polyangiitis according to the definitions of the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference
  • Newly diagnosed patient of Wegener's granulomatosis or microscopic polyangiitis OR must be experiencing a disease flare characterized by: (a) active disease with a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's granulomatosis (BVAS/WG) of 3 or greater that would normally require treatment with CYC; OR (b) disease severe enough to require treatment with CYC; OR (c) must be positive for either PR3-ANCA (ANCA directed against proteinase 3) or MPO-ANCA (ANCA directed against myeloperoxidase)at the screening
  • Willing to use acceptable forms of contraception for the duration of the study and for up to 1 year after stopping study medications
  • Willing to report pregnancies (female participants or male participants' partners) occurring at any time during the study and for up to 1 year after stopping study medications
  • Parent or guardian willing to provide informed consent, if applicable

Who cannot join

  • Diagnosis of Churg-Strauss Syndrome according to the definitions of the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference
  • Have limited disease that would not normally be treated with CYC
  • Requires mechanical ventilation because of alveolar hemorrhage
  • History of severe allergic reactions to human or chimeric monoclonal antibodies
  • Active systemic infection
  • Have a deep-space infection, such as osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, or pneumonia complicated by pleural cavity or lung abscess, within 6 months prior to study entry
Show all 13Show fewer
  • History of or current hepatitis B or C infection
  • HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infected
  • Acute or chronic liver disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the study
  • History of or active cancer diagnosed within the last 5 years. Individuals with squamous cell or basal cell carcinomas of the skin and individuals with cervical carcinoma in situ who have received curative surgical treatment may be eligible for this study.
  • History of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease
  • Other uncontrolled disease, including drug and alcohol abuse, that may interfere with the study
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Trial locations and contacts

8 sites in 2 countries.

8 sites in 2 countries

United States7 sites

  • Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21224

  • University of Alabama

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35294

  • Boston University

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02118

  • The Cleveland Clinic

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44195

  • Duke University

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710

  • Hospital for Special Surgery

    New York, New York, 10128

  • Mayo Clinic Foundation

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905

Other trials in United States

Netherlands1 site

  • University Hospital Groningen

    Groningen, 9713 GZ

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: Rituximab Therapy for the Induction of Remission and Tolerance in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (ITN021AI)

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is the most common type of small blood vessel inflammation in adults. ANCA-associated vasculitis includes Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Rituximab is a man-made antibody used to treat certain types of cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of rituximab in treating patients with WG and MPA.

Study hypothesis: Rituximab is not inferior to conventional therapy in its ability to induce disease remission by Month 6.

Read the detailed description

Current conventional therapies for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are associated with high incidences of treatment failure, disease relapse, substantial toxicity, and patient morbidity and mortality. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study will evaluate the efficacy of rituximab with glucocorticoids in inducing disease remission in patients with severe forms of AAV (WG and MPA).

The study consists of two phases: a 6-month remission induction phase, followed by a 12-month remission maintenance phase. All participants will receive at least 1 g of pulse intravenous methylprednisolone or a dose-equivalent of another glucocorticoid preparation. Depending on the participant's condition, he or she may receive up to 3 days of intravenous methylprednisolone for a total of 3 g of methylprednisolone (or a dose-equivalent). During the remission induction phase, all participants will receive oral prednisone daily (1 mg/kg/day, not to exceed 80 mg/day). Prednisone tapering will be completed by the Month 6 study visit.

Next, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arms. Arm 1 participants will receive rituximab (375 mg/m^2) infusions once weekly for 4 weeks and cyclophosphamide (CYC) placebo daily for 3 to 6 months. Arm 2 participants will receive rituximab placebo infusions once weekly for 4 weeks and CYC daily for 3 to 6 months. During the remission maintenance phase, participants in Arm 1 will discontinue CYC placebo and start oral azathioprine (AZA) placebo daily until Month 18. Participants in Arm 2 will discontinue CYC and start AZA daily until Month 18. Participants who fail treatment before Month 6 will be crossed over to the other treatment arm unless there are specific contraindications. Participants in either group who reach clinical remission before they complete 6 months of therapy may switch from CYC/placebo to AZA/placebo if directed by their physicians.

All participants will be followed for at least 18 months. Initially, study visits are weekly, progressing to monthly and then quarterly visits as the study proceeds. Blood collection will occur at each study visit.

Being tested
Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide placebo (rituximab group), Cyclophosphamide plus rituximab placebo (control group), Azathioprine, Methylprednisolone (or other glucocorticoid), Prednisone
Keywords
ANCA, Vasculitis, Wegener's Granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, ANCA-positive, ANCA-associated, ANCA-associated vasculitis, MPA
Medical subject headings
Vasculitis, Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, Microscopic Polyangiitis, Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide placebo (rituximab group)Drug

    Also called Rituxan

    375 mg/m^2 infusions once weekly for 4 week

  • Cyclophosphamide plus rituximab placebo (control group)Drug

    Also called Cytoxan

    2 mg/kg/day orally for months 1-3

  • AzathioprineDrug

    Also called imuran

    2 mg/kg/day orally for months 4-6

  • Methylprednisolone (or other glucocorticoid)Drug

    Also called Medrol

    1 g/day intravenously for up to 3 days within 14 days prior to receiving rituximab

  • PrednisoneDrug

    Also called Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Meticorten, Orasone

    During the remission induction phase, all participants will receive oral prednisone daily (1 mg/kg/day, not to exceed 80 mg/day). Prednisone tapering will be completed by the Month 6 study visit.

Study groups in NCT00104299
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
RituximabExperimentalNot described
Receives: Drug: Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide placebo (rituximab group); Drug: Methylprednisolone (or other glucocorticoid); Drug: Prednisone
Control GroupActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Drug: Cyclophosphamide plus rituximab placebo (control group); Drug: Azathioprine; Drug: Methylprednisolone (or other glucocorticoid); Drug: Prednisone

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Disease Remission

    A Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG) score of 0 with prednisone taper successfully completed at six months. The BVAS/WG is a validated disease activity index. The BVAS/WG is designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis and consists of a set of items divided into nine organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease.

    Measured: 6 months post-randomization

Secondary outcomes (6)

  1. Rate of Selected Adverse Events Experienced by Participants Receiving Rituximab Versus Those Receiving Conventional Therapy

    The adverse event rate for the following events considered related to vasculitis: Death; Grade 2 or higher leukopenia or thrombocytopenia; Grade 3 or higher infections; Hemorrhagic cystitis (grade 2 or lower needs confirmation by cytoscopy); Malignancy; Venous thromboembolic event (deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism); Hospitalization resulting either from the disease or from a complication due to study treatment; Infusion reactions (within 24 hours of infusion) that result in the cessation of further infusions (including cytokine release allergic reaction); Cerebrovascular accident

    Measured: Through common close-out (defined as 18 months after the last participant is enrolled in the trial)

  2. Percentage of Participants Who Have a BVAS/WG Score of 0 and Have Successfully Completed the Glucocorticoid Taper by 6 Months Post-randomization

    The 2-sided 95% CI of the percentage of participants who have a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and have successfully completed the glucocorticoid taper by 6 months post-randomization and the 2-sided 95% CI of the difference between two arms for assessing the superiority of rituximab to control

    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease

    Measured: 6 months post-randomization

  3. The Duration of Complete Remission (BVAS=0, Off Glucocorticoids), the Time to Limited and/or Severe Flare After Remission in the Two Treatment Groups

    Duration of complete remission is defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and a completing taper of Prednisone to the first flare, BVAS/WG score of greater than 0, or an increase in Prednisone dosing.

    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease

    Measured: 18 months post-randomization

  4. The Duration of Remission (BVAS=0), the Time to Limited and/or Severe Flare After Remission in the Two Treatment Groups

    Duration of remission is defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and a completing taper of glucocorticoid by 6 months post-randomization to the first flare, BVAS/WG score of greater than 0, or an increase in Prednisone dosing.

    Measured: 18 months post-randomization

  5. Time to Remission (BVAS=0) From the Visit 1 Baseline Visit in the Two Treatment Groups

    Time to complete remission is defined as the number of days from baseline visit (Visit 1) to a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0.

    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease

    Measured: 18 months post-randomization

  6. Time to Complete Remission (BVAS=0, Off Glucocorticoids) From the Visit 1 Baseline Visit in the Two Treatment Groups

    Time to complete remission is defined as the number of days from baseline visit (Visit 1) to a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's Granulomatosis (BVAS/WG)[1] of 0 and completing taper of glucocorticoid by 6 months post-randomization.

    [1] The BVAS/WG is a disease activity index designed to document new or worsening clinically active vasculitis consisting of items divided into 9 organ based systems. BVAS/WG scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more active disease

    Measured: 18 months post-randomization

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Feb 2005 (estimated)
  2. Study startJan 2005
  3. Primary completionDec 2008
  4. Study completionJan 2010

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2/3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
197 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00104299
Sponsor's protocol ID
DAIT ITN021AI
Acronym
RAVE
Status last verified
Mar 2017
First submitted
24 Feb 2005
Last updated
21 Apr 2017
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
Yes: Participant level data and additional relevant materials are available to the public in: 1.) the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal (ImmPort), a long-term archive of clinical and mechanistic data from DAIT-funded grants and contracts; and 2.) TrialShare, the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) Clinical Trials Research Portal.

Publications

  • Zarin DA. Participant-level data and the new frontier in trial transparency. N Engl J Med. 2013 Aug 1;369(5):468-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJMe1307268. No abstract available.

    PubMed 23902488

  • Stone JH, Merkel PA, Spiera R, Seo P, Langford CA, Hoffman GS, Kallenberg CG, St Clair EW, Turkiewicz A, Tchao NK, Webber L, Ding L, Sejismundo LP, Mieras K, Weitzenkamp D, Ikle D, Seyfert-Margolis V, Mueller M, Brunetta P, Allen NB, Fervenza FC, Geetha D, Keogh KA, Kissin EY, Monach PA, Peikert T, Stegeman C, Ytterberg SR, Specks U; RAVE-ITN Research Group. Rituximab versus cyclophosphamide for ANCA-associated vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2010 Jul 15;363(3):221-32. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0909905.

    PubMed 20647199

  • Specks U, Merkel PA, Seo P, Spiera R, Langford CA, Hoffman GS, Kallenberg CG, St Clair EW, Fessler BJ, Ding L, Viviano L, Tchao NK, Phippard DJ, Asare AL, Lim N, Ikle D, Jepson B, Brunetta P, Allen NB, Fervenza FC, Geetha D, Keogh K, Kissin EY, Monach PA, Peikert T, Stegeman C, Ytterberg SR, Mueller M, Sejismundo LP, Mieras K, Stone JH; RAVE-ITN Research Group. Efficacy of remission-induction regimens for ANCA-associated vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2013 Aug 1;369(5):417-27. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1213277.

    PubMed 23902481

  • Miloslavsky EM, Specks U, Merkel PA, Seo P, Spiera R, Langford CA, Hoffman GS, Kallenberg CG, St Clair EW, Tchao NK, Viviano L, Ding L, Sejismundo LP, Mieras K, Ikle D, Jepson B, Mueller M, Brunetta P, Allen NB, Fervenza FC, Geetha D, Keogh K, Kissin EY, Monach PA, Peikert T, Stegeman C, Ytterberg SR, Stone JH; Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis-Immune Tolerance Network Research Group. Clinical outcomes of remission induction therapy for severe antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. Arthritis Rheum. 2013 Sep;65(9):2441-9. doi: 10.1002/art.38044.

    PubMed 23754238

  • Monach PA, Warner RL, Tomasson G, Specks U, Stone JH, Ding L, Fervenza FC, Fessler BJ, Hoffman GS, Ikle D, Kallenberg CG, Krischer J, Langford CA, Mueller M, Seo P, St Clair EW, Spiera R, Tchao N, Ytterberg SR, Johnson KJ, Merkel PA. Serum proteins reflecting inflammation, injury and repair as biomarkers of disease activity in ANCA-associated vasculitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013 Aug;72(8):1342-50. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-201981. Epub 2012 Sep 12.

    PubMed 22975753

  • Nasrallah M, Pouliot Y, Hartmann B, Dunn P, Thomson E, Wiser J, Butte AJ. Reanalysis of the Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis trial identifies granulocyte subsets as a novel early marker of successful treatment. Arthritis Res Ther. 2015 Sep 21;17(1):262. doi: 10.1186/s13075-015-0778-z.

    PubMed 26387933

  • Miloslavsky EM, Specks U, Merkel PA, Seo P, Spiera R, Langford CA, Hoffman GS, Kallenberg CG, St Clair EW, Tchao NK, Ding L, Ikle D, Villareal M, Lim N, Brunetta P, Fervenza FC, Monach PA, Stone JH; Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis-Immune Tolerance Network Research Group. Outcomes of nonsevere relapses in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis treated with glucocorticoids. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015 Jun;67(6):1629-36. doi: 10.1002/art.39104.

    PubMed 25776953

  • Miloslavsky EM, Specks U, Merkel PA, Seo P, Spiera R, Langford CA, Hoffman GS, Kallenberg CG, St Clair EW, Tchao NK, Viviano L, Ding L, Ikle D, Villarreal M, Jepson B, Brunetta P, Allen NB, Fervenza FC, Geetha D, Keogh K, Kissin EY, Monach PA, Peikert T, Stegeman C, Ytterberg SR, Stone JH; Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis-Immune Tolerance Network Research Group. Rituximab for the treatment of relapses in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2014 Nov;66(11):3151-9. doi: 10.1002/art.38788.

    PubMed 25047592

  • Berti A, Hillion S, Hummel AM, Son YM, Chriti N, Peikert T, Carmona EM, Abdulahad WH, Heeringa P, Harris KM, St Clair EW, Brunetta P, Fervenza FC, Langford CA, Kallenberg CG, Merkel PA, Monach PA, Seo P, Spiera RF, Stone JH, Grandi G, Sun J, Pers JO, Specks U, Cornec D; RAVE-ITN Research Group. Circulating autoreactive proteinase 3+ B cells and tolerance checkpoints in ANCA-associated vasculitis. JCI Insight. 2021 Nov 22;6(22):e150999. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.150999.

    PubMed 34618687

  • Kronbichler A, Leierer J, Shin JI, Merkel PA, Spiera R, Seo P, Langford CA, Hoffman GS, Kallenberg CGM, St Clair EW, Brunetta P, Fervenza FC, Geetha D, Keogh KA, Monach PA, Ytterberg SR, Mayer G, Specks U, Stone JH; RAVE-ITN Research Group. Association of Pulmonary Hemorrhage, Positive Proteinase 3, and Urinary Red Blood Cell Casts With Venous Thromboembolism in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019 Nov;71(11):1888-1893. doi: 10.1002/art.41017. Epub 2019 Sep 25.

    PubMed 31216123

  • Wallace ZS, Miloslavsky EM, Cascino M, Unizony SH, Lu N, Hoffman GS, Kallenberg CGM, Langford CA, Merkel PA, Monach PA, Seo P, Spiera R, St Clair EW, Specks U, Brunetta P, Choi HK, Stone JH. Effect of Disease Activity, Glucocorticoid Exposure, and Rituximab on Body Composition During Induction Treatment of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017 Jul;69(7):1004-1010. doi: 10.1002/acr.23099.

    PubMed 27696762

  • Unizony S, Villarreal M, Miloslavsky EM, Lu N, Merkel PA, Spiera R, Seo P, Langford CA, Hoffman GS, Kallenberg CM, St Clair EW, Ikle D, Tchao NK, Ding L, Brunetta P, Choi HK, Monach PA, Fervenza F, Stone JH, Specks U; RAVE-ITN Research Group. Clinical outcomes of treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis based on ANCA type. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Jun;75(6):1166-9. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208073. Epub 2015 Nov 30.

    PubMed 26621483

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2/3 study testing Azathioprine, Methylprednisolone (or other glucocorticoid) and Prednisone in people with Vasculitis and Wegener's Granulomatosis, run by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at 8 sites in 2 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Apr 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 8 sites in United States, Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 25 Aug 2011). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Disease Remission (time frame: 6 months post-randomization). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00104299, which also lists 12 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Apr 2017.

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