Double Blind Combination of Rituximab by Intravenous and Intrathecal Injection Versus Placebo in Patients With Low-Inflammatory Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (RIVITaLISe)

Summary

Background: \- Secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SP-MS) is the chronic phase of multiple sclerosis (MS). The majority of people who have relapsing-remitting MS eventually develop SP-MS. There are currently no effective treatments for SP-MS. Researchers are interested in determining whether the drug rituximab, which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some types of cancer, is able to target certain white blood cells that are thought to play a role in the progression of SP-MS. To ensure that the rituximab will reach the brain and spinal cord, participants will receive it by intravenous drip and by intrathecal injection (through a lumbar puncture into the cerebrospinal fluid). Objectives: \- To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of combined intravenous and intrathecal rituximab in individuals with secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis. Eligibility: \- Individuals between 18 and 65 years of age who have been diagnosed with SP-MS and have been off any form of immunosuppressive therapy for at least 3 months. Design: \- The study will involve a 1-year pretreatment baseline series of visits, followed by a 2-year treatment period. Participants will provide blood samples throughout treatment as directed by the study researchers, and additional studies may be performed during the study period if participants consent to further investigation.

Timeline

Start

2010-09

Primary completion

2015-12

Completion

2015-12

Outcome

Outcome not reported

Stopped: “The efficacy on CSF biomarkers failed to reach criteria for continuation of the trial”

Publications

• Results Kosa P, Komori M, Waters R, Wu T, Cortese I, Ohayon J, Fenton K, Cherup J, Gedeon T, Bielekova B. Novel composite MRI scale correlates highly with disability in multiple sclerosis patients. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2015 Nov;4(6):526-35. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2015.08.009. Epub 2015 Aug 28.
• Kosa P, Ghazali D, Tanigawa M, Barbour C, Cortese I, Kelley W, Snyder B, Ohayon J, Fenton K, Lehky T, Wu T, Greenwood M, Nair G, Bielekova B. Development of a Sensitive Outcome for Economical Drug Screening for Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Treatment. Front Neurol. 2016 Aug 15;7:131. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2016.00131. eCollection 2016.

Drugs

Indications