Efficacy of Anti-CD20 Antibodies (Rituximab Biosimilar) in the Treatment of Childhood Steroid-dependent Nephrotic Syndrome

Summary

Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies are emerging as the steroid-sparing therapy of choice for nephrotic syndrome. This Randomized Clinical Trial seeks to evaluate whether Rituximab biosimilar maintains drug-free disease remission in patientswith steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome for 12-24 months and verify its superiority vs. mycophenolate mofetil, the reference standard therapy. The investigators will compare the risk of relapse to test this hypothesis (primary outcome). Secondary objectives will include assessing short- and long-term side-effects and developing specific biomarkers of sensitivity to therapy. Patients will be recruited, treated and followed at IRCCS G Gaslini and IRCCS Bambino Gesù where laboratory studies will be performed at in-site facilities

Timeline

Start

2019-07-01

Primary completion

2020-08-31

Completion

2020-08-31

Outcome

Outcome not reported

Stopped: “due to unexpectedly high rate of relapse in the active comparator arm.”

Publications

• Larkins NG, Hahn D, Liu ID, Willis NS, Craig JC, Hodson EM. Non-corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 Nov 8;11(11):CD002290. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002290.pub6.
• Ravani P, Lugani F, Drovandi S, Caridi G, Angeletti A, Ghiggeri GM. Rituximab vs Low-Dose Mycophenolate Mofetil in Recurrence of Steroid-Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome in Children and Young Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2021 Jun 1;175(6):631-632. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.6150.

Drugs

Indications