Understanding the 'Durable Effect' Concept of B-cell Modulating Therapies
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Anti-CD20 antibody.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Basic parameters: 18 years — 60 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Germany
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This prospective, observational clinical study aims to longitudinally assess peripheral immune cell profiles of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) receiving anti-CD20 therapy with ofatumumab (OFA), ocrelizumab (OCR), ublituximab (UBX), and rituximab (RTX). Throughout the study, clinical data - including relapse events, patient scores, and neuropsychological parameters - will be collected, along with results from imaging techniques such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This clinical data will be combined with immunological analyses, including multidimensional flow cytometry (mFC), bulk RNA sequencing (bulk-Seq), T and B cell receptor sequencing (TCR/BCR-Seq), proteomics, and immunoglobulin analysis. This approach aims to enable a detailed characterization of changes in the immune cell repertoire and their impact on the clinical disease course.
Detailed description
B cell targeted therapies have become a key element in the treatment of multiple sclerosis due to their effectiveness in rapid and long-lasting depletion of B cells in peripheral blood (PB), significantly reducing relapse rates and disability progression. The monoclonal antibodies OFA, OCR, UBX, and RTX target the B cell surface protein CD20, however it is unclear how B cell depletion and subsequent repopulation allows for immune system reconstitution and how other immune cell populations are affected by these therapies. Furthermore, the relevance of immune cell changes - beyond B cell depletion - for clinical disease stability remains insufficiently understood.
By collecting comprehensive and structured prospective clinical data alongside immunological analyses, this study aims for a better understanding of immunological changes in RRMS patients receiving anti-CD20 therapies and the implications of those alterations in immune cell profiles on the clinical disease course. REBELLION-MS plans for two patient cohorts: cohort 1 (C1; basic cohort) and cohort 2 (C2; in-depth cohort). Participants in C1 will be seen every 6 months up until month 24, then every 12 months. The following parameters will be collected: demographic data, disease characteristics incl. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, serum samples, and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). Furthermore, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) are documented. Participants of C2 will receive additional evaluations: clinical evaluation incl. EDSS and sampling of serum and PBMCs at months 1 and 3, Multiple sclerosis functional composite (MFSC) every 6 months, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) as well as neuropsychological assessment (NPT) every 12 months. Serum samples and PBMCs will be analyzed by mFC, bulk-Seq, TCR/BCR-Seq, and proteomics, among other methods.
Interventions
- Drug Anti-CD20 antibody
Study participants receive an anti-CD20 antibody according to the summary of product characteristics.
Primary outcome measures
- Change from baseline in the peripheral immune cell profile [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in protein profile of the peripheral blood [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in TCR/BCR profile [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
Secondary outcome measures (12)
- Change from baseline in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) Score [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer thickness (RNFL) [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in visual acuity (HCV and LCV) [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) Score [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in Verbal Memory Learning Test (VMLT) [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
- Change from baseline in BDI-FS/BDI II [Time frame: Baseline up to 48 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Diagnosed relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) according to 2017 revised McDonald criteria
- Current treatment with B cell modulating therapies or initiation/transition to B cell modulating therapies according to the "Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)"
- EDSS score of 0.0 to 7.0
Exclusion criteria
- Previous treatment with alemtuzumab, cladribine, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, methotrexate, total body irradiation or bone marrow transplantation
- Medical, psychiatric, cognitive, or other conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, impair the patient's ability to understand the patient information and give informed consent
- Patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment for conditions other than MS or long-term corticosteroid treatment
- Patients with confirmed infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Hepatitis C Virus
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Germany · 1 center
- Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf — Düsseldorf
Publications
- Willison AG, Hagler R, Weise M, Elben S, Huntemann N, Masanneck L, Pfeuffer S, Lichtenberg S, Golombeck KS, Preuth LM, Rolfes L, Ozturk M, Ruck T, Melzer N, Korsen M, Hauser SL, Hartung HP, Lang PA, Pawlitzki M, Rauber S, Meuth SG. Effects of Anti-CD20 Antibody Therapy on Immune Cell Dynamics in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Cells. 2025 Apr 6;14(7):552. doi: 10.3390/cells14070552. PMID 40214505
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06586177 · 2021-1475