ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02383589Updated Nov 10, 2020Results posted

A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab Versus Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) in Participants With Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV)

A Phase 3 interventional study of Mycophenolate Mofetil Placebo and Mycophenolate Mofetil in Pemphigus Vulgaris, sponsored by Hoffmann-La Roche. Completed at 68 sites in 12 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-11-10.

Sponsored by Hoffmann-La Roche · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
135
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-comparator, parallel-arm, multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab compared with MMF in participants with moderate-to-severely active PV requiring 60-120 milligrams per day (mg/day) oral prednisone or equivalent. Participants must have a confirmed diagnosis of PV within the previous 24 months (by skin or mucosal biopsy and immunohistochemistry) and evidence of active disease at screening.

Approximately 135 participants will be enrolled at up to 60 centers worldwide. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either rituximab plus MMF placebo or rituximab placebo plus MMF. Randomization will be stratified by duration of illness.

The study will consist of three periods: a screening period of up to 28 days, a 52-week double-blind treatment period, and a 48-week safety follow up period that begins at the time of study treatment completion or discontinuation.

02

Conditions studied

  • Pemphigus Vulgaris

Browse trials for

03

In context

Pemphigus

76 studies on the registry are indexed under Pemphigus; 18 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 135 is above the median of 30 across 53 interventional studies indexed under Pemphigus.

Browse Pemphigus studies →

Lead sponsor

Hoffmann-La Roche is the lead sponsor of 2,101 studies on the registry; 87 are open to participants now.

Of its 330 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 248 (75%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Confirmed diagnosis of PV within the previous 24 months, based on the presence of histological features of acantholysis via skin or mucosal and one of the following: tissue bound immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies by direct immunofluorescence on the surface of affected epithelium or serological detection of serum desmoglein-3 (DSg3) autoantibodies against epithelial cell surface either by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy or by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • Presence of moderate-to-severely active disease, defined as overall PDAI activity score of greater than or equal to (>/=)15
  • Receiving standard-of-care consisting of 60-120 mg/day oral prednisone or equivalent and, in the judgment of the investigator, expected to benefit from the addition of therapy
  • For women who are not (>/=12 months of non-therapy-induced amenorrhea) or surgically sterile (absence of ovaries and/or uterus): agreement to remain abstinent or use two effective methods of , including at least one method with a failure rate of less than (\<) 1 percent (%) per year, during the treatment period and for at least 12 months after the last dose of study treatment

Abstinence is acceptable only if it is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the participant. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, or postovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception

Barrier methods must always be supplemented with the use of a spermicide

Examples of contraceptive methods with a failure rate of \< 1% per year (highly effective contraceptive methods) include tubal ligation, male sterilization, hormonal implants, established, proper use of combined oral or injected hormonal contraceptives, and certain intrauterine devices

  • For men (including those who have undergone a vasectomy): agreement to remain abstinent or use a condom during the treatment period and for at least 12 months after the last dose of study treatment and agreement to refrain from donating sperm during this same period

Abstinence is only acceptable if it is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the participant

Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, or postovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception. In addition to male contraception, agreement to advise female partners of to use highly effective contraception during the study and for at least 12 months after the last dose of study treatment

  • Agreement to avoid excessive exposure to sunlight during study participation
  • Able to comply with the study protocol, in the investigator's judgment

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus or evidence of paraneoplastic pemphigus or other non-PV blistering disease
  • History of a severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction to humanized or murine monoclonal antibodies, or known to any component of rituximab
  • Known hypersensitivity or to MMF, mycophenolic acid, polysorbate, or oral
  • Lack of peripheral venous access
  • Pregnant or lactating, or intending to become pregnant during the study

Women who are not (>/=12 months of non-therapy-induced amenorrhea) or surgically sterile must have two negative results with a sensitivity of >/=25 milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL): one from a serum pregnancy test at Day -8 to Day -10 of screening and another from a urine pregnancy test at Day 1 prior to randomization

  • Participated in another interventional clinical trial within 28 days prior to randomization
  • Use of any agent within 28 days or 5 elimination half-lives prior to randomization (whichever is the longer)
  • Significant cardiovascular or pulmonary disease (including obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Evidence of any new or uncontrolled concomitant disease that, in the investigator's judgment, would preclude participant participation, including but not limited to nervous system, renal, hepatic, endocrine, malignant, or gastrointestinal disorders
  • Any concomitant condition that required treatment with oral or systemic corticosteroids within 12 weeks prior to randomization
  • Treatment with intravenous (IV) immunoglobulin (Ig), plasmapheresis, or other similar procedure within 8 weeks prior to randomization
  • Treatment with medications (e.g., azathioprine, MMF) within 1 week prior to randomization
  • Treatment with cyclophosphamide within 12 weeks prior to randomization
  • History of or currently active primary or secondary immunodeficiency, including known history of infection and other severe immunodeficiency blood disorders
  • Known active infection of any kind (excluding fungal infections of nail beds) or any major episode of infection requiring hospitalization or treatment with IV anti-infectives within 4 weeks prior to screening, or completion of oral anti-infectives within 2 weeks prior to randomization; entry into this study may be reconsidered once the infection has fully resolved
  • History of or current cancer, including solid tumors, hematologic , and carcinoma in situ (except complete excision of basal cell of the skin and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that have been treated or excised and cured)
  • Currently active alcohol or drug abuse, or history of alcohol or drug abuse within 24 weeks prior to screening
  • Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to randomization, excluding diagnostic surgery
  • Treatment with rituximab or a B cell-targeted therapy (e.g., anti-cluster of differentiation [CD] 20 [CD20], anti CD22, or anti-B-lymphocyte stimulator [BLyS]) within 12 months prior to randomization
  • Treatment with a live or attenuated vaccine within 28 days prior to randomization; it is recommended that a participant's vaccination record and the need for immunization prior to study entry be carefully investigated
  • Evidence of abnormal liver enzymes or hematology laboratory values
  • Positive test results for surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), or virus (HCV) serology at screening
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(14)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

Postmenopausal

Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Hepatitis C tests

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.

After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
135 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)

    Participants will receive MMF orally twice daily (every 12 hours, Q12H) from Day 1 to Week 52. Participants will also receive rituximab matching placebo by intravenous (IV) infusion on Days 1 and 15 with repeat administration on Days 168 and 182 provided specific safety criteria have been met.

    Drug: Mycophenolate Mofetil · Drug: Rituximab Placebo

  • Experimental
    Rituximab (RTX)

    Participants will receive rituximab by IV infusion on Days 1 and 15 with repeat administration on Days 168 and 182 provided specific safety criteria have been met. Participants will also receive MMF matching placebo orally twice daily Q12H from Day 1 to Week 52.

    Drug: Mycophenolate Mofetil Placebo · Drug: Rituximab

Interventions

  • DrugMycophenolate Mofetil Placebo

    MMF matching placebo will be administered orally Q12H.

  • MMF will be administered at a starting dose of 500 milligrams (mg) Q12H and the dose will be titrated to achieve a goal of 1 gram (gm) Q12H.

    Also known as: MMF, CellCept

  • Rituximab will be administered at a dose of 1000 mg via IV infusion.

    Also known as: MabThera/Rituxan

  • DrugRituximab Placebo

    Rituximab matching placebo will be administered via IV infusion.

    Also known as: MabThera/Rituxan

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Participants (Excluding Telemedicine [TM] Participants) Who Achieved Sustained Complete Remission, Evaluated by the Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI) Activity Score

    Time frame: From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to clinical cut-off date (CCOD) of 28 November 2018)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Cumulative Oral Corticosteroid Dose

    Time frame: From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)

  2. Total Number of Protocol Defined Disease Flares

    Disease flare is defined as appearance of three or more new lesions a month that do not heal spontaneously within 1 week, or by the extension of established lesions, in a participant who has achieved disease control.

    Time frame: From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)

  3. Time to Initial Sustained Complete Remission

    Time frame: From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)

  4. Time to Protocol Defined Disease Flare

    Disease flare is defined as the appearance of three or more new lesions a month that do not heal spontaneously within 1 week or by the extension of established lesions in a participant who has achieved disease control.

    Time frame: From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)

  5. Change in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), as Measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Score

    Total DLQI scores range from 0 to 30 with higher DLQI scores reflecting greater impairment in a participant's health-related quality of life. The DLQI score is calculated by summing the score of each question resulting in a maximum of 30 and a minimum of 0. The higher the score, the more quality of life is impaired. The measure type mean is the estimated mean from adjusted MMRM.

    Time frame: From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)

  6. Percentage of Participants With Adverse Events, Serious Adverse Events, and Corticosteroid-Related Adverse Events

    An adverse event is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant to whom a medicinal product is administered and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. A serious adverse event is an adverse event that results in death or is life-threatening or requires/prolongs hospitalization or results in persistent/significant disability/incapacity or congenital abnormality/birth defect. Adverse events of Grade 3 of higher are severe and life-threatening adverse events CS-related adverse events - causality as determined by the investigator.

    Time frame: Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)

  7. Percentage of Participants With Anti-Drug Antibodies (ADA)

    Participants with treatment-induced and treatment-enhanced anti-drug antibodies. The clinical relevance of anti-rituximab antibody formation in RITUXAN treated pemphigus vulgaris (PV) participants is unclear.

    Time frame: Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)

  8. Percentage of Participants With Immunoglobulin (Ig) Levels Below Lower Limit of Normal (LLN)

    Time frame: Baseline; Weeks 16, 24, 40 and 52; (end of treatment: up to Week 52) (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)

07

Results

Posted Jan 18, 2020

Participant flow

Treatment Period
Participant flow — Treatment Period
MilestoneRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Started6768
Completed6658
Not completed110
Withdrew: Adverse event13
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up01
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject05
Withdrew: Non-compliance with study drug01
Safety Follow-up (SFU)
Participant flow — Safety Follow-up (SFU)
MilestoneRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Started6658
Completed5953
Not completed75
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up24
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject50
Withdrew: Treated by not accepted treatment01

Outcome measures

PrimaryPercentage of Participants (Excluding Telemedicine [TM] Participants) Who Achieved Sustained Complete Remission, Evaluated by the Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI) Activity Score
Time frame:
From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to clinical cut-off date (CCOD) of 28 November 2018)
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of Participants
Percentage of Participants (Excluding Telemedicine [TM] Participants) Who Achieved Sustained Complete Remission, Evaluated by the Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI) Activity Score
Percentage of ParticipantsRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Percentage of Participants (Excluding Telemedicine [TM] Participants) Who Achieved Sustained Complete Remission, Evaluated by the Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI) Activity Score40.39.5
Statistical analysis
  • Rituximab (RTX) vs Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) · Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel · p = <0.0001 (The analysis was stratified by the stratification factors applied at randomization.) · Difference in proportion: 30.80 · 95% CI 14.70 to 45.15
SecondaryCumulative Oral Corticosteroid Dose
Time frame:
From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)
Reported as:
Median · milligram (mg)
Cumulative Oral Corticosteroid Dose
milligram (mg)Rituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Cumulative Oral Corticosteroid Dose2775.00 (2146.88 to 3610.00)4005.00 (2662.50 to 5815.00)
Statistical analysis
  • Rituximab (RTX) vs Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) · Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney) · p = 0.0005
SecondaryTotal Number of Protocol Defined Disease Flares

Disease flare is defined as appearance of three or more new lesions a month that do not heal spontaneously within 1 week, or by the extension of established lesions, in a participant who has achieved disease control.

Time frame:
From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)
Reported as:
Number · Number of Flares
Total Number of Protocol Defined Disease Flares
Number of FlaresRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Total Number of Protocol Defined Disease Flares644
Statistical analysis
  • Rituximab (RTX) vs Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) · Negative Binominal Regression · p = <0.0001 (The model was adjusted for the following covariates in addition to log (each participant's duration in study) as an offset: treatment, region, duration of illness, baseline PDAI activity score, and baseline prednisone dose.) · Adjusted rate ratio: 0.12 · 95% CI 0.05 to 0.29
SecondaryTime to Initial Sustained Complete Remission
Time frame:
From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)
Reported as:
Median · Weeks
Time to Initial Sustained Complete Remission
WeeksRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Time to Initial Sustained Complete RemissionNA (32.1 to NA)NA (NA to NA)
Statistical analysis
  • Rituximab (RTX) vs Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) · Log Rank · p = 0.0003 (P-value is from a stratified log-rank test used to test the time to first disease flare between the RTX and MMF treatment arms over the 52-week treatment period, adjusting for the stratification factors applied at randomization) · Hazard ratio (hr): 4.83 · 95% CI 1.97 to 11.81
SecondaryTime to Protocol Defined Disease Flare

Disease flare is defined as the appearance of three or more new lesions a month that do not heal spontaneously within 1 week or by the extension of established lesions in a participant who has achieved disease control.

Time frame:
From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)
Reported as:
Median · Weeks
Time to Protocol Defined Disease Flare
WeeksRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Time to Protocol Defined Disease FlareNA (NA to NA)NA (36.9 to NA)
Statistical analysis
  • Rituximab (RTX) vs Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) · Log Rank · p = <0.0001 (P-value is from a stratified log-rank test used to test the time to first disease flare between the RTX and MMF treatment arms over the 52-week treatment period, adjusting for the stratification factors applied at randomization) · Hazard ratio (hr): 0.15 · 95% CI 0.06 to 0.39
SecondaryChange in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), as Measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Score

Total DLQI scores range from 0 to 30 with higher DLQI scores reflecting greater impairment in a participant's health-related quality of life. The DLQI score is calculated by summing the score of each question resulting in a maximum of 30 and a minimum of 0. The higher the score, the more quality of life is impaired. The measure type mean is the estimated mean from adjusted MMRM.

Time frame:
From Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)
Reported as:
Mean · Scores on a Scale
Change in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), as Measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Score
Scores on a ScaleRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Baseline10.14 ± 7.8911.09 ± 8.52
Week 52-8.874 ± 0.532-6.002 ± 0.662
Statistical analysis
  • Rituximab (RTX) vs Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) · Mixed Model Repeated Measures · p = 0.0012 (P-value is from Mixed Model Repeated Measures (MMRM) with unstructured covariance matrix, adjusting for treatment, region, duration of illness, baseline DLQI score, visit, and an interaction terms for visit × baseline DLQI score and visit × treatment) · Difference in estimated means: -2.872 · 95% CI -4.577 to -1.167
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With Adverse Events, Serious Adverse Events, and Corticosteroid-Related Adverse Events

An adverse event is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant to whom a medicinal product is administered and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. A serious adverse event is an adverse event that results in death or is life-threatening or requires/prolongs hospitalization or results in persistent/significant disability/incapacity or congenital abnormality/birth defect. Adverse events of Grade 3 of higher are severe and life-threatening adverse events CS-related adverse events - causality as determined by the investigator.

Time frame:
Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of Participants
Percentage of Participants With Adverse Events, Serious Adverse Events, and Corticosteroid-Related Adverse Events
Percentage of ParticipantsRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Participants with AE85.188.2
Participants with SAE22.414.7
Participants with Corticosteroid (CS)-Related AE34.338.2
Participants with CS-Related AE Grade 3 or higher1.57.4
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With Anti-Drug Antibodies (ADA)

Participants with treatment-induced and treatment-enhanced anti-drug antibodies. The clinical relevance of anti-rituximab antibody formation in RITUXAN treated pemphigus vulgaris (PV) participants is unclear.

Time frame:
Baseline up to 52 Weeks (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of Participants
Percentage of Participants With Anti-Drug Antibodies (ADA)
Percentage of ParticipantsRituximab (RTX)
Percentage of Participants With Anti-Drug Antibodies (ADA)31.7
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With Immunoglobulin (Ig) Levels Below Lower Limit of Normal (LLN)
Time frame:
Baseline; Weeks 16, 24, 40 and 52; (end of treatment: up to Week 52) (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018)
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of Participants
Percentage of Participants With Immunoglobulin (Ig) Levels Below Lower Limit of Normal (LLN)
Percentage of ParticipantsRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)
Baseline (IgA)00
Week 16 (IgA)01.8
Week 24 (IgA)1.72.2
Week 40 (IgA)02.7
Week 52 (IgA)03.6
Baseline (IgG)6.16.0
Week 16 (IgG)9.81.8
Week 24 (IgG)3.42.2
Week 40 (IgG)3.50
Week 52 (IgG)4.30
Baseline (IgM)7.611.9
Week 16 (IgM)24.623.2
Week 24 (IgM)27.128.3
Week 40 (IgM)29.824.3
Week 52 (IgM)29.828.6

Adverse events

Collected over Treatment Period: From Baseline up to Week 52 (up to CCOD of 28 November 2018) Safety Follow-up Period: Approximately 1 year (up to CCOD of 29 October 2019). Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Rituximab (RTX)0/67 (0%)15/67 (22.4%)42/67 (62.7%)
Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)1/68 (1.5%)10/68 (14.7%)41/68 (60.3%)
RTX Safety Follow-up0/66 (0%)4/66 (6.1%)2/66 (3%)
MMF Safety Follow-up0/58 (0%)1/58 (1.7%)3/58 (5.2%)
Most frequent serious events
Showing 10 of 33
Most frequent serious events
EventRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)RTX Safety Follow-upMMF Safety Follow-up
INFUSION RELATED REACTIONInjury, poisoning and procedural complications3/671/680/660/58
PULMONARY EMBOLISMRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders1/672/680/660/58
Neutrophilic dermatosisSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders0/670/680/661/58
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosisImmune system disorders0/670/681/660/58
Septic shockInfections and infestations0/670/681/660/58
Road traffic accidentInjury, poisoning and procedural complications0/670/681/660/58
Cerebrovascular accidentNervous system disorders0/670/681/660/58
SyncopeNervous system disorders0/670/681/660/58
ABDOMINAL PAINGastrointestinal disorders1/670/680/660/58
ILEUSGastrointestinal disorders1/670/680/660/58
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 21
Most frequent other events
EventRituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)RTX Safety Follow-upMMF Safety Follow-up
INFUSION RELATED REACTIONInjury, poisoning and procedural complications12/675/680/660/58
HEADACHENervous system disorders10/676/680/660/58
DIARRHOEAGastrointestinal disorders3/6710/680/660/58
LYMPHOPENIABlood and lymphatic system disorders8/671/680/660/58
NASOPHARYNGITISInfections and infestations6/678/680/660/58
ORAL CANDIDIASISInfections and infestations6/676/680/660/58
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONInfections and infestations6/675/682/663/58
ARTHRALGIAMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders6/672/680/660/58
BACK PAINMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders6/671/680/660/58
COUGHRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders6/672/680/660/58

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(Years)Rituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)Total
Mean50.66 ± 12.9846.34 ± 13.0848.48 ± 13.16
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Rituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)Total
Female353873
Male323062
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity, Customized(Participants)Rituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)Total
Hispanic or Latino132134
Not Hispanic or Latino454186
Not Stated8513
Unknown112
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity, Customized(Participants)Rituximab (RTX)Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)Total
American Indian or Alaska Native011
Asian314
Black or African American123
White4951100
Unknown141327
08

Study locations

68 sites
  • University of Alabama Birmingham
    Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
  • University of Arizona Medical Research Office
    Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
  • UC Davis Department of Dermatology
    Sacramento, California 95816, United States
  • Univ of Calif-San Francisco
    San Francisco, California 94115, United States
  • Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute
    Torrance, California 90502, United States
  • Northwestern University
    Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
  • Massachusetts General Hospital Dermatology
    Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
  • University of Minnesota
    Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
  • St Louis University Hospital
    Saint Louis, Missouri 63104, United States
  • Uni of NY and Roswell Cancer
    Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
    New York, New York 10029, United States
  • Wake Forest Baptist Hospital Center for Dermatology Research
    Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104, United States
  • Cleveland Clinic
    Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States
  • Oregon Health Sciences Uni
    Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
  • Penn University
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
  • Hospital Italiano
    Buenos Aires, C1181ACH, Argentina
  • Centro de Investigaciones Médicas - CIM
    Florencio Varela, 1888, Argentina
  • Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore
    Mendoza, 5500, Argentina
  • Hospital Austral
    Pilar, Pcia De Buenos Aires, 1500, Argentina
  • St George Hospital
    Kogarah, New South Wales, New South Wales 2217, Australia
  • Veracity Clinical Research
    Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
  • Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - Hospital das Clínicas
    Botucatu, SP 18618-970, Brazil
  • Hospital das Clinicas - FMUSP
    Sao Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil
  • Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital Central X
    São Paulo, SP 01221-020, Brazil
  • University of Alberta
    Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada
  • Guildford Dermatology
    Surrey, British Columbia V3R 6A7, Canada
  • Lynde Institute for Dermatology
    Markham, Ontario L3P 1X2, Canada
  • Department of Dermatology Avicenne Hospital & University
    Bobigny, 93000, France
  • CHU Hopitaux de Bordeaux
    CHU Hopitaux De Bordeaux, 33000, France
  • Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille (CHRU) - Hôpital Claude Huriez
    Lille, 59037, France
  • Les Hospices Civils de Lyon Dermatologie inflammatoire et médecine interne
    Lyon / Pierre Bénite, 69495, France
  • CHU de Reims
    Reims, 51100, France
  • CHU de Rennes - Hopital de Pontchaillo
    Rennes, 35033, France
  • CHU de Rouen - Hôpital Charles Nicolle
    Rouen, 76031, France
  • CHU Saint Etienne - Hôpital Nord
    Saint Etienne, 42055, France
  • University Hospital for Dermatology
    Dresden, 01304, Germany
  • Kompetenzzentrum Fragile Haut Klinik fur Dermatologie und Venerologie
    Freiburg, 79104, Germany
  • Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
    Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
  • Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie Universitätsklinikum Köln
    Koeln, 50937, Germany
  • University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein
    Lübeck, 23538, Germany
  • Universitaetsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universitaet Mainz KöR, Hautklinik und Poliklinik
    Mainz, 55131, Germany
  • University of Munster
    Muenster, 48149, Germany
  • HaEmek MC
    Afula, 18341, Israel
  • Rambam Medical Centre; Dept. of Dermatology
    Haifa, 31096, Israel
  • Rabin Medical Centre; Dept. of Dermatology
    Petach Tikva, 49100, Israel
  • Sheba Medical Center
    Ramat Gan, 5262100, Israel
  • Sourasky Medical Centre
    Tel-Aviv, 6423906, Israel
  • Ambulatorio di Malattie Rare e Immunopatologia Cutanea
    Florence, Lazio 50125, Italy
  • Università di Parma Clinica Dermatologica
    Parma, Lazio, Italy
  • U.O. Dermatologia Dipartimento Malattie Infettive Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo
    Pavia, Lazio 27100, Italy
  • Centro Clinico per le genodermatosi Dipartimento di Dermatologia dell'Immacolata - IRCCS
    Rome, Lazio 00167, Italy
  • S.C. Dermatologia 2 - Ambulatorio Malattie Rare
    Turin, Lazio 10126, Italy
  • ASST DEGLI SPEDALI CIVILI DI BRESCIA; Clinica Dermatologica
    Brescia, Lombardia 25123, Italy
  • Clinica Universitaria de Navarra
    Pamplona, Navarra 31008, Spain
  • Hospital Clínic. Barcelona
    Barcelona, 08036, Spain
  • Hosp. G. U Gregorio Marañón
    Madrid, 28007, Spain
  • Hospital de la Victoria
    Malaga, 29010, Spain
  • Gülhane Military Medical Academy in Ankara
    Ankara, Turkey
  • Akdeniz University Medical Faculty
    Antalya, 07059, Turkey
  • Gaziantep University Medical Faculty Sahinbey Hospital
    Gaziantep, Turkey
  • Bezm-i Alem University Medical Faculty
    Istanbul, 34093, Turkey
  • Istanbul Uni Istanbul Medical Faculty
    Istanbul, 34093, Turkey
  • Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital
    Istanbul, 34668, Turkey
  • Marmara Uni
    Istanbul, Turkey
  • Celal Bayar University Medical Faculty Hafsa Sultan Hospital
    Manisa, 45040, Turkey
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Farabi Hastanesi
    Trabzon, Turkey
  • Dnipropetrovsk State Medical Academy
    Dnipropterovsk, Ukraine
  • Territorial Medical Association "Dermatovenerologia"
    Kyiv, 01032, Ukraine
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Werth VP, Joly P, Mimouni D, Maverakis E, Caux F, Lehane P, Gearhart L, Kapre A, Pordeli P, Chen DM; PEMPHIX Study Group. Rituximab versus Mycophenolate Mofetil in Patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris. N Engl J Med. 2021 Jun 17;384(24):2295-2305. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2028564. Epub 2021 May 19. PubMed 34097368 ↗

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

10

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from May 2015 to primary completion in Nov 2018, 42 months.

Results were first posted in Jan 2020, 1 year 1 month after primary completion.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Mar 4, 2015
First posted
Mar 9, 2015
StartActual
May 26, 2015
Primary completionActual
Nov 28, 2018
CompletionActual
Oct 29, 2019
Results first posted
Jan 18, 2020
Last update
Nov 10, 2020
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 10, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02383589
Lead sponsor
Hoffmann-La Roche
Collaborators
Genentech, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 9, 2015
Start date
May 26, 2015
Primary completion
Nov 28, 2018
Completion
Oct 29, 2019
Results posted
Jan 18, 2020
Last update
Nov 10, 2020

Study contacts

Clinical Trials
study director · Hoffmann-La Roche
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2020. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

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Studies of the drug tested here: Rituximab

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