Eculizumab in refractory generalized myasthenia gravis previously treated with rituximab: subgroup analysis of REGAIN and its extension study

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  • Zaeem A. Siddiqi
  • Richard J. Nowak
  • Tahseen Mozaffar
  • Fanny O'Brien
  • Marcus Yountz
  • Francesco Patti
  • Claudio Gabriel Mazia
  • Miguel Wilken
  • Miguel Wilken
  • Fabio Barroso
  • Juliet Saba
  • Marcelo Rugiero
  • Mariela Bettini
  • Marcelo Chaves
  • Gonzalo Vidal
  • Alejandra Dalila Garcia
  • Jan De Bleecker
  • Guy Van den Abeele
  • Kathy de Koning
  • Katrien De Mey
  • Rudy Mercelis
  • Délphine Mahieu
  • Linda Wagemaekers
  • Philip Van Damme
  • Annelies Depreitere
  • Caroline Schotte
  • Charlotte Smetcoren
  • Olivier Stevens
  • Sien Van Daele
  • Nicolas Vandenbussche
  • Annelies Vanhee
  • Sarah Verjans
  • Jan Vynckier
  • Ann D'Hont
  • Petra Tilkin
  • Alzira Alves de Siqueira Carvalho
  • Igor Dias Brockhausen
  • David Feder
  • Daniel Ambrosio
  • Pamela César
  • Ana Paula Melo
  • Renata Martins Ribeiro
  • Rosana Rocha
  • Bruno Bezerra Rosa
  • Henning Andersen
  • Vissing, John
  • Joan Højgaard
  • Nanna Witting
  • Jane Pedersen
  • Michael Weiss
  • The REGAIN Study Group

Introduction/Aims: Individuals with refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who have a history of rituximab use and experience persistent symptoms represent a population with unmet treatment needs. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eculizumab in patients with refractory anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) gMG previously treated with rituximab. Methods: This post hoc subgroup analysis of the phase 3 REGAIN study (NCT01997229) and its open-label extension (OLE; NCT02301624) compared baseline characteristics, safety, and response to eculizumab in participants who had previously received rituximab with those who had not. Rituximab use was not permitted within the 6 months before screening or during REGAIN/OLE. Results: Of 125 REGAIN participants, 14 had received rituximab previously (7 received placebo and 7 received eculizumab). In the previous-rituximab group, 57% had used at least four other immunosuppressants compared with 16% in the no-previous-rituximab group. Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living total scores from eculizumab baseline to week 130 of eculizumab treatment improved in both the previous-rituximab and no-previous-rituximab groups (least-squares mean −4.4, standard error of the mean [SEM] 1.0 [n = 9] and least-squares mean −4.6, SEM 0.3 [n = 67], respectively; difference = 0.2, 95% confidence interval −1.88 to 2.22). In addition, in both groups, most patients who were treated with eculizumab for 130 weeks achieved a Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (66.7% and 65.0%, respectively). The eculizumab safety profile was similar between groups and consistent with its established profile. Discussion: Eculizumab is an effective therapy for patients with refractory AChR+ gMG, irrespective of whether they had received rituximab treatment previously.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMuscle and Nerve
Volume64
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)662-669
Number of pages8
ISSN0148-639X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

    Research areas

  • acetylcholine receptor, eculizumab, myasthenia gravis, refractory, rituximab

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