scholarly journals 133 B cell depletion therapy resulting in sustained remission of severe autoimmune complications following alemtuzumab treatment of multiple sclerosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (e7) ◽  
pp. A43.2-A43
Author(s):  
Jennifer Massey ◽  
Ian Sutton

IntroductionAlemtuzumab is a pan-lymphocyte ablating anti CD-52 monoclonal antibody licensed for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Despite being classified as a high efficacy therapy, clinical application of alemtuzumab has been hampered by the frequent occurrence of secondary autoimmune disease (AID), with clinical trials and single-centre follow up cohorts estimating an incidence of up to 50% at seven years post treatment. Despite the establishment of pharmacovigilance programs to monitor for common complications of alemtuzumab, management guidelines for these conditions are lacking.MethodsHere, we report a series of cases of female patients treated with alemtuzumab for RRMS who developed treatment refractory secondary AID complications; specifically acquired haemophilia A (AHA) and an autoimmune encephalitis (AIE).ResultsWe report the sustained remission of these severe autoimmune disorders following administration of anti-CD20 therapy. This supports the current understanding of alemtuzumab associated AIDs, which occur in a time frame in which B-cell hyperpopulation and peripheral expansion occurs following initial lymphoablation.ConclusionsThus, we suggest that B-cell depletion should be initiated early in patients with severe, refractory complications of alemtuzumab. Furthermore, we suggest vigilant monitoring of patients with a preceding history of autoimmune thyroid disease following alemtuzumab treatment, as our experience suggests these patients have already demonstrated the potential to develop secondary AID.

2020 ◽  
pp. 135245852091837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Fox ◽  
Amy E Lovett-Racke ◽  
Matthew Gormley ◽  
Yue Liu ◽  
Maria Petracca ◽  
...  

Background: Ublituximab, a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting a unique epitope on the CD20 antigen, is glycoengineered for enhanced B-cell targeting through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Greater ADCC may allow lower doses and shorter infusion times versus other anti-CD20 mAbs. Objective: The objective was to determine optimal dose, infusion time, and activity of ublituximab in relapsing multiple sclerosis. Methods: This is a phase 2, placebo-controlled study. Patients received three ublituximab infusions (150 mg over 1–4 hours on day 1 and 450–600 mg over 1–3 hours on day 15 and week 24) in six dosing cohorts. The primary endpoint was B-cell depletion. Results: In all cohorts ( N = 48), median B-cell depletion was >99% by week 4, maintained at weeks 24 and 48. Most common adverse events (AEs) were infusion-related reactions (all grade 1–2), with no apparent increased incidence at shorter infusion times. There were no AE-related discontinuations. At weeks 24 and 48, no T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions ( p = 0.003) and a 10.6% decrease in T2 lesion volume ( p = 0.002) were detected. The annualized relapse rate was 0.07; 93% remained relapse free on study. Overall, 74% of patients had no evidence of disease activity (NEDA). Conclusion: Ublituximab was safely infused as rapid as 1 hour, producing robust B-cell depletion and profound reductions in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity and relapses.


Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012754
Author(s):  
Joep Killestein ◽  
Menno M. Schoonheim ◽  
Rhonda R. Voskuhl

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 196-196
Author(s):  
Adrian M Shields ◽  
Srinivasan Venkatachalam ◽  
Shankara Paneesha ◽  
Mark Ford ◽  
Tom Sheeran ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Anti-CD20 B cell depleting agents are amongst the most commonly used immunotherapeutics employed in the treatment of haematological malignancy and autoimmune diseases. By inducing peripheral B cell aplasia, anti-CD20 depleting agents are hypothesised to significantly impair serological responses to neoantigens, including the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein within SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Seropositivity following SARS-CoV-2 is the strongest, measurable correlate of protection from severe COVID-19. Understanding the kinetics of B cell reconstitution and vaccine responsiveness following exposure to B cell depleting agents is essential to maximise vaccine efficacy in patients vulnerable to severe COVID-19. Methods: 80 patients with underlying haematological malignancy and 38 patients with underlying rheumatological disease previously treated with anti-CD20 B cell depleting agents were studied following their second dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (median time to sampling: 46.5d, IQR: 33.8-63.3). Lymphocyte subset (CD4, CD8, CD19, CD56/16) enumeration was performed using 6 colour flow cytometry (BD Trucount). Total anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (The Binding Site, Human Anti-IgG/A/M SARS-CoV-2-ELISA). The relationship between immune reconstitution following B cell depletion and vaccine responsiveness was explored. Results: In the haematology cohort (median age 70y, IQR 60.3-76.0, 62.5% male), overall seropositivity following vaccination was 60.0%. Individuals on active chemotherapy had significantly lower seroprevalence than those vaccinated following the completion of chemotherapy (22.7% vs 74.1%, p<0.0001). In the rheumatology cohort (median age 65y, IQR 58.3-70.8, 39.9% male), overall seropositivity was 69.4%. In both cohorts, vaccine non-responders had significantly smaller populations of peripheral CD19+ B cells (haematology: 0.20 vs 0.02 x10 9/L, p=0.004, rheumatology: 0.07 vs 0.01 x10 9/L, p=0.03). The magnitude of the antibody response following vaccination did not differ between recipients of Tozinameran and Vaxzeveria in either cohort. Vaccine responsiveness was lower in the first 6 months following B cell depletion therapy; 42.9% in the haematology cohort and 33.3% in the rheumatology cohort, increasing to 100% and 75% respectively in individuals receiving their second dose 6-12 months following B cell depletion (Figure 1). B cell reconstitution in the 7-12 month window following B cell depletion was faster in haematology compared to rheumatology patients (77.8% v 22.2% achieving normal B cell count, p=0.005) and associated with improved vaccine responsiveness. However, persistent immunodeficiency occurred in some haematology patients following completion of treatment: 25% of patients who had completed therapy at least 36 months previously failed to respond to vaccination. In this cohort of vaccine non-responders, 83.3% of individuals had B cell numbers within the normal range. These patients had all previously been treated for follicular lymphoma suggesting a specific mechanism for long-range secondary immunodeficiency in these patients. Conclusions: Serological responsiveness to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is poor during active chemotherapy for haematological malignancy and in the first 6 months following B cell depletion, regardless of underlying disease. Vaccine responsiveness significantly improves in the 7-12 month window following B cell depletion. Compared to haematology patients, B cell reconstitution is slower in rheumatology patients and associated with reduced vaccine responsiveness, possibly due to the use of additional concurrent disease-modifying anti-rheumatic therapies. Furthermore, long-term secondary immunodeficiency occurs in a minority of haematology patients. To maximise the efficacy from SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination and optimal utilisation of available vaccine doses, immunisations should be delivered at least 6 months following the administration of anti-CD20 depleting drugs. Figure 1: Kinetics of return of vaccine responsiveness following B cell depletion in haematology and rheumatology patients. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Paneesha: Roche: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Drayson: Abingdon Health: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asuka Tanaka ◽  
Kentaro Ide ◽  
Yuka Tanaka ◽  
Masahiro Ohira ◽  
Hiroyuki Tahara ◽  
...  

AbstractPretransplant desensitization with rituximab has been applied to preformed donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibody (DSA)-positive recipients for elimination of preformed DSA. We investigated the impact of pretransplant desensitization with rituximab on anti-donor T cell responses in DSA-positive transplant recipients. To monitor the patients’ immune status, mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assays were performed before and after desensitization with rituximab. Two weeks after rituximab administration, the stimulation index (SI) of anti-donor CD4+ T cells was significantly higher in the DSA-positive recipients than in the DSA-negative recipients. To investigate the mechanisms of anti-donor hyper responses of CD4+ T cells after B cell depletion, highly sensitized mice models were injected with anti-CD20 mAb to eliminate B cells. Consistent with clinical observations, the SI values of anti-donor CD4+ T cells were significantly increased after anti-CD20 mAb injection in the sensitized mice models. Adding B cells isolated from untreated sensitized mice to MLR significantly inhibited the enhancement of anti-donor CD4+ T cell response. The depletion of the CD5+ B cell subset, which exclusively included IL-10-positive cells, from the additive B cells abrogated such inhibitory effects. These findings demonstrate that IL-10+ CD5+ B cells suppress the excessive response of anti-donor CD4+ T cells responses in sensitized recipients.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 672-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Marino ◽  
J. T. Paster ◽  
A. Trowell ◽  
L. Maxwell ◽  
K. H. Briggs ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4977-4977
Author(s):  
Jennifer Wayne ◽  
Kristen N. Ganjoo ◽  
Andres Forero ◽  
Brad Pohlman ◽  
Sven de Vos ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4977 Sustained Depletion of B-Cells by a Humanized, Fc-Engineered Anti-CD20 Antibody, AME-133v, in Patients with Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma J Wayne,1 K Ganjoo,2 A Forero,3 B Pohlman,4 S de Vos,5 S Carpenter,6 J Wooldridge,6 S Marulappa,1 V Jain11Mentrik Biotech, LLC, Dallas, TX, 2Standford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, 3Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL,4Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, 5David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 6Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana Introduction AME-133v is a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that has a 13 to 20-fold increase in binding affinity and approximately 6-fold more potent effector function in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) compared to rituximab. Phase I/II clinical trials of AME-133v in patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma have demonstrated an overall response rate of greater than 30% with a complete response rate of 16%. The extent and duration of depletion of CD19+ B-cells in peripheral blood was used as a surrogate of therapeutic levels of AME-133v. Analysis from the Phase I/II clinical trials is presented in this report. Methods CD-19 positive B-cells in peripheral blood were measured in 77 patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma enrolled in two phase I/II clinical trials of AME-133v. These studies assessed five different doses of AME-133v (from 2 mg/m2 to 375 mg/m2). AME-133v was administered intravenously four times at weekly intervals in both trials. Blood samples were taken at multiple time points throughout the trial and a central lab measured levels of circulating CD19+ B-cells using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Results Excluding the four patients enrolled in the 2 mg/m2 dose cohort, depletion of peripheral B-cells occurred in all patients and was sustained over time (Table 1). Baseline levels of B-cell counts ranged from 4 × 103 to 1,187 × 103 cells/μL, with an average of 102 × 103 cells/μL and a median of 60 × 103 cells/μL. Within 24 hours of the first infusion, all patients had depletion of circulating B-cells; ninety-six percent of patients had less than 10 × 103 cells/μL and two patients had less than 20 × 103 cells/μL. Interestingly, AME-133v was effective at depleting B-cells even at doses as low as 7.5 mg/m2. To assess sustainability of B-cell depletion after four doses of AME-133v, CD19+ cell counts were evaluated at nine weeks after the fourth infusion and every three months thereafter. Complete depletion of CD19+ lymphocytes was sustained for nine weeks. At five months after the last infusion of AME-133v, nearly two-thirds of patients had no detectable circulating B-cells. Sustained B-cell depletion lasted for at least eight months following the last infusion in 63% of patients. Table 1. B-cell counts for all patients in 7.5, 30, 100 and 375 mg/m2 cohorts. Percentages are cumulative Time Point Cell Count (x 103 cells/μL) 0 < 1 2 to 10 11 to 30 31 to 50 < 100 Day 1 (24 hours after last infusion) 62 % 66 % 96 % 100 % 100% 100% Day 7 (day of infusion 2) 75% 80% 95% 97% 97% 98% Day 28 (1 week after last infusion) 78 % 87% 95% 98% 98% 100% Day 84 (9 weeks after last infusion) 78% 87% 91% 96% 96% 98% Day 174 (5 months after last infusion) 60% 60% 70% 86% 93% 100% Day 264 (8 months after last infusion) 26% 26% 41% 63% 81% 89% Day 354 (11 months after last infusion) 0% 0% 15% 40% 55% 80% DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS (EVALUABLE POPULATION) “\f C \l 1 Demographic and Disease Characteristics on evaluable population (N=30) Conclusion The rapid and sustained effect of AME-133v on B-cell depletion, even in low-affinity FcγRIIIa patients, indicates a potentially relevant biological activity of the antibody in treating B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Notably, this depletion occurred even at very low doses of drug administration and persisted over time. This may be related to its higher affinity for CD20, increased ADCC, or both. The sustained B-cell depletion may result in prolonged clinical response and might mitigate the need for maintenance therapy. A randomized trial is being planned to compare efficacy of AME-133v vs. rituximab. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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