Comparative Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic, Safety and Efficacy Study of Three Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies in Patients With Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

PK samples were collected pre-infusion; 3 hours post infusion; EOI; and at 1, 6, 24, 48, 168 hours post End of Infusion. A PK sample at 336 hours post EOI were also to be collected after the second dose.

PK samples were collected pre-infusion; 3 hours post infusion; EOI; and at 1, 6, 24, 48, 168 hours post End of Infusion. A PK sample at 336 hours post EOI were also to be collected after the second dose.

PK samples were collected pre-infusion; 3 hours post infusion; EOI; and at 1, 6, 24, 48, 168 hours post End of Infusion. A PK sample at 336 hours post EOI were also to be collected after the second dose

Plasma concentration was measured at 0, 3, 4.25 (End of infusion (EOI)) ,1 (post- EOI), 6 (post-EOI) , 24 (post-EOI) , 48 (post-EOI) ,and 168 hours (post-EOI).

Plasma concentration was measured at 0, 3, 4.25 (End of infusion (EOI)) ,1 (post- EOI),6 (post-EOI) , 24 (post-EOI) , 48 (post-EOI) , 168 (post-EOI), and 336 hours post EOI.

Plasma concentration was measured at 0, 3, 4.25 (End of infusion (EOI)) ,1 (post- EOI), 6 (post-EOI) , 24 (post-EOI) , 48 (post-EOI) , and 168 hours (post-EOI).

Plasma concentration was measured at 0, 3, 4.25 (End of infusion (EOI)) ,1 (post- EOI), 6 (post-EOI) , 24 (post-EOI) , 48 (post-EOI) , and 168 hours (post-EOI).

Plasma concentration was measured at 0, 3, 4.25 (End of infusion (EOI)) ,1 (post- EOI), 6 (post-EOI) , 24 (post-EOI) , 48 (post-EOI) , 168 (post-EOI), 336 hours (post-EOI), 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 18 weeks, and 22 weeks relative to infusion.

Plasma concentration was measured at 0, 3, 4.25 (End of infusion (EOI)) ,1 (post- EOI), 6 (post-EOI) , 24 (post-EOI) , 48 (post-EOI) , 168 (post-EOI), 336 hours (post-EOI), 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 18 weeks, and 22 weeks relative to infusion.

Plasma concentration was measured at 0, 3, 4.25 (End of infusion (EOI)) ,1 (post- EOI), 6 (post-EOI) , 24 (post-EOI) , 48 (post-EOI) , 168 (post-EOI), 336 hours (post-EOI), 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 18 weeks, and 22 weeks relative to infusion.

In clinical studies, Disease Activity Score (DAS) is used to assess improvement in disease activity in RA patients over time. The assessment involved an examination of 28 joints for swelling, tenderness, blood C-reactive protein (CRP), and a one on one consultation between the patient and healthcare professional. The results were combined to produce a score which indicated how active the RA was at that particular time. The disease activity is interpreted as low (DAS <2.6), mild (2.6 to <3.2), moderate (3.2 to <5.1), and severe with DAS > 5.1. A DAS score between 0 and 2.6 corresponds to remission. The analysis of DAS28-CRP was based on a generalized estimating equation model in RA patients with DAS28 score > 3.2. The mean change was calculated from two time points (Value at 4 weeks minus baseline value).

In clinical studies, Disease Activity Score (DAS) is used to assess improvement in disease activity in RA patients over time. The assessment involved an examination of 28 joints for swelling, tenderness, blood C-reactive protein (CRP), and a one on one consultation between the patient and healthcare professional. The results were combined to produce a score which indicated how active the RA was at that particular time. The disease activity is interpreted as low (DAS <2.6), mild (2.6 to <3.2), moderate (3.2 to <5.1), and severe with DAS > 5.1. A DAS score between 0 and 2.6 corresponds to remission. The analysis of DAS28-CRP was based on a generalized estimating equation model in RA patients with DAS28 score > 3.2. The mean change was calculated from two time points (Value at 8 weeks minus baseline value).

In clinical studies, Disease Activity Score (DAS) is used to assess improvement in disease activity in RA patients over time. The assessment involved an examination of 28 joints for swelling, tenderness, blood C-reactive protein (CRP), and a one on one consultation between the patient and healthcare professional. The results were combined to produce a score which indicated how active the RA was at that particular time. The disease activity is interpreted as low (DAS <2.6), mild (2.6 to <3.2), moderate (3.2 to <5.1), and severe with DAS > 5.1. A DAS score between 0 and 2.6 corresponds to remission. The analysis of DAS28-CRP was based on a generalized estimating equation model in RA patients with DAS28 score > 3.2. The mean change was calculated from two time points (Value at 12 weeks minus baseline value).

In clinical studies, Disease Activity Score (DAS) is used to assess improvement in disease activity in RA patients over time. The assessment involved an examination of 28 joints for swelling, tenderness, blood C-reactive protein (CRP), and a one on one consultation between the patient and healthcare professional. The results were combined to produce a score which indicated how active the RA was at that particular time. The disease activity is interpreted as low (DAS <2.6), mild (2.6 to <3.2), moderate (3.2 to <5.1), and severe with DAS > 5.1. A DAS score between 0 and 2.6 corresponds to remission. The analysis of DAS28-CRP was based on a generalized estimating equation model in RA patients with DAS28 score > 3.2. The mean change was calculated from two time points (Value at 16 weeks minus baseline value).

The time to depletion and repletion of peripheral blood cell counts (determined by CD19+ cell counts) as well as the B-cell counts at selected time points (taking into consideration the patient baseline count) were used to assess the PD of the study drugs.

Analysis of the PD parameter peripheral B-Cell count was performed by evaluating the 95% CI for the difference between treatment arms in the percentage of patients with B-cell depletion at 48 hours after dose 1, Week 16, and at Week 24. Percentage of patients with B-cell repletion at each evaluation time is also reported and descriptively compared.

Analysis of the PD parameter peripheral B-Cell count was performed by evaluating the 95% CI for the difference between treatment arms in the percentage of patients with B-cell depletion at 48 hours after dose 1, Week 16, and at Week 24. Percentage of patients with B-cell repletion at each evaluation time is also reported and descriptively compared.

Percentage of the patients with at least 20% improvement in counts of tender, swollen joints and in 3 of the following: patient's assessment of pain, patient's global assessment of disease activity, patient's assessment of physical function, the physician's global assessment of disease activity, and acute phase reactant. Adjusted response rates for the treatment arms using the logistic regression analysis including treatment, gender and region as fixed effects and patients as random effect in the model.

Percentage of the patients with at least 50% improvement in counts of tender, swollen joints and in 3 of the following: patient's assessment of pain, patient's global assessment of disease activity, patient's assessment of physical function, the physician's global assessment of disease activity, and acute phase reactant. Adjusted Response rates for the treatment arms using the logistic regression analysis including treatment, gender and region as fixed effects and patients as random effect in the model.

Percentage of the patients with at least 70% improvement in counts of tender, swollen joints and in 3 of the following: patient's assessment of pain, patient's global assessment of disease activity, patient's assessment of physical function, the physician's global assessment of disease activity, and acute phase reactant. Adjusted Response rates for the treatment arms using the logistic regression analysis including treatment, gender and region as fixed effects and patients as random effect in the model.

The health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) was assessed at Week 24. The disability assessment component of the HAQ, the HAQ-DI, assessed a patient's level of functional ability and included questions about fine movements of the upper extremities, locomotor activities of the lower extremities, and activities that involved both upper and lower extremities. There were 20 questions in 8 categories of functioning which represented a comprehensive set of functional activities-dressing, rising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and usual activities. The stem of each item asked over the past week "Were you able to" perform a particular task. The patient's responses were made on a scale from 0 (no disability) to 3 (completely disabled). Each category contained at least 2 specific component questions.

Physical function was measured using the HAQ-DI Scores, which range from 0-3, with lower scores reflecting better physical function and thus, less disability.