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NCT Number: NCT07184840

Eculizumab For the Acute Attack of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a relapsing, inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system characterized by the pathogenic anti-aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-IgG). The objectives of this study are to assess the efficacy and safety of eculizumab for treatment of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders during acute phase who are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-positive. Eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, inhibits the terminal complement protein C5 and prevents its cleavage into C5a and the formation of C5b-9 (MAC), has approved for preventive treatment of NMOSD. Given the high efficacy of C5 inhibition, eculizumab is proposed to potentially provide rapid relief from astrocyte destruction by reducing MAC formation, which could contribute to the fast alleviation of neurological deficit during NMO acute attack. The potential of eculizumab warrants further investigation as a treatment for acute neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders attacks.

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Key information

Conditions

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Attack Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Cranial Nerve Diseases Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Demyelinating Diseases Eye Diseases Immune System Diseases Myelitis, Transverse Nervous System Diseases Neuromyelitis Optica Optic Nerve Diseases Optic Neuritis

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Tianjin Medical University General Hospital

Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, 300052, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Anti-AQP4 antibody seropositive.
  • Male or female patients ≥18 years old
  • Body weight ≥ 35 kg
  • Acute optic neuritis and/or transverse myelitis enrolled within 28 days from the attack, with a change in neurological exam that meet an increase of OSIS at least 2 points of baseline compared to that of prior attack.
  • A female subject is eligible to enter the trial if she is:
  • Not pregnant or breastfeeding, not intending to conceive during the course of the trial

Exclusion criteria

  • Use of IVIg within 3 weeks prior to screening
  • Unresolved meningococcal infection
  • Any systemic bacterial or other infection which is clinically significant in the opinion of the Investigator and has not been treated with appropriate antibiotics
  • Participation in any other investigational drug study or was exposed to an investigational drug or device within 30 days of screening.
  • Has previously received treatment with eculizumab
  • Hypersensitivity to murine proteins or to one of the excipients of eculizumab
  • Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, might interfere with thepatient's participation in the trial, poses any added risk for the patient, or confounds the assessment of the patients

Treatment and study plan

Intravenous Methylprednisolone (IVMP)

Drug

IVMP arm: 1000mg methylprednisolone x5d, oral prednisone 60mg, 5mg weekly decline + antibiotics

Complement protein C5 inhibitor

Drug

IVMP+Eculizumab arm: eculizumab (900 mg) will be administered intravenously once per week for a total of four doses (days 1, 8, 15, and 22) in conjunction with IVMP and oral prednisone (60mg, 5mg weekly decline).

All enrolled patients will receive antibiotic prophylaxis against N meningitidis.

Other names: Eculizumab

Primary outcomes

  1. Proportion of improvement in OSIS from baseline to Day 28 by 2 points or more

    Time frame: Acute attack to Day 28

    The Optic-Spinal Impairment Score (OSIS) was developed to measure the disability status of subjects with demyelinating disease. It allows an objective quantification of the level of functioning that could be widely and reproducibly used by researchers and health care providers. OSIS score ranges from 0 to 25, which includes four primary functions: Visual Acuity (VA) (0-8), Motor Function (0-7), Sensory Function (0-5), and Sphincter Function (0-5). The higher scores reflect more severe disability. A decrease of at least 2 points in the overall OSIS score on day 28 compared to the baseline was regarded as a significant improvement.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change of OSIS from baseline to Day 28

    Time frame: Acute attack to Day 28

    The Optic-Spinal Impairment Score (OSIS) was developed to measure the disability status of subjects with demyelinating disease. It allows an objective quantification of the level of functioning that could be widely and reproducibly used by researchers and health care providers. OSIS score ranges from 0 to 25, which includes four primary functions: Visual Acuity (VA) (0-8), Motor Function (0-7), Sensory Function (0-5), and Sphincter Function (0-5). Higher scores indicate more severe disability. A decrease in the overall OSIS score from baseline was used to measure neurological improvement.

  2. Change of EDSS from baseline to Day 28

    Time frame: Acute attack to Day 28

    EDSS and its associated functional system (FS) score provide a system for quantifying disability and monitoring changes in the level of disability over time. EDSS consists of 7 FS (visual FS, brainstem FS, pyramidal FS, cerebellar FS, sensory FS, bowel and bladder FS, and cerebral FS) which are used to derive EDSS score ranging from 0 (normal neurological exam) to 10 (death from MS). A negative change from baseline in the overall EDSS score indicates neurological improvement.

  3. Proportion of subjects that require plasma exchange or immunoadsorption at day 10 post treatment initiation.

    Time frame: Acute attack to Day 10

    PLEX Rescue was conducted only if a patient was not responding to the IVMP or IVMP+Eculizumab treatment as per the previous definition used; the assessment was made on day 10 after the IVMP/eculizumab initiation.

  4. Change of OSIS from baseline to Day 7, 14, 21, and Week 12.

    Time frame: Acute attack to Week 12

    The Optic-Spinal Impairment Score (OSIS) was developed to measure the disability status of subjects with demyelinating disease. OSIS score ranges from 0 to 25, which includes four primary functions: Visual Acuity (VA) (0-8), Motor Function (0-7), Sensory Function (0-5), and Sphincter Function (0-5). A decrease in OSIS indicates improvement.

  5. Change of EDSS from baseline to Day 7, 14, 21, and Week 12

    Time frame: Acute attack to Week 12

    EDSS and its associated functional system (FS) score provide a system for quantifying disability and monitoring changes in the level of disability over time. A decrease in EDSS indicates improvement.

  6. Changes in Muscle Strength by MRC Scale for patients presenting with an acute relapse of myelitis at Days 7, 14, 21,28 and Week 12.

    Time frame: Acute attack to Week 12

    Muscle Power Assessment (MRC) was developed to assess the muscle power of limbs. A score of 0-5 was used to grade the power. Increasing disability of muscle power is reflected in an decreasing MRC score.

  7. Changes in visual acuity in subjects presenting with an acute relapse of optic neuritis at Days 7, 14, 21,28, and Week 12

    Time frame: Acute attack to Week 12

    Visual Acuity was measured with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity test on a scale from 100 letters (Snellen equivalent of 20/10) to 0 letters (Snellen equivalent of <20/800). Higher scores indicate better visual acuity and lower scores indicate worse visual acuity.

  8. Changes of pRNFL measured by OCT in subjects presenting with an acute relapse of optic neuritis at Days 28, and Week 12

    Time frame: Acute attack to Week 12

    The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) was analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements

  9. Changes of mGCIPLT measured by OCT in subjects presenting with an acute relapse of optic neuritis at Day 28, and Week 12

    Time frame: Acute attack to Week 12

    The macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) was analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements

  10. To evaluate the changes of Nfl from baseline to Day 28

    Time frame: Acute attack to Day 28

    Serum neurofilament light chain (NfL): Blood sample will be obtained to determine the level of Nfl.

  11. To evaluate the changes of GFAP from baseline to Day 28

    Time frame: Acute attack to Day 28

    Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP):Blood sample will be obtained to determine the level of GFAP.

  12. To evaluate the changes of complement activity (CH50) from baseline to Day 28

    Time frame: Acute attack to Day 28

    CH50: Blood sample will be obtained to determine the hemolytic activity of serum complement.

  13. To compare the change in MRI lesion size by T2 weighted imaging and T1 post-contrast imaging from baseline to Week 12

    Time frame: Acute attack to Week 12

    MRIs will be analyzed for counting the numbers of new lesions by T2 hyper-intensity in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve, and the volume of T1 post-contrast enhancement.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Tianjin Medical University General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Eculizumab For Acute Attack of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD): a Multi-Center, Phase 2 Trial (EASE-NMO)

Acronym: EASE-NMO

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Sep 22, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 3, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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