Rituximab in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Stopped: Unable to acquire funding
0Started 2025-07
Plain-language summary
CIDP is a heterogeneous disease with variable responses to therapy. Recently, a distinctive subgroup of patients with serum autoantibodies to the paranodal proteins contactin and neurofascin have been identified. Although they present with active and serious disease, multiple clinical reports suggest that these patients can be cured with a treatment that depletes B cells and presumably eliminates pathogenic autoantibodies. However, beyond that subgroup of CIDP patients, which CIDP patients might benefit from Rituximab and B cell depletion is unknown. This Phase II study will treat 3 homogenous groups of 16 CIDP patients each with Rituximab in order to determine if there are subgroups that can be taken off current medications and put into long-term remission. The results from this study will be used to design a future larger trial. Biomarkers including paranodal antibodies, serum neurofilament light chains, anti-ganglioside antibodies will be obtained in order to learn about disease pathogenesis and possibly target therapy
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Written informed consent obtained from subjects indicating that they understand the purpose of and procedures required for the study and are willing to participate
. Male or female, aged ≥18 years
. Documented diagnosis of typical CIDP according to the European Academy of Neurology/Peripheral Nerve Society criteria 202127
. Must be willing to complete the study and return for follow-up visits.
. Men and women of reproductive potential must agree to use an acceptable method of birth control during treatment and for twelve months (1 year) after completion of treatment.
. Successfully treated CIDP patients. Data at or prior to the screening visit must show evidence that during the course of therapy either the INCAT score improved by 1 or more points or improvement occurred according to the physician opinion.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) Disability Score
. CIDP disease stability is based on 2 visits that are 3 or more months apart documented at or prior to the screening visit by assessing unchanged CIDP status per physician opinion. The subject must be at the same dosage and frequency of CIDP therapy in between these 2 timepoints.
. Belonging to 1 of the following 2 treatment groups:
Exclusion criteria
. Female subjects who are premenopausal and are
. pregnant on the basis of a serum pregnancy test,
. breast-feeding, or
. not using an effective method of double barrier (1 hormonal plus 1 barrier method or 2 simultaneous barrier methods) or birth control (birth control pills, male condom, female condom, intrauterine device, Norplant, tubal ligation, or other sterilization procedures).
. Participation in another clinical study within 30 days before entering the study or during the study
. Employee or direct relative of an employee of the study site or Sponsor
. Other medical condition, laboratory finding, or physical exam finding that precludes participation