Nipocalimab for Myasthenia Gravis

Recruiting at 23 trial locations

Overseen By Study Contact

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Phase 2 & 3

Recruiting

Sponsor: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Must be taking: Standard-of-care therapy

Disqualifiers: Severe hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, others

No Placebo Group

Prior Safety Data

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing nipocalimab, a medication that lowers certain antibodies, in children and teens with generalized myasthenia gravis who don't respond well to standard treatments. The goal is to see if it helps reduce their symptoms by lowering harmful antibodies in their blood.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using herbal, naturopathic, traditional Chinese remedies, ayurvedic or nutritional supplements, or medical marijuana, you can continue them if they are stable and approved by the investigator.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug Nipocalimab for treating myasthenia gravis?

Research suggests that targeting the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) can help reduce harmful antibodies in myasthenia gravis without broadly suppressing the immune system. This approach, used in other FcRn-targeted treatments, has shown promise in clinical trials for myasthenia gravis. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the drug Nipocalimab different from other treatments for myasthenia gravis?

Nipocalimab is unique because it targets the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), which helps reduce the levels of harmful antibodies in the body, offering a more specific approach compared to traditional treatments like steroids and immunosuppressants that broadly suppress the immune system. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Research Team

Janssen Research & Development, LLC Clinical Trial

Principal Investigator

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for children aged 2 to less than 18 with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), who have not responded well to standard treatments. They must meet specific clinical criteria, have certain antibodies present, and maintain a stable use of any herbal or nutritional supplements. Participants need proper venous access for infusions and blood sampling, be within the normal weight range for their age and sex, and females able to bear children must test negative for pregnancy.

Inclusion Criteria

My weight and BMI are within the normal range for my age and sex.

I use herbal or traditional remedies, supplements, or medical marijuana with my doctor's approval and can keep the dose the same during the study.

I have been diagnosed with generalized myasthenia gravis.

Exclusion Criteria

I had a heart attack, unstable heart disease, or stroke in the last 3 months.

I do not have an immunodeficiency unrelated to my myasthenia gravis treatment.

I have had or will have surgery to remove my thymus gland within a year.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive nipocalimab once every two weeks for 24 weeks

24 weeks

12 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Open-label extension (optional)

Participants may opt into continuation of treatment long-term

Long-term

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Nipocalimab (Monoclonal Antibodies)

Trial Overview The study tests Nipocalimab's effects on total serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in pediatric patients with gMG. It aims to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of Nipocalimab in these young participants who are already receiving standard care but need additional treatment.

Participant Groups

Group I: Nipocalimab Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants age 2 to less than (\<) 18 years of age (globally) and 8 to \<18 years of age (for US sites only) will be divided into 2 cohorts as per their age-adolescents 12 to \<18 years and children 2 to \<12 years and will receive nipocalimab once every two weeks for 24 weeks. After Week 24, all participants will have the option to enroll in long term extension (LTE).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,022

Recruited

6,408,000+

Giacomo Salvadore

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Chief Medical Officer since 2023

MD from the University of Rome, Tor Vergata

Ricardo Attar

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Chief Executive Officer since 2008

PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Buenos Aires

Findings from Research

The FDA has recently approved new therapies, including complement and Fc receptor inhibitors, for treating generalized myasthenia gravis, highlighting advancements in treatment options for this condition.

There is ongoing uncertainty regarding which patients will benefit most from these expensive therapies, prompting discussions on the need for better clinical trial readiness and biomarker development to guide future research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The best and worst of times in therapy development for myasthenia gravis. Benatar, M., Cutter, G., Kaminski, HJ.[2023]

In a prospective study of 22 patients with treatment-refractory myasthenia gravis, rituximab treatment led to significant clinical improvement, with manual muscle testing scores decreasing from an average of 10.6 to 3.3 over a mean follow-up of 28.8 months.

Rituximab also allowed for a substantial reduction in prednisone dosage, from 25.2 mg/d to 7.3 mg/d, indicating its potential to reduce reliance on steroids while managing the disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rituximab in refractory myasthenia gravis: Extended prospective study results. Beecher, G., Anderson, D., Siddiqi, ZA.[2019]

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is driven by IgG antibodies that attack acetylcholine receptors, leading to muscle weakness, and current treatments like corticosteroids are not very specific.

New therapies targeting IgG Fc mechanisms, such as FcRn-targeting agents, are being developed and show promise for more effective and personalized treatments that could lead to sustained remission in MG patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fc-Receptor Targeted Therapies for the Treatment of Myasthenia gravis. Keller, CW., Pawlitzki, M., Wiendl, H., et al.[2021]

In a study of 30 patients with refractory myasthenia gravis (MG) treated with rituximab for an average of 33.3 months, significant improvements were observed in disease severity, as indicated by a decrease in the quantitative myasthenia gravis (QMG) score from 11 to 4.3 (p < 0.001).

Rituximab was found to be safe and well-tolerated, with no crises or deaths reported, and 93.1% of patients were able to reduce their daily steroid dose to 10 mg or less, highlighting its potential as a long-term treatment option for anti-AChR+ and double seronegative MG patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rituximab as a sole steroid-sparing agent in generalized myasthenia gravis: Long-term outcomes. Kefalopoulou, ZM., Veltsista, D., Germeni, A., et al.[2023]

In a phase 2a trial involving 43 patients with generalized myasthenia gravis, rozanolixizumab showed a trend towards clinical benefit, particularly in secondary measures like the MG-Activities of Daily Living and MG-Composite scores, although the primary endpoint (QMG score) did not reach statistical significance.

Rozanolixizumab was generally well tolerated, with headache being the most common adverse event, occurring in 57% of patients receiving the treatment compared to 14% in the placebo group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and Safety of Rozanolixizumab in Moderate to Severe Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: A Phase 2 Randomized Control Trial. Bril, V., Benatar, M., Andersen, H., et al.[2021]

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is primarily caused by antibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, leading to muscle weakness, and current treatments like intravenous immunoglobulin and prednisone have significant side effects.

Monoclonal antibody therapies, particularly eculizumab, which targets the complement system, show promise in specifically modulating the disease mechanisms of MG, potentially transforming treatment options for patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Monoclonal Antibody-Based Therapies for Myasthenia Gravis. Alabbad, S., AlGaeed, M., Sikorski, P., et al.[2022]

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are emerging as targeted therapies for myasthenia gravis (MG), a condition traditionally treated with non-specific immunosuppression, offering a more precise approach to treatment.

Eculizumab and efgartigimod have been approved for generalized MG, showing that targeting specific pathways can lead to better treatment outcomes, with ongoing research into additional mAbs showing promising results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antibody Therapies in Autoimmune Neuromuscular Junction Disorders: Approach to Myasthenic Crisis and Chronic Management. Vanoli, F., Mantegazza, R.[2023]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The best and worst of times in therapy development for myasthenia gravis. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rituximab in refractory myasthenia gravis: Extended prospective study results. [2019]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antagonism of the Neonatal Fc Receptor as an Emerging Treatment for Myasthenia Gravis. [2020]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Subcutaneous batoclimab in generalized myasthenia gravis: Results from a Phase 2a trial with an open-label extension. [2023]

5. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and safety of iscalimab, a novel anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody, in moderate-to-severe myasthenia gravis: A phase 2 randomized study. [2023]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fc-Receptor Targeted Therapies for the Treatment of Myasthenia gravis. [2021]

7. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rituximab as a sole steroid-sparing agent in generalized myasthenia gravis: Long-term outcomes. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and Safety of Rozanolixizumab in Moderate to Severe Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: A Phase 2 Randomized Control Trial. [2021]

9. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Monoclonal Antibody-Based Therapies for Myasthenia Gravis. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antibody Therapies in Autoimmune Neuromuscular Junction Disorders: Approach to Myasthenic Crisis and Chronic Management. [2023]