Ublituximab for early, autoantibody‑positive immune‑mediated necrotizing myopathy

Study of Ublituximab in Early, Active, Autoantibody-Positive, IMMune-MedIated NecroTizing Myopathy (AIM01)

This trial will test whether adding ublituximab to standard immunosuppressive therapy helps adults with early, active anti‑SRP or anti‑HMGCR antibody–positive immune‑mediated necrotizing myopathy improve over 24 weeks.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (NIH)
• Drugs / interventions: ublituximab, rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, belimumab, Methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, prednisone
• Locations: 8 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 7 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07103746 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This multi-center, randomized, double‑blind Phase 2 trial gives adults with early, active autoantibody‑positive IMNM either ublituximab or placebo as a first add‑on to a single background immunosuppressant. Eligible participants must be anti‑SRP or anti‑HMGCR positive, have objective muscle weakness or CK elevation within one year of onset, and meet ENMC/ACR‑EULAR classification criteria for IMNM. The primary endpoint compares the Total Improvement Score (TIS) at 24 weeks using the 2016 ACR/EULAR myositis response criteria. Study sites include academic centers in Birmingham (UAB), Atlanta (Emory), and Chicago (University of Chicago).

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults with early (onset within one year), active IMNM who are anti‑SRP or anti‑HMGCR positive, have objective muscle weakness and elevated CK, and are on a stable single background immunosuppressant are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients without anti‑SRP or anti‑HMGCR antibodies, with disease onset more than one year earlier, with incompatible comorbidities, or unable to continue background immunosuppression are unlikely to benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, adding ublituximab could produce faster or greater improvement in muscle strength and function for patients with antibody‑positive IMNM.

How similar studies have performed: Other B‑cell–depleting therapies such as rituximab have shown benefit in some inflammatory myopathies, but data specific to IMNM are limited, making ublituximab in this population relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participant must be able to understand and provide informed consent.
2. Age 18 years or older at disease onset.
3. Definite or probable IIM per the 2017 EULAR/ACR classification criteria.
4. Diagnosis of IMNM, meeting the 2016 ENMC classification criteria and having either of the following antibodies:

   1. Anti-SRP
   2. Anti-HMGCR
5. Early disease as defined as onset of objective muscle weakness assessed by a physician and/or CK elevation attributed to IMNM within 1 year of the time of informed consent.
6. Muscle weakness as assessed by an MMT-8 score \< 142 of 150 and CK \> 1.5x ULN along with abnormality in at least 1 of the following 4 CSMs at screening:

   1. PhGA ≥ 2 cm
   2. PtGA ≥ 2 cm
   3. Extramuscular global assessment ≥ 2 cm
   4. HAQ-DI ≥ 0.25
7. Treatment with only one of the following background immunosuppressant medications for IMNM for at least 12 weeks prior to randomization and the same dose for at least 4 weeks prior to randomization:

   1. Methotrexate up to 25 mg weekly
   2. Mycophenolate mofetil up to 3000 mg daily
   3. Mycophenolic acid up to 2160 mg daily
   4. Azathioprine up to 2.5 mg/kg daily
   5. Tacrolimus up to 0.2 mg/kg daily
   6. Cyclosporine up to 5 mg/kg daily
8. Current therapy consisting of glucocorticoid ≤ 20 mg/day of prednisone. The dose must be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to randomization. Participants who stopped treatment with glucocorticoids are eligible if the last dose of the glucocorticoids was at least 4 weeks before the time of informed consent.
9. Female participants of childbearing potential and male participants with a partner of childbearing potential must agree to consistently and correctly use FDA approved highly effective methods of birth control, as shown in Appendix 1: Acceptable Contraception Methods for Females of Reproductive Potential, for the entire duration of the study and 6 months after last study drug infusion. Female participants of reproductive potential must have a negative pregnancy test at screening and at baseline.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. End-stage myositis with end-organ involvement that poses additional risk to the participant or confounds the assessment of the participant in the study. Conditions include but are not limited to advanced symptomatic interstitial lung disease (e.g., Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) \<60% and/or requiring oxygen therapy) or severe dysphagia.
2. Irreversible muscle involvement and/or severe atrophy that will pose additional risk to the participant or confound the assessment of the participant in the study. This includes Muscle Damage VAS ≥ 3 cm at screening, documented history of severe atrophy of multiple muscle groups (based on MRI), and/or wheelchair bound.
3. Uncontrolled interstitial lung disease or any other uncontrolled IIM manifestation that in the opinion of the investigator would be likely to require treatment with prohibited medication during the study.
4. Diagnosis of other inflammatory or noninflammatory myopathies, including antibody-negative IMNM, inclusion body myositis, overlap myositis, metabolic myopathies, muscular dystrophies or family history of muscular dystrophy, drug induced, cancer-associated myositis, or endocrine-based myositis (except statin induced anti-HMGCR associated IMNM).
5. Severe liver disease, such as signs of ascites or hepatic encephalopathy.
6. History of malignancy (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) unless cured by adequate treatment, with no evidence of recurrence for ≥ 5 years from the time of informed consent.
7. Recent or ongoing bacterial, viral, or fungal infection requiring systemic treatment within 14 days of the time of informed consent.
8. Current suppressive therapy for any chronic infections including herpes simplex virus (HSV).
9. Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) as defined by any of the following:

   1. Positive interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) performed at screening or within 12 weeks prior to the time of informed consent.
   2. Indeterminate IGRAs must be repeated (with same or other IGRA per local policy) and shown to be negative. Alternatively, if the assay remains indeterminant, a participant must have a negative purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test. Finally, if the participant has had the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine or has some other condition complicating the interpretation of TB testing, consultation with infectious disease specialist must be obtained before randomization.
10. Medical history or serologic evidence at screening of chronic infections, including:

    a. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection b. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) as indicated by surface antigen or hepatitis B core antibody positivity c. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) as indicated by anti-hepatitis C antibody positivity. If a participant is Hepatitis C antibody positive, they will be eligible to participate in the study if they have a negative viral load at Screening.
11. Known hypersensitivity reaction to ublituximab.
12. Received a live or live-attenuated vaccine \< 4 weeks before the time of informed consent. Received any other type of vaccine \< 2 weeks before the time of informed consent.
13. Any of the following laboratory tests at screening:

    a. Hemoglobin \< 10 g/dL b. Absolute white blood cell count \< 3,000 cells/mm3 c. Platelet count \< 100,000 cells/mm3 d. Absolute neutrophils \< 1,500 cell/mm3 e. Peripheral B-cell \< 40 cells/µL f. IgG \< 690 mg/dL g. Estimated GFR \< 50 mL/min/1.73 m2
14. Treatment with any immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory agent, such as cyclophosphamide, biologics, and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, except those listed in the inclusion criteria 7 within 12 weeks prior to randomization.
15. Prior receipt of B-cell depleting agents such as rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, or belimumab at any time.
16. Treatment of IMNM with IVIG or subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) within 12 weeks of randomization, or prior receipt of more than one cycle of IVIG at any time.
17. Participant has current or history (within 12 months of screening) of alcohol, drug, or medication abuse.
18. Participant is pregnant or lactating or intends to become pregnant during the study.
19. Use of any investigational drug within 24 weeks of the time of informed consent.
20. Past or current medical problems or findings from physical examination or laboratory testing that are not listed above, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may pose additional risks from participation in the study, may interfere with the participant's ability to comply with study requirements, or that may impact the quality or interpretation of the data obtained from the study.

Where this trial is running

Birmingham, Alabama and 7 other locations

• University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine: Division of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology — Birmingham, Alabama, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Emory University School of Medicine: Division of Rheumatology — Atlanta, Georgia, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• University of Chicago, Department of Medicine: Rheumatology — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Johns Hopkins Hospital: Division of Rheumatology — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
• Mayo Clinic: Division of Rheumatology — Rochester, Minnesota, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Northwell Health: Division of Rheumatology and Allergy-Clinical Immunology — Great Neck, New York, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• University of Texas - Houston — Houston, Texas, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)

Conditions Autoimmune Disorders; Ublituximab; Active Autoantibody Positive Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy; Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies