summary: Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody which selectively targets CD20, a specific antigen (i.e. protein) present on the surface of B cells, a type of immune cell. This treatment has been proven to be effective in reducing disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS. Since no treatment has been shown to be effective in delaying the progression of primary progressive MS (PPMS), the authors aimed to investigate the efficacy of rituximab in people with PPMS. In this multicentre, double blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial, people were randomised to receive either rituximab or a placebo. The main aim of the study was to investigate whether rituximab could delay the time to confirmed progression compared to placebo. Although the time to confirmed progression was not different between the two groups, some efficacy was observed for people with high inflammatory activity in their MRI and/or people younger than 51 years old.

authors: Hawker K, O'Connor P, Freedman MS, Calabresi PA, Antel J, Simon J, Hauser S, Waubant E, Vollmer T, Panitch H, Zhang J, Chin P, Smith CH; OLYMPUS trial group

source: Ann Neurol. 2009 Sep 9;66(4):460-471

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