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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 3INTERVENTIONAL

Rituximab EfFicacy IN MyasthEnia Gravis (REFINE)

Single-cell Deep Phenotyping of B Lymphocytes to Personalize Immunotherapy in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis: Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab in Generalized AChR-antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis

Rituximab EfFicacy IN MyasthEnia Gravis (REFINE) (NCT05868837) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Myasthenia Gravis, Generalized, sponsored by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

The primary objective of this phase III trial is to investigate if Rituximab can reduce patients' functional impairment caused by MG. The secondary objectives of this trial are to assess whether treatment with rituximab in patients with MG will: * Allow faster and greater corticosteroid tapering * Reduce the frequency of exacerbations * Improve quality of life * Offer an acceptable safety and tolerability profile.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Myasthenia Gravis, Generalized, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 40 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: a. Positive serologic test for anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody titers as confirmed at screening (one retest allowed), and At least one of the following: i)-History of abnormal neuromuscular transmission test results demonstrated by single- fiber electromyography or repetitive nerve stimulation; or ii)-History of positive anticholinesterase test (eg, edrophonium chloride test); or iii)-Patient demonstrated improvement in MG signs on oral cholinesterase inhibitors, as assessed by the treating physician; or iv)-Clinical syndrome consistent with a diagnosis of MG, and not otherwise explained by another condition. c. MGFA Clinical Classification Class II, III, or IV at the time of screening and randomization. d. MG-ADL score of 5 or greater at screening and at randomization with \> 50% of this score attributed to non-ocular items. e. QMG score of 11 or greater at screening and at randomization. f. Willing and able to comply with the protocol, complete study assessments, and return for follow- up visits. g. Females of childbearing potential who are sexually active with a non-sterilized male partner must use at least one highly effective contraception method (Table 1) from the time of screening and for 12 months after the final dose of IP. Periodic abstinence, the rhythm method, and the withdrawal method are not acceptable methods of contraception. h. Females of childbearing potential are defined as those who are not surgically sterile (ie, bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy, or complete hysterectomy) or those who are not postmenopausal (defined as 12 months with no menses without an alternative medical cause). ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: a. Positive serologic test for anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody titers as confirmed at screening (one retest allowed), and At least one of the following: i)-History of abnormal neuromuscular transmission test results demonstrated by single- fiber electromyography or repetitive nerve stimulation; or ii)-History of positive anticholinesterase test (eg, edrophonium chloride test); or iii)-Patient demonstrated improvement in MG signs on oral cholinesterase inhibitors, as assessed by the treating physician; or iv)-Clinical syndrome consistent with a diagnosis of MG, and not otherwise explained by another condition. c. MGFA Clinical Classification Class II, III, or IV at the time of screening and randomization. d. MG-ADL score of 5 or greater at screening and at randomization with \&gt; 50% of this score attributed to non-ocular items. e. QMG score of 11 or greater at screening and at randomization. f. Willing and able to comply with the protocol, complete study assessments, and return for follow- up visits. g. Females of childbearing potential who are sexually active with a non-sterilized male partner must use at least one highly effective contraception method (Table 1) from the time of screening and for 12 months after the final dose of IP. Periodic abstinence, the rhythm method, and the withdrawal method are not acceptable methods of contraception. h. Females of childbearing potential are defined as those who are not surgically sterile (ie, bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy, or complete hysterectomy) or those who are not postmenopausal (defined as 12 months with no menses without an alternative medical cause). i. Non-sterilized males who are sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential must use a condom from Day 1 for the duration of the study and for 3 months after the last dose of IP. Because male condom is not a highly effective contraception method, it is strongly recommended that female partners of a male study subject also use a highly effective method of contraception throughout this period. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Any condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would place the patient at unacceptable risk of complications, interfere with evaluation of the IP, or confound the interpretation of patient safety or study results. 2. Lactating or pregnant females, or females who intend to become pregnant anytime from signing the informed consent form (ICF) throughout the RCP plus 6 months following last dose of IP. 3. History of drug or alcohol abuse within \< 1 year prior to screening, or any condition associated with poor compliance as judged by the Investigator. 4. Site staff and their family members. 5. Currently committed to an institution by way of official or judicial order. 6. Subjects diagnosed with congenital myasthenic syndromes. 7. Known immunodeficiency disorder, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. 8. Thymectomy within ≤ 12 months prior to baseline (Day 1) visit or planned thymectomy during the duration of the RCP. 10\. Receipt of the following medications or treatments at any time prior to randomization: 1. Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada®, Campath®) 2. Total lymphoid irradiation 3. Bone marrow transplant 4. T-cell vaccination therapy 5. Natalizumab (Tysabri®) 10. Receipt of ANY immunosuppressive treatment (excluding corticosteroids) at ANY time prior to randomization (such as Azathioprine, Mycophenolate mofetil or Mycophenolic acid, Cyclosporine (except eye drop), Tacrolimus (except topical), Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide, Tocilizumab (Actemra®), Belimumab (Benlysta®), Eculizumab (Soliris®), rituximab (MabThera®, Rituxan®), ocrelizumab (Ocrevus®), ofatumumab (Arzerra®), obinutuzumab (Gazyva®), inebilizumab, or any experimental B-cell depleting agent) 11. Receipt within the 4 weeks prior to Day 1: a. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) b. Plasma exchange (PLEX) treatment 12. Current use of: 1. Prednisone \< 20 mg/day or \< 40 mg over a 2-day period (or equivalent dose of other corticosteroids) 2. Pyridostigmine \> 480 mg/day or unstable dose in the 2 weeks prior to Day 1 13. Concurrent/previous enrollment in another clinical study involving an investigational treatment within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives of the investigational treatment, whichever is longer, prior to Day 1. 14\. Receipt of a live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to randomization. Administration of inactivated (killed) vaccines is acceptable. 15. History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to biologic agents or known allergy to any component of the IP formulation. 16. History of recurrent significant infections (eg, requiring hospitalization or IV antibiotics). 17\. Within 2 weeks prior to the screening visit: clinically significant active infection requiring antimicrobial medication but allowing chronic nail infections. 18. Unresected thymoma (Note: subjects with a benign thymoma resected \> 1 year prior to screening may enroll. Benign is defined as no known metastases and no extension into or beyond the capsule on pathological examination. Imaging to evaluate for thymoma must have been performed prior to randomization per standard of care). 19. History of cancer, except for the following: a. In situ carcinoma of the cervix treated with apparent success with curative therapy for \> 12 months prior to screening b. Cutaneous basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma treated with apparent success with curative therapy for \> 12 months prior to screening c. Prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy with curative intent \> 3 years prior to screening and without known recurrence or current treatment d. Malignant thymoma (i.e. Masaoka stage ≥ IIa) resected \> 5 years prior to screening with no evidence of active disease and no therapy received over the previous 5 years. Imaging to evaluate for thymoma must have been performed prior to randomization per standard of care 21. Spontaneous or induced abortion, still or live birth, or pregnancy ≤ 4 weeks prior to screening. 22\. Any of the following laboratory abnormalities at screening (one repeat test may be conducted to confirm results prior to randomization within the same screening period): a. Elevated liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \> 2.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN)). b. Total bilirubin \> 1.5 × ULN (unless due to Gilbert's syndrome) c. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 d. CD19+ B-cell count \< 40 cells/μL e. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \< 1.2 × 103 cells/μl f. Platelet count \< 75,000/μL (or \< 75 × 109/L) g. Hemoglobin \< 8.0 g/dL h. Total immunoglobulin \< 600 mg/dL 23. Positive test for chronic hepatitis B infection at screening, defined as either (1) positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or (2) a positive hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) PLUS negative hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). Note: Subjects with a positive anti-HBs only, or a positive anti-HBc plus positive anti-HBs and negative HBsAg, are eligible to enroll. 24. Positive test for hepatitis C virus antibody. 25. Positive HIV test. 26. Blood transfusion within 4 weeks prior to screening or during the screening period. 27\. Inability to read. 28. History of active or latent tuberculosis (TB), or a positive QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test at screening, unless treatment for tuberculosis was completed per local guidelines. Subjects with latent TB or a positive QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test who are actively on anti-TB treatment can enroll if they have completed at least 1 month of anti-TB treatment and intend to complete the full course of anti-TB treatment. Subjects with an indeterminate QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test result can enroll if a repeat QuantiFERON®-TB Gold is negative or a tuberculin skin test is negative.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Rituximab

Rituximab 1000 mg IV on RCP days 1 and 15

OTHER

Placebo

Placebo 1000 mg IV on RCP days 1 and 15

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS
Roma, Italy

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05868837), the sponsor (Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05868837 clinical trial studying?

The primary objective of this phase III trial is to investigate if Rituximab can reduce patients' functional impairment caused by MG. The secondary objectives of this trial are to assess whether treatment with rituximab in patients with MG will: * Allow faster and greater corticosteroid tapering * Reduce the frequency of exacerbations * Improve quality of life * Offer an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05868837?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05868837?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05868837. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05868837. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.