Is Ofatumumab an Effective Second-Line Therapy in Anti-NMDAR Autoimmune Encephalitis?

An observational study supports this B-lymphocyte–directed treatment option.

Patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor autoimmune encephalitis (NMDAR-AE) often require second-line immunotherapy when first-line treatments fail, but optimal options remain unclear. In this prospective, multicenter cohort study, researchers compared outcomes in 58 patients with NMDAR-AE who received ofatumumab and 58 propensity score–matched controls who did not; approximately 60% of each group had treatment failure on first-line immunotherapy. The authors measured outcome status with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and the Clinical Assessment Scale in Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE).

The key findings:

Ofatumumab-treated patients had faster improvements in mRS and CASE scores than controls, and by last follow-up, had reached favorab…

Reviewing Author

Robert T. Naismith, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAlexion Pharmaceuticals; Amgen; Astoria; Biogen; Bristol Myers Squibb; Celltrion; Genentech; Hoffmann-La Roche; Genzyme; EMD Serono; Immpact-Bio; Immunic Therapeutics; Kyverna; Lundbeck; Novartis; Sandoz; TG Therapeutics

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; U.S. Department of Defense

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesConsortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (Treasurer)

Robert T. Naismith, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; U.S. Department of Defense

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesConsortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (Treasurer)

Is Ofatumumab an Effective Second-Line Therapy in Anti-NMDAR Autoimmune Encephalitis?

Topics

Reviewing Author