Obinutuzumab in Primary MN

Primary membranous nephropathy (MN) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune glomerular disease, that represents one of the most frequent causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults. The first-generation chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is effective in inducing MN remission in the majority of patients, but a significant fraction of them can experience disease relapses that require multiple re-treatments over time. Repeated infusions may result in hypersensitivity reactions, which contraindicate further treatment with rituximab. Independent of previous treatment response, Rituximab-Intolerant patients require a safe and effective therapeutic alternative that could reduce the risk of hypersensitivity reactions. On the other end a substantial proportion of patients do not benefit of rituximab therapy and might benefit of other anti CD20 monoclonal antibodies. A few patients transiently benefit of rituximab but their relapses after rituximab administration are so frequent that they spend most of their live with nephrotic range proteinuria (rituximab-dependent patients). Obinutuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody with enhanced B cell-depleting potential. Due to humanization and glycoengineering, this drug may be safe and effective in inducing disease remission even in patients with prior hypersensitivity reactions to rituximab. Moreover, it has been found to be effective in patients with membranous nephropathy who failed to respond to rituximab.