Efficacy and Safety of Ofatumumab in Treatment of Pemphigus Vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare, chronic, debilitating, and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disorder that is characterized by mucocutaneous blisters. Ofatumumab is a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) that specifically binds to the human CD20 antigen, which is expressed only in B lymphocytes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of ofatumumab injection for subcutaneous use (ofatumumab SC) 20 milligrams (mg) administered once in every 4 weeks, (with an additional 20 mg loading dose \[i.e. 40 mg total\] at both Week 0 and Week 4) in subjects with PV. It was anticipated that with sustained B-cell depletion in the presence of ofatumumab SC, and the resultant reduction of pathogenic anti Dsg (desmoglein) autoantibodies in PV, that clinical remission of the disease would result.