IVIG and rituximab in antibody-associated psychosis - SINAPPS2
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11177045 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11177045 |
| EudraCT/CTIS number | 2016-000118-31 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov number | NCT03194815 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | CPMS 32531 |
- Submission date
- 10/04/2017
- Registration date
- 02/05/2017
- Last edited
- 11/03/2025
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Psychosis is a mental health condition that causes people to see reality differently, causing hallucinations or delusions. There is some evidence that, rarely, psychosis may be caused by a particular kind of antibody in the blood that affects the brain. Antibodies are molecules which the body makes to fight infections. There is some evidence that getting rid of these antibodies may improve the symptoms of psychosis. Immunotherapy could be helpful for patients with psychosis. Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that aims to boost the body’s natural defences to fight cancer. The trial combines the rapid-action treatment (IVIG) to induce symptom remission (stop it from returning), with a longer-action therapy (rituximab) to maintain remission. The aim of this study is to examine if immunotherapy is an effective treatment for antibody-associated psychosis, either in first episode psychosis (FEP) or relapse following remission, alongside antipsychotic medication if required.
Who can participate?
Adults aged 18 to 70 years old who have had an episode of psychosis within the last two weeks.
What does the study involve?
After a screening and baseline examination to assess the severity of their symptoms and to follow adverse events, participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group receive IVIG (two grams per kilogram over four days) followed by two infusions of one gram of rituximab around day 30 (14 days after their first infusion). Those in the second group receive the same treatment but with a placebo (a dummy) medication. Participants undergo a number of assessments including a physician examination, laboratory tests, clinical and cognitive (mental) tests to assess if immunotherapy can help treat psychosis.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from improvement in psychosis. There is a risk of discomfort when giving blood. Participating in this study may increase the number of clinic/hospital appointments participants attend and may require an inpatient stay in hospital of up to 4 days.
Where is the study run from?
1. Addenbrooke’s Hospital (lead centre) (UK)
2. John Radcliffe Hospital (UK)
3. Queen Elizabeth Hospital (UK)
4. King's College Hospital (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2015 to March 2027
Who is funding the study?
Medical Research Council (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Mr Francis Dowling
francis.dowling@nhs.net
Contact information
Public
Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit
Addenbrooke's Hospital
Coton House Level 6
Flat 61
Box 401
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-4715-4950 |
|---|---|
| francis.dowling@nhs.net |
Study information
| Study design | Randomized; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Drug, Psychological & Behavioural, Immunotherapy |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Scientific title | A randomised phase II double-blinded placebo-controlled trial of intravenous immunoglobulins and rituximab in patients with antibody-associated psychosis (SINAPPS2) |
| Study acronym | SINAPPS2 |
| Study objectives | Immunotherapy is an effective treatment for antibody-associated psychosis, either in FEP or relapse following remission, alongside antipsychotic medication if required. |
| Ethics approval(s) | South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee, 06/12/2016, ref: 16/SC/0584 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Antibody-associated psychosis |
| Intervention | Participants are given a participant information sheet and asked to provide informed consent. Participants first undergo screening assessments. This takes around 2 hours to complete and involves a physician review of medical and medication history, a physical exam, blood samples (for safety monitoring), and urine sample pregnancy tests (for women of childbearing potential). The severity of selected symptoms are assessed using the PANSS scale, a medical scale used for measuring symptom severity of participants with schizophrenia, separated into positive, negative and general symptoms. This takes around 30-40 minutes and is completed by a member of the research team. A short PANSS interview for selected symptoms is conducted (items on P1, G9, P3, P2, G5, N1, N4, N6. Recording and assessment of adverse events start from the point of informed consent and are assessed at the baseline visit Within four weeks of the screening visit, participants return for a 30-minute baseline visit. This involves a physician review since the screening visit, weight and height assessment, and one blood sample is taken for future research purposes. Assessments of current symptoms are also carried out using clinical questionnaires. The severity of symptoms is assessed by PANSS interview (all items). Participants undergo other clinical and cognitive assessments including: 1. Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF): a brief numeric scale (1 through 100) used by mental health clinicians and physicians to rate subjectively the social, occupational, and psychological functioning of adults, usually takes around 3 minutes and is completed by a member of the research team 2. Clinical Global Impression (CGI): A 7-point scale that provides a brief, stand-alone assessment of symptom severity, treatment response and the efficacy of treatments in treatment studies of participants with mental disorders, usually takes around 2 minutes and is completed by the clinician 3. Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS): An 11-item scale used to assess symptoms of mania, usually takes around 10 minutes and is completed by a member of the research team 4. Brief Assessment of Cognition (BACS): A set of tests that assesses the aspects of cognition found to be most impaired and most strongly correlated with outcome in participants with schizophrenia (memory and executive function), usually takes around 30 minutes and is completed by the participant 5. Antipsychotic Non-Neurological Side Effects Rating Scale (ANNSERS): A scale used to assess the side effects associated with both first- and second-generation antipsychotic drugs, usually takes around 10 minutes and is completed by a member of the research team. There are also be an adverse event review and concomitant medication review. Following this visit, participants are randomly allocated to either receiving either the active or placebo treatment. Active treatment group: Participants receive one cycle of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or placebo infusion on day 1 of treatment, and this lasts up to six hours a day for up to 4 days. Between 28 and 35 days after IVIG/placebo participants receive their first infusion of rituximab and intravenous methylprednisolone premedication prior to rituximab or equivalent 0.9% saline volume for patients receiving placebo, this lasts for up to four hours. This is preceded by paracetamol and piriton (for both groups) to reduce infusion reactions. After a further two weeks (+/- two days), participants receive a second infusion of rituximab and intravenous methylprednisolone premedication prior to rituximab or equivalent 0.9% saline volume for patients receiving placebo, preceded by paracetamol and piriton (for both groups). At the second treatment visit (first rituximab treatment), a blood sample for safety monitoring purposes is taken and participant undergo a short PANSS interview assessment (severity of selected symptoms; items P1, G9, P3, P2, G5, N1, N4, N6 only). At all three treatment visits includes assessments of both adverse events and concomitant medications. Placebo group: Participants receive the same intervention as the active treatment group but with placebos to match IVIG and Rituximab. After treatment has finished, monthly telephone or visit assessments are carried out at months two, four, five, seven, eight, ten, 11 (if more time is required to follow up to remission then the follow up assessments will continue to months 13,14,16,17) to review severity of symptoms and check the participant's condition. These follow up phone calls should last around 15 minutes and includes an assessment of severity of selected symptoms by a short PANSS interview (items on P1, G9, P3, P2, G5, N1, N4, N6 only), plus assessment of both adverse events and concomitant medications. Following treatment, every three months (3,6,9,12 [15,18 if needed]) participants are be asked to come to a clinic to see a member of the research team. During these visits participants undergo a physician review and physical assessment, their height and weight are measured, have a monitoring blood sample taken (at month six and 12 (and 18 if required) only), and they complete a full PANSS, CGI, GAF, YMRS, BACS, and ANNSERS assessments. This includes assessments of both adverse events and concomitant medications take takes around two hours to complete. |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Pharmaceutical study type(s) | |
| Phase | Phase II |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Immunoglobulin, rituximab |
| Primary outcome measure | Time to start of symptomatic remission sustained for 6 months is measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (also done at months 15 and 18 if needed). |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Time to first treatment response is measured using the PANSS at monthly intervals out to month 12 (out to month 18 if needed). 2. Relapse rate is measured using the PANNS at monthly intervals out to month 12 (out to month 18 if needed). 3. Number of adverse effects is measured using the Adverse Event CRF at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (also done at months 15 and 18 if needed). 4. Number of serious infections is measured using adverse event data at three, six, nine and twelve months (also done at month 15 and 18 if needed). 5. Proportion of patients reaching 20%, 30% and 40% reduction in PANSS total score using measured using the PANSS score at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (also done at month 15 and 18 if needed). 6. Symptom severity (schizophrenia) is measured using the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) score in at baseline and month 12 7. Symptoms of mania are measured using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) at baseline and month 12 8. Side effects associated with both first- and second-generation antipsychotic drugs are measured using the Antipsychotic Non-Neurological Side-Effects Rating Scale (ANNSERS) at baseline and month 12 9. Cognition is measured using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) at baseline and month 12 10. Social, occupational, and psychological functioning is measured using the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) at baseline and month 12 |
| Overall study start date | 01/07/2015 |
| Completion date | 31/03/2027 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 70 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Planned Sample Size: 80; UK Sample Size: 80 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Acute psychosis >2 weeks. This may either be the first episode or relapse after remission (remission defined as PANSS≤3 on PANSS items P1, G9, P3, P2, G5, N1, N4, N6 for previous six months) 2. Serum or CSF neuronal membrane autoantibodies at pathological levels (including NMDAR, LGI1 and other) 3. Aged 18-70 years 4. Psychosis symptomatic as defined by PANSS ≥4 on P1, G9, P3, P2, G5, N1, N4, N6. 5. Patient or legal representative is willing and able to provide informed consent |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Duration of current episode of psychosis greater than 24 months 2. Alternative co-existing severe neurological disease, including tumour, hippocampal sclerosis with refractory epilepsy, probable dementia with evidence of atrophy on brain imaging, moderate or severe learning disability 3. Any evidence of a current acute encephalopathy (for instance coma, seizures) 4. Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV positivity; severe hypogammaglobulinaemia 5. Previous malignancy (to be usually excluded unless agreed with CI) 6. Pregnant, breast feeding or inadequate contraception if female 7. Hypersensitivity or absolute contra-indication to any study medication, murine proteins or excipients 8. Live vaccine within last three months 9. Previous treatment with rituximab in the past 12 months 10. Severe infection and severe heart failure 11. Any other medical illness or disability that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise effective study participation 12. Concurrent enrolment in other CTIMPs |
| Date of first enrolment | 12/10/2017 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/03/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centres
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
Headington
Oxford
OX3 9DU
United Kingdom
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2GW
United Kingdom
First Floor
Golden Jubilee Wing
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
United Kingdom
Derby Road
Nottingham
NG7 2UH
United Kingdom
Sandford Road
Littlemore
Oxford
OX4 4XN
United Kingdom
Salford
M6 8HD
United Kingdom
Glasgow
G42 9LL
United Kingdom
Barrack Road
Exeter
EX2 5DW
United Kingdom
Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2JF
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Hospital/treatment centre
Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit, Coton House Level 6, Box 401
Addenbrookes Hospital
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 1223 348 158 |
|---|---|
| cctu@addenbrookes.nhs.uk | |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/04v54gj93 |
Funders
Funder type
Research council
Government organisation / National government
- Alternative name(s)
- Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), UK Medical Research Council, MRC
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 30/09/2026 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal. |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from a Scientific Advisory Board, led by Prof Peter Jones, will oversee all requests for data sharing from the trial. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 07/06/2019 | 10/06/2019 | Yes | No |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No |
Editorial Notes
11/03/2025: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall end date was changed from 31/03/2026 to 31/03/2027.
2. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/03/2025 to 31/03/2026.
3. The study participating centres NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Royal, New Victoria Hospital, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust.
04/04/2024: The following changes were made to the study record:
1. Contact details updated.
2. The overall study end date was changed from 30/09/2023 to 31/03/2026.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 31/03/2024 to 30/09/2026.
4. The recruitment start date was changed from 01/05/2017 to 12/10/2017.
5. The recruitment end date was changed from 30/09/2022 to 31/03/2025.
12/05/2021: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 01/05/2021 to 30/09/2022.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 01/05/2023 to 30/09/2023.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/05/2024 to 31/03/2024.
04/07/2019: ClinicalTrials.gov number added.
10/06/2019: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
26/03/2019: The condition has been changed from "Specialty: Mental Health, Primary sub-specialty: Psychosis; UKCRC code/ Disease: Mental Health/ Organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders" to "Antibody-associated psychosis" following a request from the NIHR.
08/11/2017: The ISRCTN prospective/retrospective flag compares the date of registration with the recruitment start date and does not include any grace period. The registration of this study was requested through the NIHR Portfolio and was finalised within 6 months of the recruitment starting.
12/07/2017: Internal review.
