Autoantibody Reductive Therapy (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Autoantibody Reductive Therapy (also known as autoantibody reduction therapy) is a combination regimen developed by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, led by Dr. Steven R. Duncan, for the treatment of acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF). The therapy consists of three components: therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), rituximab (an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody), and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). This multi-modal approach is designed to address autoantibody-mediated pulmonary injury by physically removing existing autoantibodies from the circulation via TPE, preventing the production of new autoantibodies by depleting B cells with rituximab, and providing immunomodulatory support through IVIG. The regimen was evaluated in the Phase 2 STRIVE-IPF trial (NCT03286556), which compared this combination against the standard of care in patients with AE-IPF, a condition characterized by high mortality and a lack of effective medical treatments.

Other names

autoantibody reduction therapyautoantibody-targeted therapyTPE + rituximab + IVIG