RCT of Tocilizumab for Anti-MDA5+DM

NCT07377058 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: I-25PJ1573
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 110
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if tocilizumab works to treat anti-MDA5+ dermatomyositis (anti-MDA5+DM) in adults. It will also learn about the safety of tocilizumab. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does tocilizumab improve patients' clinical symptoms? Does tocilizumab improve patients' respiratory failure? What medical problems do participants have when taking tocilizumab? Researchers will compare tocilizumab to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if tocilizumab works to treat patients with anti-MDA5+ DM. Participants will: Take tocilizumab or a placebo every two weeks for 2 months Visit the clinic once every 2 weeks for checkups and tests

Conditions

Dermatomyositis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• TIS improvement

  Proportion of patients achieving minimal improvement in Total Improvement Score (TIS≥20)

  at Week 16 of treatment

• ILD improvement

  Change in PaO2/FiO2 ratio from baseline (patients with concomitant ILD)

  at Week 16

Study Arms (2)

TCZ

EXPERIMENTAL

Biological: Tocilizumab

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Drug: Standard medical treatment

Interventions

Tocilizumab BIOLOGICAL

Tocilizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-6 receptor, exerting therapeutic effects by specifically blocking the IL-6 signaling pathway.

Also known as: Glucocorticoids, tacrolimus, ciclosporin

TCZ

Standard medical treatment DRUG

Standard medical treatment for patients with anti-MDA5+ dermatomyositis

Also known as: Glucocorticoids, tacrolimus, ciclosporin

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥ 18 years and \< 65 years; no gender restriction; total body weight ≥ 45 kg;
• Diagnostic Criteria for Anti-MDA5-DM: Refer to the "2023 Chinese Expert Consensus on Diagnosis and Treatment of Anti-Melanoma Differentiation-Related Gene 5 Antibody-Positive Dermatomyositis in China." Dermatomyositis patients exhibiting one of the following manifestations-Gottron's papules, Gottron's rash, or erythema ab igne-along with positive serum anti-MDA5 antibodies, may be diagnosed with anti-MDA5-DM;
• If patients have concomitant ILD, the following conditions must be met: i) Pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂) ≥ 90% or PaO₂ ≥ 60 mmHg; ii) Pulmonary function tests showing forced vital capacity percentage of predicted (FVC%) ≥ 60% and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity percentage of predicted (DLco%) ≥ 40%; iii) High-resolution chest CT demonstrating pulmonary interstitial lesions involving \< 50% of lung fields;
• Patients must have received oral prednisone (\< 1 mg/kg/day, or equivalent dose of other glucocorticoids) for ≥ 4 weeks prior to randomization;
• Patients must have received a stable dose of a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI, such as cyclosporine or tacrolimus) for ≥4 weeks prior to randomization; if immunosuppressive therapy was discontinued prior to the screening visit, a washout period of at least 4 weeks is required;
• Patients must receive prophylactic treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ, 400mg trimethoprim/80mg sulfamethoxazole) 1-2 tablets daily during treatment;
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at study entry. If sexually active, they must agree to use effective contraception throughout the study period and must not intend to become pregnant during the study.
• Patients voluntarily participate in this study and sign an informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

• \. Polymyositis, anti-synthetase syndrome, immune-mediated necrotizing myositis, or overlap myositis with other connective tissue diseases; 2. Patients with life-threatening complications, including but not limited to acute coronary syndrome (e.g., myocardial infarction, unstable angina) within 24 weeks prior to screening or any history of significant cerebrovascular disease; 3. Any of the following laboratory abnormalities at screening: white blood cell count \<3.0×10⁹/L, neutrophil count \<1.0×10⁹/L, lymphocyte count \<0.5×10⁹/L, hemoglobin \<90 g/L, platelet count \<50×10⁹/L; severe hepatic impairment (ALT or AST ≥3 times ULN, total bilirubin ≥1.5 times ULN, excluding serum ALT or AST elevation due to dermatomyositis); severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≤45 mL/min); 4. Patients hospitalized for severe infection within 60 days prior to screening, or who received intravenous antibiotics (patients who used intravenous antibiotics must complete a five-half-life washout period and confirm absence of active infection before enrollment), but may receive empirical oral antibiotics or topical antibiotics; 5. Active tuberculosis infection that is untreated or inadequately treated; Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) requires at least 2 weeks of preventive antituberculosis therapy (including at least 2 antituberculosis drugs) prior to randomization, continuing through study completion. LTBI is defined as: Positive IGRA result (acceptable IGRA assays include: QFT-GIT, QFT-G, and T-spot® TB test); 6. Active viral hepatitis at screening: HBsAg-positive, HBeAg-positive, or HBV-DNA \>10³ copies/L (HBV-DNA testing required if HBcAb-positive); HCVAb-positive; 7. Documented HIV infection, evidenced by positive serological test results or positive HIV serological test results at screening; 8. If the patient develops ILD-related clinical manifestations or progressive radiographic worsening within 4 weeks, RP-ILD should be considered. RP-ILD is defined as the presence of any one of the following four conditions within 1 month after the onset of respiratory symptoms: ① Acute and progressive worsening of dyspnea requiring hospitalization or supplemental oxygen; ② Decline in pulmonary function, manifested as a decrease in FVC% \>10% with or without a decrease in DLco% \>15%; ③ Increased interstitial abnormalities on chest HRCT scan \>20%; ④ Decrease in arterial blood gas or partial pressure of oxygen \>10 mmHg, indicating respiratory failure; and PaO₂/FiO₂≥200 mmHg.
• \. Allergy to the active ingredient tocilizumab or any of its excipients; 10. Patients with sulfonamide allergy; 11. Patients unable to complete pulmonary function testing at baseline; 12. Patients receiving prednisone at a dose exceeding 2 mg/kg/day prior to screening; 13. Patients receiving intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) prior to screening must discontinue treatment for at least 30 days; 14. Patients who used one or more of the following medications within the specified time window prior to screening:
• Rituximab within 6 months prior to screening;
• JAK inhibitors within 2 weeks prior to screening;

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Peking Union Medical College Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dermatomyositis

Interventions

tocilizumab; Glucocorticoids; Tacrolimus; Cyclosporine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Polymyositis; Myositis; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Connective Tissue Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Skin Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Pharmacologic Actions; Chemical Actions and Uses; Macrolides; Lactones; Organic Chemicals; Cyclosporins; Peptides, Cyclic; Macrocyclic Compounds; Polycyclic Compounds; Peptides; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins

Central Study Contacts

Hanqi Wang

CONTACT

+86 15810927696; wanghanqi0629@163.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 23, 2025
• First Posted: January 29, 2026
• Study Start: November 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Last Updated: January 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)