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      <Title language="en">Plasma cell depletion as an approach to reset autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis &#8211; the CURACTA trial</Title>
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          <Corporatename>German Medical Science GMS Publishing House</Corporatename>
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        <Address>D&#252;sseldorf</Address>
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      <SubjectheadingDDB>610</SubjectheadingDDB>
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    <DatePublishedList>
      <DatePublished>20250917</DatePublished>
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    <Language>engl</Language>
    <License license-type="open-access" xlink:href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">
      <AltText language="en">This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.</AltText>
      <AltText language="de">Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung).</AltText>
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        <MeetingId>M0627</MeetingId>
        <MeetingSequence>140</MeetingSequence>
        <MeetingCorporation>Deutsche Gesellschaft f&#252;r Rheumatologie</MeetingCorporation>
        <MeetingCorporation>Deutsche Gesellschaft f&#252;r Orthop&#228;dische Rheumatologie</MeetingCorporation>
        <MeetingName>53. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft f&#252;r Rheumatologie (DGRh), 39. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft f&#252;r Orthop&#228;dische Rheumatologie (DGORh)</MeetingName>
        <MeetingTitle>Deutscher Rheumatologiekongress 2025</MeetingTitle>
        <MeetingSession>Rheumatoide Arthritis</MeetingSession>
        <MeetingCity>Wiesbaden</MeetingCity>
        <MeetingDate>
          <DateFrom>20250917</DateFrom>
          <DateTo>20250920</DateTo>
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    <ArticleNo>RA.16</ArticleNo>
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      <MainHeadline>Text</MainHeadline><Pgraph><Mark1>Introduction: </Mark1>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment concepts focus primarily on suppressing inflammatory processes, but fail to achieve a reset of autoimmunity and a stable state of drug-free remission. We hypothesize that the synergistic effect of abatacept &#91;ABC&#93; and daratumumab &#91;DARA&#93; may eliminate autoreactive antibody-producing cells while simultaneously disrupting the immunological synapse between autoreactive T cells and repopulating autoreactive B cells <TextLink reference="1"></TextLink>, <TextLink reference="2"></TextLink>, <TextLink reference="3"></TextLink>.</Pgraph><Pgraph><Mark1>Methods: </Mark1>We designed the CURACTA trial, a two-stage, interventional, prospective, multicentre, randomized, controlled, open-label, parallel-group Phase I&#47;II trial. A total of 23 patients with active RA (DAS28-ESR &#62; 3.2), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP2) positivity, and inadequate response to DMARDs will be enrolled. In phase I the safety of the combination therapy (ABC s.c. weekly &#43; methotrexate &#91;MTX&#93; &#43; DARA s.c. (week 4, 5, 6, 7) will be assessed in three subjects. In Phase II, 20 patients will be randomized 1:1 into the combination therapy and a control arm (ABC &#43; MTX). </Pgraph><Pgraph>The primary endpoint across both phases is safety, while in Phase II, the co-primary endpoint is the percentage of patients achieving anti-CCP2 antibody seroconversion at week 24. In addition, serological (e.g. glycosylation profiles of total IgG and CCP2 antibodies) and clinical endpoints will be evaluated.</Pgraph><Pgraph>The trial is funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft f&#252;r Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie (Forschungsinitiative 2025), emphasizing its importance in rheumatology and clinical immunology.</Pgraph><Pgraph><Mark1>Results: </Mark1>The study protocol of the CURACTA trial received full approval from the respective ethics committees and the Paul-Ehrlich Institute, ensuring regulatory compliance. Preparation for the Phase I&#47;II trial was successfully completed, and the study has been initiated. Initial screening visits were conducted, and Phase I recruitment has been concluded with n&#61;3 patients. The first baseline visit and initial dosing have occurred. Once all safety data have been collected and assessed in a DSMB, Phase II can be initiated.</Pgraph><Pgraph><Mark1>Conclusion: </Mark1>We designed and successfully initiated a phase I&#47;II trial to test the safety and effectiveness on seroconversion of ABC&#47;DARA combination therapy in active RA. Phase I recruitment has been completed and recruitment for Phase II is now planned. Supported by key funding, this trial represents a significant step toward innovative therapies in rheumatology.</Pgraph></TextBlock>
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