Ublituximab: A new FDA-approved anti-CD20 mAb for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis

Vinícius Oliveira Boldrini1, Simone Mader2, Tania Kümpfel2

  • 1Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Ublituximab, an intravenous glycoengineered chimeric anti-CD20 IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), is a new FDA-approved treatment for relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Reassembling the other three anti-CD20 mAbs already in use for MS (rituximab, ocrelizumab and ofatumumab), ublituximab leads to depletion of B cells but spars long-lived plasma cells. Here, we discuss the main findings obtained during the phase 3 clinical trials (ULTIMATE I and II) for ublituximab versus teriflunomide. The current emergence and approval of new anti-CD20 mAbs with different dose regimens, routes of application, glycoengineering and mechanisms of action may contribute to different clinical outcomes.