TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
The present invention concerns treatment of autoimmune diseases with antagonists which bind to B cell surface markers, such as CD19 or CD20.
1 . A method of treating multiple sclerosis in a human comprising administering to the human a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody which binds to human CD20 and depletes B cells, and wherein the antibody is not conjugated with a cytotoxic agent.
2 - 4 . (canceled)
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the antibody comprises rituximab.
6 . The method of claim 1 comprising administering a dose of substantially less than 375 mg/m 2 of the antibody to the human.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the dose is in the range from about 20 mg/m 2 to about 250 mg/m 2 .
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the dose is in the range from about 50 mg/m 2 to about 200 mg/m 2 .
9 . The method of claim 1 comprising administering an initial dose of the antibody followed by a subsequent dose, wherein the mg/m 2 dose of the antibody in the subsequent dose exceeds the mg/m 2 dose of the antibody in the initial dose.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the antibody is a humanized, chimeric, or human antibody.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the antibody is administered as a dose in the range from about 20 mg/m 2 to about 1000 mg/m 2 .
12 . A method of treating multiple sclerosis in a human comprising administering to the human a therapeutically effective amount of rituximab.
13 . A method of treating multiple sclerosis in a human comprising administering to the human a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody which binds to human CD20 and depletes B cells, and wherein the antibody is administered as a dose in the range from about 20 mg/m 2 to about 250 mg/m 2 .
14 . The method of any one of claims 1 , 12 and 13 , wherein the administration of the antibody consists of intravenous administration.
15 . The method of any one of claims 1 , 12 and 13 , where the administration of the antibody consists of subcutaneous administration.