ME/CFS Science @mecfsscience.org · 13/01/20263) Unfortunately, this hypothesis didn’t pan out as the phase III rituximab trial showed; ME/CFS patients on the drug fared no better than the control group. Link to the rituximab trial: www.acpjournals.org/... 2130
ME/CFS Science @mecfsscience.org · 13/01/20264) There is, however, a group of long-lived and mature B-cells that produce lots of antibodies but do not express the CD20 protein. These are called plasma cells. They hide inside the bone marrow or gut and could have survived the rituximab treatment. 1140
ME/CFS Science @mecfsscience.org · 13/01/20265) Instead of CD20, plasma cells express the CD38 protein on their surface. By using daratumumab, which targets CD38, researchers hope to kill these plasma cells and stop the production of autoantibodies. Results from the pilot study were promising:frontiersin.orgFrontiers | Plasma cell targeting with the anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome—a clinical pilot studyBackgroundMyalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) entails low quality of life for patients and massive societal costs. There is an urgent... 1140
