This was an exploratory (non-confirmatory) randomized, patient-, investigator-, sponsor- blinded, placebo controlled study of VAY736 in IPF patients. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of 300 mg VAY736 administered subcutaneously (s.c.) every 4 weeks for 48 weeks.
Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio on top of local standard of care (SOC), to receive VAY736 or placebo. Randomized subjects entered the treatment epoch (for up to 48 weeks), followed by two follow-up epochs: the PK/safety follow-up epoch and the PD/safety follow-up epoch. The PK/safety follow-up epoch lasted for 20 weeks. When the PK/safety follow-up epoch was completed, participants in the placebo arm were discharged from the study; but participants in the active arm (those who had received VAY736) continued into the PD/safety follow-up epoch. Participants in the PD/safety follow-up epoch were followed until B-cell recovery (in the peripheral blood), defined as: B cells \>=50/μL or B cells \>= 80% of baseline (whichever occurred first). If a participant had not recovered his/her B-cells after a period of 2 years from the last dose of VAY736, then this participant was discharged from the study.
