Chen DM, Odueyungbo A, Csinady E, et al. - Via utilizing data collected in a French investigator-initiated, phase 3, open-label, randomized, controlled trial, researchers tested the effectiveness and safety of rituximab and sought approval from health authorities for its use in pemphigus vulgaris (PV), a group of autoimmune bullous disorders involving mucous membranes and/or skin. According to disease severity, participants were randomized to rituximab plus 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg/day prednisone tapered over 3 or 6 months or 1.0 or 1.5 mg/kg/day prednisone-alone tapered over 12 or 18 months, respectively. According to findings, rituximab plus short-term prednisone was more effective than prednisone alone in patients with moderate to severe PV. Patients treated with rituximab were less exposed to corticosteroids (CS) and less likely to have serious or life-threatening CS-related adverse events. In patients with moderate to severe PV, no new safety concerns with rituximab were identified.