Could a targeted antibody outdo steroids for a rare kidney disease?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Understands and agrees to comply with the study procedures and provides informed consent as documented by signature 2. Male or female patients aged 18 years or older at the time of consent 3. Confirmed first episode of nephrotic syndrome at trial enrolment (serum albumin \<30g/l and UPCR \>3g/g creatinine (\>300 mg/mmol) secondary to de novo MCD 4. Histologically confirmed MCD (latest before randomization to Arm A or B) 5. Only applies to women of childbearing potential (WOCBP): 1. Has a high sensitivity negative urine/serum pregnancy test at screening 2. Agrees to follow contraceptive guidance until 18 months after 2nd obinutuzumab treatment (if randomized to Arm B) 6. Only applies to trial sites in France: Patients affiliated with the French health care system Exclusion Criteria: 1. MCD due to secondary causes, including malignancy of a type likely to be associated with MCD (i.e., lymphoproliferative disorders), or potentially related to treatment known to be associated with MCD occurrence (lithium, interferon, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) 2. Family history of MCD or in a first degree relative unless previously shown to be steroid-responsive 3. Previous B cell depletion, independent of the agent and treatment target (i.e., CD20, CD38, etc.), within 18 months preceding baseline of the trial, or 12 months if there is evidence of B cell return in peripheral lymphocyte subsets 4. Previous cyclophosphamide within 6 months preceding baseline of the trial 5. Treatment with Predniso(lo)ne within screening phase (before randomization) 6. Evidence of current or past infection with Hepatitis B, C or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (unless appropriate prophylaxis is given and no replicating virus is detected) 7. Evidence of active severe infection requiring systemic antibacterial, antifungal or antiviral therapy within 14 days prior to first dose of study drug 8. Severe heart failure or severe, uncontrolled cardiac disease (NYHA class III or IV) 9. Patient with a history of prior malignancy within 5 years before the first dose of study drug. Exceptions may apply for the following: malignancies with a negligible risk of metastasis or death such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, nonmelanoma skin carcinoma, ductal carcinoma in situ, or Stage I uterine cancer 10. Pregnant or breast-feeding women 11. Live vaccine administration in the four weeks prior to screening and during the study duration of 52 weeks 12. Previous/known hypersensitivity to predniso(lo)ne or obinutuzumab or to any of the excipients to be in accordance with the SmPC of Gazyvaro 13. Co-enrolment in another clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product 14. Any other reason which, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator (PI), renders the patient unsuitable for the trial.