AT the ACR annual meeting
BOSTON (FRONTLINE MEDICAL NEWS) – Secukinumab improved quality of life and symptoms in patients with psoriatic arthritis, regardless of whether they had received prior anti-tumor-necrosis factor therapy or were concurrently receiving methotrexate, Dr. Ian B. McInnes reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
A 300-mg dose of the investigational drug, which is given subcutaneously, proved to be the most effective dose, Dr. McInnes, of the University of Glasgow, Scotland, said in his presentation of the 24-week results of the FUTURE 2 study . The primary endpoint, a response of at least ACR20, was achieved by 54% of 100 patients given the 300-mg dose and by 51% of 100 patients given the 150-mg dose. The 75-mg dose was far less effective, with a 29% response in 99 patients; the 98 patients given placebo had a 15% response.
At the 150-mg and 300-mg doses, the rates of ACR20 responses were comparable whether or not patients were also taking concomitant methotrexate. Further, the drug’s safety profile was comparable to placebo, Dr. McInnes said.
An ACR50 was achieved by 35% of patients given secukinumab at either 300 mg or 150 mg, and by 18% of those given 75 mg and 7% of those given placebo. About 20% of patients given the higher doses had an ACR70 response, as did 6% of those given 75 mg and 1% of those given placebo.
At the 300-mg dose, secukinumab also resolved dactylitis and enthesitis in approximately half of the affected patients.
Mean improvements in quality of life based on patients’ SF 36 PCS score (Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary) at 24 weeks from baseline were 7.25 in those on the 300-mg dose and 6.39 in those on the 150-mg dose. Those on the 75-mg dose had a 4.38-point mean improvement, whereas patients on placebo had a 1.34-point mean improvement in SF 36 PCS.
No safety signals were noted; adverse events were few and comparable to placebo. Five subjects on the active drug had mild to moderate candidal infections that responded to oral therapy. Neutropenia occurred in one patient in the 300-mg dose group and in one patient in the placebo group, but was transient and patients continued on therapy.
Secukinumab is a fully-human IgG1k monoclonal antibody that selectively targets IL-17A. The drug, manufactured by Novartis, was unanimously recommended for approval by an advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration. It was administered weekly as a subcutaneous injection for the first 4 weeks of the study, then given again at week 8 and once every 4 weeks thereafter in patients assigned to one of the secukinumab arms of the double-blind, randomized study. Patient assigned to the placebo group were either responders and assigned to receive secukinumab at week 24 and every 4 weeks thereafter or were nonresponders assigned to receive secukinumab at week 16 and every 4 weeks thereafter. Only patients with at least 20% reductions in the number of tender joints or swollen joints continue to receive the drug beyond 1 year.
To be eligible for the study, patients needed to have a diagnosis of active psoriatic arthritis classified by CASPAR criteria and tenderness in at least 3 of 78 joints and swelling of at least 3 of 76 joints. They additionally needed to have an inadequate response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate, or anti-TNF therapy
The primary endpoint of the study was ACR20 response at 24 weeks. Secondary endpoints included PASI 75 and PASI 90 responses, change in DAS28-CRP (28-joint Disease Activity Score using C-reactive protein) from baseline, change in SF-36 PCS and HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index) from baseline, ACR50 response, the proportion of subjects with dactylitis and enthesitis, and overall safety and tolerability.
The study was sponsored by Novartis, the maker of secukinumab. Dr. McInnes receives consulting fees from Novartis as well as multiple other pharmaceutical companies.
