Secukinumab Effective for Inhibiting Radiographic Progression in PsA

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SAN DIEGO — Subcutaneous secukinumab is effective in treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA), especially in patients who have not previously received treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents, according to research presented at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting.

The primary results of the FUTURE5 Study (Study to Demonstrate the Efficacy [Including Inhibition of Structural Damage], Safety and Tolerability up to 2 Years of Secukinumab in Active Psoriatic Arthritis; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02404350) were presented in a late-breaking abstract session.

Study participants (n=996) with active PsA were randomly assigned 2:2:2:3 to receive secukinumab 300 mg with a loading dose, secukinumab 150 mg with a loading dose, secukinumab 150 mg without a loading dose, or placebo at baseline and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks, followed by dosing every 4 weeks. Placebo nonresponders (<20% improvement in tender or swollen joint counts from baseline) at week 16 were switched to either 300 mg or 150 mg of secukinumab.

The primary study end point was ACR20 at week 16; the secondary end point was radiographic structural progression measured via modified total van der Heijde Sharp score (mTSS) at weeks 16 and 24.

Participants receiving secukinumab experienced “significantly improved” ACR20 at week 16 compared with those receiving placebo; mTSS was significantly improved at week 24 in all treatment groups vs placebo. More patients receiving secukinumab had no radiographic progression vs the placebo group: 88% in the 300-mg group, 79% in the 150-mg group, 83% in the 150-mg without loading dose group, and 73% in the placebo group. Overall, secukinumab efficacy was greater in patients who had not undergone treatment with anti-TNF agents.

“Subcutaneous secukinumab … inhibited radiographic structural progression and provided rapid and clinically significant improvements in the signs, symptoms, and physical functions of patients with PsA,” the researchers concluded. “The safety profile was consistent with that previously reported, with no new safety signals identified.”

Disclosures: All study investigators report a relationship with Novartis Pharmaceuticals. For a full list of disclosures, see the study abstract, published here.

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Reference

Mease PJ, van der Heijde D, Landewé RBM, et al. Subcutaneous secukinumab inhibits radiographic progression in psoriatic arthritis: primary results from a large, randomized, controlled, double-blind phase 3 study. Presented at: ACR/ARHP 2017; November 3-8, 2017; San Diego, CA. Abstract 17L.