The use of low-dose etanercept as an alternative therapy for treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: a case series

Reduced doses of biological therapies in psoriasis may increase efficiency without decreasing drug survival

Off-label treatment with reduced doses of biological therapies for moderate-severe psoriasis is used, but its efficacy, safety, and persistence are not well known. We have compared reduced doses with standard an escalated doses and study predictive factors for a successful reduction of doses lasting more than 6 months. We included 303 subcutaneous treatments (33% with reduced doses and 29% with escalated doses). Eighty (80.8%) reduced treatments were successful. Patients with longer evolution of the disease or patients treated with drugs different from adalimumab presented an increased risk of failure. Median drug survival did not differ between the different dosing schedules. Adverse events percentage was higher in the group treated with standard doses. Unlike previous literature, ustekinumab is the drug most commonly used at reduced doses in the present study. We have found similar efficacy rates in patients with dose modification compared with patients with standard dose, without further persistence problems. Our results suggest that reduction of dose should be done early, at the time of reaching a good response (PASI 90 or PASI <3 in two consecutive visits) as this dosing seems to be safe and portends no problems regarding persistence or adverse effects.

A quick decrease of bone marrow edema in sacroiliac joint could be served as a novel marker for dose tapering of etanercept in ankylosing spondylitis patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of bone marrow edema (BME) in sacroiliac joint (SIJ) with clinical characteristics and clinical response, and whether the quick decrease of BME could be served as a novel marker for dose tapering of etanercept in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.Ninety active AS patients underwent etanercept treatment for 6 months were enrolled consecutively and classified into standard dose group (n = 37) and dose tapering group (n = 53). BME in SIJ and clinical response were assessed by SPARCC criteria and ASAS 40 response criteria, respectively. "Quick decrease of BME in SIJ" was defined as the decrease of SPARCC score≥50% from M0 to M1.BME in SIJ was positively correlated with pain VAS score, BASDAI score, CRP, IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-α levels. ASAS 40 response rate at M6 was lower in dose tapering group than standard dose group, while higher in patients with a quick decrease of BME in SIJ than other patients. Besides, the ASAS 40 response rate in dose tapering group was similar to standard dose group in patients with a quick decrease of BME in SIJ but was lower than standard dose group in patients without a quick decrease of BME in SIJ at M6.A quick decrease of BME in SIJ predicts better treatment response to etanercept, and it might be served as a novel marker for dose tapering initiation of etanercept in AS patients.

Effective serum level of etanercept biosimilar and effect of antidrug antibodies on drug levels and clinical efficacy in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effective serum level of etanercept biosimilar in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who achieve AS Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) < 2.1, and the effect of antidrug antibodies on drug levels and clinical efficacy.

METHODS

Our study enrolled 60 patients with AS who were treated with etanercept biosimilar. Serum and clinical data were collected at baseline and treatment weeks 4, 12, and 24. Drug levels and antidrug antibody levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay while tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels were measured using cytometric bead array. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyse effective serum level of etanercept biosimilar.

RESULTS

Patients with ASDAS-CRP ≥ 2.1 exhibited significantly lower drug levels than those with ASDAS-CRP < 2.1 did. The cut-off values of effective serum level of patients with AS who achieved ASDAS-CRP < 2.1 at weeks 4, 12, and 24 were 2.32, 2.12, and 2.36 μg/mL, respectively. Patients with drug levels above the cut-off value had lower Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and TNF-α levels. Antidrug antibodies had no effect on the Assessment of Spondylosis Arthritis International Society (ASAS) remission rates, but patients with antidrug antibodies had lower drug levels and higher TNF-α levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Detecting serum drug levels and antidrug antibody levels might facilitate estimation of the clinical efficacy and adjustment of medication regimen during etanercept biosimilar therapy in Chinese patients with AS.

Is Etanercept 25 mg Once Weekly as Effective as 50 mg at Maintaining Response in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis? A Randomized Control Trial

Objective.

To investigate, in a pilot randomized controlled trial, whether etanercept (ETN) 25 mg once weekly is effective at maintaining a clinical response in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who have responded to the standard 50 mg dose.

Methods.

Adults with AS not responding to conventional therapies were prescribed ETN 50 mg once weekly for 6 months. Responders as defined by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were randomly assigned to taper to 25 mg once weekly or continue on 50 mg and followed for a further 6 months. The primary outcome measure was maintenance of a 50% reduction in the BASDAI or fall in BASDAI by ≥ 2 units and a ≥ 2-unit reduction in BASDAI spinal pain as measured on a 10-point visual analog scale at 6 months postrandomization.

Results.

Of 89 patients assessed for eligibility, 59 were enrolled; 47 (80%) had sufficient clinical response and were eligible for randomization, 24 were assigned to continue receiving ETN 50 mg, and 23 to taper to 25 mg. After 6 months, 20 (83%) of the 50 mg arm maintained clinical response compared with 12 (52%) of the 25 mg arm (a difference of −31%, 95% CI −58% – −5%).

Conclusion.

Although this pilot study demonstrates that treatment with ETN 25 mg was less effective at maintaining treatment response in the stepdown phase, 52% of participants maintained treatment response. Future research should address which patients are suitable for tapering.

Low doses of etanercept can be effective to maintain remission in ankylosing spondylitis patients

We wanted to do a prospective open-label study to evaluate if ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients in clinical remission with twice weekly etanercept (ETN) 25 mg therapy could be changed to weekly regimen or even to every other week regimen without increased dose for injection. Thirty-eight AS patients self-administered 25 mg of ETN (Wyett) subcutaneously. According to the protocol, patients who were in clinical partial remission with twice weekly ETN 25 mg at week 12 and 16 changed to a weekly regimen without a change of the dose. If clinical remission, despite the reduction of the dose, persists at week 24 and 28, patients changed to an every-other-week regimen, continuing with this administration schedule for the entire duration of the study if at week 36 and 46 clinical remission was maintained. At the end of the study, 18 patients (47 %) were still in remission, 4 (10 %) with a weekly regimen, and 14 (37 %) with an every-other-weekly regimen. Our study indicates that a consistent percentage of subjects with AS, treated with ETN 25 mg twice weekly, achieved clinical remission within the first 3 months of therapy, and also, a substantial percentage of these patients maintains the partial remission with an every other week regimen.

Emerging drugs for axial spondyloarthritis including ankylosing spondylitis

INTRODUCTION

Only non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and TNF inhibitors (TNFi) are effective in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, not all patients successfully respond to these drugs and a subset may have contraindications to their use.

AREAS COVERED

In the last decade, an earlier diagnosis of AS has been achieved due to the increasing availability of MRI. This has led to prompt treatment initiation with improved outcomes. NSAIDs and TNFi are the current treatments for AS which lead to sustained clinical responses in the long term. Recent studies have shown other potential biomarkers in AS, such as the IL-17/IL-23 axis. This has translated into the development of new drugs which interfere with these pathways, such as apremilast and secukinumab, which have shown efficacy in early clinical trials.

EXPERT OPINION

AS carries considerable short- and long-term disabilities. Anti-TNF-α therapies reduce pain, improve function and decrease inflammation as seen by MRI. New treatment options are being developed which may prove efficacious on those patients not responding to anti-TNF. The ultimate research goal should focus on treatments to prevent and stop new bone formation.

Thalidomide reduces recurrence of ankylosing spondylitis in patients following discontinuation of etanercept

A previous study showed that most ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients presented recurrence within 6 months post-discontinuation of etanercept. How to reduce recurrence following discontinuation of etanercept should be further researched. In this study, 111 ankylosing spondylitis patients meeting the Assessment in AS 20 % response (ASAS20) criteria after 12-week administration of etanercept were randomized into three groups: Group I, 150 mg thalidomide once/day; Group II, 1 g sulfasalazine, twice/day; Group III, NSAIDs for the maintenance treatment. The patients were regularly followed up once a month, and AS recurrence was evaluated with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the patient global assessment (PGA), and rachialgia. The follow-up lasted for 1 year, and AS recurrence was considered as the end of a visit. Finally, 100 patients completed the follow-up study, of whom 30 were in Group I, 33 in Group II, and 37 in Group III. The average follow-up period was 5.1 ± 3.9 months and the longest lasted for 12 months. At the end of the follow-up study, the recurrence rates in Groups I, II, and III were, respectively, 60.0 % (18/30), 84.8 % (28/33), and 89.2 % (33/37). The recurrence rates of Group I were statistically significantly lower than that of Group II and III (P = 0.0265; P = 0.0053), while there was no significant difference between Group II and Group III. In addition, we found that PGA, C-reactive protein (CRP), and spinal inflammation could be regarded as predictive factors for AS recurrence by analysis with the Cox proportional hazard model. This study points to a new way for maintenance therapy of AS following discontinuation of etanercept and reveals several useful indicators for prediction of AS recurrence.

Economic considerations of the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with both significant direct and indirect costs, which vary by country, and have generally increased dramatically since the introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. The cost-effectiveness of biologic agents is controversial, although cost-effectiveness studies need to consider the potential impact of anti-tumor necrosis factor treatments on work ability. Alternatives to reduce costs associated with biologics have been examined, including on-demand dosing and lower dose alternatives. Other treatment measures, such as total hip arthroplasty and physical therapy, are also effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with AS, although the optimal type or combination of physical therapy treatment modalities, the optimal frequency and duration of treatment and whether therapy is equally effective in stable disease and uncontrolled AS need to be determined. No studies have examined differences in patient outcomes based on subspecialty care. Establishing an evidence base for these questions would help inform policy decisions to design the most cost-effective measures to treat AS.