Follow-up results of myositis patients treated with H. P. Acthar gel

A Narrative Review of Acthar Gel for the Treatment of Myositis

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are autoimmune disorders characterized by symmetric proximal muscle weakness and chronic inflammation, with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The current standard of care includes traditional immunosuppressive pharmacotherapies; however, some patients cannot tolerate or do not adequately respond to these therapies, highlighting the need for alternative treatments for refractory disease. Acthar^® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) is a naturally sourced mixture of adrenocorticotropic hormone analogs and other pituitary peptides that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration since 1952 for use in patients with two subgroups of IIMs, dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM). However, it has not been routinely used in the treatment of IIMs. While Acthar may induce steroidogenesis, it also has a steroid-independent mechanism of action by exerting immunomodulatory effects through the activation of melanocortin receptors on immune cells, such as macrophages, B cells, and T cells. Recent clinical trials, retrospective analyses, and case reports add to the growing evidence suggesting that Acthar may be effective in patients with DM and PM. Here we review the current evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of Acthar for the treatment of refractory DM and PM.

Investigating characteristics of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy flares using daily symptom data collected via a smartphone app

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to use daily data collected via a smartphone app for characterization of patient-reported and symptom-based (using an a priori definition) flares in an adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) cohort.

METHODS

UK adults with an IIM answered patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs) daily via a smartphone app during a 91-day study. Daily symptom PROMs addressed global activity, overall pain, myalgia, fatigue, and weakness (on a 0-100 visual analogue scale). Patient-reported flares were recorded via a weekly app question. Symptom-based flares were defined via an a priori definition related to increase in daily symptom data from the previous 4-day mean.

RESULTS

Twenty participants (65% female) participated. Patient-reported flares occurred on a median of 5 weeks (IQR 3, 7) per participant, out of a possible 13. The mean of each symptom score was significantly higher in flare weeks, compared with non-flare weeks (e.g. mean flare week myalgia score 34/100, vs 21/100 during non-flare week, t test P-value <0.01). Fatigue accounted for the most symptom-based flares [incidence-rate 23/100 person-days (95% CI 19, 27)], and myalgia the fewest [incidence rate 13/100 person-days (95% CI 11, 16)]. Symptom-based flares typically resolved after 3 days, although fatigue-predominant flares lasted 2 days. The majority (69%) of patient-reported flare weeks coincided with at least one symptom-based flare.

CONCLUSIONS

IIM flares are frequent and associated with increased symptom scores. This study has demonstrated the ability to identify and characterize patient-reported and symptom-based flares (based on an a priori definition), using daily app-collected data.

Repository Corticotropin Injection for the Treatment of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: A Narrative Review

Although corticosteroids are the standard first-line therapy for pulmonary sarcoidosis, long-term and high-dose use of these drugs are associated with increased risk of adverse events and high healthcare utilization costs. Treatment guidelines for pulmonary sarcoidosis indicate that off-label immunomodulators and biologics may be warranted for severe disease. Repository corticotropin injection (RCI, Acthar^® Gel), a complex mixture of adrenocorticotropic hormone analogs and other pituitary peptides, is one of only two therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for symptomatic pulmonary sarcoidosis and is recommended by current European Respiratory Society treatment guidelines for use on a case-by-case basis. With its unique anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mechanism of action through activation of melanocortin receptors in various cell types, RCI has demonstrated steroid-sparing properties. RCI has a long history of use in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, with proven safety and efficacy for pulmonary sarcoidosis. In this narrative review, we present the clinical evidence for the safety and efficacy of RCI in the treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis, identify where RCI falls within the current treatment guidelines, and describe the unique mechanism of action of RCI for promoting anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), also known as myositis, are a heterogeneous group of autoimmune disorders with varying clinical manifestations, treatment responses and prognoses. Muscle weakness is usually the classical clinical manifestation but other organs can be affected, including the skin, joints, lungs, heart and gastrointestinal tract, and they can even result in the predominant manifestations, supporting that IIM are systemic inflammatory disorders. Different myositis-specific auto-antibodies have been identified and, on the basis of clinical, histopathological and serological features, IIM can be classified into several subgroups - dermatomyositis (including amyopathic dermatomyositis), antisynthetase syndrome, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, inclusion body myositis, polymyositis and overlap myositis. The prognoses, treatment responses and organ manifestations vary among these groups, implicating different pathophysiological mechanisms in each subtype. A deeper understanding of the molecular pathways underlying the pathogenesis and identifying the auto-antigens of the immune reactions in these subgroups is crucial to improving outcomes. New, more homogeneous subgroups defined by auto-antibodies may help define disease mechanisms and will also be important in future clinical trials for the development of targeted therapies and in identifying biomarkers to guide treatment decisions for the individual patient.

Clinical trials and novel therapeutics in dermatomyositis

INTRODUCTION

Currently, there are no proven drugs that are FDA approved for the treatment of dermatomyositis (DM), even though multiple clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate safety and efficacy of novel therapeutics in DM. The purpose of this review is to highlight the biological plausibility, existing clinical evidence as well as completed and ongoing clinical trials for various drugs in pipeline for development for use in dermatomyositis.

AREAS COVERED

The drugs with the strongest evidence have been included in this review with a focus on the mechanism of their action pertaining to the disease process, clinical studies including completed and ongoing trials. With better understanding of the underlying pathophysiologic process, there are new molecular targets that have been identified that can be targeted by these novel drugs, predominantly biologic drugs.

EXPERT OPINION

There are various drugs being evaluated in phase II/III clinical trials that hold promise in DM. At the forefront of these are immunoglobulin, Lenabasum, and Abatacept for which phase III clinical trials are ongoing. In addition, promising clinical studies are ongoing or reported for KZR-616, anti-B cell therapy, anti-interferon drugs, and Repository Corticotrophin Injection (RCI).