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Burmester GR, Strand V, Kivitz AJ, Hu CC, Wang S, van Hoogstraten H, Klier GL, Fleischmann R. Long-term safety and efficacy of sarilumab with or without background csDMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2023; 62:3268-3279. [PMID: 36727470 PMCID: PMC10547516 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of sarilumab with/without conventional synthetic (cs)DMARDs in RA. METHODS The analyses evaluated two open-label extensions (OLEs): EXTEND and MONARCH OLE, which included patients from six randomized trials. Patients received sarilumab 200 mg once every 2 weeks (q2w) for at least 264 weeks up to 516 weeks (EXTEND: Sarilumab Monotherapy and Sarilumab + csDMARD groups) or for 276 weeks (MONARCH OLE: Continuation and Switch groups). Primary endpoints included safety, immunogenicity and changes in laboratory parameters. Secondary endpoints included clinical signs and symptoms along with health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) questionnaires. RESULTS The Sarilumab Monotherapy (n = 111), Continuation (n = 165) and Switch (n = 155) groups received sarilumab monotherapy, while the Sarilumab + csDMARD group (n = 1910) received sarilumab in combination with csDMARDs. Incidence of one or more treatment-emergent adverse events was 126 (Sarilumab Monotherapy group), 169 (Sarilumab + csDMARD group), 159 (Continuation group) and 159 (Switch group) events/100 patient-years. Neutropenia was the most common adverse event. Neutropenia was not associated with an increased incidence of infections. Most neutropenia cases normalized on-treatment. Adverse events of special interests, such as malignancies, major adverse cardiovascular events, venous thromboembolism and gastrointestinal perforations, were rare. Immunogenicity was low and not associated with hypersensitivity reactions or discontinuations due to lack or loss of efficacy. Improvements in clinical signs and symptoms and HRQOL, observed during the initial blinded trials, were maintained throughout the OLE assessment period. CONCLUSIONS Long-term sarilumab treatment with/without csDMARDs in patients with RA revealed no new safety findings. Efficacy and HRQOL were maintained or further increased over the open-label assessment period. TRIAL REGISTRATION EXTEND, ClinicalTrials.gov, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01146652, NCT01146652; MONARCH OLE, ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02332590, NCT02332590.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerd R Burmester
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vibeke Strand
- Division of Immunology/Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Alan J Kivitz
- Department of Rheumatology, Altoona Center for Clinical Research, Duncansville, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Roy Fleischmann
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Metroplex Clinical Research Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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Curtis JR, Aletaha D, Burmester G, Ford K, van Hoogstraten H, Praestgaard A, Bykerk VP. Improvement or Worsening of Disease Activity After Switch to Sarilumab in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis With a Partial Response to Adalimumab. J Clin Rheumatol 2023; 29:196-201. [PMID: 36858816 DOI: 10.1097/rhu.0000000000001946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the effect of switching from adalimumab to sarilumab monotherapy in partial responders with rheumatoid arthritis from the MONARCH randomized trial and its open-label extension (OLE). METHODS Partial response was defined as improvement in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of 12 or 6 units (baseline score: >22 or >10 and ≤22, respectively). Proportions of adalimumab partial responders with meaningful worsening or improvement at OLE weeks 12 and 24 were evaluated using 2 CDAI thresholds (≥6 and ≥12 points), 28-joint Disease Activity Score using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (≥0.6 and ≥1.2 points), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (≥0.22 and ≥0.30 points), Simple Disease Activity Index (≥7 and ≥13 points), physician and patient global assessments (≥10 and ≥20), and 28-joint swollen and tender joint counts (≥1 and ≥2 joints). Outcomes were analyzed using mixed-effect models with repeated measures for observed cases. The p values were produced using Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS Of 369 enrolled patients, 320 (87%) entered the OLE and 155 switched from adalimumab to sarilumab; 59% (91/155) were partial responders. At week 24, 4%-17% and 2%-12% of partial responders experienced a worsening using the lower and higher thresholds, respectively, whereas 47%-78% and 27%-66% experienced improvement. CONCLUSIONS Partial responders to adalimumab who switched to sarilumab had a low likelihood of experiencing meaningful worsening, with most patients showing meaningful improvement or no change in disease activity. This may help alleviate patients' fears of worsening when considering switching to a treatment with a different mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Curtis
- From the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Daniel Aletaha
- Division of Rheumatology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Sepriano A, Kerschbaumer A, Bergstra SA, Smolen JS, van der Heijde D, Caporali R, Edwards CJ, Verschueren P, de Souza S, Pope J, Takeuchi T, Hyrich K, Winthrop KL, Aletaha D, Stamm T, Schoones JW, Landewé RBM. Safety of synthetic and biological DMARDs: a systematic literature review informing the 2022 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2023; 82:107-118. [PMID: 36376026 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2022-223357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To perform a systematic literature review (SLR) concerning the safety of synthetic(s) and biological (b) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to inform the 2022 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS SLR of observational studies comparing safety outcomes of any DMARD with another intervention in RA. A comparator group was required for inclusion. For treatments yet without, or limited, registry data, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were used. RESULTS Fifty-nine observational studies addressed the safety of DMARDs. Two studies (unclear risk of bias (RoB)) showed an increased risk of serious infections with bDMARDs compared with conventional synthetic (cs)DMARDs. Herpes zoster infections occurred more with JAKi than csDMARDs (adjusted HR (aHR): 3.66) and bDMARDs (aHR: 1.9-2.3) (four studies, two low RoB). The risk of malignancies was similar across bDMARDs (five studies) and with tofacitinib compared with bDMARDs (one study, low RoB). The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was similar with bDMARDs and tofacitinib (two studies, one low RoB). Thirty studies reported safety from RCTs, with one, designed to evaluate safety, showing that malignancies (HR (95% CI): 1.48 (1.04 to 2.09)) and MACE (HR (95% CI): 1.33 (0.91 to 1.94)) occurred numerically more frequently with tofacitinib (5 mg and 10 mg doses combined) than with TNFi in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. In this study, the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) was higher with tofacitinib 10 mg than with TNFi. CONCLUSION The safety profile of bDMARDs was further demonstrated. Whether the difference in incidence of malignancies, MACE and VTE between tofacitinib and TNFi applies to other JAKi needs further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Sepriano
- CHRC Campus Nova Medical School, Lisboa, Portugal .,Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Kerschbaumer
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | | | - Josef S Smolen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.,2nd Department of Medicine, Hietzing Hospital, Wien, Austria
| | | | - Roberto Caporali
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, ASS G. Pini, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.,Department of Rheumatology, ASST PINI-CTO, Milan, Italy
| | - Christopher J Edwards
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Patrick Verschueren
- Rheumatology, KU Leuven University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium.,Engineering Research Centre, Lueven, Belgium
| | - Savia de Souza
- Patient Research Partner Network, European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Janet Pope
- Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Western Ontario Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tsutomu Takeuchi
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine Graduate School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Japan.,Saitama Medical University, Iruma-gun, Japan
| | - Kimme Hyrich
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Kevin L Winthrop
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Daniel Aletaha
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Tanja Stamm
- Section for Outcomes Research, Centre for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.,Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Ludwig Boltzmann, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan W Schoones
- Walaeus Library, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robert B M Landewé
- Amsterdam Rheumatology Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Rheumatology, Zuyderland Medical Centre Heerlen, Heerlen, The Netherlands
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Maioli G, Caporali R, Favalli EG. Lessons learned from the preclinical discovery and development of sarilumab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:799-813. [PMID: 35757853 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2093852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis is driven by a complex network of proinflammatory cytokines, among which interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a key role in inducing and perpetuating chronic inflammation. Targeting the IL-6 pathway has shown to be an invaluable treatment strategy, as demonstrated by the results accrued in the last decade with the first IL-6 inhibitor, tocilizumab. More recently, a second monoclonal antibody blocking IL-6, sarilumab, has enriched our armamentarium by proving outstanding efficacy in RA treatment. AREAS COVERED After exploring the IL-6 pathway under physiological conditions and in the RA pathogenesis, in this review we discuss the pharmacologic properties of sarilumab and the clinical trials that constitute the sarilumab development program and have enabled its licensed application. EXPERT OPINION Results from clinical trials confirmed the efficacy and safety of sarilumab for the treatment of RA, similar to its precursor tocilizumab. Blocking IL-6 pathway results in comprehensive control of the disease, from both physician's and patient's perspective, and of RA comorbidities and extra-articular manifestations which are largely IL-6 driven. Finally, the proven efficacy of sarilumab as monotherapy arises the drug as a required therapeutic alternative considering the large proportion of patients intolerant or inadequate to receive conventional synthetic disease-modifying drugs (csDMARDs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Maioli
- Division of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Research Center for Adult and Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Caporali
- Division of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Research Center for Adult and Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ennio Giulio Favalli
- Division of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Research Center for Adult and Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Cantini F, Goletti D, Benucci M, Foti R, Damiani A, Niccoli L. Tailored first-line biologic and targeted synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: 2021 updated ITABIO statements. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2021; 21:613-623. [PMID: 34937466 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2022.2020247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In 2015, the Italian board for the TAilored BIOlogic therapy (ITABIO) proposed evidence-based decisional statements for first-line tailored biologic therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Taking into account the new licensed drugs, the aim of the present review was to update the previous statements. AREAS COVERED A narrative review of the most recent evidence on the efficacy and safety of old and newly licensed drugs for the treatment of articular and extra-articular RA was performed. In addition, host-related variables potentially driving the therapy choice, such as the infection risk, the cardiovascular risk, the risk of deep vein thrombosis, thromboembolism, pregnancy, and obesity were analyzed. Consequently, several statements for personalized therapy were formulated, thus providing a decisional algorithm useful for proper personalized therapy of RA patients in clinical practice. EXPERT OPINION Several clinical variables related to specific drug and host characteristics may drive the choice toward anti-TNF and non-anti-TNF biologics, or anti-JAKs, thus allowing to personalize the therapy. Consequently, the right therapy for the right patient would ensure a successful therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Delia Goletti
- Translational Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, "L. Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI), IRCCS, Via,Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Benucci
- Rheumatology Unit, Hospital S. Giovanni di Dio, Azienda USL-Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy
| | - Rosario Foti
- Rheumatology Unit, Vittorio-Emanuele University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Arianna Damiani
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Niccoli
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital of Prato, Prato Italy
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A double-blind, double-dummy, randomized controlled, multicenter trial of 99Tc-methylene diphosphonate in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Chin Med J (Engl) 2021; 134:1457-1464. [PMID: 34039871 PMCID: PMC8213301 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000001527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Clinical observational studies revealed that 99Tc-methylene diphosphonate (99Tc-MDP) could reduce joint pain and swollenness in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy study aimed to evaluate the effects of 99Tc-MDP plus methotrexate (MTX) vs. MTX alone or 99Tc-MDP alone on disease activity and structural damage in MTX-naïve Chinese patients with moderate to severe RA. Methods: Eligible patients with moderate to severely active RA were randomized to receive 99Tc-MDP plus MTX (n = 59) vs. MTX (n = 59) alone or 99Tc-MDP (n = 59) alone for 48 weeks from six study sites across four provinces in China. The primary outcomes were the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement (ACR20) response rates at week 24 and changes in modified total Sharp score at week 48. Results: At week 24, the proportion of participants achieving ACR20 was significantly higher in the MTX + 99Tc-MDP combination group (69.5%) than that in the MTX group (50.8%) or 99Tc-MDP group (47.5%) (P = 0.03 for MTX + 99Tc-MDP vs. MTX, and MTX + 99Tc-MDP vs.99Tc-MDP, respectively). The participants in the MTX + 99Tc-MDP group and the 99Tc-MDP group had significantly less important radiographic progression than the participants in the MTX group over the 48 weeks (MTX + 99Tc-MDP vs. MTX: P = 0.03, 99Tc-MDP vs. MTX: P = 0.03, respectively). There was no significant difference in terms of adverse events (AEs) among the groups. No serious AEs were observed. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the combination of 99Tc-MDP with MTX inhibited structural damage and improved disease activity in RA patients compared with MTX and 99Tc-MDP monotherapies, without increasing the rate of AEs. Additional clinical studies of 99Tc-MDP therapy in patients with RA are warranted. Trial Registration: Chictr.org, ChiCTR-IPR-14005684; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=10088.
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Woś I, Tabarkiewicz J. Effect of interleukin-6, -17, -21, -22, and -23 and STAT3 on signal transduction pathways and their inhibition in autoimmune arthritis. Immunol Res 2021; 69:26-42. [PMID: 33515210 PMCID: PMC7921069 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-021-09173-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Rheumatic diseases are complex autoimmune diseases which include among others rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). These diseases are characterized by prolonged and increased secretion of inflammatory factors, eventually leading to inflammation. This is often accompanied by persistent pain and stiffness in the joint and finally bone destruction and osteoporosis. These diseases can occur at any age, regardless of gender or origin. Autoimmune arthritis is admittedly associated with long-term treatment, and discontinuation of medication is associated with unavoidable relapse. Therefore, it is important to detect the disease at an early stage and apply appropriate preventative measures. During inflammation, pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukins (IL)-6, -17, -21, -22, and -23 are secreted, while anti-inflammatory factors including IL-10 are downregulated. Research conducted over the past several years has focused on inhibiting inflammatory pathways and activating anti-inflammatory factors to improve the quality of life of people with rheumatic diseases. The aim of this paper is to review current knowledge on stimulatory and inhibitory pathways involving the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). STAT3 has been shown to be one of the crucial factors involved in inflammation and is directly linked with other pro-inflammatory factors and thus is a target of current research on rheumatoid diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Woś
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Medicine, Centre for Innovative Research in Medical and Natural Sciences, College for Medical Sciences of University of Rzeszow, ul. Warzywna 1a, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland
- Department of Human Immunology, Institute of Medical Sciences, College for Medical Sciences of University of Rzeszow, ul. Warzywna 1a, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Jacek Tabarkiewicz
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Medicine, Centre for Innovative Research in Medical and Natural Sciences, College for Medical Sciences of University of Rzeszow, ul. Warzywna 1a, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland
- Department of Human Immunology, Institute of Medical Sciences, College for Medical Sciences of University of Rzeszow, ul. Warzywna 1a, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland
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Interleukin-6 in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155238. [PMID: 32718086 PMCID: PMC7432115 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of interleukin (IL)-6 in health and disease has been under a lot of scrutiny in recent years, particularly during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The inflammatory pathways in which IL-6 is involved are also partly responsible of the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), opening interesting perspectives in terms of therapy. Anti-IL-6 drugs are being used with variable degrees of success in other diseases and are being tested in RA. Results have been encouraging, particularly when anti-IL-6 has been used with other drugs, such as metothrexate (MTX). In this review we discuss the main immunologic aspects that make anti-IL-6 a good candidate in RA, but despite the main therapeutic options available to target IL-6, no gold standard treatment has been established so far.
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