Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Golimumab in Methotrexate-Naive Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Five-Year Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of golimumab through 5 years in adults with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had not previously received methotrexate (MTX). METHODS: In the GO-BEFORE study, 637 MTX-naive adult patients with active RA were randomized (1:1:1:1) to placebo + MTX (group 1), golimumab 100 mg + placebo (group 2), golimumab 50 mg + MTX (group 3), or golimumab 100 mg + MTX (group 4). Inadequate responders in groups 1, 2, and 3 entered early escape at week 28 to golimumab 50 mg + MTX, golimumab 100 mg + MTX, or golimumab 100 mg + MTX, respectively; remaining patients in group 1 could cross over to golimumab 50 mg + MTX at week 52. Assessments included the American College of Rheumatology 20%/50%/70% improvement criteria (ACR20/50/70) response, the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) using C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and the modified Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS). Efficacy was analyzed using an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis. Pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity were evaluated at selected visits. RESULTS: A total of 422 patients completed golimumab treatment through week 256. At week 256, 72.8%, 54.6%, and 38.0% of all patients in the full ITT population (n = 637) had an ACR20/50/70 response, respectively; 84.1% had a good or moderate DAS28-CRP response; and 72.7% had a clinically meaningful improvement in physical function. Radiographic progression was minimal in all treatment groups through week 256, and the overall mean change from baseline in SHS was 1.36. Serum trough golimumab concentrations were approximately dose proportional and maintained through week 256. Antibodies to golimumab occurred in 9.6% of patients through week 256. Infections were the most common type of adverse event (AE); 204 of 616 patients (33.1%) had ≥1 serious AE. CONCLUSION: Clinical efficacy with golimumab treatment was maintained through week 256 of the GO-BEFORE trial of MTX-naive RA patients. No unexpected AEs occurred; safety results through 5 years are consistent with earlier reports.

Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Golimumab in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis despite Methotrexate Therapy: Final 5-year Results of the GO-FORWARD Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of golimumab (GOL), a human antitumor necrosis factor antibody, in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite methotrexate (MTX) therapy through 5 years in the GO-FORWARD trial. METHODS: Patients with active RA despite MTX therapy were randomly assigned to receive placebo + MTX (Group 1), GOL 100 mg + placebo (Group 2), GOL 50 mg + MTX (Group 3), or GOL 100 mg + MTX (Group 4). Patients in groups 1, 2, and 3 with inadequate response could enter early escape at Week 16 to GOL 50 mg + MTX or GOL 100 mg + MTX, and all remaining Group 1 patients crossed over to GOL 50 mg + MTX at Week 24. The blind was maintained through the 52-week database lock, after which treatment adjustments were permitted. Adverse events (AE) were monitored through Week 268. Efficacy was evaluated using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20/50/70 responses and a 28-joint Disease Activity Score using C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP). Response rates at Week 256 were analyzed by an intent-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: A total of 444 patients were randomized, and 313 received GOL through Week 252; 301 patients completed the safety followup through Week 268. Infections were the most common type of AE; 172 patients (39.6%) had ≥ 1 serious AE. No unexpected safety signals were observed. At Week 256, ACR20/50/70 responses were achieved by 63.1%, 40.8%, and 24.1%, respectively, of all randomized patients. About 78% of all patients achieved a good or moderate DAS28-CRP response. CONCLUSION: Improvements in the signs and symptoms of RA were maintained through 5 years. AE through 5 years were consistent with earlier reports of the GO-FORWARD trial; no apparent increased risk was observed over time.

The effect of intravenous golimumab on health-related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis: 24-week results of the phase III GO-FURTHER trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of intravenous (IV) golimumab 2 mg/kg + methotrexate (MTX) on patient-reported measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite prior MTX therapy. METHODS: In this randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial, adults with RA were randomly assigned to receive IV placebo (n = 197) or golimumab 2 mg/kg (n = 395) infusions at Week 0, Week 4, and every 8 weeks thereafter. All patients continued stable oral MTX (15-25 mg/wk). HRQOL assessments included Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI; physical function), Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 questionnaire physical/mental component summary (SF-36 PCS/MCS) scores, EQ-5D assessment of current health state, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) questionnaire, and disease effect on productivity [10-cm visual analog scale (VAS)]. RESULTS: Mean HAQ-DI improvements from baseline were significantly greater with golimumab + MTX than placebo + MTX at Week 14 and Week 24 (p < 0.001). Significantly greater improvements in all 8 individual SF-36 subscores and both the SF-36 PCS and MCS scores (p < 0.001) also accompanied golimumab + MTX therapy. Improved EQ-5D and EQ-5D VAS (p < 0.001) and FACIT-Fatigue (p < 0.001) scores were also observed for golimumab + MTX-treated patients at Week 12, Week 16, and Week 24, and greater proportions of golimumab + MTX-treated patients had clinically meaningful improvements in these measures. Greater reductions in disease effect on productivity were observed with golimumab + MTX versus placebo + MTX at Week 24 (p < 0.001). Improvements in physical function, HRQOL, fatigue, and productivity significantly correlated with disease activity improvement. CONCLUSION: In active RA, IV golimumab + MTX significantly improved physical function, HRQOL, fatigue, and productivity using multiple measurement tools; all correlated with improvements in disease activity (NCT00973479, EudraCT 2008-006064-11).

The effect of golimumab therapy on disease activity and health-related quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: 2-year results of the GO-RAISE trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of golimumab therapy on achieving inactive disease or major improvement, as assessed by the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), and improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and productivity through 2 years in patients with AS. METHODS: In the phase III GO-RAISE trial, 356 patients were randomized to placebo with crossover to golimumab 50 mg at Week 24 (n = 78), golimumab 50 mg (n = 138), or golimumab 100 mg (n = 140) at baseline and every 4 weeks. The proportions of patients with ASDAS major improvement (improvement ≥ 2.0) or inactive disease (score < 1.3) were determined. HRQOL was assessed using the 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 physical/mental component summary (SF-36 PCS/MCS) scores (normal score ≥ 50). The effect of disease on productivity was assessed by visual analog scale (0-10). Regression analyses on the association of disease activity and HRQOL were performed. The final assessment was at Week 104. RESULTS: Significantly greater proportions of golimumab-treated patients achieved ASDAS major improvement or inactive disease at weeks 14 and 24 versus placebo. Through Week 104, patients who achieved ASDAS inactive disease or major improvement had significantly greater improvements in SF-36 PCS and MCS scores and productivity than did patients not meeting these targets. Among all patients, achieving ASDAS inactive disease at weeks 52 and 104 was associated with normalized SF-36 PCS/MCS scores and significant improvements in work productivity. CONCLUSION: Greater proportions of golimumab-treated patients achieved ASDAS major improvement or inactive disease and improved HRQOL versus placebo. Achieving an inactive disease state by ASDAS criteria (< 1.3) was associated with normalized HRQOL through 2 years.

Effect of golimumab on patient-reported outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the GO-FORWARD study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of golimumab on physical function, general health, and fatigue in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite methotrexate (MTX) therapy. METHODS: In the multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled GO-FORWARD study, 444 adults with active RA despite MTX received subcutaneous placebo + MTX (crossover to golimumab 50 mg at Week 24), golimumab 100 mg + placebo, golimumab 50 mg + MTX, or golimumab 100 mg + MTX every 4 weeks. Physical function and general health were assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and Physical and Mental Component Summary (PCS, MCS) scores of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36), respectively, through Week 52. Fatigue was measured through Week 24 using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean improvements from baseline in HAQ-DI, SF-36 PCS, and FACIT-Fatigue scores (Weeks 14 and 24) were significantly greater for golimumab 50 mg + MTX and 100 mg + MTX versus placebo + MTX. Significantly greater proportions of patients treated with golimumab + MTX achieved clinically meaningful improvements from baseline to Weeks 14 and 24 in HAQ-DI, PCS, and FACIT-Fatigue scores. Mean improvements in SF-36 PCS (Week 14), MCS (Week 24), and FACIT-Fatigue (Weeks 14 and 24) scores were significantly greater for golimumab 100 mg + placebo versus placebo + MTX. Mean improvements from baseline in HAQ-DI, SF-36 PCS, and MCS scores through Week 24 were sustained through Week 52. CONCLUSION: Patients with active RA despite MTX had significant improvement in physical function, general health, and fatigue following golimumab + MTX therapy; improvements in physical function and general health were maintained through Week 52. (Clinical Trials Registration NCT00264550).

Changes in patient characteristics in anti-tumour necrosis factor clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis: results of an analysis of the literature over the past 16 years.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in baseline patient characteristics and entry criteria of randomised, controlled studies of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed using predefined inclusion criteria to identify randomised, double-blind, controlled trials that evaluated TNFα inhibitors in adult RA patients. Entry criteria and baseline clinical characteristics were evaluated over time for methotrexate-experienced and methotrexate-naive study populations. Enrolment start date for each trial was the time metric. The anchor time was the study with the earliest identifiable enrolment start date. RESULTS: 44 primary publications (reporting the primary study endpoint) from 1993 to 2008 met the inclusion criteria. Enrolment start dates of August 1993 and May 1997 were identified as time anchors for the 37 methotrexate-experienced studies and the seven methotrexate-naive studies, respectively. In methotrexate-experienced trials, no significant change was observed over the years included in this study in any inclusion criteria (including swollen joint counts and C-reactive protein (CRP)), but a significant decrease over time was observed in the baseline swollen joint count, CRP and total Sharp or van der Heijde modified Sharp score, but not in baseline tender joint counts. In the methotrexate-naive studies, significant decreases over the years were observed in swollen joint and tender joint inclusion criteria, but not in baseline tender joint count, baseline CRP, CRP inclusion criteria or baseline total Sharp or van der Heijde modified Sharp score. CONCLUSION: Inclusion criteria and baseline characteristics of RA patients enrolled in studies of TNFα inhibitors have changed, with more recent trials enrolling cohorts with lower disease activity, especially in methotrexate-experienced trials.

Changes in biomarkers of inflammation and bone turnover and associations with clinical efficacy following infliximab plus methotrexate therapy in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if changes in biomarkers of inflammation and bone turnover in response to treatment with infliximab plus methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX alone are associated with improvement in clinical measures of signs, symptoms, and structural damage in early rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Sera were collected from patients in the ASPIRE study who received 3 mg/kg (n = 48) or 6 mg/kg infliximab plus MTX (n = 55), or MTX alone (n = 41). Several baseline biomarker levels correlated with changes in median percentage of American College of Rheumatology improvement (ACR-N), 50% improvement in ACR response (ACR50), and van der Heijde-modified Sharp score (vdHSS) at Week 54. RESULTS: Infliximab plus MTX treatment resulted in more rapid decreases in levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, interleukin 8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-a than treatment with MTX alone. Baseline levels and decreases from baseline to Weeks 6 and 54 in MMP-3 correlated with improvement in ACR-N response at Week 54. An increase in IL-8 levels from baseline to Week 54 correlated with worsening in vdHSS at Week 54 in the MTX-alone group. Regression analysis of markers at baseline showed that MMP-3 was the only variable associated with ACR50 response and less worsening in vdHSS at Week 54. CONCLUSION: Treatment with infliximab plus MTX resulted in a rapid decrease in inflammation markers. MMP-3 levels at different timepoints were consistently associated with clinical improvements at Week 54 in the infliximab plus MTX group, while increases in IL-8 levels correlated with a worsening in vdHSS at Week 54 in the MTX-alone group.