Efficacy of Guselkumab on Axial-Related Symptoms Through up to 2 Years in Adults with Active Psoriatic Arthritis in the Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled DISCOVER-2 Study.

INTRODUCTION: Guselkumab previously showed greater improvements versus placebo in axial symptoms in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (assessed by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI] and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score [ASDAS]), in post hoc analyses of the phase 3, placebo-controlled, randomized DISCOVER-1 and DISCOVER-2 studies. We now evaluate durability of response in axial-related outcomes through 2 years of DISCOVER-2. METHODS: DISCOVER-2 biologic-naive adults with active PsA (≥ 5 tender/ ≥ 5 swollen joints, C-reactive protein ≥ 0.6 mg/dl) were randomized to guselkumab 100 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) or at week 0, week 4, then Q8W, or placebo → guselkumab Q4W at week 24. Among patients with imaging-confirmed sacroiliitis (investigator-identified), axial symptoms were assessed through 2 years utilizing BASDAI, BASDAI Question #2 (spinal pain), modified BASDAI (mBASDAI; excludes Question #3 [peripheral joint pain]), and ASDAS. Mean changes in scores and proportions of patients achieving ≥ 50% improvement in BASDAI (BASDAI 50) and ASDAS responses, including major improvement (decrease ≥ 2.0), were determined through week 100. Treatment failure rules (through week 24) and nonresponder imputation of missing data (post-week 24) were utilized. Mean BASDAI component scores were assessed through week 100 (observed data). Exploratory analyses evaluated efficacy by sex and HLA-B*27 status. RESULTS: Among 246 patients with PsA and imaging-confirmed sacroiliitis, guselkumab-treated patients had greater mean improvements in BASDAI, mBASDAI, spinal pain, and ASDAS scores, lower mean BASDAI component scores, and greater response rates in achieving BASDAI 50 and ASDAS major improvement vs. placebo at week 24. Differences from placebo were observed for guselkumab-treated patients in selected endpoints regardless of sex or HLA-B*27 status. At week 100, mean improvements were ~ 3 points for all BASDAI scores and 1.6-1.7 for ASDAS; 49-54% achieved BASDAI 50 and 39% achieved ASDAS major improvement at week 100. CONCLUSIONS: Guselkumab treatment provided durable and meaningful improvements in axial symptoms and disease activity in substantial proportions of patients with active PsA and imaging-confirmed sacroiliitis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03158285.

Effectiveness and safety of intravenous golimumab with and without concomitant methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the prospective, noninterventional AWARE study.

BACKGROUND: Biologic therapies are often prescribed for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have inadequate responses to or are intolerant of methotrexate (MTX) and patients with poor prognostic indicators. This post hoc analysis evaluated effectiveness and safety of intravenous golimumab + MTX vs golimumab without MTX in RA patients. METHODS: AWARE, a real-world, prospective and pragmatic, Phase 4 study, compared effectiveness and safety of golimumab and infliximab in biologic-naïve and biologic-experienced patients. All treatment decisions were at the discretion of the treating rheumatologist. Effectiveness was evaluated by mean change in CDAI scores at Months 6 and 12. Safety was monitored through approximately 1 year. RESULTS: Among 685 golimumab-treated patients, 420 (61%) received concomitant MTX during the study and 265 (39%) did not receive MTX after enrollment; 63% and 72%, respectively, discontinued the study. Relative to golimumab without MTX, golimumab + MTX patients had shorter mean disease duration (8.7 vs 10.0 years) and a lower proportion received prior biologics (60% vs 72%); mean ± standard deviation (SD) baseline CDAI scores were similar (30.8 ± 15.1 and 32.6 ± 15.4). Mean ± SD changes from baseline in CDAI scores at Months 6 and 12, respectively, were similar with golimumab + MTX (- 10.2 ± 14.2 and - 10.8 ± 13.8) and golimumab without MTX (- 9.6 ± 12.9 and - 9.9 ± 13.1). The incidence of adverse events/100 patient-years (PY) (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 155.6 (145.6, 166.1) for golimumab + MTX and 191.2 (176.2, 207.1) for golimumab without MTX; infections were the most common type. The incidence of infusion reactions/100PY (95% CI) was 2.1 (1.1, 3.6) for golimumab + MTX versus 5.1 (2.9, 8.3) for golimumab without MTX; none were considered serious. For golimumab + MTX versus golimumab without MTX, rates/100PY (95% CI) of serious infections, opportunistic infections, and malignancies were 2.6 (1.5, 4.3) versus 7.0 (4.4, 10.6), 0.9 (0.3, 2.0) versus 2.6 (1.1, 5.0), and 3.0 (1.7, 4.7) versus 1.0 (0.2, 2.8), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mean change in CDAI score in the  golimumab without MTX group was generally similar to that of the golimumab + MTX group through 1 year, regardless of prior biologic therapy. Adverse events were consistent with the known IV golimumab safety profile. These results provide real world evidential data that may assist healthcare providers and patients with RA in making informed treatment decisions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NCT02728934 05/04/2016.

Guselkumab provides sustained domain-specific and comprehensive efficacy using composite indices in patients with active psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of guselkumab for the treatment of active PsA utilizing composite indices. METHODS: Data were pooled from the phase 3 DISCOVER-1 (n = 381) and DISCOVER-2 (n = 739) studies. In both studies, patients were randomized 1:1:1 to subcutaneous guselkumab 100 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W); guselkumab 100 mg at week 0, week 4, then Q8W; or placebo Q4W with crossover to guselkumab 100 mg Q4W at week 24. Composite indices used to assess efficacy through week 52 included Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS), minimal disease activity (MDA), and very low disease activity (VLDA). Through week 24, treatment failure rules were applied. Through week 52, non-responder imputation was used for missing data. RESULTS: Greater proportions of guselkumab- than placebo-treated patients achieved DAPSA low disease activity (LDA) and remission, PASDAS LDA and VLDA, MDA, and VLDA at week 24 vs placebo (all unadjusted P < 0.05). At week 52, in the guselkumab Q4W and Q8W groups, respectively, response rates were as follows: DAPSA LDA, 54.2% and 52.5%; DAPSA remission, 18.2% and 17.6%; PASDAS LDA, 45.3% and 41.9%; PASDAS VLDA, 16.9% and 19.5%; MDA, 35.9% and 30.7%; and VLDA, 13.1% and 14.4%. In the placebo-crossover-to-guselkumab group, response rates for all composite indices increased after patients switched to guselkumab, from week 24 through week 52. CONCLUSION: Treatment with guselkumab provided robust and sustained benefits across multiple PsA domains through 1 year, indicating that guselkumab is an effective therapy for the diverse manifestations of PsA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03162796; NCT03158285.

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis Equivalent in Normal and Cancerous Oral Tissues: A Scoping Review.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis is crucial in regulating thyroid hormone levels that contribute to the development and homeostasis of the human body. Current literature supports the presence of a local HPT axis equivalent within keratinocytes of the skin, with thyroid hormones playing a potential role in cancer progression. However, this remains to be seen within oral tissue cells. An electronic search of Scopus and PubMed/Medline databases was conducted to identify all original publications that reported data on the production or effects of HPT axis components in normal or malignant cells of the oral cavity. The search identified 221 studies, of which 14 were eligible. Eight studies were retrospective analyses of clinical samples, one study involved both in vivo and in vitro experiments, and the remaining five studies were conducted in vitro using cell lines. The search identified evidence of effects of HPT components on oral cancer cells. However, there were limited data for the production of HPT axis components by oral tissues. We conclude that a possible role of the local HPT axis equivalent in the oral mucosa may not be established at present. The gaps in knowledge identified in this scoping review, particularly regarding the production of HPT components by oral tissues, warrant further investigation.

Efficacy and safety of guselkumab in biologic-naïve patients with active axial psoriatic arthritis: study protocol for STAR, a phase 4, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Axial involvement constitutes a specific domain of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Interleukin (IL)-23 inhibitors have demonstrated improvement in axial PsA (axPsA) symptoms, but have not shown efficacy in treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS), suggesting differences in axPsA processes and treatments. In a post hoc, pooled analysis of patients with investigator- and imaging-confirmed sacroiliitis in two phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled studies (DISCOVER-1 and DISCOVER-2), patients treated with guselkumab, an IL-23p19 inhibitor, had greater axial symptom improvements compared with placebo. Confirmatory imaging at baseline was restricted to the sacroiliac (SI) joints, occurred prior to/at screening, and was locally read. METHODS: The STAR study will prospectively assess efficacy outcomes in PsA patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-confirmed axial inflammation. Eligible, biologic-naïve patients with PsA (N =  405) for ≥ 6 months and active disease (≥ 3 swollen and ≥ 3 tender joints, C-reactive protein [CRP] ≥ 0.3 mg/dL) despite prior non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, apremilast, and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will be randomized (1:1:1) to guselkumab every 4 weeks (Q4W); guselkumab at week (W) 0, W4, then every 8 weeks (Q8W); or placebo with crossover to guselkumab at W24, W28, then Q8W. Patients will have Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score ≥ 4, spinal pain component score (0-10 visual analog scale) ≥ 4, and screening MRI-confirmed axial involvement (positive spine and/or SI joints according to centrally read Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada [SPARCC] score ≥ 3 in ≥ 1 region). The primary endpoint is mean change from baseline in BASDAI at W24; multiplicity controlled secondary endpoints at W24 include AS Disease Activity Score employing CRP (ASDAS), Disease Activity Index for PsA (DAPSA), Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Investigator's Global Assessment of skin disease (IGA), and mean changes from baseline in MRI SI joint SPARCC scores. Centrally read MRIs of spine and SI joints (scored using SPARCC) will be obtained at W0, W24, and W52, with readers blinded to treatment group and timepoint. Treatment group comparisons will be performed using a Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel or chi-square test for binary endpoints and analysis of covariance, mixed model for repeated measures, or constrained longitudinal data analysis for continuous endpoints. DISCUSSION: This study will evaluate the ability of guselkumab to reduce both axial symptoms and inflammation in patients with active PsA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04929210 , on 18 June 2021. PROTOCOL VERSION: Version 1.0 dated 14 April 2021.

Sustained and improved guselkumab response in patients with active psoriatic arthritis regardless of baseline demographic and disease characteristics: pooled results through week 52 of two phase III, randomised, placebo-controlled studies.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy through 52 weeks of guselkumab, an interleukin 23-p19 subunit inhibitor, in subgroups of pooled psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients from the DISCOVER-1 and DISCOVER-2 trials defined by baseline patient characteristics. METHODS: Adults with active PsA despite standard therapies were enrolled in DISCOVER-1 (≥3 swollen and ≥3 tender joints, C reactive protein (CRP) level ≥0.3 mg/dL) and DISCOVER-2 (≥5 swollen and ≥5 tender joints, CRP ≥0.6 mg/dL, biological-naïve). Randomised patients received 100 mg guselkumab at weeks 0, 4, and then every 4 or 8 weeks (Q4W/Q8W) or placebo. Guselkumab effects on joint (ACR20/50/70), skin (IGA 0/1, IGA 0), patient-reported outcome (Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index/Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue) and disease severity (minimal disease activity/PsA Disease Activity Score low disease activity) endpoints were evaluated by patient sex, body mass index, PsA duration, swollen/tender joint counts, CRP level, percent body surface area with psoriasis, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use at baseline. RESULTS: Baseline patients characteristics in DISCOVER-1 (N=381) and DISCOVER-2 (N=739) were well balanced across randomised groups. At week 24, 62% (232/373) and 60% (225/375), respectively, of guselkumab Q4W-treated and Q8W-treated patients pooled across DISCOVER-1 and DISCOVER-2 achieved the primary endpoint of ACR20 response versus 29% (109/372) of placebo-treated patients. Guselkumab treatment effect at week 24 was observed across patient subgroups. Within each patient subgroup, response rates across all disease domains were sustained or increased at week 52 with both guselkumab regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Guselkumab Q4W and Q8W resulted in robust and sustained improvements in PsA signs and symptoms consistently in subgroups of patients defined by diverse baseline characteristics. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: NCT03162796, NCT03158285.

Effects of Intravenous Golimumab on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: 28-Week Results of the GO-ALIVE Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of intravenous golimumab on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) through week 28 of the phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled GO-ALIVE study. METHODS: Adult patients (n = 208) were randomized to IV golimumab 2 mg/kg (n = 105) at weeks 0, 4, and 12 and every 8 weeks or placebo (n = 103) at weeks 0, 4, and 12, with crossover to golimumab 2mg/kg at weeks 16, 20, and every 8 weeks. General HRQoL was evaluated using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) Physical Component Summary/Mental Component Summary (PCS/MCS), and the EQ VAS, and AS disease-specific HRQoL was assessed using the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) instrument. RESULTS: Mean improvements from baseline in SF-36 PCS were greater in the golimumab group versus the placebo group at weeks 8 and 16 (6.8 vs 2.1 and 8.5 vs 2.9, respectively; P < .001); similar results were observed for SF-36 MCS (5.6 vs 1.7 and 6.5 vs 0.8, respectively; P < .001). Mean improvement in each of 8 subscale scores of the SF-36 were also greater for golimumab-treated patients versus placebo at weeks 8 and 16. Mean improvements in EQ VAS and ASQoL were greater in the golimumab group versus placebo at week 8 and week 16. Greater proportions of golimumab-treated patients had clinically meaningful improvement in SF-36 PCS, SF-36 MCS, EQ VAS, and ASQoL at weeks 8 and 16; improvements in SF-36 PCS/MCS, EQ VAS, and ASQoL were maintained through week 28. CONCLUSIONS: Golimumab-treated patients had greater mean improvements in HRQoL measures compared with placebo through week 16. Clinically meaningful improvements were observed as early as week 8 and continued through week 28.

Impact of guselkumab, an interleukin-23 p19 subunit inhibitor, on enthesitis and dactylitis in patients with moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis: results from a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase II study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of guselkumab on enthesitis and dactylitis in a phase II trial of patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: This was a phase II, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of adults with active PsA (≥3 swollen and ≥3 tender joints and C reactive protein ≥0.3 mg/dL) despite conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and/or oral corticosteroid therapy. Patients were randomised to subcutaneous injections of guselkumab 100 mg or placebo at weeks 0, 4 and every 8 weeks, with placebo crossover to guselkumab at week 24. Dactylitis was scored on a scale of 0-3 on each digit; enthesitis was assessed using the Leeds Enthesitis Index (0-6). Other assessments included American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index responses. RESULTS: Of 149 randomised patients, 107 patients had enthesitis (mean score=2.7) and 81 patients had dactylitis (mean dactylitis score=5.7) at baseline. Mean improvements in enthesitis and dactylitis at week 24 were greater in the guselkumab group versus placebo and sustained through week 56. Similar results were observed for the proportions of patients with resolution of enthesitis and dactylitis. At week 56, mean improvements in enthesitis and dactylitis among patients who switched from placebo to guselkumab treatment were similar to those in the guselkumab group. In the guselkumab group, ACR20 responders had greater improvements in enthesitis and dactylitis versus non-responders (week 24). CONCLUSIONS: At week 24, the guselkumab group had greater mean improvements in enthesitis and dactylitis and greater proportions of patients with resolution of enthesitis and dactylitis versus placebo. ACR20 response was associated with improvements in enthesitis and dactylitis. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02319759.URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02319759; Registered 18 December 2014.

Spinal mobility in the cervical and lumbar spine correlates with magnetic resonance imaging findings for inflammatory and structural changes in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess relationships between single Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) components and corresponding spinal segment magnetic resonance images (MRI) in anti-tumour-necrosis-factor-treated AS patients. METHODS: Using available MRI and BASMI data from the GO-RAISE trial (n=91 patients), MRI scores for active inflammatory (ASspiMRI-a) and chronic structural (ASspiMRI-c) changes in cervical and lumbar spine segments were compared with BASMI cervical (cervical-rotation [CR] angle, tragus-to-wall [TTW] distance) and lumbar (lumbar flexion [LF], lateral-lumbar-flexion [LLF]) spine component scores (linear definition). Generalised linear models were employed to assess relationships between BASMI components and ASspiMRI-a/ASspiMRI-c measurements at baseline and for week-14 (golimumab/placebo groups) and week-104 (all golimumab-treated) change scores. RESULTS: Baseline lumbar ASspiMRI-a scores correlated with LF and LLF (ß=0.231 and 0.238, respectively; both p<0.01), while this was less prominent for ASspiMRI-c scores and LLF (ß=0.142, p=0.04). A significant but weak correlation was found between changes from baseline to week 104 in cervical spine ASspiMRI-c score and TTW distance among all treated patients (ß=0.161, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Detailed assessments indicated baseline spinal mobility impairment in patients with active AS correlated weakly with MRI-detected lumbar spinal inflammation; correlations with chronic, structural damage/changes were very weak. Improved, less variable MRI and spinal metrology assessments are needed for future clinical research.

Inhibition of radiographic progression across levels of composite index-defined disease activity in patients with active psoriatic arthritis treated with intravenous golimumab: results from a phase-3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In the GO-VIBRANT trial of intravenous golimumab in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), golimumab significantly inhibited radiographic progression. In post hoc analyses, we evaluated changes in total PsA-modified Sharp/van der Heijde scores (SHS) across levels of composite index-defined disease activity following treatment. METHODS: In this phase-3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 480 bio-naïve patients with active PsA randomly received intravenous golimumab 2 mg/kg (N = 241; week 0, week 4, every 8 weeks [q8w]) or placebo (N = 239; week 0, week 4, week 12, week 20) followed by golimumab (week 24, week 28, q8w) through week 52. Week 24 and week 52 SHS changes in patient subgroups, defined by levels of disease activity as assessed by several composite measures (minimal disease activity [MDA], very low disease activity [VLDA], Psoriatic ArthritiS Disease Activity Score [PASDAS], Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis [DAPsA], Clinical Disease Activity Index [CDAI]), were evaluated post hoc in 474 patients with evaluable radiographic data. Partially (last-observation-carried-forward methodology) and completely (nonresponder methodology) missing data were imputed. RESULTS: Across indices, golimumab-treated patients demonstrated less radiographic progression than placebo-treated patients, regardless of disease activity state achieved via golimumab, from week 0 to 24 (e.g., mean changes in PsA-modified SHS were - 0.83 vs. 0.91, respectively, in patients achieving MDA and - 0.05 vs. 1.49, respectively, in those not achieving MDA). Treatment differences observed at week 24 persisted through week 52, despite placebo-randomized patients crossing over to golimumab at week 24 (e.g., mean changes in PsA-modified SHS from week 0 to 52 for golimumab- vs. placebo→golimumab-treated patients achieving MDA were - 1.16 vs. 1.19, respectively) and regardless of whether low disease activity was achieved (0.03 vs. 1.50, respectively, in those not achieving MDA). Consistent patterns were observed for disease activity assessed using VLDA, PASDAS, DAPsA, and CDAI composite endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: The extent of structural damage inhibition afforded by up to 1 year of intravenous golimumab treatment paralleled levels of PsA activity, with greater progression of structural damage observed in patients with sustained higher disease activity. Among patients not achieving low levels of disease activity across several composite indices, golimumab-randomized patients appeared to exhibit far less progression of structural damage than placebo-randomized PsA patients, illustrating a potential disconnect between responses, wherein golimumab can inhibit structural damage independent of clinical effect. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02181673. Registered 04 July 2014.

Composite Measures of Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis: Comparative Instrument Performance Based on the Efficacy of Guselkumab in an Interventional Phase II Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess performance of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) composite indices and evaluate guselkumab's effect on achieving low disease activity or remission. METHODS: In this phase II trial, patients with active PsA (≥3 tender and ≥3 swollen joints, C-reactive protein level ≥0.3 mg/dl, ≥3% body surface-area with psoriasis involvement) were randomized 2:1 to subcutaneous guselkumab 100 mg (n = 100) or placebo (n = 49) at week 0, week 4, and every 8 weeks through week 44. At week 16, patients with <5% improvement in swollen and tender joints could early escape to open-label ustekinumab. Patients continuing placebo crossed over to receive guselkumab 100 mg at weeks 24, 28, 36, and 44 (placebo to guselkumab). PsA composite indices (Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score [PASDAS], Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis composite score [GRACE], modified Composite Psoriatic Disease Activity Index [mCPDAI], and Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis [DAPSA]) were analyzed as secondary outcomes (last observation carried forward for missing/post-early escape data through week 24; observed data post-week 24). Instrument performance was assessed. RESULTS: Baseline PASDAS, GRACE, mCPDAI, and DAPSA scores indicated moderate-to-high disease activity. At week 24, mean changes in each of these composite indices showed significant improvement with guselkumab (-2.50, -2.73, -3.8, and -23.08, respectively) versus placebo (-0.49, 0.35, -0.8, and -4.98, respectively; P < 0.001 for all). Significantly more guselkumab-treated patients achieved low/very low/remitted disease activity states according to PASDAS (very low + low 35% versus 4%; P < 0.001), GRACE (30% versus 2%; P < 0.001), mCPDAI (46% versus 10%; P < 0.001), and DAPSA (remission + low 40% versus 12%; P < 0.001). A total of 12% of guselkumab-treated versus no placebo-treated patients achieved DAPSA remission (P < 0.01). The PASDAS and GRACE instruments were more sensitive than the mCPDAI and DAPSA tools in detecting treatment effect. Residual skin disease and enthesitis were marginally more prominent in patients achieving DAPSA low disease activity versus other indices. CONCLUSION: Guselkumab demonstrated efficacy in achieving low disease activity/remission based on all PsA composite indices assessed. Composite index use in PsA trials and the clinic requires careful consideration to optimize feasibility and instrument performance.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous golimumab plus methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis aged < 65 years and those ≥ 65 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous golimumab + methotrexate (MTX) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) aged < 65 years and those ≥ 65 years who were enrolled in the GO-FURTHER study. METHODS: In the phase III, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled GO-FURTHER trial, patients with active RA were randomized to intravenous (IV) golimumab 2 mg/kg + MTX or placebo + MTX at weeks 0 and 4, then every 8 weeks thereafter (with crossover to golimumab at week 16 [early escape] or week 24 [per-protocol]). The final golimumab infusion was at week 100. Assessments included American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20/50/70 response criteria. Efficacy and adverse events (AEs) were monitored through 2 years. Efficacy and AEs were summarized for patients aged < 65 years or ≥ 65 years; AEs were also summarized for patients < or ≥ 70 years and patients < or ≥ 75 years. RESULTS: In GO-FURTHER, 592 patients were randomized to receive placebo (n = 197) or golimumab (n = 395), 515 were aged < 65 years and 77 were ≥ 65 years. At week 24, ACR20 response rates were greater for golimumab + MTX patients compared with placebo + MTX for patients < 65 years (61.6% vs 31.3%, p < 0.001) and those ≥ 65 years (69.5% vs 33.3%; p < 0.01). Infections were the most common AE through week 112 (51.6% in patients < 65 years; 55.3% in patients ≥ 65 years); upper respiratory infections were the most common infection in patients < 65 years (13.2%) and those ≥ 65 years (11.8%). Serious AEs occurred in 17.7% in patients < 65 years and 25.0% of patients ≥ 65 years and included malignancies, pneumonia, fractures, acute pancreatitis, cellulitis, and bacterial arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: In GO-FURTHER, ACR response rates were similar between patients < 65 years and patients ≥ 65 years within each treatment group. AEs in elderly patients were similar to the known safety profile of IV golimumab. Immunosenescence is known to increase the risk of infections in the elderly. Elderly patients had a numerically higher incidence of serious infections. Six malignancies occurred in golimumab-treated patients, all in patients < 65 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00973479 . Registered September 9, 2009.

Serum C-reactive Protein Levels Demonstrate Predictive Value for Radiographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Outcomes in Patients with Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated with Golimumab.

OBJECTIVE: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) associates with radiographic progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) untreated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists. We assessed correlations between serum CRP and radiographic progression/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected inflammation after 2 years of anti-TNF therapy. METHODS: Patients with active AS receiving golimumab (GOL)/placebo through Week 16 (early escape) or Week 24 (crossover by design), followed by GOL through 4 years, had sera/images obtained through Week 208. Lateral spinal radiographs and spinal MRI were scored with the modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS) and the AS spine MRI activity (ASspiMRI-a) score, respectively. ANOVA assessed differences based on CRP levels and mSASSS progression. The relationships between CRP levels and mSASSS/ASspiMRI-a were assessed by Spearman correlation and logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the randomized GO-RAISE patients, 299 (84.0%) had pre- and posttreatment spinal radiographs. Larger proportions of patients with Week 104 CRP ≥ 0.5 mg/dl (n = 47) versus < 0.5 mg/dl (n = 236, 40.4% vs 22.9%, p = 0.0121) had mSASSS changes ≥ 2 at Week 104. Across several visits, serum CRP demonstrated weak associations with mSASSS change (rs ≤ 0.21, p < 0.05, n = 262-293) and moderate associations with ASspiMRI-a change (rs = -0.33 to 0.54, p < 0.05, n = 65-89). Higher baseline CRP was associated with increased risk for syndesmophytes at Week 104/Week 208, and large, short-term decreases in CRP from baseline to Week 14/Week 24 also yielded increased syndesmophyte formation risk. CONCLUSION: Elevated CRP after 2 years of anti-TNF treatment correlated with greater radiographic progression risk at 4 years. Elevated CRP at baseline or Week 14/Week 24 of anti-TNF treatment weakly predicted subsequent radiographic progression and modestly predicted residual spinal inflammation in patients with AS treated with anti-TNF. Findings are useful regarding new treatment options in patients treated with anti-TNF. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00265083.

Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels Lack Predictive Value in Patients with Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated with Golimumab.

OBJECTIVE: To assess vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) correlations with new bone formation and bone marrow edema in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with golimumab (GOL). METHODS: Following placebo control (through weeks 16 and 24), GO-RAISE (A Multicenter Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Golimumab, a Fully Human Anti-TNF-α Monoclonal Antibody, Administered Subcutaneously, in Subjects with Active Ankylosing Spondylitis; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00265083) all patients received GOL; sera/images were available at weeks 0, 104, and 208. Lateral spinal radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were scored using the modified Stokes Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS) and the Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal MRI activity score, respectively. RESULTS: VEGF levels and the mSASSS did not significantly correlate. Logistic regression analyses showed no association between VEGF levels and an increased risk of syndesmophyte formation at weeks 104 and 208. Pretreatment/Week 14 VEGF did not predict MRI scores/changes at Week 104. CONCLUSION: Serum VEGF did not predict radiographic progression/spinal inflammation in patients receiving antitumor necrosis factor.

Radiographic Progression of Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis Who Achieve Minimal Disease Activity in Response to Golimumab Therapy: Results Through 5 Years of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term outcomes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients who achieved or did not achieve minimal disease activity (MDA) through 5 years of golimumab treatment in the GO-REVEAL trial. METHODS: The GO-REVEAL trial was a phase III, randomized, double-blind trial with placebo-control through week 24 followed by an open-label extension of golimumab 50/100 mg treatment up to 5 years. In these post-hoc analyses, MDA was defined by the presence of ≥5 of 7 PsA outcome measures (≤1 swollen joint, ≤1 tender joint, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] ≤1, patient pain score ≤15, patient global disease activity score ≤20 [range 0-100], Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index [HAQ DI] ≤0.5, and ≤1 tender enthesis point). RESULTS: Treatment with golimumab yielded significantly higher MDA response rates versus patients randomized to placebo at week 14 (23.5% versus 1.0%; P < 0.0001), week 24 (28.1% versus 7.7%; P < 0.0001), and week 52 (42.4% versus 30.2%; P = 0.037). MDA was achieved at least once by ∼50% of golimumab-treated patients overall. Irrespective of treatment randomization, achievement of MDA at ≥3 and ≥4 consecutive visits was associated with significantly less radiographic progression and more improvement in MDA components allowing specific assessment of physical function (HAQ DI) and overall disease activity (patient global assessment of disease activity) at week 256 versus patients not achieving MDA. Logistic regression analyses indicated that a 1-unit higher baseline HAQ DI score yielded a significantly lower likelihood of achieving MDA at ≥3 (odds ratio 0.514 [95% confidence interval 0.321-0.824]; P = 0.006) and ≥4 (odds ratio 0.480 [95% confidence interval 0.290-0.795]; P = 0.004) consecutive visits. CONCLUSION: Among golimumab-treated PsA patients, better long-term functional improvement, patient global assessment, and radiographic outcomes were observed when patients achieved persistent MDA.

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.

Golimumab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis after treatment with tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors: findings with up to five years of treatment in the multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 GO-AFTER study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess long-term golimumab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who discontinued previous tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF)-inhibitor(s). METHODS: Patients enrolled into this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of active RA (≥4 tender, ≥4 swollen joints) received placebo (Group 1) or golimumab 50 mg (Group 2) or 100 mg (Group 3) injections every 4 weeks. Patients in Groups 1 and 2 with inadequate response at week 16 escaped to golimumab 50 and 100 mg, respectively. At week 24, Group 1 patients crossed-over to golimumab 50 mg, Group 2 continued golimumab 50/100 mg per escape status, and Group 3 maintained dosing. During the long-term-extension (LTE), golimumab 50 mg could be increased to 100 mg, and 100 mg could be decreased to 50 mg. Data through 5 years are reported for all patients (safety) and patients using methotrexate (efficacy, intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis with last-observation-carried-forward for missing data and non-responder imputation for unsatisfactory efficacy discontinuations). RESULTS: In total, 459 of 461 randomized patients received the study agent, 304 of whom were methotrexate-treated and included in efficacy analyses. Through week 256, the proportions of methotrexate-treated patients achieving American-College-of-Rheumatology (ACR) responses were 37.6% to 47.0% for ACR20, 21.4% to 35.0% for ACR50, and 7.8% to 17.0% for ACR70 response across randomized groups. Golimumab safety through week 268 was generally consistent with that at week 24 and week 160 and other anti-TNF agents. CONCLUSIONS: In some patients with active RA discontinuing previous TNF-antagonist therapy, golimumab safety and efficacy, assessed conservatively with ITT analyses, was confirmed through 5 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00299546 . Registered 03 March 2006.

Golimumab administered subcutaneously every 4†weeks in ankylosing spondylitis: 5-year results of the GO-RAISE study.

OBJECTIVE: Assess golimumab efficacy/safety through 5 years in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: 356 patients with AS were randomly assigned to placebo, golimumab 50 mg or 100 mg every 4 weeks. At week 16, patients with inadequate response early escaped with blinded dose adjustments (placebo to 50 mg, 50 mg to 100 mg). At week 24, all patients receiving placebo crossed over to 50 mg. Blinded active therapy continued through week 104; from week 104 to week 252, the golimumab dose could be adjusted. Intent-to-treat and observed efficacy data were assessed by randomised treatment groups. RESULTS: At week 256, and with >4.5 years of golimumab, overall intent-to-treat Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria for 20% improvement (ASAS20) and ASAS40 response rates were 66.0% (235/356) and 57.0% (203/356), respectively; Bath AS Disease Activity Index 50% improvement response was 55.9% (199/356). Observed response rates among the 255 (72%) patients who continued golimumab through week 252 were consistent, albeit somewhat higher. Among patients who increased golimumab from 50 to 100 mg, 60.6% (20/33) and 44.7% (17/38) achieved ASAS20/ASAS40 responses, respectively, following ≥2 consecutive doses of golimumab 100 mg. Golimumab safety through week 268 was similar to that through week 24 regardless of dose. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical improvements observed in patients treated with golimumab through week 24 were sustained through week 256 (5 years). Long-term golimumab safety is consistent with that of other established tumour-necrosis-factor-antagonists. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00265083.

The effect of two golimumab doses on radiographic progression in ankylosing spondylitis: results through 4 years of the GO-RAISE trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate radiographic progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) receiving two different doses of the tumour necrosis factor antagonist golimumab. METHODS: 356 patients with AS were randomly assigned to placebo, or golimumab 50 mg or 100 mg every 4 weeks (wks). At wk16, patients with inadequate response early escaped with blinded dose adjustments (placebo→golimumab 50 mg, 50 mg→100 mg). At wk24, patients still receiving placebo crossed over to golimumab 50 mg. Lateral view radiographs of the cervical/lumbar spine were obtained at wk0, wk104 and wk208, and scored (two blinded readers, modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS)). Observed data were used for wk104 analyses; missing wk208 scores were linearly extrapolated. RESULTS: Wk104 changes from baseline in mSASSS averaged 1.6±4.6 for placebo crossover, 0.9±2.7 for 50 mg and 0.9±3.9 for 100 mg. By wk208, following golimumab therapy for 3.5-4 years, mean changes in mSASSS were 2.1±5.2 for placebo crossover, 1.3±4.1 for 50 mg and 2.0±5.6 for 100 mg. Less than a third of patients (placebo crossover, 19/66 (28.8%); 50 mg, 29/111 (26.1%); 100 mg, 35/122 (28.7%)) had a definitive change from baseline mSASSS (>2). Less radiographic progression was observed through wk208 in patients without baseline syndesmophytes (0.2 vs 2.8 in patients with ≥1 syndesmophyte; p<0.0001) and with baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≤1.5 mg/dl (0.9 vs 2.9 with CRP >1.5 mg/dl; p=0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: No difference in mSASSS change was observed between golimumab 50 mg and 100 mg. The radiographic progression rate remained stable at years 2 and 4, suggesting no acceleration of new bone formation over time. Golimumab-treated AS patients with no syndesmophytes and less systemic inflammation at baseline had considerably less radiographic progression.

Insights into the efficacy of golimumab plus methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who discontinued prior anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy: post-hoc analyses from the GO-AFTER study.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate golimumab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and previous tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF) inhibitor use. METHODS: Patients (n=461) previously receiving ≥1 TNF inhibitor were randomised to subcutaneous injections of placebo, golimumab 50 mg or golimumab 100 mg q4 weeks. Primary endpoint (≥20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology (ACR20) criteria at week 14) findings have been reported for all patients in the trial. Reported herein are further assessments of efficacy/safety among patients receiving golimumab+methotrexate (MTX). RESULTS: Among efficacy-evaluable patients who received MTX at baseline, more receiving golimumab+MTX (n=201) than placebo+MTX (n=103) achieved ACR20 (40.8% vs 14.6%), ACR50 (20.9% vs 3.9%), and ACR70 (11.4% vs 2.9%) responses at week 24. Among the 137 patients who had received only one prior TNF inhibitor (adalimumab, n=33; etanercept, n=47; and infliximab, n=57), week 24 ACR20 rates were 30.3%, 46.8% and 50.9%, respectively, and thus lowest among those who previously used adalimumab. ACR20 response rates were 44.5% (61/137), 36.2% (17/47) and 23.5% (4/17) among patients who had received one, two or three TNF inhibitors, respectively. Adverse event (AE) rates were comparable across type/number of prior anti-TNF agents, but appeared somewhat higher among patients who discontinued previous TNF inhibitor(s) due to intolerance (37/49, 75.5%) versus lack of efficacy (LOE, 113/191, 59.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with active RA previously treated with ≥1 TNF inhibitor had clinically relevant improvement with golimumab+MTX, which appeared somewhat enhanced among those who received only etanercept or infliximab as their prior TNF inhibitor. Golimumab+MTX safety appeared similar across patients, regardless of TNF inhibitor(s) previously used, with fewer AEs occurring among patients who discontinued prior therapy for LOE.