Maintenance of improvement in spinal mobility, physical function and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis after 5 years in a clinical trial of adalimumab.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain and progressive loss of physical function with AS may adversely affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study was to assess the 5-year data regarding spinal mobility, physical function and HRQoL in patients with AS who participated in the Adalimumab Trial Evaluating Long-term Efficacy and Safety for AS (ATLAS) study. METHODS: Patients received blinded adalimumab 40 mg or placebo every other week for 24 weeks, then open-label adalimumab for up to 5 years. Spinal mobility was evaluated using linear BASMI (BASMIlin). BASDAI, total back pain, CRP, BASFI, Short Form-36 and AS quality of life (ASQoL) were also assessed. Correlations between BASMIlin and clinical, functional and ASQoL outcomes after 12 weeks and after 5years of adalimumab exposure were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation. Associations were further analysed using multivariate regression. RESULTS: Three hundred and eleven patients received ≥1 dose of adalimumab; 125 of the 208 patients originally randomized to adalimumab received treatment for 5 years. Improvements in BASMIlin were sustained through 5 years, with a mean change of -0.6 from baseline in the population who completed 5 years of treatment with adalimumab. Improvements in disease activity, physical function and ASQoL were also sustained through 5 years. BASMIlin was significantly correlated with all evaluated clinical outcomes (P < 0.001). The highest correlation was with BASFI at 12 weeks (r = 0.52) and at 5 years (r = 0.65). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed this association (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Treatment with adalimumab for up to 5 years demonstrated sustained benefits in spinal mobility, disease activity, physical function and HRQoL in patients with active AS. Spinal mobility was significantly associated with short- and long-term physical function in these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov; https://clinicaltrials.gov/NCT00085644.

Safety and effectiveness of adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis over 5 years of therapy in a phase 3b and subsequent postmarketing observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who had failed at least one disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) were treated with adalimumab (ADA) in the ReAct study with the option to continue treatment for 5 years in ReAlise. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of ADA as prescribed from the first injection in ReAct to the last observation in ReAlise. METHODS: Patients received ADA alone or in combination with DMARDs according to usual clinical care practices. Adverse events (AEs) were tabulated by five time windows after the first ADA injection. Effectiveness measures included achievement of low disease activity (LDA), defined as Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) ≤11, or remission, (REM), defined as SDAI ≤3.3. RESULTS: Of the 6,610 ReAct patients, 3,435 (52%) continued in ReAlise. At baseline in ReAct, mean age was 54 years, mean DAS28 was 6.0 and mean HAQ DI was 1.64. The mean treatment duration was 1,016 days, representing 18,272 patient-years (PYs) of ADA exposure. Overall incidence rates of serious AEs and serious infections were 13.8 and 2.8 events (E)/100 PYs, respectively. Serious AEs occurred most frequently in the first 6 months and deceased thereafter. Standardised mortality ratio was 0.71 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.87) and standardised incidence ratio for malignancies was 0.64 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.76). LDA was achieved by 50% and REM by 21% of patients at last observation. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this large observational study of ADA in routine clinical practice were consistent with controlled trials, with no new safety concerns during a follow-up of more than 5 years. Effectiveness of ADA was maintained during long-term observation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00448383, NCT00234884.

Application and modifications of minimal disease activity measures for patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with adalimumab: subanalyses of ADEPT.

OBJECTIVE: This posthoc analysis evaluated the percentage of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who achieved minimal disease activity (MDA) and compared the results with a modified MDA substituting the physician global assessment (PGA) for the Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index (PASI) using data from the ADalimumab Effectiveness in Psoriatic Arthritis Trial (ADEPT; NCT00646386). METHODS: Patients with active PsA were randomized to receive adalimumab 40 mg or placebo every other week for 24 weeks. MDA was defined as achieving ≥ 5 of the following criteria: tender joint count ≤ 1; swollen joint count ≤ 1; PASI ≤ 1 or body surface area ≤ 3%; patient pain score ≤ 15 [1-100 mm visual analog scale (VAS)]; patient global assessment (PGA) of disease activity ≤ 20 (1-100 mm VAS); Health Assessment Questionnaire ≤ 0.5; and tender entheseal points ≤ 1 (only heels assessed). For modification of the MDA, PASI ≤ 1 was substituted with PGA "Clear" as MDAPGA1 and PGA "Clear" or "Almost clear" as MDAPGA2. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were treated with adalimumab and 69 with placebo. At Week 24, MDA, MDAPGA1, and MDAPGA2 were achieved by 39%, 37%, and 39%, respectively, of patients treated with adalimumab versus 7%, 5%, and 8% of patients on placebo (p < 0.001). Kappa coefficients indicated good agreement between PASI and PGA at Week 24. CONCLUSION: ADEPT results indicated that significantly more patients treated with adalimumab achieved MDA by Week 24 compared with placebo. Modification of the MDA by replacing PASI ≤ 1 with PGA assessments did not alter the results, which may improve feasibility of practical use of the index.

Effectiveness and safety of adalimumab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis and history of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists reduce the signs and symptoms of spondyloarthritides, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab, 40 mg every other week, for patients with AS or PsA and prior treatment with infliximab (IFX) and/or etanercept (ETN). METHODS: Both trials were 12-week, open-label studies with an optional extension period up to week 20. Patients were stratified by history of anti-TNF treatment, prior anti-TNF therapy received (IFX, ETN, or both), and reason for discontinuation of prior TNF antagonist. ETN was discontinued>or=3 weeks, and IFX was discontinued>or=2 months before the first adalimumab administration. Effectiveness at week 12 was evaluated by using observed standard-outcome measurements for AS and PsA. RESULTS: At week 12 of adalimumab treatment, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index 50 responses were achieved by 40.8% of 326 patients with AS who had received prior anti-TNF therapy and by 63.0% of 924 patients with AS who were naive to TNF antagonist. Observed response rates were generally greater for patients who discontinued the prior anti-TNF therapy because of loss of response or intolerance than for patients who discontinued because of lack of response. Median changes in swollen-joint count and in enthesitis score were similar in patients with and without prior TNF-antagonist treatment. Modified PsA response criteria were fulfilled by 71.2% of 66 patients with PsA, with prior exposure to TNF antagonists, and by 78.8% of 376 patients with no history of anti-TNF therapy. The percentages of patients with PsA attaining a Physician's Global Assessment of psoriasis of "Clear/Almost clear" increased from 33.3% to 61.0% for patients with prior IFX and/or ETN treatment and from 34.6% to 69.7% for patients without anti-TNF therapy. The median change in the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index was -6 for both groups. In both studies, patterns of adverse events were similar for patients with and without prior anti-TNF therapy and were consistent with the known safety profile of adalimumab. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AS or PsA previously treated with IFX and/or ETN experienced clinically relevant improvements of their diseases after 12 weeks of adalimumab. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00478660 and NCT00235885.

Adalimumab is effective and well tolerated in treating patients with ankylosing spondylitis who have advanced spinal fusion.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab in treating patients with AS and advanced structural damage. METHODS: Patients with active AS [Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) > or =4] received 40 mg of adalimumab every other week plus their standard anti-rheumatic therapies in this 12-week, open-label study. Investigators documented the presence or absence of advanced ankylosis based on previous radiographs. Stages IV (from 50 to <80% involvement in more than two spinal segments) and V (> or =80% spinal involvement, including bamboo spine) disease were considered as advanced AS. Effectiveness parameters included Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria, BASDAI response and achievement of optimal sleep. Adverse events were reported throughout therapy and at a 70-day follow-up. RESULTS: The analysis population included 897 patients whose AS was not advanced (i.e. Stages I-III), 31 with Stage IV disease and 41 with Stage V disease. At Week 12, ASAS40/BASDAI 50 responses were achieved by 54%/57% of patients with AS Stages I-III, 48%/58% with AS Stage IV and 54%/66% with AS Stage V, respectively. ASAS partial remission rates were 30, 26 and 7% for patients with Stages I-III, IV and V disease, respectively. Serious infections occurred in three (<1%) patients with AS Stages I-III and in one (1%) patient with AS Stage V. CONCLUSIONS: After 12 weeks of adalimumab therapy, patients with advanced but active AS, including those with structural damage of > or =80% of the vertebrae, achieved improvements in signs and symptoms similar to those attained by patients whose AS was not advanced.

Effectiveness, safety, and predictors of good clinical response in 1250 patients treated with adalimumab for active ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab in a large cohort of patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and identified clinical predictors of good clinical response. METHODS: Patients with active AS [Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)>or=4] received adalimumab 40 mg every other week in addition to their standard antirheumatic therapies in a multinational 12-week, open-label study. We used 3 definitions of good clinical response: 50% improvement in the BASDAI (BASDAI=50), 40% improvement in the ASsessments of SpondyloArthritis International Society criteria (ASAS40), or ASAS partial remission. Response predictors were determined by logistic regression with backward elimination (selection level 5%). RESULTS: Of 1250 patients, 1159 (92.7%) completed 12 weeks of adalimumab treatment. At Week 12, 57.2% of patients achieved BASDAI 50, 53.7% achieved ASAS40, and 27.7% achieved ASAS partial remission. Important predictors of good clinical response (BASDAI 50, ASAS40, and partial remission) were younger age (p<0.001), and greater C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration (p

An open-label pilot study of the effectiveness of adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and previous infliximab treatment: relationship to reasons for failure and anti-infliximab antibody status.

This prospective open-label pilot study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab and the relationship to antibodies against infliximab (IFX) in adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had been treated previously with IFX and experienced treatment failure owing to lack or loss of response or intolerance. Patients self-administered adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously every other week for 16 weeks, followed by maintenance therapy for up to Week 56. Measures of effectiveness included American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index. Serum IFX concentrations, human antichimeric antibody against IFX (HACA), adalimumab serum concentrations, antiadalimumab antibody, and safety also were assessed. Of the 41 enrolled patients, 37 completed 16 weeks and 30 completed 56 weeks of treatment. Patients experienced clinically meaningful improvements in all measures of RA activity, with greater response rates observed for patients who had experienced loss of initial response to or intolerance of IFX. At Week 16, 46% of patients achieved an ACR20 and 28% achieved an ACR50; 61% achieved an at least moderate and 17% achieved a good EULAR response. Clinical benefit was maintained through Week 56 in all effectiveness parameters. Baseline HACA status did not significantly impact effectiveness. No new safety signals were observed; neither former IFX intolerance status nor baseline HACA status had a clinically relevant impact on adverse event frequency or severity. Adalimumab was effective and well-tolerated in patients with RA who previously failed IFX therapy, irrespective of reason for discontinuation and of HACA status.

Clinical remission and/or minimal disease activity in patients receiving adalimumab treatment in a multinational, open-label, twelve-week study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of adalimumab treatment on clinical remission and/or minimal disease activity (MDA) in 6,610 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were enrolled in the Research in Active RA trial, a multinational, open-label, 12-week study with an optional extension period. METHODS: Clinical remission was defined as a Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28)<2.6, Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) score

Adalimumab alone and in combination with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in clinical practice: the Research in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis (ReAct) trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of adalimumab alone or in combination with standard disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Patients with active RA despite treatment with DMARDs or prior treatment with a tumour necrosis factor antagonist participated in a multicentre, open-label clinical study of adalimumab 40 mg every other week for 12 weeks with an optional extension phase. Patients were allowed to continue with pre-existing traditional DMARDs. Long-term safety results are reported for all patients (4210 patient-years (PYs) of adalimumab exposure). The observed effectiveness results at week 12 are reported using American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria. RESULTS: Among the 6610 treated patients, adalimumab was generally well tolerated. Serious infections occurred in 3.1% of patients (5.5/100 PYs, including active tuberculosis, 0.5/100 PYs). Demyelinating disease (0.06%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (0.03%) were rare serious adverse events. The standardised incidence ratio of malignancy was 0.71 (95% CI 0.49 to 1.01). The standardised mortality ratio was 1.07 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.49). At week 12, 69% of patients achieved an ACR20 response, 83% a moderate, and 33% a good EULAR response. Adalimumab was effective in combination with a variety of DMARDs. The addition of adalimumab to antimalarials was comparably effective to the combination of adalimumab and methotrexate. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the limitations of an open-label study, adalimumab alone or in combination with standard DMARDs appeared to be well tolerated and effective in 6610 difficult-to-treat patients with active RA treated in clinical practice.

Infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologic agents.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence rates of serious and nonserious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who start treatment with a biologic agent, and to compare these rates with those in patients with RA who receive conventional treatment. METHODS: Patients enrolled in the German biologics register between May 2001 and September 2003 were included. Treating rheumatologists assessed adverse events and serious adverse events. All adverse events and serious adverse events experienced within 12 months after study entry were analyzed. Propensity score methods were applied to estimate which part of a rate increase was likely to be attributable to differences in patient characteristics. RESULTS: Data were available for 512 patients receiving etanercept, 346 patients receiving infliximab, 70 patients receiving anakinra, and 601 control patients treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The total number of adverse events per 100 patient-years was 22.6 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 18.7-27.2) among patients receiving etanercept, 28.3 (95% CI 23.1-34.7) among patients receiving infliximab, and 6.8 (95% CI 5.0-9.4) among controls (P < 0.0001). Significant differences in the rate of serious adverse events were also observed. For patients receiving etanercept, those receiving infliximab, and controls, the total numbers of serious adverse events per 100 patient-years were 6.4 (95% CI 4.5-9.1), 6.2 (95% CI 4.0-9.5), and 2.3 (95% CI 1.3-3.9), respectively (P = 0.0016). After adjusting for differences in the case patient mix, the relative risks of serious adverse events were 2.2 (95% CI 0.9-5.4) for patients receiving etanercept and 2.1 (95% CI 0.8-5.5) for patients receiving infliximab, compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with biologic agents have a higher a priori risk of infection. However, our data suggest that this risk is increased by treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.