Bimekizumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis, naive to biologic treatment: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial (BE OPTIMAL).

BACKGROUND: Bimekizumab is a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F. We assessed the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in patients with active psoriatic arthritis who were naive to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). METHODS: BE OPTIMAL was a 52-week, phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, active reference (adalimumab) trial done at 135 sites (hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, and research centres) in 14 countries. Eligible patients were 18 years or older with a documented diagnosis of adult-onset psoriatic arthritis that met the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis for at least 6 months before screening. Participants were randomly assigned with an interactive-voice and web-response system on the basis of a predetermined randomisation schedule (3:2:1, stratified by region and bone erosion number at baseline) to bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks, placebo every 2 weeks, or the reference group (adalimumab 40 mg every 2 weeks), all administered subcutaneously. At week 16, patients randomly assigned to placebo switched to bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients reaching 50% or greater improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR50) at week 16 (non-responder imputation). Efficacy analyses included all patients who were randomly assigned (intention-to-treat population); the safety analysis set comprised patients who received one or more doses of treatment. Data are presented to week 24 (preplanned analysis). This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03895203. FINDINGS: Between April 3, 2019, and Oct 25, 2021, 1163 patients were screened and 852 were randomly assigned to bimekizumab (n=431), placebo (n=281), and reference (adalimumab; n=140) groups. At week 16, significantly more patients receiving bimekizumab (189 [44%] of 431) reached ACR50 response versus placebo (28 [10%] of 281; odds ratio 7·1 [95% CI 4·6-10·9], p<0·0001; adalimumab 64 [46%] of 140). All secondary hierarchical endpoints were met. Treatment-emergent adverse events up to week 16 were reported in 258 [60%] of 431 patients receiving bimekizumab, 139 [49%] of 281 patients receiving placebo, and 83 [59%] of 140 patients receiving adalimumab. No deaths occurred. INTERPRETATION: Bimekizumab treatment had superior improvements in joint, skin, and radiographic efficacy outcomes at week 16 compared with placebo in patients with psoriatic arthritis who were naive to biologic DMARDs. The safety profile of bimekizumab, including the occurrence of fungal infections, was consistent with previous phase 3 studies in patients with plaque psoriasis, and with IL-17A inhibitors. FUNDING: UCB Pharma.

Bimekizumab in patients with active psoriatic arthritis and previous inadequate response or intolerance to tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial (BE COMPLETE).

BACKGROUND: Bimekizumab is a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin (IL)-17F and IL-17A. This study compared the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab with placebo over 16 weeks in patients with active psoriatic arthritis and previous inadequate response or intolerance to tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) inhibitors. METHODS: BE COMPLETE was a phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted across 92 sites (including hospitals, clinics, and research centres) in 11 countries (Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, the UK, and the USA). Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older with adult-onset psoriatic arthritis (meeting the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis for at least 6 months before screening) with a history of inadequate response or intolerance to treatment with one or two TNFα inhibitors for either psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis. We stratified patients with active psoriatic arthritis by region and previous TNFα inhibitor use. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive subcutaneous bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks or placebo by an interactive-voice and web-response system on the basis of a predetermined randomisation schedule. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with 50% or greater improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR50) at week 16 (non-responder imputation). Efficacy analyses were done in the randomised population. The safety analysis set comprised patients who received one or more doses of study treatment. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03896581, and is completed. FINDINGS: Between March 28, 2019, and Feb 14, 2022, 556 patients were screened and 400 patients were randomly assigned to bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks (n=267) or placebo (n=133). The primary and all hierarchical secondary endpoints were met at week 16. 116 (43%) of 267 patients receiving bimekizumab reached ACR50, compared with nine (7%) of 133 patients receiving placebo (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 11·1 [95% CI 5·4-23·0], p<0·0001). 121 (69%) of 176 patients with psoriasis affecting at least 3% body surface area at baseline who received bimekizumab reached 90% or greater improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI90), compared with six (7%) of 88 patients who received placebo (adjusted OR 30·2 [12·4-73·9], p<0·0001). Treatment-emergent adverse events up to week 16 were reported in 108 (40%) of 267 patients receiving bimekizumab and 44 (33%) of 132 patients receiving placebo. There were no new safety signals and no deaths. INTERPRETATION: Bimekizumab treatment led to superior improvements in joint and skin efficacy outcomes at week 16 compared with placebo in patients with psoriatic arthritis and inadequate response or intolerance to TNFα inhibitors. The safety profile of bimekizumab was consistent with previous phase 3 studies in patients with plaque psoriasis, and studies of IL-17A inhibitors. FUNDING: UCB Pharma.

Initial glucocorticoid bridging in rheumatoid arthritis: does it affect glucocorticoid use over time?

OBJECTIVES: To compare the use of glucocorticoids (GC) over time in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were or were not treated initially with GC bridging therapy. METHODS: Data from the BeSt, CareRA and COBRA trials were combined in an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis. We compared GC use between bridgers and non-bridgers at 12, 18 and 24 months from baseline with mixed-effects regression analysis. Secondary outcomes were mean cumulative GC dose until 24 months after baseline with and without the bridging period, Disease Activity Score based on 28 joints (DAS28) over time and number of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) changes. RESULTS: 252/625 patients (40%) were randomised to GC bridging (bridgers). Excluding the period of bridging, later GC use was low in both groups and cumulative doses were similar. Mean DAS28 was similar between the groups, but bridgers improved more rapidly (p<0.001) in the first 6 months and the bridgers required significantly fewer changes in DMARDs (incidence rate ratio 0.59 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.94)). GC use was higher in the bridgers at t=12 months (OR 3.27 (95% CI 1.06 to 10.08)) and the bridging schedules resulted in a difference in cumulative GC dose of 2406 mg (95% CI 1403 to 3408) over 24 months. CONCLUSION: In randomised trials comparing GC bridging and no GC bridging, bridgers had a more rapid clinical improvement, fewer DMARD changes and similar late use of GC compared with non-bridgers. GC bridging per protocol resulted, as could be expected, in a higher cumulative GC dose over 2 years.

Can rheumatologists unequivocally diagnose axial spondyloarthritis in patients with chronic back pain of less than 2 years duration? Primary outcome of the 2-year SPondyloArthritis Caught Early (SPACE) cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in patients with chronic back pain (CBP) of less than 2 years (2y) duration referred to the rheumatologist, the development of diagnosis over time, and patient characteristics of those developing definite (d-)axSpA over 2y. METHODS: We analysed the 2y data from SPondyloArthritis Caught Early, a European cohort of patients (<45 years) with CBP (≥3 months, ≤2y) of unknown origin. The diagnostic workup comprised evaluation of clinical SpA features, acute phase reactants, HLA-B27, radiographs and MRI (sacroiliac joints and spine), with repeated assessments. At each visit (baseline, 3 months, 1y and 2y), rheumatologists reported a diagnosis of axSpA or non-axSpA with level of confidence (LoC; 0-not confident at all to 10-very confident). MAIN OUTCOME: axSpA diagnosis with LoC≥7 (d-axSpA) at 2y. RESULTS: In 552 patients with CBP, d-axSpA was diagnosed in 175 (32%) at baseline and 165 (30%) at 2y. Baseline diagnosis remained rather stable: at 2y, baseline d-axSpA was revised in 5% of patients, while 8% 'gained' d-axSpA. Diagnostic uncertainty persisted in 30%. HLA-B27+ and baseline sacroiliitis imaging discriminated best 2y-d-axSpA versus 2y-d-non-axSpA patients. Good response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and MRI-sacroiliitis most frequently developed over follow-up in patients with a new d-axSpA diagnosis. Of the patients who developed MRI-sacroiliitis, 7/8 were HLA-B27+ and 5/8 male. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of d-axSpA can be reliably made in nearly one-third of patients with CBP referred to the rheumatologist, but diagnostic uncertainty may persist in 5%-30% after 2y. Repeated assessments yield is modest, but repeating MRI may be worthwhile in male HLA-B27+ patients.

Goodbye to the term 'ankylosing spondylitis', hello 'axial spondyloarthritis': time to embrace the ASAS-defined nomenclature.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the historic term used for decades for the HLA-B27-associated inflammatory disease affecting mainly the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) and spine. Classification criteria for AS have radiographic sacroiliitis as a dominant characteristic. However, with the availability of MRI of SIJ, it could be demonstrated that the disease starts long before definite SIJ changes become visible on radiographs. The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society, representing a worldwide group of experts reached consensus on changes in the nomenclature pertaining to axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), such as the terminology of diagnosis and of assessment of disease activity tools. These are important changes in the field, as experts in axSpA are now in agreement that the term axSpA is the overall term for the disease. A further differentiation, of which radiographic versus non-radiographic is only one aspect, may be relevant for research purposes. Another important decision was that the terms AS and radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA) can be used interchangeably, but that the preferred term is r-axSpA. Based on the decision that axSpA is the correct terminology, a proposal was made to officially change the meaning of the ASDAS acronym to 'Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score'. In addition, for simplification it was proposed that the term ASDAS (instead of ASDAS-CRP) should be preferred and applied to the ASDAS calculated with C reactive protein (CRP). It is hoped that these changes will be used consequently for education, in textbooks, manuscripts and presentations.

Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics in patients with psoriatic arthritis and axial manifestations from the MAXIMISE cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The current analysis of the MAXIMISE trial was conducted to investigate the presence of post-inflammatory and degenerative spinal changes and inflammatory changes in spinal processes identified in baseline MRIs and their potential for predicting differential treatment effects in a cohort of PsA patients with axial manifestations. METHODS: Baseline spinal MRIs from the MAXIMISE trial were re-read to identify additional inflammatory (spinal process), post-inflammatory, and degenerative changes, and investigate the differential treatment effect of these imaging features using logistic regression modelling. RESULTS: In addition to bone marrow oedema assessed at primary analysis, spinal process inflammation and post-inflammatory changes evaluated by FAt Spondyloarthritis Spine Score were documented in 11.1% and 20.2% patients, respectively. At least one type of degenerative change was noted in 64% patients, with Pfirrmann grade ≥3 (51.1%) being the most common. Combining primary and re-read MRI findings, 67.1% of patients presented with inflammatory or post-inflammatory changes while 21.2% had degenerative changes alone. Although not statistically significant, post-inflammatory changes were associated with a trend for better efficacy outcomes in terms of ASAS20, ASAS40 and BASDAI50 responses; a trend for worse outcomes was observed in the presence of degenerative changes. CONCLUSION: The current analysis revealed the occurrence of additional inflammatory and post-inflammatory changes suggestive of axial PsA (axPsA) and a trend for better clinical outcomes for patients treated with secukinumab. These results elucidate the imaging characteristics and improve our current understanding of axPsA thereby supporting the interpretation of future trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02721966.

Performance of clinical, laboratory and imaging features for diagnosing spondyloarthritis-a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The Berlin algorithm was developed to help diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), but new studies suggest some features typical of SpA are less specific than previously assumed. Furthermore, evidence is lacking for other SpA subtypes (e.g. peripheral SpA). We aimed to review the evidence on the performance of SpA features for diagnosing each SpA subtype. METHODS: Systematic literature review of studies reporting the diagnostic performance of ≥ 1 SpA feature in patients with suspected SpA. The external reference was the rheumatologist's diagnosis of SpA. Meta-analysis was performed, separately for each SpA subtype, to estimate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) likelihood ratios. Meta-regression assessed the effect of covariates (e.g. feature's prevalence) on each feature's performance. RESULTS: Of 13 844 articles screened, 46 were included. Sacroiliitis on magnetic resonance imaging, damage on pelvic radiographs and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) had the best balance between LR+ and LR- (LR + 3.9-17.0, LR- 0.5-0.7) for diagnosing axSpA. HLA-B27 had an LR+ lower than anticipated (LR + =3.1). Inflammatory back pain (IBP) had low LR + (LR+∼1), but substantially decreased the likelihood of axSpA when absent (LR-=0.3). Conversely, peripheral features and extra-musculoskeletal manifestations showed high LR + (LR+ 1.6-5.0), but were as common in axSpA as no-axSpA (LR-∼1). The specificity of most features was reduced in settings when these were highly prevalent. Limited data precluded a detailed analysis on diagnosing other SpA subtypes. CONCLUSION: Imaging features and CRP have good diagnostic value for axSpA. However, the specificity of other features, especially HLA-B27 and IBP, is lower than previously known.

Treatment decisions in axial spondyloarthritis daily clinical practice are more than treat-to-target.

OBJECTIVE: 'Treat-to-target principles' are advised for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), although a clear target is not yet defined and targets do not always reflect inflammation. Treat-to-target use and motives for treatment choices in clinics are unknown. Therefore, we studied the presence of residual disease activity according physician's opinion, patient's opinion and composite indices and compared them to the subsequent treatment decisions. METHODS: This cross-sectional multicentre study included 249 patients with a clinical diagnosis of axSpA ≥6 months. Remission and low disease activity according to the BASDAI (<1.9 and <3.5, respectively) and physician's and patient's opinion were assessed. Questionnaires included patient-reported outcomes and patients and physicians completed questions regarding treatment decisions. RESULTS: A total of 115/249 (46%) patients were in remission according to the physician and 37% (n = 43) of these patients reached remission according to the BASDAI. In 51/83 (60%) of the patients with residual disease activity according to the physician and a BASDAI >3.5 the treatment was left unchanged, either because of low disease activity as rated by the physician [n = 15 (29%)] or because of a combination of low disease activity with non-inflammatory complaints or comorbidities [n = 11 (25%)]. Retrospective treat-to-target evaluations showed that treatments were most frequently intensified in patients with arthritis or inflammatory back pain and less often in patients with other (non-inflammatory) musculoskeletal comorbidities. CONCLUSION: This study shows that physicians do not always strictly apply treat-to-target in case of residual disease activity in axSpA. Usually, they accept low disease activity as satisfactory.

The impact of autoantibodies on the efficacy of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of bDMARDs in patients with RA with RF/ACPA compared with patients without these autoantibodies. METHODS: Previous systematic literature reviews performed by EULAR RA management task forces were searched for qualifying RCTs. RCTs investigating the efficacy of bDMARDs and including both autoantibody-positive (≤80% of total population) and -negative RA patients were eligible. For trials comparing bDMARD+csDMARD vs csDMARD, relative risks (RR) comparing two groups (RF + vs RF-, ACPA+ vs ACPA-) were calculated for efficacy outcomes for each arm. Subsequently, relative risk ratios (RRRs) were computed, as the ratio of RR of the bDMARD-arm and the RR from the non-bDMARD-arm. Pooled effects were obtained with random effect meta-analyses. RESULTS: Data from 28 eligible RCTs were analyzed, pooling 23 studies in three subgroups: 6 including csDMARD-naïve patients, 14 csDMARD-IR, and 3 TNFi-IR patients. In csDMARD-naïve and csDMARD-IR patients, seropositivity was not associated with a better response to bDMARDs: pooled 6-month ACR20 RRRs 1.02 (0.88-1.18) and 1.09 (0.90-1.32), respectively. Other outcomes showed no difference between groups either. In TNFi-IR patients, based on 3 trials, the 6-month ACR20 RRR was 2.28 (1.31-3.95), favoring efficacy in seropositive patients. Other outcomes mostly showed no significant difference between the groups. Based on the mode of action, efficacy was comparable between RF-positive and RF-negative patients for both TNFi and non-TNFi treatment and also for the individual bDMARDs. CONCLUSION: The effect of bDMARDs is generally comparable in patients with and without RF/ACPA, regardless of the patient population, the mechanism of action or individual drug used.

Erosions on T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Versus Radiography of Sacroiliac Joints in Recent-Onset Axial Spondyloarthritis: 2-Year Data (EMBARK Trial and DESIR Cohort).

OBJECTIVE: (1) To compare the capacity to detect sacroiliac joint (SIJ) erosions and baseline-to-week 104 change in erosions between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiographs in recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA); and (2) to compare treatment-discriminatory capacities of MRI and radiographic scores for erosion detection in patients receiving etanercept in the Effect of Etanercept on Symptoms and Objective Inflammation in Nonradiographic axSpA (EMBARK) trial vs controls in the DESIR (Devenir des Spondylarthropathies Indifférenciées Récentes) cohort. METHODS: Anonymized SIJ MRI and radiographs were assessed at patient and joint surface levels. Three readers evaluated MRI; 3 different readers evaluated radiographs. Final scores for comparison of radiographs and MRI for detection of erosions were assigned based on agreement of ≥ 2 of 3 readers' assessments. RESULTS: At baseline, discordance in erosion detection between imaging methods was more frequent for MRI erosions in the absence of radiographic erosions (48/224 [21.4%] patients) than for radiographic erosions in the absence of MRI erosions (14/224 [6.3%] patients; P < 0.001). After 104 weeks, a decrease in erosions was observed on MRI but not radiographs in 49/221 (22.2%) patients, and on radiographs but not MRI in 6/221 (2.7%) patients (P < 0.001). In the treatment-discriminant capacity analysis, the largest standardized differences between etanercept and control cohorts at week 104 were changes in Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada MRI erosion discrete score, changes in erosion average score, and meeting the modified New York criteria on radiographs, with unadjusted/adjusted Hedges G effect sizes of 0.40/0.50, 0.40/0.56, and 0.40/0.43, respectively. CONCLUSION: In recent-onset axSpA, SIJ erosions and erosion change were observed more frequently on MRI than radiography. The significance of interval improvement of MRI erosions warrants further research. [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01258738, NCT01648907].

Disease activity and widespread pain are main contributors to patient-reported global health in axial spondyloarthritis: an analysis of 6064 patients.

Global health (GH) and health-related quality of life are patient priorities in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Our objective was to assess the relative importance of disease-related factors including disease activity, and patient-related factors including comorbidities, to explain GH in axSpA. Post hoc cross-sectional analyses of 4 sets (COMOSPA, PERSPA, COMEDSPA, and DESIR) of patients fulfilling ASAS criteria for axSpA. GH was assessed through the ASAS Health Index (ASAS-HI) or the EuroQoL-5D-3L (EQ-5D). Disease-related factors included disease activity (ASDAS, psoriasis, arthritis, enthesitis, and CRP), disease duration, diagnostic delay, bamboo spine, and treatment. Non-disease-related factors included sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities and chronic widespread pain. Multivariable logistic and linear regressions and partial variances (R2) were applied to identify independent determinants of GH. In 6064 patients (range 284-2756 across datasets), mean age ranged 38.9-45.8 years, 51-68% were male. GH was generally moderate: median ASAS-HI ranged 5.0-7.0. GH was explained by ASDAS (range of odds ratios, OR, 2.60-4.48) and chronic widespread pain (range of OR 2.19-8.39); other determinants included comorbidities and sociodemographic characteristics. Only 47-57% of the total variance in GH could be explained by the models; disease activity (partial variance, 16-26%) and chronic widespread pain (partial variance 12-15%) were the key contributing variables. A wide range of disease and non-disease-related variables usually collected in studies could only explain 47-57% of the variability in GH. Among these, disease activity and chronic widespread pain were most relevant and of similar magnitude of importance. These findings will be helpful for shared decision-making.

Efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological and non-biological interventions: a systematic literature review informing the 2022 update of the ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To update the evidence of non-biological treatments for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), as a basis for the 2022 Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society-European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (ASAS-EULAR) recommendations for the management of axSpA. METHODS: A systematic literature review (2016-2021) on efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological and non-biological pharmacological treatments was performed, up to 1 January 2022. The research question was formulated according to the PICO format: Population: adult patients with r-axSpA and nr-axSpA; Intervention: non-pharmacological and non-biological pharmacological treatments; Comparator: active comparator or placebo; Outcomes: all relevant efficacy and safety outcomes. Type of studies included were: randomised controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies (for efficacy of non-pharmacological treatments, and safety), qualitative studies. Cohen's effect size (ES) was calculated for non-pharmacological and risk ratio (RR) for pharmacological treatments. RESULTS: Of 107 publications included, 63 addressed non-pharmacological interventions, including education (n=8) and exercise (n=20). The ES for education on disease activity, function, mobility was small to moderate (eg. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), ES: 0.06-0.59). Exercise had moderate to high ES on these outcomes (eg. BASDAI, ES: 0.14-1.43). Six RCTs on targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) showed efficacy of tofacitinib, upadacitinib and filgotinib (phase 2 only) in r-axSpA (range RR vs placebo for ASAS20: 1.91-3.10), while apremilast and nilotinib were not efficacious. Studies on conventional synthetic DMARDs (n=3), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, n=8) and other drugs (n=12) did not provide new evidence on efficacy/safety (efficacy of NSAIDs confirmed; limited efficacy of short-term glucocorticoids in one RCT). CONCLUSIONS: Education, exercise and NSAIDs confirmed to be efficacious in axSpA. JAKi were proved efficacious in r-axSpA.

Efficacy and safety of biological DMARDs: a systematic literature review informing the 2022 update of the ASAS-EULAR recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To update the evidence on efficacy and safety of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) to inform the 2022 update of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (ASAS-EULAR) recommendations for the management of axSpA. METHODS: Systematic literature review (2016-2021) on efficacy and safety of bDMARDs in axSpA (radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA)/non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA)). Eligible study designs included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), strategy trials and observational studies (the latter only for safety and extra-musculoskeletal manifestations). All relevant efficacy/safety outcomes were included. RESULTS: In total, 148 publications were included. Efficacy of golimumab and certolizumab was confirmed. Tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) biosimilar-originator equivalence was demonstrated. RCT (n=15) data on efficacy of interleukin-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) demonstrated clinically relevant effects (risk ratio vs placebo to achieve ASAS40 response 1.3-15.3 (r-axSpA, n=9), 1.4-2.1 (nr-axSpA, n=2)). Efficacy of secukinumab/ixekizumab was demonstrated in TNFi-naïve and TNFi-inadequate responders. IL-23 and IL-12/23 inhibitors (risankizumab/ustekinumab) failed to show relevant benefits. Tapering of TNFi by spacing was non-inferior to standard-dose treatment. The first axSpA treat-to-target trial did not meet its primary endpoint, but showed improvements in secondary outcomes. No new risks were identified with TNFi use in observational studies (data lacking for IL-17i). Secukinumab (n=1) and etanercept (n=2) were associated with increased risk of uveitis in observational studies compared to monoclonal TNFi. CONCLUSIONS: New evidence supports the efficacy and safety of TNFi (originators/biosimilars) and IL-17i in r-axSpA and nr-axSpA, while IL-23i failed to show relevant effects. Observational studies are needed to confirm long-term IL-17i safety. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021257588.

Country-level socioeconomic status relates geographical latitude to the onset of RA: a worldwide cross-sectional analysis in the METEOR registry.

OBJECTIVE: Age at rheumatoid arthritis (RA) onset varies by geographical latitude. We have investigated to what extent differences in patient-specific factors and country-level socioeconomic indicators explain this variability. METHODS: Patients with RA from the worldwide METEOR registry were included. Bayesian multilevel structural equation models were used to study the relationship between the absolute value of (hospital) geographical latitude and age at diagnosis (as a proxy for age at RA onset). We examined to what extent this effect is mediated by individual patient characteristics and by country-specific socioeconomic indicators and disentangled whether the observed effects occurred at the patient, hospital, or country levels. RESULTS: We included 37 981 patients from 93 hospitals in 17 geographically widespread countries. Mean age at diagnosis per country ranged from 39 (Iran) to 55 (Netherlands) years. Per degree increase in country latitude (between 9.9° and 55.8°), mean age at diagnosis increased by 0.23 years (95% credibility interval: 0.095 to 0.38) (reflecting >10 years difference in age at RA onset). For hospitals within a country, this latitude effect was negligible. Inclusion of patient-specific factors (eg, gender, anticitrullinated protein antibodies status) in the model augmented the main effect from 0.23 to 0.36 years. Inclusion of country-level socioeconomic indicators (eg, gross domestic product per capita) in the model almost effaced the main effect (from 0.23 to 0.051 (-0.37 to 0.38)). CONCLUSIONS: Patients living closer to the equator get RA at a younger age. This latitude gradient was not explained by individual patient characteristics, but rather by countries' socioeconomic status, providing a direct link between countries' level of welfare and the clinical onset of RA.

Individual patient data meta-analysis on continued use of glucocorticoids after their initiation as bridging therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can discontinue glucocorticoids (GC) after GC 'bridging' in the initial treatment step and to identify factors that may affect this. METHODS: Data from 7 clinical trial arms (with 1653 patients) that included a GC bridging schedule, previously identified in a systematic literature search, were combined in an individual patient data meta-analysis. Outcomes were GC use (yes/no) at predefined time points (1/3/6/12/18 months after bridging had ended), cumulative GC dose and continuous (≥3 months) GC use after bridging had ended. Age, sex, ACPA status, initial GC dose, duration of bridging schedule, oral versus parenteral GC administration and initial co-treatment were univariably tested with each outcome. RESULTS: The probability of using GC 1 month after bridging therapy had ended was 0.18, decreasing to 0.07 from 6 until 18 months after bridging had ended. The probability of continuous GC use after bridging had ended was 0.18 at 1 year and 0.30 at 2 years of follow-up. In oral GC bridging studies only, the probabilities of later and continuous GC use and the cumulative GC doses were higher compared to the combined analyses with also parenteral GC bridging studies included. A higher initial dose and a longer GC bridging schedule were associated with higher cumulative GC doses and more patients on GC at 18 months after bridging had ended. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these RA clinical trial arms with an initial GC bridging schedule, the probability of subsequent ongoing GC use following bridging is low.

Recapture and retreatment rates with ixekizumab after withdrawal of therapy in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: results at week 104 from a randomised placebo-controlled withdrawal study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the recapture of response with open-label (OL) ixekizumab (IXE) retreatment at week 104 in patients with axial spondyloarthritis who flared after withdrawal of IXE therapy. METHODS: COAST-Y (NCT03129100) is a phase III extension study that included a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised withdrawal-retreatment period (RWRP). Patients who achieved remission (Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) <1.3 (inactive disease, ID) at least once at week 16 or 20 and <2.1 (low disease activity, LDA) at both visits) were randomised 2:1 at week 24 to continue IXE or withdraw to placebo. Patients who subsequently flared were switched to OL IXE every 2 or 4 weeks (Q2W or Q4W) at the next visit. The proportions of patients who recaptured ASDAS LDA and ID were summarised for those who experienced flare. RESULTS: Of the 155 patients who entered the RWRP (placebo, n=53; IXE Q4W, n=48; IXE Q2W, n=54), 138 (89%) completed week 104. Of the placebo-treated patients (n=53), 28 (53%) experienced a flare during weeks 24-104; of these, 4 (14%) recaptured ASDAS LDA before retreatment with OL IXE, and 23 (82%) recaptured ASDAS LDA and 19 (68%) met ASDAS ID after retreatment. Of the continuously treated IXE patients (n=102), 13 experienced flare; 7 of 13 (54%) recaptured ASDAS LDA before switching to OL IXE retreatment, while 5 of 13 (38%) recaptured ASDAS LDA and 4 of 13 (31%) met ID after switching. CONCLUSIONS: Ninety-six per cent of patients withdrawn to placebo recaptured at least ASDAS LDA and 71% recaptured ASDAS ID with IXE retreatment at week 104. This may provide support to patients who may require a brief interruption in therapy.

Efficacy, duration of use and safety of glucocorticoids: a systematic literature review informing the 2022 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

This systematic literature review (SLR) regarding the efficacy, duration of use and safety of glucocorticoids (GCs), was performed to inform the 2022 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies on GC efficacy were identified from a separate search on the efficacy of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). A combined search was performed for the duration of use and safety of GCs in RA patients. Dose-defined and time-defined GC treatment of any dose and duration (excluding intra-articular GCs) prescribed in combination with other DMARDs were considered. Results are presented descriptively. Two included studies confirmed the efficacy of GC bridging as initial therapy, with equal efficacy after 2 years of initial doses of 30 mg/day compared with 60 mg/day prednisone. Based on a recently performed SLR, in clinical trials most patients starting initial GC bridging are able to stop GCs within 12 (22% patients continued on GCs) to 24 months (10% patients continued on GCs). The safety search included 12 RCTs and 21 observational studies. Well-known safety risks of GC use were confirmed, including an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures, serious infections, diabetes and mortality. Data on cardiovascular outcomes were Inconsistent. Overall, safety risks increased with increasing dose and/or duration, but evidence on which dose is safe was conflicting. In conclusion, this SLR has confirmed the efficacy of GCs in the treatment of RA. In clinical trials, most patients have shown to be able to stop GCs within 12-24 months. Well-known safety risks of GC use have been confirmed, but with heterogeneity between studies.

Safety of synthetic and biological DMARDs: a systematic literature review informing the 2022 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

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.

Efficacy of synthetic and biological DMARDs: a systematic literature review informing the 2022 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To update the evidence on efficacy of DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) and inform the taskforce of the 2022 update of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This systematic literature review (SLR) investigated the efficacy of conventional synthetic (cs), biological (b), biosimilar and targeted synthetic (ts)DMARDs in patients with RA. Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL and Web of Science were used to identify all relevant articles published since the previous update in 2019 to 14 January 2022. RESULTS: Of 8969 search results, 169 articles were selected for detailed review and 47 were finally included. Trials investigated the efficacy of csDMARDs, bDMARDs and tsDMARDs, DMARD switching, tapering and trials investigating different treatment strategies. The compounds investigated were csDMARDs (methotrexate (MTX), leflunomide, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine), bDMARDs (abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab-pegol, denosumab, etanercept, infliximab, levilimab, olokizumab, opineracept, rituximab, sarilumab, tocilizumab) and tsDMARDs (baricitinib, filgotinib, tofacitinib, upadacitinib). The efficacy of csDMARDs+ short-term glucocorticoids in early RA was confirmed and similar to bDMARD+MTX combination therapy. Interleukin-6 pathway inhibition was effective in trials on olokizumab and levilimab. Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) was efficacious in different patient populations. After insufficient response to JAKi, patients could respond to TNFi treatment. Tapering of DMARDs was feasible for a proportion of patients, who were able to taper therapy while remaining in low disease activity or remission. CONCLUSION: The results of this SLR, together with one SLR on safety of DMARD and one on glucocorticoids, informed the taskforce of the 2022 update of the EULAR recommendations for pharmacological management of RA.

Bimekizumab treatment in biologic DMARD-naïve patients with active psoriatic arthritis: 52-week efficacy and safety results from the phase III, randomised, placebo-controlled, active reference BE OPTIMAL study.

OBJECTIVES: Bimekizumab (BKZ) is a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin (IL)-17F in addition to IL-17A. BKZ treatment has demonstrated superior efficacy versus placebo (PBO) at Week 16 in biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naïve patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Here, we report long-term efficacy and safety to Week 52. METHODS: BE OPTIMAL comprised a 16-week, double-blind, PBO-controlled period, then 36 weeks treatment-blind. Patients were randomised 3:2:1 to subcutaneous BKZ 160 mg every 4 weeks, PBO with switch to BKZ at Week 16, or reference arm (adalimumab (ADA) 40 mg every 2 weeks). Efficacy outcomes included the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response criteria 20/50/70, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75/90/100 in patients with baseline psoriasis affecting ≥3% body surface area and minimal disease activity (MDA); non-responder imputation. RESULTS: ACR20/50/70, PASI75/90/100 and MDA responses were sustained with BKZ to Week 52, consistent with results observed at Week 16. Patients who switched to BKZ at Week 16 demonstrated improvements in efficacy with similar results to BKZ-randomised patients by Week 52.To Week 52, 555/702 (79.1%) patients had ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) during BKZ treatment; 113/140 (80.7%) on ADA. On BKZ, 46 (6.6%) patients had serious TEAEs. 54 (7.7%) Candida infections occurred during BKZ treatment and 1 (0.7%) during ADA; all cases were localised and non-serious. One death occurred in a BKZ-treated patient, unrelated to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of BKZ in bDMARD-naïve patients with PsA was sustained from Week 16 to Week 52. BKZ was well tolerated with no new safety signals observed. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03895203.