A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 24-week, phase II, proof-of-concept study of romilkimab (SAR156597) in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Recent advances in systemic sclerosis (SSc) show that it involves a T-helper type-2-oriented immune response with interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. Romilkimab is an engineered, humanised, bispecific immunoglobulin-G4 antibody that binds and neutralises IL-4/IL-13 making it ideal for exploration in fibrosis. METHODS: Patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), and with or without immunosuppressive background therapy, were randomised (1:1) to subcutaneous romilkimab 200 mg or placebo one time per week for 24 weeks in this double-blind, proof-of-concept, phase II study. The primary endpoint was change in modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) from baseline to week 24. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were randomised to romilkimab (n=48) or placebo (n=49) for 24 weeks. Least-squares mean (SE) change in mRSS was -4.76 (0.86) for romilkimab versus -2.45 (0.85) for placebo yielding a mean (SE) (90% CI) difference of -2.31 (1.21) (-4.32 to -0.31; p=0.0291, one-sided). Treatment-emergent AEs were balanced between placebo (n=41; 84%) and romilkimab (n=40; 80%). Most were mild-to-moderate and discontinuations were low (three overall). There were two deaths (one scleroderma renal crisis (romilkimab) and one cardiomyopathy (placebo)), neither were considered treatment related. Two patients in the placebo group had a cardiovascular treatment-emergent SAE (one cardiac failure, one cardiomyopathy), but there were no cardiac safety signals with romilkimab. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated significant effects on skin changes with romilkimab in early dcSSc that require confirmation with a longer and more comprehensive phase III study to determine clinical relevance. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02921971.

SAR156597 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a phase 2 placebo-controlled study (DRI11772).

A phase 2b trial (NCT02345070) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two dose levels/regimens of SAR156597 (a bispecific IgG4 antibody that binds and neutralises both circulating interleukin-4 and interleukin-13), in comparison with placebo, administered to patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) over 52 weeks.DRI11772 was a multinational randomised double-blind placebo-controlled phase 2b trial. Patients aged >40 years with a documented diagnosis of IPF received SAR156597 200 mg once every week (QW), SAR156597 200 mg once every 2 weeks (Q2W) or placebo, over 52 weeks. The primary efficacy end-point was absolute change from baseline in forced vital capacity (FVC) % predicted at 52 weeks.Of 327 randomised patients, 325 received treatment with placebo (n=109), SAR156597 Q2W (n=108) or SAR156597 QW (n=108). The mean change from baseline in FVC % pred at 52 weeks was -5.8%, -5.2% and -6.3% for the placebo, Q2W and QW arms, respectively (Q2W versus placebo, p=0.59; QW versus placebo, p=0.63). The safety profile observed in the three treatment arms was generally similar, although serious adverse events were more common in the QW arm than in the other arms.The DRI11772 study failed to demonstrate benefit of SAR156597 in the treatment of IPF.

Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) use in modelling disease progression in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: an analysis from the EUSTAR database.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) have a poor prognosis. The importance of monitoring subjective measures of functioning and disability, such as the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), is important as dcSSc is rated by patients as worse than diabetes or hemodialysis for quality of life impairment. This European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database analysis was undertaken to examine the importance of impaired functionality in dcSSc prognosis. The primary objectives were to identify predictors of death and HAQ-DI score progression over 1 year. HAQ-DI score, major advanced organ involvement, and death rate were also used to develop a comprehensive model to predict lifetime dcSSc progression. METHODS: This was an observational, longitudinal study in patients with dcSSc registered in EUSTAR. Death and HAQ-DI scores were, respectively, analyzed by Cox regression and linear regression analyses in relation to baseline covariates. A microsimulation Markov model was developed to estimate/predict natural progression of dcSSc over a patient's lifetime. RESULTS: The analysis included dcSSc patients with (N = 690) and without (N = 4132) HAQ-DI score assessments from the EUSTAR database. Baseline HAQ-DI score, corticosteroid treatment, and major advanced organ involvement were predictive of death on multivariable analysis; a 1-point increase in baseline HAQ-DI score multiplied the risk of death by 2.7 (p <  0.001) and multiple advanced major organ involvement multiplied the risk of death by 2.8 (p <  0.05). Multivariable analysis showed that baseline modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) and baseline HAQ-DI score were associated with HAQ-DI score progression at 1 year (p <  0.05), but there was no association between baseline organ involvement and HAQ-DI score progression at 1 year. HAQ-DI score, major advanced organ involvement, and death were successfully used to model long-term disease progression in dcSSc. CONCLUSIONS: HAQ-DI score and major advanced organ involvement were comparable predictors of mortality risk in dcSSc. Baseline mRSS and baseline HAQ-DI score were predictive of HAQ-DI score progression at 1 year, indicating a correlation between these endpoints in monitoring disease progression. It is hoped that this EUSTAR analysis may change physician perception about the importance of the HAQ-DI score in dcSSc.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Prospective, Case-Controlled Study of Natural History and Circulating Biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease with 3 to 5 years' survival. Although FVC is used to assess disease progression and treatment response, identifying predictive circulating blood biomarkers could help identify specific biologic pathways for treatment. An international, prospective, noninterventional, case-controlled, 52-week study was therefore conducted to identify a clinical and biomarker baseline profile predictive of longitudinal disease behavior. METHODS: Patients with IPF and control subjects had lung function tests and blood sampling for biomarker quantification (control subjects at baseline only). The primary end point was disease progression rate (composite end point: decrease ≥ 10% from baseline in FVC % predicted, decrease ≥ 15% from baseline in diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide % predicted, lung transplantation, death) at week 52 and its relationship to selected biomarkers at baseline. RESULTS: Altogether, 211 subjects (154 patients with IPF and 57 control subjects) were enrolled; one-third of patients (n = 47) with IPF had progressed by week 52. Biomarkers CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18), intercellular adhesion molecule 1, Krebs von den Lungen-6, surfactant protein (SP)-A, SP-D, matrix metallopeptidase 7, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, and two novel biomarkers, human epididymis protein-4 (HE4) and prostasin, discriminated patients with IPF vs control subjects. There was no difference in baseline CCL18 concentration between progressors and nonprogressors at week 52 (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.62; corrected P = .161). No biomarkers were predictive for disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: Several biomarkers, including CCL18, were associated with IPF, but none predicted disease progression. Two novel biomarkers, HE4 and prostasin, were identified and warrant further investigation.

Efficacy and safety of zolpidem-MR: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in adults with primary insomnia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of modified-release zolpidem (zolpidem-MR 12.5mg) for the treatment of primary insomnia in adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and twelve (123 women, 89 men; mean age 44.3+/-SD 3.0 years), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders--4th Edition (DSM-IV)-defined primary insomnia patients were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. The study was completed by 192 patients. Patients received 3 weeks of nightly treatment with either zolpidem-MR 12.5mg or placebo, preceded and followed by two nights of single-blind placebo. The main outcome measures were mean polysomnographic (PSG) sleep parameters of nights 1/2 and nights 15/16 of double-blind treatment and daily subjective sleep estimates from sleep questionnaires to assess efficacy, and PSG parameters of nights 22 and 23 of single-blind placebo substitution to assess the effect of drug discontinuation. RESULTS: Relative to placebo, zolpidem-MR 12.5mg improved sleep maintenance by significantly reducing PSG wake time after sleep onset (WASO) during the first 6h of sleep as well as the number of awakenings. Consistent with the effects of standard zolpidem, zolpidem-MR also significantly reduced latency to persistent sleep, and significantly increased sleep efficiency, both at the beginning and after 2 weeks of double-blind treatment. There was no evidence of next-day residual effects as measured objectively by psychometric tests. Rebound insomnia on the first night after abrupt discontinuation resolved the following night. Overall, zolpidem-MR was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Zolpidem-MR 12.5mg is effective and safe in treating primary insomnia in adults and improves sleep maintenance, induction and duration of sleep.

Controlled clinical trial of zolpidem for the treatment of insomnia associated with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in children 6 to 17 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to evaluate the hypnotic efficacy of zolpidem at 0.25 mg/kg per day (maximum of 10 mg/day), compared with placebo, in children 6 through 17 years of age who were experiencing insomnia associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. METHODS: An 8-week, North American, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was conducted. Patients underwent stratification according to age (6-11 years [N = 111] or 12-17 years [N = 90]) and were assigned randomly to receive treatment with the study drug or placebo (in a 2:1 ratio). The primary efficacy variable was latency to persistent sleep between weeks 3 and 6. Secondary efficacy variables also were assessed, and behavioral and cognitive components of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were monitored. Safety was assessed on the basis of reports of adverse events, abnormal laboratory data, vital signs, and physical examination findings. The potential for next-day residual effects also was assessed. RESULTS: The baseline-adjusted mean change in latency to persistent sleep at week 4 did not differ significantly between the zolpidem and placebo groups (-20.28 vs -21.27 minutes). However, differences favoring zolpidem were observed for the older age group in Clinical Global Impression scores at weeks 4 and 8. No next-day residual effects of treatment were associated with zolpidem, and no rebound phenomena occurred after treatment discontinuation. Central nervous system and psychiatric disorders were the most-frequent treatment-emergent adverse events (>5%) that were observed more frequently with zolpidem than with placebo; these included dizziness, headache, and hallucinations. Ten (7.4%) patients discontinued zolpidem treatment because of adverse events. CONCLUSION: Zolpidem at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg per day to a maximum of 10 mg failed to reduce the latency to persistent sleep on polysomnographic recordings after 4 weeks of treatment in children and adolescents 6 through 17 years of age who had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-associated insomnia.

Efficacy and safety of zolpidem extended release in elderly primary insomnia patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of zolpidem extended release for the treatment of primary insomnia in elderly patients. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted. A total of 205 (117 women, 88 men; mean age 70.2 +/- 4.5 years) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-defined primary insomnia patients were randomized to 3 weeks of nightly treatment with either zolpidem extended release 6.25 mg or placebo; 198 patients completed the study. RESULTS: Relative to placebo, zolpidem extended release 6.25 mg significantly decreased wake time after sleep onset during the first six hours of the night, as measured by polysomnogram (PSG). PSG latency to persistent sleep was reduced and PSG total sleep time was increased, both at nights 1/2 and 15/16. Patient self-report measures were significantly better with zolpidem extended-release 6.25 mg than with placebo throughout treatment. Some PSG measures indicated a worsening of sleep for a single night after abrupt discontinuation of zolpidem extended release. No next-morning residual effects were observed. The overall incidence and nature of adverse events was comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Zolpidem extended release 6.25 mg improved both sleep maintenance and sleep induction in elderly primary insomnia patients during three weeks of administration.