Prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III study evaluating efficacy and safety of octagam 10% in patients with dermatomyositis ("ProDERM Study").

INTRODUCTION: Dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by distinct skin manifestations and muscle weakness. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has been used off-label as adjuvant therapy in DM, but is not indicated for DM, due to lack of proven efficacy in a large randomized controlled trial. The objective of the ProDERM (Progress in DERMatomyositis) study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and long-term tolerability of IVIg (Octagam 10%) in patients with DM in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, Phase III study. METHODS: Adult patients with active DM who were continuing standard therapy at a stable dose were eligible for this study. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either 2 g/kg of IVIg or placebo, administered every 4 weeks until week 16 (First Period). Patients were switched to the alternate treatment if they showed clinical deterioration in the First Period. After response assessment at week 16, all patients on placebo and those without deterioration on IVIg entered the open-label Extension Period, receiving 2 g/kg IVIg every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. RESULTS: The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of responders in the IVIg vs placebo arm at week 16, where response was defined per 2016 ACR/EULAR Myositis Response Criteria of at least minimal improvement [Total Improvement Score (TIS) ≥20] and without deterioration at 2 consecutive visits up to week 16. TIS consists of composite response criteria, combining weighted improvement in 6 core set measures (CSMs), Global Disease Activity (Physician and Patient), manual muscle testing-8 (MMT-8), Health Assessment Questionnaire, extra-muscular disease activity, and muscle enzymes. Secondary endpoints included the mean change in individual CSMs, time to improvement in TIS, time to confirmed deterioration in the First Period, and the overall proportion of patients with deteriorations. Adverse events, including infusion reactions and thromboembolic events, were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The ProDERM study was the first to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of IVIg (Octagam 10%) in a placebo-controlled, blinded, randomized trial in DM. The study aimed to inform on the use of IVIg in the treatment of DM, and results are expected in Q3 2020. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02728752.

North America and South America (NA-SA) neuropathy project.

Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological disorder. There may be important differences and similarities in the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy between North America (NA) and South America (SA). Neuromuscular databases were searched for neuropathy diagnosis at two North American sites, University of Kansas Medical Center and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and one South American site, Federal Fluminense University in Brazil. All patients were included into one of the six major categories: immune-mediated, diabetic, hereditary, infectious/inflammatory, systemic/metabolic/toxic (not diabetic) and cryptogenic. A comparison of the number of patients in each category was made between North America and South America databases. Total number of cases in North America was 1090 and in South America was 1034 [immune-mediated: NA 215 (19.7%), SA 191 (18%); diabetic: NA 148 (13.5%), SA 236 (23%); hereditary: NA 292 (26.7%), SA 103 (10%); infectious/inflammatory: NA 53 (4.8%), SA 141 (14%); systemic/metabolic/toxic: NA 71 (6.5%), SA 124 (12%); cryptogenic: NA 311 (28.5%), SA 239 (23%)]. Some specific neuropathy comparisons were hereditary neuropathies [Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) cases] in NA 246/292 (84.2%) and SA 60/103 (58%); familial amyloid neuropathy in SA 31/103 (30%) and none in NA. Among infectious neuropathies, cases of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) neuropathy in SA were 36/141(25%), Chagas disease in SA were 13/141(9%) and none for either in NA; cases of neuropathy due to leprosy in NA were 26/53 (49%) and in SA were 39/141(28%). South American tertiary care centers are more likely to see patients with infectious, diabetic and hereditary disorders such as familial amyloid neuropathies. North American tertiary centers are more likely to see patients with CMT. Immune neuropathies and cryptogenic neuropathies were seen equally in North America and South America.