Efficacy and Safety of Risankizumab for Active Psoriatic Arthritis: 100-Week Results from the KEEPsAKE 2 Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Long-term therapeutic options providing durable response and tolerability are needed for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The ongoing KEEPsAKE 2 trial is evaluating risankizumab treatment in patients with active PsA who previously had inadequate response/intolerance to ≥ 1 conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD-IR) and/or 1-2 biologic DMARDs (bDMARD-IR). Herein, we report results through 100 weeks of treatment. METHODS: KEEPsAKE 2 is a global phase 3 trial. Patients with active PsA were randomized 1:1 to double-blind subcutaneous risankizumab 150 mg or placebo (weeks 0, 4, and 16). At week 24, all patients received open-label risankizumab every 12 weeks until end of study. Efficacy endpoints included achieving ≥ 20% improvement in PsA symptoms using American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20), attaining minimal disease activity (MDA; meeting ≥ 5/7 criteria of low disease activity and extent), and improving in other measures. RESULTS: At the cutoff date, 345/443 (77.9%) patients were ongoing in the study. ACR20 was achieved in 57.1% and 52.5% of the continuous risankizumab and placebo/risankizumab cohorts, respectively, at week 100 and in 60.0% and 55.8%, respectively, at week 52. In week 52 responders, maintenance of ACR20 at week 100 was achieved in 74.8% (continuous risankizumab) and 78.7% (placebo/risankizumab) of patients. In the continuous risankizumab and placebo/risankizumab cohorts, respectively, MDA was achieved by 33.0% and 33.3% of patients at week 100 and by 27.2% and 33.8% at week 52. Among MDA responders at week 52, maintenance of MDA response was achieved by 83.6% and 73.0% of the continuous risankizumab and placebo/risankizumab cohorts, respectively. Risankizumab was well tolerated through week 100. CONCLUSIONS: Risankizumab demonstrated durable efficacy and tolerability through 100 weeks; most patients who achieved ACR20 and MDA responses at week 52 maintained this achievement through week 100. There were no new safety signals in patients who had csDMARD-IR and bDMARD-IR. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03671148.

Risankizumab, a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, helps control the body's immune system to reduce symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (a disease that inflames the joints of people who have the skin condition psoriasis). The ongoing KEEPsAKE 2 study is evaluating how well risankizumab works and how safe it is for treating adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis who previously experienced inadequate response to one or more specific types of disease-modifying anti-arthritis drugs. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either risankizumab or an inactive drug; after 24 weeks, all patients received risankizumab. At study week 100, 57% of patients who were assigned to receive continuous risankizumab since the start of the study experienced a 20% or more improvement in a measure of psoriatic arthritis symptoms using criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR20); a similar proportion of patients achieved a 20% improvement at both weeks 24 and 52. Similarly, 56% and 53% of patients who switched from inactive drug to risankizumab achieved ACR20 at weeks 52 and 100 (more than before switching to risankizumab at week 24). Minimal disease activity (MDA) was evaluated by assessing joint and skin symptoms, affected body surface area, pain, and physical function. At week 100, 33% of patients achieved MDA (both groups), which was similar to week 52. Most patients who achieved ACR20 or MDA at week 52 maintained responses at week 100. Improvements with risankizumab were seen in several other measures of treatment outcomes through week 100. Risankizumab was generally safe through 100 weeks.

Efficacy and Safety of Risankizumab for Active Psoriatic Arthritis: 100-Week Results from the Phase 3 KEEPsAKE 1 Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) require treatment providing durable long-term efficacy in different disease domains as well as safety. We present 100-week efficacy and safety results of risankizumab in patients with active PsA and previous inadequate response/intolerance to ≥ 1 conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD-IR). METHODS: KEEPsAKE 1 (NCT03675308) is a global phase 3 study, including a 24-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled and ongoing open-label extension periods. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive risankizumab 150 mg or placebo at baseline and weeks 4 and 16. After week 24, all patients received open-label risankizumab every 12 weeks thereafter. Patients were evaluated through 100 weeks. Endpoints included achieving ≥ 20% reduction in American College of Rheumatology criteria for symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (ACR20), minimal disease activity (MDA; defined as ≥ 5/7 criteria of low disease activity and extent), and other measures. RESULTS: Overall, 828/964 (85.9%) patients completed week 100. For patients receiving continuous risankizumab, 57.3%, 70.6%, and 64.3% achieved ACR20 at weeks 24, 52, and 100, respectively. For the placebo/risankizumab cohort, 33.5% achieved ACR20 at week 24 but increased after switching to active treatment at weeks 52 (63.7%) and 100 (62.1%). In ACR20 responders at week 52, 81.2% of both treatment cohorts maintained response at week 100. MDA was achieved by 25.0%, 38.3%, and 38.2% of the continuous risankizumab cohort at weeks 24, 52, and 100. In the placebo/risankizumab cohort, 10.2% achieved MDA at week 24, increasing at weeks 52 (28.0%) and 100 (35.2%). MDA response was maintained at week 100 in week 52 responders in the continuous risankizumab (75.5%) and placebo/risankizumab cohorts (78.2%). Similar trends were observed for other efficacy measures. Risankizumab was generally well tolerated through 100 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with active PsA who are csDMARD-IR, risankizumab demonstrated durable long-term efficacy and was generally well tolerated, with a consistent long-term safety profile. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT03675308.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) often affects individuals with the skin condition psoriasis. A biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug can help control inflammation and regulate the immune system to ease symptoms and slow progression of PsA. The ongoing KEEPsAKE 1 study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of risankizumab in patients with active PsA who previously have not had success with ≥ 1 conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. Patients were initially treated with risankizumab 150 mg (continuous risankizumab group) or inactive drug (inactive drug/risankizumab group). After 24 weeks, all received risankizumab for the rest of the study. At week 100, 64% (continuous risankizumab group) and 62% (inactive drug/risankizumab group) of patients had ≥ 20% improvement in PsA symptoms (measured using American College of Rheumatology [ACR20] criteria). Both groups showed similar percentages at week 52 and improvement from week 24. In patients who achieved ACR20 at week 52, 81% maintained their ACR20 response at week 100. Minimal disease activity was defined as a combination of joint and skin symptoms, affected body surface area, pain, and physical functioning. At week 100, 38% of the continuous risankizumab group and 35% of the inactive drug/risankizumab group achieved minimal disease activity. Percentages were similar at week 52 and higher than week 24 in both groups. In patients who achieved minimal disease activity at week 52, 81% maintained response at week 100. All other measures of treatment responses showed similar patterns from the start of risankizumab through week 100. Risankizumab was considered generally safe by the treating physicians.

Comparison of risankizumab and apremilast for the treatment of adults with moderate plaque psoriasis eligible for systemic therapy: results from a randomized, open-label, assessor-blinded phase IV study (IMMpulse).

BACKGROUND: Treatment of psoriasis with risankizumab has demonstrated superior efficacy to other treatments, such as adalimumab, ustekinumab and secukinumab. OBJECTIVES: This study compared the efficacy and safety of risankizumab and apremilast in adults with moderate plaque psoriasis eligible for systemic therapy. It also evaluated the efficacy and safety of switching to risankizumab vs. continuing apremilast in patients who did not achieve ≥ 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75 nonresponders) after 16 weeks of treatment with apremilast. METHODS: This 52-week, phase IV, multicentre, randomized, open-label, efficacy assessor-blinded study (NCT04908475) enrolled patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with a diagnosis of moderate chronic plaque psoriasis (≥ 6 months) and who were candidates for systemic therapy. The enrolled patients (randomized 1 : 2) received subcutaneous risankizumab (150 mg at weeks 0 and 4) or oral apremilast (30 mg twice daily). At week 16, all patients treated with apremilast were re-randomized (1 : 1) to risankizumab or apremilast, stratified by week-16 PASI 75 response. The co-primary outcomes in period A at week 16 were the achievement of ≥ 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90) and static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA) 0/1 with a two-grade or better improvement from baseline. At week 52, the primary endpoint in period B was the achievement of PASI 90 in PASI 75 nonresponders with apremilast at week 16. Safety was monitored throughout the study. All patients who received one dose of treatment were included in the efficacy and safety analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, 118 and 234 patients were assigned to receive risankizumab and apremilast, respectively. At week 16, PASI 90 was achieved by 55.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 47.0-64.9] and 5.1% (95% CI 2.3-8.0), and sPGA 0/1 by 75.4% (95% CI 67.7-83.2) and 18.4% (95% CI 13.4-23.3), respectively. In period B, among PASI 75 nonresponders with apremilast at week 16, 83 switched to risankizumab and 78 continued apremilast. At week 52, 72.3% (95% CI 62.7-81.9) who switched to risankizumab achieved PASI 90 vs. 2.6% (95% CI 0.0-6.1) who continued apremilast. The most frequent adverse events (reported in ≥ 5%) in risankizumab-treated patients were COVID-19 infection and nasopharyngitis. Diarrhoea, nausea and headache were most frequent among apremilast-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with moderate psoriasis, treatment with risankizumab demonstrated superior efficacy to those treated with apremilast, including those who did not benefit from prior treatment with apremilast. The safety profile of risankizumab was similar to prior studies, and no new safety signals were identified. These results show that, compared with apremilast, risankizumab treatment can significantly improve clinical outcomes in systemic-eligible patients with moderate psoriasis.

Efficacy and Safety of Risankizumab for the Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Phase 2, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, immune-mediated skin condition characterized by inflammatory lesions that can cause pain, impaired physical activity, and reduced quality of life. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of risankizumab, a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits interleukin 23 by binding to its p19 subunit, for the treatment of HS. METHODS: This phase II multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study investigated the efficacy and safety of risankizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe HS. Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive subcutaneous risankizumab 180 mg; risankizumab 360 mg; or placebo at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, and 12. Patients initially randomized to placebo received blinded risankizumab 360 mg at weeks 16, 17, and 18; patients initially randomized to risankizumab received blinded matching placebo at the same time points. From weeks 20-60, all patients received open-label risankizumab 360 mg every 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the achievement of HS Clinical Response (HiSCR) at week 16. Safety was assessed by monitoring of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). RESULTS: A total of 243 patients were randomized (risankizumab 180 mg, n = 80; risankizumab 360 mg, n = 81; placebo, n = 82). HiSCR was achieved by 46.8% of patients with risankizumab 180 mg, 43.4% with risankizumab 360 mg, and 41.5% with placebo at week 16. The primary endpoint was not met, and the study was terminated early. Incidence of TEAEs, severe TEAEs, TEAEs considered possibly related to study drug, and TEAEs leading to discontinuation of study drug were generally low and comparable across treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Risankizumab does not appear to be an efficacious treatment for moderate-to-severe HS. Future studies to understand the complex molecular mechanisms underlying HS pathogenesis and develop improved therapies are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03926169.

A qualitative evaluation of patient and healthcare provider knowledge, attitudes, and behavior for safety and use of pexidartinib.

Aim: Pexidartinib is approved in the USA for the treatment of symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations and not amenable to improvement with surgery. Due to risk of serious liver injury, a survey of patient and healthcare provider (HCP) knowledge, attitudes, and behavior (KAB) of the risks was required. Materials & methods: Prior to KAB survey execution, structured telephone interviews with 12 patients and 12 HCPs were conducted. Results: The interviews revealed that patients had difficulty with the complexity and wordiness of some of the questions, while HCPs noted that some questions were repetitive with terminology that was not self-explanatory. Of the 15 questions initially in the patient survey, nine were modified for survey inclusion. For the HCP survey, 10 of 18 questions were modified. Conclusion: Qualitative research prior to KAB surveys is recommended to improve comprehension and data quality.