Efficacy and safety of namilumab, a human monoclonal antibody against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) ligand in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with either an inadequate response to background methotrexate therapy or an inadequate response or intolerance to an anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) biologic therapy: a randomized, controlled trial

Abstract Background Namilumab (AMG203), an immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), was evaluated in a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate the efficacy and safety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX-IR) or anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy (TNF-IR). Methods Subcutaneous namilumab (20, 80, or 150 mg) or placebo was administered at baseline and weeks 2, 6, and 10 in patients on stable background methotrexate therapy who were with MTX-IR or TNF-IR. Primary endpoint was mean change from baseline in the 28-joint Disease Activity Score, C-reactive protein version (DAS28-CRP) at week 12 comparing each of the three doses of namilumab to placebo. Safety and tolerability were assessed by adverse events (AEs) and pulmonary parameters. Results were analysed using the per-protocol population. Results One hundred eight patients from Europe and Japan (48.4 ± 12.02 years old; 77.8% female; mean DAS28-CRP 5.60–5.79; rheumatoid factor/anti-citrullinated protein antibodies + 75%) were randomized to placebo or namilumab 20, 80, or 150 mg (n = 27, 28, 25, and 28, respectively). Ninety-two were MTX-IR; 16 were TNF-IR. At week 12, a statistically significant difference in DAS28-CRP (p = 0.005) was seen for namilumab 150 mg versus placebo and separation was seen as early as week 2 for namilumab 150 mg (p < 0.05), with higher ACR50 and response rates versus placebo at week 12. A dose-response effect was observed across the DAS28-CRP endpoint with separation versus placebo evident from week 2. The most common treatment-emergent AEs were nasopharyngitis (18.5%, 17.9%, 4.0%, 14.3%), dyspnoea (0.0%, 3.6%, 8.0%, 10.7%), bronchitis (7.4%, 3.6%, 4.0%, 3.6%), and headache (3.7%, 3.6%, 12.0%, 0.0%) for placebo and 20, 80, or 150 mg of namilumab, respectively. No serious infections were observed. One serious AE (myocardial infarction) was observed with 150 mg of namilumab. There was no apparent dose relationship for AEs. A biomarker-based disease activity score showed a dose-dependent decrease at week 12. Conclusions This phase II study demonstrates the benefit of inhibiting macrophage activity targeting the GM-CSF for RA. The study met its primary endpoint with a clear dose-response effect. An acceptable tolerability profile was demonstrated over the 12-week study. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NEXUS; NCT02379091, submitted November 28, 201

CNTO6785, a Fully Human Antiinterleukin 17 Monoclonal Antibody, in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis with Inadequate Response to Methotrexate: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Phase II, Dose-ranging Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of CNTO6785, a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to human interleukin 17A, in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX) therapy. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study enrolled patients aged 18 to 80 years (inclusive) with active RA (≥ 6/66 swollen and ≥ 6/68 tender joints) who were refractory to MTX treatment (7.5-25 mg weekly, inclusive). The study duration was 38 weeks, containing a 10-week safety followup. Patients were randomized 1:1:1:1:1 to receive CNTO6785 15, 50, 100, or 200 mg every 4 weeks + MTX or placebo + MTX. The primary endpoint was American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response at Week 16. RESULTS: There were no significant differences from placebo in the proportion of patients treated with CNTO6785 in the primary endpoint of ACR20 response at Week 16. There were no significant findings in any additional efficacy variables through Week 32. No dose-response relationships or specific patterns were observed in adverse event profiles among CNTO6785 treatment groups. Infections occurred with similar frequency across all groups, and injection site reactions were mild or moderate and did not demonstrate a dose-response relationship. Median serum CNTO6785 concentration increases through Week 38 were about dose-proportional; the incidence of neutralizing antidrug antibodies was 19.4% and was not associated with study drug dose level. CONCLUSION: CNTO6785 was well tolerated, but did not demonstrate clinical efficacy in patients with active RA with inadequate response to MTX

Efficacy and Safety of Belimumab and Azathioprine for Maintenance of Remission in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: A Randomized Controlled Study

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of belimumab as adjunctive therapy to maintain remission in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)\u2013associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients with AAV (ages 6518 years) were randomized 1:1 to receive azathioprine (2 mg/kg/day), low-dose oral glucocorticoids ( 6410 mg/day), and either intravenous belimumab (10 mg/kg) or placebo, following remission induction with rituximab or cyclophosphamide along with glucocorticoids. The primary end point was time to first protocol-specified event (PSE), with first PSE defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) of 656, presence of 651 major BVAS item, or receipt of prohibited medications for any reason, resulting in treatment failure (adjusted for ANCA type [proteinase 3 (PR3) or myeloperoxidase (MPO)], disease stage at induction, and induction regimen). Vasculitis relapse was defined as the PSE of either a BVAS activity score of 656 or receipt of prohibited medications for vasculitis. Changes in treatment practice led to truncation of the study population from ~300 patients to ~100 patients. Results: The intent-to-treat population totaled 105 patients with AAV, of whom 52 (40 with PR3-ANCAs, 12 with MPO-ANCAs) received placebo and 53 (41 with PR3-ANCAs, 12 with MPO-ANCAs) received belimumab; 27 of the patients were in rituximab-induced disease remission, while 78 were in cyclophosphamide-induced disease remission at baseline. Compared with placebo, treatment with belimumab did not reduce the risk of a PSE (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.44\u20132.59; P = 0.884) or vasculitis relapse (adjusted HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.29\u20132.65; P = 0.821). The overall rate of PSEs was low (11 [21.2%] of 52 patients receiving placebo, 10 [18.9%] of 53 patients receiving belimumab). Vasculitis relapse in the placebo group (n = 8) occurred independent of the induction regimen, disease stage, or ANCA type. All vasculitis relapses in the belimumab group (n = 6) occurred in patients who had PR3-ANCA\u2013associated vasculitis with cyclophosphamide-induced disease remission. Adverse events occurred in 49 (92.5%) of 53 patients receiving belimumab and 43 (82.7%) of 52 patients receiving placebo, with no new safety concerns. Conclusion: Belimumab plus azathioprine and glucocorticoids for the maintenance of remission in AAV did not reduce the risk of relapse