Ixekizumab, an interleukin-17A specific monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of biologic-naive patients with active psoriatic arthritis: results from the 24-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and active (adalimumab)-controlled period of the phase III trial SPIRIT-P1

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of ixekizumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin-17A, in a double-blind phase III trial enrolling patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: Patients naive to biologic therapy with active PsA were randomised to subcutaneous injections of placebo (N=106), adalimumab 40 mg once every 2 weeks (active reference; N=101), ixekizumab 80 mg once every 2 weeks (IXEQ2W) (N=103), or ixekizumab 80 mg once every 4 weeks (IXEQ4W) (N=107). Both ixekizumab regimens included a 160-mg starting dose. The primary objective was to assess the superiority of IXEQ2W or IXEQ4W versus placebo as measured by the proportion of patients achieving an American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response at week 24. RESULTS: Significantly more patients treated with ixekizumab achieved an ACR20 response with IXEQ2W (62.1%) or IXEQ4W (57.9%) than placebo (30.2%) (p≤0.001; non-responder imputation method). Disease activity and functional disability were significantly improved with both ixekizumab doses versus placebo at weeks 12 and 24, and there was significantly less progression of structural damage at week 24 (p≤0.01). Clearance of plaque psoriasis was greater with ixekizumab than placebo (p≤0.001). Efficacy results with adalimumab, the active reference arm, showed significant improvements versus placebo. Treatment-emergent adverse events were more frequent with ixekizumab (65.7-66.4%) and adalimumab (64.4%) than placebo (47.2%) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In biologic-naive patients with active PsA, ixekizumab treatment resulted in improvements in disease activity and physical function, as well as in the inhibition of structural damage progression. Overall, adverse events were more frequent in all active groups compared with placebo

Ixekizumab efficacy and safety with and without concomitant conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) in biologic DMARD (bDMARD)-naïve patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA): results from SPIRIT-P1.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ixekizumab alone or with concomitant conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) versus placebo in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) as part of a SPIRIT-P1 subgroup analysis (NCT01695239). Methods: Patients were stratified by cDMARD use (concomitant cDMARDs use (including methotrexate) or none (past or naïve use)) and randomly assigned to treatment groups (ixekizumab 80 mg every 4 weeks (IXEQ4W) or every 2 weeks (IXEQ2W) or placebo). Efficacy was evaluated versus placebo at week 24 by the American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20/50/70), modified total Sharp score and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). Safety was assessed according to cDMARD status. Results: Regardless of concomitant cDMARD usage, ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70 response rates were significantly higher versus placebo with IXEQ4W and IXEQ2W. The proportion of patients achieving HAQ-DI minimal clinically important difference was significantly higher versus placebo with IXEQ4W with concomitant cDMARD use and IXEQ2W, regardless of concomitant cDMARD use. Treatment-emergent adverse events (AE) were more frequent versus placebo for either ixekizumab-dosing regimen, regardless of concomitant cDMARD use. Serious AEs were not higher versus placebo, regardless of concomitant cDMARD use. Conclusion: Ixekizumab treatment improved measures of disease activity and physical function in patients with active PsA relative to placebo, when used with or without concomitant cDMARD therapy

The contribution of joint and skin improvements to the health-related quality of life of patients with psoriatic arthritis: a post hoc analysis of two randomised controlled studies

OBJECTIVE:Determine the contribution of joint and skin improvements to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS:SPIRIT-P1 and SPIRIT-P2 are phase 3 trials investigating ixekizumab, an interleukin-17A antagonist, in the treatment of patients with active PsA. Patients were randomised to ixekizumab or placebo. Outcomes included the Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), the European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions (EQ-5D) Visual Analogue Score (VAS), the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Questionnaire. The contribution of joint and skin improvements to HRQoL was modelled using a smoothing spline method and depicted with response surface graphics. RESULTS:In this integrated analysis, 402 patients with PsA had baseline psoriasis of ≥3% of body surface area. We applied response surface modelling to this patient data set to investigate the relationship between DAPSA, PASI and HRQoL improvements at week 24. The greatest improvement in EQ-5D VAS was associated with the largest per cent improvements in both DAPSA and PASI together, rather than DAPSA or PASI alone. Similar observations were made in domains of SF-36 and WPAI. CONCLUSION:Optimal improvements in patients' HRQoL were dependent on successful treatment of both joint and skin symptoms

Ixekizumab Improves Patient-Reported Outcomes Up to 52 Weeks in bDMARD-Naive Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis (SPIRIT-P1)

Objective: To report patient-reported outcomes of patients with PsA treated with ixekizumab up to 52 weeks. Methods: In SPIRIT-P1, biologic-naive patients with active PsA were randomized to ixekizumab 80 mg every 4 weeks (IXEQ4W; N = 107) or every 2 weeks (IXEQ2W; N = 103) following a 160 mg starting dose, adalimumab 40 mg every 2 weeks (ADA; N = 101) or placebo (PBO; N = 106) during the initial 24-week double-blind treatment period. At week 24 (week 16 for inadequate responders), ADA (8-week washout before starting ixekizumab) and PBO patients were re-randomized to IXEQ2W or IXEQ4W. Patients receiving ixekizumab at week 24 received the same dose during the extension period (EP) to week 52. Patients completed measures including the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Itch Numeric Rating Scale, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2, European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions Visual Analogue Scale and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Specific Health Problem. Results: The IXEQ4W, IXEQ2W and ADA groups reported significant improvements in DLQI at week 24; 22% (PBO), 53% (IXEQ4W), 63% (IXEQ2W) and 54% (ADA) of patients reported DLQI scores of 0/1. The IXEQ4W, IXEQ2W and ADA groups reported significant improvements in Itch Numeric Rating Scale, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2 physical component summary and some domain scores, and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions Visual Analogue Scale at weeks 12 and 24; and in three of four Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Specific Health Problem domains at week 24. Results are also presented through week 52 for the EP. Conclusion: In biologic-naive patients with active PsA, ixekizumab significantly improved skin symptoms, health-related quality of life and work productivity. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01695239; EU Clinical Trials Register, https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu, EudraCT2011-002326-49

Ixekizumab improves patient-reported outcomes up to 52 weeks in bDMARD-naïve patients with active psoriatic arthritis (SPIRIT-P1).

Objective: To report patient-reported outcomes of patients with PsA treated with ixekizumab up to 52 weeks. Methods: In SPIRIT-P1, biologic-naïve patients with active PsA were randomized to ixekizumab 80 mg every 4 weeks (IXEQ4W; N = 107) or every 2 weeks (IXEQ2W; N = 103) following a 160 mg starting dose, adalimumab 40 mg every 2 weeks (ADA; N = 101) or placebo (PBO; N = 106) during the initial 24-week double-blind treatment period. At week 24 (week 16 for inadequate responders), ADA (8-week washout before starting ixekizumab) and PBO patients were re-randomized to IXEQ2W or IXEQ4W. Patients receiving ixekizumab at week 24 received the same dose during the extension period (EP) to week 52. Patients completed measures including the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Itch Numeric Rating Scale, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2, European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions Visual Analogue Scale and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Specific Health Problem. Results: The IXEQ4W, IXEQ2W and ADA groups reported significant improvements in DLQI at week 24; 22% (PBO), 53% (IXEQ4W), 63% (IXEQ2W) and 54% (ADA) of patients reported DLQI scores of 0/1. The IXEQ4W, IXEQ2W and ADA groups reported significant improvements in Itch Numeric Rating Scale, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2 physical component summary and some domain scores, and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions Visual Analogue Scale at weeks 12 and 24; and in three of four Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Specific Health Problem domains at week 24. Results are also presented through week 52 for the EP. Conclusion: In biologic-naïve patients with active PsA, ixekizumab significantly improved skin symptoms, health-related quality of life and work productivity. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01695239; EU Clinical Trials Register, https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu, EudraCT2011-002326-49