New effective treatments for psoriatic arthritis patients

The results of two studies presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) 2017 press conference revealed promising data supporting two new drug classes for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

New agents working on different inflammatory aspects of PsA are needed in the treatment of PsA patients living with this chronic immune-mediated disease, which involves both joint and skin symptoms.

In the first study, in patients with active PsA who had not previously been prescribed an anti-TNF treatment, tofacitinib (an oral Janus kinase inhibitor under investigation for the treatment of PsA), was superior to placebo in ACR20 response rates and change from baseline in the HAQ-DI score at 3 months. Tofacitinib demonstrated superiority to placebo as early as week 2, and this was maintained for 12 months. No new safety risks were identified compared to previous studies in other indications.1

In the second study, in patients with active PsA and 3% or more of their body surface area affected by plaque psoriasis despite current or previous treatment with standard-of-care therapies, including anti-TNF treatments, guselkumab demonstrated significant improvement in joint symptoms, physical function, psoriasis, enthesitis , dactylitis and quality of life. Guselkumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting IL-23, in this Phase 2 study for the treatment of PsA, was well tolerated with no unexpected safety findings in this patient population.2 Guselkumab is now being pursued in a Phase 3 development programme for psoriatic arthritis.

Tofacitinib Phase 3 Results positive for treating PsA

At month 3, tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg twice-daily showed a statistically significant improvement compared to placebo as measured by the ACR20 response (p?0.05 and p<0.0001 respectively), and change from baseline in the HAQ-DI score (p?0.05 and p<0.001).

"Despite the differences emerging in the pathophysiology of PsA and rheumatoid arthritis, tofacitinib, which works on many different cytokines, shows efficacy in the treatment of both conditions," said lead author Professor Philip J. Mease from the Swedish-Providence St. Joseph Health Systems and University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, US. "Since tofacitinib is a tablet and not an injection, once it receives regulatory approval, it is likely to be popular with both physicians and patients," he added.

Tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg twice-daily was superior to placebo for ACR20 response rates at week 2 (p<0.001 and p<0.0001 respectively) with responses maintained to 12 months. Greater efficacy was also seen for adalimumab vs. placebo.

More than 91% of patients were radiographic non-progressors at 12 months. Safety findings were similar between the treatment groups at 12 months. The most common adverse events were upper respiratory tract infection (7.5-10.6%), nasopharyngitis (7.5-11.5%) and headache (3.8-10.6%).

Eligible patients in this randomised, placebo- and active-controlled, 12-month Phase 3 trial had a PsA diagnosis for at least 6 months, fulfilled CASPAR criteria , had active arthritis (at least 3 tender/painful and at least 3 swollen joints) and active plaque psoriasis at screening, inadequate response to at least 1 csDMARD , and were tumour necrosis factor-inhibitor (TNFi)-naïve.

422 patients were randomised 2:2:2:1:1 to tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily, adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks, or placebo (advancing to tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice-daily at 3 months). Stable treatment with 1 csDMARD was required. 96.9% of patients were white and 53.3% were female; mean age was 47.9 years. 96.2% and 88.4% of patients completed 3 and 12 months respectively.

Guselkumab improved PsA symptoms, physical function and quality of life

In this Phase 2a study, significantly more guselkumab-treated patients achieved ACR 20/50/70 responses and Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) 75/90/100 responses at week 24. Nearly 40% of patients in the active group, vs. 6.3% in the placebo arm, achieved PASI 100 (completely clear skin) at week 24.

"Guselkumab, which targets IL-23, appears to be a promising new treatment of PsA," said lead author Professor Atul Deodhar from Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, US. "Although anti-TNF treatments have revolutionised the management of psoriatic arthritis, new next-generation therapies are needed in the treatment of this disease," he added.

As early as 4 weeks into treatment, 21% in the guselkumab group had a significant treatment effect on ACR20 response, compared to zero in the placebo group (p<0.001). The ACR response in the active arm increased with time, with 58% of subjects reaching a 20% improvement in joint symptoms at week 24, versus 18.4% of those on placebo (p<0.001). Fourteen percent of patients on guselkumab achieved ACR70, versus 2% on placebo, at week 24 (p=0.023).

Resolved enthesitis occurred in 29.0% of those patients with enthesitis at baseline in the placebo group at week 24, versus 56.6% on guselkumab (p=0.012). The percentage resolution from baseline to week 24 for dactylitis (in those patients with dactylitis at baseline) was 17.4% of patients on placebo, versus 55.2% on guselkumab (p<0.001). And the percentage of patients achieving minimal disease activity at week 24 was 2% for placebo compared to 23% in the guselkumab group (p=0.001).

Patients in the active arm also seemed to experience mental benefits, with significantly higher scores on the SF-36 mental component summary (p=0.002), in addition to significantly higher physical component scores (p<0.001).

Guselkumab was well tolerated; through week 24, the proportion of patients with at least 1 adverse event was comparable between the two groups (guselkumab 36.0% vs. placebo 32.7%). Infections were the most common adverse events (guselkumab 17.0% vs. placebo 20.4%). The researchers reported no serious infections, cancer or death during the 24 weeks of the study.

This Phase 2a, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study included 149 active PsA patients. Patients had psoriasis plaques covering three percent or more of their body surface area, despite standard-of-care treatment, which in some patients included anti-TNF agents. In a 2:1 ratio, patients received either 100 mg guselkumab given subcutaneously, or placebo at baseline and week four; then, every eight weeks through week 44.

Patients in both arms who had less than a 5 percent improvement from baseline in swollen and tender joint counts by week 16 could qualify for early escape and switch to open-label therapy with ustekinumab. All remaining placebo patients crossed over to the guselkumab arm at week 24.

Baseline demographics and ACR component measures were generally similar between the two groups. Four (8.2%) of the patients in the placebo group and 9 (9.0%) of patients in the guselkumab group had been previously exposed to an anti-TNF agent