Addition of an immunomodulator can reverse antibody formation and loss of response in patients treated with adalimumab

Introducing Patterns of Variability for Overcoming Compensatory Adaptation of the Immune System to Immunomodulatory Agents: A Novel Method for Improving Clinical Response to Anti-TNF Therapies

Primary lack of response and secondary loss of response (LOR) are major obstacles to the use of anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-based therapies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we review the mechanisms and methods for predicting LOR and the currently used methods for overcoming the ineffectiveness of anti-TNFs. The complex functions of TNF and anti-TNF antibodies, which can promote both pro- or anti-inflammatory actions, and the factors that affect the induction of immune tolerance to their effects are presented. The lack of rules and the continuous dynamics of the immune processes partly underlie the unpredictability of the response to anti-TNFs. Variability is inherent to biological systems, including immune processes, and intra/inter-patient variability has been described in the response to drugs. This variability is viewed as a compensatory adaptation mechanism of the immune system in response to drugs and may contribute to treatment LOR. Dose reductions and drug holidays have been tested in patients treated with anti-TNFs. Regular dose-based regimens may be incompatible with physiological variability, further contributing to treatment inefficacy. We present the concept of overcoming immune system adaptation to anti-TNFs by introducing patient-tailored patterns of variability to treatment regimens.

Special considerations for biologic medications in pediatric ulcerative colitis

Introduction: More extensive disease, high rates of corticosteroid refractory and dependent disease, and the potential impact of disease on growth and development differentiate inflammatory bowel disease in children from adults. This is particularly evident in ulcerative colitis where pancolitis predominates, success of mesalamine alone in achieving remission is less than 50%, and there is a high need for immunomodulator or biologic therapies.Areas Covered: This review describes the use of infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, and vedolizumab in the treatment of children with ulcerative colitis but is limited in scope due to the paucity of controlled clinical trials. A search of existing literature with keywords of these specific biological therapies as well as 'pediatric', 'ulcerative colitis,' and 'inflammatory bowel disease' was used to complete this review.Expert Opinion: Therapeutic drug monitoring has become standard of care when assessing dosing and changes in therapy and will play a role in future treatment planning.

The Cost-effectiveness of Biological Therapy Cycles in the Management of Crohn's Disease

OBJECTIVES

To examine the cost-effectiveness of continued treatment for patients with moderate-severe Crohn's disease in clinical remission, with a combination of anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha [anti-TNFα] [infliximab] and immunomodulator therapy compared with two different withdrawal strategies: [1] withdrawal of the anti-TNFα therapy; and [2] withdrawal of the immunomodulator therapy, respectively.

METHODS

A decision-tree model was constructed mimicking three treatment arms: [1] continued combination therapy with infliximab and immunomodulator; [2] withdrawal of infliximab; or [3] withdrawal of the immunomodulator. Relapses in each arm are managed with treatment intensification and re-institution of the de-escalated drug according to a prespecified algorithm. State-dependent relapse risks, remission probabilities, and quality of life weights were collected from previous published studies.

RESULTS

Combination therapy was less costly and more efficient than the withdrawal of the immunomodulator, and more costly and more efficient than withdrawal of infliximab. Whether or not combination therapy is cost-effective, compared with the alternatives, depends primarily on current pharmaceutical prices and the willingness-to-pay per additional quality-adjusted life-year [QALY].

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy using a combination of anti-TNFα [infliximab] and an immunomodulator is cost-effective in the treatment of Crohn's disease compared with treatment cycles in which the immunomodulator is withdrawn. Combination treatment is cost-effective compared with treatment cycles in which infliximab is withdrawn, at prices of infliximab below€192/100 mg, given a willingness-to-pay threshold at€49 020 [Sweden] per additional QALY.

The Evolving Role of Thiopurines in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

With the advent of biologic therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, the roles of thiopurines have continued to evolve. This review will focus on recent advances in pharmacology and the safety and efficacy of thiopurines as maintenance therapies for steroid-induced remissions and post-surgical maintenance of remission and as combination therapies to reduce immunogenicities of biologic agents.

RECENT FINDINGS

Due to pharmacogenetics of thiopurine S-methyltransferase, thiopurine dosing is more effectively based on monitoring of thiopurine metabolites rather than weight-based dosing. Thiopurines continue to have a role as maintenance therapy after steroid-induced remissions and in combination with biologics to induce and maintain remission. Safety monitoring includes measurements of blood counts, liver chemistries, and dermatologic evaluations and protection from sun exposure. Thiopurines appear to be safe during pregnancies and while very uncommon, lymphomas (including hepatosplenic T cell lymphomas) remain a recognized risk, particularly in younger and older males.

Maneuvering Clinical Pathways for Crohn's Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Crohn's disease management has changed significantly with increasing use of biologics. We review the recent literature on the clinical management of Crohn's disease and new approaches in selecting and optimizing therapy.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have addressed the efficacy of proactive anti-TNFα trough level monitoring, the efficacy of biosimilars, and the efficacy and immunogenicity of newer biologics including anti-integrin therapy and anti-IL12/23 therapy. Optimizing anti-TNFα therapy according to trough concentrations correlates with improved remission rates. Patients can be switched from the reference drug to a biosimilar, or vice versa, without a measurable change in efficacy, safety, or immunogenicity. Immunomodulators are effective in decreasing immunogenicity and boosting anti-TNFα drug level. The anti-integrin and anti-IL12/23 therapies are effective as induction and maintenance therapy with low immunogenicity and excellent safety profiles. Patients at high risk for post-operative recurrence should be started on a biologic therapy within 4 weeks post-op. Multiple biologic therapies are currently available for treatment of Crohn's disease including anti-TNFα therapy, anti-integrin therapy, and anti-IL12/23 therapy. The choice of first-line therapy should be based on individual risk-benefit analysis, route of administration, and patient preference. Patient with inadequate response should have their trough level checked and therapy optimized. Therapeutic prophylaxis for post-operative recurrence should be based on patient's risk factors for recurrence.

How to Get the Most from Methotrexate (MTX) Treatment for Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient?-MTX in the Treat-to-Target Strategy

Methotrexate (MTX) is a remarkable drug with a key role in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at every stage of its evolution. Its attributes include good overall efficacy for signs and symptoms, inhibition of structural damage and preservation of function with acceptable and manageable safety, a large dose-titratable range, options for either an oral or parenteral route of administration, and currently unrivalled cost-effectiveness. It has a place as a monotherapy and also as an anchor drug that can be safely used in combination with other conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) or used concomitantly with biological DMARDs or targeted synthetic DMARDs. MTX is not without potential issues regarding toxicity, notably hepatotoxicity and bone marrow toxicity, as well as tolerability problems for some, but not all, patients. But many of these issues can be mitigated or managed. In the face of a welcome expansion in available targeted therapies for the treatment of RA, MTX looks set to remain at the foundation of pharmacotherapy for the majority of people living with RA and other inflammatory rheumatic diseases. In this article, we provide an evidence-based discussion as to how to achieve the best outcomes with this versatile drug in the context of a treat-to-target strategy for the management of RA.

Optimised infliximab monotherapy is as effective as optimised combination therapy, but is associated with higher drug consumption in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Combination treatment with azathioprine for 6-12 months is the preferred strategy for starting infliximab due to improved pharmacokinetics. However, optimised infliximab monotherapy with proactive dose escalations in case of low trough levels is a safer but under-studied alternative.

AIM

To compare the clinical success and infliximab consumption of combination vs optimised monotherapy strategies.

METHODS

We studied the clinical success and infliximab consumption of both strategies in 149 patients (94 Crohn's disease; 55 ulcerative colitis) starting infliximab and undergoing intensive drug monitoring assisted treatment optimisation.

RESULTS

The drug retention rates were similar for optimised monotherapy and combination treatment after induction (96% vs 97%, P = 0.73), after the first year (90% vs 83%, P = 0.23) and at the end of follow-up (74% vs 75%, P = 0.968). Similarly, no differences were observed for steroid use at year 1 (5% vs 14%, P = 0.08) or mucosal healing at the end of follow-up (64% vs 67%, P = 0.8). Higher infliximab consumption (7.6 mg/kg q8 weeks [interquartile range (IQR): 5.9-10.3] vs 6.4 mg/kg q8 weeks [IQR: 5.2-8.0], P = 0.019) combined with lower trough levels (1.7 µg/mL [IQR: 0.3-6.6] vs 5.0 µg/mL [2.5-8.7], P = 0.012) resulted in almost 3-fold higher drug-to-trough ratio (3.9 vs 1.5) in monotherapy compared to combination strategy at year 1. At the end of follow-up, when azathioprine had been discontinued for a median of 14 [IQR: 3-33] months, these differences disappeared.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, optimised infliximab monotherapy was as clinically effective as combination therapy but was associated with significantly higher infliximab consumption. The infliximab-sparing effect disappeared after azathioprine withdrawal.

Characteristics of biological therapy in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease

INTRODUCTION

At present, there is a significant amount of data related to biologics used in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease. This review characterizes the different biological drugs administered in this population.

AREAS COVERED

Biological therapy of CD, focusing on children, is summarized in this review. After mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics are described, mucosal healing on anti-TNF therapy, aspects of early therapy, long-term outcome and combination therapy are discussed. Moreover, loss of response and treatment optimization, as well as drug withdrawal are summarized. Subsequently, perianal disease and surgical aspects are discussed followed by safety issues. In addition, new drugs (vedolizumab, ustekinumab), cost-effectiveness and administration of biosimilars were also included.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

There are significant data to characterize biological drugs administered in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease. However, head-to-head comparative studies using different biologics are missing.

The effects of concomitant immunomodulators on the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of adalimumab in paediatric patients with Crohn's disease: a post hoc analysis

BACKGROUND

In the IMAgINE 1 study, adalimumab induced and maintained remission of moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease in children.

AIM

To assess the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and safety of immunomodulator and adalimumab combination therapy vs adalimumab monotherapy in paediatric patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Patients 6-17 years old with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (n = 192) received weight-based adalimumab induction at baseline and week 2. At week 4, 188 patients were randomised to high-dose or low-dose adalimumab. Patients receiving immunomodulators (investigator's decision) at baseline maintained a stable dose until week 26; patients could then discontinue immunomodulators. Adalimumab serum concentrations were measured at weeks 4, 26 and 52. Safety was evaluated at each study visit. Data were analysed using non-responder imputation (NRI; week 4) or modified NRI (weeks 26; 52).

RESULTS

At week 4, patients with (n = 117) and without (n = 71) baseline immunomodulator use had similar response (79%; 87%; P = 0.235) and remission (26%; 30%; P = 0.737) rates. At week 26, patients with and without baseline immunomodulators had no significant difference in response (68%; 55%; P = 0.086) or remission (41%; 30%; P = 0.122). At week 52, patients with (n = 82) and without (n = 106) immunomodulator use had no significant difference in response (56%; 46%; P = 0.189) or remission (38%; 33%; P = 0.539). Adalimumab serum trough concentrations and serious infection rates (7%; 6%) were not significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Analyses found no statistically significant difference in response or remission between patients receiving adalimumab monotherapy vs immunomodulator and adalimumab combination therapy. Serious and infectious adverse event rates were similar between groups.

Effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab for maintenance treatment in inflammatory bowel disease-The Israeli real world experience

INTRODUCTION

Several real-world experience (RWE) studies with vedolizumab (VDZ) for induction of remission in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been published; however, long-term RWE data is scarce.

AIMS

To describe the effectiveness and safety of VDZ in maintenance treatment of IBD.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective national study. The primary outcome of was clinical response at week 52; main secondary aims included clinical remission at week 52, rates of secondary loss of response and treatment discontinuation.

RESULTS

We included 193 (133-CD; 60-UC) patients from 9 Israeli IBD centers. At week 52, response was observed in 62/133 (46.7%) CD patients, including 28 (21%) in clinical remission; 71 (53.3%) discontinued treatment or did not respond. For UC, response at week 52 was observed in 27/60 (45%), including 20 (33%) in clinical remission; 33 (55%) discontinued treatment or did not respond. Secondary non-response by week 52 occurred in 19.4% and 23.5% of week 14 responders in CD and UC, respectively. Week 14 response was associated with treatment continuation at week 52: no predictors of secondary loss of response were identified.

SUMMARY

VDZ is safe and effective for maintenance of response and remission in IBD; week 14 response is positively associated with long-term response in both UC and CD.

Effect of a concomitant elemental diet with maintenance anti-tumor necrosis factor-α antibody therapy in patients with Crohn's disease: A multicenter, prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The aim of this study was to clarify the additional effect of a concomitant elemental diet (ED) for patients with Crohn's disease on maintenance anti-tumor necrosis factor-α antibody (anti-TNF).

METHODS

Crohn's disease patients who received anti-TNF induction therapy were enrolled. Patients who achieved clinical response (defined as delta Crohn's disease activity index [CDAI] > 70 and CDAI < 200) at 10-14 weeks after the start of infliximab or adalimumab were included. Eligible patients took a tolerability test of ED (900 kcal/day) for 3 days. Then, patients who preferred concomitant ED and whose ED tolerance was confirmed were allocated to the ED group and given Elental 900 kcal/day or more. Other patients were allocated to the non-ED group. The primary endpoint was the cumulative remission rate at 2 years after baseline. Clinical relapse was defined as CDAI > 200 and/or need for additional treatment. Adherence to the ED was confirmed at each visit.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients were included. Thirty-seven were allocated to the ED group, and 35 were allocated to the non-ED group. The cumulative remission rate at 2 years was not significantly different between the two groups (60.9% vs 56.7%, P = 0.98). Adherence to the ED in the ED group was relatively low, and only 11 patients were maintained on an ED of 900 kcal/day.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of ED for Crohn's disease patients who responded to initial anti-TNF induction therapy was not found to improve outcomes. The efficacy of concomitant ED in other clinical settings, such as loss of response, needs to be clarified in the future (UMIN000009789).

Influence of early adalimumab serum levels on immunogenicity and long-term outcome of anti-TNF naive Crohn's disease patients: the usefulness of rapid testing

BACKGROUND

Proactive testing of adalimumab serum levels is debated.

AIM

To study the association between adalimumab serum levels at week 4 and the development of anti-adalimumab drug antibodies and long-term outcome in anti-TNF naive Crohn's disease patients.

METHODS

Serum samples from 116 biologically naive Crohn's disease patients with active disease were prospectively collected at baseline, and weeks 4 and 12. Adalimumab serum levels were measured using the RIDA^® QUICK adalimumab lateral flow assay and anti-adalimumab drug antibodies were determined using a drug-resistant assay. Pharmacokinetic data were studied in relation to clinical outcome. Patients who stopped adalimumab by week 12 due to persisting symptoms were considered primary non-responders, whereas initial improvement with increasing symptoms after week 12 was considered loss of response. Adalimumab continuation until the end of follow-up was considered sustained clinical benefit.

RESULTS

Patients with low serum levels at week 4 (<8.3 μg/mL) were at significantly higher risk of being anti-adalimumab positive by week 12 (46.7% vs 13.0%, P = 0.009). After a median follow-up of 89 weeks, dose-escalation and sustained clinical benefit were observed in 37.1% and 48.3% of patients. The 21.4% of patients who were anti-adalimumab drug antibody positive by week 12, had a significantly higher need of dose escalation (P < 0.001), and experienced sustained clinical benefit less frequently due to primary non-response or secondary loss of response (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support early monitoring of adalimumab serum levels to guide dose optimisation, which may prevent immunogenicity and influence long-term outcome. We validated a novel lateral flow assay for quantitative determination of adalimumab levels, facilitating physicians to optimise therapy immediately at the outpatient clinic.

The state of the art on treatment of Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, progressive, and destructive disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Although its incidence appears to be stable or decreasing in most countries in the North America and Europe, the incidence is rising rapidly in Asian countries. Immunomodulators and biologics are increasingly used to avoid long-term bowel damage and subsequent disability. Therapeutic drug monitoring facilitates optimizing thiopurines and anti-TNFs use. New biologic agents targeting various pathological pathways of CD are blooming in recent years, and the high cost of biologics and expiration of patents for several biologic agents have driven the utility of biosimilars for CD treatment. Here, the literature regarding the efficacy, safety, and withdrawal of the drugs, as well as the evolution of therapeutic targets will be reviewed.

Proactive Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of TNF Antagonists in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Proactive therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to titrate tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists has emerged recently as a tool to routinely monitor drug concentration to achieve target levels in patients with quiescent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

The purpose of the present review article was to present available data exploring the concept of proactive TDM.

RESULTS

While several observational studies have identified an association between proactive TDM and better IBD outcomes, 2 randomized controlled studies did not confirm this advantage.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the evidence to date, proactive TDM cannot be recommended in daily practice. However, analysis is hampered by the low level of evidence for the cutoffs used and the need for point-of-care assays. Regarding economic issues and de-escalating strategies, proactive TDM may have several future indications in IBD. Exploratory studies on proactive TDM with newly available biologic agents in IBD are also awaited.

Prospective Observational Evaluation of Time-Dependency of Adalimumab Immunogenicity and Drug Concentrations: The POETIC Study

OBJECTIVES

Adalimumab is usually self-injected at home, making prospective serial-sampling studies challenging and scarce. This has led to a gap in knowledge about evolution of anti-adalimumab antibodies (AAAs) over time and its correlation with clinical and inflammatory outcomes.

METHODS

A program for home visits by physicians at induction, every 3 months and at event of relapse, was established prospectively for Crohn's disease (CD) patients. At each visit, patients' clinical scores were determined and sera were obtained for C-reactive protein, drug, and AAA levels. This cohort was compared to a parallel prospective cohort of infliximab-treated CD patients. In a subgroup of 29 patients, trough and in-between-trough levels were compared, to elucidate the importance of timing of sampling during the injection cycle.

RESULTS

Ninety-eight CD patients starting adalimumab were prospectively followed (median follow-up 44 weeks) and 621 serum samples were analyzed. Thirty-three patients (32%) developed AAA; 18/33 (55%) of them as early as week 2, and 26/33 (79%) by week 14. Induction period AAAs were strongly associated with primary non-response (odds ratio (OR) = 5.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6-17.8, p = 0.005). As compared to antibodies-to-infliximab (ATI), AAA formation rate over time was significantly lower (p = 0.01) and AAA were much more specific-85% of AAA events were associated with loss-of-response compared with 58% rate for ATI (p = 0.01). In 29 patients sampled serially during an injection cycle, levels of drug and AAA seemed comparable between four time-points during a single cycle both in patients with or without AAA (n = 8, n = 21, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

When followed prospectively and serially, AAAs are found to arise earlier than previously appreciated and their impact may be more pronounced for primary rather than secondary, non-response. Drug and AAA levels were similar both at trough and in-between injections, enabling to simplify therapeutic drug monitoring of adalimumab.

Interactions Between Thiopurine Metabolites, Adalimumab, and Antibodies Against Adalimumab in Previously Infliximab-Treated Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Interactions between thiopurines and infliximab presumably contribute to superior effect of infliximab-thiopurine combination therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We examined whether principal cytotoxic thiopurine metabolites influence adalimumab (ADL) and anti-ADL antibodies (Abs).

METHODS

Ninety-eight IBD patients previously treated with infliximab (96%) in whom trough ADL and anti-ADL Abs had been assessed as part of their clinical care were included. Thiopurine metabolites [6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGN) and methylated mercaptopurine metabolites (6-MeMP)] were determined at similar time points.

RESULTS

ADL-thiopurine combination therapy was not associated with reduced anti-ADL Ab positivity compared to ADL monotherapy: 8/31 (26%) versus 19/67 (28%), p = 1.00. Concentrations of thiopurine metabolites were similar in anti-ADL Ab-positive and negative patients (6-TGN median 109 pmol/8 × 10⁸ RBC vs. 112, p = 0.80; 6-MeMP 448 RBC vs. 720, p = 0.94). ADL trough levels did not differ between anti-ADL Ab-negative patients on ADL-thiopurine combination therapy and those on monotherapy (9.5 μg/mL vs. 7.6, p = 0.31). ADL levels were also comparable between patients on ADL mono- and combination therapy after stratification for 6-TGN/6-MeMP quartiles. There were no correlations between levels of 6-TGN and ADL (r_P = - 0.17, p = 0.45; r_S = - 0.38, p = 0.08), or 6-MeMP and ADL (r_P = - 0.23, p = 0.31; r_S = - 0.35, p = 0.11). Anti-ADL Ab positivity was associated with ADL treatment failure (OR 6 [2-20], p < 0.01). Higher trough ADL (9.6 μg/mL vs. 7.3, p < 0.05), but not concomitant thiopurine treatment, metabolite levels, or dosage, was associated with clinical remission.

CONCLUSION

Effectiveness of ADL therapy associated with circulating ADL levels and anti-ADL Ab formation. In this study, there appeared no direct interactions between thiopurine metabolites and ADL or anti-ADL Abs.

Thiopurines in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: New Findings and Perspectives

Thiopurines, available as azathioprine, mercaptopurine, and thioguanine, are immunomodulating agents primarily used to maintain corticosteroid-free remission in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. To provide a state-of-the-art overview of thiopurine treatment in inflammatory bowel disease, this clinical review critically summarises the available literature, as assessed by several experts in the field of thiopurine treatment and research in inflammatory bowel disease.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has emerged as a useful tool to optimize the use of drug therapies in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), especially during the use of biological therapies, for which the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are highly variable among patients. Fewer data exist in children. This review examines the current literature on TDM in pediatric IBD.

RECENT FINDINGS

Drug clearance is affected by a number of patient and disease factors. For thiopurines, adjusting dosing by monitoring 6-thioguanine (6TGN) and 6-methylmercaptopurine ((6MMP) levels is demonstrated to maximize response and minimize toxicity, while monitoring metabolite levels when treating with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) remain controversial. While in adults the use of TDM in the setting of loss of response to anti-TNF therapy is established, in children, only a small number of studies exist, but these too have encouraging results. There are however, conflicting data regarding the optimal timing of TDM, comparing "reactive" monitoring and "proactive" monitoring. No such data exist in pediatrics. TDM is cost-effective, and dose reduction may represent a safety benefit. There are limited adult data for use of TDM for the newer biologics, vedolizumab and ustekinumab, but early results suggest similarly promising utility. The use of TDM in pediatric IBD is increasing in clinical practice, with similar efficacy to adults demonstrated in children with loss of response to anti-TNF therapy. More prospective studies are needed in children to examine proactive monitoring and utility of TDM with newer biologics.

Long-Term Outcome of Infliximab Optimization for Overcoming Immunogenicity in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Preliminary data suggest that treatment optimization can reverse immunogenicity and regain response in patients with IBD and secondary loss of response (SLR) to anti-TNF therapy due to antidrug antibodies. However, data regarding the long-term outcome of these patients are scarce.

AIMS

We aimed to investigate drug retention in IBD patients of whom infliximab was optimized to overcome immunogenicity and variables associated with drug retention.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, multicenter study of consecutive IBD patients with antibodies to infliximab (ATI), based on either proactive or reactive therapeutic drug monitoring, who underwent infliximab optimization (increasing dose, shortening interval, adding an immunomodulator, or combination) to overcome immunogenicity from September 2012 to July 2015; they were followed through December 2015. ATI were analyzed using the drug-tolerant Prometheus homogeneous mobility shift assay. Drug retention was defined as no need for drug discontinuation due to SLR or serious adverse event.

RESULTS

Our cohort consisted of 22 patients (Crohn's disease, n = 15). At the end of follow-up [median, (IQR): 17.3 (10.5-32.8) months] 77% (15/22) of patients were still on drug. Univariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis identified first detectable ATI titer as the only variable associated with drug retention (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.82-0.98, p = 0.016). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis identified an ATI titer < 8.8 U/mL associated with drug retention.

CONCLUSIONS

In real-life clinical practice, optimization of infliximab therapy can prevent drug discontinuation in approximately 3/4 of patients with ATI, especially in those with low titers. Large prospective studies are needed to confirm these data.

Anti-infliximab antibody concentrations can guide treatment intensification in patients with Crohn's disease who lose clinical response

BACKGROUND

The presence of antibodies towards infliximab (ATI) is associated with lower infliximab (IFX) trough concentrations and loss of response. IFX treatment intensification is effective for restoring response in most, but not all patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

AIM

To compare outcome, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of treatment intensification strategies in patients with CD who lost clinical response to IFX.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 103 patients with CD who lost clinical response during IFX maintenance therapy and therefore received a double dose IFX (10 mg/kg) and/or a next infusion after a shortened interval. IFX and ATI concentrations were measured in consecutive trough samples, just before (T0) and after (T+1) treatment intensification.

RESULTS

Clinical response (physicians' global assessment) and biological response and remission (CRP) were restored in 63%, 42% and 24% of patients (evaluated at T+1). Treatment intensification increased IFX trough concentrations from 1.2 μg/mL [0.3-3.6] at T0 to 3.6 μg/mL [0.5-10.2] at T+1 (P < .0001). Using a drug tolerant assay, ATI were detected in the T0 sample of 47% of patients. ATI negatively impacted the achieved IFX trough concentration (Spearman r -0.57, P < .0001) and the probability of clinical response (P = 0.034) at T+1. When ATI were quantifiable but <282 ng/mL eq. at T0, combined interval shortening and dose doubling was more effective for restoring therapeutic IFX trough concentrations (≥3 μg/mL at T+1) than dose doubling alone, which in turn was more effective than interval shortening alone (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Antibodies towards infliximab can guide clinical decision-making on treatment intensification.

Vedolizumab in IBD-Lessons From Real-world Experience; A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis

BACKGROUND

Vedolizumab [VDZ] is an anti-integrin monoclonal antibody effective in ulcerative colitis [UC] and Crohn's disease [CD]. Several real-world experience [RWE] studies with VDZ have been published to date. The aim of this systematic review was to summarise the available real-life experience with VDZ.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the available RWE studies of VDZ in CD and UC. We performed a pooled analysis of the available efficacy and safety data for induction and maintenance treatment in adult cohorts. A narrative review of VDZ use in special clinical settings was also performed.

RESULTS

Nine studies including 1565 [571 UC, 994 CD] adult patients were identified. In CD, clinical response and remission were achieved in 54% (95% confidence interval [CI] 41-66%) and 22% [95% CI 13-35%] by Week 6 and in 49% [95% CI 37-51%] and 32% [95% CI 23-42%] by Week 14; at Week 52, 45% [95% CI 28-64%] and 32% [95% CI 12-62] of the patients responded, and were in clinical remission, respectively. In UC, clinical response and remission were achieved in 43% [95% CI 37-49] and 25% [95% CI 12-45] by Week 6, respectively, and in 51% [95% CI 43-61%]and 30% [95% CI 24-36%] by Week 14/22, respectively; at week 52, clinical response and remission were achieved in 48% and 39% of the patients, respectively. Adverse effects were mostly minor and occurred in 30.6% of the patients; infections were reported in 3.4% of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

VDZ is efficacious in CD and UC and has a favourable safety profile in RWE studies.

The Addition of an Immunosuppressant After Loss of Response to Anti-TNFα Monotherapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 2-Year Study

BACKGROUND

The addition of an immunosuppressant (IM) after loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy is an emerging strategy of therapeutic optimization in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, few clinical data have been reported to date. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this selective combination therapy in patients with IBD.

METHODS

All consecutive patients with loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy despite an intensive dose optimization who added an IM from October 2014 to October 2016 were entered into a prospective database.

RESULTS

Among 630 patients treated with anti-TNFα agents during the study period, 46 (7.3%) added an IM. A total of 31 patients (67.4%) were treated with an intravenous anti-TNFα (infliximab, as originator or biosimilar), while 15 (32.6%) were treated with a subcutaneous anti-TNFα agent (10 adalimumab and 5 golimumab). The mean duration of follow-up was 12.8 ± 7.3 months. Twenty-one patients (45.7%) remained on combination therapy at the end of follow-up: 15 (32.6%) maintained a steroid-free remission, and 6 (13.0%) achieved a clinical response. In patients who experienced treatment success, the median value of C-reactive protein decreased from baseline to the end of follow-up (13.2 vs 3.0, P = 0.01; normal values <5 mg/L). Adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were reported in 8 out of 46 patients (17.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

In the largest cohort on this argument reported to date, the addition of an IM was an effective and safe optimization strategy after loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy. Low doses of IM were sufficient to achieve a clinical response.

Inflammatory bowel disease: towards a personalized medicine

The management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been transformed over the last two decades by the arrival of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist agents. Recently, alternative drugs have been approved, directed at leukocyte-trafficking molecules (vedolizumab) or other inflammatory cytokines (ustekinumab). New therapeutics are currently being developed in IBD and represent promising targets as they involve other mechanisms of action (JAK molecules, Smad 7 antisense oligonucleotide etc.). Beyond TNF antagonist agents, these alternative drugs are needed for early-stage treatment of patients with aggressive IBD or when the disease is resistant to conventional therapy. Personalized medicine involves the determination of patients with a high risk of progression and complications, and better characterization of patients who may respond preferentially to specific therapies. Indeed, more and more studies aim to identify factors predictive of drug response (corresponding to a specific signaling pathway) that could better manage treatment for patients with IBD. Once treatment has started, disease monitoring is essential and remote patient care could in some circumstances be an attractive option. Telemedicine improves medical adherence and quality of life, and has a positive impact on health outcomes of patients with IBD. This review discusses the current application of personalized medicine to the management of patients with IBD and the advantages and limits of telemedicine in IBD.

Antibodies Toward Vedolizumab Appear from the First Infusion Onward and Disappear Over Time

BACKGROUND

Vedolizumab (VDZ) has been approved for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The GEMINI trials reported a low prevalence of anti-VDZ antibodies (AVA). However, the AVA assays used in GEMINI were drug sensitive, resulting in a possible underestimation of the rate of AVA formation. This study aimed to monitor immunogenicity of VDZ in a real-life cohort using a drug-resistant AVA assay.

METHODS

Using a combination of VDZ/AVA complex precipitation and acid dissociation, a drug-resistant assay for AVA detection in the presence of high VDZ concentrations has been developed and analytically validated. The assay was applied on serum samples of 179 VDZ-treated patients with inflammatory bowel disease to evaluate the prevalence and time course of AVA.

RESULTS

A dose-response curve ranging from 25 to 1600 ng/mL using 1/125 diluted serum was obtained, allowing the detection of AVA concentrations up to 200 μg/mL of MA-VDZ19C11 equivalents, a calibrator antibody to VDZ. This assay was highly AVA specific and drug resistant. Four of 179 VDZ-treated patients (2.2%) were AVA positive and AVA were detected already after the first VDZ infusion. AVA were all transient in these patients without need for any dosage optimization. There was no correlation between VDZ and AVA concentrations in the AVA-positive samples.

CONCLUSIONS

AVA appear from the first VDZ infusion onward and disappear over time. The low prevalence of AVA suggests that immunogenicity does not influence response to treatment.

Positive relationship between infliximab and adalimumab trough levels at completion of induction therapy with clinical response rates, at a tertiary referral center

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) therapies have improved outcomes for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADL) trough and antibody levels with clinical response rates at the end of induction.

METHODS

This was a prospective, single-center study. Patients were recruited from July 2015 to August 2016. Inclusion criteria were all inflammatory bowel disease patients older than 17 years who started treatment with IFX or ADL. Baseline clinical disease activity indexes were performed. Clinical response was defined as HBI ≤3 or partial Mayo score ≤4% or <30% reduction from baseline. Anti-TNFα trough and antibody levels were measured using standard ELISA techniques.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients were recruited, of whom 23 had Crohn's disease and 12 had ulcerative colitis. Eighteen were treated with ADL and 17 with IFX. The mean age of the cohort was 40.3 years, 62.9% were females, 34.3% were on concomitant thiopurines, and 25.7% had prior anti-TNFα exposure. Overall response rate was 51.4%, 33.3% for ADL and 70.6% for IFX.Mean trough levels were 12.5 μg/mL for IFX and 4.4 μg/mL for ADL. There was a clear link between higher anti-TNFα trough levels at the end of induction with clinical response rates. For IFX, mean trough level was 16.4 μg/mL for responders versus 5.3 μg/mL for non-responders (P = 0.026). Area under the curve for association of IFX level at induction with clinical response was 0.864 (P = 0.0001). Similar link was present between higher ADL levels with clinical response, although not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Higher trough levels at the end of induction are associated with improved response. Ongoing work will define optimal targets at this key timeframe.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Adalimumab Monotherapy Versus Combination Therapy with Immunomodulators for Induction and Maintenance of Remission and Response in Patients with Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether the combination of adalimumab (ADA) and immunomodulators is superior to ADA monotherapy in patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and other databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials, open-label, prospective cohort, and retrospective studies, and pooled analyses were included. Primary outcomes were induction (≤12 wk) and maintenance (up to 56 wk) of remission and response. Secondary outcomes were severe adverse events, opportunistic infections, and development of antibodies to adalimumab.

RESULTS

Twenty-four of 1194 articles were eligible for inclusion. No significant difference was noted between regimens for induction of remission (odds ratio [OR] 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70-1.06; P = 0.19) and response (OR 1.01; 95% CI: 0.62-1.65; P = 0.96). Similarly, no difference was noted for maintenance of remission (OR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.79-1.14; P = 0.75) or response (OR 0.91; 95% CI: 0.54-1.54; P = 0.74). Severe adverse events and opportunistic infections were not different between arms. Patients on combination therapy had lower odds of developing antibodies to adalimumab (OR 0.24; 95% CI: 0.07-0.82; P = 0.02). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses showed significantly higher odds of successful induction (OR 1.26; 95% CI: 1.06-1.49, P = 0.008) and opportunistic infections (OR 2.44; 95% CI: 1.07-5.54, P = 0.03) in anti-TNF-experienced patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of ADA and immunomodulators does not seem superior to ADA monotherapy for induction and maintenance of remission and response in Crohn's disease. Combination therapy is associated with lower immunogenicity. Analyses associating combination therapy with better induction of remission in anti-TNF-experienced patients and a higher rate of opportunistic infections deserve further evaluation.

Golimumab for the treatment of ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCTION

Tumor necrosis factor antagonists have revolutionized the therapeutic management of inflammatory bowel disease. Infliximab and adalimumab were the first biological agents used to induce and maintain remission in ulcerative colitis. More recently, a third tumor necrosis factor antagonist, golimumab, was approved, extending the therapeutic approach for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Areas covered: In this review, the authors review the literature on the efficacy and safety of golimumab in the context of other anti-TNF agents used in the treatment of this disease. The role of therapeutic drug monitoring in the case of loss of response to an anti-TNF agent is also discussed. Expert opinion: Golimumab is currently effective to induce and maintain remission in patients with ulcerative colitis, especially those patients who are naive for an anti-TNF agent. No large studies have evaluated the efficacy of golimumab after failure of a first-line TNF antagonist therapy. In the case of loss of response to a first anti-TNF agent, therapeutic drug monitoring is essential to determine the most suitable therapeutic option.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Golimumab in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing-remitting chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the mucosal surface in a continuous manner from the rectum through part of, or the entire, colon. Patients with severe disease and those who become refractory or intolerant to corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants, require treatment with biologic agents that target tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF). Golimumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, is the latest TNF antagonist to get approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe UC. Subcutaneously administered golimumab induces and maintains clinical response, remission, and mucosal healing. Serum concentrations of golimumab are associated with response to therapy, as patients with higher drug exposure are more likely to achieve these outcomes. Since various patient and disease-related factors were shown to influence the pharmacokinetics of TNF antagonists, drug exposure may be variable over time and between patients, affecting success of therapy. A major contributing factor is immunogenicity, with development of anti-drug antibodies (ADAb) and an accelerated clearance of drug as a result. Although there is a growing body of evidence to support therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for infliximab and adalimumab, two other TNF antagonists, only limited data is available for golimumab. In addition, the clinically important drug exposure thresholds are not widely known, which has limited the use of TDM for golimumab in clinical practice. This review summarizes available data regarding the use of golimumab for UC, with emphasis on the pharmacokinetics, exposure-response relationship, and the role of TDM in optimizing therapy.