Adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis after failed infliximab and/or etanercept therapy: experience with 18 patients

Efficacy and safety of certolizumab pegol in a broad population of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: results from the REALISTIC phase IIIb study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and safety of certolizumab pegol (CZP) in a broad population of patients with active RA.

METHODS

In this 12-week, double-blind period of the phase IIIb trial, RA patients with inadequate response to at least one DMARD were randomized 4:1 to CZP (400 mg at weeks 0, 2 and 4, followed by 200 mg every 2 weeks) or placebo (every 2 weeks) plus current therapy stratified by previous TNF inhibitor use, concomitant methotrexate use and disease duration (<2 vs ≥2 years). The primary outcome was ACR20 response rate at week 12.

RESULTS

Of 1063 patients (CZP = 851; placebo = 212), 37.6% had previous TNF inhibitor use. Baseline mean HAQ Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and DAS 28-joint assessment-ESR [DAS28(ESR)] values were 1.5 and 6.4 in the CZP group, and 1.6 and 6.4 in the placebo group, respectively. The primary endpoint was significant (week 12 ACR20, CZP vs placebo: 51.1 vs 25.9%; P < 0.001); differences were noted at week 2 (31.8 vs 8.5%; P < 0.001). HAQ-DI and DAS28(ESR) change from baseline and ACR50 were significant from week 2. Week 12 ACR20 responses were similar across CZP patient subgroups regardless of concomitant DMARD use at baseline. Adverse and serious adverse events were comparable between CZP and placebo, with no new safety signals.

CONCLUSION

CZP was associated with rapid and consistent clinical responses and improved physical function in a diverse group of RA patients, irrespective of concomitant or previous therapy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT00717236.

Outcomes of switching anti-TNF drugs in rheumatoid arthritis--a study based on observational data from the Finnish Register of Biological Treatment (ROB-FIN)

The aim of this study was to assess, based on observational data from the Finnish Register of Biological Treatment, the outcomes of switching an initial tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker to another in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA patients, who started biological therapy with a TNF blocker between May 1999 and April 2009 and who switched to another TNF blocker, were studied (n=479). The outcomes were assessed according to the reason for and type of the switch. Outcome assessments included American College of Rheumatology 50 responder index (ACR50) response at 3 months after the switch, treatment duration of the second TNF blocker, and swollen joint counts, CRP and DAS28 score at the 3 months, best and last observations of the first and second TNF blocker, respectively. In those who switched due to lack of effectiveness (LOE), the disease activity parameters fell significantly from baseline upon use of infliximab or adalimumab, but had increased prior to the switch. Switching to another TNF blocker (etanercept or adalimumab) restored the response initially achieved with the first TNF blocker. The disease activity parameters fell significantly from baseline upon use of etanercept, and were maintained but not further improved after switching to adalimumab. TNF blocker switching seemed to be most beneficial in secondary LOE (defined as loss of ACR50 response). In those who switched due to adverse events (AE) or other reasons, a similar degree of response as had been achieved with the first agent was also achieved and maintained with the second agent. The results suggest that a second TNF blocker can restore the response in cases of secondary LOE and maintain it after switching due to an AE.

Evaluating the efficacy of sequential biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis patients with an inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors

Introduction

The long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) most often involves a sequence of different therapies. The response to therapy, disease progression and detailed knowledge of the role of different therapies along treatment pathways are key aspects to help physicians identify the best treatment strategy. Thus, understanding the effectiveness of different therapeutic sequences is of particular importance in the evaluation of long-term RA treatment strategies. The objective of this study was to systematically review and quantitatively evaluate the relationship between the clinical response to biologic treatments and the number of previous treatments with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors.

Methods

A systematic search was undertaken to identify published, peer-reviewed articles that reported clinical outcomes of biologic treatment among RA patients with an inadequate response to TNF-α inhibitors. Data were systematically abstracted. Efficacy rates were estimated for groups of patients who differed in the number of prior TNF-α inhibitors used. End points included American College of Rheumatology (ACR)-, European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)- and Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28)-based response criteria.

Results

The literature search identified 41 publications, of which 28 reported biologic treatment outcomes for RA patients with prior exposure to TNF-α inhibitors. Seven publications reported outcomes obtained in randomized clinical trials, while the remaining consisted of observational studies. The likelihood of responding to a subsequent biologic treatment decreased as the number of previous treatments with TNF-α inhibitors increased for six of the seven response criteria examined.

Conclusions

For patients with prior exposure to TNF-α inhibitors, the likelihood of response to subsequent treatment with biologic agents declines with the increasing number of previous treatments with TNF-α inhibitors.

An open-label pilot study of the effectiveness of adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and previous infliximab treatment: relationship to reasons for failure and anti-infliximab antibody status

This prospective open-label pilot study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab and the relationship to antibodies against infliximab (IFX) in adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had been treated previously with IFX and experienced treatment failure owing to lack or loss of response or intolerance. Patients self-administered adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously every other week for 16 weeks, followed by maintenance therapy for up to Week 56. Measures of effectiveness included American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index. Serum IFX concentrations, human antichimeric antibody against IFX (HACA), adalimumab serum concentrations, antiadalimumab antibody, and safety also were assessed. Of the 41 enrolled patients, 37 completed 16 weeks and 30 completed 56 weeks of treatment. Patients experienced clinically meaningful improvements in all measures of RA activity, with greater response rates observed for patients who had experienced loss of initial response to or intolerance of IFX. At Week 16, 46% of patients achieved an ACR20 and 28% achieved an ACR50; 61% achieved an at least moderate and 17% achieved a good EULAR response. Clinical benefit was maintained through Week 56 in all effectiveness parameters. Baseline HACA status did not significantly impact effectiveness. No new safety signals were observed; neither former IFX intolerance status nor baseline HACA status had a clinically relevant impact on adverse event frequency or severity. Adalimumab was effective and well-tolerated in patients with RA who previously failed IFX therapy, irrespective of reason for discontinuation and of HACA status.

Treatment of psoriasis with adalimumab

BACKGROUND

Adalimumab is an anti-tumour necrosis factor agent of use in psoriatic arthritis.

AIM

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in patients with plaque psoriasis unresponsive to previous therapies.

METHODS

We present nine patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthropathy treated with adalimumab, including a woman with a history of breast cancer and a man with hepatitis C virus-related liver disease.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks, 66.6%, 55.5% and 11.1% of the patients showed a Psoriasis Assessment and Severity Index response of 50%, 75% and 90%, respectively. After 20 weeks, these levels had increased to 75%, 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively. After 12 weeks, the Psoriasis Global Assessment (PGA) score was clear or almost clear in 33.3% of the patients. By week 20, this clearance rate had almost doubled (62.5%). In two patients, the treatment was prolonged for 52 weeks, with a sustained response. One patient presented nonspecific colitis and died as a result of in-hospital pneumonia; any implication of adalimumab in the death is not clear. No other serious adverse effects were observed.

CONCLUSION

In this series adalimumab was found to be effective for psoriasis refractory to other treatments including infliximab and etanercept.

Long-term results of infliximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: experience acquired by the North-Pas-de-Calais hospital network

OBJECTIVE

Infliximab is effective in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Add-on infliximab therapy in patients on methotrexate results in a rapid gain in effectiveness, which lasts at least 1 year. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and continuation rate of infliximab in patients with RA after the first year of treatment.

METHODS

The first 50 patients with RA who were given infliximab in the North-Pas-de-Calais region of France were included in a multicenter open-label study. The patients had severe RA or failed to respond to conventional medications. Infliximab was given in a dosage of 3 mg/kg every 8 weeks in combination with methotrexate. Effectiveness was evaluated using the DAS28-3 score and EULAR response criteria. The dates and reasons of infliximab discontinuations were recorded.

RESULTS

The 2-year infliximab continuation rate was 70%. Serious adverse events requiring infliximab discontinuation occurred in 7 patients. Mean DAS28-3 scores in the 35 patients who took infliximab for at least 2 years were 6.42 at baseline, 4.33 after 30 weeks, 4.31 after 54 weeks, and 3.86 after 102 weeks. According to EULAR criteria after 102 weeks, there were 12 good responders, 18 moderate responders, and 5 nonresponders.

CONCLUSION

Experience acquired in the North-Pas-de-Calais district of France suggests that infliximab is continued for more than 2 years in more than two-thirds of patients and remains effective over this period.

Recommendations of the French Society for Rheumatology. TNFalpha antagonist therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES

To develop recommendations for TNFalpha-antagonist therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seen in everyday practice, under the aegis of the French Society for Rheumatology.

METHOD

We used the methods recommended by the French Agency for Healthcare Accreditation and Evaluation, the AGREE collaboration, and the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR). The recommendations focus on patient selection, monitoring, and treatment adjustments.

RESULTS

Criteria for selecting patients eligible for TNFalpha-antagonist treatment of RA include: 1) a definitive diagnosis of RA; 2) disease activity for longer than 1 month, including presence of objective signs of inflammation; or radiographic progression; 3) previous failure of methotrexate in the highest tolerated dosage or of another disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in patients with contraindications to methotrexate; 4) absence of contraindications to TNFalpha-antagonist therapy. When starting TNFalpha-antagonist therapy 1) a thorough baseline evaluation should be conducted; 2) any of the three available agents can be used, as no differences in efficacy have been identified in patient populations; 3) concomitant methotrexate therapy is recommended regardless of the TNFalpha antagonist used; and 4) patients should receive standardized follow-up at regular intervals. Treatment adjustments should be based on the following: 1) the treatment objective is achievement of a EULAR response; 2) when such a response is not achieved, the dosage or dosing interval can be changed, or the patient can be switched to another TNFalpha antagonist; 3) in patients who experience intolerance to a TNFalpha antagonist, another TNFalpha antagonist may be tried, depending on the nature of the adverse event; 4) occurrence of a remission should lead to a reduction in symptomatic medications, most notably glucocorticoids where used; in the event of a prolonged remission, either the TNFalpha antagonist or the concomitant disease-modifying antirheumatic drug may be reduced.

CONCLUSION

These recommendations are intended to help physicians use TNFalpha antagonists in their everyday practice with RA patients. They do not constitute regulations.

Lack of efficacy of a third tumour necrosis factor α antagonist after failure of a soluble receptor and a monoclonal antibody

OBJECTIVE

Some studies have highlighted the potential benefits of switching from infliximab to etanercept, or after failure of one or the other treatment. To our knowledge, no study has assessed the potential benefits of using the three anti-TNF-alpha agents that are currently available. The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the response to treatment in RA patients who had received the three anti-TNF-alpha agents, namely infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab.

METHODS

Among a cohort of 364 patients undergoing biological treatments since the year 2000, 284 had been treated with only one anti-TNF-alpha agent. Our assessment focused on the records of 70 patients who had received at least two anti-TNF-alpha agents. Twenty of the 70 patients had received all three anti-TNF-alpha agents (infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab). Effectiveness was assessed using the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), and adverse events were reported for each anti-TNF-alpha treatment.

RESULTS

Of the 70 patients who had received two anti-TNF-alpha agents, 32 had switched from an antibody to a soluble receptor; 45% of them had a good clinical response to the soluble receptor. Thirty patients had switched from a soluble receptor to an antibody; 45% of them had a good clinical response to the antibody. Only eight patients had switched from an antibody to another antibody with an efficiency score of 33%. Of the 20 patients who had received three anti-TNF-alpha agents, seven had stopped receiving the third anti-TNF-alpha agent due to lack of effectiveness. In this group of non-responders to the third anti-TNF-alpha treatment, all patients except one had stopped receiving the two previous anti-TNF-alpha agents, without adverse events, for lack of effectiveness. These patients were deemed resistant to anti-TNF-alpha therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Resistance to anti-TNF-alpha agents is rare. The lack of effectiveness of a soluble receptor and of one of the anti-TNF-alpha antibodies predicts the lack of effectiveness of the third anti-TNF-alpha treatment.