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Manaï M, van Middendorp H, van der Pol JA, Allaart CF, Dusseldorp E, Veldhuijzen DS, Huizinga TWJ, Evers AWM. Can Pharmacological Conditioning as an Add-On Treatment Optimize Standard Pharmacological Treatment in Patients with Recent-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Proof-of-Principle Randomized Clinical Trial. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:110. [PMID: 38256943 PMCID: PMC10819065 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Medication regimens using conditioning via variable reinforcement have shown similar or improved therapeutic effects as full pharmacological treatment, but evidence in patient populations is scarce. This proof-of-principle double-blind randomized clinical trial examined whether treatment effects in recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be optimized through pharmacological conditioning. After four months of standardized treatment (n = 46), patients in clinical remission (n = 19) were randomized to the Control group (C), continuing standardized treatment (n = 8), or the Pharmacological Conditioning (PC) group, receiving variable treatment according to conditioning principles (n = 11). After eight months, treatment was tapered and discontinued linearly (C) or variably (PC). Standard treatment led to large improvements in disease activity and HRQoL in both groups. The groups did not differ in the percentage of drug-free clinical remission obtained after conditioning or continued standard treatment. The PC group did show a larger decrease in self-reported disease activity (Cohen's d = 0.9) and a smaller increase in TNF-α levels (Cohen's d = 0.7) than the C group. During all phases, more differences between groups were found for the patients who followed protocol than for the intention-to-treat sample. Although the results are not conclusive, pharmacological conditioning may have some advantages in terms of disease progression and stability, especially during the conditioning phase, compared with standard clinical treatment. The effects may be particularly beneficial for patients who show a good initial response to increased medication dosages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Manaï
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; (M.M.); (H.v.M.); (D.S.V.)
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Henriët van Middendorp
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; (M.M.); (H.v.M.); (D.S.V.)
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- The Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Joy A. van der Pol
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (J.A.v.d.P.); (C.F.A.); (T.W.J.H.)
| | - Cornelia F. Allaart
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (J.A.v.d.P.); (C.F.A.); (T.W.J.H.)
| | - Elise Dusseldorp
- Methodology and Statistics Unit, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Dieuwke S. Veldhuijzen
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; (M.M.); (H.v.M.); (D.S.V.)
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- The Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tom W. J. Huizinga
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (J.A.v.d.P.); (C.F.A.); (T.W.J.H.)
| | - Andrea W. M. Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; (M.M.); (H.v.M.); (D.S.V.)
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- The Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Medical Delta (Collaboration of Leiden University, Technical University Delft and Erasmus University), 2629 JH Delft, The Netherlands
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Convertino I, Cazzato M, Tillati S, Giometto S, Gini R, Valdiserra G, Cappello E, Ferraro S, Bonaso M, Bartolini C, Paoletti O, Lorenzoni V, Trieste L, Filippi M, Turchetti G, Cristofano M, Blandizzi C, Mosca M, Lucenteforte E, Tuccori M. Assessing disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis patients and drug-utilization patterns of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the Tuscany region, Italy. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1244486. [PMID: 37818193 PMCID: PMC10561246 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1244486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The disease activity associated with the drug-utilization patterns of biologic Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) is poorly investigated in real-world studies on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. To investigate the relationship between biologic DMARD initiation/discontinuations in RA patients identified in the healthcare administrative databases of Tuscany and the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) reported in the medical charts. Methods: This retrospective population-based study included RA's first-ever biologic DMARD users of the Pisa University Hospital from 2014 to 2016. Patients were followed up until 31 December 2019. We evaluated the DAS28 recorded before (T0) and after (T1) the biologic DMARD initiation and before (TD0) and after (TD1) discontinuations. Patients were classified as "off-target" (DAS28 > 3.2) or "in-target" (DAS28 ≤ 3.2). We described the disease activity trends at initiation and discontinuation. Results: Ninety-five users were included (73 women, mean age 59.6). Among 70 patients (74%) with at least three DAS28 measures, 28 (40.0%) were off-target at T0 and 38 (54.3%) in-target at T1. Thirty-three (47%) patients had at least one discontinuation, among those with at least three DAS28 assessments. In the disease activity trend, disease stability or improvement was observed in 28 out of 37 (75.7%) patients at initiation and in 24 out of 37 (64.9%) at discontinuation. Discussion: Biologic DMARD discontinuations identified in the healthcare administrative databasese of Tuscany are frequently observed in situations of controlled RA disease. Further studies are warranted to confirm that these events can be used in studies using healthcare administrative databases as proxies of treatment effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma Convertino
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Tillati
- Unit of Medical Statistics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sabrina Giometto
- Unit of Medical Statistics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rosa Gini
- Tuscan Regional Healthcare Agency, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Valdiserra
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Emiliano Cappello
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Ferraro
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Bonaso
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Leopoldo Trieste
- Institute of Management, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Filippi
- Direzione Medica di Presidio, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Corrado Blandizzi
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Unit of Adverse Drug Reactions Monitoring, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marta Mosca
- Unit of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ersilia Lucenteforte
- Unit of Medical Statistics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Tuccori
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Unit of Adverse Drug Reactions Monitoring, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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3
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Yun H, Chen L, Roy JA, Greenberg J, Harrold LR, George MD, Curtis JR. Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity and Hospitalized Infection in a Large US Registry. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2023; 75:1639-1647. [PMID: 35866713 PMCID: PMC10277216 DOI: 10.1002/acr.24984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The association between disease activity and infection risk among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not clear, and it is challenging to determine because of confounding due to the effects of RA treatments and comorbidities. METHODS Using patients with RA in the CorEvitas registry with Medicare coverage in 2006-2019, we identified eligible patients who had at least 1 visit with moderate disease activity based on the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI; CDAI >10 and ≤22). Follow-up started at the subsequent CorEvitas visit. Hospitalized infection during follow-up was assessed in linked Medicare data. We calculated the incidence rate of hospitalized infection for patients in remission, and low and moderate disease activity, and estimated the effect of time-varying CDAI on hospitalized infection by controlling for baseline and time-dependent confounders using marginal structural models (MSMs). RESULTS A total of 3,254 patients with RA were eligible for analysis, among which 529 hospitalized infections were identified during follow-up. The crude incidence of hospitalized infection was 3.8 per 100 person-years for patients in remission, 6.6 for low disease activity, and 8.0 for moderate disease activity. Using MSMs and compared with being in remission, the hazard ratio of hospitalized infection associated with low disease activity was 1.60 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.13-2.28) and with moderate disease activity was 1.83 (95% CI 1.30-2.64). CONCLUSION The risk of hospitalized infection was higher for patients with RA in low or moderate disease activity than for those in remission after accounting for the interplay of disease activity, RA treatments, treatment switching, and other potential confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifeng Yun
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Epidemiology
| | - Lang Chen
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology
| | - Jason A Roy
- Rutgers University, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
| | | | - Leslie R. Harrold
- CorEvitas LLC
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Jeffrey R Curtis
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology
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Conaghan PG, Pavelka K, Hsieh SC, Bonnington TL, Kent TC, Marchbank K, Edwards CJ. Evaluating the efficacy of upadacitinib in patients with moderate rheumatoid arthritis: a post-hoc analysis of the SELECT phase 3 trials. Rheumatol Adv Pract 2023; 7:rkad017. [PMID: 36794283 PMCID: PMC9924096 DOI: 10.1093/rap/rkad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Moderately active RA is associated with poor patient outcomes. Despite this, some health systems have restricted access to advanced therapies to those with severe RA. There is also limited evidence of the efficacy of advanced therapies in the moderately active RA population. This post-hoc analysis from four phase 3 trials explored the efficacy of upadacitinib (UPA) for moderately active RA. Methods Patients included in this analysis received UPA 15 mg once daily [monotherapy after switching from MTX or in combination with stable background conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs)] or placebo. Clinical, functional and radiographic outcomes were analysed separately for patients with moderate disease activity {28-joint count DAS using CRP [DAS28(CRP)] of >3.2 and ≤5.1} and severe disease activity [DAS28(CRP) >5.1]. Results Patients with moderate disease activity who received UPA 15 mg (combination or monotherapy) after an inadequate response to biologic DMARDs and/or csDMARDs were significantly more likely to achieve a 20% improvement in the ACR response criteria, low disease activity status [DAS28(CRP) ≤ 3.2] or clinical remission [DAS28(CRP) < 2.6] by week 12/14 vs placebo. Statistically significant improvements in patient-reported functioning and pain from baseline were observed for UPA 15 mg vs placebo at week 12/14. Radiographic progression was also significantly reduced at week 26 compared with placebo. Similar improvements were observed for severe disease. Conclusion This analysis provides support for the use of UPA for the treatment of patients with moderate RA. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: SELECT-NEXT: NCT02675426; SELECT-COMPARE: NCT02629159; SELECT-MONOTHERAPY: NCT02706951; SELECT-BEYOND: NCT02706847.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip G Conaghan
- Correspondence to: Philip G. Conaghan, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Chapel Allerton Hospital, 2nd Floor, Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4SA, UK. E-mail:
| | - Karel Pavelka
- Institute of Rheumatology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Song-Chou Hsieh
- International Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | - Christopher J Edwards
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
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5
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Becker B, Raymond K, Hawkes C, Foster AM, Lovley A, Saucier C, Rizio AA, Bjorner JB, Kosinski M. Qualitative and psychometric approaches to evaluate the PROMIS pain interference and sleep disturbance item banks for use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Patient Rep Outcomes 2021; 5:52. [PMID: 34228217 PMCID: PMC8260648 DOI: 10.1186/s41687-021-00318-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) commonly experience pain despite the availability of disease-modifying treatments. Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in RA, with pain often a contributing factor. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference and Sleep Disturbance item banks were initially developed to provide insights into the patient experience of pain and sleep, respectively, though they were not specifically intended for use in RA populations. This study evaluated the content validity of the PROMIS Pain Interference and Sleep Disturbance item banks in RA and identified relevant content for short forms for patients with RA that achieved high measurement precision across a broad range of health. Methods A qualitative approach consisting of hybrid concept elicitation and cognitive debriefing interviews was used to evaluate the content validity of the item banks in RA. Interviews were semi-structured and open-ended, allowing a range of concepts and responses to be captured. Findings from the qualitative interviews were used to select the most relevant items for the short forms, and psychometric evaluation, using existing item-response theory (IRT) item parameters, was used to evaluate the marginal reliability and measurement precision of the short forms across the range of the latent variables (i.e. pain interference and sleep disturbance). Results Thirty-two participants were interviewed. Participants reported that RA-related pain and sleep disturbances have substantial impacts on their daily lives, particularly with physical functioning. The PROMIS Pain Interference and Sleep Disturbance item banks were easy to understand and mostly relevant to their RA experiences, and the 7-day recall period was deemed appropriate. Qualitative and IRT-based approaches identified short forms for Pain Interference (11 items) and Sleep Disturbance (7 items) that had high relevance and measurement precision, with good coverage of the concepts identified by participants during concept elicitation. Conclusion Pain and sleep disturbances affect many aspects of daily life in patients with RA and should be considered when novel treatments are developed. This study supports the use of the PROMIS Pain Interference and Sleep Disturbance item banks in RA, and the short forms developed herein have the potential to be used in clinical studies of RA. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41687-021-00318-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Becker
- GlaxoSmithKline, Upper Providence, PA, USA. .,Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA.
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6
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Galloway J, Edwards J, Bhagat S, Parker B, Tan AL, Maxwell J, Wallington M, Blanthorn-Hazell S, Bellamy C, Cole Z. Direct healthcare resource utilisation, health-related quality of life, and work productivity in patients with moderate rheumatoid arthritis: an observational study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2021; 22:277. [PMID: 33714274 PMCID: PMC7956119 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-021-04110-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim was to describe the population of patients with moderate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the United Kingdom and the burden of disease from the perspectives of the patient, caregiver, and health service. Methods In this descriptive study, retrospective patient-level data were extracted from hospital medical records to assess healthcare resource utilisation and validated outcome measures were administered via questionnaire to patients with moderate RA (Disease Activity Score [DAS28] between 3.2 and 5.1) from eight secondary care centres, and their caregivers. Patient-reported outcome instruments were scored according to licensed manuals. Results Outcome measures were completed by 102 patients and 38 caregivers. The mean EuroQoL-5 dimension-5 level crosswalk index value for patients was 0.62 (SD 0.24) compared to an England population norm of 0.82. Mean pain VAS score was 37.7 (SD 24.0) and mean Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index was 1.1 (SD 0.8). In employed patients who completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (n = 26), a mean 29% (SD 26%) reduction in work productivity was recorded. Patients experienced significant fatigue as a result of their RA (median Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy fatigue score 17.2 of a possible 52, interquartile range [IQR] 11.0–28.8). Over 50% of caregivers reported providing > 7 h of support care per week to the patient with RA, and 16 and 11% took paid/unpaid leave or reduced working hours, respectively. Mean Caregiver Reaction Assessment subscale scores were 1.9 (SD 0.9) for finance, 1.7 (SD 0.8) for health, 2.3 (SD 1.0) for schedule disruption, and 1.9 (SD 0.8) for family support. Patients had a mean 5.5 (SD 4.1) outpatient attendances and a median 9.0 (IQR 2.0–20.0) diagnostic and monitoring tests in the 12 months prior to enrolment. Conclusions This study shows that moderate RA has a considerable impact on healthcare resources and on patients’ and caregivers’ lives. There is scope to improve the management of patients with moderate RA. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-021-04110-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Galloway
- Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Julie Edwards
- Research and Development Department, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
| | - Shweta Bhagat
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Bury Saint Edmunds, UK
| | - Ben Parker
- Kellgren Centre for Rheumatology, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Ai Lyn Tan
- NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Zoe Cole
- Rheumatology Department, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, UK
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Cohen SB, Greenberg JD, Harnett J, Madsen A, Smith TW, Gruben D, Zhang R, Lukic T, Woolcott J, Dandreo KJ, Litman HJ, Blachley T, Lenihan A, Chen C, Rivas JL, Dougados M. Real-World Evidence to Contextualize Clinical Trial Results and Inform Regulatory Decisions: Tofacitinib Modified-Release Once-Daily vs Immediate-Release Twice-Daily for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Adv Ther 2021; 38:226-248. [PMID: 33034006 PMCID: PMC7854470 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-020-01501-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To provide additional clinical evidence in regulatory submissions for a modified-release (MR) once-daily (QD) tofacitinib formulation, we compared real-world adherence and effectiveness between patients initiating the MR QD formulation and patients initiating an immediate-release (IR) twice-daily (BID) formulation. METHODS Two noninterventional cohort studies were conducted. First, adherence and two effectiveness proxies were compared between patients with RA who newly initiated tofacitinib MR 11 mg QD or IR 5 mg BID in the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial and Medicare Supplemental US insurance claims databases (March 2016-October 2018). Second, using data collected in the Corrona US RA Registry (February 2016-August 2019), two Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI)-based measures of effectiveness were compared between tofacitinib MR 11 mg QD and IR 5 mg BID, and against noninferiority criteria derived from placebo-controlled clinical trials of the tofacitinib IR formulation. Multiple sensitivity analyses of the registry data were conducted to reassure regulators of consistent results across different assumptions. RESULTS In each study, approximately two-thirds of patients initiated the MR formulation. In the claims database study, improved adherence and at least comparable effectiveness were observed with tofacitinib MR vs IR over 12 months, particularly in patients without prior advanced therapy. In the registry study, the noninferiority of tofacitinib MR vs IR was demonstrated for both CDAI outcomes at ~6 months; this finding was robust across multiple sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate the value of real-world evidence from complementary data sources in understanding the impact of medication adherence with a QD formulation in clinical practice. These analyses were suitable for regulatory consideration as an important component of evidence for the comparability of tofacitinib MR 11 mg QD vs IR 5 mg BID in patients with RA. TRIAL REGISTRATION Claims database study: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04018001, retrospectively registered July 12, 2019. Corrona US RA Registry study: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04267380, retrospectively registered February 12, 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley B Cohen
- Metroplex Clinical Research Center and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maxime Dougados
- Department of Rheumatology, Université de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- INSERM (U1153): Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, PRES Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France
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8
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Rezk MF, Pieper B. Unlocking the Value of Anti-TNF Biosimilars: Reducing Disease Burden and Improving Outcomes in Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Narrative Review. Adv Ther 2020; 37:3732-3745. [PMID: 32740789 PMCID: PMC7444394 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-020-01437-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are chronic conditions that create a significant disease burden on millions of patients while adding a major financial burden to societies and healthcare systems. The introduction of biologic medicines has contributed majorly to improving the clinical outcomes of IMIDs and as such these modalities have gained first- or second-line positions in a wide range of treatment guidelines from different international clinical societies. However, the high cost of these biologics traditionally limited their accessibility and delayed their initiation, leaving millions of patients with unmet medical needs for a more affordable and sustainable solution. The introduction of cost-efficient biosimilar anti-TNFs within Europe since 2013 has allowed more patients with IMIDs to access biologic therapies earlier and for longer, potentially altering the course of the disease into a milder phenotype and reducing the long-term disease burden. This review provides the latest evidence for the impact of biosimilars on patient outcomes and demonstrates their clinical value beyond a reduction in price.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mourad F Rezk
- Biogen International GmbH, Neuhofstrasse 30, 6340, Baar, Switzerland.
| | - Burkhard Pieper
- Biogen International GmbH, Neuhofstrasse 30, 6340, Baar, Switzerland
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9
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Michaud K, Pope J, van de Laar M, Curtis JR, Kannowski C, Mitchell S, Bell J, Workman J, Paik J, Cardoso A, Taylor PC. Systematic Literature Review of Residual Symptoms and an Unmet Need in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2020; 73:1606-1616. [PMID: 32619340 PMCID: PMC8596735 DOI: 10.1002/acr.24369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the nature and burden of residual disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients who meet treatment targets. Second, for those who did not meet targets, to evaluate how much is due to patient symptoms. Methods Prospective and retrospective studies were searched in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library in the English language from January 1, 2008 to April 18, 2018; conference abstracts (from January 2016 to April 2018) and reference lists of relevant studies were also screened. Results Of 8,339 records identified, 55 were included in the review; 53 were unique studies, including 10 randomized controlled trials. Of these, 48 reported on patients who achieved low disease activity (LDA) or remission. Studies varied in population, treatment goals, and outcome reporting. The proportions of patients with residual symptoms in these studies varied by the definitions used for LDA or remission and were more often reported in patients with LDA than those in remission. The most commonly reported outcome measures were functional disability (n = 34 studies), tender or swollen joints (n = 18), pain (n = 17), patient global assessment (n = 15), and fatigue (n = 14). However, few studies reported the percentage of patients achieving a specific threshold, which could then be used to easily define the presence of residual symptoms. Conclusion Residual symptoms are present in some patients despite their achieving LDA or remission, highlighting an unmet need, especially with respect to improving pain, fatigue, and function. Standardized reporting in future observational studies would facilitate better understanding of this issue in defined RA populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaleb Michaud
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, and FORWARD, The National Databank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wichita, Kansas
| | - Janet Pope
- University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jim Paik
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | | | - Peter C Taylor
- Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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10
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Mueller RB, Hasler C, Popp F, Mattow F, Durmisi M, Souza A, Hasler P, Rubbert-Roth A, Schulze-Koops H, Kempis JV. Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Analysis of Real-World Data from the St. Gallen and Aarau Cohorts. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8101548. [PMID: 31561582 PMCID: PMC6832556 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
: Introduction: Tofacitinib is an oral JAK inhibitor indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The efficacy and safety of tofacitinib have been shown in several randomized clinical trials. The study presented here aimed to assess the clinical tolerability and effectiveness of tofacitinib among RA patients in real life. Methods: Consecutive patients between January 2015 and April 2017 with RA who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010 criteria were included in a prospectively designed analysis of retrospective data. Patients were initiated on tofacitinib 5 mg bid. The primary objective was to analyze the safety of tofacitinib in a real-life cohort. Safety was assessed by the reasons to stop tofacitinib during follow up and changes of liver enzymes, hemoglobin, and creatinine. The secondary outcome was to analyze the frequency of and time to achieve low disease activity (LDA) and remission as defined by 28 joint count disease activity score (DAS28). Results: A total of 144 patients were treated with tofacitinib. A total of 84.9% of patients were pre-exposed to at least one biological agent. The average DAS28 at the initiation of tofacitinib was 4.43. A total of 50.0% of patients were positive for rheumatoid factor and 49.0% for ACPA. The mean follow up was 1.22 years (range 10d-3.7a) after initiation of tofacitinib treatment. A total of 94 (64.4%) patients remained on tofacitinib during follow-up. The average time to stop tofacitinib was 190.0 days. Reasons to stop tofacitinib were: insufficient response (n = 23), gastrointestinal symptoms (n = 18), infection (n = 5), myalgia (n = 2), remission (n = 2), headache (n = 2), cough, blue finger syndrome, intolerance, heartburn, psoriasis, and increased liver enzymes (all n = 1). Increased alanine amino transferase (ALAT) or aspartate amino transferase (ASAT) > 2× upper limit of normal (ULN) were detected in 3.3% and 4.4% of patients, respectively. Hemoglobin decrease of >10% was detected in 15.1% of the patients and decreased lymphocytes <500/μL in 3.4%. An increase of creatinine >20% was detected in 9.4% of patients. A total of 62.9% and 50.0% of the patients achieved low disease activity (LDA) or remission after a median of 319 and 645 days, respectively. These rates were significantly higher in patients naïve to biologic agents as compared to patients pre-exposed to biologics (LDA: naïve 100% 92 d, pre-exposed 57.0% 434 d, p ≤ 0.001; remission: naïve 86.7% 132 d, pre-exposed 44.1%, 692 d, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Tofacitinib is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with RA. Tofacitinib may induce high rates of LDA and remission in patients with active disease, even after the use of one or more biologics, though the rate appeared higher in patients naïve to biologics. Tofacitinib may be a valuable option in a treat-to-target approach. Our data demonstrate that Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are safe and efficacious in real life patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruediger B Mueller
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
- Division of Rheumatology, Medical University Department, Kantonsspital Aarau, 5001 Aarau, Switzerland.
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine IV, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany.
| | - Caroline Hasler
- Division of Rheumatology, Medical University Department, Kantonsspital Aarau, 5001 Aarau, Switzerland.
| | - Florian Popp
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| | - Frederik Mattow
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| | - Mirsada Durmisi
- Division of Rheumatology, Medical University Department, Kantonsspital Aarau, 5001 Aarau, Switzerland.
| | | | - Paul Hasler
- Division of Rheumatology, Medical University Department, Kantonsspital Aarau, 5001 Aarau, Switzerland.
| | - Andrea Rubbert-Roth
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| | - Hendrik Schulze-Koops
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine IV, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany.
| | - Johannes von Kempis
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
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Pombo-Suarez M, Gomez-Reino J. The role of registries in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Pharmacol Res 2019; 148:104410. [PMID: 31461667 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Registries characterize the effectiveness and safety of therapeutic interventions in daily clinical practice. Data from registries enable mining the records of tens of thousands of patients towards determining the effectiveness, safety, and cost-benefit of any given therapeutic. The strengths of registries include real-life settings, greater power than clinical trials to detect rare events, and the study of multiple outcomes and several research questions. Registries also have their weaknesses. They are expensive, less accurate than clinical trials, affected by channelling bias, often require links to external sources or use historic and selected control cohorts or combine datasets to increase power, and have the risk of multiple confounders. Since the beginning of biological era, registries were developed to profile emerging treatments. This article reviews the role of registries in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Pombo-Suarez
- Rheumatology Service, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Juan Gomez-Reino
- Fundacion Ramon Dominguez, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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12
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Edwards CJ, Hercogová J, Albrand H, Amiot A. Switching to biosimilars: current perspectives in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 19:1001-1014. [PMID: 31056970 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2019.1610381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The expiry of patents for biologics has led to the introduction of biosimilars for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). These treatment alternatives may allow earlier and wider access to appropriate therapy for patients without increasing the economic burden on health-care systems. Prescription of biosimilars to treatment-naïve patients is well accepted; however, additional considerations must be taken into account when switching clinically stable patients from reference products to biosimilars. Area covered: We discuss the current considerations related to switching from reference products to biosimilars from a physician and patient perspective. We review the clinical data and real-life experience on switching patients with IMIDs, present the position of the relevant medical societies, and discuss the importance of patient-physician communication and need for shared decision-making. Expert opinion: The introduction of biosimilars provides an opportunity to expand access to treatment for patients with IMIDs across Europe and support the financial sustainability of health-care systems. We anticipate that as the real-world evidence base grows, confirming the results of clinical trials, there will be a corresponding increase in physician and patient acceptance, not only to initiating treatment with a biosimilar, but also to switching medication from a reference product to a biosimilar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Edwards
- NIHR Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust , Southampton , UK
| | - Jana Hercogová
- Dermatology Department, 2nd Medical faculty, Charles University and Na Bulovce Hospital , Prague , Czech Republic
| | | | - Aurelian Amiot
- Department of Gastroenterology and EC2M3-EA7375 Unit, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Est Creteil University, Henri Mondor Hospital , Creteil , France
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13
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Baumgart DC, Misery L, Naeyaert S, Taylor PC. Biological Therapies in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: Can Biosimilars Reduce Access Inequities? Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:279. [PMID: 30983996 PMCID: PMC6447826 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological therapies are an effective treatment for a range of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel diseases. However, due to their high costs, considerable differences in their utilization exist across the world, even among the various European countries, with many countries restricting access despite professional society guideline recommendations. Adoption of biologics by healthcare providers has been particularly poor in many Central and Eastern European countries. Differences in utilization have also been observed across medical specialties, healthcare providers, and at a regional and national level. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the different market access policies for biologics in Europe and to investigate reasons for such differences. One of the potential solutions for providing broader access to IMID patients, where cost is the major barrier, is to encourage the use of biosimilars in place of their reference products. Biosimilars are generally less expensive alternatives to already licensed biological therapies and are approved on the basis that they are similar to the reference product in terms of quality, safety, and efficacy. Budget impact models predict considerable cost savings following the introduction of biosimilars in the next few years. These savings could be used to increase access to biologics and other innovative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C. Baumgart
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Unit – Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Charité Medical School, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laurent Misery
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Brest, Brest, France
| | | | - Peter C. Taylor
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Ruscitti P, Sinigaglia L, Cazzato M, Grembiale RD, Triolo G, Lubrano E, Montecucco C, Giacomelli R. Dose adjustments and discontinuation in TNF inhibitors treated patients: when and how. A systematic review of literature. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2018; 57:vii23-vii31. [PMID: 30289540 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/key132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To review the available evidence concerning the possibility of discontinuing and/or tapering the dosage of TNF inhibitors (TNFi) in RA patients experiencing clinical remission or low disease activity. Methods A systematic review of the literature concerning the low dosage and discontinuation of TNFi in disease-controlled RA patients was performed by evaluation of reports published in indexed international journals (Medline via PubMed, EMBASE), in the time frame from 8 April 2013 to 15 January 2016. Results We analysed the literature evaluating the efficacy and the safety of two different strategies using TNFi, decreasing dosage or discontinuation, in patients experiencing clinical remission or low disease activity. After the analysis of online databases, 25 references were considered potentially relevant and 16 references were selected. The majority of data concerned etanercept and adalimumab. Results suggested the induction of stable clinical remission or low disease activity by using TNFi followed by a dosage tapering and/or discontinuation of such drugs may be associated with the maintenance of a good clinical response in a subset of patients affected by early disease. Conclusion RA patients treated early with TNFi and achieving their therapeutic clinical targets seem to maintain their clinical response after tapering or discontinuing TNFi. These data may allow physicians a more dynamic and tailored management of RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piero Ruscitti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila
| | | | | | | | - Giovanni Triolo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo
| | - Ennio Lubrano
- Department of Medicine and Health Science 'Vincenzo Tiberio', University of Molise, Campobasso
| | - Carlomaurizio Montecucco
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT) and Biologic Therapy Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation/University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Giacomelli
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila
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