Inhibition of radiographic progression across levels of composite index-defined disease activity in patients with active psoriatic arthritis treated with intravenous golimumab: results from a phase-3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

A clinical review of structural damage in psoriatic arthritis for dermatologists: From pathogenesis to ongoing controversies

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that often goes unrecognized in patients with psoriasis. As a result, patients may develop significant structural damage before diagnosis and initiation of adequate treatment. Dermatologists are in an unique position to identify early signs and symptoms of PsA. Here, we briefly review the pathogenesis of PsA, differences in PsA presentation within real-world dermatology practice versus rheumatology clinical trials, and imaging modalities that can be used to assess structural damage. We then discuss several ongoing controversies related to prediction, assessment, and treatment of PsA-related structural damage. Debated questions include the following: (1) Does subclinical enthesitis predict progression from psoriasis to PsA?, (2) Does methotrexate inhibit progression of structural damage?, (3) Does structural damage correlate with clinical disease activity?, and (4) Can progression from psoriasis to PsA be prevented? Evidence presented herein suggests that dermatologists, together with rheumatologists, can play important roles in the early diagnosis and treatment of PsA, thereby potentially preventing irreversible structural damage.

Secukinumab improves physical function and quality of life and inhibits structural damage in patients with PsA with sustained remission or low disease activity: results from the 2-year phase 3 FUTURE 5 study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of sustained low disease activity (LDA)/remission (REM) on physical function, quality of life (QoL) and structural outcomes in secukinumab-treated psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients from the FUTURE 5 study.

METHODS

FUTURE 5 was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 3 study in patients with active PsA. Patients were categorised according to LDA (Minimal Disease Activity, MDA/Disease Activity index for Psoriatic Arthritis, DAPSA LDA+REM) or REM (very LDA/DAPSA REM): not achieving LDA/REM, achieving it once or sustained LDA/REM ≥3 times up to week 104. Key outcomes were improvements in Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index and Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary Score, proportion of non-radiographic progressors and predictors of sustained LDA response.

RESULTS

Patients were randomised (N=996) into the following treatment groups: secukinumab 300 mg (N=222), secukinumab 150 mg loading (N=220)/non-loading (N=222) and placebo (N=332). Baseline characteristics were comparable between patients with sustained DAPSA and MDA responses. By week 104, 48%-81% and 19%-36% of the secukinumab-treated patients achieved sustained LDA and REM, respectively. Numerically greater improvements in physical function and QoL were observed with sustained LDA/REM versus LDA/REM achieved once or not at all, although patients reached the established minimal clinically important difference for all composite indices. A high proportion of secukinumab-treated patients were non-structural progressors at 2 years irrespective of achieving sustained LDA/REM. Younger age, lower body mass index at baseline, reduced tender joint count and PsA pain at week 16 were key predictors of sustained LDA in secukinumab-treated patients.

CONCLUSION

Sustained LDA/REM was associated with improvements in physical function, QoL and inhibition of structural damage progression.

Guselkumab provides sustained domain-specific and comprehensive efficacy using composite indices in patients with active psoriatic arthritis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of guselkumab for the treatment of active PsA utilizing composite indices.

METHODS

Data were pooled from the phase 3 DISCOVER-1 (n = 381) and DISCOVER-2 (n = 739) studies. In both studies, patients were randomized 1:1:1 to subcutaneous guselkumab 100 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W); guselkumab 100 mg at week 0, week 4, then Q8W; or placebo Q4W with crossover to guselkumab 100 mg Q4W at week 24. Composite indices used to assess efficacy through week 52 included Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS), minimal disease activity (MDA), and very low disease activity (VLDA). Through week 24, treatment failure rules were applied. Through week 52, non-responder imputation was used for missing data.

RESULTS

Greater proportions of guselkumab- than placebo-treated patients achieved DAPSA low disease activity (LDA) and remission, PASDAS LDA and VLDA, MDA, and VLDA at week 24 vs placebo (all unadjusted P < 0.05). At week 52, in the guselkumab Q4W and Q8W groups, respectively, response rates were as follows: DAPSA LDA, 54.2% and 52.5%; DAPSA remission, 18.2% and 17.6%; PASDAS LDA, 45.3% and 41.9%; PASDAS VLDA, 16.9% and 19.5%; MDA, 35.9% and 30.7%; and VLDA, 13.1% and 14.4%. In the placebo-crossover-to-guselkumab group, response rates for all composite indices increased after patients switched to guselkumab, from week 24 through week 52.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with guselkumab provided robust and sustained benefits across multiple PsA domains through 1 year, indicating that guselkumab is an effective therapy for the diverse manifestations of PsA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03162796; NCT03158285.