Overnight variations in IL-6 in synovial fluid and plasma in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

First-in-Human Single and Multiple Ascending Dose Studies of Balinatunfib, a Small Molecule Inhibitor of TNFR1 Signaling in Healthy Participants

Oral small molecule inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) are emerging as attractive therapeutic agents for the treatment of various autoimmune diseases. Balinatunfib (SAR441566), a novel oral inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) signaling, changes the configuration of the soluble TNFα (sTNFα) trimer and prevents its heterotrimerization with TNFR1 but not TNFR2, thereby blocking TNFR1 signaling. Herein, we report the results from a first-in-human (FIH) study that evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) following single ascending doses (SAD) and multiple ascending doses (MAD) of balinatunfib in healthy male participants. Single (5-600 mg) and multiple (100-600 mg total daily dose for up to 14 days) oral doses of balinatunfib were well-tolerated in all participants. Consistent PK data were obtained across the studies, with a median tmax of 2.5-5 hours, a mean terminal half-life of 22-30 hours, and a time to steady state of 5-6 days. A supra-proportional exposure increase was observed in both SAD and MAD studies, which was less pronounced at doses ≥ 180 mg. Food had no relevant effects on the PK characteristics of balinatunfib. As the main PD read-out, complete TNFα occupancy was shown at all tested time points after the treatment started. Balinatunfib, as the first clinically tested oral TNFR1 signal inhibitor, demonstrated a good safety profile along with favorable PK/PD characteristics that allowed both once and twice daily dosing, confirming a successful preclinical-to-clinical translation and guiding dose selection for further clinical efficacy studies.

Genetics in Cartilage Lesions: Basic Science and Therapy Approaches

Cartilage lesions have a multifactorial nature, and genetic factors are their strongest determinants. As biochemical and genetic studies have dramatically progressed over the past decade, the molecular basis of cartilage pathologies has become clearer. Several homeostasis abnormalities within cartilaginous tissue have been found, including various structural changes, differential gene expression patterns, as well as altered epigenetic regulation. However, the efficient treatment of cartilage pathologies represents a substantial challenge. Understanding the complex genetic background pertaining to cartilage pathologies is useful primarily in the context of seeking new pathways leading to disease progression as well as in developing new targeted therapies. A technology utilizing gene transfer to deliver therapeutic genes to the site of injury is quickly becoming an emerging approach in cartilage renewal. The goal of this work is to provide an overview of the genetic basis of chondral lesions and the different approaches of the most recent systems exploiting therapeutic gene transfer in cartilage repair. The integration of tissue engineering with viral gene vectors is a novel and active area of research. However, despite promising preclinical data, this therapeutic concept needs to be supported by the growing body of clinical trials.

Using actigraphy to measure sleep patterns in rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study in patients taking night-time prednisone

OBJECTIVE

Poor sleep quality is a commonly reported but under-investigated consequence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Actigraphy is a non-invasive way of measuring sleep, estimated from the frequency and intensity of physical movement at the wrist. We used actigraphy to measure sleep parameters compared with sleep questionnaire data, and assessed the practicality of actigraph use in patients with RA.

METHODS

In a pilot study of actigraphy conducted within an investigation of night-time prednisone treatment and circadian interleukin-6 concentrations in ten patients with active RA, we compared actigraphy with the St Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire and assessed whether night-time administration of prednisone resulted in increased sleep disturbance.

RESULTS

The actigraph watch was well tolerated by our patients, producing adequate data for analysis for 128 out of 133 test days (96.2%). The results indicated reasonable concordance between actigraph and sleep questionnaire data in the present sample. Patient satisfaction with sleep (question 11) strongly correlated with sleep efficiency measured by the actigraph (r = 0.71, p = 0.22) and showed a trend for inverse correlation with the fragmentation index (r = -0.60, p = 0.067). Quality of sleep (question 9) correlated non-significantly with the fragmentation index (r = -0.59, p = 0.072). We were unable to identify any significant correlations between clinical measures of disease and sleep parameters in this sample. There were no apparent detrimental consequences of the night-time dose of prednisone on the measures of sleep quality and quantity.

CONCLUSION

In spite of the physical disability imposed by RA, the actigraph was well tolerated and gave a useful measure of sleep in patients with active disease. It has the potential for use in larger controlled trials.

Pharmacokinetics of modified-release prednisone tablets in healthy subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), nocturnal release of proinflammatory cytokines is not adequately counteracted by endogenous glucocorticoid and is associated with symptoms of morning stiffness and pain. Taking exogenous glucocorticoid during the night reduces morning stiffness significantly more than treatment at the conventional time in the morning, although waking to take tablets is unacceptable for patients. Modified-release prednisone tablets were developed to allow administration at bedtime for programmed delivery of glucocorticoid during the night. Single-center crossover studies were conducted, each in ≤24 healthy subjects, to compare the pharmacokinetics of a single 5-mg oral dose of modified-release prednisone and conventional prednisone, as well as the effect of food on bioavailability. There was no substantial difference in pharmacokinetic parameters of the formulations apart from the programmed delay in release of glucocorticoid from the modified-release tablets (C(max) 97%, AUC(0-∞) 101%, 90% confidence intervals within the requisite range for bioequivalence). Administration after a full or light meal did not affect pharmacokinetic characteristics, but bioavailability was reduced under fasted conditions. Pharmacokinetic evaluation in 9 patients with RA confirmed that modified-release prednisone tablets taken at bedtime (around 22:00 h) with or after an evening meal result in programmed release of glucocorticoid 4 to 6 hours after intake.