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Simponi Aria improves skin psoriasis in patients with PsA
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AMSTERDAM — IV doses of golimumab resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in skin psoriasis among patients with psoriatic arthritis as early as week 14, regardless of methotrexate use and nail symptoms, according to findings presented at the EULAR Annual Congress.
“The results are very good and complement the previously reported high rates of response of joint disease, as reflected in high ACR 20/50/70 scores, enthesitis and dactylitis responses, and inhibition of radiographic progression,” Philip Mease, MD, of the University of Washington School of Medicine, told Healio Rheumatology. “In other words, there were very high rates of response in all of the key clinical domains of PsA, a disease that can have diverse clinical manifestations.”
To analyze improvements in skin and nail psoriasis, as well as Dermatology Life Quality Index, following IV treatment with golimumab (Simponi Aria, Janssen Biotech), Mease and colleagues studied patients with PsA who were randomized to receive either 2 mg/kg of golimumab or placebo. Golimumab was administered at weeks 0, 4 and then every 8 weeks thereafter, and placebo was given at weeks 0, 4, 12 and 20, with crossover to golimumab at week 24.
Patients with a psoriasis body surface area of 3% or greater at baseline were assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75/90/100%, as well as a modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index, at baseline and weeks 14 and 24. The researchers assessed Dermatology Life Quality Index at baseline and weeks 8, 14 and 24.
According to Mease and colleagues, 394 patients had a psoriasis body surface area of 3% or greater, including 196 who were treated with golimumab and 198 who received placebo. Participants who were treated with golimumab demonstrated a greater PASI75 response than those who received placebo — 59.2% vs. 13.6% (P < .001) at week 14. By week 24, the difference was 64.8% for golimumab and 13.1% for placebo (P < .001). Similarly, patients treated with golimumab achieved greater PASI 90/100 responses than those who received placebo, at both week 12 and week 24.
“This is the first time that we are seeing not only PASI 75 responses being reported, but also PASI 100 responses — 25.5% at week 24 (for example, complete clearing of skin disease),” Mease said. “This gives us reassurance that this additional method of administering golimumab — IV in addition to subcutaneous — can yield excellent results across all key clinical domains of PsA, as well as greater flexibility of use according to patient preference of administration.” – by Jason Laday
Reference:
Mease P. Abstract SAT0346. Presented at: EULAR Annual Congress; June 13-16, 2018; Amsterdam.
Disclosure: Mease reports grant and research support from Janssen Research and Development LLC.