Secukinumab effective for slowing radiographic progression in active PsA
Treatment with secukinumab significantly reduced radiographic progression in patients with active PsA, according to Désirée van der Heijde, MD, PhD, professor of rheumatology at Leiden University Medical Center, and her associates.
The results come from an analysis of the FUTURE 5 trial, a study of 996 patients with active PsA despite previous NSAID treatment, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment, or anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Patients were randomized to receive 300 mg subcutaneous secukinumab with loading dose, 150 mg secukinumab with loading dose, 150 mg secukinumab without loading dose, or placebo, at baseline; weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4; then every 4 weeks.
After 24 weeks, the mean change in van der Heijde–modified Total Sharp Score for PsA was 0.08 for the 300-mg secukinumab group (P less than .01), 0.17 for the 150-mg secukinumab with loading dose group (P less than .05), a reduction of 0.09 for the 150-mg secukinumab without loading dose group (P less than .01), and 0.50 for the placebo group. Lower radiographic progression was seen regardless of prior anti-TNF or concomitant methotrexate treatment.
The study was funded by Novartis. The study authors reported financial disclosures with numerous companies; five authors are Novartis employees.