SAN DIEGO — Adalimumab produces at least a 20% improvement in ankylosing spondylitis symptoms in half of patients who take the biologic for 24 weeks, according to an international placebo-controlled trial sponsored by the manufacturer.
“Adalimumab is clearly effective in ankylosing spondylitis,” Dr. Desiree van der Heijde said at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
Although a direct comparison with infliximab was not made, the magnitude and likelihood of improvement seen with adalimumab in this trial are on par with what has been reported with infliximab in earlier studies, said Dr. van der Heijde, a professor of rheumatology at Maastricht University, the Netherlands.
The investigation included 208 patients treated with adalimumab (40 mg every other week) and 107 patients treated with placebo.
At 12 weeks, 58% of treated patients had a 20% improvement in their Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis score (ASAS 20) compared with 22% of placebo-treated patients; 38% had a 50% or better improvement (ASAS 50), compared with 11% of placebo-treated patients.
At 24 weeks, 50% of treated patients achieved a score of ASAS 20, compared with 20% of patients in the placebo group; 35% achieved a score of ASAS 50, compared with 12% of placebo-treated patients.
The study, which was funded by Abbott Laboratories, found no significant difference in adverse events, except for injection site reactions, which were noted in 11% of adalimumab-treated patients, compared with 3% of placebo-treated patients.