Secukinumab at a subcutaneous dose of 150 mg, with either subcutaneous or intravenous loading, provided significant reductions in the signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), according to 2 studies of secukinumab in a total of 590 patients with AS. Researchers found:

• In 1 study, ASAS20 response rates at week 16 were 61%, 60%, and 29% for subcutaneous secukinumab at 150 mg and 75mg and for placebo, respectively.

• In the other study, ASAS20 response rates at week 16 were 61%, 41%, and 28% for subcutaneous secukinumab at 150 mg and 75mg and for placebo, respectively.

• These significant improvements were sustained through 52 weeks.

• Infections, including candidiasis, were more common with secukinumab than with placebo during the placebo-controlled portion of the first study.

• During the entire treatment period, pooled exposure-adjusted incidence rates in cases per 100 patient-years were: 0.7 for grade 3 or 4 neutropenia , 0.9 for candida infections, and 0.7 for Crohn disease.

Citation: Baeten D, Sieper J, Braun J, et al. Secukinumab, an interleukin-17A inhibitor, in ankylosing spondylitis. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(26):2534-2548. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1505066.