An appraisal of golimumab in the treatment of severe, active nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis

Introduction

The Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) has recently developed new criteria for the classification of spondyloarthritis (SpA) with the aim of achieving earlier diagnosis and in the process has introduced the concept of predominantly axial versus peripheral disease.^1,2 Patients presenting with persisting back pain for >3 months and an age of onset <45 years are classified as having axial SpA (axSpA) in the presence of either sacroiliitis (on radiographs or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] scans) and at least one additional typical SpA feature (imaging arm) or HLA-B27 positivity and two additional SpA characteristics (clinical arm).¹ Depending on radiographic evidence indicating the presence or absence of permanent structural sacroiliac joint changes, patients are further classified as having either ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or nonradiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA).³

More recently, the American College of Rheumatology, the Spondylitis Association of America, and the Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network teamed up to develop recommendations for the treatment of axSpA, which includes both AS and nr-axSpA.⁴ In adults with active AS and nr-axSpA, despite treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, they recommend treatment with tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFis) over no treatment with TNFi.⁴ However, in the USA, TNFis are indicated for the treatment of adults with active AS only, in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration decision not to approve TNFis for patients with nr-axSpA.⁵ Indeed, the Food and Drug Administration expressed doubts about the specificity of the ASAS criteria and the natural history of nr-axSpA, hinting that these patients may remit spontaneously and thus would not require treatment with TNFis.⁵ On the other hand, in the European Union (EU), TNFis are indicated for the treatment of adults with severe, active axSpA, which includes both AS and nr-axSpA. Importantly, TNFis, such as golimumab, are indicated for the treatment of adults with severe, active nr-axSpA but with objective signs of inflammation as evidenced by MRI scans and/or elevated CRP levels.⁶

Many randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RCTs)^7–9 and retrospective studies^10,11 have demonstrated the efficacy of TNFis in the treatment of AS. Five TNFis are currently used in the treatment of AS, ie, adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, and infliximab. Moreover, biosimilars of infliximab and etanercept are now available for treatment of AS.¹² The efficacy of these therapies has also been demonstrated in nr-axSpA patients in many RCTs^13–18 and retrospective studies.^19,20 In the EU, four TNFis are currently used in the treatment of nr-axSpA, ie, adalimumab, etanercept, certolizumab, and golimumab. TNFi biosimilar of etanercept is now available for treatment of nr-axSpA.

Golimumab – a human monoclonal antibody to TNF, which is administered subcutaneously at a dose of 50 mg every 4 weeks – is approved for treating active AS. The results of the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase III GO-RAISE study have been previously reported.²¹ In that study, golimumab was evaluated in patients with active AS at week 24²¹ and week 104²² and on completion of the 5-year GO-RAISE trial.²³ Regarding nr-axSpA, the results of the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase III GO-AHEAD study have been recently reported.¹⁸ In the EU, golimumab is the latest TNFi to have been approved for the treatment of nr-axSpA.⁶

Objectives

The aim of this study was to highlight the benefits and risks of golimumab compared to adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept, and certolizumab, in the treatment of severe, active nr-axSpA.

Methods

Types of studies

We included RCTs.

Types of participants

We included studies of patients satisfying the ASAS classification criteria for nr-axSpA.¹ We did not apply any additional restrictions in studies with regard to past medication comprising other TNFis.

Types of interventions

The following interventions were selected for inclusion:

1. adalimumab versus placebo,
2. infliximab versus placebo,
3. etanercept versus placebo,
4. certolizumab versus placebo,
5. golimumab versus placebo.
   The following interventions were excluded:
   1. etanercept versus sulfasalazine (ESTHER study),²⁴
   2. infliximab plus naproxen versus naproxen alone (INFAST study).²⁵

Selected outcome measures

The following criteria were selected as the major outcome measures for this review:

1. ASAS20,
2. ASAS40,
3. ASAS partial remission,
4. BASDAI50,
5. MRI evidence of sacroiliitis,
6. improvement in BASDAI,
7. improvement in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI).

An ASAS40 response was defined as a ≥40% improvement together with an absolute improvement from baseline of ≥2 units (range 0–10) in ≥3 of the following four domains: patient global assessment of disease activity (0–10 cm visual analogue scale [VAS]), pain (total back pain, 0–10 cm VAS), function (BASFI, 0–10 cm VAS16), and inflammation/morning stiffness (mean score of items 5 and 6 of the BASDAI, 0–10 cm VAS), without any worsening in the remaining domain.

Other measures

Patients with and without objective signs of inflammation were also compared. Finally, the safety measurements reported in the selected studies were analyzed.

Results

Included studies

Six trials with seven eligible treatment arms were available for patients with nr-axSpA.^13–18 Further details on the included studies are provided in Table 1. One hundred thirteen patients received adalimumab across two studies, which included the ABILITY-1 study.^13,15 Twelve patients received infliximab in one study.¹⁴ One hundred six patients received etanercept in one study.¹⁶ A study on certolizumab included both AS and nr-axSpA patients. Only the data from the nr-axSpA patients were used for this review. One hundred six nr-axSpA patients received certolizumab in the two arms of the study (200 mg and 400 mg).¹⁷ Ninety-eight patients received golimumab in the GO-AHEAD study.¹⁸ Previous exposure to TNFi was not permitted in three studies,^15,16,18 whereas patients could have had TNFi prior to baseline in two studies.^14,17 This information was not provided in the study performed by Haibel et al.¹³

Table 1 Summary of all studies including patients with nr-axSpA treated with a TNFi Abbreviations: ADA, adalimumab; CZP, certolizumab; ETA, etanercept; GOL, golimumab; IFX, infliximab; nr-axSpA, nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis; SD, standard deviation; TNFi, tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor.

Participants

Most participants were Caucasian in their thirties. Further details on the included studies are provided in Table 1. The percentage of female participants ranged from 25% to 62.2% in the treatment groups and from 25% to 57% in the control groups (37.8% and 48%, respectively in the GO-AHEAD study). The mean age ranged from 29.5 years to 38 years in the treatment groups and from 28.2 years to 39.9 years in the control groups (30.7 years and 31.7 years, respectively in the GO-AHEAD study). Between 59% and 100% of the participants in the treatment groups were HLA-B27 positive, and a similar distribution was observed in the control groups (74%–100%) (82.7% and 82%, respectively in the GO-AHEAD study). The mean disease duration ranged from 1.4 years to 10.1 years in the treatment groups and from 1.1 years to 10.1 years in the control groups. No data were provided on mean disease duration in the GO-AHEAD study, but 68.4% of the participants in the golimumab group and 65% of the participants in the control group had a disease duration <1 year from diagnosis. The mean CRP ranged from 5 mg/L to 15 mg/L in the treatment groups and from 6.4 mg/L to 13 mg/L in the control groups (15 mg/L and 13 mg/L, respectively, in the GO-AHEAD study).

Disease activity at baseline

Further details on the included studies are provided in Table 2. All of the studies reported BASFI, BASDAI, and MRI evidence of sacroiliitis at baseline. The mean BASDAI ranged from 5.9 to 6.7 in the treatment groups and from 5.8 to 6.5 in the control groups (6.6 and 6.4, respectively, in the GO-AHEAD study). Between 50.5% and 100% of the participants in the treatment groups were MRI positive for sacroiliitis, and a similar distribution was observed in the control groups (45.7%–100%) (67.3% and 66%, respectively in the GO-AHEAD study).

Table 2 Summary of all studies including patients with axSpA treated with a TNFi Note: Data presented as mean (standard deviation). Abbreviations: ADA, adalimumab; ASDAS, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; CZP, certolizumab; ETA, etanercept; GOL, golimumab; IFX, infliximab; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; nr-axSpA, nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis; TNFi, tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor.

Major outcomes

Further details on the included studies are provided in Table 3. The primary outcome was the ASAS20 response in two studies,^17,18 which included the GO-AHEAD study, and the ASAS40 response in three studies.^13,15,16 In Barkham et al,¹⁴ the primary outcome was the change in the total MRI score for sacroiliitis between baseline and week 16.

Table 3 Summary of all studies including patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis treated with TNFi: ASAS20, ASAS40, ASAS PR, and BASDAI50 responses in patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis Abbreviations: ADA, adalimumab; ASAS, Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; CZP, certolizumab; ETA, etanercept; GOL, golimumab; IFX, infliximab.

Five studies^13,15–18 reported an ASAS20 response after 12 weeks or 16 weeks of treatment with TNFi. In all studies, when TNFis were compared with placebo, statistically significant improvements in ASAS20 response were found (71.1% versus 40% in the GO-AHEAD study). In the golimumab versus placebo intervention, the percentage of patients in the placebo group who achieved an ASAS20 response was relatively high (40% at 16 weeks), and the reason for this is unclear.

All studies^13–18 reported an ASAS40 response after 12 weeks or 16 weeks of treatment with TNFi. In all studies, when TNFis were compared with placebo, statistically significant improvements in ASAS40 response were found (Figure 1) (56.7% versus 23% in the GO-AHEAD study).

Figure 1 ASAS40 response in nr-axSpA patients after 12 (or 16) weeks of treatment with TNF-blocking agents. Note: Different studies, no head-to-head comparison. Abbreviations: ADA, adalimumab; ASAS, Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society; CZP, certolizumab; ETA, etanercept; GOL, golimumab; IFX, infliximab; nr-axSpA, nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.

Five studies^13,15–18 reported an ASAS partial remission after 12 weeks or 16 weeks of treatment with TNFi. In all studies, when TNFis were compared with placebo, statistically significant improvements in ASAS partial remission were found (33% versus 18% in the GO-AHEAD study).

Five studies^13,15–18 reported a BASDAI50 response after 12 weeks or 16 weeks of treatment with TNFi. In all studies, when TNFis were compared with placebo, statistically significant improvements in BASDAI50 response were found (57.7% versus 30% in the GO-AHEAD study).

Four studies^14–16,18 reported a change in the total MRI score for sacroiliitis between baseline and week 12 or week 16. In all studies, when TNFis were compared with placebo, statistically significant improvements in total MRI score for sacroiliitis were found. The mean change in the SPARCC (Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada) MRI SI joint score (0–72) revealed significant improvement in patients treated with golimumab (difference, golimumab versus placebo: −4.3; P<0.0001), adalimumab (difference, adalimumab versus placebo: −2.6; P=0.003), and etanercept (difference, etanercept versus placebo: −3.0; P<0.001). Moreover, the mean reduction in the total MRI score (0–24) from week 0 to week 16 was significantly greater in infliximab-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients (P=0.033).

Data on improvement in BASDAI and BASFI were available in all the studies.^13–18 In the GO-AHEAD study, the difference in golimumab versus placebo was −2.00 (−2.68, −1.35), with P<0.0001 for BASDAI, and −2.73 (−2.33, −1.13), with P<0.0001 for BASFI.

Comparison of patients with and without objective signs of inflammation

Patients with objective signs of inflammation (OSI) were defined by the presence of sacroiliitis as evidenced by MRI and/or an elevated CRP level. In patients with OSI, golimumab had a robust treatment effect: 76.9% of these patients achieved an ASAS20 response at week 16 compared with 37.5% in the placebo group. In patients without OSI, there were no differences in the efficacy end points (ASAS20 and ASAS40 responses), indicating that this subgroup of nr-axSpA patients may not be suitable candidates for treatment with golimumab, as was also recently shown for the treatment of nr-axSpA with adalimumab and etanercept.^15,16

Safety

Overall, golimumab was well tolerated: the incidence of serious adverse effects and other significant AEs was comparable between patients treated with golimumab and those treated with placebo. No new safety signals were identified during the treatment of nr-axSpA with TNFi (Table 4).

Table 4 Summary of all studies including patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis treated with TNFi: AEs Note: Data presented as n (standard deviation). Abbreviations: ADA, adalimumab; AEs, adverse events; CZP, certolizumab; ETA, etanercept; GOL, golimumab; IFX, infliximab; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that golimumab, administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks, is efficacious and generally well tolerated in patients with nr-axSpA. Golimumab treatment led to a rapid reduction in the signs and symptoms of nr-axSpA, and this effect was sustained through week 16. Thus, objective evidence of active inflammation at baseline, such as a positive MRI scan and/or an elevated CRP level, seems to be a good predictor of treatment response to TNFis.

Although additional long-term data are needed, and current evidence indicates that golimumab is an effective option for the treatment of nr-axSpA. However, in the absence of comparative head-to-head trials, there is no recommended hierarchy for the first prescription of a TNFi agent for the treatment of either nr-axSpA or AS.

Perspectives

Recently, Deodhar et al²⁶ highlighted that AS and nr-axSpA represent the ends of the spectrum of axSpA, which should be considered as a single process, and proposed that RCTs designed to obtain regulatory approval for drugs be conducted in patients across the entire spectrum of axSpA. Furthermore, if the aim of a clinical trial is to treat patients with axSpA early in the course of their disease, the duration of symptoms should be more important inclusion criteria than the presence (AS) or absence of definite sacroiliitis (nr-axSpA).

Another challenge would be to investigate whether patients with nr-axSpA can achieve a state of drug-free remission. Indeed, the European Medical Agency has requested a “withdrawal” trial design, in which patients with nr-axSpA in remission for a predefined duration of time are randomized to receive either placebo or active study agent.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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