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Upadacitinib Proves Effective in Patients With AS
Upadacitinib 15 mg once daily (QD) offered consistent and sustained efficacy over 1 year in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a recent double-blind SELECT-AXIS 1 study revealed. The investigators also found that patients who had received placebo and then switched to upadacitinib at week 14 experienced similar efficacy as those who received upadacitinib throughout.
“In the SELECT-AXIS 1 study, adults with active AS and inadequate response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were randomized to upadacitinib 15 mg (QD) or placebo. At week 14, patients continued in the open-label extension and received upadacitinib up to week 104; reported here are interim data up to week 64,” the authors reported.
Of the 187 patients in the study, 178 entered the open-label extension on week 14. The authors explained, “Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) 40 or Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) low-disease activity at week 64: ≥70% of patients achieved these endpoints based on non-responder imputation (NRI) and ≥81% based on as-observed (AO) analyses. Furthermore, ≥34% (NRI) and ≥39% (AO) of patients achieved ASDAS inactive disease or ASAS partial remission at week 64,” the authors explained.
From baseline to week 64, changes in function, pain, and inflammation showed sustained maintenance, or consistent improvement, throughout the study.
“Among 182 patients receiving upadacitinib (237.6 PY), 618 adverse events (260.1/100 PY) were reported. No serious infections, major adverse cardiovascular events, venous thromboembolic events, gastrointestinal perforation, or deaths were reported,” the authors concluded.
—Angelique Platas
Reference
Deodhar A, van der Heijde D, Sieper J, et al. Upadacitinib in active ankylosing spondylitis: 1-year results from the double-blind, placebo-controlled select-axis 1 study and open-label extension. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published online July 1, 2021.
