Ankylosing Spondylitis Improvement Sustained After 5 Years of Secukinumab Treatment

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis showed sustained improvement in signs, symptoms, and physical function after 5 years of treatment with subcutaneous secukinumab 150 mg, according to results from a phase 3 trial published online in The Lancet Rheumatology.

“Secukinumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that directly inhibits interleukin 17A, has shown significant and sustained improvement in the signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis over 3 years in the MEASURE 2 study,” researchers explained, before sharing 5-year, end-of-study results from MEASURE 2.  

The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study took place in 13 countries and 53 centers.  

Among 54 adults with ankylosing spondylitis, 67% achieved Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) 20 response and 50% achieved ASAS 40 response, according to end-of-study results.  

Sustained improvement was observed across other efficacy endpoints as well. At 5 years, the proportion of patients achieving efficacy endpoints of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index 50 response was 53%; ASAS 5/6 response was 51%; Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with C-Reactive Protein inactive disease was 21%; and ASAS partial remission was 25%, researchers reported.  

Exposure-adjusted incidence rates were 1.0 per 100 patient-years for Candida infections, 0.5 for Crohn's disease, 0.4 for ulcerative colitis, 0.6 for major adverse cardiovascular events, 0.5 for uveitis, and 0.6 for malignant or unspecified tumors, the study found. 

“The safety profile of secukinumab remained consistent with previous reports,” researchers observed. 

—Jolynn Tumolo 

Reference: 

Marzo-Ortega H, Sieper J, Kivitz AJ, et al. 5-year efficacy and safety of secukinumab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: end-of-study results from the phase 3 MEASURE 2 trial. Lancet Rheumatol. 2020;2(6):e339-e346.