ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous (SC) and intravenous (IV) abatacept.MethodsIn this phase IIIb double-blind, double-dummy, 6-month study, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inadequate responses to methotrexate were randomized to receive 125 mg SC abatacept on days 1 and 8 and weekly thereafter (plus an IV loading dose [∼10 mg/kg] on day 1) or IV abatacept (∼10 mg/kg) on days 1, 15, and 29 and every 4 weeks thereafter. The primary end point for determining the noninferiority of SC abatacept to IV abatacept was the proportion of patients in each group meeting the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (achieving an ACR20 response) at month 6. Other efficacy end points, immunogenicity, and safety were also assessed.ResultsOf 1,457 patients, 693 of 736 (94.2%) treated with SC abatacept and 676 of 721 (93.8%) treated with IV abatacept completed 6 months. At month 6, 76.0% (95% confidence interval 72.9, 79.2) of SC abatacept–treated patients versus 75.8% (95% confidence interval 72.6, 79.0) of IV abatacept–treated patients achieved an ACR20 response (estimated difference between groups 0.3% [95% confidence interval –4.2, 4.8]), confirming noninferiority of SC abatacept to IV abatacept. Onset and magnitude of ACR responses and disease activity and physical function improvements were comparable between the SC and IV abatacept–treated groups. The proportions of adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs over 6 months were 67.0% and 4.2%, respectively, in the SC abatacept–treated group and 65.2% and 4.9%, respectively, in the IV abatacept–treated group, with comparable frequencies of serious infections, malignancies, and autoimmune events between groups. SC injection site reactions (mostly mild) occurred in 19 SC abatacept (IV placebo)–treated patients (2.6%) and 18 IV abatacept (SC placebo)–treated patients (2.5%). Abatacept-induced antibodies occurred in 1.1% of SC abatacept–treated patients and 2.3% of IV abatacept–treated patients.ConclusionSC abatacept provides efficacy and safety comparable with that of IV abatacept, with low immunogenicity and high retention rates, consistent with the established IV abatacept profile. Rates of injection site reactions were low. SC abatacept will provide additional treatment options, such as an alternative route of administration, for patients with RA.

Objective.Assess longterm tolerability, safety, and efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) abatacept (ABA) in methotrexate-refractory patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.The phase III, multinational Abatacept Comparison of Sub[QU]cutaneous Versus Intravenous in Inadequate Responders to MethotrexatE (ACQUIRE) trial comprised a 6-month, randomized, double-blind (DB) period, in which patients received intravenous (IV) or SC ABA, plus MTX, followed by an open-label, longterm extension (LTE), in which patients received SC ABA, 125 mg/week. Safety and efficacy from the LTE (∼3.5 yrs of exposure) are reported.Results.Patients who completed the DB period (1372/1385, 99.1%) entered the LTE; 1134 patients (82.7%) kept taking the treatment at time of reporting. Mean (SD) was 31.9 months (6.8); median (range) exposure was 33.0 (8–44) months. Patients entering the LTE had longstanding, moderate-to-severe disease [mean 7.6 (7.9) yrs and DAS28 (C-reactive protein) 6.2 (0.9)]. Incidence rates (events/100 patient-yrs) were reported for serious adverse events (8.76, 95% CI 7.71, 9.95), infections (44.80, 95% CI 41.76, 48.01), serious infections (1.72, 95% CI 1.30, 2.27), malignancies (1.19, 95% CI 0.86, 1.66), and autoimmune events (1.31, 95% CI 0.95, 1.79). Twenty-seven patients (2%) experienced injection-site reactions; all except 1 were mild. American College of Rheumatology 20, 50, and 70 responses achieved during the DB period were maintained through the LTE, and on Day 981 were 80.2% (95% CI 77.2, 83.2), 63.5% (95% CI 58.2, 68.9), and 39.5% (95% CI 34.0, 44.9) for patients who kept taking SC ABA, and 80.0% (95% CI 77.0, 83.0), 63.2% (95% CI 57.8, 68.7), and 39.2% (95% CI 33.7, 44.7) for those who switched from IV to SC ABA.Conclusion.These findings support SC ABA as a well-tolerated and efficacious longterm treatment for patients with RA and inadequate response to MTX (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00559585).

Objective.To assess 5-year safety, tolerability, and efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) abatacept (ABA) in methotrexate (MTX)-refractory patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.The Abatacept Comparison of sub[QU]cutaneous versus intravenous in Inadequate Responders to methotrexatE (ACQUIRE) phase IIIb, randomized, double-dummy, multinational trial compared efficacy and safety of SC and intravenous (IV) ABA in patients with RA. In the initial 6-month double-blind (DB) period, patients received IV or SC ABA, plus MTX, and in the subsequent open-label longterm extension (LTE) period, all patients received SC ABA (125 mg/wk). The final 5-year safety, tolerability, and efficacy analyses are reported.Results.Of 1385 patients who completed the DB period, 1372 entered LTE and 945 (68.8%) completed ≥ 5 years of treatment. During LTE, 97 (7.1%) patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse event (AE). Incidence rate (IR; event/100 patient-yrs of exposure; based on LTE data, 95% CI) for AE of interest were the following: serious AE 7.73 (6.96–8.58), infection 38.60 (36.24–41.12), serious infection 1.68 (1.35–2.07), malignancies 1.09 (0.84–1.42), and autoimmune disorders 1.33 (1.05–1.69), and were stable over time. No association between immunogenicity and either worsening of ABA safety or loss of efficacy was noted. Efficacy in the LTE was consistent with the DB period and was maintained to the end of the study.Conclusion.These 5-year data establish that SC ABA (125 mg/wk) has a consistent safety profile and durable efficacy for longterm treatment of patients with RA who had an inadequate response to MTX.

Background The Abatacept (ABA) Comparison of Sub[QU]cutaneous (SC) versus Intravenous (IV) in Inadequate Responders to MethotrexatE (MTX) (ACQUIRE) study showed comparable efficacy and safety of SC vs IV ABA over 6 mths.1 Objectives To present 32-mth safety and efficacy data from the long-term extension (LTE) of ACQUIRE, during which all patients (pts) received SC ABA. Methods ACQUIRE was a Phase IIIb, 6-mth, double-blind (DB) study in which pts with active RA (³10 swollen and ³12 tender joint count [SJC and TJC], C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥0.8 mg/dL) refractory to MTX received IV or SC ABA, plus MTX, followed by an open-label LTE when pts received SC ABA 125 mg/wk. Not all pts had reached later time points at time of analysis, as a result of differential enrolment in the trial. Results Of 1372 pts entering the LTE, 1134 (82.7%) remained on therapy at time of reporting. Mean baseline RA duration was 8 yrs, TJC and SJC were 30 and 20, respectively, and HAQ-DI was 1.7. Median (range) ABA exposure was 33 (8–44) mths. The incidence rate (IR; events/100 pt-yrs) of serious adverse events for pts treated with SC ABA in the LTE (8.76 [95% CI: 7.71–9.95]) was comparable with that for SC ABA in the DB period (9.02 [6.31–12.90]) and did not increase with increasing exposure. The IR of overall and serious infections in the LTE (44.80 [41.81–48.01] and 1.72 [1.30–2.27], respectively) did not increase vs the DB period (84.62 [74.50–96.11] and 1.48 [0.62–3.56], respectively). Bacterial, viral and hospitalised infections occurred at IRs of 27.28 (25.16–29.57), 18.25 (16.61–20.06) and 1.55 (1.16–2.07) during the LTE. The IR of malignancy did not increase in the LTE (1.19 [0.86–1.66]) vs the DB period (0.59 [0.15–2.36]). Injection-site reactions occurred in 27 (2.0%) pts in the LTE (none serious) and 19 (2.6%) pts in the DB period. Overall, 139/1365 (10.2%) and 1/153 (0.7%) pts experienced immunogenicity during the LTE and DB periods, respectively. ACR responses were maintained and comparable with original SC and IV groups: at Day 169, ACR 20 response rates were 80.2% (95% CI: 77.2, 83.2) and 80.0% (77.0, 83.0) and at Day 981 were 84.8% (80.8, 88.8) and 84.7% (80.7, 88.8). DAS28 (CRP) <2.6 rates (95% CI) were 24% (21–27; n=685) and 25% (22–28; n=667) at Day 169, and 39% (33–44; n=288) and 35% (29–40; n=275) at Day 981 for the original SC and IV groups, respectively. HAQ-DI responses (change from baseline ≥0.3) were 73% (95% CI: 69–76; n=691) and 68% (65–72; n=672) at Day 169, and 74% (69–79; n=313) and 70% (65–75; n=303) at Day 981 for the original SC and IV groups, respectively. Conclusions Over 32 mths, SC abatacept showed consistent safety with high patient retention. ACR, HAQ-DI response and DAS28 remission rates were maintained through the LTE. References Genovese MC, et al. Arthritis Rheum 2011;63:2854–64 Disclosure of Interest R. Alten Grant/research support from: BMS, Merck Pharma GmbH, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Consultant for: Abbott Laboratories, Horizon Pharma, Merck Pharma GmbH, Nitec Pharma GmbH, N...

BackgroundThe ACQUIRE study demonstrated non-inferiority of the SC to the IV formulation.1ObjectivesTo assess the 5-yr safety and efficacy of SC ABA 125 mg/wk plus background MTX in the LT extension (LTE).MethodsThe 6-month, double-blind (DB) period was followed by an open-label LTE in which patients (pts) received SC ABA 125 mg/wk. Dose adjustments to MTX, corticosteroids and NSAIDs were permitted. Safety, efficacy and immunogenicity assessments were performed at 12-wk intervals. Safety and efficacy analyses included all pts who entered the LTE and received ≥1 dose of ABA.Results1373/1385 pts who completed the DB period entered the LTE, 427 (31.1%) had discontinued by end of Yr 5 (due to AE: 100 [7.3%]; lack of efficacy: 89 [6.5%]; withdrawal of consent: 81 [5.9%]). In the LTE, 1240 pts (90.3%) had an AE (Table), most (79.8%) were mild/moderate; most frequent non-serious AEs were infections. Overall, 353 pts (25.7%) had an SAE. The incidence rate/100 pt-yrs (95% CI) for SAEs decreased from 9.02 (6.31, 12.90) in the DB period to 7.73 (6.96, 8.58) during the LTE (332.6 and 4566.2 pt-yrs of exposure, respectively). Efficacy in the LTE was consistent with the DB phase and was maintained to 5 yrs in pts who remained on study: at Day 1821, 356/421 (84.6%), 277/423 (65.5%) and 191/425 (44.9%) had an ACR20, 50 or 70 response, respectively. ABA trough concentrations were stable over the LTE. Immunogenicity was low over 5 yrs (4.6/100 pt-yrs); there was no association between immunogenicity and ABA efficacy, safety or PK.Adverse eventAdverse events in 5-yr LTE (n=1373)n (%) of ptsAll AEs1240 (90.3) AE related to study drug632 (46.0) AE leading to discontinuation97 (7.1) SAEs353 (25.7) Death41 (3.0)AEs of special interest Infections962 (70.1) Serious infections85 (6.2) Opportunistic infections*4 (0.3) Systemic injection reactions161 (11.7) Autoimmune disorders†67 (4.9) Malignancies‡56 (4.1) Local injection-site reactions33 (2.4)*Peritoneal tuberculosis, fungal oesophagitis, fungal eye infection, fungal sinusitis (n=1 each); †Including psoriasis (n=13), chronic gastritis (n=11), Sjögren's syndrome (n=10), vasculitis (n=6); ‡Including basal cell carcinoma (CA) (n=15); breast cancer, squamous cell CA, squamous cell CA of skin (n=4 each); thyroid neoplasm (n=3); cervical CA Stage 0, invasive ductal breast CA, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer (n=2 each).ConclusionsDuring this 5-yr LTE of the ACQUIRE study, the safety and efficacy of SC abatacept were consistent with that seen in the initial DB phase, with no new safety signals.ReferencesGenovese M, et al. Arthritis Rheum 2011;63:2854–64.Disclosure of InterestM. C. Genovese Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, C. Pacheco Tena Grant/research support from: UCB, Speakers bureau: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, AbbVie, UCB, Janssen, A. Covarrubias: None declared, G. Leon: None declared, E. Mysler Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Speakers bureau: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, M. Keiserman Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Actelion, Anth...