Aims To assess the proportion of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who are eligible for sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696) based on the European Medicines Agency/Food and Drug Administration (EMA/FDA) label, the PARADIGM‐HF trial and the 2016 ESC guidelines, and the association between eligibility and outcomes. Methods and results Outpatients with HFrEF in the ESC‐EORP‐HFA Long‐Term Heart Failure (HF‐LT) Registry between March 2011 and November 2013 were considered. Criteria for LCZ696 based on EMA/FDA label, PARADIGM‐HF and ESC guidelines were applied. Of 5443 patients, 2197 and 2373 had complete information for trial and guideline eligibility assessment, and 84%, 12% and 12% met EMA/FDA label, PARADIGM‐HF and guideline criteria, respectively. Absent PARADIGM‐HF criteria were low natriuretic peptides (21%), hyperkalemia (4%), hypotension (7%) and sub‐optimal pharmacotherapy (74%); absent Guidelines criteria were LVEF>35% (23%), insufficient NP levels (30%) and sub‐optimal pharmacotherapy (82%); absent label criteria were absence of symptoms (New York Heart Association class I). When a daily requirement of ACEi/ARB ≥ 10 mg enalapril (instead of ≥ 20 mg) was used, eligibility rose from 12% to 28% based on both PARADIGM‐HF and guidelines. One‐year heart failure hospitalization was higher (12% and 17% vs. 12%) and all‐cause mortality lower (5.3% and 6.5% vs. 7.7%) in registry eligible patients compared to the enalapril arm of PARADIGM‐HF. Conclusions Among outpatients with HFrEF in the ESC‐EORP‐HFA HF‐LT Registry, 84% met label criteria, while only 12% and 28% met PARADIGM‐HF and guideline criteria for LCZ696 if requiring ≥ 20 mg and ≥ 10 mg enalapril, respectively. Registry patients eligible for LCZ696 had greater heart failure hospitalization but lower mortality rates than the PARADIGM‐HF enalapril group.

The aim of the study was to explore the involvement of interleukin 6 in SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to position the drug siltuximab in the management of severe forms of COVID-19. A bibliographic search was performed in Pubmed on the immune response to the disease, and in ClinicalTrials.gov on clinical trials with interleukin 6 blockers. Interleukin 6 is involved in the cytokine cascade, which originates as a consequence of an excessive immune response secondary to viral infection, aggravating lung affectation. Blockers of this cytokine (tocilizumab, sarilumab and siltuximab) are being studied as a strategy for treating the disease. Siltuximab is a monoclonal antibody indicated in Castleman's disease that could be administered in a single dose of 11 mg/kg in severe forms of COVID-19 that have increased interleukin 6.

Objectives To analyse the effectiveness and safety of baricitinib for severe COVID-19 in cytokine storm syndrome based on its potential role as an anti-inflammatory immunomodulator and inhibitor of viral endocytosis. Methods This was an observational retrospective study of hospitalised patients treated with baricitinib for severe COVID-19. Outcomes were clinical improvement on an ordinal scale of 1–8 on day 1 of baricitinib compared with day 14 (where 8=death and 1=not hospitalised with no limitations of activities), overall survival, time to recovery since baricitinib treatment started (days until hospital discharge) and laboratory parameters related to COVID-19 poor prognosis. Adverse events related to baricitinib during the admission period were also reported. Results Forty-three patients (70% men, mean age 70 years (IQR 54–79)) treated with baricitinib daily for 6 days (IQR 5–7) were included. Thirty-six patients were treated with corticosteroids (84%). Clinical improvement was 3 points (IQR 1–4) in patients on an ordinal scale of 4–6, overall survival was 100% at day 30 and day 60 with a mean time to recovery of 12 days (IQR 9–25) from start of baricitinib treatment. No adverse events of interest were found and all poor prognosis risk factors improved at day 14: interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, ferritin, lymphocytes, platelets and D-dimers. Conclusions Patients treated with baricitinib for severe COVID-19 showed improvements in clinical and analytical values without relevant adverse events and 100% overall survival. Clinical randomised trials are needed to confirm the clinical benefit of baricitinib.

BackgroundAdherence to disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) is one of the key factors for achieving optimal clinical outcomes. Rebismart® is an injection device for subcutaneous administration of interferon beta-1a (INF β-1a) that is also able to monitor adherence objectively. The aim of this study was to describe adherence to INF β-1a using the said electronic autoinjection device and to explore the relationship between adherence and relapses in a Spanish cohort.MethodsThis is a retrospective observational study in which 110 Spanish patients self-administered INF β-1a subcutaneously using an electronic autoinjection device between June 2010 and June 2015. The primary end point was the percentage of adherence measured by Rebismart® to subcutaneous INF β-1a injections calculated as number of injections received in time period versus number of injections scheduled in time period. Other variables recorded were demographic and clinical data. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19.0 software.ResultsMedian adherence for the total study period was 96.5% (interquartile range [IQR]: 91.1–99.1). Similar values were observed during the first 6 months: 98.7% (IQR: 91.3–100), and the last 6 months: 97.6% (IQR: 91.1–99.8). Median duration of treatment was 979 days (IQR: 613.8–1,266.8). During the entire treatment period, 77.3% of patients were relapse free and mean annualized relapse rate was 0.14 (standard deviation: 0.33). Increased adherence was associated with better clinical outcomes, leading to lower relapse risk (odds ratio: 0.953; 95% confidence interval: 0.912–0.995). Specifically, every percentage unit increase in adherence resulted in a 4.7% decrease in relapse.ConclusionPatients with multiple sclerosis who self-injected INF β-1a with Rebismart® had excellent adherence, correlating with a high proportion of relapse-free patients and very low annualized relapse rate.

Background The high inter-individual variability in pharmacokinetics (PK) of factor VIII (FVIII) justifies the use of PK-guided prophylaxis, especially in switching between different products. A proposed definition of extended half-life (EHL) FVIII requires improvements of at least 1.3 times in half-life (t1/2) and 1.25 times the area under the curve (AUC) compared to standard half-life (SHL) products (Mahlangu et al. Haemophilia. 2018;24(3):348-358). The objective of this multicenter study was to analyze the results of a PK-guided switch from SHL to EHL in patients with hemophilia A (HA). Methods Multicenter comparative, cross-sectional, prospective study in HA severe/moderate patients in prophylaxis analyzing PK differences after switch from SHL to EHL (efmoroctocog alfa [rFVIII-Fc] and rurioctocog alfa pegol [PEG-rFVIII]). WAPPS-Hemo® was used to analyze PK parameters with 2-3 samples: t1/2; AUC, peak level (PL); trough level at 24, 48 and 72 h (TL24, TL48, TL72); and time to reach FVIII levels of 1, 2, 5% (T1%, T2%, T5%). We have also compared the ratio of t1/2 and AUC, the number of weekly doses and the dose/kg/week before and after the switch. Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests (SPSS®) were used to compare the PK parameters. Results are expressed with the median and interquartile range (IQR) or range, and mean and standard deviation (SD). Results Eighty-one patients from 8 Spanish hospitals were analyzed (61 rFVIII-Fc; 20 PEG-rFVIII), 78 had severe HA and 3 moderate HA. Mean age was 30 years (range=3-64) and no differences in weight were observed between both periods [70 (range=12-116) vs 70 (13.7-116) kg; p=0,141]. Dose/kg/week and weekly infusion frequency were reduced after the switch to EHL, and significant improvements were observed in all PK parameters after the change from SHL to EHL (Table 1). These results were similar in adult and pediatric patients switching to rFVIII-Fc. The median ratios of t1/2 and AUC were 1.3 (IQR:1.2-1.6) and 1.5 (IQR:1.3-2.3) in the entire cohort. These results were reproduced in the subset of patients with ≥12 years treated with rFVIII-Fc and PEG-rFVIII (ratio t1/2: 1.4 [IQR:1.3-1.6]; ratio AUC: 1.6 [IQR:1.3-2.3]), and were slightly in the cohort of 15 patients <12 years treated with rFVIII-Fc (ratio t1/2: 1.3 [IQR:0.9-1.3]; ratio AUC: 1.3 [IQR:1.1-1.9]), the only EHL approved in Europe for children. After the switch to EHL, weekly dose frequency (median 23.3%, IQR:0-33.3%) and dose/kg/week (median 16%, IQR:5.3-30%) were reduced. In a small subset of 17 patients the dose/kg/week increased a median of 31.4%, and this subset was younger than the patients with dose/kg/week reduction or no changes (median age 18 [IQR:8-22] vs. 33 [IQR:16.5-42.5]). No differences were observed in any of the PK parameters and median ratios of t1/2 and AUC in patients aged ≥12 years treated with rFVIII-Fc vs. PEG-rFVIII (46 rFVIII-Fc; 20 PEG-rFVIII; Table 2). Conclusions EHL FVIII have shown significant PK improvements in clinical real practice, allowing to reduce weekly infusion number and dose/kg/week, especially in adult patients. Outside the clinical trial setting, we have observed an increase in t1/2 and AUC ratios accordingly to EHL definition. Comparisons regarding clinical outcomes (bleeding rate after switch) will be performed after a follow-up of 1 year with EHL for the full cohort. WAPPS-Hemo PK-guided switch easily facilitates individualization of prophylaxis with a potential reduction in the cost of treatment and patient perceived outcomes. Disclosures Megias: Baxalta US INC.: Research Funding; Grifols: Research Funding. Bonanad Boix:Baxalta US INC.: Research Funding. Berrueco:NovoNordisk: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; SOBI: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; CSL-Bering: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Mingot-Castellano:Sobi: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Novonordisk: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy. Cid:Shire, a Takeda company: Honoraria; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria. Sanz:AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Helsinn Healthcare: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen - Cilag: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Onconova: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Hoffman - La Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.