Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Secukinumab in Patients With Active Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From a Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled, Phase 3 Study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) secukinumab for the treatment of adults with active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in INVIGORATE‐1.MethodsINVIGORATE‐1 (NCT04156620) was a randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐group, phase III trial in patients with active axSpA (either radiographic or non‐radiographic). Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive IV secukinumab (6 mg/kg at baseline followed by 3 mg/kg every 4 weeks) or IV placebo for 16 weeks. After Week 16, patients randomized to placebo were switched to IV secukinumab (3 mg/kg every 4 weeks), while patients randomized to secukinumab continued treatment through Week 52. The primary endpoint was Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS40) response at Week 16. Safety was evaluated through Week 60.ResultsAmong patients initially randomized to IV secukinumab (n = 264) or placebo (n = 262), 86.0% and 88.9% completed the entire 60‐week study period, respectively. A higher proportion of patients receiving secukinumab vs placebo met the primary endpoint (ASAS40 response) at Week 16 (40.9% vs 22.9%; P<.0001). By Week 24, patients who switched from placebo to secukinumab at Week 16 achieved ASAS40 response rates comparable to those in patients originally randomized to secukinumab. All secondary efficacy endpoints were met at Week 16, and responses were sustained through Week 52. No new or unexpected safety signals were observed with IV secukinumab.ConclusionIV secukinumab was effective for the treatment of adults with active axSpA over 52 weeks. The safety profile was consistent with that in previous reports on subcutaneous secukinumab.