Key clinical point: Evaluation with power Doppler ultrasound revealed a rapid and significant reduction of synovitis in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) upon treatment with secukinumab.
Major finding : At week 12, the adjusted mean change in the global European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials (OMERACT) (EULAR-OMERACT) synovitis score was significantly higher in secukinumab vs. placebo group (−9 vs. −6; difference −3; P = .004), with the effect of secukinumab evident as early as week 1 of treatment initiation. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events in secukinumab vs. placebo group was 58% vs. 57%.
Study details: Findings are 12-week results from ULTIMATE, a phase 3 study including 166 biologic-naive patients with concomitant PsA and synovitis who failed conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Patients were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous secukinumab (300 mg or 150 mg) or placebo weekly until week 4, followed by 4-weekly dosing until week 52.
Disclosures: This study was funded by Novartis. Some of the authors reported ties with various sources including Novartis. A Duggan, P Goyanka, and C Gaillez declared being employees of or owning stock in Novartis.
Source: D'Agostino MA et al. Rheumatology. 2021 Sep 16. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab628.