Search

Infection, autoimmunity, and cancer are principal human health challenges of the 21st century. Often regarded as distinct ends of the immunological spectrum, recent studies hint at potential overlap between these diseases. For example, inflammation can be pathogenic in infection and autoimmunity. T resident memory (TRM) cells can be beneficial in infection and cancer. However, these findings are limited by size and scope; exact immunological factors shared across diseases remain elusive. Here, we integrate large-scale deeply clinically and biologically phenotyped human cohorts of 526 patients with infection, 162 with lupus, and 11,180 with cancer. We identify an NKG2A+ immune bias as associative with protection against disease severity, mortality, and autoimmune/post-acute chronic disease. We reveal that NKG2A+ CD8+ T cells correlate with reduced inflammation and increased humoral immunity and that they resemble TRM cells. Our results suggest NKG2A+ biases as a cross-disease factor of protection, supporting suggestions of immunological overlap between infection, autoimmunity, and cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This study contributes to the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA)s effort to define difficult-to-treat PsA (D2T-PsA), leveraging insights of healthcare professionals who are GRAPPA members. The primary objective is to inform GRAPPAs D2T PsA project, ensuring the consensus definition reflects clinical experience and expertise. METHODS: An online survey was conducted among GRAPPAs healthcare professionals managing PsA patients. The survey covered demographic details, structured questions, and open-ended queries to gather comprehensive insights into the experts viewpoints. RESULTS: About 223 physicians completed the survey, comprising 179 (80.2%) rheumatologists and 40 (17.9%) dermatologists. The majority, 184 (82.5%), favoured establishing distinct definitions for D2T-PsA and complex-to-manage PsA (C2M-PsA). Furthermore, 202 (90.5%) supported a definition that includes objective inflammation signs (clinical, laboratory, imaging, among others). However, opinions varied on the criteria for prior treatment failures, with most (93, 41.7%) favouring a definition that includes at least one conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug and two or more biological- or targeted-synthetic-DMARDs with different mechanisms of action. CONCLUSION: The survey reveals a majority opinion among GRAPPA experts favouring the differentiation between D2T-PsA and C2M-PsA, and the inclusion of objective inflammatory markers in these definitions. However, there is less than 50% agreement on the specific treatment failure criteria, particularly regarding the number of therapies needed to classify PsA as D2T. These findings suggest a need for continued discussion to reach a more unified approach in defining D2T-PsA, reflecting the complexity of the condition.

Objective Group‐level analyses from the phase 3 DISCOVER‐2 trial of guselkumab demonstrated robust and durable improvements across psoriatic arthritis (PsA) domains. To specifically evaluate continuous disease control in individual patients, persistence of clinically relevant improvements was assessed, both at consecutive guselkumab dosing visits and over time. Methods Post hoc analyses included biologic‐naïve patients randomized to 100 mg of guselkumab at week 0, week 4, and then every 8 weeks (Q8W). Improvements in joint (minimal clinically important improvement [MCII] in Disease Activity Index for PsA [DAPSA; ≥7.25], clinical DAPSA [cDAPSA; ≥5.7]), skin (Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA] 0/1), and overall disease activity (patient global assessment of arthritis and psoriasis [PtGA Arthritis+Psoriasis; MCII ≥ 15 mm], PsA Disease Activity Score [PASDAS; MCII ≥ 0.8]) were assessed. Proportions of patients with maintenance of DAPSA and cDAPSA MCII at consecutive Q8W guselkumab dosing visits (ie, at weeks 4 and 12, weeks 12 and 20, etc through week 52) and patient‐level durability of response through week 100 (Kaplan‐Meier) were determined. Results Among 248 patients randomized to guselkumab Q8W, 93% to 99% maintained clinical improvement in joint disease at consecutive Q8W dosing visits through week 52 across time periods. Among guselkumab patients achieving MCII by week 24, estimated probabilities of maintenance of clinical improvement 100 weeks post achievement ranged from 68% (IGA 0/1) to 89% (PASDAS MCII). Median times to loss of improvement were not reached; estimated mean weeks of maintenance of improvement were 58.6, 52.4, 75.7, 83.6, and 76.7, respectively, for DAPSA, cDAPSA, IGA, PtGA Arthritis+Psoriasis, and PASDAS. Conclusion Guselkumab provided highly durable patient‐level improvements, both at consecutive Q8W dosing visits for joint disease activity and over time across PsA domains according to physician‐ and patient‐driven assessments.

Objective We explored the relationship between achievement of clinical disease control and improvements in and normative values for patient‐reported outcomes (PROs), including quality of life (QoL) measures, in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods This was a post hoc analysis of 104‐week data from the SELECT‐PsA 1 and 2 trials in adults with PsA and inadequate response to one or more conventional synthetic (SELECT‐PsA 1) or biologic (SELECT‐PsA 2) disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug. Patients were initially randomized to upadacitinib 15 mg once daily (QD) to placebo switched to upadacitinib 15 mg QD at week 24 or to adalimumab 40 mg every other week (SELECT‐PsA 1 only), and data were pooled across treatments and analyzed. We evaluated several clinical disease control measures (minimal disease activity [MDA]; very low disease activity [VLDA]; and low disease activity [LDA] and/or remission by Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis [DAPSA], Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score [PASDAS], and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 [RAPID3]) and examined their associations with improvements and normative values for various PROs. Results A total of 1,069 and 317 patients were analyzed for SELECT‐PsA 1 and 2, respectively. In both studies, responders (patients who achieved MDA or VLDA, and DAPSA, PASDAS, and RAPID3 LDA or remission) at week 104 achieved more marked changes from baseline, and more responders achieved normative values in PROs compared with nonresponders (most nominal P < 0.0001). Furthermore, numerically larger proportions of responders achieved minimal clinically important differences across PROs compared with nonresponders in both studies. In addition, patients who achieved MDA or VLDA were more likely to achieve DAPSA, PASDAS, and RAPID3 LDA or remission (all nominal P < 0.0001) for upadacitinib 15 mg QD and when treatment arms were pooled. Conclusion Patients with PsA who achieve clinical disease control are more likely to achieve improvements and normative values in PROs and QoL measures, which reinforces disease control as a treatment target.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess 52‐week efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with or without concomitant methotrexate (+/−MTX) treatment at baseline. Methods We conducted a post hoc analysis of patients in BE OPTIMAL (NCT03895203; biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug [bDMARD]‐naïve), BE COMPLETE (NCT03896581; prior inadequate response or intolerance to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors [TNFi‐IR]), and the BE VITAL open‐label extension (NCT04009499) study. Patients were randomized to one of the following treatment groups: bimekizumab 160 mg every four weeks, placebo, or a reference drug (adalimumab 40 mg every two weeks; BE OPTIMAL only). From Week 16, placebo‐randomized patients received bimekizumab. Missing data were imputed using non‐responder imputation, multiple imputation, or worst‐category imputation. Results Through Week 52, similar proportions of bimekizumab‐treated patients achieved American College of Rheumatology 50% (ACR50) response criteria for both +MTX and −MTX (BE OPTIMAL: 54.4% +MTX, 54.7% −MTX; BE COMPLETE: 56.3% +MTX, 48.0% −MTX). Similar proportions of bimekizumab‐treated patients achieved complete skin clearance (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 100% [PASI100] response) and minimal disease activity in both +MTX and −MTX groups. Similar trends were seen in placebo/bimekizumab‐treated patients. Through Week 52, the proportion of bimekizumab‐treated patients with ≥1 treatment‐emergent adverse event were similar between the +MTX and −MTX groups (BE OPTIMAL 325 of 410 [79.3%] vs 230 of 292 [78.8%], BE COMPLETE 105 of 168 [62.5%] vs 138 of 220 [62.7%]). The safety profile was comparable between subgroups and consistent with the prior safety profile of bimekizumab. Conclusion Treatment with bimekizumab demonstrated consistent, sustained efficacy to 52 weeks in bDMARD‐naïve and TNFi‐IR patients with PsA and was well tolerated, irrespective of concomitant MTX.

Infection, autoimmunity, and cancer are the principal human health challenges of the 21st century and major contributors to human death and disease. Often regarded as distinct ends of the immunological spectrum, recent studies have hinted there may be more overlap between these diseases than appears. For example, pathogenic inflammation has been demonstrated as conserved between infection and autoimmune settings. T resident memory (TRM) cells have been highlighted as beneficial for infection and cancer. However, these findings are limited by patient number and disease scope; exact immunological factors shared across disease remain elusive. Here, we integrate large-scale deeply clinically and biologically phenotyped human cohorts of 526 patients with infection, 162 with lupus, and 11,180 with cancer. We identify an NKG2A+ immune bias as associative with protection against disease severity, mortality, and autoimmune and post-acute chronic disease. We reveal that NKG2A+ CD8+ T cells correlate with reduced inflammation, increased humoral immunity, and resemble TRM cells. Our results suggest that an NKG2A+ bias is a pan-disease immunological factor of protection and thus supports recent suggestions that there is immunological overlap between infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. Our findings underscore the promotion of an NKG2A+ biased response as a putative therapeutic strategy.

Abstract Introduction There are limited data on the use of advanced therapies to treat psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in Russia. Guselkumab, an interleukin (IL)-23p19-subunit inhibitor, demonstrated efficacy in patients with PsA in the phase 3 DISCOVER-1 and -2, and COSMOS trials. This analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of guselkumab in patients with PsA in Russia. Methods This post hoc analysis of DISCOVER-1 and -2 included 1002 biologic-naïve patients with active PsA from Russia (n = 317) and the rest of the world (RoW; n = 685). Patients received guselkumab 100 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W), or at week 0 and 4 then Q8W, or placebo then guselkumab Q4W at week 24 (Russian: n = 119, 88, and 110, respectively; RoW: n = 216, 246, and 223, respectively). Outcomes through week 52 were pooled (DISCOVER-1 and -2); outcomes from week 52 to 100 represent DISCOVER-2 only. Results In patients from Russia, ≥ 20% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR20) criteria response rates were higher with guselkumab vs. placebo at week 24, increased through week 52, and were consistent across all guselkumab-treated groups at week 100. Similar trends were generally observed for ACR50, ≥ 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI90), achievement of Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) low disease activity/remission and minimal disease activity, enthesitis and dactylitis resolution, ≥ 0.35 improvement in Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score, improvement in patient-reported pain, and measures in patients with axial PsA (including Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI], Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score [ASDAS], and patient-reported spinal pain). Efficacy responses were similar between patients from Russia and the RoW across all endpoints and timepoints. The safety profile of guselkumab in patients from Russia was consistent with previous findings. Conclusion This analysis demonstrated that the safety and efficacy profiles of guselkumab across all PsA domains and patient-reported outcomes in patients from Russia were similar to those in patients from the RoW. Trial Registration Numbers NCT03162796 and NCT03158285.

Abstract Introduction Patients with psoriasis (PSO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) may frequently switch biologic therapies over the course of treatment because of symptom variability and individual responses. Real-world studies analyzing patient characteristics and clinical factors associated with biologic switching are limited. Methods This longitudinal cohort study used real-world data from the CorEvitas Psoriasis Registry to evaluate the relationship between associated disease factors and biologic switching among patients with PSO and PsA in the United States (US) and Canada following initiation of a biologic. Patients were evaluated between April 2015–August 2022. Combinations of disease severity (as measured by Psoriasis Area Severity Index [PASI]) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) as a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed, and the association with time to switching was calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression modeling. Results Among 2580 patient-initiations (instances of patients initiating a biologic), 504 (19.5%) switched biologics within 30 months of initiation. Switching was more frequent when either PASI > 10 or DLQI > 5 compared with PASI ≤ 10 or DLQI ≤ 5 at follow-up. Patients with higher skin involvement (PASI > 10) and impact on HRQoL (DLQI > 5) were 14 times more likely to switch (hazard ratio = 14.2, 95% confidence interval: 10.7, 18.9) than those with lower skin involvement (PASI ≤ 10) and HRQoL (DLQI ≤ 5). Conclusions Patients with PSO and PsA treated in a real-world dermatology setting with substantial disease factors following biologic initiation were more likely to switch therapies. Those with PASI > 10 and DLQI > 5 switched more frequently than those with PASI ≤ 10 and DLQI ≤ 5.

Abstract Introduction Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease requiring long-term treatment. Bimekizumab, a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin (IL)-17F in addition to IL-17A, has demonstrated tolerability and sustained clinical efficacy for up to 1 year for patients with PsA. Here, we report the longer-‍term safety and efficacy of bimekizumab up to 2 years. Methods BE OPTIMAL (biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug [bDMARD]-naïve) and BE COMPLETE (prior inadequate response/intolerance to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors [TNFi-IR]) assessed subcutaneous bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks in patients with PsA. BE OPTIMAL included a reference arm (adalimumab 40 mg every 2 weeks); patients switched to bimekizumab at week 52 with no washout between treatments. BE OPTIMAL week 52 and BE COMPLETE week 16 completers were eligible for the BE VITAL open-label extension. Efficacy outcomes are reported to week 104/100 (BE OPTIMAL/BE COMPLETE). Results A total of 710/852 (83.3%) bDMARD-naïve and 322/400 (80.5%) TNFi-IR patients completed week 104/100. Up to 104 weeks, patients treated with bimekizumab in BE OPTIMAL and BE COMPLETE had treatment-emergent adverse event incidence rates (exposure-adjusted incidence rate/100 patient-years) of 179.9 (95% CI 166.9, 193.7) and 100.3 (89.2, ‍112.4), respectively. The proportion of patients achieving efficacy outcomes (≥ 50% improvement from baseline in American College of Rheumatology [ACR] response criteria, 100% improvement from baseline in Psorisis Area and Severity Index [PASI], minimal disease activity [MDA]) was sustained in all patients from week 52 to week 104/100. Conclusions Bimekizumab was well tolerated for up to 2 years of treatment and no new safety signals were observed. Sustained clinical efficacy was observed up to 2 years in bDMARD-naïve and TNFi-IR patients with active PsA. Patients switching from adalimumab to bimekizumab demonstrated further improvement in skin and nail symptoms, and sustained efficacy in joint symptoms. Trial Registration BE OPTIMAL (NCT03895203), BE COMPLETE (NCT03896581), BE VITAL (NCT04009499).

Abstract Introduction A matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) was conducted to assess the relative efficacy at 52 weeks (Wk52) of bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) and ustekinumab 45 or 90 mg every 12 weeks (Q12W) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who were biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug naïve (bDMARD naïve) or who had a previous inadequate response or an intolerance to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi-IR). Methods Relevant trials were systematically identified. Individual patient data from the bimekizumab trials BE OPTIMAL (NCT03895203; N = 431) and BE COMPLETE (NCT03896581; N = 267) were matched with summary data on patients receiving ustekinumab in the PSUMMIT 1 trial (NCT01009086; 45 mg, N = 205; 90 mg; N = 204) and a subgroup of TNFi-IR patients receiving ustekinumab in the PSUMMIT 2 trial (NCT01077362; 45 mg, N = 60; 90 mg, N = 58), respectively. Patients from the bimekizumab trials were re-weighted using propensity scores to match the baseline characteristics of the ustekinumab trial patients. Adjustment variables were selected based on expert consensus (n = 5) and adherence to established MAIC guidelines. Non-placebo-adjusted comparisons of recalculated bimekizumab and ustekinumab outcomes for the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20/50/70 response criteria (non-responder imputation) were analyzed. Results In patients who were bDMARD naïve, bimekizumab had a greater likelihood of response than ustekinumab at Wk52 for ACR20 (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 45 mg: 2.14 [1.35, 3.40]; 90 mg: 1.98 [1.24, 3.16]), ACR50 (45 mg: 2.74 [1.75, 4.29]; 90 mg: 2.29 [1.48, 3.55]), and ACR70 (45 mg: 3.33 [2.04, 5.46]; 90 mg: 3.05 [1.89, 4.91]). In patients who were TNFi-IR, bimekizumab had a greater likelihood of response than ustekinumab at Wk52 for ACR20 (45 mg: 4.17 [2.13, 8.16]; 90 mg: 4.19 [2.07, 8.49]), ACR50 (45 mg: 5.00 [2.26, 11.05]; 90 mg: 3.86 [1.70, 8.79]), and ACR70 (45 mg: 9.85 [2.79, 34.79]; 90 mg: 6.29 [1.98, 20.04]). Conclusions Using MAIC, bimekizumab showed greater efficacy than ustekinumab in achieving all ACR responses in patients with PsA who were bDMARD naïve and TNFi-IR at Wk52. Trial Registration NCT03895203, NCT03896581, NCT01009086, NCT01077362.

Abstract Introduction The relative efficacy of bimekizumab and risankizumab in patients with PsA who were biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug naïve (bDMARD naïve) or with previous inadequate response or intolerance to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi-IR) was assessed at 52 weeks (Wk52) using matching-adjusted indirect comparisons (MAIC). Methods Relevant trials were systematically identified. For patients who were bDMARD naïve, individual patient data (IPD) from BE OPTIMAL (NCT03895203; N = 431) were matched with summary data from KEEPsAKE-1 (NCT03675308; N = 483). For patients who were TNFi-IR, IPD from BE COMPLETE (NCT03896581; N = 267) were matched with summary data from the TNFi-IR patient subgroup in KEEPsAKE-2 (NCT03671148; N = 106). To adjust for cross-trial differences, patients from the bimekizumab trials were re-weighted to match the baseline characteristics of patients in the risankizumab trials. Adjustment variables were selected based on expert consensus (n = 5) and adherence to established MAIC guidelines. Recalculated bimekizumab Wk52 outcomes for American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20/50/70 response criteria and minimal disease activity (MDA) index (non-responder imputation) were compared with risankizumab outcomes via non-placebo-adjusted comparisons. Results In patients who were bDMARD naïve, bimekizumab had a significantly greater likelihood of response than risankizumab at Wk52 for ACR50 (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.52 [1.11, 2.09]) and ACR70 (1.80 [1.29, 2.51]). In patients who were TNFi-IR, bimekizumab had a significantly greater likelihood of response than risankizumab at Wk52 for ACR20 (1.78 [1.08, 2.96]), ACR50 (3.05 [1.74, 5.32]), ACR70 (3.69 [1.82, 7.46]), and MDA (2.43 [1.37, 4.32]). Conclusions Using MAIC, bimekizumab demonstrated a greater likelihood of efficacy in most ACR and MDA outcomes than risankizumab in patients with PsA who were bDMARD naïve and TNFi-IR at Wk52. Trial Registration NCT03895203, NCT03896581, NCT03675308, NCT03671148.

Abstract Background Treatment persistence among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is essential for achieving optimal treatment outcomes. Guselkumab, a fully human interleukin-23p19-subunit inhibitor, was approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of active PsA in July 2020, with a dosing regimen of 100 mg at week 0, week 4, then every 8 weeks. In the Phase 3 DISCOVER-1 and DISCOVER-2 studies of patients with active PsA, 94% of guselkumab-randomized patients completed treatment through 1 year and 90% did so through 2 years (DISCOVER-2). Real-world evidence is needed to compare treatment persistence while following US prescribing guidelines (i.e., on-label persistence) for guselkumab versus subcutaneous (SC) tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis). Methods Adults with PsA receiving guselkumab or their first SC TNFi (i.e., adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, or golimumab) between 14 July 2020 and 31 March 2022 were identified in the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus database (first claim defined the treatment start date [index date]). Baseline characteristics and biologic use (biologic-naïve/biologic-experienced) were assessed during the 12-month period preceding the index date. Baseline characteristics were balanced between cohorts using propensity-score weighting based on the standardized mortality ratio approach. The follow-up period spanned from the index date until the earlier of the end of continuous insurance eligibility or end of data availability. On-label persistence, defined as the absence of treatment discontinuation (based on a gap of 112 days for guselkumab or 56 days for SC TNFi) or any dose escalation/reduction during follow-up, was assessed in the weighted treatment cohorts using Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves. A Cox proportional hazards model, further adjusted for baseline biologic use, was used to compare on-label persistence between the weighted cohorts. Results The guselkumab cohort included 526 patients (mean age 49.8 years; 61.2% female) and the SC TNFi cohort included 1953 patients (mean age: 48.5 years; 60.2% female). After weighting, baseline characteristics were well balanced with a mean follow-up of 12.3–12.4 months across cohorts; 51.5% of patients in the guselkumab cohort and 16.7% in the SC TNFi cohort received biologics in the 12-month baseline period. Respective rates of treatment persistence at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were 91.2%, 84.1%, 75.9%, and 71.5% for the guselkumab cohort versus 77.3%, 61.6%, 50.0%, and 43.7% for the SC TNFi cohort (all log-rank p

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain and fatigue, reduces physical function, and negatively impacts health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In the phase III BE OPTIMAL and BE COMPLETE studies, bimekizumab demonstrated clinical efficacy and meaningful improvements in patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures in biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD)-naïve patients, and those who had prior inadequate response/intolerance to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi-IR). Objectives: To examine the association between achieving increasingly stringent clinical disease control criteria and improvements in PRO measures in patients with active PsA receiving bimekizumab. Design: Post hoc analysis of two phase III studies. Methods: BE OPTIMAL and BE COMPLETE assessed subcutaneous bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks in bDMARD-naïve and TNFi-IR patients with active PsA. Disease control was assessed using American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response criteria, Minimal Disease Activity, Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis, and the composite outcome of ACR50 and 100% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. Associations between clinical disease control criteria and PRO measures of pain, fatigue, physical function, and HRQoL were assessed at week 16 and week 52/40 (BE OPTIMAL/BE COMPLETE). Results: Achievement of increasingly stringent clinical disease control criteria was generally associated with sequentially greater improvements in all PRO measures, including pain. At week 52/40, 94.7% of bDMARD-naïve and 97.6% of TNFi-IR patients achieving ACR70 reported ⩾50% improvements in pain from baseline, and the greatest numerical improvements (−48.5 bDMARD-naïve; −54.7 TNFi-IR). This pattern was evident as early as week 16 and sustained when assessed at week 52/40 across the majority of clinical disease control criteria and PRO measures reported. Conclusion: The achievement of increasingly stringent thresholds of disease control was associated with corresponding greater improvements in PROs, for patients receiving bimekizumab treatment, irrespective of prior TNFi use. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03895203, NCT03896581, and NCT04009499.

Abstract Background Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) are frequently chosen as the first biologic for patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Given that many patients with PsA are TNFi inadequate responders (TNF-IR; either inadequate efficacy or intolerance), treatments utilizing alternative mechanisms of action are needed. In phase 3 studies, the fully human interleukin (IL)-23p19 subunit-inhibitor, guselkumab, was efficacious in patients with active PsA, including TNFi-IR. Efficacy was generally consistent between TNFi-naïve and TNFi-experienced cohorts; however, in the latter, higher response rates have been observed with the Q4W dosing regimen relative to the Q8W dosing regimen for some endpoints, suggesting the need to evaluate whether more frequent dosing may provide an incremental clinical benefit for TNFi-IR patients. Methods The phase 3b SOLSTICE study will assess guselkumab efficacy and safety in TNFi-IR PsA patients. Eligibility criteria include a PsA diagnosis for ≥ 6 months; active disease (≥ 3 swollen, ≥ 3 tender joints, C-reactive protein ≥ 0.3 mg/dL); and inadequate efficacy with, and/or intolerance to, one prior TNFi. Participants will be randomized 1:1:1 to guselkumab Q4W or Q8W or placebo→guselkumab Q4W (at Week 24). The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients achieving ≥ 20% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20) at Week 24. Major secondary endpoints include ACR50, ACR70; an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) of psoriasis score of 0/1 plus ≥ 2-grade reduction and ≥ 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (both among patients with ≥ 3% body surface area affected by psoriasis and baseline IGA ≥ 2); minimal/very low disease activity; and changes from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scores. The target sample size (N = 450) is estimated to provide > 90% power in detecting differences between each guselkumab group and the placebo group for the primary endpoint assuming a 2-sided α = 0.05. Cochran-Mantel–Haenszel testing and analyses of covariance will be used to compare efficacy for binary and continuous endpoints, respectively. Discussion Findings from the phase 3b SOLSTICE study, the design of which was informed by results from previously conducted phase 3 studies, is expected to provide important efficacy and safety information on guselkumab therapy in TNFi-IR patients with PsA. Trial registration This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04936308, on 23 June 2021.

Objective Evaluate patient‐reported outcomes after 6 months of on‐label guselkumab use in patients with rheumatologist‐diagnosed active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) enrolled in the CorEvitas PsA/Spondyloarthritis Registry. Methods This analysis includes registry participants who initiated and persisted with on‐label guselkumab (after US Food and Drug Administration approval for PsA; 100 mg at weeks 0, 4, and every 8 weeks) at their 6‐month follow‐up visit (On‐Label Persisters). Among patients not meeting response criteria at baseline, responses at 6 months were determined for patient‐reported outcomes, including patient‐reported pain (0–100 mm visual analog scale), patient global assessment of arthritis + psoriasis (PtGA; 0–100 visual analog scale), and Health Assessment Questionnaire‐Disability Index (HAQ‐DI; 0‐3). Unadjusted, nominal P values were calculated via single‐proportion, one‐sided test (H0 = 0%; α = 0.05). Results Of 90 On‐Label Persisters, most had treatment‐resistant PsA (92.2% and 73.3% previously received ≥1 and ≥2 biologic/targeted synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs, respectively), with mean (SD) baseline patient‐reported pain, PtGA, and HAQ‐DI scores of 57.0 (24.6), 50.3 (24.4), and 0.9 (0.6), respectively. Among those with patient‐reported pain and PtGA scores of at least 15 at baseline, 40.2% (33/82) and 46.8% (36/77), respectively, achieved at least 15‐mm reductions at 6 months; among those with HAQ‐DI scores of at least 0.35 and more than 0.5 at baseline, respectively, 30.4% (21/69) achieved improvements of at least 0.35 and 10.3% (6/58) achieved scores of 0.5 or lower at 6 months (all nominal P

Abstract Introduction The objective of this analysis is to evaluate the improvement in spinal pain with ixekizumab, placebo, and adalimumab based on objective measures of inflammation response in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods The COAST-V 52-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized phase III trial examined the efficacy of ixekizumab in patients with active AS; adalimumab was used as an active reference arm. Treatment effects on reduction in pain were assessed by objective measures of controlled and persisting inflammation (defined by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], C-reactive protein [CRP], or MRI + CRP status). Pathway analysis was used to analyze treatment effect that was not attributable to reduction in inflammation biomarkers. Results In patients with AS, when inflammation was controlled as assessed by MRI, patients treated with ixekizumab experienced a reduction in spinal pain at night (SP-N, numeric rating scale, ixekizumab mean = − 3.9, p

Knowledge graphs have become a common approach for knowledge representation. Yet, the application of graph methodology is elusive due to the sheer number and complexity of knowledge sources. In addition, semantic incompatibilities hinder efforts to harmonize and integrate across these diverse sources. As part of The Biomedical Translator Consortium, we have developed a knowledge graph-based question-answering system designed to augment human reasoning and accelerate translational scientific discovery: the Translator system. We have applied the Translator system to answer biomedical questions in the context of a broad array of diseases and syndromes, including Fanconi anemia, primary ciliary dyskinesia, multiple sclerosis, and others. A variety of collaborative approaches have been used to research and develop the Translator system. One recent approach involved the establishment of a monthly "Question-of-the-Month (QotM) Challenge" series. Herein, we describe the structure of the QotM Challenge; the six challenges that have been conducted to date on drug-induced liver injury, cannabidiol toxicity, coronavirus infection, diabetes, psoriatic arthritis, and ATP1A3-related phenotypes; the scientific insights that have been gleaned during the challenges; and the technical issues that were identified over the course of the challenges and that can now be addressed to foster further development of the prototype Translator system. We close with a discussion on Large Language Models such as ChatGPT and highlight differences between those models and the Translator system.

Objectives To assess impact of bimekizumab treatment on patient-reported outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), using 16-week data from two phase 3 studies.Methods BE OPTIMAL (NCT03895203; biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD)-naïve) and BE COMPLETE (NCT03896581; tumour necrosis factor inhibitor inadequate response/intolerance (TNFi-IR)) are phase 3 studies of subcutaneous bimekizumab 160 mg Q4W; both were double-blind and placebo-controlled to 16 weeks. Patients were randomised 3:2:1 to bimekizumab, placebo or reference (subcutaneous adalimumab 40 mg Q2W) in BE OPTIMAL; 2:1 to bimekizumab or placebo in BE COMPLETE. Patient-reported outcomes for pain, fatigue, physical function and HRQoL are reported to week 16 using pooled and individual study data for bimekizumab and placebo patients.Results 1073/1112 (96.5%) patients completed week 16 (bimekizumab:‍ 677/698 [97.0%]; placebo: 396/414 [95.7%]). Bimekizumab-treated patients achieved rapid improvements vs placebo in pain, fatigue, physical function and HRQoL by week 4, after a single dose. Improvements continued to week 16 for all patient-reported outcomes, including Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS; mean (95% CI) change from baseline: bimekizumab: –‍25.2 [–27.2, –23.1]; placebo:‍ –‍5.7 [–8.2, –3.3]) and FACIT-Fatigue (bimekizumab: 4.5 [3.9, 5.1]; placebo: 1.1 [0.3, 2.0]); both nominal p

Abstract Introduction Matching-adjusted indirect comparisons (MAICs) were used to compare the efficacy of bimekizumab and secukinumab 150 mg and 300 mg at 52 weeks for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients who were biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug-naïve (bDMARD-naïve) or with previous inadequate response or intolerance to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi-IR). Methods Relevant trials were systematically identified. Individual patient data from bimekizumab randomized controlled trials, BE OPTIMAL (N = 431) and BE COMPLETE (N = 267), were matched to aggregate data from bDMARD-naïve and TNFi-IR patient subgroups from FUTURE 2 using secukinumab 150 mg and 300 mg doses (bDMARD-naïve: N = 63/37; TNFi-IR: N = 67/33). To adjust for cross-trial differences, patients from the bimekizumab trials were re-weighted using propensity scores to match the baseline characteristics of patients in the secukinumab trials. Unanchored comparisons of recalculated bimekizumab and secukinumab 52-week non-responder imputation outcomes for 20/50/70% improvement in American College of Rheumatology score (ACR20/50/70) and minimal disease activity (MDA) index were analyzed. Results In patients who were bDMARD-naïve, bimekizumab had a greater likelihood of ACR70 response than secukinumab 150 mg (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 2.39 [1.26, 4.53]; p = 0.008) and secukinumab 300 mg (2.03 [1.11, 3.72]; p = 0.021) at 52 weeks. In patients who were TNFi-IR, bimekizumab had a greater likelihood of response compared to secukinumab 150 mg for ACR20 (3.50 [1.64–7.49]; p = 0.001), ACR50 (3.32 [1.41, 7.80]; p = 0.006), ACR70 (2.95 [1.08, 8.07]; p = 0.035) and MDA (3.52 [1.38, 8.99]; p = 0.009), and a greater likelihood of response compared to secukinumab 300 mg for ACR50 (2.44 [1.06, 5.65]; p = 0.037) and MDA (2.92 [1.20, 7.09]; p = 0.018) at 52 weeks. Conclusion In this MAIC analysis, the efficacy of bimekizumab, as demonstrated by the likelihood of ACR20/50/70 and MDA response at 52 weeks, was greater or comparable to secukinumab 150 mg and 300 mg for patients with PsA who were bDMARD-naïve and TNFi-IR. Trial Registration Numbers NCT03895203, NCT03896581, NCT04009499, NCT01752634, NCT01989468, NCT02294227, NCT02404350.

Abstract Introduction Matching-adjusted indirect comparisons (MAIC) were used to assess the relative efficacy of bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) compared to guselkumab 100 mg Q4W or every 8 weeks (Q8W) at 48/52 weeks in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who were biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-naïve (bDMARD-naïve) or with previous inadequate response or intolerance to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi-IR). Methods Relevant trials were identified as part of a systematic literature review. For patients who were bDMARD-naïve, individual patient data (IPD) from BE OPTIMAL (N = 431) was matched to summary data from DISCOVER-2 (Q4W, n = 245; Q8W, n = 248). For patients who were TNFi-IR, IPD from BE COMPLETE (n = 267) and summary data from COSMOS (Q8W, N = 189). Trial populations were re-weighted using propensity scores. Unanchored comparisons of recalculated bimekizumab and guselkumab 48- or 52-week non-responder imputation outcomes for 20/50/70% improvement in American College of Rheumatology score (ACR20/50/70) and minimal disease activity (MDA) index were analyzed. Results In patients who were bDMARD-naïve, bimekizumab was associated with a greater likelihood of ACR50 (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.62 [1.07, 2.44]; p = 0.021), ACR70 (2.20 [1.43, 3.38]; p

Abstract Introduction Secukinumab is an anti-interleukin (IL)-17A monoclonal antibody indicated for multiple immunological disorders. Here, we aim to summarize secukinumab safety in clinical trials (CTs) and post-marketing setting (PMS) until 25 June 2022. Methods Adverse events (AEs) were summarized with crude reporting rate (RR) per 100 patient-years (PY) in PMS for all reported indications and with exposure-adjusted incident rates (EAIR) per 100 PY in pooled 47 CTs for approved indications. Results Secukinumab exposure totaled 1,159,260 PY in PMS and 27,765 PY in CTs. AEs were mostly (> 80%) non-serious in PMS. EAIR for serious AEs was 7.0/100 PY. Nasopharyngitis (RR 0.59/100 PY, EAIR 16.08/100 PY) and pneumonia (RR 0.14/100 PY, EAIR 0.17/100 PY) were the most common infection and serious infection, respectively. Candida infections (RR 0.20/100 PY, EAIR 2.16/100 PY) were the most common fungal infections. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was observed in PMS (0.14/100 PY) and CTs (0.26/100 PY). Most (76%) patients with prior IBD did not report IBD flare during CTs. PMS monitoring identified paradoxical skin reactions including dyshidrotic eczema (RR 0.006/100 PY) and pyoderma gangrenosum (RR 0.003/100 PY). Conclusion Secukinumab safety profile with increased patient exposure remained favorable. Paradoxical skin reactions were identified in post-marketing monitoring.

Abstract Introduction To evaluate the effect of guselkumab on work productivity and nonwork daily activity impairment and general health status through 2 years in patients who were biologic-naïve with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the phase 3 DISCOVER-2 clinical trial. Methods Adult patients with PsA were randomized to subcutaneous injections of guselkumab 100 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W); at weeks 0, 4, then every 8 weeks (Q8W); or placebo (through week 24 with crossover to guselkumab Q4W). Work productivity and nonwork daily activity impairment were assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire for PsA (WPAI-PsA) and patient-reported general health status using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) Index and EQ-Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS). Least-squares (LS) mean changes from baseline in WPAI-PsA domains and EQ-5D-5L/EQ-VAS were assessed through week 100. Changes in employment status were utilized to estimate potential indirect savings from improved work productivity. Results Of 739 randomized patients, 738 had available baseline data for the analyses (Q4W 245; Q8W 248; placebo 245). At week 24, greater improvements in work productivity, nonwork daily activity, and EQ-5D-5L/EQ-VAS were observed in the Q4W and Q8W groups versus the placebo group. At week 100, LS mean reductions in work productivity impairment (− 23.8% to − 28.0%) and nonwork daily activity impairment (– 26.6% to − 29.2%) and improvements in EQ-5D-5L/EQ-VAS (0.14 to 0.15/21.2 to 25.0) were maintained in patients receiving guselkumab. Among patients employed at baseline, 12.1–16.4% were not employed at week 100, and 20.0–25.3% shifted from not employed at baseline to employed at week 100. Potential yearly indirect cost savings (USD) from improved work productivity at week 100 ranged from $16,529 to $19,409. Conclusion Patients with active PsA treated with guselkumab demonstrated reduced impairment in work productivity and nonwork daily activity, together with improvement in general health status and substantial potential cost savings, over a 2-year period. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03158285.

Abstract Background The Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) Priority Review Voucher (PRV) Program was enacted in 2012 to support the development of new products for children. Prior to requesting a voucher, applicants can request RPD designation, which confirms their product treats or prevents a rare disease in which the serious manifestations primarily affect children. This study describes the trends and characteristics of these designations. Details of RPD designations are not publicly disclosable; this research represents the first analysis of the RPD designation component of the program. Results We used an internal US Food and Drug Administration database to analyze all RPD designations between 2013 and 2022. Multiple characteristics were analyzed, including the diseases targeted by RPD designation, whether the product targeted a neonatal disease, product type (drug/biologic), and the level of evidence (preclinical/clinical) to support designation. There were 569 RPD designations during the study period. The top therapeutic areas were neurology (26%, n = 149), metabolism (23%, n = 131), oncology (18%, n = 105). The top diseases targeted by RPD designation were Duchenne muscular dystrophy, neuroblastoma, and sickle cell disease. Neonatology products represented 6% (n = 33), over half were for drug products and 38% were supported by clinical data. Conclusions The RPD PRV program was created to encourage development of new products for children. The results of this study establish that a wide range of diseases have seen development—from rare pediatric cancers to rare genetic disorders. Continued support of product development for children with rare diseases is needed to find treatments for all children with unmet needs.