Felten R, Devauchelle-Pensec V, Seror R, Duffau P, Saadoun D, Hachulla E, Pierre Yves H, Salliot C, Perdriger A, Morel J, Mékinian A, Vittecoq O, Berthelot JM, Dernis E, Le Guern V, Dieudé P, Larroche C, Richez C, Martin T, Zarnitsky C, Blaison G, Kieffer P, Maurier F, Dellal A, Rist S, Andres E, Contis A, Chatelus E, Sordet C, Sibilia J, Arnold C, Tawk MY, Aberkane O, Holterbach L, Cacoub P, Saraux A, Mariette X, Meyer N, and Gottenberg JE
Objectives: No immunomodulatory drug has been approved for primary Sjögren's syndrome, a systemic autoimmune disease affecting 0.1% of the population. To demonstrate the efficacy of targeting interleukin 6 receptor in patients with Sjögren's syndrome-related systemic complications., Methods: Multicentre double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial between 24 July 2013 and 16 July 2018, with a follow-up of 44 weeks, involving 17 referral centres. Inclusion criteria were primary Sjögren's syndrome according to American European Consensus Group criteria and score ≥5 for the EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease activity Index (ESSDAI, score of systemic complications). Patients were randomised to receive either 6 monthly infusions of tocilizumab or placebo. The primary endpoint was response to treatment at week 24. Response to treatment was defined by the combination of (1) a decrease of at least 3 points in the ESSDAI, (2) no occurrence of moderate or severe activity in any new domain of the ESSDAI and (3) lack of worsening in physician's global assessment on a Visual Numeric Scale ≥1/10, all as compared with enrolment., Results: 110 patients were randomised, 55 patients to tocilizumab (mean (SD) age: 50.9 (12.4) years; women: 98.2%) and 55 patients to placebo (54.8 (10.7) years; 90.9%). At 24 weeks, the proportion of patients meeting the primary endpoint was 52.7% (29/55) in the tocilizumab group and 63.6% (35/55) in the placebo group, for a difference of -11.4% (95% credible interval -30.6 to 9.0) (Pr[Toc >Pla]=0.14)., Conclusion: Among patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, the use of tocilizumab did not improve systemic involvement and symptoms over 24 weeks of treatment compared with placebo., Trial Registration Number: NCT01782235., Competing Interests: Competing interests: J-EG received honoraries and research grants from BMS and Pfizer, and honoraries from CSL Behring, Lilly, Janssen, UCB, Roche. All other authors declare no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years, no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)