Secukinumab Improves Signs, Symptoms, and Physical Function in Ankylosing Spondylitis

According to data made available at the annual meeting, secukinumab (SEC) 150 mg provides sustained improvement in signs, symptoms, and physical function for patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) through four years of treatment.

In this study, SEC, a fully human monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively targets interleukin-17A, also had a favorable safety profile, similar to previous reports.

Helena Marzo-Ortega, MD, of the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, and colleagues presented their research based on the longer-term results from the MEASURE 2 study. The researchers randomized 219 patients with AS patients to receive subcutaneous SEC 150 mg or 75 mg or placebo at baseline and at weeks one, two, and three, then every four weeks after week four. At week 16, placebo-treated patients were re‑randomized to receive SEC 150/75 mg. Eighty-five percent of the patients completed the study.

Assessments at week 208 included Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis Response Criteria (ASAS) 20 and 40, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary, and ASAS partial remission. The researchers reported that the outcome measures showed sustained improvements with SEC 150 mg across all endpoints through four years. Improvements were maintained regardless of prior exposure to anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. The researchers observed greater responses in patients who were naïve to anti-TNF therapy.