Efficacy and Safety of Sarilumab for the Treatment of Posterior Segment Noninfectious Uveitis (SARIL-NIU):: The Phase 2 SATURN Study

Abstract

To assess efficacy and safety of sarilumab, a human anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, for treatment of posterior segment noninfectious uveitis (NIU). Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study. Fifty-eight patients (eyes) with noninfectious intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis. Eyes received treatment every 2 weeks for 16 weeks with subcutaneous sarilumab 200 mg or placebo. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with ≥2-step reduction in vitreous haze (VH) on the Miami scale or with a reduction of systemic corticosteroids (prednisolone or equivalent) to a dose of <10 mg/day at week 16. Primary end point was based on VH evaluation by a central reading center. Investigator evaluation of VH was a prespecified, planned secondary analysis. At week 16, proportion of patients taking sarilumab or placebo with ≥2-step reduction in VH or corticosteroid dose <10 mg/day was 46.1% vs. 30.0% (P= 0.2354) based on central reading center assessment ofVH and 64.0% vs. 35.0% (P= 0.0372) based on investigator assessment of VH, respectively. In the subgroup of eyes with VH grade ≥2 at baseline, the mean VH reduction from baseline to week 16 was significantly greater with sarilumab vs. placebo regardless of assessment by the central reading center (-2.1 [n= 11] vs.-1.7 [n= 3], respectively; P= 0.0255) or investigator (-2.5 [n= 19] vs.-1.2 [n= 11], respectively; P= 0.0170). The mean best-corrected visual acuity gain from baseline to week 16 was greater with sarilumab vs. placebo in the overall population (8.9 vs. 3.6 letters, respectively; P= 0.0333) and in the subgroup of eyes with central subfield thickness (CST) ≥300 μm at baseline (12.2 [n= 13] vs. 2.1 [n= 7] letters, respectively; P= 0.0517). Corresponding changes in CST were-46.8 vs.+2.6 μm (P= 0.0683) in the overall population and-112.5 [n= 13] vs.-1.8 [n= 6] μm (P= 0.1317) in the subgroup of eyes with CST ≥300 μm at baseline, respectively. The most common ocular adverse events were worsening of uveitis (0 [placebo] and 3 [sarilumab] patients) and retinal infiltrates (1 [placebo] and 2 [sarilumab] patients). Subcutaneous sarilumab may provide clinical benefits in the management of NIU of the posterior segment, especially in eyes with uveitic macular edema.