POS0928 NETAKIMAB EFFICACY IN ANTI-TNF-NAIVE AND ANTI-TNF-EXPERIENCED PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: RESULTS OF SUBANALYSIS OF PHASE 3 ASTERA TRIAL

Abstract

Background:According to previous studies, the effectiveness of interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitors was higher in anti-TNF-naïve patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) [1,2]. Netakimab (NTK) is a humanized anti-IL-17A antibody approved for the treatment of AS, psoriatic arthritis, moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Russia and Belarus.Objectives:To compare the efficacy of NTK in anti-TNF-naïve patients with anti-TNF-experienced patients with active AS at week 16 of therapy.Methods:ASTERA (NCT03447704) is an ongoing phase 3 placebo (PBO)-controlled clinical study, aimed at evaluating NTK efficacy in AS [3]. 228 adult patients with active AS (BASDAI ≥ 4) were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 120 mg NTK or PBO subcutaneously at week 0,1,2 and then q2w. This analysis includes 112 patients in NTK group. Efficacy endpoints included ASAS20/40, ASAS5/6 and ASAS partial remission (PR) at week 16 of therapy.Results:28 (25.0%) of 112 patients in NTK group had previous inadequate response/intolerance to anti-TNF (anti-TNF-IR): 24 (21.4%) – one anti-TNF, and 4 (3.6%) – two anti-TNF. 84 (75.0%) patients were TNF-naive. Achievement of ASAS criteria response at week 16 was similar in both groups (Table 1).Table 1.Efficacy of NTK at week 16ParameterTNF-naïve (n = 84)anti-TNF-IR (n = 28)p-value*ASAS20, n (%)52 (61.9%)17 (60.7%)0.91ASAS40, n (%)35 (41.7%)11 (39.3%)0.82ASAS5/6, n (%)39 (46.4%)11 (39.3%)0.51ASAS(PR), n (%)15 (17.9%) 4 (14.3%)0.78*- Fisher’s exact testConclusion:NTK 120 mg provided sustained improvements in signs and symptoms of AS in anti-TNF-naive and anti-TNF-IR patients at 16 weeks of therapy.