OPAL Broaden Research Articles

Efficacy of tofacitinib in psoriatic arthritis: literature review and case report

The article presents the results of a search in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases (meta-analyses, systematic reviews, clinical trials and case studies) evaluating the treatment of PsA with tofacitinib (TOFA). The review contains the most up-to-date information about the efficacy and safety of TOFA, a drug from the group of janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi), a brief description of the mechanism of action of TOFA is given, with mention of blocked signaling intracellular pathways. The spectrum of “key” clinical manifestations of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is described, in which the therapeutic potential of TOFA (peripheral arthritis, psoriasis, enthesitis and dactylitis) is most fully revealed. The results of the main randomized controlled trials (OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond), postmarketing trials, descriptive studies and clinical observations are considered, and the high efficacy of TOFA for the treatment of PsA patients who did not respond to therapy with synthetic disease-modifying drugs and/ or Tumor Necrosis Factor inhibitors (TNFi) is demonstrated. The results (and their interpretation) of studying the safety of long-term use of different doses of TOFA – 5 mg 2 times a day and 10 mg 2 times a day and retention (“survival”) are presented therapy, with an emphasis on adverse events of special interest (“large” cardiological events (MACE), oncologics, infections). The results of treatment with tofacitinib in patients with PsA according to the All-Russian register of patients are presented. The pronounced positive effect of TOFA on the parameters that are defined as “patient-reported outcome – PRO” is particularly emphasized: indicators of fatigue, self-assessment, patient’s assessment of his condition according to VAS, assessment by HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire), SF-36 (non-specific questionnaire for quality assessment patient’s life), etc. A clinical observation is presented that demonstrates a vivid therapeutic effect on arthritis, enteritis, dactylitis, clinical signs of spondylitis, sacroiliitis, as well as the skin process in a patient with active PsA.

Identifying and Quantifying the Role of Inflammation in Pain Reduction for Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis Treated With Tofacitinib: A Mediation Analysis.

IntroductionPain is a multidimensional factor and core domain of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). This analysis aimed to quantify the role of potential inflammation-associated outcomes on pain reduction in patients with PsA receiving tofacitinib, using mediation modeling.MethodsPooled data were from two phase 3 studies (OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond) of patients with active PsA treated with tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily or placebo. Mediation modeling was utilized to quantify the indirect effects (via Itch Severity Item [ISI], C-reactive protein [CRP] levels, swollen joint count [SJC], Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI], and enthesitis [using Leeds Enthesitis Index]) and direct effects (representing all other factors) of tofacitinib treatment on pain improvement.ResultsThe initial model showed that tofacitinib treatment affects pain, primarily indirectly, via ISI, CRP, SJC, PASI, and enthesitis (overall 84.0%; P = 0.0009), with 16.0% (P = 0.5274) attributable to the direct effect. The model was respecified to exclude SJC and PASI. Analysis of the final model revealed that 29.5% (P = 0.0579) of tofacitinib treatment effect on pain was attributable to the direct effect, and 70.5% (P < 0.0001) was attributable to the indirect effect. ISI, CRP, and enthesitis mediated 37.4% (P = 0.0002), 15.3% (P = 0.0107), and 17.8% (P = 0.0157) of the tofacitinib treatment effect on pain, respectively.ConclusionsThe majority of the effect of tofacitinib on pain was collectively mediated by itch, CRP, and enthesitis, with itch being the primary mediator of treatment effect.Trial Registration: NCT01877668, NCT01882439.Graphical PLS Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40744-022-00482-5.

Time to response for clinical and patient-reported outcomes in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with tofacitinib, adalimumab, or placebo

BackgroundThis study examined the time to clinically meaningful response in patients with active psoriatic arthritis treated with tofacitinib, adalimumab, or placebo switching to tofacitinib.MethodsData were from two phase 3 studies, OPAL Broaden (12 months) and OPAL Beyond (6 months). Patients received tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily (BID), adalimumab 40 mg once every 2 weeks (OPAL Broaden only), or placebo switching to tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg BID at month 3. Baseline to initial response time was according to pre-defined clinically meaningful criteria on Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI; ≥ 0.35-point improvement), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F; ≥ 4-point improvement), Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS; post-baseline score ≤ 3.2 and > 1.6-point improvement from baseline), and minimal disease activity (MDA; meeting at least 5 of 7 criteria) composite.ResultsIn OPAL Broaden, median time to initial HAQ-DI score response was 29, 53, and 30 days in patients treated with tofacitinib 5 mg BID, tofacitinib 10 mg BID, or adalimumab, compared with 162 and 112 days in patients treated with placebo switching to tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg BID at month 3, respectively. Across studies, median time to initial FACIT-F total score response was shorter in patients receiving tofacitinib 5 mg BID (31 days) vs other groups (84–92 days). Median time to initial response was approximately 11 (MDA)/6–9 months (PASDAS) in tofacitinib/adalimumab groups in OPAL Broaden.ConclusionThis analysis demonstrates tofacitinib’s efficacy on most patient-reported and clinical endpoints over time and shows a shorter time to initial, clinically meaningful response in patients receiving tofacitinib vs patients switching from placebo to tofacitinib.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01877668. Registered June 12, 2013. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01882439. Registered June 18, 2013.

Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib by background methotrexate dose in psoriatic arthritis: post hoc exploratory analysis from two phase III trials

ObjectiveAnalyze tofacitinib efficacy and safety by background methotrexate (MTX) dose in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).MethodsThis post hoc analysis pooled data from two phase III, double-blind trials (OPAL Broaden, NCT01877668; OPAL Beyond, NCT01882439) including patients receiving tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily (BID), or placebo, with stable MTX. Efficacy outcomes at month 3 stratified by MTX dose (≤ 15 month 3 stratified by MTX dose vs > 15 mg/week) were American College of Rheumatology (ACR)20/50/70, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI); Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)50/75; change from baseline in HAQ-DI; physician’s global assessment of PsA (PGA-PsA-visual analog scale [VAS]); patient’s global joint and skin assessment (PGJS-VAS), Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI); and Dactylitis Severity Score (DSS). Safety assessments included adverse events and laboratory parameters.ResultsFive hundred fifty-six patients received tofacitinib 5 mg BID (n = 186), 10 mg BID (n = 178), or placebo (n = 192), plus MTX (≤ 15 mg/week, n = 371; > 15 mg/week, n = 185). At month 3, tofacitinib efficacy was generally greater than placebo. Patients receiving tofacitinib 5 mg BID demonstrated greater numerical improvements in efficacy outcomes at month 3 with MTX > 15 mg/week vs MTX ≤ 15 mg/week; patients receiving tofacitinib 10 mg BID displayed the opposite. The safety profile was generally consistent between groups; headache was associated with MTX > 15 mg/week; decreased hemoglobin levels were observed in patients receiving tofacitinib 10 mg BID and MTX ≤ 15 mg/week.ConclusionEfficacy of tofacitinib was generally numerically greater than placebo, regardless of MTX dose. Tofacitinib 5 mg BID was generally more efficacious with MTX > 15 mg/week vs ≤ 15 mg/week; the opposite was observed for tofacitinib 10 mg BID. Headache was more frequent with MTX > 15 mg/week.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT01877668 (registration: June 14, 2013) and NCT01882439 (registration: June 20, 2013).Key Points• Methotrexate is widely used in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis; however, there are limited data on the impact of varying background methotrexate doses on the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors in patients with psoriatic arthritis.• This post hoc analysis assessed the impact of background methotrexate dose (≤ 15 or > 15 mg/week) on tofacitinib efficacy and safety in patients with psoriatic arthritis.• Results indicated that tofacitinib efficacy was generally numerically greater than placebo, regardless of methotrexate dose. Tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, in combination with a higher dose of background methotrexate, was more efficacious compared with a lower dose of background methotrexate; the opposite was observed for tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily.• Headache was more frequent with the higher methotrexate dose. Data should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample sizes.

AB0565 JAK INHIBITORS AND PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Background:Despite the therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has considerably expanded over the last thirty years, there is a huge necessity of finding effective drugs for this disease. JAK inhibitors (JAKi) are small molecules able to interfere with the JAK/STAT pathway, involved in the pathogenesis of PsA (1). Up to now Tofacitinib is the only JAKi approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of PsA but in the next few years the number of approved JAKi is expected to rise significantly.Objectives:To assess the efficacy and safety of different JAKi for the treatment of PsA.Methods:A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), by electronic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE database until October 2020. Studies were considered eligible if they met the following criteria: I) study was a RCT; II) only patients with PsA were included; III) JAKi was compared to placebo in addition to the standard of care. Two reviewers (FC and AZ) performed study selection, with disagreements solved by the opinion of an expert reviewer (AS). The outcomes were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Statistical heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic.Results:We identified 557 potentially relevant studies. A total of 554 studies were excluded based on title and/or abstract screening. Three RCTs for a total of 947 PsA patients treated with JAKi were included (2,3,4). Two were phase III studies on the efficacy and safety of Tofacitinib (OPAL Beyond and OPAL Broaden) and one was a phase II study on Filgotinib (Equator). All three studies were judged at low risk of bias according to Cochrane criteria (5). The primary efficacy outcome in all the studies was the number of patients who achieved the response rate of the American College of Rheumatology 20 score (ACR20). The outcomes evaluation was performed at 12 week for the Filgotinib trial and at 16 week for the Tofacitinib trials. We used for the main analyses the group of patients randomized to Tofacitinib 5 mg because this is the only dosage approved by the EMA for the treatment of PsA. JAKi showed a significantly higher ACR20 response rate compared to placebo (OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.76 - 7.09, I^2 = 74%). JAKi also showed a significantly higher ACR50 response rate (OR 3.36, 95% CI 2.22 - 5.09, I^2 = 0%), ACR70 response rate (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.67 - 4.76, I^2 = 20%), PsARC response rate (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.26 - 5.65, I^2 = 79%), PASI75 response rate (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.61 - 6.15, I^2 = 45%) compared to placebo. JAKi were also associated with significantly better HAQ-DI (mean difference -0.23 95% CI -0.31 - -0.14) and fatigue, measured with FACIT-F (mean difference 3.54 95% CI 2.13 - 4.94). JAKi compared to placebo were associated with a non-statistically significant different risk of serious adverse events (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.11 - 2.91, I^2 = 38%).Conclusion:This is the first published systematic review that performed a comprehensive and simultaneous evaluation of the efficacy and safety of JAKi for PsA in RCTs. Our analysis suggests a statistically significant benefit of JAKi, that appears to be effective and safe over placebo. The impact of these data on international clinical guidelines needs further investigation.

POS1025 TOFACITINIB TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS AND PROBABLE DEPRESSION AND/OR ANXIETY: A POST HOC ANALYSIS OF TWO PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIALS

Background:Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in patients (pts) with psoriatic arthritis (PsA),1 with inflammation a key pathogenic feature of depression in these pts.2 Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of PsA. It acts by modulating immune and inflammatory responses. The link between major depressive disorder/generalised anxiety disorder (MDD/GAD), inflammation and tofacitinib effectiveness has not been fully explored.Objectives:Analyse the prevalence of probable MDD/GAD in pts with PsA initiating tofacitinib treatment and the impact of baseline (BL) probable MDD/GAD status on tofacitinib efficacy in these pts.Methods:This was a post hoc analysis of data from pts who received tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily (BID), or placebo (PBO), pooled from two Phase 3 trials (12-month OPAL Broaden [NCT01877668];3 6-month OPAL Beyond [NCT01882439]4). Pts with BL probable MDD and/or GAD were identified by a Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) Mental Component Summary score (MCS) ≤38. Pt demographics/BL characteristics and outcomes were stratified by the presence (SF-36 MCS ≤38) or absence (SF-36 MCS &gt;38) of BL probable MDD/GAD. At Months (M)3/6/9/12, changes from BL in SF-36 MCS were evaluated, and efficacy assessed by the proportions of pts who achieved: Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) ≤3.2, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) improvement ≥0.35 and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) improvement ≥4. BL global pain was measured via visual analogue scale.Results:Of the 706 pts included in this analysis, BL probable MDD/GAD was identified in 46.2%, 44.9% and 46.2% of pts in the tofacitinib 5 mg BID (108/234), tofacitinib 10 mg BID (106/236) and PBO (109/236) groups, respectively. BL disease activity was similar across the three treatment groups, independent of probable MDD/GAD status (mean PASDAS: 6.1–6.4 in pts with vs 5.8–6.1 in pts without probable MDD/GAD). In the tofacitinib 5 mg BID group, mean BL scores for HAQ-DI (1.4 vs 1.0), FACIT-F total score (20.5 vs 32.4) and global pain (61.3 vs 51.5) indicated worse disability, fatigue and pain, respectively, for pts with vs without BL probable MDD/GAD. Similar findings were seen in the tofacitinib 10 mg BID and PBO groups. At M3, improvements from BL in SF-36 MCS in pts with probable MDD/GAD were numerically, but not significantly, greater with tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg BID vs PBO, and these changes were largely sustained to M12 (Figure 1a). At M3, numerically greater proportions of pts achieved improvements in PASDAS, HAQ-DI and FACIT-F with tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg BID vs PBO, regardless of BL probable MDD/GAD status (Figure 1b–d). Through M3–12, the proportions of pts who achieved PASDAS ≤3.2 with tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg BID were generally significantly greater in pts without vs with probable MDD/GAD (Figure 1b). At all timepoints, rates of improvement in HAQ-DI with tofacitinib 5 mg BID were numerically greater in pts with vs without probable MDD/GAD, whereas the opposite was true for tofacitinib 10 mg BID (Figure 1c). FACIT-F improvement rates with tofacitinib 10 mg BID were consistently numerically greater in pts with vs without probable MDD/GAD, while findings were mixed for tofacitinib 5 mg BID (Figure 1d).Conclusion:Around 46% of pts with PsA treated with tofacitinib had BL probable MDD/GAD (SF-36 MCS ≤38). Pts with BL probable MDD/GAD treated with tofacitinib had sustained changes in SF-36 MCS. Rates of clinical improvement with tofacitinib were generally greater in pts without vs with probable MDD/GAD, whereas findings for disability and fatigue improvements varied between tofacitinib doses. Further research is required to evaluate the relationship between PsA and depression, to improve treatment targets and the quality of life of pts with PsA.

Relationships between psoriatic arthritis composite measures of disease activity with patient-reported outcomes in phase 3 studies of tofacitinib

BackgroundIn psoriatic arthritis (PsA), further understanding of the relationships between clinical measures and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is needed. This post hoc analysis evaluated associations between minimal disease activity (MDA) as a continuous outcome (termed ScoreMDA) or Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) with selected PROs not included in the composite measures.MethodsData from two phase 3 studies of tofacitinib in PsA (OPAL Broaden [NCT01877668; N = 422]; OPAL Beyond [NCT01882439; N = 394]) were included. MDA (binary outcome) was defined as meeting ≥5/7 criteria. For ScoreMDA, each criterion was assigned a value (1 = true; 0 = false; score range, 0–7; scores ≥5 indicated MDA). For PASDAS (score range, 0–10), higher scores indicated worse disease activity. PROs analyzed included Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), Patient’s Assessment of Arthritis Pain visual analog scale (Pain VAS), and EuroQoL-Five Dimensions-Three Level Health Questionnaire visual analog scale (EQ-5D-3L VAS) and utility index. Relationships were evaluated using repeated measures regression models.ResultsSimilar, approximately linear relationships were confirmed between PASDAS or ScoreMDA and PROs in both studies. In OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond, a one-point difference in PASDAS was associated with clinically relevant differences in PROs, including EQ-5D-3L VAS (− 6.7 mm, − 6.9 mm), Pain VAS (9.9 mm, 10.7 mm), and FACIT-F (− 2.8, − 3.3). A one-point difference in ScoreMDA was associated with clinically relevant differences in PROs, including EQ-5D-3L VAS (5.0 mm, 5.5 mm) and FACIT-F (1.9, 2.7) in OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond, respectively.ConclusionsLinear associations between PASDAS or ScoreMDA and PROs provide interpretable and quantifiable metrics between composite clinical measures and PROs, highlighting the importance of these measures in understanding the relevance of treat-to-target goals in PsA.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01877668. Registered on June 12, 2013. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01882439. Registered on June 18, 2013

Efficacy of Tofacitinib in the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Review.

Therapeutic approaches for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) include non-pharmacologic therapies, symptomatic treatments, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, interleukin inhibitors, cytotoxic Tlymphocyte antigen4 immunoglobulin, and Janus kinase inhibitors. This systematic review aimed to provide complete and up-to-date information on efficacy of tofacitinib in the treatment of PsA, giving special attention to non-skin manifestations (peripheral arthritis, axial disease, enthesitis, and dactylitis). A search of studies published between January 2016 and June 2020 was carried out on PubMed and Google Scholar. The number of studies with tofacitinib in PsA is limited and most of them are post hoc analyses from OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond. Tofacitinib has been demonstrated to be efficacious for the treatment of all disease manifestations in PsA. Superior effectivity to placebo is achieved at the earliest time point evaluated, and maintained over time. Patients who switch from placebo to tofacitinib show the same improvements; however, the time to initial response is faster in patients who firstly receive tofacitinib, compared with those switching subsequently. Additional data suggest that tofacitinib may be also effective for the treatment of the axial domain. Tofacitinib has been demonstrated to be efficacious for the treatment of peripheral and axial involvement, enthesitis, and dactylitis manifestation in PsA. Further prospective and long-term studies are required to corroborate and complete the present results. Similarly, real-world evidence is also necessary to complement the information obtained in clinical trials, and thereby to have a better overview of real efficacy and safety of the drug.

Tofacitinib as monotherapy following methotrexate withdrawal in patients with psoriatic arthritis previously treated with open-label tofacitinib plus methotrexate: a randomised, placebo-controlled substudy of OPAL Balance.

Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily monotherapy after methotrexate withdrawal. OPAL Balance was an open-label, long-term extension study of tofacitinib in patients with psoriatic arthritis who participated in the OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond phase 3 studies. This 12-month, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, methotrexate withdrawal substudy (50 centres, 14 countries) included patients from OPAL Balance who completed tofacitinib treatment for 24 months or more (≥3 months' stable tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily) and were receiving methotrexate (7·5-20 mg/week). Patients were blindly randomised (1:1) using interactive response technology and received open-label tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily with either placebo (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily plus placebo group) or continued methotrexate (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily plus methotrexate group). Patients were masked to placebo or methotrexate, with identical capsules used. Coprimary endpoints were changes from substudy baseline in psoriatic arthritis disease activity score (PASDAS) and health assessment questionnaire-disability index (HAQ-DI) at month 6 in all randomised patients with one or more substudy drug dose. Safety was assessed throughout. No specific statistical hypothesis (either superiority or non-inferiority) was tested. The study (OPAL Balance) is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01976364) and is complete. Between Oct 30, 2017, and May 20, 2019, 180 patients from OPAL Balance who were eligible for the substudy were randomly assigned to treatment (90 patients received tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily plus placebo and 89 patients assigned to tofacitinib plus methotrexate; one patient was not treated because of randomisation error). At month 6, least squares mean (LSM) changes in PASDAS were 0·23 (SE 0·08) for tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily plus placebo and 0·14 (0·08) for tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily plus methotrexate (treatment difference LSM 0·09 [95% CI -0·13 to 0·31]), and changes in HAQ-DI were 0·04 (0·03) and 0·02 (0·03), respectively (treatment difference 0·03 [-0·05 to 0·10]). Rates of adverse events, discontinuations because of adverse events, adverse events of special interest, and laboratory changes were generally similar between treatment groups, although liver enzyme elevations were more common with tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily plus methotrexate than tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily plus placebo. Flares of worsening symptoms was reported in one (1%) of 90 patients in the tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily plus placebo group (recorded as psoriatic arthropathy). Some patients with psoriatic arthritis who are stable on tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily with background methotrexate might be able to discontinue methotrexate without clinically meaningful changes in disease activity and safety. Pfizer Inc.

Tofacitinib in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis and Metabolic Syndrome: A Post hoc Analysis of Phase 3 Studies.

ObjectiveMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of concurrent risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This post hoc analysis explored key efficacy and safety endpoints in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and MetS treated with tofacitinib.MethodsTofacitinib 5 and 10 mg twice daily and placebo data were pooled from two Phase 3 studies (OPAL Broaden [12 months; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01877668]; OPAL Beyond [6 months; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01882439]); patients received one background conventional synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug. Patients were stratified by baseline presence/absence of MetS. Efficacy and safety were reported to month 3 (tofacitinib and placebo) and 6 (tofacitinib only). Efficacy outcomes included: American College of Rheumatology (ACR)20/50/70, Health Assessment Questionnaire‐Disability Index (HAQ‐DI) response, Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI)75 response, and enthesitis/dactylitis resolution rates; and changes from baseline (Δ) in C‐reactive protein, HAQ‐DI, Patient’s/Physician’s Global Assessment of Arthritis, and patient‐reported outcomes. Safety outcomes included treatment‐emergent all‐causality adverse events (AEs), Δ in lipid/hepatic values, and liver parameter increases.ResultsOf 710 patients, 41.4% (n = 294) had baseline MetS. All efficacy outcomes improved with both tofacitinib doses versus placebo, to month 3; tofacitinib efficacy was consistent to month 6, regardless of MetS status. MetS did not appear to affect the incidence of AEs or Δ in lipid/hepatic values with tofacitinib up to month 3 or 6. Arterial thromboembolism and myocardial infarction (adjudicated major adverse cardiovascular events) were each reported once in tofacitinib‐treated patients with MetS.ConclusionRegardless of baseline MetS status, tofacitinib showed greater efficacy versus placebo in patients with active PsA. The tofacitinib safety profile appeared similar in patients with versus without MetS.

Tofacitinib in psoriatic arthritis patients: skin signs and symptoms and health-related quality of life from two randomized phase 3 studies.

BackgroundPsoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, systemic immune‐mediated inflammatory musculoskeletal disease. The onset of dermatologic symptoms often precedes rheumatic manifestations. Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of PsA that has been shown to improve dermatologic symptoms in patients with PsA.ObjectivesTo investigate the efficacy of tofacitinib in improving dermatologic endpoints in adult patients with active PsA.MethodsThis analysis included data from two placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, phase 3 studies in patients with active PsA and an inadequate response (IR) to ≥1 conventional synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) who were tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi)‐naïve (OPAL Broaden; NCT01877668) or an IR to ≥1 TNFi (OPAL Beyond; NCT01882439). Patients had active plaque psoriasis at screening and received a stable dose of one csDMARD during the study. Patients were randomized to tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (BID), 10 mg BID, adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneous injection once every 2 weeks (OPAL Broaden only) or placebo (to Month 3). Dermatologic endpoints: Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) total score; PASI90 overall; PASI75 and PASI90 by baseline PASI severity; Physician’s Global Assessment of Psoriasis; Nail Psoriasis Severity Index; Dermatology Life Quality Index total and sub‐dimension scores; Itch Severity Item; and Patient’s Global Joint and Skin Assessment‐Visual Analog Scale‐Psoriasis question.ResultsIn patients with active PsA, including those stratified by mild or moderate/severe dermatologic symptoms, greater improvements from baseline and percentage of responders were observed in tofacitinib‐treated patients vs. placebo for the majority of analyzed dermatologic endpoints at Months 1 and 3, and improvements were maintained to Month 12 in OPAL Broaden and Month 6 in OPAL Beyond. Similar effects were observed in adalimumab‐treated patients vs. placebo in OPAL Broaden across dermatologic endpoints.ConclusionsTofacitinib provides a treatment option for patients with active PsA, including the burdensome dermatologic symptoms of PsA.

Safety and Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis: Interim Analysis of OPAL Balance, an Open-Label, Long-Term Extension Study.

IntroductionTofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We report the interim safety, tolerability, and efficacy of tofacitinib in PsA patients in OPAL Balance, a 3-year, open-label, long-term extension study (data cut-off: August 2017; database not locked, data may change).MethodsEligible patients from two phase (P) 3 (P3) tofacitinib PsA studies (OPAL Broaden, NCT01877668; OPAL Beyond, NCT01882439) entered OPAL Balance ≤ 3 months after completing the P3 study or discontinuing for reasons other than study-drug-related adverse events (AEs). Patients received open-label tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (BID), with adjustments to 10 mg BID permitted post-month (M) 1. Certain concomitant conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were allowed. Primary endpoints were incidence/severity of AEs and laboratory abnormalities, and changes from baseline in laboratory parameters (reported up to M36 and M30, respectively). Efficacy (clinical/patient-reported outcomes) was reported through M30.ResultsA total of 686 patients were treated; at data cut-off, 68.2% remained in the study. Mean (range) treatment duration was 641 (1–1032) days; total treatment duration was 1153.2 patient-years. By M36, 79.6, 13.8, and 8.6% of patients reported AEs, serious AEs, and discontinuations due to AEs, respectively. Five deaths occurred; one within the risk period (incidence rate [IR; patients with events/100 patient-years] 0.1). IRs for AEs of special interest were: all (non-serious and serious) herpes zoster, 1.7; serious infections, 0.9; opportunistic infections, 0.3 (all disseminated/multi-dermatomal herpes zoster); malignancies excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), 0.8; NMSC, 1.0; major adverse cardiovascular events, 0.3; pulmonary embolisms, 0.1; and arterial thromboembolisms, 0.4. No patients had deep vein thrombosis. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were elevated ≥ 3-fold the upper limit of normal in 4.0 and 2.2% of patients, respectively. Changes in laboratory parameters were generally stable over time, although lymphocyte counts decreased slightly. Efficacy was maintained through M30.ConclusionsIn this interim analysis of OPAL Balance, tofacitinib safety and efficacy in patients with PsA appeared to be consistent with those of the P3 studies. Efficacy was maintained over time.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01976364.Electronic Supplementary MaterialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s40744-020-00209-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

AB0774 TIME TO RESPONSE FOR CLINICAL AND PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH TOFACITINIB, ADALIMUMAB OR PLACEBO

Background:With multiple disease domains affected in PsA, clinical and patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are important to assess disease improvement following treatment. Rapid, meaningful improvements in disease activity are a priority for physicians and patients (pts). Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of PsA. Higher proportions of pts achieved responses in PROs and clinical measures when treated with tofacitinib for 3 months vs placebo (PBO).1-5Proportions of responders were also similar between tofacitinib and adalimumab (ADA) after 3, 6 and 12 months.2,3,5Objectives:To determine the time to initial response using responder definitions for selected PROs and clinical endpoints in pts with active PsA treated with tofacitinib, ADA or PBO switching to tofacitinib.Methods:In this post hoc analysis, data were collected from two Phase 3 studies (OPAL Broaden [12 months;NCT01877668]; OPAL Beyond [6 months;NCT01882439]).3,4Pts receiving tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily (BID), subcutaneous ADA 40 mg once every two weeks (Q2W; OPAL Broaden only), or PBO switching to tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg BID at Month (M)3, were included. Responder definitions included: HAQ-DI ≥0.35-point improvement from baseline (BL), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) total score ≥4-point improvement from BL, minimal disease activity (MDA) yes/no composite response (meeting at least 5 of 7 criteria) and PsA Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) post-BL score of ≤3.2 and &gt;1.6-point improvement from BL. First post-BL data were collected at Week 2 (eg for HAQ-DI) or M1. Time-to-event analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) method, with pts censored at the last observed visit. Log-rank tests compared time to initial response across treatment groups.Results:KM analyses show days to initial response (Figure 1, Figure 2). Time to initial HAQ-DI response was significantly different between treatment groups in OPAL Broaden (p&lt;0.01): faster response in pts receiving tofacitinib 5 mg BID, tofacitinib 10 mg BID and ADA 40 mg Q2W vs pts who switched from PBO to tofacitinib at M3 (Figure 1a). A similar, but not significant (ns), trend was observed for HAQ-DI responses in OPAL Beyond (Figure 1b). Generally, initial FACIT-F responses were achieved faster (ns) in pts receiving tofacitinib 5 mg BID vs other treatment in both studies (Figure 1c, Figure 1d). Times to initial MDA and PASDAS responses were similar between tofacitinib and ADA treatment groups (Figure 2).Conclusion:Times to initial response in functional ability and disease activity were similar in pts treated with either tofacitinib or ADA. Time to initial response prior to first post-BL observation (Week 2 or M1) was not estimable in this analysis. These results may help physicians better understand the time frame for a meaningful response in pts receiving tofacitinib.

AB0838 IDENTIFYING MEDIATORS OF PAIN REDUCTION IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH TOFACITINIB: ROLE OF INFLAMMATION ASSOCIATED WITH PERIPHERAL ARTHRITIS, ENTHESITIS AND SKIN DISEASE

Background:Treatment effect on pain is a priority for patients (pts) with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and physicians. As pain is multidimensional, there is growing interest to understand the mechanisms of pain relief during treatment. Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of PsA. Previous analyses showed that the effect of tofacitinib on pain in pts with PsA was partially mediated through improvement of inflammation as assessed by C-reactive protein (CRP) and Swollen Joint Count (SJC). Additional potential inflammation-associated mediators that might contribute to tofacitinib’s effect on pain include enthesitis and skin disease.Objectives:To describe the interrelationship between pain, tofacitinib treatment and potential inflammatory-associated outcomes, using mediation modelling.Methods:Data from two Phase 3 studies (OPAL Broaden [NCT01877668]; OPAL Beyond [NCT01882439]) of pts with active PsA treated with tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (BID) or placebo were used; pts were tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi)-naïve or had previous inadequate response to ≥1 TNFi. All pts were treated continuously with a single conventional synthetic DMARD. Analyses were completed using pooled and individual study data at Months 1 and 3 (using mean scores across visits). Mediation modelling seeks to explain mechanisms underlying observed relationships between independent and dependent variables via other variables (mediators). This initial model included: treatment as the independent (explanatory) binary variable (tofacitinib 5 mg BID vs placebo); pain, measured by Patient’s Assessment of Arthritis Pain (VAS, 0–100 mm), as the dependent (outcome) variable; mediators were: pt-reported Itch Severity Index (ISI); CRP; SJC; Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI); and enthesitis, measured by Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI) or Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Enthesitis Index (SPARCC). The final model was revised based on results of the initial model.Results:The initial model (N=329; pooled data) showed that tofacitinib treatment affects pain mainly indirectly via ISI, CRP, SJC, PASI and enthesitis (LEI), with 16.0% (p=0.53) attributable to the direct effect. The indirect effect via SJC (&lt;1%) was not significant (p=0.99); the indirect effect via PASI was contradictory (-14.4%, p=0.10). The final model (Figure 1) excluded SJC and PASI. Analysis of the final model (N=468; pooled data) revealed that 29.5% (p=0.0579) of tofacitinib treatment effect on pain was attributable to the direct effect, and 70.5% (p&lt;0.0001) was attributable to the indirect effect. ISI, LEI and CRP mediated 37.4% (p=0.0002), 17.8% (p=0.0157) and 15.3% (p=0.0107) of the tofacitinib treatment effect on pain, respectively. Results for individual studies were consistent with pooled data, as were those when enthesitis was represented by SPARCC in the model.Conclusion:The majority of tofacitinib treatment effect on pain in pts with PsA is collectively mediated by itch, enthesitis and CRP, with itch being the main mediator of treatment effect (~37%), using mediation modelling analyses.Acknowledgments:Study sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Medical writing support was provided by Eric Comeau of CMC Connect and funded by Pfizer Inc.Disclosure of Interests:Peter C. Taylor Grant/research support from: Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, Galapagos, and Gilead, Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, Eli Lilly and Company, Fresenius, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer Roche, and UCB, Kurt de Vlam Grant/research support from: Celgene, Eli Lilly, Pfizer Inc, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Johnson &amp; Johnson, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, UCB, Andrew G Bushmakin Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Lara Fallon Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Joseph F. Merola Consultant of: Merck, AbbVie, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Janssen, UCB Pharma, Celgene, Sanofi, Regeneron, Arena, Sun Pharma, Biogen, Pfizer, EMD Sorono, Avotres and LEO Pharma, Joseph C Cappelleri Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Ming-Ann Hsu Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Philip J Mease Grant/research support from: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – grant/research support, Consultant of: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – consultant, Speakers bureau: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB – speakers bureau

OP0225 TOFACITINIB AS MONOTHERAPY FOLLOWING METHOTREXATE WITHDRAWAL IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS PREVIOUSLY TREATED WITH OPEN-LABEL TOFACITINIB + METHOTREXATE: A RANDOMISED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED SUBSTUDY OF OPAL BALANCE

Background:Tofacitinib is an oral JAK inhibitor for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Objectives:To assess tofacitinib 5 mg BID as monotherapy after methotrexate (MTX) withdrawal vs with continued background MTX in patients (pts) with PsA.Methods:OPAL Balance (NCT01976364) was an open-label (OL) long-term extension (LTE) study of tofacitinib in pts with PsA who participated in Phase (P)3 studies (OPAL Broaden,NCT01877668; OPAL Beyond,NCT01882439). Pts who completed ≥24 months’ tofacitinib treatment in the LTE (stable 5 mg BID for ≥3 months) and were receiving oral MTX (7.5–20 mg/week; stable for ≥4 weeks) entered the multicentre, 12-month, double-blind, MTX withdrawal substudy. Pts remained on OL tofacitinib 5 mg BID and were randomised 1:1 to receive placebo (tofacitinib monotherapy, ie, blinded MTX withdrawal) or MTX (tofacitinib + MTX; same stable doses). Primary endpoints were changes from substudy baseline (Δ) in PASDAS and HAQ-DI at Month (M)6. Secondary efficacy endpoints were assessed at all time points. Safety was assessed throughout the substudy.Results:Of 180 pts randomised, 179 were treated (tofacitinib monotherapy n=90; tofacitinib + MTX n=89). Pt characteristics were similar between treatment arms. At M6, least squares mean (LSM) (standard error [SE]) ΔPASDAS was 0.229 (0.079) for tofacitinib monotherapy and 0.138 (0.081) for tofacitinib + MTX, and LSM (SE) ΔHAQ-DI was 0.043 (0.027) and 0.017 (0.028), respectively (Figure 1); no clinically meaningful differences were observed. Efficacy and pt-reported outcomes were generally similar between treatment arms at M6 and M12 (data not shown). Rates of pts achieving minimal disease activity, and maintaining an absence of enthesitis and dactylitis, were sustained to M12 in both treatment arms (Figure 2). Adverse event rates (Table) and laboratory parameters were comparable between treatment arms, but liver enzyme elevations were more common with tofacitinib + MTX.Conclusion:No clinically meaningful differences in efficacy and safety were observed in PsA pts who received OL tofacitinib 5 mg BID as monotherapy after MTX withdrawal vs with continued MTX. Safety was consistent with previous P3 studies. The substudy was an estimation study and not powered for hypothesis testing.Table.Safety outcomes to Month 12Pts with events, n (%) AEs of special interestTofacitinib monotherapy N=90Tofacitinib + MTXN=89AE43 (47.8)41 (46.1)Serious AE4 (4.4)3 (3.4)Discontinuations due to AE3 (3.3)4 (4.5)Death00 Herpes zoster (serious/non-serious)1 (1.1)2 (2.2) Serious infection02 (2.2) Opportunistic infectiona01 (1.1) Malignancy (excl. NMSC)a1 (1.1)1 (1.1) NMSCa00 Major adverse cardiovascular eventa00 Venous thromboembolismc00 Arterial thromboembolismc1 (1.1)0 Gastrointestinal perforationa00 Interstitial lung diseaseb00Laboratory parametersdALT ≥3×ULN05 (5.6) ALT (IU/L), mean (SE)-2.7 (1.6)2.5 (1.3)AST ≥3×ULN03 (3.4) AST (IU/L), mean (SE)-1.5 (1.2)1.7 (0.8)Reviewed by independentaexternal/binternal adjudication committeecPer Standardised MedDRA Query termsdWithout regard to baseline abnormalityALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ULN, upper limit of normalAcknowledgments:Study sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Medical writing support was provided by Christina Viegelmann of CMC Connect and funded by Pfizer Inc.Disclosure of Interests:Peter Nash Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Laura C Coates: None declared, Philip J Mease Grant/research support from: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – grant/research support, Consultant of: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – consultant, Speakers bureau: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB – speakers bureau, Alan Kivitz Shareholder of: AbbVie, Amgen, Gilead, GSK, Pfizer Inc, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim,,Flexion, Genzyme, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Regeneron, Sanofi, SUN Pharma Advanced Research, UCB, Paid instructor for: Celgene, Genzyme, Horizon, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Celgene, Flexion, Genzyme, Horizon, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Regeneron, Sanofi, Dafna D Gladman Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen Inc., BMS, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB – grant/research support, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen Inc., BMS, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB – consultant, Frank Behrens Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Janssen, Chugai, Celgene, Lilly and Roche, Consultant of: Pfizer, AbbVie, Sanofi, Lilly, Novartis, Genzyme, Boehringer, Janssen, MSD, Celgene, Roche and Chugai, James Cheng-Chung Wei Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Chugai, Eisai, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Sanofi-Aventis, UCB Pharma, Dona Fleishaker Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Joseph Wu Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Cunshan Wang Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Ana Belen Romero Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Lara Fallon Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Ming-Ann Hsu Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Keith Kanik Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc

Changes in Lipid Levels and Incidence of Cardiovascular Events Following Tofacitinib Treatment in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis: A Pooled Analysis Across Phase III and Long-Term Extension Studies.

ObjectiveThe risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared to the general population. Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of PsA. Because tofacitinib increases circulating lipid levels in some patients, we evaluated CVD risk factors and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with active PsA receiving tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily plus conventional synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs.MethodsData were pooled from 2 phase III studies (Efficacy and Safety of Tofacitinib in Psoriatic Arthritis [OPAL Broaden] and Tofacitinib in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis With Inadequate Response to TNF Inhibitors [OPAL Beyond]) and 1 ongoing long‐term extension (Open‐Label Extension Study of Tofacitinib in Psoriatic Arthritis [OPAL Balance], data cutoff January 2017; database not locked). Outcomes included fasting lipid levels, blood pressure, hypertension‐related adverse events (AEs; including hypertension, high blood pressure, and increased blood pressure), and MACE.ResultsOverall, 783 tofacitinib‐treated patients were included. Percentage increases from baseline in low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐c) and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐c) levels ranged from 9% to 14% for tofacitinib 5 mg and 10 mg at 3 and 6 months; no meaningful changes in LDL‐c:HDL‐c or total cholesterol:HDL‐c ratios were observed. Blood pressure remained stable for 24 months. Fifty‐eight patients (7.4%) had hypertension‐related AEs; none were fatal (incidence rate [IR] per 100 patient‐years 4.81 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 3.65–6.22]). Five patients (0.6%) had MACE (IR 0.24 [95% CI 0.05–0.70]); 2 were fatal.ConclusionSerum lipid level increases at month 3 following tofacitinib treatment in PsA were consistent with observations in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The IR of hypertension‐related AEs and MACE was low; long‐term follow‐up is ongoing.

Content validity and psychometric evaluation of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue in patients with psoriatic arthritis

BackgroundTo evaluate the measurement properties (e.g., content validity, reliability, and ability to detect change) of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue scale in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).MethodsOne-on-one semi-structured qualitative interviews with adult patients with active PsA evaluated the content validity of FACIT-Fatigue. Quantitative measurement properties were evaluated using data from phase III tofacitinib randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PsA: OPAL Broaden (NCT01877668) and OPAL Beyond (NCT01882439).ResultsOf 12 patients included in the qualitative study, 2 (17%) had mild, 8 (67%) had moderate, and 2 (17%) had severe PsA disease activity; 7 (58%) attributed fatigue to PsA, and 7 (58%) rated fatigue as important or extremely important. Most patients considered the FACIT-Fatigue items relevant to their PsA experience, and understood item content and response options as intended. In the psychometric analysis of RCT data, a second-order confirmatory factor model fit the data well (Bentler’s Comparative Fit Index ≥0.92). FACIT-Fatigue demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s coefficient α ≥ 0.90), test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ≥ 0.80) and a strong correlation with SF-36 Vitality (r > 0.80). A robust relationship between disease activity (based on Patient’s Global Assessment of Psoriasis and Arthritis) and FACIT-Fatigue was observed (effect sizes > 1.4), with clinically important difference for the FACIT-Fatigue total score estimated as 3.1 points, and the responder definition estimated as a 4-point improvement for FACIT-Fatigue total score.ConclusionFatigue was confirmed to be an important symptom to patients with PsA, and FACIT-Fatigue was found to be a reliable and valid measure in this population.

Results of studying the clinical efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis

The paper reviews of the data available in the literature on the clinical efficacy and safety of tofacitinib (TOFA) in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). It considers the mechanism of action of TOFA, which is mainly in the selective inhibition of signal transmission due to its effect on the activity of JAK3 and/or JAK1, the enzymes that ensure the function of turning on and turning off the signals transmitted by cytokines. TOFA is noted to directly or indirectly act on a wide range of a number of molecules that play an important role in the pathogenesis of PsA.The paper analyzes the current data on the clinical efficacy of TOFA in treating PsA, which have been obtained in the 12-month OPAL Broaden study including patients with PsA and an inadequate response to synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and in the 6-month OPAL Beyond study enrolling those with PsA and an inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors. It is noted that the results of these studies confirmed the efficacy of the drug in treating PsA not only according to the data of objective (medical) monitoring, but also to the subjective characteristics of pain, to the global assessment of disease activity, fatigue, as well as the mental and physical components of the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire.It is concluded that the current findings allow JAK inhibitors to be recommended as a new pathogenetically sound approach to treating PsA and suggest that TOFA has benefits in managing patients unresponsive to therapy with TNF-α inhibitors.

Tofacitinib: A Review in Psoriatic Arthritis.

Tofacitinib (Xeljanz®) is the first Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved at a dosage of 5mg twice daily (BID) in the EU and the USA for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), where it is indicated in combination with methotrexate for patients who have had an inadequate response or who have been intolerant to a prior therapy with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). Two well-designed phaseIII trials (OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond) in patients with PsA with or without prior tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) therapy showed that tofacitinib 5mg BID (co-administered with methotrexate or another approved conventional synthetic DMARD) significantly improved the key clinical signs/symptoms and disability associated with PsA after 3months of treatment, while also improving skin psoriasis, enthesitis, dactylitis, physical function and fatigue. According to interim data, the improvements in clinical signs/symptoms were maintained for up to 30months in the ongoing long-term extension study OPAL Balance, with minimal radiographic progression seen after 12months' therapy in the OPAL Broaden study. Tofacitinib 5mg BID had an acceptable tolerability profile, with low incidences of serious infections, malignancies, cardiovascular events and gastrointestinal perforations over 36months. Changes in laboratory parameters generally remained stable over 36months of treatment. Although further studies are required to more definitively establish its efficacy and safety, currently available evidence indicates that tofacitinib expands the treatment options available for the treatment of PsA in patients who have had an inadequate response or who have been intolerant to a prior DMARD therapy.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Content validity and psychometric evaluation of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue in patients with psoriatic arthritis

BackgroundTo evaluate the measurement properties (e.g. content validity, reliability and ability to detect change) of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue scale in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).MethodsOne-on-one semi-structured qualitative interviews with adult patients with active PsA evaluated the content validity of FACIT-Fatigue. Quantitative measurement properties were evaluated using data from phase III tofacitinib randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PsA: OPAL Broaden (NCT01877668) and OPAL Beyond (NCT01882439).ResultsOf 12 patients included in the qualitative study, 2 (17%) had mild, 8 (67%) had moderate, and 2 (17%) had severe PsA disease activity; 7 (58%) attributed fatigue to PsA, and 7 (58%) rated fatigue as important or extremely important. Most patients considered the FACIT-Fatigue items relevant to their PsA experience and understood item content and response options as intended. In the psychometric analysis of RCT data, a second-order confirmatory factor model fit the data well (Bentler’s Comparative Fit Index ≥0.92). FACIT-Fatigue demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s coefficient α ≥ 0.90), test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ≥ 0.80) and a strong correlation with SF-36 Vitality (r > 0.80). A robust relationship between disease activity (based on Patient’s Global Assessment of Psoriasis and Arthritis) and FACIT-Fatigue was observed (effect sizes > 1.4), with clinically important difference for the FACIT-Fatigue total score estimated as 3.1 points, and the responder definition estimated as a 4-point improvement for FACIT-Fatigue total score.ConclusionFatigue was confirmed to be an important symptom to patients with PsA, and FACIT-Fatigue was found to be a reliable and valid measure in this population.