Ilknur Tugal-Tutkun1, Carlos Pavesio2, Agnès De Cordoue3, Oana Bernard-Poenaru3, Ahmet Gül4. 1. a Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey. 2. b Moorfields Eye Hospital and Biomedical Research Center , NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK. 3. c Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier , Suresnes , France. 4. d Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the superiority of gevokizumab as compared to placebo, on top of current standard of care, in reducing the risk of Behçet's disease uveitis (BDU) exacerbations. METHODS: Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel group, event-driven trial in BDU patients having recently experienced an ocular exacerbation, subsequently undergoing a tapering procedure from high-dose corticosteroids and receiving 60 mggevokizumab or placebo every 4 weeks subcutaneously (EYEGUARD B-ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 01965145). RESULTS: A total of 83 patients (40 gevokizumab, 43placebo) were included. Gevokizumab did not significantly affect the risk of occurrence of ocular exacerbations. However, data suggested that gevokizumab could preserve visual acuity, reduce the uveitis severity, decrease the emergence of macular edema, and have a corticosteroid sparing effect. Gevokizumab was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: While the primary efficacy endpoint was not met with gevokizumab, the control of IL-1β pathway in patients with BDU may still be a relevant target.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the superiority of gevokizumab as compared to placebo, on top of current standard of care, in reducing the risk of Behçet's disease uveitis (BDU) exacerbations. METHODS: Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel group, event-driven trial in BDUpatients having recently experienced an ocular exacerbation, subsequently undergoing a tapering procedure from high-dose corticosteroids and receiving 60 mg gevokizumab or placebo every 4 weeks subcutaneously (EYEGUARD B-ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 01965145). RESULTS: A total of 83 patients (40 gevokizumab, 43 placebo) were included. Gevokizumab did not significantly affect the risk of occurrence of ocular exacerbations. However, data suggested that gevokizumab could preserve visual acuity, reduce the uveitis severity, decrease the emergence of macular edema, and have a corticosteroid sparing effect. Gevokizumab was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: While the primary efficacy endpoint was not met with gevokizumab, the control of IL-1β pathway in patients with BDU may still be a relevant target.