| Literature DB >> 32371431 |
B Fautrel1, B Zhu2, P C Taylor3, M van de Laar4, P Emery5, F De Leonardis2, C L Kannowski2, C Nicolay2, Z Kadziola2, I De La Torre2, R Fleischmann6.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare improvement in pain and physical function for patients treated with baricitinib, adalimumab, tocilizumab and tofacitinib monotherapy from randomised, methotrexate (MTX)-controlled trials in conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs)/biologic (bDMARD)-naïve RA patients using matching-adjusted indirect comparisons (MAICs).Entities:
Mesh:
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Year: 2020 PMID: 32371431 PMCID: PMC7299519 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2019-001131
Source DB: PubMed Journal: RMD Open ISSN: 2056-5933
Study design and characteristics
| Study | Study design and dosage information | Inclusion criteria | Key exclusion criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baricitinib (RA-BEGIN, NCT01711359)[ | Patients were randomised 4:3:4 to oral MTX one time per week (N=210), baricitinib 4 mg (monotherapy) one time per day (N=159), or the combination of baricitinib+MTX (N=215) |
Patients were ≥18 years Moderately-to-severely active RA Patients had active disease (TJC ≥6 and SJC ≥6) Serum CRP level ≥3.6 mg/L Seropositive for RF or ACPA No prior csDMARD therapy and no prior bDMARD |
Recent clinically significant infection and select laboratory abnormalities |
| Tocilizumab (AMBITION, NCT00109408)[ | Patients were randomised to tocilizumab (TCZ) 8 mg/kg intravenously every 4 weeks (N=286), or to MTX oral capsules, weekly together with folate (>5 mg/week) (N=284) |
Patients were ≥18 years ≥3 months of moderately-to-severely active RA SJC of ≥6, TJC ≥8, CRP level ≥1.0 mg/dL or ESR ≥28 mm/h at baseline Oral glucocorticoids and NSAIDs were permitted if stable >6 weeks |
Clinically unstable concurrent illnesses Active or untreated latent TB Unsuccessful treatment with TNFi Received MTX within 6 months of randomisation or discontinued MTX previously |
| Tocilizumab (FUNCTION, NCT01007435)[ | Patients were randomised to 4 mg/kg TCZ+MTX (N=288), 8 mg/kg TZC+MTX (N=290), 8 mg/kg TCZ+placebo (N=292) or placebo+MTX (N=287); TCZ or placebo were administered intravenously every 4 weeks |
Patients were ≥18 years ≤2 years of moderate-to-severe RA SJC of ≥4, TJC of ≥6, CRP level ≥1.0 mg/dL or ESR ≥28 mm/h at baseline Positive RF or ACPA or ≥1 erosion of hands, wrists or feet attributable to RA based on a central radiographic reading |
Clinically unstable concurrent illnesses and screened according to local standards Active or untreated latent TB Had been unsuccessfully treated with TNFi Had received MTX 6 months prior to randomisation or had discontinued MTX |
|
Tofacitinib (ORAL-START, NCT01039688)[ | Patients were randomised to tofacitinib 5 mg two times per day (BID, N=373) or tofacitinib 10 mg BID (N=397) or MTX (N=186) |
Patients were ≥18 years ≥3 months of moderately-to-severely active RA SJC of ≥6, TJC of ≥6, CRP level >7.0 mg/L or ESR >28 mm/h at baseline ≥3 distinct joint erosions on radiographs, positive test for IgM RF or ACPA |
Prior treatment with lymphocyte-depleting or alkylating agents Select lab abnormalities History of: another autoimmune rheumatic disease except Sjögren’s syndrome Serious infection Lymphoproliferative disorder Malignancy except adequately treated non-metastatic basal/squamous cell cancer of the skin or cervical carcinoma in situ Evidence of active, latent or inadequately treated Mycobacterium TB infection |
| Adalimumab PREMIER, NCT00195663)[ | Patients were randomised to adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously every other week + weekly oral MTX (N=268); adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously every other week (adalimumab + placebo; N=274); or weekly oral MTX (N=257) |
Patients were ≥18 years <3 years of RA SJC of ≥8, TJC of ≥10, CRP level ≥1.5 mg/dL or ESR ≥28 mm/h at baseline | Patients who had received treatment with MTX, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, azathioprine or >2 other DMARDs |
ACPA, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies; bDMARD, biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; CRP, C reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; IgM, immunoglobulin M; MTX, methotrexate; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor; SJC, swollen joint count; TB, tuberculosis; TCZ, tocilizumab; TJC, tender joint count; TNFi, tumour necrosis factor inhibitor.
Baseline characteristics from trials in the indirect comparisons
| RA-BEGIN[ | AMBITION[ | FUNCTION[ | PREMIER[ | ORAL-START[ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics |
MTX (N=210) | Baricitinib 4 mg (N=159) | MTX (N=284) | Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg (N=286) | MTX (N=287) | Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg (N=292) | MTX (N=257) | Adalimumab 40 mg (N=274) | MTX (N=186) | Tofacitinib 5 mg (N=373) |
| Mean duration of RA, years | 1.3 | 1.9 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 2.9 |
| SJC, 66 joints | 16.4 | 16.1 | 19.2 | 19.1 | 16.2 | 16.5 | 22.1 | 21.8 | 16.8 | 16.3 |
| TJC, 68 joints | 27 | 26 | 31.1 | 31.8 | 27.4 | 28.7 | 32.3 | 31.8 | 25.4 | 25.7 |
| CRP, mg/L | 22 | 24 | 31 | 30 | 23 | 25 | 40 | 41 | 26 | 23 |
| DAS28-ESR | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.6 |
|
Patient’s Global Assessment of Disease, 0–100 mm VAS | 66 | 65 | 66 | 64 | 64 | 68 | 63 | 68 | 58 | 60 |
| MTX dosing information | MTX initiated at 10 mg/week and, if tolerated, increased to 20 mg/week by Week 8; if clinically indicated, an initial dosage of 7.5 mg one time per week and maximum dosage of 12.5 mg once weekly | MTX initiated at 7.5 mg, increasing to 15 mg at Week 4 and to 20 mg at Week 8; dose reduction to 10 mg weekly was permitted | MTX initiated at 7.5 mg/week and was increased to a maximum of 20 mg/week by Week 8 | MTX initiated at 7.5 mg/week for the first 4 weeks. If tolerated, dosage was increased to 15 mg/week during Weeks 4–8, and to 20 mg/week at Week 9. Dosage could be reduced to as low as 7.5 mg/week | MTX initiated at 10 mg/week, with increments of 5 mg/week every 4 weeks to 20 mg/week by Week 8 | |||||
| Mean MTX dosing achieved, mg/week | 17.7 | 15.5 |
N/A (81% achieved 20 mg/week) | 16.9 | 18.5 | |||||
CRP, C reactive protein; DAS28, Disease Activity Score for 28 joints; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; MTX, methotrexate; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SJC, swollen joint count; TJC, tender joint count; VAS, visual analogue scale.
Pain and HAQ-DI for studies included in the MAIC
| RA-BEGIN[ | AMBITION[ | FUNCTION[ | PREMIER[ | ORAL-START[ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endpoint values at baseline and either change from baseline or mean values at 6 months | MTX (N=210) | Baricitinib 4 mg (N=159) | MTX (N=284) | Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg (N=286) | MTX (N=287) | Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg (N=292) | MTX (N=257) | Adalimumab 40 mg (N=274) | MTX (N=186) | Tofacitinib 5 mg (N=373) |
|
| ||||||||||
| Baseline | 65 | 64 | 62 | 59 | 60 | 63 | 60 | 65 | 59 | 59 |
| 6 months | −30 | −41 | −31 | −35 | −34 | −36 | Adjusted absolute mean:* 29 |
Adjusted absolute mean*: 31 | −28 | −32 |
|
| ||||||||||
| Baseline | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 6 months | −0.7 | −1.0 | −0.5 | −0.7 |
−0.04 (vs MTX) | Adjusted absolute mean*: 0.9 |
Adjusted absolute mean*: 0.9 | −0.6 | −0.8 | |
*Adjusted mean scores, rather than change from baseline, were reported in Strand et al.[7]
HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index; MTX, methotrexate; VAS, visual analogue scale. Pain and HAQ-DI were collected at 6 months or 24±2 weeks.
Baseline variables used in the matching across all trials and baseline variables from RA-BEGIN after matching
| Baseline variables from different studies before matching | Baseline variables from RA-BEGIN after matching* | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study | Sample size | Age, mean (years) | Gender (%) | DAS28-ESR | Pain VAS | HAQ-DI | MTX and baricitinib effective sample size, pain/HAQ-DI | Age, mean (years) | Gender (%) | DAS28-ESR | Pain VAS | HAQ-DI |
|
| ||||||||||||
| MTX | 210 | 51 | 70% | 6.6 | 65 | 1.7 | ||||||
| Baricitinib 4 mg | 159 | 51 | 76% | 6.6 | 64 | 1.6 | ||||||
|
| ||||||||||||
| MTX | 571 | 50 | 80% | 6.7 | 61 | 1.49 | 179.4/160.9 | 50 | 80% | 6.7 | 61 | 1.49 |
| Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg | 578 | 50 | 79% | 6.8 | 61 | 1.59 | 142.7/147.6 | 50 | 79% | 6.8 | 61 | 1.59 |
|
| ||||||||||||
| MTX | 257 | 52 | 74% | 6.3 | 60 | 1.5 | 181.4/180.1 | 52 | 74% | 6.3 | 60 | 1.5 |
| Adalimumab 40 mg | 274 | 52 | 77% | 6.4 | 65 | 1.6 | 151.5/153.4 | 52 | 77% | 6.4 | 65 | 1.6 |
|
| ||||||||||||
| MTX | 186 | 49 | 78% | 6.6 | 59 | 1.5 | 177.8/172.8 | 49 | 78% | 6.6 | 59 | 1.5 |
| Tofacitinib 5 mg | 373 | 50 | 77% | 6.6 | 59 | 1.5 |
146.5/ 148.9 | 50 | 77% | 6.6 | 59 | 1.5 |
*Effective sample size and values for baricitinib or MTX from RA-BEGIN decreased after matching with different studies.
DAS28, Disease Activity Score for 28 joints; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index; MTX, methotrexate; VAS, visual analogue scale.
Figure 1Treatment differences from indirect comparisons with matching by treatment arm (primary analysis), matching by study and without matching. HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index; MTX, methotrexate; VAS, visual analogue scale.
Figure 2Sensitivity analyses with (a) disease duration included in the model and (b) with data from AMBITION and FUNCTION analysed separately. HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index; MTX, methotrexate; VAS, visual analogue scale.