Upadacitinib for psoriatic arthritis refractory to biologics: SELECT-PsA 2

Abstract

Background

Upadacitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor under evaluation for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We evaluated upadacitinib in patients with PsA and prior inadequate response or intolerance to at least one biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD).

Methods

In this 24-week randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 3 trial, 642 patients were randomised (2:2:1:1) to once per day upadacitinib 15 mg or 30 mg, placebo followed by upadacitinib 15 mg or placebo followed by upadacitinib 30 mg at week 24. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response at week 12. Achievement of minimal disease activity (MDA) was assessed at week 24. Treatment-emergent adverse events are reported for all patients who received at least one dose of trial drug.

Results

At week 12, significantly more patients receiving upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg versus placebo achieved ACR20 (56.9% and 63.8% vs 24.1%; p<0.001 for both comparisons). At week 24, MDA was achieved by more upadacitinib 15 mg-treated (25.1%) and 30 mg-treated patients (28.9%) versus placebo (2.8%; p<0.001 for both comparisons). Generally, the rates of treatment-emergent adverse events were similar with placebo and upadacitinib 15 mg and higher with upadacitinib 30 mg at week 24. Rates of serious infections were 0.5%, 0.5% and 2.8% with placebo, upadacitinib 15 mg and upadacitinib 30 mg, respectively.

Conclusion

In this trial of patients with active PsA who had inadequate response or intolerance to at least one biologic DMARD, upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg was more effective than placebo over 24 weeks in improving signs and symptoms of PsA.

Clinical trial registration number

NCT03104374

Key messages.

What is already known about this subject?

• Despite the availability of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in psoriatic arthritis, only a small proportion of patients achieve the recommended target of minimal disease activity; therefore, additional treatment options are needed.

What does this study add?

• In this phase 3 trial of patients with psoriatic arthritis refractory or intolerant to biologic DMARDs, greater efficacy was demonstrated for once per day upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg versus placebo for clinical manifestations of psoriatic arthritis including musculoskeletal symptoms (peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis and spondylitis), psoriasis, physical function, pain, fatigue and quality of life.

How might this impact on clinical practice or future developments?

• Once per day upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg demonstrated significant efficacy in patients with psoriatic arthritis refractory or intolerant to prior biologic DMARD therapy in the 24-week placebo-controlled period of this study.

• Efficacy was observed as early as week 2. Efficacy was demonstrated in all measures of the various core clinical domains of psoriatic arthritis. More upadacitinib-treated patients achieved a state of minimal disease activity.

• The safety findings are consistent with the known safety profile of upadacitinib observed in rheumatoid arthritis; no new safety risks have been identified.

Introduction

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a systemic inflammatory disease with heterogeneous clinical manifestations such as plaque psoriasis, arthritis, dactylitis and enthesitis. Current treatment guidelines for PsA vary, recommending conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate as initial therapy, followed by biologic DMARDs (tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), interleukin-12/23 or interleukin-17 inhibitors) or targeted synthetic DMARDs, such as apremilast or tofacitinib, or TNFi initially, followed by other approved therapies.^1–3 While multiple therapeutic choices are now available, additional options are needed as under one-third achieving minimal disease activity (MDA) in most placebo-controlled trials.^4–9

Upadacitinib is an oral, reversible Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) with selectivity for JAK1 over JAK2, JAK3 and tyrosine kinase 2,¹⁰ approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis based on five phase 3 studies.^11–15 Improvements in multiple composite measures, including stringent measures of low disease activity and remission, as well as patient-reported outcomes such as morning stiffness and pain, after treatment with upadacitinib 15 mg once per day, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who failed biologic DMARDs were similar to those in patients who had failed conventional synthetic DMARDs or methotrexate.^11–15 We report the results of the SELECT-PsA 2 trial, a randomised phase 3 trial of upadacitinib in patients with active PsA who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to at least one biologic DMARD.

Patients and methods

Patients

Eligible patients were 18 years of age or older with active PsA, had a diagnosis of PsA with symptom onset for ≥6 months, fulfilled the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR),¹⁶ had historical or current plaque psoriasis, ≥3 swollen joints (of 66) and ≥3 tender joints (of 68) at screening and at baseline, and an inadequate response or intolerance to at least one biologic DMARD. Patients were excluded if they had previous exposure to a JAKi, had a history of fibromyalgia, had arthritis with onset prior to age 17 years or had diagnosis of inflammatory joint disease other than PsA. Online supplemental section 2 provides a complete list of eligibility criteria.

Trial design

A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 placebo-controlled trial at 123 sites in 17 countries has been ongoing since April 2017, conducted per the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines, applicable regulations and guidelines governing clinical trial conduct, and the Declaration of Helsinki. All patients provided written informed consent.

Randomisation and treatments

An Interactive Response Technology system was used to assign patients, in a 2:2:1:1 ratio, to one of the following regimens: upadacitinib 15 mg once per day, upadacitinib 30 mg once per day or placebo switched to either upadacitinib 15 mg or 30 mg once per day at week 24. Stable background treatment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids (equivalent to ≤10 mg/day prednisone) and ≤2 non-biologic DMARDs were permitted; background therapy was not required. Concomitant biologic therapies were prohibited. Concomitant treatments specifically for psoriasis (eg, topicals, light therapy, retinoids) were not permitted until after week 16.

Starting at week 16, patients who did not achieve ≥20% improvement in tender and swollen joint counts compared with baseline at weeks 12 and 16 had background medication(s) adjusted or initiated. Starting at week 36, patients who did not achieve ≥20% improvement in tender and swollen joint counts compared with baseline at two consecutive visits were discontinued from the study. All patients who completed week 56 were eligible to remain in the extension period of the trial for up to 3 years of trial participation in total (online supplemental figure 1).

Randomisation was stratified by extent of psoriasis (≥3%/<3% body surface area (BSA)), current use of at least 1 DMARD and number of prior biologic DMARDs failed (1 versus >1). The trial is ongoing; data presented include the 24-week placebo-controlled period during which investigators and the sponsor were blinded to treatment assignment.

Assessments

The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response at week 12. Multiplicity-controlled secondary endpoints for each dose of upadacitinib versus placebo included: at week 12, change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI)¹⁷; Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) score¹⁸ and Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) Physical Component Summary (PCS) score¹⁹; at week 16, proportion of patients achieving a Static Investigator Global Assessment (sIGA) of Psoriasis of 0 or 1 and at least a 2 point improvement from baseline (sIGA 0/1) for patients with baseline sIGA ≥2²⁰; Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI)75 response for patients with ≥3% BSA-psoriasis at baseline²¹; and change from baseline in Self-Assessment of Psoriasis Symptoms (SAPS) Questionnaire²²; and at week 24, proportion of patients achieving MDA.²³ Additional key secondary efficacy endpoints included ACR50/70 response at week 12 and ACR20 response at week 2. Exploratory endpoints were proportion of patients achieving PASI90/100 response, resolution of enthesitis (defined by Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI)=0) for patients with baseline LEI >0²⁴ and Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Enthesitis Index ((SPARCC)=0) for patients with baseline SPARCC Enthesitis Index>0²⁵ and resolution of dactylitis (defined by Leeds Dactylitis Index (LDI)=0) for patients with baseline LDI>0,²⁶ and change from baseline in individual components of ACR response, Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) score,²⁷ and morning stiffness (mean of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) questions 5 and 6). All outcomes are defined in online supplemental table S1.

Adverse events (AEs) and clinical laboratory testing are reported through week 24. An independent, external Cardiovascular Adjudication Committee blindly adjudicated deaths and cardiovascular events per predefined event definitions. An internal Gastrointestinal (GI) Perforation Adjudication Committee blindly adjudicated reported GI perforation events as stated in the GI perforation charter.

Statistical analysis

Efficacy analyses were conducted on all randomised patients who had received at least one dose of trial drug. A sample size of 630 patients was planned to provide at least 90% power for a 20% difference in ACR20 response rate (assuming a placebo ACR20 response rate of 20%) and for most of the key secondary endpoints (online supplemental section 3).

The overall type I error rate of primary and ranked key secondary endpoints was strongly controlled using a graphical multiple testing procedure starting with the primary endpoint using α/2 for each dose followed by a prespecified α transfer path, which included downstream transfer along the endpoint sequence within each dose as well as cross-dose transfer (online supplemental figure S2). Once an endpoint was claimed significant, its significance level was transferred to subsequent endpoint(s) following the prespecified order and weight. All other outcomes were prespecified in the protocol and statistical analysis plan without adjustment for multiplicity.

The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test adjusting for the stratification factor of current DMARD use (yes/no) was used to compare treatment binary endpoints. Non-responder imputation was used for missing data handling, where patients with missing data at the specified week or those who prematurely discontinued the trial drug were considered non-responders. For continuous endpoints, analyses were conducted using the mixed-effects model repeated measures analysis based on observed longitudinal data, which included the fixed effects of treatment, visit, treatment-by-visit interaction, the stratification factor of current DMARD use (yes/no) and the continuous fixed covariate of baseline measurement. An unstructured variance covariance matrix was used. Patients who met the discontinuation criteria were considered non-responders.

Results

Patients

Of the 642 patients randomised, 641 received at least one dose of trial drug (placebo, n=212; upadacitinib 15 mg, n=211; upadacitinib 30 mg, n=218; online supplemental figure S3). Overall, 543 (84.6%) patients completed week 24 on trial drug. Baseline demographics, disease characteristics and disease severity were generally balanced across treatment arms (table 1).

Table 1.

Demographics and characteristics at baseline

	Placebo N=212	Upadacitinib 15 mg QD N=211	Upadacitinib 30 mg QD N=218
Female, n (%)	120 (56.6)	113 (53.6)	115 (52.8)
Age (years)	54.1±11.5	53.0±12.0	53.0±11.9
Race, n (%)
White	186 (87.7)	183 (86.7)	196 (89.9)
Black or African American	7 (3.3)	5 (2.4)	5 (2.3)
American Indian/Alaska Native	0	3 (1.4)	0
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander	1 (0.5)	1 (0.5)	1 (0.5)
Asian	17 (8.0)	19 (9.0)	16 (7.3)
Multiple	1 (0.5)	0	0
Duration of PsA symptoms (years)	14.6±11.7	12.2±8.8	13.3±10.8
Duration since PsA diagnosis (years)	11.0±10.3	9.6±8.4	9.7±8.7
Number of prior failed biologic DMARDs, n (%)
0*	18 (8.5)	16 (7.6)	17 (7.8)
1	135 (63.7)	126 (59.7)	130 (59.6)
2	35 (16.5)	35 (16.6)	46 (21.1)
≥3	24 (11.3)	34 (16.1)	25 (11.5)
Monotherapy, n (%)	112 (52.8)	113 (53.6)	120 (55.0)
Any non-biologic DMARD at baseline, n (%)
MTX alone	75 (35.4)	74 (35.1)	73 (33.5)
MTX+another non-biologic DMARD	7 (3.3)	6 (2.8)	5 (2.3)
Non-biologic DMARD other than MTX	18 (8.5)	18 (8.5)	20 (9.2)
MTX dose for patients with concomitant MTX alone at baseline (mg/week)
Mean	16.26	15.06	16.76
Median	17.5	15.0	17.5
Steroid use at baseline, n (%)	24 (11.3)	22 (10.4)	13 (6.0)
NSAID use at baseline, n (%)	125 (59.0)	124 (58.8)	129 (59.2)
RF status positive, n (%)	6 (2.8)	11 (5.2)	8 (3.7)
Anti-CCP status positive, n (%)	10 (4.7)	7 (3.3)	5 (2.3)
TJC68	25.3±17.6	24.9±17.3	24.2±15.9
SJC66	12.0±8.9	11.3±8.2	12.9±9.4
hs-CRP >ULN† (mg/L), n (%)	121 (57.1)	126 (59.7)	128 (58.7)
hs-CRP (mg/L)	10.4±18.5	11.2±18.5	10.5±17.2
HAQ-DI	1.23±0.7	1.10±0.6	1.19±0.7
Patient’s assessment of pain (NRS 0–10)	6.6±2.1	6.4±2.1	6.2±2.2
BSA-psoriasis ≥3%, n (%)	131 (61.8)	130 (61.6)	131 (60.1)
PASI (for baseline BSA-Ps ≥3%)	11.7±11.4	10.1±9.2	8.9±9.1
BSA-psoriasis >0%, n (%)	198 (93.4)	202 (95.7)	202 (92.7)
BSA-psoriasis (for baseline >0%)	12.8±18.4	10.0±15.7	10.0±15.8
sIGA of psoriasis score, n (%)
0	17 (8.0)	9 (4.3)	16 (7.3)
1	32 (15.1)	31 (14.7)	38 (17.4)
2	59 (27.8)	82 (38.9)	78 (35.8)
3	88 (41.5)	78 (37.0)	77 (35.3)
4	16 (7.5)	11 (5.2)	9 (4.1)
Presence of enthesitis
LEI >0, n (%)	144 (67.9)	133 (63.0)	152 (69.7)
SPARCC Enthesitis Index >0, n (%)	173 (81.6)	172 (81.5)	179 (82.1)
Presence of dactylitis (defined as LDI >0), n (%)	64 (30.2)	55 (26.1)	50 (22.9)
Morning stiffness score‡	5.8±2.5	6.0±2.5	5.7±2.7

Values are mean±SD unless noted.

*Patients with intolerance but not inadequate response to a biologic DMARD.

†ULN=2.87 mg/L.

‡Morning stiffness score is the mean of BASDAI questions 5 and 6.

Anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide; ASDAS, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BSA, body surface area; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index; hs-CRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; LDI, Leeds Dactylitis Index; LEI, Leeds Enthesitis Index; MTX, methotrexate; NRS, Numeric Rating Scale; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PASI, Psoriasis Area Severity Index; Ps, psoriasis; PsA, psoriatic arthritis; QD, once per day; RF, rheumatoid factor; sIGA, Static Investigator Global Assessment; SJC, swollen joint count; SPARCC, Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada; TJC, tender joint count; ULN, upper limit normal.

Efficacy

At week 12, significantly more patients achieved an ACR20 response in the upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg arms versus the placebo arm (56.9%, 63.8% and 24.1%, respectively; p<0.001 for both upadacitinib arms vs placebo; figure 1, tables 2 and 3). By week 2, ACR20 response was achieved by more upadacitinib 15 mg-treated and 30 mg-treated patients (nominal p<0.001). The proportion of patients with ACR20 response continued to increase over time in both treatment groups with the plateau of response observed at week 12 for the upadacitinib 30 mg group, whereas the proportion of patients with ACR20 response in the upadacitinib 15 mg group increased through week 20, approximating the response rate in the 30 mg dose group by the end of the placebo-controlled period. Subgroup analyses for ACR20 based on demographic and baseline disease characteristics are shown in online supplemental figure S4. Response rates for upadacitinib 15 mg and upadacitinib 30 mg were 44.9% and 64.8% in the subgroup of patients who had failed >1 biologic DMARD and 55.8% and 66.7% in the subgroup of patients that were on monotherapy; these responses were similar to results in the overall population. Additionally, improvements in ACR50 and ACR70 were observed with both upadacitinib doses versus placebo at week 12 (figure 1 and table 3). From week 2 through week 24, improvement from baseline in all components of ACR response was observed with upadacitinib 15 mg or 30 mg versus placebo (online supplemental figure S5).

Figure 1.

Proportions of patients achieving (A) ACR20 (B) ACR50 and (C) ACR70 response over 24 weeks (NRI). *p≤0.05 for comparison of upadacitinib 15 mg once per day versus placebo; #p≤0.05 for comparison of upadacitinib 30 mg once per day versus placebo; †Significant in the multiplicity-controlled analysis. ACR20/50/70, 20%/50%/70% improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria. Results are based on non-responder imputation. 95% CIs for response rate were calculated based on normal approximation to the binominal distribution. 95% CIs for response rate difference were calculated based on normal approximation. Nominal p value was constructed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test adjusted for the main stratification factor of current disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use (yes/no).

Table 2.

Primary and multiplicity-controlled efficacy endpoints

	Placebo	Upadacitinib 15 mg QD	Upadacitinib 30 mg QD
ACR20 response at week 12
N	212	211	218
n (%)	51 (24.1)	120 (56.9)	139 (63.8)
Response rate mean difference vs placebo (95% CI)		32.8 (24.0 to 41.6)	39.7 (31.1 to 48.3)
P value		<0.001	<0.001
HAQ-DI change from baseline at week 12
N	180	199	204
LS mean (95% CI)	−0.10 (−0.16 to −0.03)	−0.30 (−0.37 to −0.24)	−0.41 (−0.47 to −0.35)
LS mean difference (95% CI)		−0.21 (−0.30 to −0.12)	−0.31 (−0.40 to −0.22)
P value		<0.001	<0.001
FACIT-F score change from baseline at week 12
N	184	201	206
LS mean (95% CI)	1.3 (0.1 to 2.5)	5.0 (3.8 to 6.1)	6.1 (4.9 to 7.2)
LS mean difference (95% CI)		3.7 (2.0 to 5.4)	4.8 (3.1 to 6.4)
P value		<0.001	<0.001
SF-36 PCS score change from baseline at week 12
N	185	201	206
LS mean (95% CI)	1.6 (0.6 to 2.7)	5.2 (4.1 to 6.2)	7.1 (6.1 to 8.1)
LS mean difference (95% CI)		3.5 (2.1 to 5.0)	5.4 (4.0 to 6.9)
P value		<0.001	<0.001
Proportion of patients achieving sIGA of psoriasis score of 0 or 1 and at least a 2-point improvement from baseline at week 16 (for patients with baseline sIGA ≥2)
N	163	171	164
n (%)	15 (9.2)	63 (36.8)	66 (40.2)
Response rate mean difference (95% CI)		27.6 (19.2 to 36.1)	31.0 (22.3 to 39.8)
P value		<0.001	<0.001
PASI75 response at week 16 (for patients with ≥3% BSA-psoriasis at baseline)
N	131	130	131
n (%)	21 (16.0)	68 (52.3)	74 (56.5)
Response rate mean difference (95% CI)		36.3 (25.6 to 46.9)	40.5 (29.9 to 51.0)
P value		<0.001	<0.001
Self-Assessment of Psoriasis Symptoms score change from baseline at week 16
N	182	191	200
LS mean (95% CI)	−1.5 (−4.7 to 1.8)	−24.4 (−27.5 to −21.2)	−29.7 (−32.8 to −26.6)
LS mean difference (95% CI)		−22.9 (−27.4 to −18.4)	−28.2 (−32.7 to −23.8)
P value		<0.001	<0.001
Proportion of patients achieving minimal disease activity at week 24
N	212	211	218
n (%)	6 (2.8)	53 (25.1)	63 (28.9)
Response rate mean difference (95% CI)		22.3 (16.0 to 28.6)	26.1 (19.7 to 32.5)
P value		<0.001	<0.001

ACR20, 20% improvement in American College of Rheumatolog criteria; BSA, body surface area; FACIT-F, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue; HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index; LS, least squares; PASI75, 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index; QD, once per day; SF36-PCS, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary score; sIGA, Static Investigator Global Assessment.

Table 3.

Additional secondary efficacy endpoints

	Placebo	Upadacitinib 15 mg QD	Upadacitinib 30 mg QD
ACR50 response rate at week 12
N	212	211	218
n (%)	10 (4.7)	67 (31.8)	82 (37.6)
Response rate mean difference (95% CI)		27.0 (20.1 to 33.9)	32.9 (25.9 to 39.9)
Nominal p value		<0.001	<0.001
ACR70 response rate at week 12
N	212	211	218
n (%)	1 (0.5)	18 (8.5)	36 (16.5)
Response rate mean difference (95% CI)		8.1 (4.2 to 11.9)	16.0 (11.0 to 21.1)
Nominal p value		<0.001	<0.001
ACR20 response rate at week 2
N	212	211	218
n (%)	23 (10.8)	69 (32.7)	73 (33.5)
Response rate mean difference (95% CI)		21.9 (14.3 to 29.4)	22.6 (15.1 to 30.2)
Nominal p value		<0.001	<0.001
Exploratory endpoints
Resolution of enthesitis at week 12 (defined as LEI=0)
N	144	133	152
n (%)	29 (20.1)	52 (39.1)	73 (48.0)
Response rate difference (95% CI)		19.0 (8.4 to 29.5)	27.9 (17.6 to 38.2)
Nominal p value		<0.001	<0.001
Resolution of dactylitis at week 12 (defined as LDI=0)
N	64	55	50
n (%)	23 (35.9)	35 (63.6)	38 (76.0)
Response rate difference (95% CI)		27.7 (10.4 to 45.0)	40.1 (23.4 to 56.7)
Nominal p-value		<0.001	<0.001

ACR20/50/70, 20%/50%/70% improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria; LDI, Leeds Dactylitis Index; LEI, Leeds Enthesitis Index; QD, once per day.

The 15 mg and 30 mg doses of upadacitinib showed greater improvement versus placebo with respect to all key secondary endpoints (table 2 and online supplementary material).

By week 12 and through week 24, improvement in psoriasis was observed with both upadacitinib doses versus placebo as measured by PASI75/90/100 (at week 16, p<0.001 for PASI75 and nominal p<0.001 for PASI90/100; nominal p<0.001 for all the other time points; figure 2) and sIGA 0/1 (p<0.001 at week 16; nominal p<0.001 for weeks 12 and 24; online supplemental figure S6). The changes from baseline in SAPS were greater for both upadacitinib arms versus placebo at weeks 16 (p<0.001) and 24 (nominal p<0.001; online supplemental figure S7).

Figure 2.

Proportion of patients achieving (A) PASI75, (B) PASI90 and (C) PASI100. response over 24 weeks. *p≤0.05; for upadacitinib 15 mg QD versus placebo; ^#p≤0.05; for upadacitinib 30 mg QD versus placebo; †significant in the multiplicity-controlled analysis. After week 16, assessments have been performed. Patients may use concomitant treatments specifically for psoriasis per investigator judgement. Results are based on non-responder imputation. 95% CIs for response rate were calculated based on normal approximation to the binominal distribution. 95% CIs for response rate difference were calculated based on normal approximation. Nominal p value was constructed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test adjusted for the main stratification factor of current disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use (yes/no). PASI75/90/100, 75%/90%/100% improvement in Psoriasis Area Severity Index; QD, once per day.

Improvements in physical function were observed in patients on both doses of upadacitinib versus placebo based on the mean change from baseline in HAQ-DI from week 2 through week 24 (p<0.001 at week 12) and SF-36 PCS at weeks 12 (p<0.001) and 24 (nominal p<0.001; online supplemental figure S8). Patients on both doses of upadacitinib reported improvements in fatigue as assessed by FACIT-F versus placebo at weeks 12 (p<0.001) and 24 (nominal p<0.001; online supplemental figure S9). Mean improvements from baseline in morning stiffness were observed at weeks 12 and 24 (nominal p<0.001; online supplemental figure S10).

Resolution of enthesitis using both the LEI and the SPARCC enthesitis index and of dactylitis was reported in a higher proportion of patients on either dose of upadacitinib versus placebo from week 12 to week 24 (nominal p<0.001; table 3 and online supplemental figure S11).

A higher proportion of patients receiving either dose of upadacitinib achieved MDA through week 24 versus placebo (p<0.001 at week 24; nominal p<0.001 for weeks 12 and 16; figure 3).

Figure 3.

Proportion of patients achieving minimal disease activity (MDA) over 24 weeks. *p≤0.05; for upadacitinib 15 mg QD versus placebo; #p≤0.05; for upadacitinib 30 mg QD versus placebo; †significant in the multiplicity-controlled analysis. Results for MDA at week 24 are based on non-responder imputation with additional rescue handling, where MDA at week 24 for patients rescued at week 16 is imputed as non-responder. 95% CIs for response rate were calculated based on normal approximation to the binominal distribution. 95% CIs for response rate difference were calculated based on normal approximation. Nominal p value was constructed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test adjusted for the main stratification factor of current disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use (yes/no). QD, once per day.

Mean changes from baseline in the DAPSA score were greater with both upadacitinib doses versus placebo through week 24 (nominal p<0.001 for all time points; figure 4).

Figure 4.

Change from baseline in Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) score. *p≤0.05; for upadacitinib 15 mg QD versus placebo; #p≤0.05; for upadacitinib 30 mg QD versus placebo. Within group least square mean and 95% CI, and between group least square mean, 95% CI and nominal p value are based on mixed-effect model repeated measurement (MMRM) analysis with unstructured variance-covariance matrix, including treatment, visit, treatment-by-visit interaction, the stratification factor current disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use (yes/no) as fixed factors and the continuous fixed covariate of baseline measurement. QD, once per day.

Safety

Through week 24, the rate of overall treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) was higher in the upadacitinib 30 mg arm and rates of serious AEs (SAEs) and TEAEs leading to discontinuation of trial drug were higher with both upadacitinib doses versus placebo (table 4).

Table 4.

Safety summary through week 24

	Placebo N=212	Upadacitinib 15 mg QD N=211	Upadacitinib 30 mg QD N=218
Patients with adverse events (AE), n (%)
Any AE	139 (65.6)	135 (64.0)	170 (78.0)
Serious AE	4 (1.9)	12 (5.7)	18 (8.3)
AE leading to discontinuation of trial drug	11 (5.2)	15 (7.1)	20 (9.2)
Deaths	1 (0.5)	0	0
Infection	73 (34.4)	71 (33.6)	108 (49.5)
Serious infection	1 (0.5)	1 (0.5)	6 (2.8)
Opportunistic infection excl. tuberculosis and herpes zoster	0	0	2 (0.9)
Herpes zoster	2 (0.9)	3 (1.4)	8 (3.7)
Active tuberculosis	0	0	0
Hepatic disorder	3 (1.4)	4 (1.9)	18 (8.3)
Malignancy	0	3 (1.4)	3 (1.4)
Non-melanoma skin cancer	0	1 (0.5)	1 (0.5)
Malignancy other than NMSC	0	2 (0.9)	2 (0.9)
Lymphoma*	0	1 (0.5)	0
Anaemia	2 (0.9)	4 (1.9)	14 (6.4)
Neutropenia	1 (0.5)	2 (0.9)	6 (2.8)
Lymphopenia	0	2 (0.9)	2 (0.9)
Creatine phosphokinase elevation	4 (1.9)	4 (1.9)	12 (5.5)
Renal dysfunction	1 (0.5)	0	1 (0.5)
MACE (adjudicated)	0	1 (0.5)	0
VTE (adjudicated)	0	1 (0.5)	0
Laboratory data (LS mean change from baseline to week 24±SD)
Haemoglobin, g/L	−0.7±7.44	−3.6±9.45	−5.5±10.78
Neutrophils, 109/L	−0.056±1.6435	−0.286±1.9578	−0.610±2.0242
Lymphocytes, 109/L	−0.076±0.5484	−0.028±0.5460	−0.057±0.5403
Platelets, 109/L	1.7±59.35	8.4±51.59	18.3±72.08
LDL-C, mmol/L	0.003±0.6839	0.219±0.6567	0.453±0.9283
HDL-C, mmol/L	−0.008±0.2278	0.199±0.2599	0.243±0.3451
ALT, U/L	−0.7±10.28	6.8±16.05	9.1±16.45
AST, U/L	−0.1±8.41	6.5±22.17	8.3±13.29
Creatinine, umol/L	2.2±10.87	4.7±9.19	5.3±9.48
Creatine phosphokinase, U/L	−19.9±140.87	166.8±1198.70	138.7±165.85

AEs were coded per the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities. Laboratory data was graded using the Common Toxicity Criteria of the National Cancer Institute 4.03.

*In the once per day upadacitinib 15 mg arm, one event of treatment-emergent lymphocyte morphology abnormal was identified; per the investigator, no further diagnosis was made.

ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LS, least squares; MACE, major adverse cardiovascular events (defined as non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke and cardiovascular death); NMSC, non-melanoma skin cancer; QD, once per day; VTE, venous thromboembolic event (defined as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism).

The most commonly reported TEAEs were upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis in upadacitinib-treated patients (online supplemental table S3). SAEs were reported in 4 (1.9%) patients on placebo, 12 (5.7%) on upadacitinib 15 mg and 18 (8.3%) on upadacitinib 30 mg. Serious infections occurred in one patient each (0.5%) on placebo and upadacitinib 15 mg and six (2.8%) patients on upadacitinib 30 mg. Pneumonia was the most frequently reported serious infection (one patient on upadacitinib 15 mg and three patients on upadacitinib 30 mg). Up to week 24, treatment-emergent opportunistic infections, excluding tuberculosis and herpes zoster, included one event each of candidiasis of the trachea and oropharyngeal candidiasis, both with upadacitinib 30 mg. Herpes zoster was reported in two, three and eight patients in the placebo, upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg arms, respectively; none of the cases were serious. One patient on upadacitinib 15 mg and two patients on upadacitinib 30 mg had cutaneous disseminated herpes zoster. No cases of herpes zoster with central nervous system involvement were observed. Hepatic disorders were reported in 3 (1.4%) patients on placebo, 4 (1.9%) on upadacitinib 15 mg and 18 (8.3%) on upadacitinib 30 mg; most were asymptomatic liver enzyme elevations.

Malignancies were reported in three patients in each upadacitinib arm (upadacitinib 15 mg: one basal cell carcinoma, one prostate cancer, one rectal cancer; upadacitinib 30 mg: one rectal adenocarcinoma, one ovarian and endometrial cancer, and one basal cell carcinoma) and none in the placebo arm. The time to event onset for these malignant events was <6 months.

There were no adjudicated gastrointestinal perforations reported through week 24. One case of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE; 0.5%, non-fatal myocardial infarction) and one case of venous thromboembolic event (VTE; 0.5%; pulmonary embolism) were reported in the upadacitinib 15 mg arm; both patients had at least one risk factor (eg, obesity, hypertension or hypercholesterolaemia) for MACE or VTE, respectively. Over the 24-week period, one death was reported in the placebo arm related to a motor vehicle accident.

Generally, mean haemoglobin, neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet levels remained within normal limits from baseline through week 24 in all treatment arms (online supplemental figure S12 and online supplemental table S5). There were two patients with grade 3 decreases in haemoglobin values in the upadacitinib 30 mg arm (online supplemental table S4). Grade 3 decreases in neutrophils were reported in one patient on placebo (0.5%), two patients on upadacitinib 15 mg (1.0%) and four patients on upadacitinib 30 mg (1.8%). No patients had grade 4 decreases in platelets, leucocytes, neutrophils or lymphocytes.

Isolated grade 3 increases in alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase were observed in ≤1% of the patients among the treatment arms, and no grade 4 increases were observed (online supplemental table S4). No Hy’s law cases were reported. Grade 3 increases in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values were reported in one (0.5%), one (0.5%) and five (2.3%) patients in the placebo, and upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg arms, respectively. Grade 4 increases in CPK values were reported in two patients with placebo and one patient with upadacitinib 15 mg. None led to discontinuation of trial drug, and there were no events of rhabdomyolysis. Slight mean elevations in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were observed in the upadacitinib arms versus the placebo arm (online supplemental figure S13). The ratios of LDL-C:HDL-C and total cholesterol:HDL-C generally remained constant through week 24.

Discussion

In this phase 3 trial of patients refractory or intolerant to biologic DMARDs, greater efficacy was demonstrated for upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg once per day versus placebo for clinical manifestations of PsA including musculoskeletal symptoms (peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis and spondylitis), psoriasis, physical function, pain, fatigue and quality of life.

Despite the advent of biologic DMARDs in PsA, many patients are either refractory or develop refractoriness to such treatment, underscoring the need for new therapy options. Both upadacitinib doses demonstrated efficacy in this particularly refractory population, wherein approximately 31% of the patients had failed ≥2 biologic DMARDs. Furthermore, treatment with both upadacitinib doses resulted in improvements over placebo in more rigorous measures of disease control, as demonstrated by the ACR70, PASI100, sIGA 0/1, resolution of enthesitis and dactylitis, and MDA. Notably, efficacy was achieved with both upadacitinib doses as monotherapy and in combination with non-biologic DMARDs. Both upadacitinib doses also provided rapid efficacy on arthritis signs/symptoms, as evidenced by greater improvement of ACR20 compared with placebo at week 2.

Upadacitinib 30 mg resulted in numerically greater efficacy when compared with 15 mg for the primary and key secondary endpoints. Upadacitinib showed improvement in psoriasis similar to that observed in recent studies of biologics and small molecules in patients with PsA and previous inadequate response to biologic DMARDs.^28–30 However, the efficacy differences in musculoskeletal manifestations between the upadacitinib doses appear to decrease by week 24. Dose-dependent efficacy will be further evaluated with long-term data.

The safety profile of upadacitinib was generally consistent with results reported previously in rheumatoid arthritis trials.^11–14 More serious infections, opportunistic infections and herpes zoster events were reported with upadacitinib 30 mg compared with upadacitinib 15 mg and placebo; however, percentages of malignancy and lymphopenia were the same in the upadacitinib arms. Although the sample size and trial duration may not be enough to make a determination from this study, there was a lack of MACE and VTE reports in the upadacitinib 30 mg arm, suggesting no dose-dependent increased risk of these cardiovascular events with upadacitinib therapy. Few grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities were seen in either upadacitinib arm.

Due to the 24-week duration of the placebo-controlled portion of this trial, limited safety conclusions may be made for events with longer latency or rare events. Long-term safety and efficacy of upadacitinib in patients with PsA are continuing to be evaluated in the ongoing extension phase. Further, this trial did not assess the effect of upadacitinib on radiographic progression compared with that of placebo. However, radiographic progression was evaluated in a parallel trial (NCT03104400) registered on clinicaltrials.gov.

In summary, in a PsA population refractory or intolerant to prior biologic DMARD therapy, upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg once per day, with or without concomitant non-biologic DMARD therapy, showed rapid improvements versus placebo as measured by ACR20 response and efficacy across all clinical domains of PsA, including rigorous levels of efficacy in musculoskeletal and psoriatic skin disease measures as well as of comprehensive disease control. No new safety signals were identified compared with what has been observed with upadacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis.