Secukinumab Improves Patient-Reported Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis (FUTURE 1) Save

Secukinumab (Cosentyx) has recently been approved for use in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA); the latter largely based on the FUTURE 2 and the just reported FUTURE 1 clinical trial. FUTURE 1 demonstrates the efficacy and safety of secukinumab, with inital weekly intravenous loading, given monthly as a subcutaneous injection. 

FUTURE 1 is a 2 year, phase III study designed to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of secukinumab in subjects with PsA. Efficacy and safety data through week 52 have been reported previously. This publication presents data on Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) of secukinumab treatment over 24 and 52 weeks. 

It is well known that PsA doesn't just significantly impact physical function and mobility. Psycho-social aspects of the disease must not be overlooked as they have a huge impact on long term outcomes and health-related quality of life.

It is crutial to understand the effect of any treatment for PsA based on the patient's own perception, as it often impacts patient-physician relationship and treatment compliance.

PsA patients (n=515) were treated with intravenous secukinumab at weeks 0, 2 and 4 followed by subcutaneous secukinumab 150 or 75 mg every 4 weeks or matching placebo until week 24.

The HAQ-DI responders at week 24 was 41.1% with secukinumab 150 mg, 39.6% with secukinumab 75 mg and 12.4% for those receiving placebo. 

The primary results of the FUTURE 1 study showed treatment with secukinumab for 24 weeks also resulted in clinically meaningful improvements compared with placebo across multiple PROs. Those treated with secukinumab noted significant reductions in SF-36, global assessment of disease activity (−20.6 and −20.0 vs −7.4, respectively), patient pain (−20.8 and −20.4 vs −6.7), Dermatology Life Quality Index (−8.8 and −7.9 vs 0.7), FACIT (6.74 and 6.03 vs 4.00) outcomes compared to placebo; with all exceededing minimum clinically important differences.

The HAQ-DI scores and SF-36 PCS score  improvements were sustained with both secukinumab dose groups up to week 52.

Reported improvements were sustained or further improved through 52 weeks of secukinumab therapy. The i.v.→150 mg dose of secukinumab resulted in consistently better PRO improvements than the i.v.→75 mg dose, indicating a dose–response.