Infliximab for Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis (P05336 AM1) (INFAST)

Infliximab as First Line Therapy in Patients With Early Active Axial Spondyloarthritis Trial

The primary objective of this study was to assess the proportion of participants in the infliximab plus naproxen arm versus the placebo plus naproxen arm, in a population of participants with moderate-to-severe active axial spondyloarthritis and disease duration of ≤3 years, who achieve the Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis (ASAS) partial remission criteria.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Ankylosing Spondylitis; Axial Spondyloarthritis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Infliximab; Drug: Naproxen

Detailed Description

In the 28-week treatment phase, participants were randomized to receive either infliximab plus naproxen or placebo plus naproxen.

After 28-weeks of treatment, participants that achieved partial remission in the treatment phase were randomized to continued treatment with naproxen or to receive no treatment and were followed for an additional 24 weeks (follow-up phase).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 158
• Phase: Phase 3

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 48 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Participant must:

• be 18 to 48 years of age
• have diagnosis of active axial spondyloarthritis, with disease duration of less than or equal to 3 years.
• have active disease during trial enrollment
• have limited treatment history for axial spondyloarthritis (must meet certain criteria)
• agree to an acceptable method of contraception (for women of childbearing potential and all men)
• must meet certain tuberculosis screening requirements
• must meet certain laboratory screening safety requirements
• have an x-ray of the sacroiliac joints available from within the previous 12 months (or have one performed during the Screening visit if site is outside of Germany).

Exclusion Criteria:

Participant will be excluded:

• for certain medical conditions and/or recent history of certain medical disorders
• for current or recent treatment with certain other medications and certain vaccinations.
• for being a woman who is breastfeeding, pregnant, or intending to become pregnant.
• if known to have had a substance abuse problem within the previous 3 years prior to screening.
• if currently participating in any other clinical study.
• for other administrative reasons.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Infliximab + Naproxen; Infliximab administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg intravenously on Day 1 of Weeks 0, 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24, combined with naproxen administered at a daily dose of 1000 mg for 28 weeks during the 28-week treatment phase.	Drug: Infliximab; Other Names: Remicade; SCH 215596; Drug: Naproxen; Other Names: Naprosyn
Placebo Comparator: Placebo + Naproxen; Placebo administered intravenously on Day 1 at Weeks 0, 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24, combined with naproxen administered at a daily dose of 1000 mg for 28 weeks, during the 28-week treatment phase.	Drug: Placebo; Drug: Naproxen; Other Names: Naprosyn
Experimental: Naproxen Only (Follow-Up); For participants who achieved partial remission during 28-week treatment phase, naproxen was continued at a daily dose of 1000 mg administered orally for an additional 24 weeks in the follow-up phase.	Drug: Naproxen; Other Names: Naprosyn
No Intervention: No Treatment (Follow-Up); For participants who achieved partial remission during Treatment phase, no treatment was administered for an additional 24 weeks in the follow-up phase.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants Achieving the Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis (ASAS) Partial Remission Criteria at Week 28	ASAS domains were measured on a visual analog scale (VAS) of 0 to 100 mm (with 0 being the very best situation and 100 being the very worst situation). ASAS partial remission criteria is defined as reaching ≤20 mm in all 4 ASAS domains (i.e., patient global assessment, total back pain, function, and inflammation).	Week 28

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants Maintaining the ASAS Partial Remission Criteria at Week 52 By Treatment Assignment in the Follow-Up Phase	ASAS domains were measured on a VAS of 0 to 100 mm (with 0 being the very best situation and 100 being the very worst situation). ASAS partial remission criteria is defined as reaching ≤20 mm in all 4 ASAS domains (i.e., patient global assessment, total back pain, function, and inflammation).	Week 52
Percentage of Participants Maintaining the ASAS Partial Remission Criteria at Week 52 By Treatment Assignment in the Treatment Phase	ASAS domains were measured on a VAS of 0 to 100 mm (with 0 being the very best situation and 100 being the very worst situation). ASAS partial remission criteria is defined as reaching ≤20 mm in all 4 ASAS domains (i.e., patient global assessment, total back pain, function, and inflammation).	Week 52
Change From Baseline of Berlin Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Spine Overall Score at Week 28	MRI scans (T1 for chronic changes and short tau inversion recovery [STIR] for active changes) of the whole spine was performed to determine the Berlin MRI Spine Score. The Berlin MRI scoring for the spine was assessed on a scale of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) for a maximum total score of 69, with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable.	Baseline, Week 28
Change From Baseline in the Sacroiliac Overall Score at Week 28	Each sacroiliac joint was divided into four quadrants. An activity score of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) was assessed for every quadrant of the left and right sacroiliac joint separately for a total maximum score of 24, with with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable.	Baseline, Week 28
Change From Baseline of Berlin MRI Spine Overall Score at Week 52	MRI scans (T1 for chronic changes and STIR for active changes) of the whole spine was performed to determine the Berlin MRI Spine Score. The Berlin MRI scoring for the spine was assessed on a scale of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) for a maximum total score of 69, with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable.	Baseline, Week 52
Change From Baseline in the Sacroiliac Overall Score at Week 52	Each sacroiliac joint was divided into four quadrants. An activity score of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) was assessed for every quadrant of the left and right sacroiliac joint separately for a total maximum score of 24, with with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable.	Baseline, Week 28
Number of Participants With Complete Absence of Active Inflammatory Lesions at the Spine at Treatment Week 28	MRI scans (T1 for chronic changes and STIR for active changes) of the whole spine was performed to determine the Berlin MRI Spine Score. The Berlin MRI scoring for the spine was assessed on a scale of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) for a maximum total score of 69, with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable. Complete absence of active inflammatory lesions was defined as a Berlin MRI Score = 0.	Week 28
Number of Participants With Complete Absence of Active Inflammatory Lesions at the Sacroiliac Joint at Treatment Week 28	Each sacroiliac joint was divided into four quadrants. An activity score of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) was assessed for every quadrant of the left and right sacroiliac joint separately for a total maximum score of 24, with with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable. Complete absence of active inflammatory lesions at the sacroiliac joints was defined as a Score = 0.	Week 28
Number of Participants With Complete Absence of Active Inflammatory Lesions at the Spine and Sacroiliac Joint at Treatment Week 28	MRI scans (T1 for chronic changes and STIR for active changes) of the whole spine was performed to determine the Berlin MRI Spine Score. The Berlin MRI scoring for the spine was assessed on a scale of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) for a maximum total score of 69, with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable. Complete absence of active inflammatory lesions was defined as a Berlin MRI Score = 0. Each sacroiliac joint was divided into four quadrants. An activity score of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) was assessed for every quadrant of the left and right sacroiliac joint separately for a total maximum score of 24, with with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable. Complete absence of active sacroiliac inflammatory lesions was defined as a Score = 0.	Week 28
Number of Participants With Complete Absence of Active Inflammatory Lesions at the Spine at Treatment Week 52	MRI scans (T1 for chronic changes and STIR for active changes) of the whole spine was performed to determine the Berlin MRI Spine Score. The Berlin MRI scoring for the spine was assessed on a scale of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) for a maximum total score of 69, with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable. Complete absence of active inflammatory lesions was defined as a Berlin MRI Score = 0.	Week 52
Number of Participants With Complete Absence of Active Inflammatory Lesions at the Sacroiliac Joint at Treatment Week 52	EaEach sacroiliac joint was divided into four quadrants. An activity score of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) was assessed for every quadrant of the left and right sacroiliac joint separately for a total maximum score of 24, with with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable. Complete absence of active sacroiliac inflammatory lesions was defined as a Score = 0.	Week 52
Number of Participants With Complete Absence of Active Inflammatory Lesions at the Spine and Sacroiliac Joint at Treatment Week 52	MRI scans (T1 for chronic changes and STIR for active changes) of the whole spine was performed to determine the Berlin MRI Spine Score. The Berlin MRI scoring for the spine was assessed on a scale of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) for a maximum total score of 69, with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable. Complete absence of active spinal inflammatory lesions was defined as a Berlin MRI Score = 0. Each sacroiliac joint was divided into four quadrants. An activity score of 0 (best) to 3 (worst) was assessed for every quadrant of the left and right sacroiliac joint separately for a total maximum score of 24, with with 0 = no inflammatory lesions; 1 = minor bone marrow edema; 2 = moderate bone marrow edema; 3 = major bone marrow edema; or N = non readable. Complete absence of active sacroiliac inflammatory lesions was defined as a Score = 0.	Week 52
Median Duration of Maintaining ASAS Partial Remission in the Follow-Up Phase	ASAS domains were measured on a VAS of 0 to 100 mm (with 0 being the very best situation and 100 being the very worse situation). ASAS partial remission criteria is defined as reaching ≤20 mm in all 4 ASAS domains (i.e., patient global assessment, total back pain, function, and inflammation).	Week 52
Number of Participants Who Achieved ASAS Partial Remission That Experienced Disease Flare With Naproxen Maintenance Treatment in the Follow-Up Phase	The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) employs a VAS of 0mm (best) to 100mm (worst). Disease flare was defined as reaching a BASDAI of ≥30 mm during two consecutive visits after Week 28 until Week 52. ASAS domains were measured on a VAS of 0 to 100 mm (with 0 being the very best situation and 100 being the very worse situation). ASAS partial remission criteria was defined as reaching ≤20 mm in all 4 ASAS domains (i.e., patient global assessment, total back pain, function, and inflammation).	Week 52
Percentage of Participants That Achieved ASAS-40 Response at Week 28 in the Treatment Phase	ASAS domains were measured on a VAS of 0 to 100 mm (with 0 being the very best situation and 100 being the very worse situation). ASAS-40 response was defined as ASAS achieving ≥40% improvement in 3 of the 4 domains (patient global assessment, total back pain, function, and inflammation), with an absolute improvement of ≥20 mm and no deterioration in the remaining domain.	Week 28
Percentage of Participants That Achieved ASAS-20 Response at Week 28 in the Treatment Phase	ASAS-20 response was defined as ≥20% improvement in response according to following criteria: • An improvement of ≥20% from baseline and an absolute improvement from baseline of ≥10 mm in at least 3 of the following 4 domains (patient global assessment, pain, function,and inflammation) • Absence of deterioration from baseline (≥20% and an absolute change of ≥10 mm) in the potential remaining domain.	Week 28

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Sieper J, Lenaerts J, Wollenhaupt J, Rudwaleit M, Mazurov VI, Myasoutova L, Park S, Song Y, Yao R, Chitkara D, Vastesaeger N; All INFAST Investigators. Efficacy and safety of infliximab plus naproxen versus naproxen alone in patients with early, active axial spondyloarthritis: results from the double-blind, placebo-controlled INFAST study, Part 1. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Jan;73(1):101-7. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-203201. Epub 2013 May 21.
• Sieper J, Lenaerts J, Wollenhaupt J, Rudwaleit M, Mazurov VI, Myasoutova L, Park S, Song Y, Yao R, Chitkara D, Vastesaeger N; All INFAST Investigators. Maintenance of biologic-free remission with naproxen or no treatment in patients with early, active axial spondyloarthritis: results from a 6-month, randomised, open-label follow-up study, INFAST Part 2. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Jan;73(1):108-13. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203460. Epub 2013 Jun 5.
• Poddubnyy D, Listing J, Sieper J. Brief Report: Course of Active Inflammatory and Fatty Lesions in Patients With Early Axial Spondyloarthritis Treated With Infliximab Plus Naproxen as Compared to Naproxen Alone: Results From the Infliximab As First Line Therapy in Patients with Early Active Axial Spondyloarthritis Trial. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016 Aug;68(8):1899-903. doi: 10.1002/art.39690.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 13, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 13, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): February 16, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 12, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 15, 2017
• Last Verified: March 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthritis; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Spondylarthropathies; Bone Diseases, Infectious; Ankylosis; Spondylitis; Spondylarthritis; Spondylitis, Ankylosing; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Gastrointestinal Agents; Dermatologic Agents; Gout Suppressants; Infliximab; Naproxen
• Other Study ID Numbers: P05336; 2008-000982-51

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Yes

IPD Plan Description

http://www.merck.com/clinical-trials/pdf/Merck%20Procedure%20on%20Clinical%20Trial%20Data%20Access%20Final_Updated%20July_9_2014.pdf

http://engagezone.msd.com/ds_documentation.php