An Efficacy and Safety Study of Ustekinumab in Participants With Active Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Ustekinumab in the Treatment of Subjects With Active Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in adult participants with active nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpA) measured by the reduction in signs and symptoms of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpA).

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Nonradiographic Axial Spondylitis, Ankylosing
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Group 1: Placebo; Drug: Group 2: Ustekinumab 45 mg; Drug: Group 3: Ustekinumab 90 mg

Detailed Description

This is a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in the treatment of participants with active non-radiographic axial spondylo arthritis. Participants will receive either placebo or ustekinumab 45 or 90 milligram (mg). Participants will primarily be assessed for Assessment of Spondylo Arthritis (ASAS) International Society criteria 20 at Week 24. Safety will be monitored throughout the study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 356
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Argentina
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Ciudad De Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Ciudad De La Plata, Argentina
  • Ciudad De San Miguel De Tucuman, Argentina
  • Cordoba, Argentina
• Australia
  • Geelong, Australia
  • Hobart, Australia
  • Kogarah, Australia
  • Queensland, Australia
  • Woodville South, Australia
  • Woolloongabba, Australia
• Belgium
  • Genk, Belgium
  • Gent, Belgium
  • Leuven, Belgium
  • Liège, Belgium
  • Merksem, Belgium
• Czechia
  • Brno, Czechia
  • Bruntal, Czechia
  • Kladno, Czechia
  • Ostrava, Czechia
  • Pardubice, Czechia
  • Prague 5, Czechia
  • Praha 2, Czechia
  • Praha 4, Czechia
  • Uherske Hradiste, Czechia
  • Zlin, Czechia
• France
  • Boulogne-Billancourt, France
  • Chambray Les Tours, France
  • Echirolles, France
  • Montpellier, Herault, France
  • Paris, France
  • Toulouse, France
• Germany
  • Bad Nauheim, Germany
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Hamburg, Germany
  • Hannover, Germany
  • Herne, Germany
  • Köln, Germany
  • Olsberg, Germany
• Hungary
  • Budapest, Hungary
  • Debrecen, Hungary
  • Esztergom, Hungary
  • Kistarcsa, Hungary
  • Nyíregyháza, Hungary
  • Szolnok, Hungary
  • Székesfehérvár, Hungary
  • Veszprem, Hungary
• Korea, Republic of
  • Gwangju, Korea, Republic of
  • Incheon, Korea, Republic of
  • Seoul, Korea, Republic of
• Mexico
  • Chihuahua, Mexico
  • Culiacan, Mexico
  • Guadalajara, Mexico
  • Mexico, Mexico
• Poland
  • Bydgoszcz, Poland
  • Szczecin, Poland
  • Torun, Poland
  • Warszawa, Poland
  • Wrocław, Poland
• Russian Federation
  • Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
  • Chita, Russian Federation
  • Kemerovo, Russian Federation
  • Kirov, Russian Federation
  • Moscow, Russian Federation
  • Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
  • Orenburg, Russian Federation
  • Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation
  • Sankt-Petersburg., Russian Federation
  • Saratov, Russian Federation
  • St.Petersburg, Russian Federation
  • Stavropol, Russian Federation
  • Ulyanovsk, Russian Federation
  • Zelenograd, Russian Federation
• Taiwan
  • Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • Taichung, Taiwan
  • Tainan, Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan
  • Taoyuan, Taiwan
• Ukraine
  • Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
  • Kharkiv, Ukraine
  • Kyiv, Ukraine
  • Lviv, Ukraine
  • Odessa, Ukraine
  • Ternopil, Ukraine
  • Vinnytsya, Ukraine
  • Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine
• United Kingdom
  • Bath, United Kingdom
  • Leeds, United Kingdom
  • Leytonstone, United Kingdom
  • London, United Kingdom
  • Norwich, United Kingdom
  • Staffordshire, United Kingdom
  • Torquay, United Kingdom

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants must be classified as having nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpA) based on 2009 Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria
• Must have an age at nr-AxSpA onset of <= 45 years
• Must have at screening or active inflammation on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as evidenced by the central readers and no radiographic sacroiliitis that fulfills the 1984 modified New York Criteria
• Must have symptoms of active disease at screening and at baseline, as evidenced by both a BASDAI score of >= 4 and a visual analogue scale (VAS) score for total back pain of more than or equal to (>=) 4, each on a scale of 0 to 10

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have radiographic sacroiliitis fulfilling the 1984 modified New York Criteria
• Have other inflammatory diseases that might confound the evaluations of benefit from the ustekinumab therapy
• Have received any systemic immunosuppressives or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARDs) other than methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine (SSZ), or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) within 4 weeks prior to first administration of study agent
• Have received epidural, intra-articular, intramuscular (IM), or intravenous (IV) corticosteroids, including adrenocorticotropic hormone during the 4 weeks prior to first administration of study agent
• Have received prior biologic therapy other than anti-TNFα
• Have received more than 1 prior anti-TNFα agent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Group 1: Placebo; Participants will receive placebo subcutaneously (SC) at Weeks 0, 4, 16, and 20. At Week 24, all participants (except those who early escaped) will crossover to receive ustekinumab 45 or 90 milligram (mg) SC at Weeks 24 and 28 followed by every 12 weeks up to Week 52. At Week 16, participants in placebo group with < 10% improvement from baseline in both total back pain and morning stiffness measures at Week 12 and 16 will enter early escape to receive ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg at Weeks 16, 20, and 28 followed by every 12 weeks up to Week 52. At Week 52, participants who achieved inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at both Week 40 and 52 will be re-randomized to receive placebo or ustekinumab every 12 weeks up to Week 88. At Week 52, participants who did not achieve inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at Week 40 or 52 will continue with ustekinumab every 12 weeks up to Week 88. NOTE: Intervention Description should have no more than 800 characters.	Drug: Group 1: Placebo; Participants will receive placebo SC at Weeks 0, 4, 16, and 20. At Week 24, all participants (except those who early escaped) will crossover to receive ustekinumab 45 or 90 mg SC at Weeks 24 and 28 followed by every 12 weeks up to Week 52. At Week 16, participants in placebo group with < 10% improvement from baseline in both total back pain and morning stiffness measures at Week 12 and 16 will enter early escape to receive ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg at Weeks 16, 20, and 28 followed by every 12 weeks up to Week 52. At Week 52, participants who achieved inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at both Week 40 and 52 will be re-randomized to receive placebo or ustekinumab every 12 weeks up to Week 88. At Week 52, participants who did not achieve inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at Week 40 or 52 will continue with ustekinumab every 12 weeks up to Week 88.
Experimental: Group 2: Ustekinumab 45 milligram (mg); Participants will receive ustekinumab 45 mg subcutaneously at Weeks 0 and 4, followed by every 12 weeks through Week 52. At Weeks 20 and 24, participants will receive placebo subcutaneously to maintain the blind. At Week 52, participants who achieved inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at both Week 40 and Week 52 will be re-randomized to receive either placebo or ustekinumab 45 mg every 12 weeks in a blinded fashion. At Week 52, participants who did not achieve inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at Week 40 or Week 52 will continue receiving ustekinumab 45 mg every 12 weeks through Week 88.	Drug: Group 2: Ustekinumab 45 mg; Participants will receive ustekinumab 45 mg subcutaneously at Weeks 0 and 4, followed by every 12 weeks through Week 52. At Weeks 20 and 24, participants will receive placebo subcutaneously to maintain the blind. At Week 52, participants who achieved inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at both Week 40 and Week 52 will be re-randomized to receive either placebo or ustekinumab 45 mg every 12 weeks in a blinded fashion. At Week 52, participants who did not achieve inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at Week 40 or Week 52 will continue receiving ustekinumab 45 mg every 12 weeks through Week 88.
Experimental: Group 3: Ustekinumab 90 mg; Participants will receive ustekinumab 90 mg subcutaneously at Weeks 0 and 4, followed by every four weeks through Week 52. At Weeks 20 and 24, participants will receive placebo subcutaneously to maintain the blind. At Week 52, participants who achieved inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at both Week 40 and Week 52 will receive either placebo or ustekinumab 90 mg every 12 weeks in a blinded fashion. At Week 52, participants who did not achieve inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at Week 40 or Week 52 will continue receiving ustekinumab 90 mg every 12 weeks through Week 88.	Drug: Group 3: Ustekinumab 90 mg; Participants will receive ustekinumab 90 mg subcutaneously at Weeks 0 and 4, followed by every four weeks through Week 52. At Weeks 20 and 24, participants will receive placebo subcutaneously to maintain the blind. At Week 52, participants who achieved inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at both Week 40 and Week 52 will receive either placebo or ustekinumab 90 mg every 12 weeks in a blinded fashion. At Week 52, participants who did not achieve inactive disease by ASDAS (ESR) <1.3 at Week 40 or Week 52 will continue receiving ustekinumab 90 mg every 12 weeks through Week 88.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) 20 Response at Week 24	ASAS 20 defined as improvement of greater than or equal to (>=) 20 % from baseline and absolute improvement from baseline of 1 on a 0 to 10 centimeter(cm) scale in at least 3 of following 4 domains: Patient's global assessment of disease activity (0 to 10 cm; 0=very well,10=very poor), total back pain (0 to 10 cm; 0=no pain,10=most severe pain), BASFI (self-assessment represented as mean (0 to 10 cm; 0=easy to 10=impossible) of 10 questions, 8 of which relate to participant's functional anatomy and 2 to participant's ability to cope with everyday life), Inflammation (0 to 10 cm;0=none,10=very severe); absence of deterioration (>= 20% and worsening of at least 1 on a 0 to 10 cm scale) from baseline in remaining domain. ASAS20 response based on imputed data using treatment failure (consider non-responders at and after treatment failure),early escape rules (consider non-responder at Week 20 and 24),non-responder[NRI] (missing responses at post baseline visit imputed as non-responder).	Week 24

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved an ASAS 40 Response at Week 24	ASAS 40 defined as improvement of >= 40% from baseline and absolute improvement from baseline of at least 2 on 0 to 10 cm scale in at least 3 of following 4 domains: Patient's global assessment of disease activity (0 to 10 cm; 0=very well,10=very poor),total back pain (0 to 10 cm; 0=no pain,10=most severe pain), BASFI (self-assessment represented as mean (0 to 10 cm; 0=easy to 10=impossible) of 10 questions, 8 of which relate to participant's functional anatomy and 2 relate to participant's ability to cope with everyday life), Inflammation (0 to 10 cm; 0=none,10=very severe); no worsening at all from baseline in remaining domain. ASAS40 response based on imputed data using treatment failure(consider non-responders at and after treatment failure),early escape rules(consider non-responder at Week 20 and 24),non-responder[NRI] (missing responses at post baseline visit imputed as non-responder).	Week 24
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved at Least a 50% Improvement From Baseline in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) at Week 24	The BASDAI is used to measure the ankylosing spondylitis (AS) disease severity. It consists of 6 questions: fatigue, spinal pain, arthralgia (joint pain) or swelling, enthesitis (inflammation of tendons and ligaments), and morning stiffness (2 questions: duration and severity). Each question is an easy to answer 10 centimeter (cm) visual analog scale (VAS), with 0 being none, and 10 being very severe. In order to give each of the 5 symptoms equal weight, the mean of the 2 questions about morning stiffness were added to the total of the remaining 4 scores, and the final BASDAI score (ranging 0-10) is the average of the overall total score. Higher BASDAI score indicates more severe AS symptom. 50% improvement in response based on imputed data using treatment failure(consider non-responders at and after treatment failure),early escape rules(consider non-responder at Week 20 and 24), non-responder[NRI] (missing responses at post baseline visit imputed as non-responder).	Week 24
Change From Baseline in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) at Week 24	The BASFI is composed with 10 questions (each question is answered with a visual analogue scale 0-10 cm) to assess the disease severity, including the first 8 questions regarding to functional anatomy related activities and the remaining 2 questions related to daily activities of ankylosing spondylitis participants. Each question is a 10cm VAS with a value between 0 (easy) and 10 (impossible). The final BASFI score is the mean of the 10 scores. The BASFI score is the average of the 10 responses and has a possible minimum value of 0 and a possible maximum value of 10. Higher BASFI score indicates more severe functional limitations of the participant due to AS. Early escape rule was applied (measurement value at Week 20 and Week 24 was set as missing).	Baseline, Week 24
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) C-reactive Protein (CRP) Inactive Disease (<1.3) at Week 24	ASDAS includes CRP milligram per liter (mg/L); four additional self-reported items (rated on 0-10cm VAS or 0-10 numerical rating scale [NRS]) included total back pain(TBP), duration of morning stiffness (DMS), peripheral pain/swelling and patient global assessment(PGA). ASDAS scores calculated as: ASDAS(CRP) = (0.121*total back pain)+ (0.110*PGA)+ (0.073*peripheral pain/swelling)+ (0.058* DMS)+ (0.579*Ln(CRP+1)). The disease activity, TBP, and peripheral pain/swelling on a numeric rating scale (from 0 (normal) to 10 (very severe)) and DMS on a numeric rating scale (0 to 10, with 0 being none and 10 representing a duration of =>2 hours). Inactive disease is defined as an ASDAS score <1.3. ASDAS (CRP) Inactive Disease is based on imputed data using treatment failure(consider non-responders at and after treatment failure),early escape rules(consider non-responder at Week 20 and 24), NRI (missing responses at post baseline visit imputed as non-responder).	Week 24
Change From Baseline in High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) Levels Through Week 24	Change from baseline in hsCRP levels was reported. hsCRP is a sensitive laboratory assay for serum levels of C-Reactive Protein, which is a biomarker of inflammation. Early escape rule was applied (measurement value at Week 20 and Week 24 was set as missing). Here 'n' signifies the number of participants who were analyzed at each specified timepoints, for each arm, respectively.	Baseline, Week 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24
Percentage of Participants With ASAS 20 Components at Week 24	ASAS 20 defined as >= 20% improvement from baseline in 4 individual components of ASAS20: Patient's global assessment (PGA) of disease activity (0 to 10cm; 0=very well,10=very poor), total back pain(0 to 10cm; 0=no pain,10=most severe pain), BASFI (self-assessment represented as mean(0 to10 cm; 0=easy to 10=impossible) of 10 questions, 8 of which relate to functional anatomy and 2 relate to participant's ability to cope with life) and Inflammation (0 to 10cm;0=none,10=very severe).	Week 24
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved ASAS 40 Response at Week 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20	ASAS 40 defined as improvement of >= 40% from baseline and absolute improvement from baseline of at least 2 on 0 to10cm scale in at least 3 of following 4 domains: Patient's global assessment of disease activity (0 to 10cm; 0=very well,10=very poor),total back pain (0 to 10cm; 0=no pain,10=most severe pain), BASFI (self-assessment represented as mean (0 to 10 cm; 0=easy to 10=impossible) of 10 questions, 8 of which relate to participant's functional anatomy and 2 relate to participant's ability to cope with everyday life), Inflammation (0 to 10cm;0=none,10=very severe); no worsening at all from baseline in remaining domain. ASAS40 response based on imputed data using treatment failure (consider non-responders at and after treatment failure), early escape rules(consider non-responder at Week 20 and 24),non-responder[NRI] (missing responses at post baseline visit imputed as non-responder).	Week 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved ASAS 20 Response at Week 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20	ASAS 20 defined as improvement of >= 20 % from baseline and absolute improvement from baseline of 1 on a 0 to 10 cm scale in at least 3 of following 4 domains: Patient's global assessment of disease activity (0 to 10 cm; 0=very well,10=very poor), total back pain (0 to 10 cm; 0=no pain,10=most severe pain), BASFI (self-assessment represented as mean (0 to 10 cm; 0=easy to 10=impossible) of 10 questions, 8 of which relate to participant's functional anatomy and 2 to participant's ability to cope with everyday life), Inflammation (0 to 10 cm;0=none,10=very severe); absence of deterioration (>= 20% and worsening of at least 1 on a 0 to 10 cm scale) from baseline in remaining domain. ASAS20 response based on imputed data using treatment failure (consider non-responders at and after treatment failure),early escape rules (consider non-responder at Week 20 and 24),non-responder[NRI] (missing responses at post baseline visit imputed as non-responder).	Week 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved at Least a 50% Improvement From Baseline in BASDAI at Week 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20	The BASDAI is used to measure the ankylosing spondylitis (AS) disease severity. It consists of 6 questions: fatigue, spinal pain, arthralgia (joint pain) or swelling, enthesitis (inflammation of tendons and ligaments), and morning stiffness (2 questions: duration and severity). Each question is an easy to answer 10 centimeter (cm) visual analog scale (VAS), with 0 being none, and 10 being very severe. In order to give each of the 5 symptoms equal weight, the mean of the 2 questions about morning stiffness will be added to the total of the remaining 4 scores, and the final BASDAI score (ranging 0-10) is the average of the overall total score. Higher BASDAI score indicates more severe AS symptom. 50% improvement in BASDAI based on imputed data using treatment failure(consider non-responders at and after treatment failure),early escape rules(consider non-responder at Week 20 and 24), NRI(missing responses at post baseline visit imputed as non-responders).	Week 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20
Change From Baseline in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) at Week 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20	The BASFI is composed with 10 questions (each question is answered with a visual analogue scale 0-10 cm) to assess the disease severity, including the first 8 questions regarding to functional anatomy related activities and the remaining 2 questions related to daily activities of AS participants. Each question is a 10cm VAS with a value between 0 (easy) and 10 (impossible). The final BASFI score is the mean of the 10 scores. The BASFI score is the average of the 10 responses and has a possible minimum value of 0 and a possible maximum value of 10. Higher BASFI score indicates more severe functional limitations of the participant due to AS. Missing data were imputed using early escape rule (measurement value at Week 20 and 24 was set as missing). Here 'n' defined as number of participants who were analyzed at each specified timepoint, for each arm, respectively.	Baseline, Week 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20
Percentage of Participants With ASDAS (CRP) Inactive Disease (<1.3) at Week 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20	ASDAS includes CRP mg/L; four additional self-reported items (rated on 0-10cm VAS or 0-10 numerical rating scale [NRS]) included total back pain(TBP), duration of morning stiffness (DMS), peripheral pain/swelling and patient global assessment(PGA). ASDAS scores calculated as: ASDAS(CRP) = (0.121*total back pain)+ (0.110*PGA)+ (0.073*peripheral pain/swelling)+ (0.058* DMS)+ (0.579*Ln(CRP+1)). The disease activity, TBP, and peripheral pain/swelling on a numeric rating scale (from 0 (normal) to 10 (very severe)) and DMS on a numeric rating scale (0 to 10, with 0 being none and 10 representing a duration of =>2 hours). Inactive disease is defined as an ASDAS score <1.3. ASDAS (CRP) Inactive Disease is based on imputed data using treatment failure(consider non-responders at and after treatment failure),early escape rules(consider non-responder at Week 20 and 24), NRI (missing responses at post baseline visit imputed as non-responder).	Week 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Deodhar A, Gensler LS, Sieper J, Clark M, Calderon C, Wang Y, Zhou Y, Leu JH, Campbell K, Sweet K, Harrison DD, Hsia EC, van der Heijde D. Three Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Studies Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Ustekinumab in Axial Spondyloarthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019 Feb;71(2):258-270. doi: 10.1002/art.40728. Epub 2018 Dec 29.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 13, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 26, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): September 26, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 1, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): April 2, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 13, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 11, 2019
• Last Verified: February 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Ustekinumab; Nonradiographic Axial Spondylitis, Ankylosing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthritis; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Spondylarthropathies; Bone Diseases, Infectious; Ankylosis; Spondylitis; Spondylarthritis; Spondylitis, Ankylosing; Dermatologic Agents; Ustekinumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: CR106995; CNTO1275AKS3003 (Other Identifier: Janssen Research & Development, LLC); 2015-000289-67 (EudraCT Number)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No