Efficacy and Safety of Anifrolumab Compared to Placebo in Adult Subjects With Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

December 19, 2022 updated by: AstraZeneca

A Multicentre, Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase 3 Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Anifrolumab in Adult Subjects With Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an intravenous treatment regimen of anifrolumab versus placebo in adult participants with moderately to severely active, autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

This is a Phase 3, multicentre, multinational, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an intravenous treatment regimen of anifrolumab versus placebo in participants with moderately to severely active, autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) while receiving standard of care (SOC) treatment. Participants must be taking either 1 or any combination of the following: oral corticosteroids (OCS), antimalarial, and/or immunosuppressants. The study will be performed in adult participants aged 18 to 70 years of age.

Approximately 360 participants receiving SOC treatment will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive a fixed intravenous dose of anifrolumab 300 mg or placebo every 4 weeks for a total of 13 doses (Week 0 to Week 48), with the primary endpoint evaluated at the Week 52 visit. Investigational product will be administered as an intravenous infusion (IV) via an infusion pump over a minimum of 30 minutes, every 4 weeks.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

373

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Buenos Aires, Argentina, C1015ABO
        • Research Site
      • Mendoza, Argentina, 5500
        • Research Site
      • Quilmes, Argentina, 1878
        • Research Site
      • Bruxelles, Belgium, 1070
        • Research Site
      • Leuven, Belgium, 3000
        • Research Site
      • Liege, Belgium, B-4000
        • Research Site
      • Merksem, Belgium, B-2170
        • Research Site
      • Goiania, Brazil, 74110-120
        • Research Site
      • Juiz de Fora, Brazil, 36010 570
        • Research Site
      • Sao Paulo, Brazil, 04032-060
        • Research Site
      • Sao Paulo, Brazil, 05403-9000
        • Research Site
      • Sao Paulo, Brazil, 05652-900
        • Research Site
      • Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 4003
        • Research Site
      • Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 4002
        • Research Site
    • Ontario
      • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1
        • Research Site
    • Quebec
      • Rimouski, Quebec, Canada, G5L 5T1
        • Research Site
      • Bordeaux, France, 33000
        • Research Site
      • Lille, France, 59037
        • Research Site
      • Montpellier CEDEX 5, France, 34295
        • Research Site
      • Paris, France, 75679
        • Research Site
      • Paris, France, 75651
        • Research Site
      • Pessac, France, 33604
        • Research Site
      • Toulouse, France, 31000
        • Research Site
      • Berlin, Germany, D-10117
        • Research Site
      • Hamburg, Germany, 20246
        • Research Site
      • Jena, Germany, 07747
        • Research Site
      • Mainz, Germany, 55131
        • Research Site
      • München, Germany, 80336
        • Research Site
      • Chiba-shi, Japan, 260-8712
        • Research Site
      • Chuo-ku, Japan, 104-8560
        • Research Site
      • Fukuoka-shi, Japan, 810-8563
        • Research Site
      • Fukuoka-shi, Japan, 810-8539
        • Research Site
      • Hiroshima-shi, Japan, 730-8619
        • Research Site
      • Kitakyushu-shi, Japan, 807-8555
        • Research Site
      • Kurashiki-shi, Japan, 710-8522
        • Research Site
      • Meguro-ku, Japan, 152-8902
        • Research Site
      • Meguro-ku, Japan, 153-8515
        • Research Site
      • Nagasaki-shi, Japan, 852-8501
        • Research Site
      • Nagoya-shi, Japan, 460-0001
        • Research Site
      • Omura-shi, Japan, 856-8562
        • Research Site
      • Sapporo-shi, Japan, 060-8638
        • Research Site
      • Sasebo-shi, Japan, 857-1195
        • Research Site
      • Sendai-shi, Japan, 980-8574
        • Research Site
      • Shinjuku-ku, Japan, 160-8582
        • Research Site
      • Tsukuba, Japan, 305-8577
        • Research Site
      • Jeju-si, Korea, Republic of, 690-767
        • Research Site
      • Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 06591
        • Research Site
      • Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 05030
        • Research Site
      • Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 133792
        • Research Site
      • Suwon-si, Korea, Republic of, 16499
        • Research Site
      • Kaunas, Lithuania, LT-50009
        • Research Site
      • Klaipeda, Lithuania, LT-92288
        • Research Site
      • Chihuahua, Mexico, 31000
        • Research Site
      • Leon, Mexico, 37000
        • Research Site
      • Mexico, Mexico, 06700
        • Research Site
      • Mexico D.F., Mexico, 014080
        • Research Site
      • Morelia, Mexico, 58070
        • Research Site
      • Mérida, Mexico, 97000
        • Research Site
      • San Luis Potosí, Mexico, 78213
        • Research Site
      • Kemerovo, Russian Federation, 650066
        • Research Site
      • Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation, 185019
        • Research Site
      • Smolensk, Russian Federation, 214015
        • Research Site
      • Tolyatti, Russian Federation, 445039
        • Research Site
      • Vladimir, Russian Federation, 600023
        • Research Site
      • Yaroslavl, Russian Federation, 150003
        • Research Site
      • Cape Town, South Africa, 7500
        • Research Site
      • Johannesburg, South Africa, 2193
        • Research Site
      • Johannesburg, South Africa, 2188
        • Research Site
      • Stellenbosch, South Africa, 7600
        • Research Site
      • Barcelona, Spain, 08035
        • Research Site
      • Getafe, Spain, 28905
        • Research Site
      • Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, 35010
        • Research Site
      • Madrid, Spain, 28046
        • Research Site
      • Madrid, Spain, 28702
        • Research Site
      • Mérida, Spain, 06800
        • Research Site
      • Santiago de Compostela, Spain, 15706
        • Research Site
      • Servilla, Spain, 41014
        • Research Site
      • Vigo, Spain, 36200
        • Research Site
    • California
      • Covina, California, United States, 91723
        • Research Site
      • Hemet, California, United States, 92543-4403
        • Research Site
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
        • Research Site
      • San Leandro, California, United States, 94578
        • Research Site
      • Torrance, California, United States, 90509
        • Research Site
      • Upland, California, United States, 91786
        • Research Site
    • Colorado
      • Denver, Colorado, United States, 80230
        • Research Site
    • Connecticut
      • Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States, 06606
        • Research Site
      • Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States, 6606
        • Research Site
    • Florida
      • Brandon, Florida, United States, 33511
        • Research Site
      • Orlando, Florida, United States, 32804
        • Research Site
      • Palm Harbor, Florida, United States, 34684
        • Research Site
      • Tamarac, Florida, United States, 33321
        • Research Site
      • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33614
        • Research Site
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30303
        • Research Site
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02118
        • Research Site
    • Michigan
      • Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
        • Research Site
    • Nebraska
      • Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 68516
        • Research Site
    • New Mexico
      • Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States, 88011
        • Research Site
    • New York
      • Brooklyn, New York, United States, 11201
        • Research Site
      • New York, New York, United States, 10016
        • Research Site
      • New York, New York, United States, 10021
        • Research Site
      • New York, New York, United States, 10032
        • Research Site
    • North Carolina
      • Greenville, North Carolina, United States, 27834
        • Research Site
    • Oklahoma
      • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73104
        • Research Site
    • Pennsylvania
      • Duncansville, Pennsylvania, United States, 16635
        • Research Site
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
        • Research Site
    • Tennessee
      • Memphis, Tennessee, United States, 38163
        • Research Site
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75231
        • Research Site
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77034
        • Research Site
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77004
        • Research Site
      • Stafford, Texas, United States, 77477
        • Research Site
    • Virginia
      • Arlington, Virginia, United States, 22205
        • Research Site
    • Washington
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98122
        • Research Site
      • Spokane, Washington, United States, 99204
        • Research Site

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Aged 18 through 70 years at the time of screening
  2. Diagnosis of paediatric or adult SLE with a diagnosis of SLE according to the ACR 1982 revised criteria ≥24 weeks prior to signing the Informed Consent form (ICF)
  3. Currently receiving at least 1 of the following:

    1. Where prednisone is the single standard of care medication (ie, the subject is not concurrently receiving any medication listed in inclusion criterion 3(c)), a dose of oral prednisone ≥7.5 mg/day but ≤40 mg/day (or prednisone equivalent) for a minimum of 8 weeks prior to Day 1. In addition, the dose of oral prednisone or prednisone equivalent the subject is taking must be stable for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to randomisation
    2. Where prednisone is not the single standard of care medication (ie, the subject is concurrently receiving at least one medication listed in inclusion criterion 3(c), a dose of oral prednisone (≤40 mg/day) (or prednisone equivalent) for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to signing of the ICF. In addition, the dose of oral prednisone or prednisone equivalent the subject is taking must be stable for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to randomisation.
    3. Any of the following medications administered for a minimum of 12 weeks prior to signing the informed consent, and at a stable dose for a minimum of 8 weeks prior to signing the informed consent and through Day 1:

    (i) Azathioprine ≤200 mg/day (ii) Antimalarial (eg, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, quinacrine) (iii) Mycophenolate mofetil ≤2 g/day or mycophenolic acid ≤1.44 g/day (iv) Oral, subcutaneous (SC), or intramuscular methotrexate ≤25 mg/week (v) Mizoribine ≤150 mg/day

  4. Fulfils at least 4 of the 11 ACR modified 1982 classification criteria for SLE, at least 1 of which must be:

    1. Positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test at screening by immunofluorescent assay (IFA) at the central laboratory with titre ≥1:80; OR
    2. Anti-dsDNA antibodies at screening elevated to above normal (including indeterminate), as per the central laboratory; OR
    3. Anti-Smith (anti-Sm) antibody at screening elevated to above normal as per the central laboratory
  5. At Screening, Disease Activity Adjudication Group confirmation of:

    SLEDAI-2K Criteria: SLEDAI-2K score ≥6 points and "Clinical" SLEDAI-2K score ≥4 points. The "Clinical" SLEDAI-2K is the SLEDAI-2K assessment score without the inclusion of points attributable to any urine or laboratory results including immunologic measures.

  6. Must not have active or latent TB on either chest radiograph or by quantiferon gold test
  7. Day 1 "Clinical" SLEDAI-2K score ≥4 points
  8. OCS dose stable for at least 2 weeks prior to randomisation
  9. Stable SLE SOC treatment at the time of randomisation
  10. Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum β-hCG test at and negative urine pregnancy test at randomisation prior to administration of investigational product

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Receipt of any investigational product (small molecule or biologic agent) within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives prior to signing of the ICF, whichever is greater
  2. Receipt of any of the following:

    (a) Intra-articular, intramuscular or IV glucocorticosteroids within 6 weeks prior to Day 1

  3. History of, or current diagnosis of, a clinically significant non SLE-related vasculitis syndrome.
  4. Active severe or unstable neuropsychiatric SLE
  5. Active severe SLE-driven renal disease
  6. Diagnosis (within 1 year of signing the ICF) of mixed connective tissue disease or any history of overlap syndromes of SLE or SSc.
  7. History of, or current, inflammatory joint or skin disease other than SLE
  8. History of any non-SLE disease that has required treatment with oral or parenteral corticosteroids for more than 2 weeks within the last 24 weeks prior to signing the ICF
  9. 26.27. Known history of a primary immunodeficiency, splenectomy, or any underlying condition that predisposes the subject to infection, or a positive result for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection confirmed by central laboratory at screening. Subjects refusing HIV testing during the screening period will not be eligible for study participation
  10. Confirmed positive test for hepatitis B or hepatitis C
  11. Any severe herpes infection at any time prior to Week 0 (Day 1)
  12. Opportunistic infection requiring hospitalisation or intravenous antimicrobial treatment within 3 years prior to randomization
  13. History of cancer, apart from:

    1. Squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has been successfully treated
    2. Cervical cancer in situ that has been successfully treated

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Anifrolumab
Anifrolumab 300 mg intravenous infusion (IV) administered every 4 weeks for a total of 13 doses.
Intravenous infusion (IV)
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Placebo intravenous infusion (IV) administered every 4 weeks for a total of 13 doses.
Intravenous infusion (IV)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants Who Achieved the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group Based Composite Lupus Assessment (BICLA) Response at Week 52
Time Frame: Baseline; Week 52

Composite endpoint BICLA was defined by meeting all of the following criteria:

  • Reduction of all baseline British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG)-2004 A to B/C/D and baseline BILAG-2004 B to C/D, and no BILAG-2004 worsening in other organ systems, as defined by ≥1 new BILAG-2004 A or ≥2 new BILAG-2004 B
  • No worsening from baseline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), where worsening is defined as an increase from baseline of >0 points in SLEDAI-2K
  • No worsening from baseline in participants' lupus disease activity, where worsening is defined by an increase ≥0.30 points on a 3-point Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) visual analogue scale (VAS)
  • No discontinuation of investigational product
  • No use of restricted medications beyond the protocol allowed threshold before assessment
Baseline; Week 52

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants Who Achieved the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group Based Composite Lupus Assessment (BICLA) Response at Week 52 in the IFN Test-High Sub-group
Time Frame: Baseline; Week 52

Defined by meeting all of the following criteria:

  • Reduction of all baseline British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG)-2004 A to B/C/D and baseline BILAG-2004 B to C/D, and no BILAG-2004 worsening in other organ systems, as defined by ≥1 new BILAG-2004 A or ≥2 new BILAG-2004 B
  • No worsening from baseline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), where worsening is defined as an increase from baseline to >0 points in SLEDAI-2K
  • No worsening from baseline in participants' lupus disease activity, where worsening is defined by an increase ≥0.30 points on a 3-point Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) visual analogue scale (VAS)
  • No discontinuation of investigational product
  • No use of restricted medications beyond the protocol allowed threshold before assessment
Baseline; Week 52
Number of Participants Who Achieved and Maintained an Oral Corticosteroids (OCS) Dose of ≤7.5 mg/Day at Week 52 in the Sub-Group of Participants With Baseline OCS ≥10 mg/Day
Time Frame: Week 40; Week 52

Maintained OCS reduction was defined by meeting all of the following criteria:

  • Achieve an OCS dose of ≤7.5 mg/day prednisone or equivalent by Week 40
  • Maintain an OCS dose ≤7.5 mg/day prednisone or equivalent from Week 40 to Week 52
  • No discontinuation of investigational product
  • No use of restricted medications beyond the protocol allowed threshold before assessment
Week 40; Week 52
Number of Participants With a ≥50% Reduction in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) Activity Score at Week 12 in The Sub-Group of Participants With Baseline CLASI Activity Score of ≥10
Time Frame: Baseline; Week 12

50% reduction in CLASI activity score compared to baseline was defined by meeting all of the following criteria:

  • Achieve ≥50% reduction of CLASI activity score at Week 12 compared to baseline
  • No discontinuation of investigational product
  • No use of restricted medications beyond the protocol allowed threshold before assessment
Baseline; Week 12
Number of Participants With ≥50% Reduction in Joint Counts at Week 52 in The Sub-group of Participants With ≥6 Swollen and ≥6 Tender Joints at Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline; Week 52

50% reduction in the number of swollen and tender joints compared to baseline was defined by meeting all of the following criteria:

  • Achieve ≥50% reduction from baseline in the number of swollen and tender joints, separately
  • No discontinuation of investigational product
  • No use of restricted medications beyond the protocol allowed threshold before assessment
Baseline; Week 52
Annualised Flare Rate Through 52 Weeks
Time Frame: Baseline to Week 52
A flare was defined as either 1 or more new British Isle Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG-2004) A or 2 or more new BILAG-2004 B items compared to the previous visit. The occurrence of a new flare was checked for each available visit versus the previous available visit up to Week 52. If no new flares occurred, the number of flares was set to 0. Otherwise all flares were counted leading to the maximum number of flares of 13. The annualized flare rate was calculated as the number of flares divided by the flare exposure time in days multiplied with 365.25 (1 year). The flare exposure time is the time up to Week 52 (date of BILAG-2004 assessment at Week 52) or up to the date of last available BILAG-2004 assessment.
Baseline to Week 52
Number of Participants With One or More Adverse Events (AEs)
Time Frame: Baseline to end of study (Maximum of 60 weeks)
An AE is the development of an undesirable medical condition or the deterioration of a pre-existing medical condition following or during exposure to a pharmaceutical product, whether or not considered causally related to the product. AEs were collected throughout the duration of the study, from baseline until end of follow-up (a maximum of 12 weeks post last dose [Week 48]), or until Week 52 for participants who enrolled onto the long term extension (LTE). The reported value is inclusive of serious and non-serious AEs.
Baseline to end of study (Maximum of 60 weeks)
Number of Participants With One or More Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs)
Time Frame: Baseline to end of study (Maximum of 60 weeks)

An AESI is an adverse event (AE) of scientific and medical concern specific to understanding biologics. An AESI may be serious or non-serious. AESI are serious infections, including non-opportunistic serious infections, opportunistic infections, anaphylaxis, malignancy, herpes zoster, tuberculosis (TB) (including latent TB), influenza, vasculitis (non-systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (including stroke, myocardial infarction [MI], or cardiovascular death).

AESIs were collected throughout the study, from baseline until end of follow-up (a maximum of 12 weeks post last dose [Week 48]), or until Week 52 for participants who enrolled onto the long term extension (LTE).

Baseline to end of study (Maximum of 60 weeks)
Number of Participants With a Potentially Clinically Important Change From Baseline in Vital Sign Measurements
Time Frame: Baseline to end of study (Maximum of 60 weeks)

Vital sign measurements included oral temperature, blood pressure (BP), pulse rate, and respiratory rate.

Vital signs were collected throughout the duration of the study, from baseline until end of follow-up (a maximum of 12 weeks post last dose [Week 48]), or until Week 52 for participants who enrolled onto the long term extension (LTE).

Baseline to end of study (Maximum of 60 weeks)
Number of Participants With a Potentially Clinically Important Change From Baseline in Clinical Laboratory Tests
Time Frame: Baseline to end of study (Maximum of 60 weeks)

Clinical laboratory tests were analyzed in a central clinical laboratory and included hematology, serum chemistry and urinalysis tests.

Laboratory values were collected throughout the duration of the study, from baseline until end of follow-up (a maximum of 12 weeks post last dose [Week 48]), or until Week 52 for participants who enrolled onto the long term extension (LTE).

Baseline to end of study (Maximum of 60 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Study Director: Lilia Pineda, MD, Medical Science Director

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 9, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 27, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

September 27, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 14, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

May 18, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 10, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 19, 2022

Last Verified

December 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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