AScalate: Treat-to-target in Axial Spondyloarthritis (AScalate)

A Randomized, Open Label Multicenter Trial to Investigate the Efficacy of a Treat-to-target (T2T) Treatment Strategy With Secukinumab (AIN457) as a First-line Biologic Compared to a Standard-of-care (SOC) Treatment Over 36 Weeks in Patients With Active Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA)

This is a randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter study of patients with active axSpA. The aim is to demonstrate that the efficacy of a Treat-to-Target (T2T) approach (with secukinumab as first-line biologic) is superior to a Standard-Of-Care (SOC) approach in terms of achieving strong clinical efficacy in patients with active axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) who are naïve to biological therapy and who have had an inadequate response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The study will include an 8-week Screening period, a 36-week treatment period according to previous randomization, and a safety follow-up period of 20 weeks. The primary endpoint is the percentage of patients achieving an Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society response 40 (ASAS40) at Week 24.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Axial Spondyloarthritis
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: Secukinumab/Adalimumab-Biosimilar; Other: Standard-of-care

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 305
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Caluire et Cuire, France, 69300
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Chambray-lès-Tours, France, 37170
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Grenoble, France, B P 217X
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • La Roche sur Yon, France, 85925
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Le Mans, France, 72037
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Montpellier Cedex 5, France, 34295
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Nantes Cedex 1, France, 44093
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Paris Cedex 13, France, 75651
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Toulouse, France, 31059
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Vandoeuvre Les Nancy, France, 54511
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Cedex 2
    • Orleans, Cedex 2, France, 45067
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Cedex1
    • Nice, Cedex1, France, 06001
      • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Haute Vienne
    • Limoges, Haute Vienne, France, 87000
      • Novartis Investigative Site
• Germany
  • Bad Doberan, Germany, 18209
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Bad Pyrmont, Germany, 31812
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Berlin, Germany, 13125
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Berlin, Germany, 13353
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Berlin, Germany, 12163
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Berlin, Germany, 14059
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Berlin, Germany, 12161
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Bonn, Germany, 53105
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Chemnitz, Germany, 09130
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Cottbus, Germany, 03042
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Dresden, Germany, 01307
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Dresden, Germany, 01067
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Ehringshausen, Germany, 35630
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Erlangen, Germany, 91056
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Freiberg, Germany, 09599
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Freiburg, Germany, 79106
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Gera, Germany, 07548
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Gommern, Germany, 39245
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Hamburg, Germany, 20095
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Hamburg, Germany, 22415
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Hamburg, Germany, 22391
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Herne, Germany, 44649
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Hildesheim, Germany, 31134
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Koeln, Germany, 50937
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Magdeburg, Germany, 39110
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Magdeburg, Germany, 39104
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Mainz, Germany, 55131
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Muenchen, Germany, 81377
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Muenchen, Germany, 80639
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Potsdam, Germany, 14469
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Ratingen, Germany, 40878
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Rendsburg, Germany, 24768
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Trier, Germany, 54292
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Ulm, Germany, 89073
    • Novartis Investigative Site

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis, axSpA (either Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis or Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis) fulfilling the Ankylosing Spondyloarthritis International Society classification criteria for axSpA
• Active disease as defined by having an Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score ≥ 2.1 at Screening and Baseline despite concurrent Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) therapy, or intolerance/contraindication to NSAIDs.
• Objective signs of inflammation at Screening as defined by: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of sacroiliac joints performed up to 3 months prior to screening showing acute inflammatory lesion(s), OR elevated quick C-reactive Protein (CRP) (> 5 mg/L), OR MRI showing acute inflammatory lesion(s) in the sacroiliac joints and spine performed during screening period.
• Inadequate response to NSAIDs

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous exposure to secukinumab or other biologic drug directly targeting Interleukin(IL)-17 or IL-17 receptor.
• Patients who have previously been treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha inhibitors (investigational or approved).
• Patients treated with any cell-depleting therapies.
• Active ongoing inflammatory diseases or underlying metabolic, hematologic, renal, hepatic, pulmonary, neurologic, endocrine, cardiac, infectious or gastrointestinal conditions, which in the opinion of the investigator immunosuppressed the patient and/or places the patient at unacceptable risk for participation in an immunomodulatory therapy.
• History of clinically significant liver disease or liver injury
• History of renal trauma, glomerulonephritis, or patients with one kidney only, or a serum creatinine level exceeding 1.8 mg/dL (159.12 μmol/L).
• Active systemic infections during the last 2 weeks (exception: common cold) prior to randomization.
• History of ongoing, chronic or recurrent infectious disease or evidence of tuberculosis (TB) infection
• Patients positive for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B or hepatitis C
• Life vaccinations within 6 weeks prior to Baseline or planned vaccination during study participation until 12 weeks after last study treatment administration.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Standard-of-care (SOC); SOC treatment up to the maximum recommended dose at the discretion of the investigator as according to current recommendation for treatment of axSpA	Other: Standard-of-care; Patients will receive treatment according to local practice standards by their treating physician following the current treatment recommendations.
Experimental: TREAT-TO-TARGET (T2T); Participants received secukinumab at a dose of 150 milligrams (mg) as subcutaneous (s.c.) injection at 150 mg dose at Baseline, Week 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8. From Week 12, only responders continued to receive 4-weekly doses until Week 32 if they maintained the response. In the event these patients experienced a loss of response from week 24 they were escalated to secukinumab 300 mg s.c. every 4 weeks until Week 32. Patients who were non-responders at Week 12 will received 4-weekly secukinumab 300 mg s.c. until Week 24. From Week 24, only responders continued to receive 4-weekly secukinumab 300 mg s.c. until Week 32. Patients who are non-responders to secukinumab 300 mg at Week 24 receive biweekly of adalimumab biosimilar 40 mg s.c. until Week 34	Biological: Secukinumab/Adalimumab-Biosimilar; Secukinumab 150 mg, s.c. Secukinumab 300 mg, s.c. Adalimumab-Biosimilar, s.c.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of patients achieving an Assessment of responders for the SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) 40 response	The ASAS response measures consist of the following Domains: Patient's global assessment of disease activity measured on a visual analog scale (VAS).; Patient's assessment of back pain, represented by either total or nocturnal pain scores, both measured on a VAS scale.; Function represented by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) average of 10 questions regarding ability to perform specific tasks as measured by VAS.; Inflammation represented by mean duration and severity of morning stiffness, represented by the average of the last 2 questions on the 6-question BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) as measured by VAS scale.; Spinal mobility represented by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) lateral spinal flexion assessment; C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ASAS40 response is defined as an improvement of ≥ 40% and ≥ 2 units on a scale of 10 in at least 3 of the 4 domains and no worsening at all in the remaining domain.	24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of patients achieving an ASAS40 response	ASAS40 response is defined as an improvement of ≥ 40% and ≥ 2 units on a scale of 10 in at least 3 of the 4 domains and no worsening at all in the remaining domain.	Week 12
Percentage of patients achieving ASAS20, ASAS partial response	ASAS20 response is defined as an improvement of ≥ 20% and ≥ 1 unit on a scale of 0 to 10 in at least 3 of the 4 domains, and no worsening at all in the remaining domain. ASAS partial remission is a composite assessment, reflecting the proportion of treated patients who achieve within a defined time frame a value not above 2 units in each of the 4 ASAS domains on a scale of 10.	Week 12 and week 24
The proportion of patients meeting the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) definition of inactive disease, ASDAS clinically important and major improvement and ASDAS low disease activity	Parameters used for the ASDAS include spinal pain (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, BASDAI question 2), the patient's global assessment of disease activity, peripheral pain/swelling (BASDAI question 3), duration of morning stiffness (BASDAI question 6) and C-reactive Protein or Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate). The 3 values selected to separate disease activity states were < 1.3 between inactive disease and low disease activity, < 2.1 between low disease activity and high disease activity, and > 3.5 between high disease activity and very high disease activity. Selected cutoffs for improvement scores were a change of ≥ 1.1 unit for "minimal clinically important improvement" and a change of ≥ 2.0 units for "major improvement".	Week 12 and week 24
The proportion of patients achieving the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index response 50% (BASDAI 50) at Week 12 and Week 24	The BASDAI consists of a 0 through 10 scale (0 being no problem and 10 being the worst problem, captured as a continuous VAS), which is used to answer 6 questions pertaining to the 5 major symptoms of the disease	Week 12 and week 24
The between-treatment difference in change from Baseline in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)	The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) is a set of 10 questions designed to determine the degree of functional limitation in those patients with AS. The 10 questions were chosen with major input from patients with AS. The first 8 questions consider activities related to functional anatomy. The final 2 questions assess the patients' ability to cope with everyday life. A 0 through 10 scale (captured as a continuous VAS) is used to answer the questions. The mean of the 10 scales gives the BASFI score - a value between 0 and 10.	Week 12 and week 24
The between-treatment difference in change from Baseline in Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrology index (BASMI) and chest expansion	The BASMI is a validated instrument that uses the minimum number of clinically appropriate measurements that accurately assess axial status, with the goal to define clinically significant changes in spinal movement. Parameters include: Lateral spinal flexion; Tragus-to-wall distance; Lumbar flexion (modified Schoeber); Maximal intermalleolar distance; Cervical rotation angleAdditionally, the following assessments should be taken:; Chest expansion; Occiput-to-wall distance	Week 12 and week 24
Change from baseline in the ASQoL (Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life instrument)	The ASQoL is a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess health-related quality of life in adult patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. The ASQoL contains 18 items with a dichotomous yes/no response option. A single point is assigned for each "yes" response and no points for each "no" response resulting in overall scores that range from 0 (least severity) to 18 (highest severity). As such, lower scores indicate better quality of life. Items include an assessment of mobility/energy, self-care and mood/emotion. The recall period is "at the moment," and the questionnaire requires approximately 6 minutes to complete. The purpose of the ASQoL is to assess the disease specific QoL of patients in this study.	Week 12 and week 24
The between-treatment difference in change from baseline in ASAS-HI (Ankylosing Spondyloarthritis International Society Health Index)	The ASAS-HI is a disease-specific questionnaire that was developed based on the comprehensive International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set (also known as the ICF Core Set) for AS. The ASAS HI is a linear composite measure and contains 17 items (dichotomous response option: "I agree" and "I do not agree"), which cover most of the ICF Core Set. The ASAS HI contains items addressing categories of pain, emotional functions, sleep, sexual function, mobility, self-care, and community life. The total sum of the ASAS HI ranges from 0 to 17, with a lower score indicating a better health status. In addition, the Environmental Factor (EF) Item Set contains items addressing categories of support/relationships, attitudes and health services. The EF Item Set contains 9 dichotomous items with an identical response option but without a sum score because of its multidimensional nature .	Week 12 and week 24
The between-treatment difference in change from Baseline in global disease assessment (patient)	• The patient's global assessment of disease activity will be performed using a 100 mm VAS ranging from not severe to very severe, after the question "How active was your disease on average during the last week?"	Week 12 and week 24
The between-treatment difference in change from Baseline in global disease assessment (physician)	• The physician's global assessment of disease activity will be performed using 100 mm VAS ranging from no disease activity to maximal disease activity, after the question "Considering all the ways the disease affects your patient, draw a line on the scale for how well his or her condition is today." To enhance objectivity, the physician must not be aware of the specific patient's global assessment of disease activity when performing his own assessment on that patient.	Week 12 and week 24
The between-treatment difference in change from Baseline in pain	• The patient's assessment of back pain will be performed using a 100 mm VAS ranging from no pain to unbearable pain, after the question "Based on your assessment, please indicate what is the amount of back pain at any time that you experienced during the last week?" and "Based on your assessment, please indicate what is the amount of back pain at night that you experienced during the last week?".	Week 12 and week 24

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals
• Investigators: Study Director: Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Poddubnyy D, Hammel L, Heyne M, Veit J, Jentzsch C, Baraliakos X. Treat-to-target strategy with secukinumab as a first-line biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug compared to standard-of-care treatment in patients with active axial spondyloarthritis: protocol for a randomised open-label phase III study, AScalate. BMJ Open. 2020 Sep 30;10(9):e039059. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039059.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 4, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 4, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): September 22, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 26, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 4, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): April 8, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 10, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 6, 2023
• Last Verified: July 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: AIN457; secukinumab; Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis; axial spondyloarthritis; axSpA; treat-to-target; T2T; Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis; nr-axSpA; r-axSpA
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthritis; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Spondylarthropathies; Bone Diseases, Infectious; Ankylosis; Spondylitis; Spondylarthritis; Axial Spondyloarthritis; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; Adalimumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: CAIN457HDE01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

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

IPD Plan Description

Novartis is committed to sharing access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies with qualified external researchers. Requests are reviewed and approved by an independent review panel on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided is anonymized to protect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations.

This trial data availability is according to the criteria and process described on www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com

Drug and device information, study documents

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