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 was a randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter study in patients with active axSpA. The aim of the study was to demonstrate that the efficacy of a T2T approach (with secukinumab as a first-line biologic) was superior to a SOC approach in terms of achieving strong clinical efficacy in patients with active axSpA who were naïve to biological therapy and who had an inadequate response to prior non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment.

Study Overview

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

Detailed Description

The study included an 8-week Screening period, a 36-week treatment period, and a 20-week safety follow-up period. Neither investigators nor patients were blinded. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving an ASAS40 response at Week 24. At Baseline, patients were randomized equally to one of two treatment groups (T2T or SOC).

Patients were evaluated every 12 weeks from Baseline through to Week 36. Safety evaluations were included in the regular visits; in addition, a safety follow-up visit was performed 20 weeks after the last study visit (i.e. Week 36) and took place at Week 56 for patients completing the study according to the protocol.

Patients assigned to the SOC treatment group received SOC treatment at the discretion of the investigator in accordance with current clinical practice.

Patients assigned to the T2T treatment group received first line biological treatment with secukinumab 150 mg. Responders were defined as those patients with an ASDAS clinically important improvement of ≥ 1.1.

At week 12 responders continued secukinumab 150 mg, whereas treatment was escalated to 300 mg for non-responders.

At week 24, disease activity was assessed again. Patients who qualify as responders continued the treatment they received prior (either secukinumab 150 mg or 300 mg), patients who were non-responders at week 24 were escalated in treatment: patients who received secukinumab 300 mg before were switched to Adalimumab, and patients who received secukinumab 150mg before were escalated to secukinumab 300mg.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 304
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Caluire et Cuire, France, 69300
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Chambray les Tours, France, 37170
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Grenoble, France, 38043
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • La Roche sur Yon Cedex, France, 85925
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Le Mans, France, 72000
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Montpellier 5, France, 34295
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Nantes Cedex 1, France, 44093
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Orleans, France, 45100
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Paris, France, 75013
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Toulouse, France, 31059
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Vandoeuvre Les Nancy, France, 54511
    • 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
Experimental: TREAT-TO-TARGET (T2T); Patients received secukinumab 150 mg subcutaneous (s.c.) weekly until Week 4 (Baseline, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4)) and then at Week 8. At Week 12, if ASDAS clinically important improvement was achieved and maintained, patients received treatment up to Week 32 if they maintained the response. If ASDAS clinically important improvement was not achieved, patients received an escalated dose of secukinumab 300 mg s.c. every 4 weeks until Week 20. At Week 24, patients who were receiving secukinumab 300 mg, and achieved ASDAS clinically important improvement, continued treatment up to Week 32. If patients did not achieve ASDAS clinically important improvement, they were switched to adalimumab biosimilar (Hyrimoz®) 40 mg s.c. every 2 weeks until Week 34. Each patient was treated for a maximum of 36 weeks (last dose of secukinumab at Week 32, last dose of adalimumab biosimilar (Hyrimoz®) at Week 34).	Biological: Secukinumab/Adalimumab-Biosimilar; Secukinumab 150 mg, s.c. Secukinumab 300 mg, s.c. Adalimumab biosimilar 40 mg, s.c.
Active Comparator: Standard-of-care (SOC); Patients received SOC treatment according to local practice standards by their treating rheumatologist following latest treatment recommendations with NSAIDs as the first-choice drug treatment and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for patients with active disease despite the use (or intolerance/contraindication) of NSAIDs.	Other: Standard-of-care; Treatment according to local practice standards by the rheumatologist following latest treatment recommendations with NSAIDs as the first-choice drug treatment and DMARDs for patients with active disease despite the use (or intolerance/contraindication) of NSAIDs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Patients Achieving an ASAS40 Response at Week 24	Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society criteria (ASAS) consists of 4 domains measured on visual analog scales (VAS): 1. Patient's global assessment; 2. Patient's assessment of back pain; 3. Function represented by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) average of 10 questions; 4. Inflammation represented by mean duration and severity of morning stiffness, on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). ASAS40 response is defined as an improvement of ≥40% and ≥2 units on a scale of 0 - 10 in at least three of the four ASAS domains and no worsening at all in the remaining domain. A score of 0 indicates less severity; a score of 10 indicates more severity. Percentage was calculated from a logistic regression model: logit(proportion) = treatment + baseline quick C-reactive protein (CRP) + baseline weight.	Baseline, Week 24

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Patients Achieving an ASAS40 Response at Week 12	Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society criteria (ASAS) consists of 4 domains measured on visual analog scales (VAS): 1. Patient's global assessment; 2. Patient's assessment of back pain; 3. Function represented by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) average of 10 questions; 4. Inflammation represented by mean duration and severity of morning stiffness, on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). ASAS40 response is defined as an improvement of ≥40% and ≥2 units on a scale of 0 - 10 in at least three of the four ASAS domains and no worsening at all in the remaining domain. A score of 0 indicates less severity; a score of 10 indicates more severity. Percentage was calculated from a logistic regression model: logit(proportion) = treatment + baseline quick C-reactive protein (CRP) + baseline weight.	Baseline, Week 12
Percentage of Patients Achieving ASAS20 Response	Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society criteria (ASAS) consist of 4 domains measured on visual analog scales (VAS): 1. Patient's global assessment; 2. Patient's assessment of back pain; 3. Function represented by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) average of 10 questions; 4. Inflammation represented by mean duration and severity of morning stiffness, on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). ASAS20 response is defined as an improvement of ≥20% and ≥1 unit on a scale of 0 - 10 in at least three of the four ASAS domains and no worsening at all in the remaining domain. A score of 0 indicates less severity; a score of 10 indicates more severity. Percentage was calculated from a logistic regression model: logit(proportion) = treatment + baseline quick C-reactive protein (CRP) + baseline weight.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Percentage of Patients Achieving ASAS Partial Remission	Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society criteria (ASAS): 6 domains (4 main; 2 additional assessment domains): 1. Patient's global assessment measured on a visual analog scale (VAS); 2. Patient's assessment of back pain, measured on a VAS; 3. Function represented by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) average of 10 questions as measured by VAS; 4. Inflammation represented by mean duration and severity of morning stiffness, on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) as measured by VAS; 5. Spinal mobility represented by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) lateral spinal flexion assessment; 6. C-reactive protein (CRP, acute phase reactant). ASAS partial remission: a value not above 2 units in each of the four main domains on a scale of 10. Higher score on VAS = higher severity. Percentage calculated from a logistic regression model: logit(proportion) = treatment + baseline quick CRP + baseline weight.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Percentage of Patients Meeting the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) Definition of Inactive Disease	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". Percentage was calculated from a logistic regression model: logit(proportion) = treatment + baseline ASDAS + baseline weight.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Percentage of Patients With ASDAS Major Improvement	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". Percentage was calculated from a logistic regression model: logit(proportion) = treatment + baseline ASDAS + baseline weight.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Percentage of Patients With 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". Percentage was calculated from a logistic regression model: logit(proportion) = treatment + baseline ASDAS + baseline weight.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Percentage 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. BASDAI 50 response is defined as at least 50% improvement (decrease) in total BASDAI score.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
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. A higher score on the VAS signifies higher severity.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Change From Baseline in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI)	BASMI measures the range of motion based on five clinical measurements: 1) cervical rotation, 2) tragus to wall distance, 3) lumbar side flexion, 4) lumbar flexion (modified Schober's) and 5) intermalleolar distance. BASMI 0 = indicates mild disease involvement, 1 = moderate disease, and 2 = severe disease involvement. The results for cervical rotation and lumbar side flexion are the means of the left and right measurements. Scoring range 0-10. The higher the BASMI score, the more severe was the subject's limitation of movement.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Change From Baseline in Chest Expansion	Chest expansion is measured as the cervical rotation angle (in degrees).	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Change From Baseline in the ASQoL (Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Instrument)	The Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life scores (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 score 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 measure requires approximately 6 minutes to complete.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
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.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Change From Baseline in Global Disease Assessment (Patient)	The patient's global assessment of disease activity was performed using a 100 mm (visual analog scale) VAS, ranging from not severe (0 mm) to very severe (100 mm), in response to the question, "How active was your disease on average during the last week?" A higher score indicates more disease activity.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 24
Change From Baseline in Global Disease Assessment (Physician)	The physician's global assessment of disease activity was performed using a 100 mm VAS, ranging from not severe (0 mm) to very severe (100 mm), in response to 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. A higher score indicates more disease activity.	Baseline, Weeks 12 and 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.

Helpful Links

• A Plain Language Trial Summary is available on www.novctrd.com

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): April 29, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 25, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

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: Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Infections; Bone Diseases, Infectious; Spinal Diseases; Spondylarthropathies; Ankylosis; Axial Spondyloarthritis; Spondylitis; Spondylarthritis; Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Adalimumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: CAIN457HDE01; 2018-003882-32 (EudraCT Number)

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