Efficacy and safety of namilumab, a human monoclonal antibody against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) ligand in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with either an inadequate response to background methotrexate therapy or an inadequate response or intolerance to an anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) biologic therapy: a randomized, controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Namilumab (AMG203), an immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), was evaluated in a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate the efficacy and safety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX-IR) or anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy (TNF-IR).

Methods: Subcutaneous namilumab (20, 80, or 150 mg) or placebo was administered at baseline and weeks 2, 6, and 10 in patients on stable background methotrexate therapy who were with MTX-IR or TNF-IR. Primary endpoint was mean change from baseline in the 28-joint Disease Activity Score, C-reactive protein version (DAS28-CRP) at week 12 comparing each of the three doses of namilumab to placebo. Safety and tolerability were assessed by adverse events (AEs) and pulmonary parameters. Results were analysed using the per-protocol population.

Results: One hundred eight patients from Europe and Japan (48.4 ± 12.02 years old; 77.8% female; mean DAS28-CRP 5.60-5.79; rheumatoid factor/anti-citrullinated protein antibodies + 75%) were randomized to placebo or namilumab 20, 80, or 150 mg (n = 27, 28, 25, and 28, respectively). Ninety-two were MTX-IR; 16 were TNF-IR. At week 12, a statistically significant difference in DAS28-CRP (p = 0.005) was seen for namilumab 150 mg versus placebo and separation was seen as early as week 2 for namilumab 150 mg (p < 0.05), with higher ACR50 and response rates versus placebo at week 12. A dose-response effect was observed across the DAS28-CRP endpoint with separation versus placebo evident from week 2. The most common treatment-emergent AEs were nasopharyngitis (18.5%, 17.9%, 4.0%, 14.3%), dyspnoea (0.0%, 3.6%, 8.0%, 10.7%), bronchitis (7.4%, 3.6%, 4.0%, 3.6%), and headache (3.7%, 3.6%, 12.0%, 0.0%) for placebo and 20, 80, or 150 mg of namilumab, respectively. No serious infections were observed. One serious AE (myocardial infarction) was observed with 150 mg of namilumab. There was no apparent dose relationship for AEs. A biomarker-based disease activity score showed a dose-dependent decrease at week 12.

Conclusions: This phase II study demonstrates the benefit of inhibiting macrophage activity targeting the GM-CSF for RA. The study met its primary endpoint with a clear dose-response effect. An acceptable tolerability profile was demonstrated over the 12-week study.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NEXUS; NCT02379091 , submitted November 28, 2014.

Keywords: GM-CSF; Namilumab; Rheumatoid arthritis.

Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Institutional review boards or ethics committees at the participating investigational centres approved the study, which was conducted according to the principles set out in the Declaration of Helsinki, International Conference on Harmonisation Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice, and additional local regulations.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

Dr. Wagner was an employee of Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH. Both Bernard Souberbielle and Didier Saurigny were employees of Takeda at the time of the study. Barbara Hunt is an employee of Takeda International, Deerfield, IL, USA. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1

Subject disposition. The primary analysis was based on 106 subjects (full analysis set population) and 88 subjects (per-protocol set population). SF screening failure

Fig. 2

Analysis of change from baseline in DAS28-CRP score. Change from baseline in DAS28-CRP score by visit for the a per-protocol set [p < 0.05 are shown by asterisk; week 12, p = 0.022] and b full analysis set [p < 0.05 are shown by asterisk; week 6, p = 0.026; week 10, p = 0.031; week 12, p = 0.015]. DAS28-CRP 28-joint Disease Activity Score, C-reactive protein version

Fig. 3

DAS28-CRP-adjusted mean change from baseline (per-protocol set). Significant p values compared to placebo are shown (p < 0.05 as one asterisk and p < 0.01 as two asterisks) [150 mg at week 2, p = 0.021; at week 6, p = 0.037; at week 10, p = 0.018; and at week 12, p = 0.005]. DAS28-CRP, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, C-reactive protein version; PBO placebo

Fig. 4

ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 at week 12 (per-protocol set). Significant p values compared to placebo are shown by an asterisk (ACR20 for 20 mg, p = 0.031, and ACR50 for 150 mg, p = 0.049). ACR American College of Rheumatology, ACR20 ≥ 20% improvement, ACR50 ≥ 50% improvement, ACR70 ≥ 70% improvement, PBO placebo

Fig. 5

Percentage of ACR20/50/70 and DAS28-CRP remission (≤ 2.6) by study visit (PPS). ACR, American College of Rheumatology; ACR20, ≥ 20% improvement; ACR50, ≥ 50% improvement; ACR70, ≥ 70% improvement; DAS28-CRP, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, C-reactive protein version; PBO, placebo; PPS, per-protocol set. p value of less than 0.05 is shown by an asterisk

Fig. 6

Mean change in MBDA from baseline. MBDA multibiomarker disease activity

Fig. 7

Change in C1M from baseline. Values are mean ± SE. ns not significant. *Significant p = 0.0227