▪
Background: Ibrutinib (ibr), a first-in-class, once-daily Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved by the US FDA for treatment of patients (pts) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small ...lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) including pts with del17p. The phase 1b/2 PCYC-1102 trial showed single-agent efficacy and tolerability in treatment-naïve (TN; O’Brien, Lancet Oncol 2014) and relapsed/refractory (R/R) CLL/SLL (Byrd, N Engl J Med 2013). We report efficacy and safety results of the longest follow-up to date for ibr-treated pts.
Methods: Pts received 420 or 840 mg ibr QD until disease progression (PD) or unacceptable toxicity. Overall response rate (ORR) including partial response (PR) with lymphocytosis (PR-L) was assessed using updated iwCLL criteria. Responses were assessed by risk groups: unmutated IGVH, complex karyotype (CK; ≥3 unrelated chromosomal abnormalities by stimulated cytogenetics assessed by a reference lab), and in hierarchical order for del17p, then del11q. In the long-term extension study PCYC-1103, grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, and AEs requiring dose reduction or discontinuation were collected.
Results: Median age of the 132 pts with CLL/SLL (31 TN, 101 R/R) was 68 y (range, 37-84) with 43% ≥70 y. Baseline CK was observed in 41/112 (37%) of pts. Among R/R pts, 34 (34%) had del17p, 35 (35%) del11q, and 79 (78%) unmutated IGVH. R/R pts had a median of 4 prior therapies (range, 1-12). Median time on study was 46 m (range, 0-67) for all-treated pts, 60 m (range, 0-67.4) for TN pts, and 39 m (range, 0-67) for R/R pts. The ORR (per investigator) was 86% (complete response CR, 14%) for all-treated pts (TN: 84% CR, 29%, R/R: 86% CR, 10%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached (NR) for TN and 52 m for R/R pts with 60 m estimated PFS rates of 92% and 43%, respectively (Figure 1). In R/R pts, median PFS was 55 m (95% confidence intervals CI, 31-not estimable NE) for pts with del11q, 26 m (95% CI,18-37) for pts with del17p, and NR (95% CI, 40-NE) for pts without del17p, del11q, trisomy 12, or del13q. Median PFS was 33 m (95% CI, 22-NE) and NR for pts with and without CK, and 43 m (95% CI, 32-NE) and 63 m (95% CI, 7-NE) for pts with unmutated and mutated IGVH, respectively(Figure 2). Among R/R pts, median PFS was 63 m (95% CI, 37-NE) for pts with 1-2 prior regimens (n=27, 3 pts with 1 prior therapy) and 59 m (95% CI, 22-NE) and 39 m (95% CI, 26-NE) for pts with 3 and ≥4 prior regimens, respectively. Median duration of response was NR for TN pts and 45 m for R/R pts. Pts estimated to be alive at 60 m were: TN, 92%; all R/R, 57%; R/R del17p, 32%; R/R del 11q, 61%; R/R unmutated IGVH, 55%. Among all treated pts, onset of grade ≥3 treatment-emergent AEs was highest in the first year and decreased during subsequent years. With about 5 years of follow-up, the most frequent grade ≥3 AEs were hypertension (26%), pneumonia (22%), neutropenia (17%), and atrial fibrillation (9%). Study treatment was discontinued due to AEs in 27 pts (20%) and disease progression in 34 pts (26%). Of all treated pts, 38% remain on ibr treatment on study including 65% of TN pts and 30% of R/R pts.
Conclusions: Single-agent ibrutinib continues to show durable responses in pts with TN or R/R CLL/SLL including those with del17p, del11q, or unmutated IGVH. With extended treatment, CRs were observed in 29% of TN and 10% of R/R pts, having evolved over time. Ibrutinib provided better PFS outcomes if administered earlier in therapy than in the third-line or beyond. Those without CK experienced more favorable PFS and OS than those with CK. Ibrutinib was well tolerated with the onset of AEs decreasing over time, allowing for extended dosing for 65% of TN and 30% of R/R pts who continue treatment.
Display omitted Display omitted
O'Brien:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Furman:Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Coutre:Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding. Flinn:Janssen: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; ARIAD: Research Funding; RainTree Oncology Services: Equity Ownership. Burger:Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Portola: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Roche: Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses. Sharman:Gilead: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Wierda:Abbvie: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Jones:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Luan:AbbVie: Equity Ownership; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses. James:AbbVie: Equity Ownership; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment. Chu:Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment; AbbVie: Equity Ownership.
Reverse Phase Protein Lysate Microarrays in the Analysis of Activated B Lymphocytes Chu, Alvina D., Rheumatology Fellow, Stanford University, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Palo Alto, CA; Chruscinski, Andrzej J., Cardiology Fellow, Stanford University, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford, CA; Singh, Harvir, Research Assistant, Stanford University, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford, CA ...
Clinical Immunology,
01/2007, Volume:
123
Journal Article
Background: Patients (pts) with deletion 17p (del17p) CLL follow an aggressive clinical course and experience poor outcomes with chemoimmunotherapy. Ibrutinib, an oral inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine ...kinase (BTK), is approved for pts with CLL with ≥1 prior therapy and for pts with del17p CLL (including first-line). In the phase 2 RESONATE-17 study (PCYC-1117), ibrutinib demonstrated high efficacy with a favorable risk-benefit profile in del17p CLL/SLL (O'Brien, ASH 2014). We evaluate the baseline genetic features and prognostic factors of these pts to determine their impact on outcome.
Methods: Pts with del17p CLL or SLL defined by peripheral blood FISH who failed ≥1 therapy received 420 mg oral ibrutinib once daily until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Using the primary analysis data cut, the overall response rate (ORR; iwCLL 2008 criteria by investigators), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed by subgroup.
Results: Among 144 treated pts (137 CLL, 7 SLL), the median age was 64 (range 36-89). At baseline, 63% of pts had Rai stage III or IV disease, and 39% had received ≥3 prior therapies. Baseline cytogenetics included del11q (16%), del13q (74%), and trisomy 12 (17%), in addition to del17p in all pts. Of 116 pts with valid baseline genomic samples, IGHV status was unmutated in 84%; genomic variants that included mutations, rearrangements, insertions, deletions, and copy number variants affecting coding regions were identified as follows: ATM (14%), BIRC3 (3%), BTK (1%), MYC (2%), MYD88 (2%), NOTCH1 (16%), PLCG2 (3%), SF3B1 (27%), and TP53 (92%), which were consistent with previously identified mutations in pts with CLL (Wang, NEJM 2011; Winkelmann, Haematologica 2015). At a median follow-up of 11.5 months, the investigator-assessed ORR including partial response with lymphocytosis (PR-L) for all treated pts was 83% (17% PR-L). Median PFS and OS were not reached, with 12-month PFS and OS rates of 79% and 84%. Any-grade adverse events (≥15%) included diarrhea (36%), fatigue (31%), cough (24%), arthralgia (22%), nausea (19%), hypertension (19%), anemia (19%), pyrexia (17%), decreased appetite (17%), muscle spasms (17%), neutropenia (17%), and peripheral edema (15%). Serious AEs occurred in 40% of pts (38% ≥ grade 3). ORR, 12-month PFS, and 12-month OS are presented by subgroup for baseline characteristics, cytogenetics, and genomic variants (Table). There were no substantial differences in response rates and survival outcomes in the subgroups with and without baseline cytogenetic aberrations or genomic variants (Table). Response rates were similar for pts with and without NOTCH1 or SF3B1 variants. Of 11 pts with del17p CLL who developed Richter transformation, baseline aberrations included ATM (n=2), SF3B1 (n=3), and/or NOTCH1 (n=3); none had BIRC3 variants. Overall at baseline, there were 3 pts with a PLCG2 mutation (L163F, H193Q, P236L), and 1 with a BTK mutation (R236Q); all achieved a best overall response of PR-L or better. None had received prior therapy with a BTK or PI3K inhibitor. Two pts had a baseline MYD88 mutation (L265P, L142F) with a best overall response of PR in 1 pt. Two pts had baseline MYC amplifications with 5 of 5 exons amplified to 6 and 7 copies, respectively; 1 pt achieved a best overall response of PR.
Conclusions: These results provide further evidence of ibrutinib's robust clinical activity and encouraging survival outcomes in this high-risk population regardless of baseline cytogenetic aberrations or genomic variants. The prognostic role of these clinical characteristics and genetic anomalies will continue to be elucidated with longer term follow-up of this population.
Display omitted
Stilgenbauer:AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Jones:Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding. Coutre:AbbVie: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mato:Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; TA Therapeutics: Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses. Hillmen:AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding. Tam:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Osterborg:Gilead: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Siddiqi:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Thirman:Gilead: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding. Furman:Gilead: Consultancy; Acerta Pharma BV: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Li:Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment. Eckert:Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment. Chang:Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment. James:Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment. Chu:Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment. Hallek:Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau. O'Brien:Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding.
▪
Background: Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with deletion of the short arm of chromosome 17 (del 17p) follow an aggressive clinical course and demonstrate a median survival of less ...than 2 years in the relapsed/refractory (R/R) setting. Ibrutinib (ImbruvicaTM), a first-in-class Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, has been approved for previously treated patients with CLL and for patients with del 17p CLL. We report results from the primary analysis of the Phase II RESONATETM-17 (PCYC-1117-CA) study, designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-agent ibrutinib for treatment of patients with R/R del 17p CLL or small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL).
Methods: Patients with del 17p CLL or SLL who failed at least one therapy were enrolled to receive 420 mg oral ibrutinib once daily until progression. All patients receiving at least one dose of ibrutinib were included in the analysis. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) per an independent review committee (IRC). Other endpoints included duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety of ibrutinib.
Results: Among 144 treated patients (137 with CLL, 7 with SLL), the median age was 64 (48% 65 years or older) and all had del 17p. Baseline characteristics included 63% of patients with Rai Stage III or IV disease, 49% with bulky lymphadenopathy of at least 5 cm, and 10% with lymphadenopathy of least 10 cm. The median baseline absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) was 32.9 x 109/L with 57% of patients with a baseline ALC at least 25.0 x 109/L. Baseline beta-2 microglobulin levels were at least 3.5 mg/L in 78% of patients (range 1.8-19.8 mg/L), and lactate dehydrogenase levels were at least 350 U/L in 24% of patients (range 127-1979 U/L). A median of 2 prior therapies (range 1-7) was reported. Investigator-assessed ORR was 82.6% including 17.4% partial response with lymphocytosis (PR-L). Complete response (CR)/complete response with incomplete bone marrow recovery (CRi) were reported in 3 patients. IRC-assessed ORR is pending. At a median follow up of 13.0 months (range 0.5-16.7 months), the median PFS (Figure 1) and DOR by investigator determination had not been reached. At 12 months, 79.3% were alive and progression-free, and 88.3% of responders were progression-free. Progressive disease was reported in 20 patients (13.9%). Richter transformation was reported in 11 of these patients (7.6%), 7 of the cases occurring within the first 24 weeks of treatment. Prolymphocytic leukemia was reported in 1 patient. The most frequently reported adverse events (AE) of any grade were diarrhea (36%; 2% Grade 3-4), fatigue (30%; 1% Grade 3-4), cough (24%; 1% Grade 3-4), and arthralgia (22%; 1% Grade 3-4). Atrial fibrillation of any grade was reported in 11 patients (7.6%; 3.5% Grade 3-4). Seven patients reported basal or squamous cell skin cancer and 1 patient had plasma cell myeloma. Most frequently reported Grade 3-4 AEs were neutropenia (14%), anemia (8%), pneumonia (8%), and hypertension (8%). Major hemorrhage was reported in 7 patients (4.9%, all Grade 2 or 3). Study treatment was discontinued in 16 patients (11.1%) due to AEs with 8 eventually having fatal events (pneumonia, sepsis, myocardial or renal infarction, health deterioration). At the time of data cut, the median treatment duration was 11.1 months, and 101 of 144 patients (70%) continued treatment with ibrutinib.
Conclusions: In the largest prospective trial dedicated to the study of del 17p CLL/SLL, ibrutinib demonstrated marked efficacy in terms of ORR, DOR, and PFS, with a favorable risk-benefit profile. At a median follow up of 13 months, the median DOR had not yet been reached; 79.3% of patients remained progression-free at 12 months, consistent with efficacy observed in earlier studies (Byrd, NEJM 2013;369:32-42). The PFS in this previously treated population compares favorably to that of treatment-naïve del 17p CLL patients receiving fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) (Hallek, Lancet 2010;376:1164-74) or alemtuzumab (Hillmen, J Clin Oncol 2007;10:5616-23) with median PFS of 11 months. The AEs are consistent with those previously reported for ibrutinib (Byrd, NEJM 2014;371:213-23). These results support ibrutinib as an effective therapy for patients with del 17p CLL/SLL.
Display omitted
O’Brien:Amgen, Celgene, GSK: Consultancy; CLL Global Research Foundation: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Emergent, Genentech, Gilead, Infinity, Pharmacyclics, Spectrum: Consultancy, Research Funding; MorphoSys, Acerta, TG Therapeutics: Research Funding. Jones:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Coutre:Janssen, Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding. Mato:Pharamcyclics, Genentech, Celegene, Millennium : Speakers Bureau. Hillmen:Pharmacyclics, Janssen, Gilead, Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding. Tam:Pharmacyclics and Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Siddiqi:Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Furman:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Brown:Sanofi, Onyx, Vertex, Novartis, Boehringer, GSK, Roche/Genentech, Emergent, Morphosys, Celgene, Janssen, Pharmacyclics, Gilead: Consultancy. Stevens-Brogan:Pharmacyclics: Employment. Li:Pharmacyclics: Employment. Fardis:Pharmacyclics: Employment. Clow:Pharmacyclics: Employment. James:Pharmacyclics: Employment. Chu:Pharmacyclics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hallek:Janssen, Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Stilgenbauer:Pharmacyclics, Janssen Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.
Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) plays a critical role in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell survival by modulating B-cell receptor signaling. Ibrutinib (PCI-32765), a first-in-class oral ...inhibitor of BTK, inhibits proliferation, migration and adhesion in CLL cells. A total of 148 patients with CLL/SLL received ibrutinib monotherapy in a Phase 1 multiple ascending dose study (PCYC-04753) or Phase 1b/2 continuous dosing study (PCYC-1102-CA), after which a long-term extension study was available for continued follow-up for safety and efficacy with daily orally-administered ibrutinib monotherapy. The studies included patients with treatment-naïve (TN) and relapsed or refractory (RR) CLL/SLL. The aims of the present analysis were to evaluate safety based on time on ibrutinib therapy (≤ 1 year and > 1 year), summarize safety findings in the TN and RR patient populations, and assess duration of response (DOR).
Demographics and baseline characteristics were summarized according to parent study, comprising either TN patients or RR CLL/SLL patients who had received at least one dose of ibrutinib monotherapy. Patient disposition, treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs), best response, overall response rate (ORR), and DOR were determined for the time treated (beginning in the parent studies and extending into the long-term extension study).
At a median treatment duration of 21.5 months, 109 out of 148 patients continued treatment with ibrutinib for over a year. The percentage of patients who had a grade 3 or higher serious adverse event (SAE) declined over time from 43% within the first year of study treatment to 32% after the first year of treatment. With respect to side effects determined to be related to study drug, the number of grade 3 AEs and SAEs also declined from within the first year of treatment (24% and 8%, respectively) to after the first year of treatment (7% and 0%, respectively). AEs leading to ibrutinib discontinuation occurred in 12 patients within the first year of treatment for all 148 patients and in 6 out of 109 patients after the first year of treatment.
Overall, the most frequent AEs grade 3 or higher were pneumonia (16.9%), hypertension (13.5%), neutropenia (11.5%), thrombocytopenia (7.4%), and diarrhea (5.4%), regardless of relationship to study drug. Grade 3 or higher SAEs were reported in RR patients at 62% compared to TN patients at 29%. Pneumonia was reported in TN patients at 6.5% and in RR patients at 19.7%.
Within the efficacy population (n = 140), the ORR was 86.2% for TN patients and 88.3% for RR patients who achieved a partial response (PR) or better. The ORR combined with PR with lymphocytosis suggests that 93.1% of TN patients and 93.7% of RR patients achieved an objective response to ibrutinib therapy based on Cheson JCO 2012.
After a median follow up of 27.2 months (range 1.9-42 months) for TN and RR responders who achieved PR or better, the median DOR has not been reached. At landmark 30 months, 76.1% of the responders were alive without progression.
Ibrutinib as a single agent demonstrates long-term safety, tolerability, and durability of response in patients with TN and RR CLL/SLL. Indeed, a decrease in the number of patients experiencing SAEs or AEs grade 3 or higher after 1 year of treatment with ibrutinib resulted in low rates of treatment-related discontinuation after that time point. Grade 3 or higher SAEs were reported at a two-fold higher rate in patients who had received prior therapies, which may be reflective of disease state rather than relationship to ibrutinib. A majority of patients remain on ibrutinib monotherapy with the median DOR not yet reached in the ongoing extension study.
Patient CharacteristicsTreatment-Naïve CLL/SLL (≥ 65 years)Relapsed/Refractory CLL/SLLTotal CLL/SLLNumber of patients31117148Median age (range)71 (65, 84)65 (37, 82)68 (37, 84)Age ≥ 65 years31 (100%)60 (51%)91 (61%)≥ 3 Prior therapies083 (71%)83 (56%)Rai Stage III or IV17 (54%)62 (53%)79 (53%)Median time on study treatment, months (range)26.7 (0.3, 34.0)20.5 (0.3, 42.0)21.5 (0.3, 42.0)Patients continuing study treatment25/ 31 (81%)68/ 117 (58%)93/ 148 (63%)Treatment discontinuation due to disease progression1 (3%)21 (18%)22 (15%)Death within 30 days of last dose011 (9%)11 (7%)
O'Brien:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Furman:Genentech: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy. Fowler:Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Coutre:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Burger:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Jones:Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Wierda:Abbott Laboratories: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech/Roche: Consultancy, DSMB, DSMB Other, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Merck: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi-Aventis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Tragara: Research Funding. Flinn:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Advani:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding. Kolibaba:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Shaw:Pharmacyclics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Clow:Pharmacyclics: Employment, Equity Ownership. James:Pharmacyclics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Chu:Pharmacyclics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Byrd:Celgene: Consultancy; Johnson and Johnson: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding.
Development of new therapies for rheumatic diseases requires a series of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) progressing from phase 1, ’firstinhuman’ to generate initial safety, pharmacokinetic (PK) ...and pharmacodynamic (PD) data; to phase 2, proof of concept for efficacy with safety and PK/PD data; and phase 3, designed to demonstrate definitive efficacy and safety to support regulatory approval. Important aspects of RCT designs include sample size estimations, treatment allocation, rescue, blinding, and statistical analyses of prespecified endpoints to preserve trial integrity. Over the past 15 years, significant progress has been made in the design of RCTs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Similarly, development and validation of composite outcome measures in psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, and osteoarthritis have furthered trial design and treatment approvals. RCTs in systemic lupus erythematosus and other multisystem, heterogeneous diseases pose more challenges. Trial design will continue to evolve as promising therapies are introduced into the clinic.
Development of new therapies for rheumatic diseases requires a series of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) progressing from phase 1, ’firstinhuman’ to generate initial safety, pharmacokinetic (PK) ...and pharmacodynamic (PD) data; to phase 2, proof of concept for efficacy with safety and PK/PD data; and phase 3, designed to demonstrate definitive efficacy and safety to support regulatory approval. Important aspects of RCT designs include selection of patient population, sample size estimations, treatment allocation, rescue, blinding, and statistical analyses of prespecified endpoints to preserve trial integrity. Over the past 20 years, significant progress has been made in the design of RCTs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Similarly, development and validation of composite outcome measures in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), gout, and osteoarthritis (OA) have furthered trial design and treatment approvals. RCTs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), vasculitis and other multisystem, heterogeneous diseases pose more challenges. Trial design will continue to evolve as promising therapies are introduced into the clinic and more therapies are approved for each indication.
Fungal infections are rare complications of injections for treatment of chronic pain. In September 2012, we initiated an investigation into fungal infections associated with injections of ...preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate that was purchased from a single compounding pharmacy.
Three lots of methylprednisolone acetate were recalled by the pharmacy; examination of unopened vials later revealed fungus. Notification of all persons potentially exposed to implicated methylprednisolone acetate was conducted by federal, state, and local public health officials and by staff at clinical facilities that administered the drug. We collected clinical data on standardized case-report forms, and we tested for the presence of fungi in isolates and specimens by examining cultures and performing polymerase-chain-reaction assays and histopathological and immunohistochemical testing.
By October 19, 2012, more than 99% of 13,534 potentially exposed persons had been contacted. As of July 1, 2013, there were 749 reported cases of infection in 20 states, with 61 deaths (8%). Laboratory evidence of Exserohilum rostratum was present in specimens from 153 case patients (20%). Additional data were available for 728 case patients (97%); 229 of these patients (31%) had meningitis with no other documented infection. Case patients had received a median of 1 injection (range, 1 to 6) of implicated methylprednisolone acetate. The median age of the patients was 64 years (range, 15 to 97), and the median incubation period (the number of days from the last injection to the date of the first diagnosis) was 47 days (range, 0 to 249); 40 patients (5%) had a stroke.
Analysis of data from a large, multistate outbreak of fungal infections showed substantial morbidity and mortality. The infections were associated with injection of a contaminated glucocorticoid medication from a single compounding pharmacy. Rapid public health actions included prompt recall of the implicated product, notification of exposed persons, and early outreach to clinicians.
Campylobacter causes an estimated 1.3 million diarrheal illnesses in the United States annually (1). In August 2017, the Florida Department of Health notified CDC of six Campylobacter jejuni ...infections linked to company A, a national pet store chain based in Ohio. CDC examined whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and identified six isolates from company A puppies in Florida that were highly related to an isolate from a company A customer in Ohio. This information prompted a multistate investigation by local and state health and agriculture departments and CDC to identify the outbreak source and prevent additional illness. Health officials from six states visited pet stores to collect puppy fecal samples, antibiotic records, and traceback information. Nationally, 118 persons, including 29 pet store employees, in 18 states were identified with illness onset during January 5, 2016-February 4, 2018. In total, six pet store companies were linked to the outbreak. Outbreak isolates were resistant by antibiotic susceptibility testing to all antibiotics commonly used to treat Campylobacter infections, including macrolides and quinolones. Store record reviews revealed that among 149 investigated puppies, 142 (95%) received one or more courses of antibiotics, raising concern that antibiotic use might have led to development of resistance. Public health authorities issued infection prevention recommendations to affected pet stores and recommendations for testing puppies to veterinarians. This outbreak demonstrates that puppies can be a source of multidrug-resistant Campylobacter infections in humans, warranting a closer look at antimicrobial use in the commercial dog industry.
PDF
