Upadacitinib in active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: 2-year data from the phase 3 SELECT-AXIS 2 study

BACKGROUND: In SELECT-AXIS 2, upadacitinib improved the signs and symptoms of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) through 52 weeks versus placebo and was well tolerated. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib through 2 years. METHODS: The study enrolled eligible adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of nr-axSpA who met the 2009 Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) classification criteria and had objective signs of active inflammation on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sacroiliac joints and/or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive double-blinded treatment with upadacitinib 15 mg once daily (QD) or placebo for 52 weeks, after which all patients received open-label treatment with upadacitinib 15 mg QD. Efficacy results over 104 weeks were reported as observed (AO) and either AO with non-responder imputation (AO-NRI; binary endpoints) or AO with mixed-effect model for repeated measures (continuous endpoints). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were summarized through week 104. RESULTS: Of 313 patients randomized and treated, 224 (continuous upadacitinib n = 117; placebo/upadacitinib n = 107) completed 104 weeks of treatment. In patients who received continuous upadacitinib, sustained improvement was observed through 2 years of treatment across efficacy endpoints including disease activity, pain, function, enthesitis, quality of life, and MRI measures of inflammation. At week 104, 57.1%, 59.0%, and 31.4% of patients achieved ASAS40 response, and low disease activity and inactive disease (as defined by Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score), respectively (AO-NRI); week 104 outcomes were generally similar in patients who initially received placebo and were switched to upadacitinib at week 52. In total, 286 patients were exposed to ≥ 1 dose of upadacitinib, comprising 378.3 patient-years (PY) of exposure. Upadacitinib was generally well tolerated, with exposure-adjusted event rates (EAERs) for TEAEs, serious adverse events (AEs), and AEs leading to study drug discontinuation of 207.5, 8.7, and 5.3 events/100 PY, respectively. EAERs of TEAEs of special interest were broadly consistent with those reported through week 52. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with upadacitinib demonstrated consistent improvement and maintenance of treatment effect across efficacy endpoints through 2 years; no new safety signals were identified with additional exposure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04169373.

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