Effects of concomitant glucocorticoids in TOZURA, a common-framework study programme of subcutaneous tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2019 Jun 1;58(6):1056-1064. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/key393.

Abstract

Objectives: This post hoc analysis of the TOZURA study programme evaluated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous tocilizumab (TCZ-SC) as monotherapy or with concomitant conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) in patients with RA categorized by baseline glucocorticoid (GC) use.

Methods: TOZURA was a multinational, open-label, single-arm, common-framework study programme (11 protocols, 22 countries) in patients with moderate to severe RA in whom csDMARDs or biologic therapies had failed or who were MTX naïve. Patients received once-weekly TCZ-SC 162 mg for ⩾24 weeks as monotherapy or in combination with csDMARDs and/or oral GC use (⩽10 mg/day prednisone or equivalent), which was to be continued unchanged for 24 weeks. Treatment subgroups were defined by baseline GC use and analysed for efficacy and safety.

Results: Of 1804 patients who received TCZ-SC, 145 received monotherapy + GC, 208 received monotherapy without GC, 730 received combination therapy + GC and 721 received combination therapy without GC. The median GC dose in both GC subgroups was 5 mg/day. The proportion of patients who achieved clinical remission, defined as DAS in 28 joints using ESR <2.6, increased similarly from baseline to week 24 in all subgroups. Improvements in patient-reported outcomes were similar in all subgroups. Overall adverse event profiles were generally similar between subgroups, with some slight numerical differences between GC and non-GC subgroups.

Conclusion: The incremental efficacy benefits of TCZ-SC as monotherapy and in combination with csDMARDs were similar between patients with and without previous and continued oral GC treatment, with generally similar safety profiles.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01941940, NCT01941095, NCT01951170, NCT01987479, NCT01988012, NCT01995201, NCT02001987, NCT02011334, NCT02031471, NCT02046603, NCT02046616.

Keywords: RA; biologic therapies; csDMARDs; glucocorticoid; tocilizumab.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Glucocorticoids
  • tocilizumab
  • Prednisone

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01941095
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02001987
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01987479
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01941940
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02046616
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02031471
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01951170
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02011334
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01988012
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01995201
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02046603