Certolizumab pegol, a PEGylated anti-TNF (Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha), is indicated to treat moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in combination with methotrexate, in adult patients when the response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs including methotrexate, is inadequate.
The study enrolled patients with axSpA including patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and axSpA without radiographic evidence of AS (non-radiographic axSpA [nr-axSpA]).
Oregon Health & Science University rheumatology clinics division medical director Deodhar said AxSpA is a debilitating condition that primarily presents in a young, active population and comprises a spectrum of clinical symptoms including chronic inflammatory back pain.
"People living with AS have X-ray evidence of structural damage in the sacroiliitic joints and are the most well-defined sub-population, while patients with axSpA without radiographic evidence of AS are less well acknowledged today," Deodhar added.
University of Amsterdam and Atrium Medical Center Heerlen spokesperson Robert Landewe said the study showed that the disease burden was similar at baseline for the AS and nr-axSpA sub-populations.
"Certolizumab pegol reduced the clinical burden of axSpA, with similar reductions compared to placebo observed across both certolizumab pegol dosing regimens in both AS and nr-axSpA sub-populations," Landewe added.
In addition, the results also showed that certolizumab pegol reduced inflammation in the sacroiliac joint and spine, and improved patient-reported outcomes such as back pain, fatigue and physical functioning.