Trial Outcomes & Findings for Effect of Subcutaneous ACTEMRA on Inflamed Atherosclerotic Plaques in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis (NCT NCT02659150)

NCT ID: NCT02659150

Last Updated: 2021-02-23

Results Overview

The change in the target-to-background ratio of FDG uptake of the carotid, measured on PET-MR imaging before vs after 12 weeks of tocilizumab treatment. FDG uptake is calculated as Target to background values (TBR) . TBR, in turn, is calculated as the mean arterial standardized uptake value (SUV) divided by background blood pool SUV.

Recruitment status

TERMINATED

Study phase

PHASE4

Target enrollment

16 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline and 13-18 weeks follow-up

Results posted on

2021-02-23

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
tocilizumab will be given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Subject Enrollment
STARTED
16
Subject Enrollment
COMPLETED
11
Subject Enrollment
NOT COMPLETED
5
Baseline Imaging
STARTED
11
Baseline Imaging
COMPLETED
9
Baseline Imaging
NOT COMPLETED
2
Study Drug Dosing
STARTED
9
Study Drug Dosing
COMPLETED
8
Study Drug Dosing
NOT COMPLETED
1
Follow-up Imaging
STARTED
8
Follow-up Imaging
COMPLETED
8
Follow-up Imaging
NOT COMPLETED
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
tocilizumab will be given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Subject Enrollment
Physician Decision
3
Subject Enrollment
Withdrawal by Subject
2
Baseline Imaging
Withdrawal by Subject
1
Baseline Imaging
Physician Decision
1
Study Drug Dosing
Adverse Event
1

Baseline Characteristics

8 of 16 subjects completed imaging

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
n=16 Participants
tocilizumab will be given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Age, Continuous
62.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.8 • n=16 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
13 Participants
n=16 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
3 Participants
n=16 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=16 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=16 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=16 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants
n=16 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
14 Participants
n=16 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=16 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=16 Participants
Arterial Inflammation
2.17 Target to Background Ratio (TBR)
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.56 • n=8 Participants • 8 of 16 subjects completed imaging

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 13-18 weeks follow-up

Population: subjects completing both imaging visits

The change in the target-to-background ratio of FDG uptake of the carotid, measured on PET-MR imaging before vs after 12 weeks of tocilizumab treatment. FDG uptake is calculated as Target to background values (TBR) . TBR, in turn, is calculated as the mean arterial standardized uptake value (SUV) divided by background blood pool SUV.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
n=8 Participants
tocilizumab was given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Change in Arterial Inflammation in the Carotids
-0.10 Ratio
Standard Deviation 0.24

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 13-18 weeks follow-up

Population: participant who completed imaging

Change in FDG uptake in joints over the treatment period will be compared to the change in FDG uptake in arteries over the same period. FDG uptake is calculated as Target to background values (TBR)) . TBR, in turn, is calculated as the mean arterial standardized uptake value (SUV) divided by background blood pool SUV.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
n=8 Participants
tocilizumab was given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Association Between Change in Arterial Inflammation and Change in Articular Inflammation
0.76 Correlation coefficient

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 13-18 weeks follow-up

Changes of Target to Background Ratio within the most diseased segment of the carotid arteries( a plaque-based analysis) before vs. after 12 weeks treatment

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
n=8 Participants
tocilizumab was given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Change in Target to Background Ratio Within Carotid Artery Plaques
-0.58 Ratio
Standard Deviation 0.32

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 13-18 weeks follow-up

Population: participant who completed imaging

Change in LDL over the treatment period will be compared to the change in FDG uptake in arteries over the same period. FDG uptake is calculated as Target to background values (TBR)) . TBR, in turn, is calculated as the mean arterial standardized uptake value (SUV) divided by background blood pool SUV.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
n=8 Participants
tocilizumab was given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Association Between Change in Arterial Inflammation and Change in LDL
-0.66 Correlation coefficient

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 13-18 weeks follow-up

Population: participant who completed imaging

Change in CRP (C-reactive protein) over the treatment period will be compared to the change in FDG uptake in arteries over the same period. FDG uptake is calculated as Target to background values (TBR)) . TBR, in turn, is calculated as the mean arterial standardized uptake value (SUV) divided by background blood pool SUV.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
n=8 Participants
tocilizumab was given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Association Between Change in Arterial Inflammation and Change in CRP
0.67 Correlation coefficient

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline to 13-18 weeks follow-up

Population: Correlation coefficients cannot be calculated. The BOLD imaging was optional. Only one subject produced measurable BOLD imaging at baseline and follow-up. Thus while the data are analyzed, correlation coefficients cannot be calculated.

Correlation coefficients cannot be calculated. The BOLD imaging was optional. Only one subject produced measurable BOLD imaging at baseline and follow-up. Thus while the data are analyzed, correlation coefficients cannot be calculated.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
n=1 Participants
tocilizumab was given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Correlation Between Change in BOLD Signals in the Amygdala and Anterior Cingulate Cortex With Atherosclerotic Plaque FDG Uptake
NA participants
Correlation coefficients cannot be calculated. The BOLD imaging was optional. Only one subject produced measurable BOLD imaging at baseline and follow-up. Thus while the data are analyzed, correlation coefficients cannot be calculated for a single subject.

Adverse Events

Open-Label Tocilizumab

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 4 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
n=16 participants at risk
tocilizumab will be given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
pneumonia
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Open-Label Tocilizumab
n=16 participants at risk
tocilizumab will be given to rheumatoid arthritis patients at a dose of 162 mg subcutaneously a week tocilizumab: subjects will be treated with 162mg of weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab in an open-label manner, this will be done addition to MTX or monotherapy. On subsequent weeks after the first dose of tocilizumab, subjects will be instructed to inject the full amount of syringe according to the directions provided in the Instructions For Use (IFU).
Hepatobiliary disorders
elevated hepatic enzymes
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Leukopenia
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Leukopenia and Throbocytopenia
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
traumatic fracture
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
squamous cell carcinoma
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks
Hepatobiliary disorders
Adenomiomatosys of the fundus of the gallbladder
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
sinusitis
18.8%
3/16 • Number of events 3 • 13-18 weeks
Renal and urinary disorders
cyst in the right kidney
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks
Cardiac disorders
pericardial cyst
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks
Vascular disorders
vertebral hemangioma
6.2%
1/16 • Number of events 1 • 13-18 weeks

Additional Information

Ahmed Tawakol, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Phone: 617-724-3699

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place