Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Conditions
Keywords
SLEDAI, Asia, placebo, BLys, PGA, BILAG, systemic lupus erythematosus, SELENA, Lupus, SRI, efficacy, B cell, SLE Flare Index, belimumab, safety, phase III, B lymphocyte
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of belimumab in addition to standard therapy compared to placebo in subjects in Northeast Asia with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) over a 52 week period.
Detailed description
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of belimumab 10mg/kg administered intravenously (IV) every 4 weeks compared to placebo, in patients with SLE when added to standard of care therapy, as measured by the SLE Responder Index (SRI) at 52 weeks, defined by a composite endpoint using SELENA SLEDAI score, Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) and BILAG A and B organ domain scores.
Interventions
10mg/kg administered intravenously. Dosing at Weeks 0, 2, and 4, then every 4 weeks through Week 48, with a final evaluation at Week 52. All study subjects will receive standard SLE therapies during the study.
Administered intravenously. Dosing at Weeks 0, 2, and 4, and then every 4 weeks through Week 48, with a final evaluation at Week 52. All study subjects will receive standard SLE therapies during the study.
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Age 18 years and older. * Have a clinical diagnosis of SLE according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria. * Have active SLE disease. * Have positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test results. * Are on a stable SLE treatment regimen. * Females of childbearing age are willing to use appropriate contraception
Exclusion criteria
* Have received treatment with any B cell targeted therapy at any time. * Have received a biologic investigational agent in the past year. * Have received 3 or more courses of systemic corticosteroids in the past year. * Have received intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide within 180 days prior to Day 0. * Have severe lupus kidney disease. * Have active central nervous system (CNS) lupus. * Have had a major organ transplant. * Have significant unstable or uncontrolled acute or chronic diseases or conditions not due to SLE. * Have a planned surgical procedure. * Cancer within the last 5 years, except for adequately treated skin cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix. * Have required management of acute or chronic infections in the past 60 days. * Have current drug or alcohol abuse or dependence. * Have a historically positive test, or test positive at screening for HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C. * Have an IgA deficiency. * Have severe laboratory Abnormalities. * Have had anaphylactic reaction to X-ray contrast agents or biologic agents. * Suicidal behavior or ideation.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Percent of Participants Achieving Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index (SRI) Response Rate at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase. | Week 52 | SRI response is a composite index, defined as the percent of participants with \>=4 point reduction from Baseline in safety of estrogen in lupus national assessment (SELENA) systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score and no worsening (increase of \< 0.30 points from Baseline) in physicians global assessment (PGA) and no new British isles lupus assessment group (BILAG) A organ domain score or 2 new BILAG B organ domain scores compared with Baseline at the time of assessment (at Week 52 of the blinded period). A SELENA SLEDAI score of 0 would suggest no lupus activity; while a score of 105 is the maximum calculable if all items were scored as being present from active lupus. PGA ranges from 0 (no activity) to 3 (severe activity). BILAG has no range. The higher thresholds of SELENA SLEDAI improvement (i.e., SRI5, SRI6, and SRI7) indicates a higher response (SRI5 is a 5 point SELENA SLEDAI reduction, SRI6 is a 6 point reduction, and SRI7 is a 7 point reduction). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Percent of Participants With >=4 Point Reduction From Baseline in SELENA SLEDAI Score at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase. | Baseline (Day 0) and Week 52 | The SELENA SLEDAI score is a weighted index for assessing SLE disease activity in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests and physician's assessment for each of 9 organ system were given a weighted score and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. A SELENA SLEDAI score of 0 would suggest no lupus activity; while a score of 105 is the maximum calculable if all items were scored as being present from active lupus. A decrease of 4 points or more equates to a clinically meaningful improvement. The Baseline value of a variable is defined as the value of the variable measured at Day 0 prior to dosing. In case of multiple results on Day 0 prior to dosing, the latest result was used. If a Day 0 value was not available, the last available value prior to Day 0 was used. |
| Percent of Participants With SRI7 Response at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase. | Baseline (Day 0) and Week 52 | SRI7 response is defined as the percent of participants with \>=7 point reduction from Baseline in SELENA SLEDAI score and no worsening (increase of \< 0.30 points from Baseline) in PGA and no new BILAG A organ domain score or 2 new BILAG B organ domain scores compared with Baseline at the time of assessment (at Week 52 of the blinded period). A SELENA SLEDAI score of 0 would suggest no lupus activity; while a score of 105 is the maximum calculable if all items were scored as being present from active lupus. PGA ranges from 0 (no activity) to 3 (severe activity). BILAG has no range. The higher thresholds of SELENA SLEDAI improvement (i.e., SRI5, SRI6, and SRI7) indicates a higher response (SRI5 is a 5 point SELENA SLEDAI reduction, SRI6 is a 6 point reduction, and SRI7 is a 7 point reduction). |
| Number of Days of Daily Prednisone Dose <=7.5 mg/Day and/or Reduced by 50 Percent From Baseline Over 52 Weeks for Double-blind Phase. | Week 52 | Number of days of daily prednisone dose \<=7.5 mg/day and/or reduced by 50 percent over time through each scheduled visit during the blinded period were compared between belimumab and placebo using Rank ANCOVA model which was used for comparing belimumab and placebo. The independent variables in the model included treatment group, Baseline prednisone dose level, country, Baseline SELENA SLEDAI score (\<=9 vs. \>=10) and complement levels (low C3 and/or C4 vs. no low C3 or C4). This analysis was perfomed on the participants who used prednisone \>7.5 mg/day at Baseline. |
| Time to First Severe SLE Flare Index (SFI) Flare Over 52 Weeks for Double-blind Phase. | 52 weeks | Time to first severe SLE flare is defined as the number of days from first treatment until the participant had an event (event date-treatement start date +1). If a participant had a severe SFI flare and received protocol restricted medication then the event date was the earliest of the first severe SFI flare date, and the treatment failure date. Analysis of severe SFI flare was performed on the modified SELENA SLEDAI SLE flare index in which the modification excluded severe flares that were triggered only by an increase in SELENA SLEDAI score to \>12. Analysis was from Cox proportional hazards model for the comparison between belimumab and placebo adjusting for country, Baseline SELENA SLEDAI score (\<=9 vs. \>=10) and complement levels (low C3 and/or C4 vs. no low C3 or C4). |
| Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Weeks 24 and 48 for Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 | SRI response is a composite index, defined as the percent of participants with \>=4 point reduction from Baseline in SELENA SLEDAI score and no worsening (increase of \< 0.30 points from Baseline) in PGA and no new BILAG A organ domain score or 2 new BILAG B organ domain scores compared with Baseline at time of assessment. Excludes participants with a SELENA SLEDAI score \<4 at baseline. Participants randomized to belimumab in double-blinded (DB) phase, Baseline is last available value before first belimumab dose received in DB phase. Participants randomized to placebo in DB phase, Baseline is last available value before receiving first belimumab dose in OL phase. Observed case data are presented.Year 6 Week 48 is the Exit Visit obtained by slotting the Exit Visit to Week 48. A SELENA SLEDAI score of 0 (no lupus activity) and a score of 105 (maximum). PGA ranges from 0 (no activity) to 3 (severe activity). BILAG has no range. |
Countries
China, Japan, South Korea
Participant flow
Recruitment details
This study consisted of a 52 week blinded treatment period in Northeast Asia (China, Japan, Korea) which was followed by an optional open-label (OL) extension period in China for evaluation of belimumab in participants (par.) with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Pre-assignment details
A total of 707 par. were randomized, 705 received at least 1 dose of investigational product (Safety Population), 677 par. were included in the primary efficacy population (MITT Population) of which 663 were evaluable for the primary endpoint. The participant flow and baseline characteristics are presented for MITT Population (Pop).
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Placebo Participants received placebo intravenously (IV) on Day 0, Day 14, Day 28 and then every 28 days until Week 48 of the double-blind period. All China participants who completed double-blind period and eligible to enter open-label phase received belimumab 10 milligrams (mg)/kilogram (kg) up to Year 5 Week 28. | 226 |
| Belimumab 10 mg/kg Participants received belimumab 10 mg/kg IV on Day 0, Day 14, Day 28 and then every 28 days until Week 48 of the double-blind period. All China participants who completed double-blind period and eligible to enter open-label phase received belimumab 10 mg/kg up to Year 5 Week 28. | 451 |
| Total | 677 |
Withdrawals & dropouts
| Period | Reason | FG000 | FG001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double-blind (DB) Phase (52 Weeks) | Adverse Event | 22 | 27 |
| Double-blind (DB) Phase (52 Weeks) | Lack of Efficacy | 11 | 7 |
| Double-blind (DB) Phase (52 Weeks) | Lost to Follow-up | 3 | 8 |
| Double-blind (DB) Phase (52 Weeks) | Met Protocol Defined Stopping Criteria | 6 | 1 |
| Double-blind (DB) Phase (52 Weeks) | Physician Decision | 4 | 12 |
| Double-blind (DB) Phase (52 Weeks) | Protocol Violation | 1 | 5 |
| Double-blind (DB) Phase (52 Weeks) | Withdrawal by Subject | 9 | 19 |
| Open-label Phase (Up to Year 5 Week 44) | Adverse Event | 7 | 18 |
| Open-label Phase (Up to Year 5 Week 44) | Death | 0 | 1 |
| Open-label Phase (Up to Year 5 Week 44) | Lack of Efficacy | 3 | 7 |
| Open-label Phase (Up to Year 5 Week 44) | Lost to Follow-up | 4 | 6 |
| Open-label Phase (Up to Year 5 Week 44) | Not Recorded | 1 | 1 |
| Open-label Phase (Up to Year 5 Week 44) | Physician Decision | 11 | 24 |
| Open-label Phase (Up to Year 5 Week 44) | Protocol Violation | 2 | 5 |
| Open-label Phase (Up to Year 5 Week 44) | Withdrawal by Subject | 37 | 82 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Belimumab 10 mg/kg | Total | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 32.3 Years STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.65 | 32.1 Years STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.5 | 31.7 Years STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.18 |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Asian - Central/South Asian Heritage | 4 Participants | 6 Participants | 2 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Asian - East Asian Heritage | 403 Participants | 598 Participants | 195 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Asian - Japanese Heritage | 40 Participants | 64 Participants | 24 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Asian - Mixed Race | 1 Participants | 2 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Asian - South East Asian Heritage | 3 Participants | 7 Participants | 4 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 419 Participants | 629 Participants | 210 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 32 Participants | 48 Participants | 16 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk | EG002 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 1 / 235 | 0 / 470 | 1 / 424 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 108 / 235 | 207 / 470 | 263 / 424 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 43 / 235 | 58 / 470 | 96 / 424 |
Outcome results
Percent of Participants Achieving Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index (SRI) Response Rate at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase.
SRI response is a composite index, defined as the percent of participants with \>=4 point reduction from Baseline in safety of estrogen in lupus national assessment (SELENA) systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score and no worsening (increase of \< 0.30 points from Baseline) in physicians global assessment (PGA) and no new British isles lupus assessment group (BILAG) A organ domain score or 2 new BILAG B organ domain scores compared with Baseline at the time of assessment (at Week 52 of the blinded period). A SELENA SLEDAI score of 0 would suggest no lupus activity; while a score of 105 is the maximum calculable if all items were scored as being present from active lupus. PGA ranges from 0 (no activity) to 3 (severe activity). BILAG has no range. The higher thresholds of SELENA SLEDAI improvement (i.e., SRI5, SRI6, and SRI7) indicates a higher response (SRI5 is a 5 point SELENA SLEDAI reduction, SRI6 is a 6 point reduction, and SRI7 is a 7 point reduction).
Time frame: Week 52
Population: Modified Intention-to-Treat (MITT) Population: all participants who were randomized and treated with at least one dose of study treatment, with exclusion of participants from the site 086485.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index (SRI) Response Rate at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase. | 40.1 Percentage of participants |
| Belimumab 10 mg/kg | Percent of Participants Achieving Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index (SRI) Response Rate at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase. | 53.8 Percentage of participants |
Number of Days of Daily Prednisone Dose <=7.5 mg/Day and/or Reduced by 50 Percent From Baseline Over 52 Weeks for Double-blind Phase.
Number of days of daily prednisone dose \<=7.5 mg/day and/or reduced by 50 percent over time through each scheduled visit during the blinded period were compared between belimumab and placebo using Rank ANCOVA model which was used for comparing belimumab and placebo. The independent variables in the model included treatment group, Baseline prednisone dose level, country, Baseline SELENA SLEDAI score (\<=9 vs. \>=10) and complement levels (low C3 and/or C4 vs. no low C3 or C4). This analysis was perfomed on the participants who used prednisone \>7.5 mg/day at Baseline.
Time frame: Week 52
Population: MITT Population
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Number of Days of Daily Prednisone Dose <=7.5 mg/Day and/or Reduced by 50 Percent From Baseline Over 52 Weeks for Double-blind Phase. | 0.0 Days |
| Belimumab 10 mg/kg | Number of Days of Daily Prednisone Dose <=7.5 mg/Day and/or Reduced by 50 Percent From Baseline Over 52 Weeks for Double-blind Phase. | 0.0 Days |
Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase
SRI response is a composite index, defined as the percent of participants with \>=4 point reduction from Baseline in SELENA SLEDAI score and no worsening (increase of \< 0.30 points from Baseline) in PGA and no new BILAG A organ domain score or 2 new BILAG B organ domain scores compared with Baseline at time of assessment. Excludes participants with a SELENA SLEDAI score \<4 at baseline. Participants randomized to belimumab in double-blinded (DB) phase, Baseline is last available value before first belimumab dose received in DB phase. Participants randomized to placebo in DB phase, Baseline is last available value before receiving first belimumab dose in OL phase. Observed case data are presented.Year 6 Week 48 is the Exit Visit obtained by slotting the Exit Visit to Week 48. A SELENA SLEDAI score of 0 (no lupus activity) and a score of 105 (maximum). PGA ranges from 0 (no activity) to 3 (severe activity). BILAG has no range.
Time frame: Weeks 24 and 48 for Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Population: Efficacy Population: all participants in China who received at least 1 dose of belimumab during open-label phase, exclusive of site 086485. Only those participants available at the specified time points were analyzed (represented by n=x).
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 24, Year 2, n=326 | 66.0 Percentage of participants |
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 48, Year 2, n=299 | 69.6 Percentage of participants |
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 24, Year 3, n=271 | 72.3 Percentage of participants |
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 48, Year 3, n=247 | 70.9 Percentage of participants |
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 24, Year 4, n=233 | 71.7 Percentage of participants |
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 48, Year 4, n=194 | 76.8 Percentage of participants |
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 24, Year 5, n= 156 | 81.4 Percentage of participants |
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 48, Year 5, n= 82 | 80.5 Percentage of participants |
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 24, Year 6, n= 36 | 86.1 Percentage of participants |
| Placebo | Percent of Participants Achieving SLE SRI Response Rate for Open-label (OL) Phase | Week 48, Year 6, n= 5 | 60.0 Percentage of participants |
Percent of Participants With >=4 Point Reduction From Baseline in SELENA SLEDAI Score at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase.
The SELENA SLEDAI score is a weighted index for assessing SLE disease activity in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests and physician's assessment for each of 9 organ system were given a weighted score and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. A SELENA SLEDAI score of 0 would suggest no lupus activity; while a score of 105 is the maximum calculable if all items were scored as being present from active lupus. A decrease of 4 points or more equates to a clinically meaningful improvement. The Baseline value of a variable is defined as the value of the variable measured at Day 0 prior to dosing. In case of multiple results on Day 0 prior to dosing, the latest result was used. If a Day 0 value was not available, the last available value prior to Day 0 was used.
Time frame: Baseline (Day 0) and Week 52
Population: MITT Population. Only those participants available at the specified time points were analyzed.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Percent of Participants With >=4 Point Reduction From Baseline in SELENA SLEDAI Score at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase. | 42.2 Percentage of participants |
| Belimumab 10 mg/kg | Percent of Participants With >=4 Point Reduction From Baseline in SELENA SLEDAI Score at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase. | 55.7 Percentage of participants |
Percent of Participants With SRI7 Response at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase.
SRI7 response is defined as the percent of participants with \>=7 point reduction from Baseline in SELENA SLEDAI score and no worsening (increase of \< 0.30 points from Baseline) in PGA and no new BILAG A organ domain score or 2 new BILAG B organ domain scores compared with Baseline at the time of assessment (at Week 52 of the blinded period). A SELENA SLEDAI score of 0 would suggest no lupus activity; while a score of 105 is the maximum calculable if all items were scored as being present from active lupus. PGA ranges from 0 (no activity) to 3 (severe activity). BILAG has no range. The higher thresholds of SELENA SLEDAI improvement (i.e., SRI5, SRI6, and SRI7) indicates a higher response (SRI5 is a 5 point SELENA SLEDAI reduction, SRI6 is a 6 point reduction, and SRI7 is a 7 point reduction).
Time frame: Baseline (Day 0) and Week 52
Population: MITT Population. Only those participants available at the specified time point were analyzed.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Percent of Participants With SRI7 Response at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase. | 23.5 Percentage of participants |
| Belimumab 10 mg/kg | Percent of Participants With SRI7 Response at Week 52 for Double-blind Phase. | 32.4 Percentage of participants |
Time to First Severe SLE Flare Index (SFI) Flare Over 52 Weeks for Double-blind Phase.
Time to first severe SLE flare is defined as the number of days from first treatment until the participant had an event (event date-treatement start date +1). If a participant had a severe SFI flare and received protocol restricted medication then the event date was the earliest of the first severe SFI flare date, and the treatment failure date. Analysis of severe SFI flare was performed on the modified SELENA SLEDAI SLE flare index in which the modification excluded severe flares that were triggered only by an increase in SELENA SLEDAI score to \>12. Analysis was from Cox proportional hazards model for the comparison between belimumab and placebo adjusting for country, Baseline SELENA SLEDAI score (\<=9 vs. \>=10) and complement levels (low C3 and/or C4 vs. no low C3 or C4).
Time frame: 52 weeks
Population: MITT Population
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Time to First Severe SLE Flare Index (SFI) Flare Over 52 Weeks for Double-blind Phase. | NA Days |
| Belimumab 10 mg/kg | Time to First Severe SLE Flare Index (SFI) Flare Over 52 Weeks for Double-blind Phase. | NA Days |