Safety profile and clinical activity of sifalimumab, a fully human anti-interferon α monoclonal antibody, in systemic lupus erythematosus: A phase I, multicentre, double-blind randomised study

Joan T. Merrill, Daniel J. Wallace, Michelle Petri, Kyriakos A. Kirou, Yihong Yao, Wendy I. White, Gabriel Robbie, Robert Levin, Seth M. Berney, Vishala Chindalore, Nancy Olsen, Laura Richman, Chenxiong Le, Bahija Jallal, Barbara White

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209 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Type I interferons (IFNs) appear to play a central role in disease pathogenesis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), making them potential therapeutic targets. Methods: Safety profile, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics and clinical activity of sifalimumab, an anti-IFNα monoclonal antibody, were assessed in a phase I, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, dose-escalation study with an open-label extension in adults with moderately active SLE. Subjects received one intravenous dose of sifalimumab (n=33 blinded phase, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 or 30 mg/kg; n=17 open-label, 1, 3, 10 or 30 mg/kg) or placebo (n=17). Each phase lasted 84 days. Results: Adverse events (AEs) were similar between groups; about 97% of AEs were grade 1 or 2. All grade 3 and 4 AEs and all serious AEs (2 placebo, 1 sifalimumab) were deemed unrelated to the study drug. No increase in viral infections or reactivation was observed. Sifalimumab caused dose-dependent inhibition of type I IFN-induced mRNAs (type I IFN signature) in whole blood and corresponding changes in related proteins in affected skin. Exploratory analyses showed consistent trends toward improvement in disease activity in sifalimumab-treated versus placebo-treated subjects. A lower proportion of sifalimumab-treated subjects required new or increased immunosuppressive treatments (12% vs 41%; p=0.03) and had fewer Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index flares (3% vs 29%; p=0.014). Conclusions: Sifalimumab had a safety profile that supports further clinical development. This trial demonstrated that overexpression of type I IFN signature in SLE is at least partly driven by IFNα, and exploratory analyses suggest that IFNα inhibition may be associated with clinical benefit in SLE. Trial registration number NCT00299819.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1905-1913
Number of pages9
JournalAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Volume70
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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