Results from Phase III C-AXSPAND study of Cimzia for axial spondyloarthritis published in Arthritis & Rheumatology

UCB announced detailed findings from the investigational study C-AXSPAND, the Phase III, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted over 52 weeks, demonstrating positive results for Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) in the treatment of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in patients with objective signs of inflammation despite the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Results published in Arthritis & Rheumatology reveal the study met its primary endpoint, with 47.2% of patients treated with Cimzia demonstrating major improvement response in Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS-MI) at week 52, compared to 7% of patients treated with placebo. The study also met ASAS40, an important secondary endpoint, with 47% of Cimzia-treated patients achieving a 40% improvement in Ankylosing Spondylitis Assessment Score (ASAS40) compared to 11.4% of placebo-treated patients at week 12. These findings were also presented at the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP) Annual Meeting.

See: "A 52-Week Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Certolizumab Pegol in Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis" Atul Deodhar et al. Arthritis & RheumatologyFirst Published: 8 March 2019 https://doi.org/10.1002/art.40866