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Abstract Number: 2241

Efficacy of Belimumab in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients with High Baseline Disease Activity

Ann E. Clarke1, Susan Manzi2, Michelle Petri3, Richard Furie4, Ronald F. van Vollenhoven5, Simon Cooper6, Z. John Zhong6, William W. Freimuth6 and Arthur Weinstein7, 1Division of Rheumatology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB, Canada, 2Division of Rheumatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 3Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 4North Shore-LIJ Health System, Lake Success, NY, 5Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, 6Human Genome Sciences, Inc., Rockville, MD, 7Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC

Meeting: 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: belimumab, corticosteroids, fatigue and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

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Session Information

Title: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Clinical Aspects

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose: To assess the efficacy of belimumab in patients with SLE who had high disease activity at baseline, as defined by SELENA-SLEDAI score ≥10. 

Methods: In 2 randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase 3 studies, 1684 SLE patients with SELENA-SLEDAI ≥6 at baseline were treated with placebo, or belimumab 1 or 10 mg/kg, plus standard SLE therapy (NCT00071487/NCT00583362). In a post-hoc analysis, the SLE Responder Index (SRI) at wk 52, flares, corticosteroid use, fatigue, and the SF-36 vitality domain were examined in a subgroup of patients with baseline SELENA-SLEDAI ≥10.

Results: 877 patients (52%) had SELENA-SLEDAI scores ≥10 on entry to the BLISS trials: 299, 283, and 296 were randomized to placebo, and belimumab 1 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Mean baseline characteristics were similar across treatment groups. In patients with SELENA-SLEDAI ≥10 vs ≤9, >80% vs 56% were anti-double-stranded−DNA positive and 55%/67% vs 34%/55% had low C3/C4 levels. In patients with SELENA-SLEDAI ≥10 vs all patients in the BLISS trials, 89% vs 57% had >3 organ systems involved. Belimumab 1 and 10 mg/kg significantly improved SRI response, and reduced prednisone use in high disease activity patients at wk 52 (see table). Treatment with belimumab 10 mg/kg generally resulted in a greater response than with 1 mg/kg and placebo regarding reduction in severe flare risk, and improvements in SRI response, fatigue, and SF-36 vitality at wk 52.

Conclusion: Belimumab 10 mg/kg significantly reduced disease activity, flares, corticosteroid use, and fatigue in SLE patients with high disease activity, as defined by baseline SELENA-SLEDAI scores ≥10.

 

Efficacy in Patients With SELENA-SLEDAI Scores ≥10 at Baseline

Response parametera

Placebo

(n = 299)

Belimumab

1 mg/kg

(n = 283)

10 mg/kg

(n = 296)

SRI response: wk 52, %

  p value

44.1

58.0

<0.001

63.2

<0.001

     No new BILAG A and ≤1 new B score

       p value   

65.4

73.5

0.024

74.3

0.017

     ≥4-point reduction in SELENA-SLEDAI

       p value

48.0

60.4

0.001

66.2

<0.001

     No worsening in PGA

       p value 

63.1

73.1

0.006

74.0

0.004

Patients with ≥1 severe flare, %

     Severe flare risk over 52 wk: HR   

        (95% CI)b

       p value

28.8

 21.6

0.73

(0.52−1.01)

0.054

18.2

0.59

(0.42−0.83)

0.003

Prednisone reduction ≥25% from baseline to     ≤7.5mg/day: wk 40−52, n (%)c

  p value

12/181 (6.6)

32/182(17.6)

0.002

31/186(16.7)

0.004

% patients with reduction in baseline prednisone from > 7.5 to ≤7.5 mg/d at week 52

  p value

16/181 (8.8)

35/182(19.2)

0.007

41/186 (22.0)

<0.001

Mean FACIT-Fatigue score improvement: wk 52 

  p value

3.38

4.76

0.103

5.12

0.024

Mean SF-36 vitality score change

  p value

7.82

9.69

0.196

10.76

0.044

ap values represent comparisons of belimumab treatment with placebo; bCox proportional hazards model; cincludes only patients with baseline prednisone >7.5 mg/d.

BILAG, British Isles Lupus Assessment Group; FACIT, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy; PGA, Physician’s Global Assessment.


Disclosure:

A. E. Clarke,

GSK,

2,

HGS, BMS, MedImmune,

5,

GSK,

8;

S. Manzi,

SEE ATTACHED,

2,

SEE ATTACHED,

5,

SEE ATTACHED,

7;

M. Petri,

HGS, GSK,

5;

R. Furie,

HGS, GSK,

2,

HGS, GSK,

5,

HGS, GSK,

8;

R. F. van Vollenhoven,

Abbott, BMS, GSK, HGS, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, UCB,

2,

Abbott, BMS, GSK, HGS, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, UCB,

5;

S. Cooper,

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.,

1,

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.,

3;

Z. J. Zhong,

HGS,

1,

HGS,

3;

W. W. Freimuth,

HGS,

1,

HGS,

3;

A. Weinstein,

HGS, Genentech, Savient, Pfizer,

2,

HGS, GSK, Pfizer,

5,

HGS, GSK,

8.

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