Safety and efficacy of golimumab in Chinese patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: 1-year results of a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of golimumab in Chinese patients with active AS. Methods. Two hundred and thirteen patients were randomized in a 1: 1 ratio to receive either s.c. injections of placebo from weeks 0 to 20 followed by golimumab 50mg from weeks 24 to 48 (group 1, n = 105) or golimumab 50mg from weeks 0 to 48 (group 2, n = 108), both every 4 weeks. Placebo crossover occurred at week 24, while early escape was at week 16. The primary endpoint was an improvement of at least 20% in the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS20) criteria at week 14. Major secondary endpoints included week 24 ASAS20 response and week 14 change scores for BASFI and BASMI. Results. Golimumab treatment elicited significantly better responses than placebo in week 14 ASAS20 response [49.1% (53/108) vs 24.8% (26/105), respectively, P < 0.001], week 24 ASAS20 response (50.0% vs 22.9%, P < 0.001) and mean improvements in BASFI (-1.26 vs 0.11, P < 0.001) and BASMI (-0.42 vs -0.19, P = 0.021) scores at week 14. Additionally, golimumab treatment led to significant improvements in the mental and physical components of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep problems at week 24, all of which were further improved through week 52. During the 16-week placebo-controlled study period, 31.4% and 30.6% of patients had adverse events (AEs) in groups 1 and 2, respectively; similar AE reporting rates were observed through week 24 (34.3% and 32.0%) and among the golimumab-treated patients through week 56 (41.2%). Conclusion. Golimumab significantly reduced clinical symptoms/signs and improved physical function, range of motion and HRQoL in Chinese patients with active AS without unexpected safety concerns.