The Effect of Guselkumab on General Health State in Biologic-Naïve Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis Through Week 52 of the Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled DISCOVER-2 Trial.

INTRODUCTION

In DISCOVER-2, guselkumab, an interleukin-23 p19 subunit inhibitor, was efficacious in biologic-naïve psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. We report the effect of guselkumab on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) Index and Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) through Week 52.

METHODS

Adults with active PsA were randomized to guselkumab 100 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) or Weeks 0, 4, then every 8 weeks (Q8W), or placebo (crossover to guselkumab Q4W at Week 24). Least squares (LS) mean changes in EQ-5D-5L Index (0-1, US-based value set) and EQ-VAS (0-100) from baseline through Week 52 were assessed. Proportions of patients achieving minimally important differences (MIDs) were assessed through Week 52. Associations between patient clinical features and EQ-5D-5L Index and EQ-VAS scores were examined cross-sectionally with pooled data through Week 24.

RESULTS

The analysis included 738 patients (Q4W n = 245; Q8W n = 248; placebo n = 245). At Week 24, LS mean changes from baseline in the Q4W, Q8W, and placebo groups were 0.12, 0.12, and 0.05, respectively, for EQ-5D-5L Index, and 18.2, 18.4, and 6.8, respectively, for EQ-VAS. At Week 52, improvement was maintained in the guselkumab groups and increased in the placebo crossover group. EQ-5D-5L Index MID was achieved by 56.0% in each guselkumab group at Week 24 and 66.2% in Q4W, 68.5% in Q8W, and 66.1% in placebo crossover group at Week 52. Higher C-reactive protein level, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, fatigue, and pain were correlated with worse EQ-5D-5L Index and EQ-VAS, based on pooled data through Week 24. Higher tender joint count was correlated with worse EQ-5D-5L, while higher swollen joint count was correlated with worse EQ-VAS.

CONCLUSIONS

Guselkumab improved HRQoL through 52 weeks in patients with active PsA. Impairment in HRQoL was correlated with increased inflammation, fatigue, pain, and measures of skin and joint symptom severity.

CLINICALTRIALS: GOV: NCT03158285.