Kevzara (Sarilumab), a New IL-6 Receptor Antagonist Approved for Moderately to Severely Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder, affects approximately 1.5 million individuals in the United States; it is 3 times more common in women than in men.1,2 RA affects the lining or synovium of the joints, causing painful swelling that can lead to bone erosion and deformity.2 RA can affect other organs, including skin, eyes, heart, lungs, and blood vessels.1 Patients with RA are also at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.3

RA imposes a substantial clinical burden on patients, affecting their physical function and quality of life, including daily activity, sleep, and mental health.4,5

The treatment of RA is focused on eliminating inflammation, preventing joint and organ damage, and improving physical function and well-being.6 The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) practice guidelines recommend a treat-to-target approach to achieve remission or low disease activity for early and advanced disease.7,8

Pharmacologic treatments for RA include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and biologic response modifiers, a newer class of DMARDs.9

FDA Approves Sarilumab for Rheumatoid Arthritis

On May 22, 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sarilumab (Kevzara; sanofi-aventis/Regeneron), an interleukin (IL)-6 receptor antagonist, for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active RA who cannot tolerate or have had an inadequate response to ≥1 DMARDs.10,11

“In the clinical trial program, saril­umab demonstrated statistically significant, clinically-meaningful improvements in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” said Alan Kivitz, MD, CPI, Founder and Medical Director, Altoona Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center.10

Mechanism of Action

Sarilumab is a human recombinant monoclonal antibody that binds to IL-6 receptors that inhibit IL-6–mediated signaling.11 The IL-6 cytokine, which is produced by various cell types, plays a role in the body’s inflammatory process and response.11-13 The production of IL-6 by synovial and endothelial cells can lead to the local production of IL-6 in the joints affected by RA and other inflammatory processes. In addition, elevated levels of IL-6 have been correlated with disease activity and joint damage in patients with RA.11-13

Dosing and Administration

The recommended dosage of sarilu­mab is 200 mg once every 2 weeks, administered as a subcutaneous injection; it is available as a 150-mg/1.14-mL or 200-mg/1.14-mL solution in a single-dose, prefilled syringe, and can be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate or other conventional DMARDs.

Treatment should not be initiated in patients with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <2000/mm3, platelets <150,000/mm3, or liver transaminase levels above 1.5 times the upper limit of normal. Dose modifications are recommended in cases of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and/or elevated liver transaminase levels.11

Pivotal Phase 3 Clinical Trials

The FDA approval of sarilumab was based on the data from 2 phase 3 clinical trials in adults with moderately to severely active RA. The MOBILITY clinical trial included 1197 patients who had an inadequate response to methotrexate. Patients were randomized to sarilumab 150 mg, sarilumab 200 mg, or placebo every 2 weeks concomitantly with methotrexate.11,12 After week 16, patients who did not have an adequate response were eligible to be rescued with sarilumab 200 mg every 2 weeks.11,12

Treatment with sarilumab plus methotrexate showed significant improvements in ACR 20% response improvement (ACR20) score at week 24, in Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) at week 16, and in van der Heijde–modified Total Sharp Score radiographic changes at week 52 versus placebo plus methotrexate (P <.0001 for all; Table).11,12

Table

The TARGET clinical trial included 546 patients with moderate-to-severe RA who had an inadequate response or were intolerant to ≥1 tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists.11,14 Patients received sarilu­mab 150 mg, sarilumab 200 mg, or placebo every 2 weeks with concomitant conventional DMARDs. After week 12, patients with an inadequate response were eligible to receive rescue therapy with sarilu­mab 200 mg every 2 weeks.11,14

At week 24, sarilumab plus DMARDs significantly improved ACR20 score versus placebo. In addition, the 2 saril­umab groups showed significant improvements from baseline in HAQ-DI score at 12 weeks versus placebo.11,14

Adverse Reactions

The most common (incidence ≥3%) adverse reactions associated with saril­umab therapy are neutropenia (7%), increased alanine aminotransferase levels (5%), injection-site erythema (5%), upper respiratory infections (4%), and urinary tract infections (3%).11

Contraindications

Sarilumab is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to sarilumab or to any of its inactive ingredients.11

Drug Interactions

Cytokines and cytokine modulators can influence the activity of specific cytochrome (CY) P450 enzymes (including CYP3A4) and thus may alter the metabolism of drugs that are substrates of these enzymes. Use caution when sar­ilumab is coadministered with CYP3A4 substrate drugs for which decreased effectiveness is undesirable (eg, oral contraceptives, statins).11

Warnings and Precautions

The prescribing information for saril­umab includes a box warning stating that sarilumab is associated with an increased risk for serious and potentially fatal infections, including bacterial, viral, invasive fungal, and other opportunistic infections.11 Patients should be monitored closely for infection while receiving sarilumab.11

Sarilumab has been associated with reduced ANC, including neutropenia; a reduction in platelet counts; transaminase elevations; and lipid abnormalities.11

The risk for gastrointestinal perforation may be increased when sarilumab is used concomitantly with NSAIDs or with corticosteroids.11

Treatment with immunosuppressant drugs, including sarilumab, may increase the risk for malignancies.11

Sarilumab should be discontinued immediately if anaphylaxis or a hypersensitivity reaction occurs.11

Sarilumab is not recommended for patients with hepatic impairment and should not be used with live vaccines.11

Use in Specific Populations

Nursing women may need to discontinue sarilumab or discontinue nursing.11

No differences in safety or efficacy of sarilumab were seen between older (aged ≥65 years) and younger patients.11

Sarilumab Distribution

Sarilumab is being distributed through Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, OptiMed Specialty Pharmacy, and Avella Specialty Pharmacy.15-17

Conclusion

The FDA approval of sarilumab represents a new treatment option for patients with moderate-to-severe RA who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to ≥1 DMARDs. Sarilumab plus methotrexate and sarilumab plus DMARDs significantly improved outcomes in patients with RA.

Disclaimer
The information in this article is current as of August 2017 and was derived from publicly available sources and the drug manufacturer’s website and prescribing information. The Publisher is not responsible for inaccurate information resulting from ongoing updates. Readers should refer to the drug manufacturer’s website for the most current information.

References

  1. Mayo Clinic staff. Rheumatoid arthritis: overview. March 18, 2016. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/home/ovc-20197388. Accessed June 23, 2017.
  2. Arthritis Foundation. What is rheumatoid arthritis? www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis.php. Accessed June 23, 2017.
  3. Arthritis Foundation. How RA inflammation affects your heart: researchers explore why having rheumatoid increases the risk of heart disease and recommend better risk assessment. www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/comorbidities/heart-disease/ra-and-your-heart.php. Accessed June 23, 2017.
  4. Dominick KL, Ahern FM, Gold CH, Heller DA. Health-related quality of life among older adults with arthritis. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2004;2:5.
  5. Salaffi F, Carotti M, Gasparini S, et al. The health-related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis: a comparison with a selected sample of healthy people. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009;7:25.
  6. Arthritis Foundation. Rheumatoid arthritis treatment. www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/treatment.php. Accessed June 26, 2017.
  7. Singh JA, Saag KG, Bridges SL Jr, et al; for the American College of Rheumatology. 2015 American College of Rheumatology guideline for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68:1-25.
  8. Arthritis Foundation. Treat to target approach im­proves RA outcomes: when doctors “treat to target”—with specific goals—patients improve faster and stick with meds. Updated April 2015. www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/articles/treat-to-target-rheumatoid-arthritis.php. Accessed June 26, 2017.
  9. Mayo Clinic staff. Rheumatoid arthritis: treatment. March 18, 2016. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20197400. Accessed June 26, 2017.
  10. PR Newswire. Regeneron and Sanofi announce FDA approval of Kevzara® (sarilumab) for the treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients. Press release. May 22, 2017. www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regeneron-and-sanofi-announce-fda-approval-of-kevzara-sarilumab-for-the-treatment-of-moderately-to-severely-active-rheumatoid-arthritis-in-adult-patients-300461766.html. Accessed June 20, 2017.
  11. Kevzara (sarilumab) injection [prescribing information]. Tarrytown, NY: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; Bridgewater, NJ: sanofi-aventis U.S.; May 2017.
  12. Genovese MC, Fleischmann R, Kivitz AJ, et al. Sarilumab plus methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response to methotrexate: results of a phase III study. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015;67:1424-1437.
  13. Srirangan S, Choy EH. The role of interleukin 6 in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2010;2:247-256.
  14. Fleischmann R, van Adelsberg J, Lin Y, et al. Sarilumab and nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response or intolerance to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017;69:277-290.
  15. Avella Specialty Pharmacy. Rheumatology medications. www.avella.com/specialties/rheumatology/rheumatology-medications. Accessed July 21, 2017.
  16. Diplomat. Diplomat to dispense Kevzara for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Press release. May 25, 2017. https://diplomat.is/news-and-media/press-releases/diplomat-dispense-kevzara-treatment-rheumatoid-arthritis/. Accessed July 21, 2017.
  17. OptiMed Specialty Pharmacy. OptiMed Specialty Pharmacy to distribute new rheumatoid arthritis drug. Press release. June 19, 2017. www.optimedspecial tyrx.com/news/65-optimed-specialty-pharmacy-to-distribute-new-rheumatoid-arthritis-drug. Accessed July 20, 2017.

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