Real-World Retention and Clinical Effectiveness of Secukinumab for Psoriatic Arthritis: Results From the Canadian Spondyloarthritis Research Network

Abstract

ObjectivePsoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling of peripheral joints, with an estimated prevalence in Canada of 0.45%. Treatment aims to minimize disease activity, reduce progression of damage, and improve quality of life. Secukinumab (SEC) is a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) that has demonstrated efficacy and safety for PsA in clinical trials; however, there is limited real-world evidence on its use in Canada. The objective of this study was to use the Canadian Spondyloarthritis (CanSpA) Research Network to describe real-world retention and effectiveness of SEC among Canadian patients with PsA.MethodsThis was an observational cohort study of Canadian patients with PsA, 18 to 65 years of age, who attended a clinic of the CanSpA network and received treatment with SEC. Patients were indexed on the date they first initiated SEC. Retention was assessed at 12 months postindex. Clinical effectiveness was measured as the proportion of patients in remission and change in disease activity from baseline to 12 months using several clinical indices.ResultsIn total, 213 patients were included. Overall retention was estimated at 73.6% at 12 months (81.8% for bDMARD- or targeted synthetic DMARD-naïve patients). Out of 110 patients, 17 (15.5%) were in remission based on the Disease Activity Index in Psoriatic Arthritis in 28 joints, and 10 out of 70 patients (14.3%) were in remission based on the Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score at 12 months. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index improved by 65.8%; the tender joint count in 68 joints and the swollen joint count in 66 joints improved by 65.5% and 73.7%, respectively.ConclusionThis is the first nationwide study that we know of to describe real-world use of SEC in Canada for PsA, and the results support its effectiveness in a Canadian real-world setting. The CanSpA network represents a unique opportunity to build and improve the real-world evidence base for SpA treatment in Canada.