Safety and effectiveness of sarilumab in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to previous treatments: An interim analysis of a post-marketing surveillance

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives An interim analysis of post-marketing surveillance data to assess the safety and effectiveness of sarilumab in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to previous treatment. Methods The interim analysis included patients who initiated sarilumab therapy between June 2018 and January 2021. The primary objective of this surveillance was safety. Results In total, 1036 patients were enrolled and registered by 12 January 2021 (interim cut-off date). Of these, 678 were included in the safety analysis [75.4% female; mean age (± standard deviation) 65.8 ± 13.0 years]. Adverse drug reactions, defined as adverse events classified as possibly or probably related to sarilumab, were reported in 170 patients (incidence: 25.1%), with white blood cell count decreased (4.4%) and neutrophil count decreased (1.6%) most frequently reported. Serious haematologic disorders (3.4%) and serious infections (including tuberculosis) (2.5%) were the most frequently reported priority surveillance items. No malignant tumour was reported. An absolute neutrophil count (ANC) below the minimum standard value did not increase the incidence of serious infections. Conclusions Sarilumab was well tolerated, and no new safety signals were noted in this analysis. There was no difference in the frequency of serious infections between patients with an ANC below or above normal.