Molecular Effects of Apremilast in the Synovium of Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

• INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing immunologically mediated skin disease manifesting as red scaly plaques, which affects about 1-3% of the population.(ref.1-3). Ten to 20% of the people with psoriasis may develop an arthropathy, which affects small or large joints in a symmetrical or asymmetrical fashion(ref.4). Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is the second most common inflammatory arthritis after rheumatoid arthritis, accounting for 10% to 15% of the patients attending early arthritis clinics(ref.5).

PsA is a heterogeneous disease affecting 0.3 to 1% of the population(ref.6) and recent evidence showed significant disability if this condition is not adequately treated. About 15-35% had marked limitations of their functional capacity. Moreover patients with PsA have an increased mortality risk compared to the general population. A 59 and 65%-increased death rate was seen among respectively male and female PsA patients(ref.7).

Different systemic treatments such as sulfasalazine, leflunomide, methotrexate, and biologics are widely used to treat PsA (ref.8) but not all patients respond to or tolerate these treatments. In addition, not all manifestations of PsA (like joints, dactylitis, scalp, enthesitis, or nails) may respond equally well.

Apremilast Mechanism of action and indications Otezla (apremilast) is an innovative oral small-molecule inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 that works intracellularly to modulate a network of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators (ref.9,10). PDE4 is a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-specific PDE and is the dominant PDE in inflammatory cells. Inhibition of PDE4 elevates intracellular cAMP levels, which in turn down-regulates the inflammatory response by modulating the expression of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-23, IL-17, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. Elevation of cAMP also increases anti-inflammatory cytokines. These pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators have been implicated in psoriasis and PsA. The pro-inflammatory mediators that are upregulated in PsA include the cytokines TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8, and the chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta (ref.9,11-13,17).

Based on these effects, apremilast has been developed for use in the treatment of various immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis and PsA and it is under investigation in Behçet disease. A total of 4,089 patients have been exposed to apremilast across multiple indications, including 1,945 patients in the PsA Phase 3 clinical program (PALACE program)(Ref.14) and 1,184 patients in the psoriasis Phase III clinical program (ESTEEM program)(Ref.15,16).

Otezla was approved in Europe in January 2015 for the treatment of active PsA, alone or in combination with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), in adult patients who have had an inadequate response or who have been intolerant to a prior DMARD therapy (Ref.17). In the same time, Otezla was approved for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adult patients (≥18 years) who failed to respond to, or who have a contraindication for, or are intolerant to other systemic therapy including cyclosporine, methotrexate or psoralen and ultraviolet-A light. The recommended dose is 30 mg twice daily following an initial up-titration phase of 5 days. Otezla is administered orally, without regard to meals.

Summary of efficacy and safety data Efficacy and safety of apremilast in the treatment of patients with active PsA who were inadequately controlled by DMARDs and/or biologics have been demonstrated in 3 multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (PALACE 1, 2, and 3) (Ref. 6,13,14,17). Results from these trials showed that apremilast treatment with or without concomitant DMARDs, compared with placebo with or without concomitant DMARDs, resulted in greater improvement in the signs and symptoms of PsA and more specifically in dactylitis and enthesitis in patients with these pre-existing symptoms, and these improvements were sustained. In clinical trials with apremilast, the majority of the most common adverse reactions occurred within the first 2 weeks of treatment and tended to resolve over time with continued dosing. The most frequently observed adverse reactions leading to discontinuation after 16 weeks of treatment with Otezla 30 mg twice daily were nausea, diarrhoea, and headache. Recently, reports of suicidal ideation and depression have been published, prompting more rigorous evaluation of the risk: benefit ratio and monitoring (Ref.18).

1.2 STUDY RATIONALE Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease, leading to impaired function and a reduced quality of life. Fortunately, improved knowledge about disease mechanisms has catalyzed rapid development of effective targeted therapies for this disease (Ref.19).

Our laboratory has gained international recognition in the evaluation of transcriptomic patterns of synovial biopsies from patients with arthritis. Our work not only led to the identification of disease-specific molecular patterns in synovial tissue from patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (Ref.20,21), and the development of a diagnostic kit (Rheumakit®), but also to the identification of synovial markers of disease severity and poor response to therapy in early RA (Ref.22). In addition, using longitudinal synovial biopsy samples collected prospectively in patients prior to, and 3 months after initiation of therapy, we were able to identify synovial molecular targets of several therapies in RA : methotrexate, tocilizumab, adalimumab and also rituximab (Ref.23-26).While TNF blockade decreases expression of genes involved in cell proliferation in RA synovitis, the other drugs induce very similar molecular changes in the RA synovium, characterized by a decrease in IL6-dependent T cell activation (Ref.26).

In the present project, we want to compare global molecular profiles up-or down-regulated in synovitis of patients with psoriatic arthritis, before and after targeted therapy. This project takes advantage of our strong experience in the field of molecular profiling of synovial biopsies, and evaluation of responses to biological agents (Ref.20-26).

• STUDY QUESTION AND OBJECTIVES 2.1 STUDY QUESTION We intend to evaluate the global transcriptomic effects of Apremilast (Otezla®) in synovial biopsies from DMARD-naïve and biological-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis, obtained prior to and 24 weeks after initiation of therapy.

Identification of the synovial effects of Apremilast therapy in psoriatic arthritis will be a step forward in understanding not only the mode of action of the drug at the site of inflammation, but also in the identification of molecular patterns associated with good response to therapy. The main advantage of our approach compared to other biomarker studies, is that we use synovial material as such, and not peripheral blood, which is a more remote location in terms of cellular targets of the drug.

2.2 STUDY OBJECTIVES

Primary Objective To evaluate the global transcriptomic effects of apremilast in synovial biopsies of DMARD (cs and b) naïve PsA patients, obtained prior to, and 24 weeks after apremilast therapy.

Secondary Objective To correlate the molecular effects of apremilast therapy to clinical and ultrasound response, with a specific attention on joints, enthesis.

Evaluate clinical response at W24, by using ACR20/50/70 response criteria.

Identify candidate synovial markers/pathways associated with response to apremilast in PsA by correlating molecular signals at baseline with the clinical response observed at week 24.

2.3 STUDY DURATION The study duration is 36 months. Screening phase: up to 4 weeks Active treatment: 24 weeks Follow-up period: 4 weeks

• Screening period will start: October 2020
• Estimated first patient inclusion (FPI): November 2020
• Estimated last patient inclusion (LPI): January 2022
• Estimated last patient last visit (LPLV): december 2022
• Publication summary: dec 2023
• Final report: feb 2024

Inclusion criteria

Patients who meet ALL the following criteria can be enrolled:

• Patient must be able to understand and communicate with the investigator and comply with the requirements of the study and must give a written, signed and dated informed consent before any study assessment is performed.
• Male or non-pregnant, non-nursing female patients at least 18 years of age.
• With a diagnosis of active PsA according to CASPAR criteria
• Naïve to csDMARD and bDMARD,
• At least 1 swollen joint at screening or baseline (despite NSAIDs therapy) with ability to perform a synovial biopsy at W0.
• Concomitant oral steroids (no more than 10 mg/day of prednisolone), NSAIDs, or painkillers is permitted if started prior to the study and remain at a stable dose at least 4 weeks before the baseline.
• Allowed concomitant medications are to remain stable through week 24.
• At least one joint (small or large) to biopsy in order to get synovial tissue. Small joints must have an US scoring > 2 on grey-scale score/power Doppler.

Exclusion criteria

Patients who meet AT LEAST one of the following exclusion criteria will be excluded:

• Contraindications for needle-arthroscopy.
• Patients with hypersensitivity to apremilast or to one of its excipients
• Prior csDMARD or bDMARD therapy,
• Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning on becoming pregnant for the 24 weeks of the drug administration,
• Non-menopausal women who are not using an adequate contraception method,
• Patients with conditions/concomitant diseases making them non evaluable for the primary endpoint
• Impossibility to meet specific protocol requirements (e.g. blood sampling)
• Patient is the Investigator or any sub-investigator, research assistant, pharmacist, study coordinator, other staff or relative thereof directly involved in the conduct of the protocol
• Uncooperative or any condition that could make the patient potentially noncompliant to the study procedures
• Any therapy by intra-articular injections (e.g. corticosteroid) within 4 weeks before baseline.
• Any intramuscular corticosteroid injection within 4 weeks before baseline.
• A history of active tuberculosis (TB).