Abatacept and Infliximab in Combination With Methotrexate in Subjects With Rheumatoid Arthritis

The DAS28 is a continuous disease measure which is a composite of 4 variables: the 28 tender joint count, the 28 swollen joint count, ESR or CRP, and participant assessment of disease activity measure on a visual analogue scale. The DAS28 has numeric thresholds that define high disease activity (> 5.1), low disease activity (< 3.2) and remission (< 2.6). A clinically significant response is a decrease in DAS28 score of >1.2 from baseline.

The DAS28 is a continuous disease measure which is a composite of 4 variables: the 28 tender joint count, the 28 swollen joint count, ESR or CRP, and participant assessment of disease activity measure on a visual analogue scale. The DAS28 has numeric thresholds that define high disease activity (> 5.1), low disease activity (< 3.2) and remission (< 2.6). Clinically significant response= decrease in DAS28 score of >1.2 from baseline. DAS28 AUC can be calculated from the DAS28 score versus time curve, which provides an assessment of changes in disease activity over time.

The disability section of the full HAQ includes 20 questions to assess physical functions in 8 domains: dressing, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip and common activities. The questions are evaluated on a 4-point scale: 0=without any difficulty, 1= with some difficulty, 2= with much difficulty, and 3= unable to do. Higher scores= greater dysfunction. A disability index was calculated by summing the worst scores in each domain and dividing by the number of domains answered. Clinically meaningful HAQ response=an improvement of at least 0.3 units from baseline in HAQ disability Index.

The disability section of the full HAQ includes 20 questions to assess physical functions in 8 domains: dressing, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip and common activities. The questions are evaluated on a 4-point scale: 0=without any difficulty, 1= with some difficulty, 2= with much difficulty, and 3= unable to do. Higher scores= greater dysfunction. A disability index was calculated by summing the worst scores in each domain and dividing by the number of domains answered. Clinically meaningful HAQ response=an improvement of at least 0.3 units from baseline in HAQ disability Index.

The disability section of the full HAQ includes 20 questions to assess physical functions in 8 domains: dressing, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip and common activities. The questions are evaluated on a 4-point scale: 0=without any difficulty, 1= with some difficulty, 2= with much difficulty, and 3= unable to do. Higher scores= greater dysfunction. A disability index was calculated by summing the worst scores in each domain and dividing by the number of domains answered. Clinically meaningful HAQ response=an improvement of at least 0.3 units from baseline in HAQ disability Index.

The disability section of the full HAQ includes 20 questions to assess physical functions in 8 domains: dressing, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip and common activities. The questions are evaluated on a 4-point scale: 0=without any difficulty, 1= with some difficulty, 2= with much difficulty, and 3= unable to do. Higher scores= greater dysfunction. A disability index was calculated by summing the worst scores in each domain and dividing by the number of domains answered. Clinically meaningful HAQ response=an improvement of at least 0.3 units from baseline in HAQ disability Index.

The SF-36 is a validated instrument measuring health-related quality of life across multiple disease states. It has 36 questions with 8 subscale scores and 2 summary scores (1) physical component summary=physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, and general health; (2) mental component summary=vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health. There is no total overall score; scoring is done for both subscores and summary scores. For subscores and summary scores, 0 =worst score (or quality of life) and 100=best score. Change from Baseline= post-Baseline - Baseline value.

The SF-36 is a validated instrument measuring health-related quality of life across multiple disease states. It has 36 questions with 8 subscale scores and 2 summary scores (1) physical component summary=physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, and general health; (2) mental component summary=vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health. There is no total overall score; scoring is done for both subscores and summary scores. For subscores and summary scores, 0 =worst score (or quality of life) and 100=best score. Change from Baseline= post-Baseline - Baseline value.

The DAS28 is a continuous disease measure composite of 4 variables: 28 tender joint count, 28 swollen joint count, ESR or CRP, and participant assessment of disease activity measure on a visual analogue scale. High disease activity= > 5.1, low disease activity= < 3.2, and remission= < 2.6. Clinically significant response= decrease of >1.2 from baseline. Utilizing EULAR response criteria, DAS28 categorical responses define a good (absolute: <3.2 or >1.2 improvement from baseline [BL]), moderate (absolute: 3.2-5.1 or 0.6-1.2 change from BL), or no response (absolute: >5.1 or <0.6 change from BL)

The ACR 20 definition of improvement is a 20% improvement from baseline in the number of tender and swollen joint counts, and a 20% improvement from baseline in 3 of the remaining 5 core set measures: participant global assessment of pain, participant global assessment of disease activity, physician global assessment of disease activity, participant assessment of physical function and acute phase reactant value (C-reactive protein [CRP]). The evaluation for 50% improvement (ACR 50) and 70% improvement (ACR 70) follow similarly.

The ACR 20 definition of improvement is a 20% improvement from baseline in the number of tender and swollen joint counts, and a 20% improvement from baseline in 3 of the remaining 5 core set measures: participant global assessment of pain, participant global assessment of disease activity, physician global assessment of disease activity, participant assessment of physical function and acute phase reactant value (C-reactive protein [CRP]). The evaluation for 50% improvement (ACR 50) and 70% improvement (ACR 70) follow similarly.

AE=any new untoward medical occurrence or worsening of a pre-existing medical condition which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. SAE=any untoward medical occurrence that at any dose: results in death, is life-threatening, requires inpatient hospitalization or causes prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect, results in development of drug dependency or drug abuse, is an important medical event.

AE=any new untoward medical occurrence or worsening of a pre-existing medical condition which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. AEs of special interest are those AEs that may be associated with the use of immunomodulatory drugs, including all infections, serious infections, autoimmune disorders; malignancies; and acute infusional AEs (pre-specified AEs occurring within 1 hour of start of infusion).

AE=any new untoward medical occurrence or worsening of a pre-existing medical condition which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. SAE=any untoward medical occurrence that at any dose: results in death, is life-threatening, requires inpatient hospitalization or causes prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect, results in development of drug dependency or drug abuse, is an important medical event.

AE=any new untoward medical occurrence or worsening of a pre-existing medical condition which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. SAE=any untoward medical occurrence that at any dose: results in death, is life-threatening, requires inpatient hospitalization or causes prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect, results in development of drug dependency or drug abuse, is an important medical event.

AE=any new untoward medical occurrence or worsening of a pre-existing medical condition which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. AEs of special interest are those AEs that may be associated with the use of immunomodulatory drugs, including all infections, serious infections, autoimmune disorders; malignancies; and acute infusional AEs (pre-specified AEs occurring within 1 hour of start of infusion).

AE=any new untoward medical occurrence or worsening of a pre-existing medical condition which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. AEs of special interest are those AEs that may be associated with the use of immunomodulatory drugs, including all infections, serious infections, autoimmune disorders; malignancies; and acute infusional AEs (pre-specified AEs occurring within 1 hour of start of infusion).

Seated Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) were assessed as clinically significant or relevant at the discretion of the Clinical Investigator. Criteria may have varied between institutions.

Heart Rate (HR) was assessed as clinically significant or relevant at the discretion of the Clinical Investigator. Criteria may have varied between institutions.

Temperature (T) was assessed as clinically significant or relevant at the discretion of the Clinical Investigator. Criteria may have varied between institutions.

High=greater than Upper Normal Limit (ULN), Low=lower than Lower Normal Limit (LLN). LLN/ULN= Hemoglobin (HGB): >3 g/dL decrease from Baseline (BL); Hematocrit: <0.75 x BL; Platelets (PLT): <0.67 x LLN/>1.5 x ULN; Leukocytes: <0.75 x LLN/ >1.25 x ULN; neutrophils+bands: <1.0 x 10^3 c/uL; aspartate aminotransferase (AST): >3 x ULN; alanine aminotransferase (ALT): >3 x ULN; creatinine: >4 x BL

High=greater than Upper Normal Limit (ULN), Low=lower than Lower Normal Limit (LLN). LLN/ULN= Hemoglobin (HGB): >3 g/dL decrease from Baseline (BL); Hematocrit: <0.75 x BL; Platelets (PLT): <0.67 x LLN/>1.5 x ULN; Leukocytes: <0.75 x LLN/ >1.25 x ULN; neutrophils+bands: <1.0 x 10^3 c/uL; aspartate aminotransferase (AST): >3 x ULN; alanine aminotransferase (ALT): >3 x ULN; creatinine: >4 x BL

ECL screened sera for drug-specific antibodies, immunocompetition was used to identify specific anti-Abatacept reactivity. Cytotoxic leukocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and Possibly Immunoglobulin (Ig) Category=reactivity against extracellular domain of human CTLA4, constant regions of human IgG1, or both (CTLA4Ig; Abatacept molecule). Ig and/or Junction Category=reactivity against constant regions and/or hinge region of human IgG1. Drug-induced seropositivity was defined as a post-baseline titer higher than Baseline, or any post-baseline positivity if Baseline value was missing.

Infliximab levels were measured using a microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) with infliximab bound to immobilized recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Bound infliximab is detected utilizing a horseradish peroxidase-conjugated anti-human IgG Fc(fragment, crystallizable region)-specific). The enzyme turns over the substrate O-phenlenediamine to a chromogenic product that is measured at 490 nm. The cut-off value was 1.40 ug/mL; this was based on the mean (+ 3 SD) value in serum samples from 40 participants who had never received infliximab.

The DAS28 is a continuous disease measure which is a composite of 4 variables: the 28 tender joint count, the 28 swollen joint count, ESR or CRP, and participant assessment of disease activity measure on a visual analogue scale. The DAS28 has numeric thresholds that define high disease activity (> 5.1), low disease activity (< 3.2) and remission (< 2.6). A clinically significant response is a decrease in DAS28 score of >1.2 from baseline.

The DAS28 is a continuous disease measure which is a composite of 4 variables: the 28 tender joint count, the 28 swollen joint count, ESR or CRP, and participant assessment of disease activity measure on a visual analogue scale. The DAS28 has numeric thresholds that define high disease activity (> 5.1), low disease activity (< 3.2) and remission (< 2.6). A clinically significant response is a decrease in DAS28 score of >1.2 from baseline.

The DAS28 is a continuous disease measure composite of 4 variables: 28 tender joint count, 28 swollen joint count, ESR or CRP, and participant assessment of disease activity measure on a visual analogue scale. High disease activity= > 5.1, low disease activity= < 3.2, and remission= < 2.6. Clinically significant response= decrease of >1.2 from baseline. Utilizing EULAR response criteria, DAS28 categorical responses define a good (absolute <3.2 or >1.2 improvement from baseline [BL]), moderate (absolute 3.2-5.1 or 0.6-1.2 change from BL), or no response (absolute >5.1 or <0.6 change from BL)

The ACR 20 definition of improvement is a 20% improvement from baseline in the number of tender and swollen joint counts, and a 20% improvement from baseline in 3 of the remaining 5 core set measures: participant global assessment of pain, participant global assessment of disease activity, physician global assessment of disease activity, participant assessment of physical function and acute phase reactant value (C-reactive protein [CRP]). The evaluation for 50% improvement (ACR 50) and 70% improvement (ACR 70) follow similarly.

Major Clinical Response was defined as a continuous ACR 70 for six months.

The disability section of the full HAQ includes 20 questions to assess physical functions in 8 domains: dressing, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip and common activities. The questions are evaluated on a 4-point scale: 0=without any difficulty, 1= with some difficulty, 2= with much difficulty, and 3= unable to do. Higher scores= greater dysfunction. A disability index was calculated by summing the worst scores in each domain and dividing by the number of domains answered. Clinically meaningful HAQ response=an improvement of at least 0.3 units from baseline in HAQ disability Index.

The disability section of the full HAQ includes 20 questions to assess physical functions in 8 domains: dressing, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip and common activities. The questions are evaluated on a 4-point scale: 0=without any difficulty, 1= with some difficulty, 2= with much difficulty, and 3= unable to do. Higher scores= greater dysfunction. A disability index was calculated by summing the worst scores in each domain and dividing by the number of domains answered. Clinically meaningful HAQ response=an improvement of at least 0.3 units from baseline in HAQ disability Index.