Arcalyst Drug Information

Generic name: RILONACEPT

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Uses of Arcalyst

Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes, Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome and Muckle-Wells Syndrome

ARCALYST ® (rilonacept) is an interleukin-1 blocker indicated for the treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), including Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS), and Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older.

Deficiency of IL-1 Receptor Antagonist

ARCALYST is indicated for the maintenance of remission of Deficiency of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (DIRA) in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 10 kg.

Recurrent Pericarditis

ARCALYST is indicated for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis (RP) and reduction in risk of recurrence in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older.

Dosage & Administration of Arcalyst

General Dosing Information

ARCALYST is for subcutaneous use only.

Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes, Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome, Muckle-Wells Syndrome and Recurrent Pericarditis

Adults : Initiate treatment with a loading dose of 320 mg delivered as two, 2-mL subcutaneous injections of 160 mg each, administered on the same day at two different injection sites. Continue dosing with a once-weekly injection of 160 mg administered as a single, 2-mL subcutaneous injection. Pediatric patients 12 years to 17 years : Initiate treatment with a loading dose of 4.4 mg/kg, up to a maximum dose of 320 mg, administered as one or two subcutaneous injections, not to exceed single-injection volume of 2 mL per injection site.

If the initial dose is given as two injections, administer on the same day at two different sites. Continue dosing with a once-weekly injection of 2.2 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 160 mg, administered as a single subcutaneous injection, up to 2 mL. If a once-weekly dose is missed, instruct the patient to administer the injection within 7 days from the missed dose and then resume the patient's original schedule. If the missed dose is not administered within 7 days, instruct the patient to administer the dose, starting a new schedule based on this date.

Deficiency of IL-1 Receptor Antagonist Adults

The recommended dose of ARCALYST is 320 mg, once weekly, administered as two subcutaneous injections on the same day at two different sites with a maximum single-injection volume of 2 mL. ARCALYST should not be given more often than once weekly. Pediatric patients weighing 10 kg or more : The recommended dose of ARCALYST is 4.4 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 320 mg), once weekly, administered as one or two subcutaneous injections with a maximum single-injection volume of 2 mL. If the dose is given as two injections, administer both on the same day, each one at a different site. When switching from another IL-1 blocker, discontinue the IL-1 blocker and begin ARCALYST treatment at the time of the next dose .

Preparation for

Administration Reconstitute each single-dose vial of ARCALYST with 2.3 mL of preservative-free Sterile Water for Injection, USP (supplied separately) prior to subcutaneous administration of the drug.

Administration Using aseptic technique, withdraw 2.3 mL of preservative-free Sterile Water for

Injection through an 18-gauge, 1- or 1½-inch needle attached to a 3-mL syringe and inject the preservative-free Sterile Water for Injection, USP, into the drug product vial for reconstitution. The needle and syringe used for reconstitution with preservative-free Sterile Water for Injection, USP, should then be discarded and should not be used for subcutaneous injections. After the addition of preservative-free Sterile Water for Injection, USP, reconstitute the vial contents by shaking the vial for approximately one minute and then allowing it to sit for one minute.

The resulting 80mg/mL solution is sufficient to allow a withdrawal volume of up to 2 mL for subcutaneous administration. The reconstituted solution is viscous, clear, colorless to pale yellow, and free from particulates. Prior to injection, inspect the reconstituted solution for any discoloration or particulate matter.

Discard the solution if either is observed. Using aseptic technique, withdraw the recommended dose volume, up to 2 mL (160 mg), of the solution with a new 18-gauge, 1- or 1½-inch needle attached to a new 3-mL syringe. For the subcutaneous injection, replace the needle with a new 26-gauge, ½-inch needle.

EACH VIAL SHOULD BE USED FOR A SINGLE DOSE ONLY. Discard the vial after withdrawal of drug. After reconstitution, ARCALYST may be kept at room temperature, but keep it protected from light, and use the solution within three hours after reconstitution. Discard unused portions of ARCALYST. Rotate the sites for subcutaneous injection, such as the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.

Injections should never be administered at sites that are bruised, red, tender, or hard.

Side Effects of Arcalyst

Clinical Trial Experience Clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions and

as such, adverse reaction rates observed cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. The data described herein reflect exposure to ARCALYST in over 2,000 patients who received at least one dose, including approximately 1700 exposed to 160 mg or more, of whom 151 patients were exposed for at least 6 months and 111 patients for at least one year. These included patients with CAPS and RP, patients with other diseases, and healthy volunteers.

CAPS Approximately 60 patients with CAPS were treated weekly with 160 mg of ARCALYST. The pivotal trial population included 47 patients with CAPS. These patients were between the ages of 22 and 78 years (average 51 years). Thirty-one patients were female and 16 were male. All of the patients were White/Caucasian. Six pediatric patients (12 to17 years) were enrolled directly into the open-label extension phase of the trial.

Part A of the clinical trial was conducted in patients with CAPS who were naïve to treatment with ARCALYST. Part A of the study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, six-week study comparing ARCALYST to placebo . Table 1 reflects the frequency of adverse events reported by at least two patients during Part A. Table 1: Most Frequent Adverse Reactions in Patients with CAPS (Part A, Reported by at Least Two Patients) Adverse Event ARCALYST 160 mg (n = 23) Placebo (n= 24) Any AE 17 (74%) 13 (54%) Injection-site reactions 11 (48%) 3 (13%) Upper respiratory tract infection 6 (26%) 1 (4%) Nausea 1 (4%) 3 (13%) Diarrhea 1 (4%) 3 (13%) Sinusitis 2 (9%) 1 (4%) Abdominal pain upper 0 2 (8%) Cough 2 (9%) 0 Hypoesthesia 2 (9%) 0 Stomach discomfort 1 (4%) 1 (4%) Urinary tract infection 1 (4%) 1 (4%) DIRA In a 2-year, open-label study, 6 pediatric patients with DIRA, 3 years to 6 years of age, received a 2.2 to 4.4 mg/kg dose of ARCALYST once weekly . The safety profile was generally consistent with that seen in patients with CAPS. The most common adverse reactions were upper respiratory infection (6 of 6), rash (5 of 6), otitis media (3 of 6), pharyngitis (3 of 6) and rhinorrhea (3 of 6). RP In the RP phase 3 study, a total of 86 patients received at least one dose of ARCALYST with a median treatment duration of 9 months. Of the patients, 49 (57%) were female and 37 (43%) were male; 93% were White/Caucasian. The mean age was 44.7 years.

Seven patients (8%) were aged 12-17 years old. No new adverse reactions were identified in this study. Adverse Reactions of Special Interest Injection-Site Reactions In patients with CAPS or RP, the most common and consistently reported adverse event associated with ARCALYST was injection-site reaction (ISR). The ISRs included erythema, swelling, pruritus, mass, bruising, inflammation, pain, edema, dermatitis, discomfort, urticaria, vesicles, warmth and hemorrhage.

Most injection-site reactions lasted for one to two days. Infections During Part A in the CAPS study, the incidence of patients reporting infections was greater with ARCALYST (48%) than with placebo (17%). In Part B, randomized withdrawal, the incidence of infections was similar in the ARCALYST (18%) and the placebo patients (22%). Part A of the trial was initiated in the winter months, while Part B was predominantly performed in the summer months. In placebo-controlled studies across a variety of patient populations encompassing 360 patients treated with rilonacept and 179 treated with placebo, the incidence of infections was 34% and 27% (2.15 per patient-exposure year and 1.81 per patient-exposure year), respectively, for rilonacept and placebo.

Serious Infections Six serious infections were reported by four patients during the CAPS clinical program: Mycobacterium intracellulare infection; gastrointestinal bleeding and colitis; sinusitis and bronchitis; and Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis . One patient receiving ARCALYST for an unapproved indication in another study developed an infection in his olecranon bursa with Mycobacterium intracellulare. The patient was on chronic glucocorticoid treatment. The infection occurred after an intraarticular glucocorticoid injection into the bursa with subsequent local exposure to a suspected source of mycobacteria.

The patient recovered after the administration of the appropriate antimicrobial therapy. One patient treated for another unapproved indication developed bronchitis/sinusitis, which resulted in hospitalization. One patient died in an open-label study of CAPS from Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis.

Changes in Hematologic Parameters Laboratory Changes One patient in a study in an unapproved indication developed transient neutropenia (ANC < 1 × 10 9 /L) after receiving a large dose (2000 mg intravenously) of ARCALYST. The patient did not experience any infection associated with the neutropenia. Lipid Profile Changes Patients with CAPS treated with ARCALYST experienced increases in their mean total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. The mean increases from baseline for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were 19 mg/dL, 2 mg/dL, 10 mg/dL, and 57 mg/dL, respectively, after 6 weeks of open-label therapy.

Immunogenicity As with all therapeutic proteins, there is potential for immunogenicity.

The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. The data reflect the percentage of patients whose test results were positive for antibodies to the rilonacept receptor domains in specific assays. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay is highly dependent on several factors including assay sensitivity and specificity, assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease.

For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies to rilonacept with the incidence of antibodies in other studies or to other products may be misleading. Antibodies directed against the receptor domains of rilonacept were detected by an ELISA assay in patients with CAPS after treatment with ARCALYST. Nineteen of 55 patients (35%) who had received ARCALYST for at least 6 weeks tested positive for treatment-emergent binding antibodies on at least one occasion. Of the 19, seven tested positive at the last assessment (Week 18 or 24 of the open-label extension period), and five patients tested positive for neutralizing antibodies on at least one occasion.

There was no correlation of antibody activity and either clinical effectiveness or safety. In the Phase 3 study of patients with RP, there were no patients who tested positive for antibodies at baseline. At any point in time, 26 out of 86 (30%) subjects tested positive at any assessment and of these, 6 tested positive for neutralizing antibodies (NAb). At the last assessment, 10 subjects remained positive for anti-drug antibodies (ADA) and 1 subject remained positive for NAb.

There was no correlation of antibody activity and either clinical effectiveness or safety.

Warnings & Cautions for Arcalyst

Serious Infections Interleukin-1 (IL-1) blockade may interfere with the immune response to

infections. Treatment with another medication that works through inhibition of IL-1 has been associated with an increased risk of serious infections, and serious infections have been reported in patients taking ARCALYST . There was a greater incidence of infections in CAPS and RP patients on ARCALYST compared with placebo. In the controlled portion of the CAPS study , severe infection (bronchitis) was reported in one patient receiving ARCALYST. In an open-label extension study in CAPS, one patient developed bacterial meningitis and died . In clinical studies, ARCALYST has not been administered concomitantly with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors.

An increased incidence of serious infections has been associated with administration of an IL-1 blocker in combination with TNF inhibitors. ARCALYST is not recommended for use with TNF inhibitors because this may increase the risk of serious infections. Drugs that affect the immune system by blocking TNF have been associated with an increased risk of reactivation of latent tuberculosis (TB). It is possible that taking drugs such as ARCALYST that block IL-1 increases the risk of TB or other atypical or opportunistic infections.

Refer to current practice guidelines for evaluation and treatment of possible latent tuberculosis infections before initiating therapy with ARCALYST. Treatment with ARCALYST should not be initiated in patients with an active or chronic infection. Discontinue ARCALYST if a patient develops a serious infection.

Risk of Malignancy

The impact of treatment with ARCALYST on the development of malignancies is not known. Treatment with immunosuppressants, including ARCALYST, may result in an increase in the risk of malignancies.

Hypersensitivity Reactions Hypersensitivity reactions associated with

ARCALYST occurred in clinical trials. If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue ARCALYST and initiate appropriate therapy.

Lipid Profile Changes Cholesterol and lipid levels may be reduced in patients

with chronic inflammation. Increases in non-fasting lipid profile parameters occurred in patients treated with ARCALYST in clinical trials. Monitor patients' lipid profiles and consider lipid-lowering therapies if needed, based on cardiovascular risk factors and current guidelines .

Immunizations

Since no data are available on the risks of secondary transmission of infection by live vaccines in patients receiving ARCALYST, avoid administration of live vaccines during treatment with ARCALYST. No data are available on the effectiveness of vaccines in patients receiving ARCALYST. Since ARCALYST may interfere with normal immune response to new antigens, vaccines may not be effective in patients receiving ARCALYST. Because IL-1 blockade may interfere with immune response to infections, it is recommended that prior to initiation of therapy with ARCALYST, adult and pediatric patients receive all recommended vaccinations, as per current immunization guidelines, including pneumococcal vaccine and inactivated influenza vaccine.

Drug Interactions with Arcalyst

TNF-Blocking Agent and IL-1 Blocking Agent Specific drug interaction studies have not

been conducted with ARCALYST. Concomitant administration of another drug that blocks IL-1 with a TNF-blocking agent in another patient population has been associated with an increased risk of serious infections and an increased risk of neutropenia. The concomitant administration of ARCALYST with TNF-blocking agents may also result in similar toxicities and is not recommended . The concomitant administration of ARCALYST with other drugs that block IL-1 has not been studied. Based upon the potential for pharmacologic interactions between rilonacept and a recombinant IL-1ra, concomitant administration of ARCALYST and other agents that block IL-1 or its receptors is not recommended.

Cytochrome P450 Substrates

The formation of CYP450 enzymes is suppressed by increased levels of cytokines (e.g., IL-1) during chronic inflammation. Thus it is expected that for a molecule that binds to IL-1, such as rilonacept, the formation of CYP450 enzymes could be normalized. This is clinically relevant for CYP450 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, where the dose is individually adjusted (e.g., warfarin). Upon initiation of ARCALYST in patients being treated with these types of medicinal products, therapeutic monitoring of the effect or drug concentration should be performed, and the individual dose of the medicinal product may need to be adjusted.

Pregnancy Safety for Arcalyst

Pregnancy Risk Summary Rare pregnancy outcomes reported postmarketing and from clinical trials, with very limited use of ARCALYST in pregnant women, are insufficient to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. There may be risks to the mother and fetus associated with Cryopyrin Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) (see Clinical Considerations ). In an animal reproduction study, subcutaneous administration of rilonacept to pregnant monkeys during the period of organogenesis was complicated by losses of drug exposure as the study progressed, due to anti-drug antibody formation at all doses, but a dose-related increase in exposure was still evident. There were no treatment-related effects on fetal survival or development of malformations with doses up to 11 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD). Increased incidences of lumbar ribs, a skeletal variation, were observed in fetuses at doses approximately 2 times the MRHD and higher that slightly exceeded incidences in both control animals and the historical control database ( see Data ). There were findings of multiple fusion and absence of the ribs and thoracic vertebral bodies and arches in one fetus of the only pregnant monkey with exposure to rilonacept during the later period of gestation associated with a dose approximately 6 times the MRHD ( see Data ). The relationship of these findings in a single fetus to drug treatment was unclear, as these findings were not evident in fetuses from pregnant monkeys that had higher exposures to rilonacept during the period of organogenesis associated with a dose approximately 11 times the MRHD. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risks of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2%–4% and of miscarriage is 15%–20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk Published data suggest that increased maternal levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, which induces inflammation that occurs in CAPS, may be associated with pre-term birth.

Data Animal Data In an embryo-fetal development study, pregnant cynomolgus monkeys received rilonacept at subcutaneous doses of 0, 5, 15 or 30 mg/kg given twice a week from gestation days 20 to 48. The study was complicated by losses of drug exposure as the study progressed, due to anti-drug antibody formation at all doses, but a dose-related increase in exposure was still evident. There were no treatment-related effects on fetal survival or development of malformations with doses up to 11 times the MRHD (on a mg/kg basis with maternal subcutaneous doses up to 30 mg/kg). Increased incidences of lumbar ribs, a skeletal variation, were observed in fetuses at doses approximately 2 times the MRHD and higher (on a mg/kg basis with maternal subcutaneous doses of 5 mg/kg and higher) that slightly exceeded incidences in both control animals and the historical control database. There were findings of multiple fusion and absence of the ribs and thoracic vertebral bodies and arches in one fetus of the only pregnant monkey with exposure to rilonacept during the later period of gestation associated with a dose 6 times the MRHD (on a mg/kg basis with a maternal subcutaneous dose of 15 mg/kg). The relationship of these findings in a single fetus to drug treatment was unclear, as these findings were not evident in fetuses from pregnant monkeys that had higher exposures to rilonacept during the period of organogenesis associated with a dose approximately 11 times the MRHD (on a mg/kg basis with a maternal subcutaneous dose of 30 mg/kg). All doses of rilonacept reduced maternal serum levels of estradiol up to 64% compared to controls.

In pre- and postnatal development studies in the mouse model using a murine analog of rilonacept (subcutaneous doses of 0, 20, 100 or 200 mg/kg), there was a small increase in the number of stillbirths in dams treated with 200 mg/kg three times per week.

Pediatric Use of Arcalyst

Pediatric Use Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) and Recurrent Pericarditis (RP) Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients with CAPS and RP below the age of 12 years have not been established. Six pediatric patients with CAPS between the ages of 12 and 16 were treated with ARCALYST at a weekly subcutaneous dose of 2.2 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 160 mg) for 24 weeks during the open-label extension phase. These patients showed improvement from baseline in their symptom scores and in objective markers of inflammation (e.g., Serum Amyloid A and C-Reactive Protein). The adverse reactions included injection-site reactions and upper respiratory symptoms as were commonly seen in adult patients.

The trough drug levels for four pediatric patients measured at the end of the weekly dose interval (mean 20 mcg/mL, range 3.6 to 33 mcg/mL) were similar to those observed in adult patients with CAPS (mean 24 mcg/mL, range 7 to 56 mcg/mL). In the Phase 3 study RHAPSODY, 7 patients aged 12 years to 17 years were treated with ARCALYST subcutaneously with an initial loading dose of 4.4 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 320 mg) followed by 2.2 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 160 mg) weekly. These patients were treated for a median time of 15 weeks. There were no apparent differences in efficacy, safety or tolerability across age groups.

When administered to pregnant primates, rilonacept treatment may have contributed to alterations in bone ossification in the fetus. It is not known if ARCALYST will alter bone development in pediatric patients. Pediatric patients treated with ARCALYST should undergo appropriate monitoring for growth and development.

Deficiency of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (DIRA) Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients with DIRA weighing 10 kg or more have been established. Safety and effectiveness of ARCALYST have not been established in pediatric patients weighing less than 10 kg for maintenance of remission of DIRA.

Overdosage Information for Arcalyst

There have been no reports of overdose with ARCALYST. Maximum weekly doses of up to 320 mg have been administered subcutaneously for up to approximately 18 months in a small number of patients with CAPS and up to 6 months in patients with an unapproved indication in clinical trials without evidence of dose-limiting toxicities. In addition, ARCALYST given intravenously at doses up to 2000 mg monthly in another patient population for up to six months was tolerated without dose-limiting toxicities. The maximum amount of ARCALYST that can be safely administered has not been determined.

In case of overdose, it is recommended that the patient be monitored for any signs or symptoms of adverse reactions or effects, and appropriate symptomatic treatment instituted immediately.

Clinical Studies of Arcalyst

Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes, Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome and Muckle-Wells Syndrome

The safety and efficacy of ARCALYST for the treatment of CAPS was demonstrated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (NCT00288704) with two parts (A and B) conducted sequentially in the same patients with FCAS and MWS. Part A was a 6-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group period comparing ARCALYST at a dose of 160 mg weekly after an initial loading dose of 320 mg to placebo. Part B followed immediately after Part A and consisted of a 9-week, patient-blind period during which all patients received ARCALYST 160 mg weekly, followed by a 9-week, double-blind, randomized withdrawal period in which patients were randomly assigned to either remain on ARCALYST 160 mg weekly or to receive placebo. Patients were then given the option to enroll in a 24-week, open-label treatment extension phase in which all patients were treated with ARCALYST 160 mg weekly.

Using a daily diary questionnaire, patients rated the following five signs and symptoms of CAPS: joint pain, rash, feeling of fever/chills, eye redness/pain, and fatigue, each on a scale of 0 (none, no severity) to 10 (very severe). The study evaluated the mean symptom score using the change from baseline to the end of treatment. The changes in mean symptom scores for the randomized parallel-group period (Part A) and the randomized withdrawal period (Part B) of the study are shown in Table 2. ARCALYST-treated patients had a larger reduction in the mean symptom score in Part A compared to placebo-treated patients. In Part B, mean symptom scores increased more in patients withdrawn to placebo compared to patients who remained on ARCALYST. Table 2: Mean Symptom Scores Part A Placebo (n=24) ARCALYST (n=23) Part B Placebo (n=23) ARCALYST (n=22) Pre-treatment Baseline Period (Weeks -3 to 0) 2.4

Active

ARCALYST Baseline Period (Weeks 13 to 15) 0.2

Endpoint Period (Weeks 4 to 6) 2.1 0.5 Endpoint Period (Weeks 22

to 24) 1.2

LS Differences are adjusted using an analysis of covariance model with terms

for treatment and Part A baseline. Mean Change from Baseline to Endpoint -0.5 -

LS Mean Change from Baseline to Endpoint 0.9 0.1 95% confidence interval

for difference between treatment groups (-2.4, -1.3) A confidence interval lying entirely below zero indicates a statistical difference favoring ARCALYST versus placebo. 95% confidence interval for difference between treatment groups (-1.3, -0.4) Daily mean symptom scores over time for Part A are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1: Group Mean Daily Symptom Scores by Treatment Group in Part A and Single-blind ARCALYST Treatment Phase from Week -3 to Week 15 Improvement in symptom scores was noted within several days of initiation of ARCALYST therapy in most patients. In Part A, patients treated with ARCALYST experienced more improvement in each of the five components of the composite endpoint (joint pain, rash, feeling of fever/chills, eye redness/pain, and fatigue) than placebo-treated patients. In Part A, a higher proportion of patients in the ARCALYST group experienced improvement from baseline in the composite score by at least 30% (96% vs. 29% of patients), by at least 50% (87% vs. 8%) and by at least 75% (70% vs. 0%) compared to the placebo group.

Serum Amyloid A (SAA) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels are acute phase reactants that are typically elevated in patients with CAPS with active disease. During Part A, mean levels of CRP decreased versus baseline for the ARCALYST treated patients, while there was no change for those on placebo (Table 3). ARCALYST also led to a decrease in SAA versus baseline to levels within the normal range. Table 3. Mean Serum Amyloid A and C-Reactive Protein Levels Over Time in Part A Part A ARCALYST Placebo SAA (normal range: 0.7 – 6.4 mg/L) (n=22) (n=24) Pre-treatment Baseline 60 110 Week 6 4 110 CRP (normal range: 0.0 – 8.4 mg/L) (n= 21) (n=24) Pre-treatment Baseline 22 30 Week 6 2 28 During the open-label extension, reductions in mean symptom scores, serum CRP, and serum SAA levels were maintained for up to one year.

Figure 1

Deficiency of IL-1 Receptor Antagonist

The safety and efficacy of ARCALYST for the maintenance of remission of DIRA were demonstrated in a 2-year, open-label study (NCT01801449) of 6 pediatric patients who previously experienced clinical benefit from daily injections of an IL-1 receptor antagonist, anakinra. The study population included patients with a loss-of-function IL1RN mutations. Patients had a median age at baseline of 4.8 years (range 3.3 to 6.2), and stopped anakinra treatment 24 hours before initiation of ARCALYST. Remission was defined using the following criteria: diary score of < 0.5 (reflecting no fever, skin rash and bone pain), acute phase reactants (<0.5 mg/dL CRP), absence of objective skin rash, and no radiological evidence of active bone lesions.

Following an ARCALYST loading dose of 4.4 mg/kg subcutaneously, patients received a once-weekly maintenance dose of 2.2 mg/kg (up to a maximum 160 mg), and were assessed for remission and possible dose escalation. During the first 3 months of ARCALYST administration at the 2.2 mg/kg dose, five of 6 patients exhibited recurrence of pustular rash and therefore the dose was escalated to 4.4 mg/kg once weekly (up to a maximum of 320 mg). One patient remained on the 2.2 mg/kg once-weekly dose. All patients met the primary endpoint of the study, remission at 6 months and sustained the remission for the remainder of the 2-year study.

No patient required steroid use during the study.

Recurrent Pericarditis

The efficacy and safety of ARCALYST were evaluated in the Phase 3 study RHAPSODY (NCT03737110), a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal, multinational study. The study consisted of a 12-week run-in followed by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal period. In the run-in period, adult patients received a loading dose of ARCALYST 320 mg followed by 160 mg weekly.

Patients between 12 and 17 years of age received a loading dose of ARCALYST 4.4 mg/kg (up to 320 mg) followed by 2.2 mg/kg (up to 160 mg) weekly. During the run-in period, patients tapered and discontinued standard-of-care therapies. In the withdrawal period, patients were randomized 1:1 to remain on ARCALYST 160 mg weekly or to receive placebo.

The randomized withdrawal period continued until the pre-specified number of primary efficacy endpoint events (pericarditis recurrence) had accrued. Patients recorded scores for pericarditis pain in a daily diary using the 0 to 10 NRS scale. Measurements of CRP, electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms were conducted at intervals during study visits and to assess pericarditis recurrence Patients who experienced pericarditis recurrence were eligible for open-label ARCALYST (bailout). A total of 86 patients (mean age 45 years, 57% females) with symptomatic pericarditis recurrence were enrolled and received study treatment.

Of these, 73 (85%) had a diagnosis of "idiopathic" pericarditis, and the remainder post-cardiac injury pericarditis. The mean duration of disease was 2.4 years with a mean of 4.4 pericarditis events per year including the qualifying pericarditis event (0-10 point Numerical Rating Scale ≥ 4 and CRP ≥ 1 mg/dL). Mean qualifying NRS pain score was 6.2, and mean qualifying CRP level was 6.2 mg/dL. During the run-in period, daily NRS pain scores and CRP levels decreased as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2: Summary of Pain NRS and CRP Means Time to treatment response (NRS ≤ 2 and CRP ≤ 0.5 mg/dL) is shown in Table 4. The median time to treatment response was 5.0 days. All patients were required to taper off standard-of-care pericarditis medications before randomization, and median time to rilonacept monotherapy was 7.9 weeks during the run-in period.

Of the 86 patients enrolled, 41 (48%) were on treatment with corticosteroids (CS) at baseline (mean treatment duration of 20 weeks). Table 4. Time to Treatment Response: Run-in Period ARCALYST (N=86) Subjects with baseline NRS score >2 or CRP > 0.5 mg/dL 79 Subjects achieving treatment response 77 (97%) Days to treatment response (median; 95% CI) 5 Time to monotherapy (median; 95% CI) 8 weeks The primary efficacy endpoint was time to first adjudicated pericarditis recurrence (based on pain, CRP and clinical signs) in the event-driven withdrawal period. Of 61 patients randomized, 23 patients (74%) in the placebo arm had a recurrence compared with 2 patients (7%) in the rilonacept arm who temporarily discontinued treatment for 1 – 3 doses. The median time-to-recurrence on rilonacept could not be estimated because too few events occurred and was 8.6 weeks (95% CI 4.0, 11.7) on placebo with a hazard ratio of 0.04 (p < 0.0001); rilonacept reduced the risk of recurrence by 96% (Figure 3). The two recurrence events in the rilonacept group happened in association with temporary interruptions of the trial-drug regimen, of one to three weekly doses.

In the placebo group, all 23 patients who had pericarditis recurrence received bailout rilonacept, with resolution of the episodes. Figure 3. Primary Efficacy Endpoint for RHAPSODY Kaplan-Meier Curves for Time to Pericarditis Recurrence Based on ITT Analysis Set Secondary efficacy endpoints were the proportion of patients with maintenance of clinical response, the percentage of trial days with none/minimal pericarditis pain (NRS ≤ 2) each measured at Week 16 of the withdrawal period. Results are summarized in Table 5. Table 5. Secondary Efficacy Endpoints for RHAPSODY ARCALYST n=21 Placebo n=20 Increase (%) p-value Number of patients who maintained response at Week 16 17 4 61 0.0002 Percentage of days with NRS ≤2 92 40 52 <0.0001 Figure 2 Figure 3

Drug information sourced from the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any medication decisions.

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