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Clinical Pharmacology
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Clinical Pharmacology

The study included four phases: an open-label lead in phase (OL-LI; 16 weeks), a double-blind randomized withdrawal phase (DB; 32 weeks), an open-label extension phase (OLE-BSA; up to 136 weeks), and an open-label fixed dose phase (OLE-FD; 16 weeks). In the first three phases of the study, HUMIRA was administered based on body surface area at a dose of 24 mg/m2 up to a maximum total body dose of 40 mg subcutaneously (SC) every other week. In the OLE-FD phase, the patients were treated with 20 mg of HUMIRA SC every other week if their weight was less than 30 kg and with 40 mg of HUMIRA SC every other week if their weight was 30 kg or greater. Patients remained on stable doses of NSAIDs and or prednisone ( ≤ 0.2 mg/kg/day or 10 mg/day maximum).

Patients demonstrating a Pediatric ACR 30 response at the end of OL-LI phase were randomized into the double blind (DB) phase of the study and received either HUMIRA or placebo every other week for 32 weeks or until disease flare. Disease flare was defined as a worsening of ≥ 30% from baseline in ≥ 3 of 6 Pediatric ACR core criteria, ≥ 2 active joints, and improvement of > 30% in no more than 1 of the 6 criteria. After 32 weeks or at the time of disease flare during the DB phase, patients were treated in the open-label extension phase based on the BSA regimen (OLE-BSA), before converting to a fixed dose regimen based on body weight (OLE-FD phase).

Clinical Response

At the end of the 16-week OL-LI phase, 94% of the patients in the MTX stratum and 74% of the patients in the non-MTX stratum were Pediatric ACR 30 responders. In the DB phase significantly fewer patients who received HUMIRA experienced disease flare compared to placebo, both without MTX (43% vs. 71%) and with MTX (37% vs. 65%). More patients treated with HUMIRA continued to show pediatric ACR 30/50/70 responses at Week 48 compared to patients treated with placebo.

Pediatric ACR responses were maintained for up to two years in the OLE phase in patients who received HUMIRA throughout the study.

Psoriatic Arthritis

The safety and efficacy of HUMIRA was assessed in two randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled studies in 413 patients with psoriatic arthritis. Upon completion of both studies, 383 patients enrolled in an open-label extension study, in which 40 mg HUMIRA was administered every other week.

Study PsA-I enrolled 313 adult patients with moderately to severely active psoriatic arthritis ( > 3 swollen and > 3 tender joints) who had an inadequate response to NSAID therapy in one of the following forms: (1) distal interphalangeal (DIP) involvement (N=23); (2) polyarticular arthritis (absence of rheumatoid nodules and presence of plaque psoriasis) (N=210); (3) arthritis mutilans (N=1); (4) asymmetric psoriatic arthritis (N=77); or (5) ankylosing spondylitis-like (N=2). Patients on MTX therapy (158 of 313 patients) at enrollment (stable dose of ≤ 30 mg/week for > 1 month) could continue MTX at the same dose. Doses of HUMIRA 40 mg or placebo every other week were administered during the 24-week double-blind period of the study.

Compared to placebo, treatment with HUMIRA resulted in improvements in the measures of disease activity (see Tables 7 and 8). Among patients with psoriatic arthritis who received HUMIRA, the clinical responses were apparent in some patients at the time of the first visit (two weeks) and were maintained up to 88 weeks in the ongoing open-label study. Similar responses were seen in patients with each of the subtypes of psoriatic arthritis, although few patients were enrolled with the arthritis mutilans and ankylosing spondylitis-like subtypes. Responses were similar in patients who were or were not receiving concomitant MTX therapy at baseline.

Patients with psoriatic involvement of at least three percent body surface area (BSA) were evaluated for Psoriatic Area and Severity Index (PASI) responses. At 24 weeks, the proportions of patients achieving a 75% or 90% improvement in the PASI were 59% and 42% respectively, in the HUMIRA group (N=69), compared to 1% and 0% respectively, in the placebo group (N=69) (p < 0.001). PASI responses were apparent in some patients at the time of the first visit (two weeks). Responses were similar in patients who were or were not receiving concomitant MTX therapy at baseline.

Table 7: ACR Response in Study PsA-I (Percent of Patients)

Response Placebo
N=162
HUMIRA*
N=151
ACR20
  Week 12 14% 58%
  Week 24 15% 57%
ACR50
  Week 12 4% 36%
  Week 24 6% 39%
ACR70
  Week 12 1% 20%
  Week 24 1% 23%
* p < 0.001 for all comparisons between HUMIRA and placebo

Table 8: Components of Disease Activity in Study PsA-I

  Placebo
N=162
HUMIRA*
N=151
Parameter: median Baseline 24 weeks Baseline 24 weeks
Number of tender jointsa 23.0 17.0 20.0 5.0
Number of swollen jointsb 11.0 9.0 11.0 3.0
Physician global assessmentc 53.0 49.0 55.0 16.0
Patient global assessmentc 49.5 49.0 48.0 20.0
Painc 49.0 49.0 54.0 20.0
Disability index (HAQ) d 1.0 0.9 1.0 0.4
CRP (mg/dL)e 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.2
* p < 0.001 for HUMIRA vs. placebo comparisons based on median changes
a Scale 0-78
b Scale 0-76
c Visual analog scale; 0=best, 100=worst
d Disability Index of the Health Assessment Questionnaire; 0=best, 3=worst; measures the patient'sability to perform the following: dress/groom, arise, eat, walk, reach, grip, maintain hygiene, andmaintain daily activity.
e Normal range: 0-0.287 mg/dL

Brand Name: Humira
Generic Name: Adalimumab
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