Translational Biomarkers and Ex Vivo Models of Joint Tissues as a Tool for Drug Development in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Cecilie Freja Kjelgaard-Petersen, Adam Platt, Martin Braddock, Martin A. Jenkins, Kishwar Musa, Emma Graham, Thorbjorn Gantzel, Gillian Slynn, Michael E. Weinblatt, Morten A. Karsdal, Christian S. Thudium, Anne-C Bay-Jensen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

Objective. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and degenerative autoimmune joint disease that leads to disability, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality. Although several synthetic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are available, there is still a medical need for novel drugs that control disease progression. As only 10% of experimental drug candidates for treatment of RA that enter phase I trials are eventually registered by the Food and Drug Administration, there is an immediate need for translational tools to facilitate early decision-making in drug development. In this study, we aimed to determine if the inability of fostamatinib (a small molecule inhibitor of Syk) to demonstrate sufficient efficacy in phase III of a previous clinical study could have been predicted earlier in the development process.Methods. Biomarkers of bone, cartilage, and interstitial matrix turnover (C-telopeptide of type I collagen [CTX-I], matrix metalloproteinase-derived types I, II, and III collagen neoepitopes [C1M, C2M, and C3M]) were measured in 450 serum samples from the Oral Syk Inhibition in Rheumatoid Arthritis 1 study (OSKIRA-1, a phase III clinical study of the efficacy of fostamatinib in RA) at baseline and follow-up. Additionally, the same biomarkers were subsequently measured in conditioned media from osteoclast, cartilage, and synovial membrane cultured with the active metabolite of fostamatinib, R406, to assess the level of suppression induced by the drug.Results. In OSKIRA-1 serum samples and osteoclast and cartilage cultures, fostamatinib suppressed the levels of CTX-I and C2M. In OSKIRA-1 serum samples and synovial membrane cultures, fostamatinib did not mediate any clinical or preclinical effect on either C1M or C3M, which have previously been associated with disease response and efficacy.Conclusion. These data demonstrate that translational biomarkers are a potential tool for early assessment and decision-making in drug development for RA treatment.
Original languageEnglish
JournalArthritis & Rheumatology
Volume70
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)1419-1428
ISSN0004-3591
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

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