Key clinical point: Peresolimab, a humanized antibody stimulating the programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitory pathway, showed significant efficacy compared with placebo in improving disease activity in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Major finding: At week 12, 700 mg peresolimab vs placebo was associated with a significantly greater change in Disease Activity Scores for 28 joints based on C-reactive protein levels (between-group difference in change from baseline −1.09; P < .001). The safety profiles were similar in all treatment groups, and no deaths were reported.
Study details: This phase 2a trial included 98 patients with moderate-to-severe RA and inadequate or loss of response to or unacceptable side effects with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs who were randomly assigned to receive peresolimab (300 or 700 mg) or placebo once every 4 weeks.
Disclosures: This study was supported by Eli Lilly. Five authors declared being employees of or owning stocks in Eli Lilly. Several authors declared ties with various sources, including Eli Lilly.
Source: Tuttle J et al. A phase 2 trial of peresolimab for adults with rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2023;388:1853-1862 (May 18). doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2209856