Celltrion Healthcare showcases positive data on switching and monotherapy with Remsima® SC in patients with inflammatory bowel disease at UEG Week Virtual 2021

Celltrion Healthcare showcases positive data on switching and monotherapy with Remsima^® SC in patients with inflammatory bowel disease at UEG Week Virtual 2021

• Data analysis shows switching from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) infliximab does not negatively affect the clinical outcomes in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)¹
• Subcutaneous (SC) infliximab monotherapy may provide comparable clinical efficacy to combination therapy with immunomodulators in TNF inhibitor naïve patients with active CD and UC²

SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER 2021 - INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA - Celltrion Healthcare today announced two data sets relating to the use of the subcutaneous formulation of infliximab, Remsima^® SC (CT-P13 SC), in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at a poster presentation at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2021, held virtually from October 3- 5.

The first study investigated clinical impact of switching from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) treatment of infliximab in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) from the pivotal randomised controlled trial of CT-P13 SC.³ 65 patients (25 CD patients, 40 UC patients) were included in the CT-P13 IV arm in which patients received CT-P13 5 mg/kg IV every 8 weeks from week 6 until week 22. At week 30, patients switched to receive CT-P13 SC every 2 weeks up to week 54 (dose 120 mg or 240 mg for patients < 80 kg or ≥ 80 kg, respectively).¹

Results showed switching from IV to SC infliximab conferred more favourable clinical outcomes in terms of pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and possibly, immunogenicity. There was a significant difference in C_trough pre- and post-switch (median C_trough Levels at 2.05 μg/mL (interquartile range [IQR], 0.10-3.61) and 21.10 μg/mL (IQR, 11.30-26.50) pre- and post-switch, respectively; p<0.0001). The proportion of patients with C_trough exceeding target exposure (5 μg/mL) was significantly higher post-switch (36/41, 87.80%) than pre-switch (8/41, 19.51%; p<0.00001). In terms of efficacy, clinical response rates were comparable at both pre- and post-switch timepoints (40/49 [81.63%] vs 44/49 [89.80%], respectively; p=0.3873). However, faecal calprotectin (FC) levels were significantly lower post-switch compared with pre-switch.  Anti-drug antibody (ADA) and neutralising antibody (NAb) positivity were also numerically lower post-switch although statistical significance was not reached.¹

The second study presented investigated comparable efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) infliximab monotherapy versus combination therapy with immunomodulators using data from the pivotal randomised controlled trial of CT-P13 SC in active CD or UC.³

Patients with active CD or UC who were tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor treatment–naïve were enrolled and received induction therapy with CT-P13 5 mg/kg intravenously (IV) at week 0 and week 2, after which they were randomised to continue therapy with CT-P13 IV or receive CT-P13 SC 120 mg (patients<80 kg) or 240 mg (patients ≥80 kg) every 2 weeks from week 6 to week 54. Of 66 patients, 37 and 29 received monotherapy and combination therapy, respectively. The results show there was no significant difference between groups in the number of patients with C_trough level exceeding target exposure with both groups exceeding target exposure throughout the study period (target exposure: 5 μg/mL; monotherapy: 28/29, 96.55%; combination therapy: 23/24, 95.83%; p>0.9999). Clinical response rates in terms of CDAI-100 and partial Mayo response were comparable between arms and there was no difference in immunogenicity between the groups despite the concomitant use of immunomodulators in the combination therapy group.²

Professor Walter Reinisch, Director of Clinical IBD Study Group, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna and the presenting author of the poster presentation said, “The post-hoc analysis indicates that switching from IV to SC infliximab will deliver comparable clinical outcomes for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including those with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, further highlighting the potential of SC infliximab as an alternative administration route. Infliximab SC offers patients and caregivers the possibility of more convenient care with the potential for in-home use.”

Professor Shomron Ben-Horin, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel, and the presenting author of the poster presentation said, “These exploratory results suggest that SC infliximab monotherapy may provide comparable clinical outcomes and immunogenicity to combination therapy with immunomodulators, thereby advancing the concept of SC infliximab monotherapy as a viable treatment option for IBD patients.”