Apremilast in Psoriatic Arthritis in Real-life Clinical Practice in Greece

Following the evidence from the controlled clinical trial setting on the significant clinical benefits of apremilast in the treatment of active PsA, there is a scarcity of real-life evidence on the effectiveness and the beneficial role of apremilast in PsA in routine clinical practice. The present study primarily aims to generate real-world evidence on the impact of apremilast treatment on a broad population of biologic-naïve PsA patients in terms of its clinical effectiveness across the wide spectrum of disease manifestations, as well as its impact on disease burden and HRQoL, in the routine primary care settings of Greece.

Despite tremendous progress achieved in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) over the past 15 years, its management remains challenging due to the clinical heterogeneity and multifaceted nature of the disease. Currently available recommended algorithms for PsA treatment guide clinicians through treatment choices, beginning with conventional synthetic DMARDs after failure of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and local therapy for active disease, followed, if necessary, by a biological DMARD or a targeted synthetic (ts) DMARD. The latter novel category of DMARDs represents recent advances in the treatment options of PsA that aim to overcome the limitations of biological agents that stem by the fact that they have to be administered intravenously or subcutaneously, are very cost intensive for both the patients and the health system, while among them, the immunosuppressive biological agents are also associated with increased risks for infections and certain malignancies. The first approved tsDMARD for the treatment of PsA is apremilast which with an alternative mechanism of action, oral route of administration and favorable safety profile, presents a novel treatment option for PsA that may be appropriate for use early in the treatment algorithm.

Although there is evidence from the controlled clinical trial setting on the significant clinical benefits of apremilast in the treatment of active PsA, and despite the increasing recognition of the value of real-world data as a complementary source to randomized clinical trials, there is a scarcity of real-life evidence on the effectiveness and the beneficial role of apremilast in PsA in routine clinical practice which is partially attributed to the relatively recent advent of apremilast in the market.

In light of the above, the present study primarily aims to generate real-world evidence on the impact of apremilast treatment on a broad population of biologic-naïve PsA patients in terms of its clinical effectiveness across the wide spectrum of disease manifestations, as well as its impact on disease burden and HRQoL, in the routine primary care settings of Greece. This information alongside with collected evidence regarding drug utilisation and safety profile under real-world conditions will strengthen the current state of knowledge in regards to the optimal use of apremilast in this population.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Patients eligible for inclusion in this study have to meet all of the following criteria:

* Male or female outpatients ≥18 years of age at the time of apremilast treatment onset;
* Patients diagnosed with active peripheral PsA (as per physician's clinical judgement) who have had an inadequate response (to at least one DMARD and within the first 12 months of treatment) or who have been intolerant to a prior DMARD therapy;
* Patients who have been prescribed treatment with apremilast (Otezla®) for PsA, either as a monotherapy or combination therapy with classical systemic DMARD, prior to signed Informed Consent and for whom, if treatment has started, no more than one week has elapsed from treatment initiation to obtaining the signed Informed Consent;
* Patients for whom the decision to prescribe therapy with apremilast according to the locally approved SmPC has already been taken prior to their enrollment in the study and is clearly separated from the physician's decision to include the patient in the current study;
* Patients with available information on the measures needed for the calculation of cDAPSA score at the start of apremilast treatment (i.e., number of swollen and tender joints based on the 66 swollen joint count and the 68 tender joint count, respectively, and patient global assessments of disease activity and pain);
* Patients must be able to read, understand and complete the study specific questionnaires;
* Patients must provide a written Informed Consent prior to inclusion to the study;
* Patients must be able to understand the study procedures and adhere to the study visit schedule.

Exclusion Criteria:

A patient who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

* Patients who have a history of exposure to biologic treatment and/or to tofacitinib in PsA;
* Patients that meet any of the contraindications to the administration of the apremilast as outlined in the latest version of the locally approved SmPC;
* Patients who currently receive treatment with any investigational drug/device/intervention or who have received any investigational product within 30 days or 5 half-lives of the investigational agent (whichever is longer) before the start of therapy with apremilast;
* Patients who are currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy during the study observation period.