THU0432 Long-Term (104-Week) Safety Profile of Apremilast, An Oral Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor, In Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: Pooled Safety Analysis of Three Phase 3, Randomized, Controlled Trials
Authors: P. Mease, A. Adebajo, D. Gladman, J. Gomez-Reino, S. Hall, A. Kavanaugh, E. Lespessailles, G. Schett, K. Shah, L. Teng, J. Wollenhaupt
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2015)

<h3>Background</h3> Apremilast (APR), a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, helps regulate the immune responses in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). PALACE 1-3 compared APR efficacy/safety with placebo (PBO) in patients (pts) with active PsA despite prior conventional DMARDs and/or biologics. <h3>Objectives</h3> Overall APR safety/tolerability was assessed in a pooled analysis of PALACE 1-3, with APR exposure ≤104 wks. <h3>Methods</h3> Pts were randomized (1:1:1) to PBO, APR 20 mg BID (APR20), or APR 30 mg BID (APR30) stratified by baseline DMARD use (yes/no). The PBO-controlled phase continued to Wk 24, with an early escape option at Wk 16. Double-blind APR treatment continued to Wk 52; pts could continue to receive APR during an open-label, long-term treatment phase. We report safety findings from the APR-exposure period (Wks 0 to ≤104). <h3>Results</h3> 1493 pts were randomized and received ≥1 dose of study medication (PBO: n=495; APR20: n=501; APR30: n=497). A total of 1441 (1209.3 pt-yrs) and 1028 (907.7 pt-yrs) pts received APR in the Wk 0 to ≤52 and Wk &gt;52 to ≤104 periods, respectively. During Wks 0 to ≤52, AEs occurring in ≥5% of APR-exposed pts were diarrhea, nausea, headache, URTI, and nasopharyngitis (Table). Most AEs were mild/moderate in severity during the Wk 0 to ≤104 APR-exposure period; in general, no increase was seen in the incidence/severity of AEs with longer term exposure. During Wks &gt;52 to ≤104, diarrhea (2.9%), nausea (1.8%), and headache (3.0%) occurred at lower rates vs Wks 0 to ≤52 (Table). In Wks 0 to ≤52, 87 pts reported serious AEs (SAEs) vs 71 pts in Wks &gt;52 to ≤104. In few system organ classes, there were numerically more pts reporting SAEs but it did not indicate any specific organ involvement. The vast majority of the SAEs were reported by 1 pt each. There was no increase in cardiac, malignant neoplasm, opportunistic infection, or psychiatric disorder related SAEs and no cases of tuberculosis (new/reactivation) reported with either APR dose. Discontinuations due to AEs occurred at a lower rate (2.3%) during Wks &gt;52 to ≤104. Marked laboratory abnormalities were generally infrequent and most returned to baseline with continued treatment or were associated with a concurrent medical condition. <h3>Conclusions</h3> APR demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and was generally well tolerated for up to 104 wks, with no new safety concerns identified with long-term exposure. These data continue to support the lack of a need for specific laboratory monitoring with APR. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> P. Mease Grant/research support from: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer Inc, UCB, Celgene Corporation, Novartis, and Roche, Consultant for: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer Inc, UCB, Celgene Corporation, Novartis, and Roche, Speakers bureau: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer Inc, and UCB, A. Adebajo: None declared, D. Gladman Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Pfizer Inc, Novartis, and UCB, Consultant for: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Pfizer Inc, Novartis, and UCB, J. Gomez-Reino Grant/research support from: Roche and Schering-Plough, Consultant for: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer Inc, Roche, Schering-Plough, and UCB SA, Speakers bureau: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Schering-Plough, and Wyeth, S. Hall Consultant for: Boehringer Ingelheim, MSD, Roche Schering Plough, Servier, and Wyeth., Paid instructor for: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Centocor, GlaxoSmithKline, MSD, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Sanofi Pasteur, Schering-Plough, Serono, and Wyeth, Speakers bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, Schering-Plough, and Wyeth;, A. Kavanaugh Grant/research support from: Abbott, Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Centocor-Janssen, Pfizer Inc, Roche, and UCB, E. Lespessailles Grant/research support from: Amgen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Servier, Speakers bureau: Amgen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Servier, G. Schett Grant/research support from: Abbott, Celgene Corporation, Roche, and UCB, Consultant for: Abbott, Celgene Corporation, Roche, and UCB, K. Shah Employee of: Celgene Corporation, L. Teng Employee of: Celgene Corporation, J. Wollenhaupt Grant/research support from: Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD, Pfizer Inc, and UCB, Consultant for: Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD, Pfizer Inc, and UCB