SAR156597 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a phase 2 placebo-controlled study (DRI11772)

A phase 2b trial (NCT02345070) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two dose levels/regimens of SAR156597 (a bispecific IgG4 antibody that binds and neutralises both circulating interleukin-4 and interleukin-13), in comparison with placebo, administered to patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) over 52 weeks.DRI11772 was a multinational randomised double-blind placebo-controlled phase 2b trial. Patients aged >40 years with a documented diagnosis of IPF received SAR156597 200 mg once every week (QW), SAR156597 200 mg once every 2 weeks (Q2W) or placebo, over 52 weeks. The primary efficacy end-point was absolute change from baseline in forced vital capacity (FVC) % predicted at 52 weeks.Of 327 randomised patients, 325 received treatment with placebo (n=109), SAR156597 Q2W (n=108) or SAR156597 QW (n=108). The mean change from baseline in FVC % pred at 52 weeks was -5.8%, -5.2% and -6.3% for the placebo, Q2W and QW arms, respectively (Q2W versus placebo, p=0.59; QW versus placebo, p=0.63). The safety profile observed in the three treatment arms was generally similar, although serious adverse events were more common in the QW arm than in the other arms.The DRI11772 study failed to demonstrate benefit of SAR156597 in the treatment of IPF.