Multicenter Study of Secukinumab Uptitration in Axial Spondyloarthritis: Real-World Evidence

To evaluate the real-world effectiveness, treatment retention, and safety of secukinumab (SEC) uptitration to 300 mg in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), including radiographic (r-axSpA) and nonradiographic (nr-axSpA) subtypes, with active disease despite receiving SEC 150 mg every 4 weeks.

This multicenter, retrospective study included patients with axSpA who had received SEC 150 mg for ≥ 3 months and had active disease (Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score [ASDAS] ≥ 2.1) at the time of dose escalation. Patients were followed for up to 24 months after escalation. Effectiveness was assessed through changes in ASDAS over time. Treatment retention was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves, with factors associated with discontinuation explored by Cox regression. Safety outcomes were reported as incidence of adverse events (AEs).

Among 106 patients (77 r-axSpA, 29 nr-axSpA), ASDAS significantly declined within 6 months and was sustained through 24 months. Median ASDAS decreased from 4.1 to 2.0 in patients with r-axSpA and from 4.1 to 2.0 in those with nr-axSpA. Overall, 85.9% of patients achieved ASDAS ≤ 2.1 at least once after escalation. Retention of SEC 300 mg was 87.8% at 6 months and 59.1% at 24 months, with no significant difference between subtypes (log-rank P = 0.48). HLA-B27 positivity showed a nonsignificant trend toward higher discontinuation risk. AE incidence was 15.79 per 100 patient-years, and AEs were mostly mild infections and cutaneous reactions. No new safety signals were identified.

SEC uptitration to 300 mg was associated with sustained improvements in disease activity and favorable retention and safety in axSpA patients with active disease after receiving SEC 150 mg, supporting dose escalation as a clinically effective and safe strategy.