Efficacy of anifrolumab across organ domains in patients with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus: a post-hoc analysis of pooled data from the TULIP-1 and TULIP-2 trials

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by multisystem involvement. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of anifrolumab on organ domain-specific SLE disease activity. Methods In this post-hoc analysis, data were pooled from the randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 TULIP-1 (NCT02446912) and TULIP-2 (NCT02446899) trials of anifrolumab (300 mg intravenously once every 4 weeks for 48 weeks) in patients aged 18-70 years with moderate-to-severe SLE. We evaluated changes from baseline to week 52 in British Isles Lupus Assessment Group 2004 (BILAG-2004) and SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) organ domain scores, Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index activity score (CLASI-A), swollen and tender joint counts, haematology, and serology. Findings Among the 726 patients included, the mean age was 41.8 years (SD 11.9); 674 (93%) were female, 52 (7%) were male, and 479 (66%) were White. 360 patients received anifrolumab 300 mg (180 patients in each trial), and 366 received placebo (184 patients in TULIP-1 and 182 patients in TULIP-2). The most frequently affected organ domains at baseline were musculoskeletal (645 [89%] patients based on BILAG-2004; 684 [94%] with SLEDAI-2K) and mucocutaneous (627 [86%] with BILAG-2004; 699 [96%] based on SLEDAI-2K). At week 52, anifrolumab treatment resulted in greater improvements versus placebo in the musculoskeletal system (176 [56%] of 317 patients vs 143 [44%] of 328 with BILAG-2004; 164 [49%] of 335 vs 141 [40%] of 349 with SLEDAI-2K), the mucocutaneous system (168 [54%] of 315 vs 119 [38%] of 312 with BILAG-2004; 190 [55%] of 348 vs 138 [39%] of 351 SLEDAI-2K), and immunological system (44 [19%] of 237 vs 26 [11%] of 230 with SLEDAI-2K). Less frequently affected domains had varied responses. Among patients with a CLASI-A of 10 or more at baseline, greater proportions of patients receiving anifrolumab than placebo achieved a reduction of 50% or more in CLASI-A at week 52 (49 [46%] of 107 vs 24 [25%] of 94). Among patients with at least six swollen joints, more patients in the anifrolumab group than in the placebo group had a 50% or more reduction from baseline to week 52 in swollen joint count (99 [57%] of 174 vs 92 [46%] of 200), but the difference between groups was not significant for 50% or more reduction in tender joint count. Interpretation Across the two pivotal phase 3 trials, anifrolumab treatment improved SLE disease activity across multiple organ domains. Copyright (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This post-hoc analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of anifrolumab on organ domain-specific SLE disease activity. The results demonstrated that anifrolumab treatment improved multiple organ systems in SLE patients, particularly the musculoskeletal system, mucocutaneous system, and immunological system.