Yarlas, Aaron

ABSTRACTIntroduction/AimsThe degree of change in neuropathic impairment and quality of life (QoL) that is clinically meaningful to patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv‐PN) is not established. This study aimed to estimate the magnitude of treatment differences that are meaningful to patients in measures of neuropathy and QoL and to determine whether eplontersen achieved a meaningful improvement versus placebo.MethodsData from the NEURO‐TTRansform trial on patients with ATTRv‐PN treated with eplontersen (n = 141) or historical placebo (n = 59) were used. Anchor‐based approaches were used to estimate thresholds for meaningful differences in the modified Neuropathy Impairment Score +7 (mNIS+7) composite score, Norfolk QoL‐Diabetic Neuropathy (Norfolk QoL‐DN) total score, Neuropathy Symptoms and Change (NSC) total score, and modified body mass index (mBMI). Differences between the least squares means of the treatment groups were analyzed.ResultsMeaningful improvement in mNIS+7 was estimated as −4.0 points and deterioration as 1.8 points. The estimated ranges of meaningful improvement and deterioration in Norfolk QoL‐DN were −12.8 to −4.0 points, and 5.9 to 14.7 points, respectively. For NSC, ranges were −2.4 to −1.3 points for meaningful improvement, and 0.6 to 5.8 points for deterioration. The estimated meaningful improvement in mBMI was 9.8 kg/m2 × g/L and deterioration was −40.9 kg/m2 × g/L. Improvements in each measure with eplontersen versus placebo were greater than the estimates of meaningful differences.DiscussionEplontersen demonstrated a clinically meaningful effect on neuropathic impairment, QoL, and nutritional status. Such estimates have implications for clinical practice and trials.

Abstract Background: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) is a rare, systemic, progressive, and fatal condition in which misfolded proteins, mainly produced in the liver, deposit in muscle and organ tissues leading to symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, and possible cardiomyopathy and autonomic neuropathy. The Norfolk Quality of Life (QOL)-Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) Questionnaire is a patient-reported measure that has been validated for capturing neuropathic-specific QOL in patients with hATTR amyloidosis. Examination of patients' responses to the items of the Norfolk-QOL-DN can provide important insights into the impact of hATTR amyloidosis, and its treatment, on concrete aspects of patients' daily activities and physical functioning. Objective: To provide a descriptive analysis of item-level responses to the Norfolk-QOL-DN by patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy, who participated in the NEURO-TTR trial, in order to identify the impact of treatment with inotersen versus placebo on concrete aspects of patients' functioning and daily activities. Methods: Data come from the NEURO-TTR trial, a multicenter, multinational, double-blind trial (NCT01737398) of 172 adults with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy who received 65 weeks of either treatment with the investigational drug inotersen, an antisense oligonucleotide, or a matching placebo. The Norfolk QOL-DN was administered to patients at baseline, week 35, and week 66. The Norfolk QOL-DN is a 35-item measure which captures neuropathic-related QOL. Nineteen items from the scale were determined to elicit concrete information about functioning and daily activities. Each of these 19 items used five response choices: "no problems", "very mild problems", "mild problems", "moderate problems", and "severe problems". Response options were dichotomized such that the latter two options were coded as indicating substantial impairment in functioning or activities. Descriptive analyses compared, for each item, the proportion of patients in the inotersen and placebo arms at baseline and week 66 (and change from baseline to week 66) who indicated substantial impairment. Results: At baseline, there were no differences for any Norfolk QOL-DN items in the proportions of patients who indicated substantial impairment. However, at week 66, patients receiving inotersen were less likely than those receiving placebo to indicate that they had a substantial impairment on several aspects of functioning and daily activities. Patients in the inotersen arm were half as likely as those receiving placebo to indicate a problem of pain keeping them awake at night (15% vs. 37%) and being moderately or severely bothered by the touch of bedsheets (12% vs. 27%). A noticeably smaller percentage of patients receiving inotersen than placebo reported problems with their symptoms affecting their usual activities (37% vs. 50%); having difficulty moving their fingers (47% vs 64%); feeling unsteady on their feet (49% vs 67%); having difficulty getting out of a chair (51% vs. 62%) or walking down stairs (42% vs. 58%); and having difficulty bathing (24% vs. 35%), dressing (21% vs 35%), walking (41% vs 60%), getting on/off the toilet (22% vs. 37%), and utensil use (19% vs. 31%). Percentages of change in patients from baseline to week 66 show larger increases in having substantial impairment in these functions and activities for patients receiving placebo than inotersen, with those receiving inotersen generally showing small increases, and even decreases in substantial impairment over the course of treatment. Conclusion: Following 66 weeks of treatment, hATTR amyloidosis patients receiving inotersen were less likely than those receiving placebo to report substantial impairment in many aspects of functioning and activities of daily living, including moving fingers, balance while standing, getting out of a chair, walking down stairs, bathing, dressing, walking, getting on/off the toilet, and using utensils. Ability to engage in these functions and activities was better preserved in patients treated with inotersen than placebo. These findings present a context for understanding the concrete impact of inotersen treatment on the day-to-day lives of patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. Disclosures Yarlas: Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Merlini:Millenium: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; Ionis: Consultancy; Akcea: Consultancy. White:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Sikora Kessler:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Lovley:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Guthrie:Akcea: Employment, Other: Stock Ownership. Pollock:Akcea: Employment. Gertz:Apellis: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; janssen: Consultancy; Alnylam: Honoraria; Prothena: Honoraria; annexon: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; spectrum: Consultancy, Honoraria; Teva: Consultancy; Ionis: Honoraria; Medscape: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Research to Practice: Consultancy; celgene: Consultancy.

Abstract Background: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) is a rare, systemic, progressive, and fatal condition in which misfolded proteins, mainly produced in the liver, deposit in muscle and organ tissues leading to symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, and possible cardiomyopathy and autonomic neuropathy. Primary results from the NEUTO-TTR trial indicated that patients with hATTR amyloidosis who received 65 weeks of treatment with inotersen had better preservation of quality of life (QOL), as measured by the Norfolk QOL-Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) Questionnaire total score and the physical component summary score of the SF-36v2® Health Survey (SF-36v2), than did patients who received placebo. Whether the benefits of inotersen on domains of QOL differ across subgroups of patients has not been previously addressed. Objective: To examine the efficacy of inotersen for preserving QOL in subgroups of patients with hATTR amyloidosis, defined by time of disease onset (early or late) and ambulatory stage (Stage 1 or Stage 2). Methods: Data come from the NEURO-TTR trial, a multicenter, multinational, double-blind trial (NCT01737398) of 172 adults with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy who received 65 weeks of treatment with either the investigational drug inotersen, which is an antisense oligonucleotide, or matching placebo. The Norfolk QOL-DN and SF-36v2 were administered to patients at baseline, week 35, and week 66. The Norfolk QOL-DN is a 35-item measure which captures neuropathic-related QOL, representing five domains: activities of daily living, autonomic neuropathy, large fiber neuropathy/physical functioning, small fiber neuropathy, and neuropathic symptoms. The SF-36v2 is a 36-item measure which captures generic health-related QOL, representing eight domains: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health (role-physical), bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional health (role-emotional), and mental health. Patient subgroups were defined by: (1) patients' time of symptom onset: whether symptoms first occurred early (at or before age 50) or late (after age 50) in life; and (2) patients' disease severity, as defined by ambulatory disability - Stage 1 (walking without assistance) or Stage 2 (walking with assistance, such as a cane or walker). Mixed-effects repeated-measures models tested treatment differences (inotersen vs. placebo) in changes of mean Norfolk QOL-DN and SF-36v2 domain scores from baseline to week 66 for each patient subgroup. Results: Inotersen was more effective than placebo for preserving QOL in patients with early onset of symptoms: treatment differences in scores were statistically significant (p<0.05) for four of the five Norfolk QOL-DN domains (all except small fiber neuropathy) and for all eight SF-36v2 domains. In patients with late onset of symptoms: statistically significant treatment differences in scores were observed for no Norfolk QOL-DN domains and only one of eight SF-36v2 domains (physical functioning). Inotersen was more effective than placebo for preserving QOL in patients with Stage 1 severity, treatment differences were statistically significant for three of the five Norfolk QOL-DN domains (all except autonomic neuropathy and small fiber neuropathy) and for five of eight SF-36v2 domains (all except general health, vitality, and mental health). In patients with Stage 2 severity, significant treatment differences in scores were observed for only one Norfolk QOL-DN domain (activities of daily living) and no SF-36v2 domains. Conclusion: Following 66 weeks of treatment, inotersen was more effective than placebo for preserving QOL in patients with hATTR amyloidosis who had early onset of symptoms or who were in Stage 1 of disease severity. Preserving QOL in patients with early onset is critical, as many of these patients are likely to be in the work force, raising children, and leading active lives. The benefits seen for patients in Stage 1 disease severity point to the crucial importance of early diagnosis and treatment, as there may be a window in which treatment can preserve QOL in patients with hATTR amyloidosis prior to the late progressive stages. Disclosures Yarlas: Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Merlini:Pfizer: Consultancy; Millenium: Consultancy; Akcea: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Ionis: Consultancy. White:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Sikora Kessler:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Lovley:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Guthrie:Akcea: Employment, Other: Stock Ownership. Pollock:Akcea: Employment. Gertz:Apellis: Consultancy; Research to Practice: Consultancy; Teva: Consultancy; celgene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Ionis: Honoraria; annexon: Consultancy; Alnylam: Honoraria; Medscape: Consultancy; Prothena: Honoraria; janssen: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; spectrum: Consultancy, Honoraria.

ABSTRACTIntroductionHereditary transthyretin (hATTR) amyloidosis is a progressive, degenerative disease, with peripheral neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, and other clinical manifestations. In this study we examine the impact of hATTR amyloidosis on quality of life (QOL).MethodsNeuropathy‐specific QOL, measured with the Norfolk QOL‐Diabetic Neuropathy questionnaire, was compared between patients with hATTR amyloidosis and patients with type 2 diabetes, whereas generic QOL, measured with the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF‐36v2), was compared between patients with hATTR amyloidosis, the general population, and patients with chronic diseases.ResultsNeuropathy‐specific QOL for patients with hATTR amyloidosis was nearly equivalent to that of patients with type 2 diabetes with diabetic neuropathy accompanied by a history of ulceration, gangrene, or amputation. Generic QOL was worse than that seen in the general population, with physical functioning worse than that for patients with multiple sclerosis and congestive heart failure.DiscussionPatients with hATTR amyloidosis show significant burden on QOL, particularly in physical functioning. Muscle Nerve 60: 169–175, 2019

SummaryBackgroundPast studies with ulcerative colitis (UC) patients indicate that disease activity strongly predicts health‐related quality of life (HRQL).AimTo examine the degree to which daily treatment with MMX mesalazine predicts improved HRQL for patients with active UC and with stable HRQL for patients with quiescent UC.MethodsData from two phases of a multicentre open‐label trial were examined. In the acute phase, 132 patients with mild‐to‐moderate active UC received MMX mesalazine 2.4–4.8 g/day for 8 weeks, while 206 patients with quiescent UC received MMX mesalazine 2.4 g/day for a 12‐month maintenance phase. Disease‐specific HRQL was measured at baseline and endpoint of each phase using the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ). Repeated‐measures anova models examined baseline‐endpoint changes in SIBDQ, stool frequency (SF), and rectal bleeding severity (RBS). Correlations assessed the associations between SIBDQ and SF/RBS scores, while ancova techniques tested the sensitivity of SIBDQ to disease recurrence.ResultsSIBDQ scores significantly increased for active mild‐to‐moderate UC patients following 8 weeks of treatment, while SIBDQ scores remained stable for quiescent UC patients following 12 months of treatment. Changes in SIBDQ scores correlated significantly with changes in SF and RBS scores. Patients with recurrent UC at maintenance phase endpoint had significantly lower SIBDQ scores than nonrecurrent patients.ConclusionsDaily MMX mesalazine therapy was associated with significant improvement in disease‐specific HRQL for patients with mild‐to‐moderate active UC and with the maintenance of HRQL for patients with quiescent UC. In both patient groups, HRQL was significantly associated with disease activity.