Winthrop, Kevin

INTRODUCTION: Tofacitinib is an oral, small molecule JAK inhibitor for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Tofacitinib safety in patients (pts) with UC was evaluated in an 8-week induction Phase (P) 2 study (NCT00787202), 1 2 8-week induction P3 studies (OCTAVE Induction 1 & 2; NCT01465763 & NCT01458951), 2 a 52-week maintenance P3 study (NCT01458574), and an ongoing, open-label, long-term extension (OLE) study (OCTAVE Open, NCT01470612). 3 We present updated infections data (Sep 2018) from the tofacitinib UC clinical program. 4,5 METHODS: Pts receiving placebo, tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily (BID) were analyzed as Induction (P2 & P3, n = 1220), Maintenance (P3, N = 592), and Overall (pts in P2, P3 & OLE receiving tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg BID, N = 1157 [Sep 2018]) Cohorts. Proportions and incidence rates (IRs; pts with events per 100 pt-years [PY] of exposure) were evaluated for infections of special interest (incl. serious infections [SIs], opportunistic infections [OIs; independently adjudicated], and herpes zoster [HZ]). RESULTS: A total of 1157 pts received ≥1 dose of tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg BID (83% predominantly 10 mg BID [avg. daily dose ≥15 mg]), with 2403.6 PY of exposure (median 623 days, up to 6.1 years of treatment). The Table 1 shows infection IRs by Cohort. In the Overall Cohort, nasopharyngitis was the most frequent infection. For SIs, the Overall Cohort “Tofacitinib All” IR (1.75 [95% CI 1.27, 2.36]) was similar to the Maintenance Cohort IRs for tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg BID. No SIs resulted in death. OIs were infrequent (28 pts) and most were HZ (24 pts; IR 0.99 [95% CI 0.63, 1.47]), mostly cutaneous. Not all HZ events were OIs; 83 pts overall had HZ events (IR 3.57 [95% CI 2.84, 4.43]; 6 serious). CONCLUSION: In induction, SIs and OIs occurred with tofacitinib but not with placebo. Overall, SIs were generally infrequent and Overall Cohort IRs did not suggest increased risk with longer tofacitinib treatment vs the Maintenance Cohort. Non-HZ OIs were rare. SI incidence was similar in the UC and rheumatoid arthritis programs (incl. increased HZ risk) 6 and to other UC therapies incl. biologics. 7

Abstract Rationale Improved therapeutic options are needed for patients with treatment-refractory nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of daily amikacin liposome inhalation suspension (ALIS) added to standard guideline-based therapy (GBT) in patients with refractory MAC lung disease. Methods Adults with amikacin-susceptible MAC lung disease and MAC-positive sputum cultures despite at least 6 months of stable GBT were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive ALIS with GBT (ALIS + GBT) or GBT alone. Once-daily ALIS was supplied in single-use vials delivering 590 mg amikacin to the nebulizer. The primary endpoint was culture conversion, defined as three consecutive monthly MAC-negative sputum cultures by Month 6. Measurements and Main Results Enrolled patients (ALIS + GBT, n = 224; GBT-alone, n = 112) were a mean 64.7 years old and 69.3% female. Most had underlying bronchiectasis (62.5%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (14.3%), or both (11.9%). Culture conversion was achieved by 65 of 224 patients (29.0%) with ALIS + GBT and 10 of 112 (8.9%) with GBT alone (odds ratio, 4.22; 95% confidence interval, 2.08–8.57; P < 0.001). Patients in the ALIS + GBT arm versus GBT alone were more likely to achieve conversion (hazard ratio, 3.90; 95% confidence interval, 2.00–7.60). Respiratory adverse events (primarily dysphonia, cough, and dyspnea) were reported in 87.4% of patients receiving ALIS + GBT and 50.0% receiving GBT alone; serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 20.2% and 17.9% of patients, respectively. Conclusions Addition of ALIS to GBT for treatment-refractory MAC lung disease achieved significantly greater culture conversion by Month 6 than GBT alone, with comparable rates of serious adverse events. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02344004).

Abstract Rationale Staphylococcus aureus is commonly cultured from the sputum of patients with bronchiectasis; however, little is known about the prevalence of the organism in these patients, the characteristics of patients who have grown the organism, or its implications. Objectives Determine the relationship between S. aureus and pulmonary function, frequency of exacerbations, and frequency of hospitalization in patients with bronchiectasis Methods The Bronchiectasis Research Registry is a database of adults with non–cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis identified from 13 sites within the United States. Baseline and follow-up demographic, spirometric, microbiologic, and therapeutic data were entered into a central web-based database. Patients were grouped into three cohorts based on their previous respiratory cultures at the time of entry into the Registry: 1) no prior S. aureus or glucose-nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli (NF-GNB) (Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, or Burkholderia spp.); 2) prior S. aureus at least once; or 3) no prior S. aureus but prior NF-GNB at least once. The association between S. aureus isolation and pulmonary function and frequency of exacerbations and hospital admissions was assessed, both at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up. Results S. aureus was cultured from 94 of 830 patients (11.3%) included in the analysis. Patients who had grown S. aureus before entry into the Registry had a frequency of prior exacerbations and baseline pulmonary function that was between that of patients who had grown NF-GNB and those who had grown neither NF-GNB or S. aureus. Similarly, at the first follow-up visit after study entry, patients who had grown S. aureus had a frequency of exacerbations and hospitalizations that was between those of patients who had grown NF-GNB and those who had grown neither NF-GNB nor S. aureus. However, in multivariate analysis, S. aureus was not associated with pulmonary function, frequency of exacerbation, or hospital admissions. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics or outcomes between patients who had methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Conclusions Staphylococcus aureus does not appear to be an independent risk factor for severe disease in patients with bronchiectasis enrolled in the Bronchiectasis Research Registry.

Abstract Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cause an increasingly important chronic and debilitating lung disease in older adults. Diagnosis is often delayed, although awareness among clinicians and patients is increasing. When necessary, treatment often lasts 18–24 months and consists of three or four antibiotics that can have serious side effects. Relapses are common and commonly require resumption of prolonged therapy. Given the need for improved diagnostic techniques and clinical trials to identify new therapies or to improve existing therapies, a group of North American clinicians and researchers formed the NTM Research Consortium (NTMRC) in 2014. The NTMRC recognized the importance of including the patient voice in determining research priorities for NTM. In November 2015, patients, caregivers, patient advocates, clinical experts, and researchers gathered for a 1-day meeting in Portland, Oregon funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The meeting goal was to define patient-centered research priorities for NTM lung infections. Patients expressed frustration with the number of people who have endured years of missed diagnoses or inadequate treatment of NTM. Participants identified as top research priorities the prevention of NTM infection; approval of more effective treatments with fewer side effects and easier administration; understanding the best chest physiotherapy methods; validating and using tools to measure quality of life; and developing a disease-specific activity and severity assessment tool. Workshop participants agreed that two complementary objectives are critical to ensure the best achievable outcomes for patients: (1) additional clinician education to improve screening and diagnosis of NTM infections; and (2) development of a geographically distributed network of experts in NTM disease to offer consultation or direct therapy after a diagnosis is made.