Efficacy and safety of IL-17 inhibitors for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Objectives: To systematically assess the efficacy and safety of IL-17 inhibitors in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.Methods: Electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning IL-17 inhibitors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The efficacy and safety of the IL-17 inhibitors in the treatment of these patients were compared to those of a placebo. The primary end point was predefined as the proportion of patients with at least 20% improvement in the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS20) response criteria at week 16, and the secondary end point was defined as ASAS40 at week 16.Results: Six phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials including 1733 patients (1153 patients received IL-17 inhibitors, including secukinumab or ixekizumab, whereas 580 patients received a placebo as comparators) were included. At week 16, the IL-17 inhibitor regimen produced a significant increase in the ASAS20 response rate (RR=1.63, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.84, p=0.00) and the secondary endpoint ASAS40 response rate (RR=2.12, 95% CI 1.75 to 2.56, p=0.00) versus those for the placebo. With respect to the safety profile, more infectious diseases were described after treatment with IL-17 inhibitors than after treatment with placebo (RR=1.82, 95% CI 1.40 to 2.37, p<0.001), while no increased risk of other adverse events was indicated after IL-17 inhibitor therapy, including treatment-emergent adverse events, death, discontinuation due to adverse event, serious adverse events, or total adverse events.Conclusions: IL-17 inhibitors produced favourable response rates but an increased risk of infectious diseases in the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis.