A 3-arm Proof of Concept Study of AIN457, ACZ885 or Corticosteroids in Patients With Polymyalgia Rheumatica

A 2-week Single-blind, Randomized, 3-arm Proof of Concept Study of the Effects of AIN457 (Anti-IL17 Antibody), ACZ885 (Canakinumab, Anti-IL1b Antibody), or Corticosteroids in Patients With Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Followed by an Open Label Phase to Assess Safety and Long Term Efficacy

The study is a two-week, single-blinded, double-dummy, randomized, active-controlled, parallel group design, with a follow-up period up to a total study duration of 6-month, non-randomized, open-label phase to monitor safety, tolerability and, in responders, flare. It is a multicentric, multinational study. The protocol will seek to enroll a total of 30 patients, who will be randomized to the 3 arms at a ratio of 1:1:1.

Patients will have a maximum screening period of 7 days with randomization at D1 for a dosing period of 15 days followed by a follow up-period of 154 days, or 4 months (112 days) after their last biologic dose, whichever is greater, and followed by unblinded re-dosing in the case of a disease flare.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must meet all of the following features:
• Patients ≥ 50 and ≤ 85 years
• C-reactive protein (CRP) > 1.0 mg/dl OR erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) > 30 mm/hr
• New bilateral shoulder and/or hip pain
• Early morning stiffness ≥ 60 min
• Duration of illness > 1 week
• A negative 5 U purified protein derivative skin test (PPD) skin test (≤ 5 mm induration) at screening

Exclusion Criteria:

• Active infection or current use of antibiotics
• Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatits B virus (HBV)
• Previous therapy with methotrexate or other immunosuppressive agents within three months prior to baseline
• History of malignancy other than a successfully treated non-metastatic cutaneous squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma and/or localized carcinoma in situ of the cervix within five years prior to study entry
• Presence of rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory arthritic processes (features of Giant Cell Artertitis (GCA), spondyloarthropathies), connective tissue disease, drug-induced myopathies, endocrine disorders, neurological disorders, chronic pain syndromes, as assessed by base line screening including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), creatine kinase (CK), rheumatoid factor (RF), cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), serum protein electrophoresis, urinalysis.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria apply