A Study of Guselkumab in the Treatment of Participants With Moderate to Severe Plaque-Type Psoriasis

Phase 3

Completed

Conditions: Psoriasis

Interventions: Drug: Guselkumab 100 mg
Drug: Placebo for guselkumab
Drug: Placebo for adalimumab
Drug: Adalimumab

Registration Number: NCT02207231

Lead Sponsor: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of guselkumab (CNTO 1959) in the treatment of participants with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis.

Detailed Description: This is a randomized (assignment of study drug by chance), double-blind (neither the participant or study staff will know the identity of study drugs), placebo- (inactive substance identical in appearance to study drug) and active-comparator-controlled (use of an approved drug to compare with study drug) study of guselkumab in participants with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis (scaly skin rash). The active comparator study drug is adalimumab, an approved drug for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Participants who satisfy all inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomly assigned in a 2:1:2 ratio to one of three treatment groups (arms): Group I (guselkumab 100 mg dose regimen), Group II (placebo then crossover to guselkumab at Week 16), or Group III (adalimumab at standard psoriasis dosing). All participants will receive guselkumab every 8 weeks (q8w) from Week 52 through Week 252 (open label treatment period).The end of the study is defined as the time the last participant completes the Week 264 visit. Participants will primarily be assessed for Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) Score of 0 or 1 and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 Response at Week 16. The total duration of the study will be approximately 268 weeks (includes a 4-week screening period). Participants will be monitored for safety throughout the study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 837

Inclusion Criteria

Have a diagnosis of plaque-type psoriasis (with or without psoriatic arthritis) at least 6 months before the first administration of study agent
Have a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) greater than or equal to (>=) 12 at Screening and at Baseline
Have an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score >=3 at Screening and at Baseline
Have an involved body surface area (BSA) >=10 percent (%) at Screening and at Baseline
Must be a candidate for either systemic therapy or phototherapy for psoriasis

Exclusion Criteria

Participants with nonplaque forms of psoriasis (for example, erythrodermic, guttate, or pustular) or with current drug-induced psoriasis (for example, a new onset of psoriasis or an exacerbation of psoriasis from beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or lithium)
Participants who have ever received guselkumab or adalimumab
History or current signs or symptoms of severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurologic, hematologic, rheumatologic, psychiatric, or metabolic disturbances
Has any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make participation not be in the best interest (for example, compromise the well-being) of the participant or that could prevent, limit, or confound the protocol-specified assessments
Is pregnant, nursing, or planning a pregnancy (both men and women) within 5 months following the last administration of study drug

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Group I	Guselkumab 100 mg	Participants received Guselkumab 100 milligram (mg) at Weeks 0, 4, and 12 and every 8 weeks (q8w) thereafter through Week 252, placebo for guselkumab at Week 16, and placebo for adalimumab (two 0.8 milliliter \[mL\] injections) at Week 0 followed by one 0.8 mL injection at Weeks 1, 3, and 5, and every 2 weeks (q2w) thereafter through Week 47.
Group II	Guselkumab 100 mg	Participants received Placebo for guselkumab at Weeks 0, 4, and 12, and placebo for adalimumab (two 0.8 mL injections) at Week 0, followed by one 0.8 mL injection at Weeks 1, 3, and 5, and q2w through Week 15. At Week 16, placebo participants will cross over to receive guselkumab 100 mg at Weeks 16 and 20 and q8w thereafter through Week 252, as well as placebo for adalimumab at Weeks 17, 19, 21, and 23, and q2w thereafter through Week 47.
Group II	Placebo for adalimumab	Participants received Placebo for guselkumab at Weeks 0, 4, and 12, and placebo for adalimumab (two 0.8 mL injections) at Week 0, followed by one 0.8 mL injection at Weeks 1, 3, and 5, and q2w through Week 15. At Week 16, placebo participants will cross over to receive guselkumab 100 mg at Weeks 16 and 20 and q8w thereafter through Week 252, as well as placebo for adalimumab at Weeks 17, 19, 21, and 23, and q2w thereafter through Week 47.
Group III	Placebo for guselkumab	Participants received Adalimumab 80 mg at Week 0 (two 40 mg \[0.8 mL\] injections) and 40 mg at Weeks 1, 3, 5, and q2w thereafter through Week 47, placebo for guselkumab at Weeks 0, 4, 12, 16, and 20, and q8w thereafter through Week 44 and guselkumab 100 mg at Weeks 52, 60, and q8w thereafter through Week 252.
Group I	Placebo for adalimumab	Participants received Guselkumab 100 milligram (mg) at Weeks 0, 4, and 12 and every 8 weeks (q8w) thereafter through Week 252, placebo for guselkumab at Week 16, and placebo for adalimumab (two 0.8 milliliter \[mL\] injections) at Week 0 followed by one 0.8 mL injection at Weeks 1, 3, and 5, and every 2 weeks (q2w) thereafter through Week 47.
Group III	Adalimumab	Participants received Adalimumab 80 mg at Week 0 (two 40 mg \[0.8 mL\] injections) and 40 mg at Weeks 1, 3, 5, and q2w thereafter through Week 47, placebo for guselkumab at Weeks 0, 4, 12, 16, and 20, and q8w thereafter through Week 44 and guselkumab 100 mg at Weeks 52, 60, and q8w thereafter through Week 252.
Group I	Placebo for guselkumab	Participants received Guselkumab 100 milligram (mg) at Weeks 0, 4, and 12 and every 8 weeks (q8w) thereafter through Week 252, placebo for guselkumab at Week 16, and placebo for adalimumab (two 0.8 milliliter \[mL\] injections) at Week 0 followed by one 0.8 mL injection at Weeks 1, 3, and 5, and every 2 weeks (q2w) thereafter through Week 47.
Group II	Placebo for guselkumab	Participants received Placebo for guselkumab at Weeks 0, 4, and 12, and placebo for adalimumab (two 0.8 mL injections) at Week 0, followed by one 0.8 mL injection at Weeks 1, 3, and 5, and q2w through Week 15. At Week 16, placebo participants will cross over to receive guselkumab 100 mg at Weeks 16 and 20 and q8w thereafter through Week 252, as well as placebo for adalimumab at Weeks 17, 19, 21, and 23, and q2w thereafter through Week 47.
Group III	Guselkumab 100 mg	Participants received Adalimumab 80 mg at Week 0 (two 40 mg \[0.8 mL\] injections) and 40 mg at Weeks 1, 3, 5, and q2w thereafter through Week 47, placebo for guselkumab at Weeks 0, 4, 12, 16, and 20, and q8w thereafter through Week 44 and guselkumab 100 mg at Weeks 52, 60, and q8w thereafter through Week 252.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) Score of Cleared (0) or Minimal (1) in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Placebo Group at Week 16	Week 16	The IGA documents the investigator's assessment of the participants' psoriasis at a given time point. Overall lesions are graded for induration, erythema, and scaling. The participants' psoriasis was assessed as cleared (0), minimal (1), mild (2), moderate (3), or severe (4).
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 Response in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Placebo Group at Week 16	Week 16	The PASI is a system used for assessing and grading the severity of psoriatic lesions. In the PASI system, the body is divided into 4 regions: the head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. Each of these areas were assessed separately for the percentage of the area involved, which translates to a numeric score that ranges from 0 to 6, and for erythema, induration, and scaling, which are each rated on a scale of 0 to 4. The PASI produces a numeric score that can range from 0 to 72. A higher score indicates more severe disease. A PASI 90 response represents participants who achieved at least a 90 percent improvement from baseline in the PASI score.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) Score of Cleared (0) in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Adalimumab Group at Week 24 and 48	Week 24 and 48	The IGA documents the investigator's assessment of the participants' psoriasis at a given time point. Overall lesions are graded for induration, erythema, and scaling. The participants' psoriasis was assessed as cleared (0), minimal (1), mild (2), moderate (3), or severe (4).
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) Score of Cleared (0) or Minimal (1) in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Adalimumab Group at Week 24 and 48	Week 24 and 48	The IGA documents the investigator's assessment of the participants' psoriasis at a given time point. Overall lesions are graded for induration, erythema, and scaling. The participants' psoriasis was assessed as cleared (0), minimal (1), mild (2), moderate (3), or severe (4).
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 Response in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Adalimumab Group at Week 24 and 48	Week 24 and 48	The PASI is a system used for assessing and grading the severity of psoriatic lesions. In the PASI system, the body is divided into 4 regions: the head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. Each of these areas were assessed separately for the percentage of the area involved, which translates to a numeric score that ranges from 0 to 6, and for erythema, induration, and scaling, which are each rated on a scale of 0 to 4. The PASI produces a numeric score that can range from 0 to 72. A higher score indicates more severe disease. A PASI 90 response represents participants who achieved at least a 90 percent improvement from baseline in the PASI score.
Change From Baseline in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Score at Week 16 in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Placebo Group	Baseline, Week 16	The DLQI is a 10-item questionnaire that measures the impact of skin disease on participant's quality of life. Each question was evaluated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (very much); where higher scores indicate more impact on quality of life. The DLQI total score ranges from 0 (not at all) to 30 (very much): 0-1 = no effect at all on the participant's life; 2-6 = small effect on the participant's life; 7-12 = moderate effect on the participant's life; 13-18 = very large effect on the participant's life; 19-30 = extremely large effect on the participant's life. Higher scores indicate more impact on quality of life of participants. This secondary outcome measure was planned to include only the placebo and guselkumab arms.
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) Score of Cleared (0) or Minimal (1) in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Adalimumab Group at Week 16	Week 16	The IGA documents the investigator's assessment of the participants' psoriasis at a given time point. Overall lesions are graded for induration, erythema, and scaling. The participants' psoriasis was assessed as cleared (0), minimal (1), mild (2), moderate (3), or severe (4).
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 Response in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Adalimumab Group at Week 16	Week 16	The PASI is a system used for assessing and grading the severity of psoriatic lesions. In the PASI system, the body is divided into 4 regions: the head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. Each of these areas were assessed separately for the percentage of the area involved, which translates to a numeric score that ranges from 0 to 6, and for erythema, induration, and scaling, which are each rated on a scale of 0 to 4. The PASI produces a numeric score that can range from 0 to 72. A higher score indicates more severe disease. A PASI 90 response represents participants who achieved at least a 90 percent improvement from baseline in the PASI score.
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 Response in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Adalimumab Group at Week 16	Week 16	The PASI is a system used for assessing and grading the severity of psoriatic lesions. In the PASI system, the body is divided into 4 regions: the head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. Each of these areas were assessed separately for the percentage of the area involved, which translates to a numeric score that ranges from 0 to 6, and for erythema, induration, and scaling, which are each rated on a scale of 0 to 4. The PASI produces a numeric score that can range from 0 to 72. A higher score indicates more severe disease. A PASI 75 response represents participants who achieved at least a 75 percent improvement from baseline in the PASI score.
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved a Scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment (Ss-IGA) Score of 0 or 1 and at Least a 2-Grade Improvement From Baseline at Week 16 in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Placebo Group	Week 16	The ss-IGA instrument is used to evaluate the disease severity of scalp psoriasis. The lesions were assessed in terms of the clinical signs of redness, thickness, and scaliness, which are scored on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 = absence of disease, 1 = very mild disease, 2 = mild disease, 3 = moderate disease, and 4 = severe disease. This secondary outcome measure was planned to include only the placebo and guselkumab arms.
Change From Baseline in Psoriasis Symptom and Sign Diary (PSSD) Symptom Score at Week 16 in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Placebo Group	Baseline and Week 16	The PSSD (24-hour version) is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaire designed and validated to measure the severity of psoriasis symptoms and signs for the assessment of treatment benefit. It consisted of 11 items covering symptoms (itch, pain, stinging, burning, and skin tightness) and patient-observable signs (skin dryness, cracking, scaling, shedding or flaking, redness, and bleeding) using 0 (absent) to 10 (worst imaginable) numerical rating scales for severity. Items were averaged on the daily symptom score and sign score when at least 3 items (\>=50 percentage of 5 items) on these scales are answered. The average value is converted into 0-100 scoring, such that Symptom \[or Sign\] score = average value\*10, where, 0= least severe and 100= most severe and higher score indicates more severe disease. This secondary outcome measure was planned to include only the placebo and guselkumab arms.
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved a Psoriasis Symptom and Sign Diary (PSSD) Symptom Score of 0 in the Guselkumab Group Compared to the Adalimumab Group at Week 24	Week 24	The PSSD (24-hour version) is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaire designed and validated to measure the severity of psoriasis symptoms and signs for the assessment of treatment benefit. It consisted of 11 items covering symptoms (itch, pain, stinging, burning, and skin tightness) and patient-observable signs (skin dryness, cracking, scaling, shedding or flaking, redness, and bleeding) using 0 (absent) to 10 (worst imaginable) numerical rating scales for severity. Items were averaged on the daily symptom score and sign score when at least 3 items (\>=50 percentage of 5 items) on these scales are answered. The average value is converted into 0-100 scoring, such that Symptom \[or Sign\] score = average value\*10, where, 0= least severe and 100= most severe and higher score indicates more severe disease.
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved PASI 90 Response at Week 252	Week 252	The PASI is a system used for assessing and grading the severity of psoriatic lesions. In the PASI system, the body is divided into 4 regions: the head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. Each of these areas were assessed separately for the percentage of the area involved, which translates to a numeric score that ranges from 0 to 6, and for erythema, induration, and scaling, which are each rated on a scale of 0 to 4. The PASI produces a numeric score that can range from 0 to 72. A higher score indicates more severe disease. A PASI 90 response represents participants who achieved at least a 90 percent improvement from baseline in the PASI score. As per planned analysis, participants from the baseline guselkumab group and the placebo crossover group were combined into a single guselkumab group for assessment of this outcome measure.
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved PASI 75 Response at Week 252	Week 252	The PASI is a system used for assessing and grading the severity of psoriatic lesions. In the PASI system, the body is divided into 4 regions: the head, trunk, upper extremities, and lower extremities. Each of these areas were assessed separately for the percentage of the area involved, which translates to a numeric score that ranges from 0 to 6, and for erythema, induration, and scaling, which are each rated on a scale of 0 to 4. The PASI produces a numeric score that can range from 0 to 72. A higher score indicates more severe disease. A PASI 75 response represents participants who achieved at least a 75 percent improvement from baseline in the PASI score. As per planned analysis, participants from the baseline guselkumab group and the placebo crossover group were combined into a single guselkumab group for assessment of this outcome measure.
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved an IGA Score of Cleared (0) or Minimal (1) at Week 252	Week 252	The IGA documents the investigator's assessment of the participants' psoriasis at a given time point. Overall lesions are graded for induration, erythema, and scaling. The participants' psoriasis was assessed as cleared (0), minimal (1), mild (2), moderate (3), or severe (4). As per planned analysis, participants from the baseline guselkumab group and the placebo crossover group were combined into a single guselkumab group for assessment of this outcome measure.
Percentage of Participants With a DLQI Score of 0 or 1 at Week 252	Week 252	The DLQI is a 10-item questionnaire that measures the impact of skin disease on participant's quality of life. Each question was evaluated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (very much); where higher scores indicate more impact on quality of life. The DLQI total score ranges from 0 (not at all) to 30 (very much): 0-1 = no effect at all on the participant's life; 2-6 = small effect on the participant's life; 7-12 = moderate effect on the participant's life; 13-18 = very large effect on the participant's life; 19-30 = extremely large effect on the participant's life. Higher scores indicate more impact on quality of life of participants. As per planned analysis, participants from the baseline guselkumab group and the placebo crossover group were combined into a single guselkumab group for assessment of this outcome measure.
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved a PSSD Symptom Score of 0 at Week 252	Week 252	The PSSD (24-hour version) is a PRO questionnaire designed and validated to measure the severity of psoriasis symptoms and signs for the assessment of treatment benefit. It consisted of 11 items covering symptoms (itch, pain, stinging, burning, and skin tightness) and patient-observable signs (skin dryness, cracking, scaling, shedding or flaking, redness, and bleeding) using 0 (absent) to 10 (worst imaginable) numerical rating scales for severity. Items were averaged on the daily symptom score and sign score when at least 3 items (\>=50 percentage of 5 items) on these scales are answered. The average value is converted into 0-100 scoring, such that Symptom score = average value\*10, where, 0= least severe and 100= most severe and higher score indicates more severe disease. As per planned analysis, participants from the baseline guselkumab group and the placebo crossover group were combined into a single guselkumab group for assessment of this outcome measure.
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved a PSSD Sign Score of 0 at Week 252	Week 252	The PSSD (24-hour version) is a PRO questionnaire designed and validated to measure the severity of psoriasis symptoms and signs for the assessment of treatment benefit. It consisted of 11 items covering symptoms (itch, pain, stinging, burning, and skin tightness) and patient-observable signs (skin dryness, cracking, scaling, shedding or flaking, redness, and bleeding) using 0 (absent) to 10 (worst imaginable) numerical rating scales for severity. Items were averaged on the daily symptom score and sign score when at least 3 items (\>=50 percentage of 5 items) on these scales are answered. The average value is converted into 0-100 scoring, such that Sign score = average value\*10, where, 0= least severe and 100= most severe and higher score indicates more severe disease. As per planned analysis, participants from the baseline guselkumab group and the placebo crossover group were combined into a single guselkumab group for assessment of this outcome measure.