CLINICAL STUDIES

Adult Crohn's Disease

Active Crohn's Disease in Adults

The safety and efficacy of single and multiple doses of REMICADE were assessed in 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies in 653 adult patients with moderate to severely active CD [Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) ≥220 and ≤400] with an inadequate response to prior conventional therapies. Concomitant stable doses of aminosalicylates, corticosteroids and/or immunomodulatory agents were permitted and 92% of patients continued to receive at least one of these medications.

In the single-dose trial of 108 adult patients, 16% (4/25) of placebo patients achieved a clinical response (decrease in CDAI ≥70 points) at Week 4 vs. 81% (22/27) of patients receiving 5 mg/kg REMICADE (p<0.001, two-sided, Fisher's Exact test). Additionally, 4% (1/25) of placebo patients and 48% (13/27) of patients receiving 5 mg/kg REMICADE achieved clinical remission (CDAI<150) at Week 4.

In a multidose trial (ACCENT I [Study Crohn's I]), 545 adult patients received 5 mg/kg at Week 0 and were then randomized to one of three treatment groups; the placebo maintenance group received placebo at Weeks 2 and 6, and then every 8 weeks; the 5 mg/kg maintenance group received 5 mg/kg at Weeks 2 and 6, and then every 8 weeks; and the 10 mg/kg maintenance group received 5 mg/kg at Weeks 2 and 6, and then 10 mg/kg every 8 weeks. Patients in response at Week 2 were randomized and analyzed separately from those not in response at Week 2. Corticosteroid taper was permitted after Week 6.

At Week 2, 57% (311/545) of patients were in clinical response. At Week 30, a significantly greater proportion of these patients in the 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg maintenance groups achieved clinical remission compared to patients in the placebo maintenance group (Table 3).

Additionally, a significantly greater proportion of patients in the 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg REMICADE maintenance groups were in clinical remission and were able to discontinue corticosteroid use compared to patients in the placebo maintenance group at Week 54 (Table 3).

Table 3: Clinical Remission and Steroid Withdrawal in Adult Patients with CD (Study Crohn's I)
Single 5-mg/kg Dose REMICADE at Week 0	Three-Dose Induction REMICADE 5 mg/kg administered at Weeks 0, 2 and 6
Placebo Maintenance	REMICADE Maintenance q8 wks
5 mg/kg	10 mg/kg
Week 30	25/102	41/104	48/105
Clinical remission	25%	39%	46%
P -value P-values represent pairwise comparisons to placebo	0.022	0.001
Week 54	6/54	14/56	18/53
Patients in remission able to discontinue corticosteroid use Of those receiving corticosteroids at baseline	11%	25%	34%
P -value	0.059	0.005

Patients in the REMICADE maintenance groups (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) had a longer time to loss of response than patients in the placebo maintenance group (Figure 1). At Weeks 30 and 54, significant improvement from baseline was seen among the 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg REMICADE-treated groups compared to the placebo group in the disease-specific inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ), particularly the bowel and systemic components, and in the physical component summary score of the general health-related quality of life questionnaire SF-36.

Figure 1: Kaplan-Meier Estimate of the Proportion of Adults with CD Who Had Not Lost Response Through Week 54 (Study Crohn's I)

In a subset of 78 patients who had mucosal ulceration at baseline and who participated in an endoscopic substudy, 13 of 43 patients in the REMICADE maintenance group had endoscopic evidence of mucosal healing compared to 1 of 28 patients in the placebo group at Week 10. Of the REMICADE-treated patients showing mucosal healing at Week 10, 9 of 12 patients also showed mucosal healing at Week 54.

Patients who achieved a response and subsequently lost response were eligible to receive REMICADE on an episodic basis at a dose that was 5 mg/kg higher than the dose to which they were randomized. The majority of such patients responded to the higher dose. Among patients who were not in response at Week 2, 59% (92/157) of REMICADE maintenance patients responded by Week 14 compared to 51% (39/77) of placebo maintenance patients. Among patients who did not respond by Week 14, additional therapy did not result in significantly more responses [see Dosage and Administration (2) ] .

Fistulizing Crohn's Disease in Adults

The safety and efficacy of REMICADE were assessed in 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in adult patients with fistulizing CD with fistula(s) that were of at least 3 months duration. Concurrent use of stable doses of corticosteroids, 5-aminosalicylates, antibiotics, MTX, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and/or azathioprine (AZA) was permitted.

In the first trial, 94 adult patients received 3 doses of either placebo or REMICADE at Weeks 0, 2 and 6. Fistula response (≥50% reduction in number of enterocutaneous fistulas draining upon gentle compression on at least 2 consecutive visits without an increase in medication or surgery for CD) was seen in 68% (21/31) of patients in the 5 mg/kg REMICADE group ( P =0.002) and 56% (18/32) of patients in the 10 mg/kg REMICADE group ( P =0.021) vs. 26% (8/31) of patients in the placebo arm. The median time to onset of response and median duration of response in REMICADE-treated patients was 2 and 12 weeks, respectively. Closure of all fistulas was achieved in 52% of REMICADE-treated patients compared with 13% of placebo-treated patients ( P <0.001).

In the second trial (ACCENT II [Study Crohn's II]), adult patients who were enrolled had to have at least 1 draining enterocutaneous (perianal, abdominal) fistula. All patients received 5 mg/kg REMICADE at Weeks 0, 2 and 6. Patients were randomized to placebo or 5 mg/kg REMICADE maintenance at Week 14. Patients received maintenance doses at Week 14 and then every 8 weeks through Week 46. Patients who were in fistula response (fistula response was defined the same as in the first trial) at both Weeks 10 and 14 were randomized separately from those not in response. The primary endpoint was time from randomization to loss of response among those patients who were in fistula response.

Among the randomized patients (273 of the 296 initially enrolled), 87% had perianal fistulas and 14% had abdominal fistulas. Eight percent also had rectovaginal fistulas. Greater than 90% of the patients had received previous immunosuppressive and antibiotic therapy.

At Week 14, 65% (177/273) of patients were in fistula response. Patients randomized to REMICADE maintenance had a longer time to loss of fistula response compared to the placebo maintenance group (Figure 2). At Week 54, 38% (33/87) of REMICADE-treated patients had no draining fistulas compared with 22% (20/90) of placebo-treated patients ( P =0.02). Compared to placebo maintenance, patients on REMICADE maintenance had a trend toward fewer hospitalizations.

Figure 2: Life Table Estimates of the Proportion of Adult CD Patients Who Had Not Lost Fistula Response Through Week 54 (Study Crohn's II)

Patients who achieved a fistula response and subsequently lost response were eligible to receive REMICADE maintenance therapy at a dose that was 5 mg/kg higher than the dose to which they were randomized. Of the placebo maintenance patients, 66% (25/38) responded to 5 mg/kg REMICADE, and 57% (12/21) of REMICADE maintenance patients responded to 10 mg/kg.

Patients who had not achieved a response by Week 14 were unlikely to respond to additional doses of REMICADE.

Similar proportions of patients in either group developed new fistulas (17% overall) and similar numbers developed abscesses (15% overall).

Pediatric Crohn's Disease

The safety and efficacy of REMICADE were assessed in a randomized, open-label study (Study Peds Crohn's) in 112 pediatric patients aged 6 to 17 years old with moderately to severely active CD and an inadequate response to conventional therapies. The median age was 13 years and the median Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) was 40 (on a scale of 0 to 100). All patients were required to be on a stable dose of 6-MP, AZA, or MTX; 35% were also receiving corticosteroids at baseline.

All patients received induction dosing of 5 mg/kg REMICADE at Weeks 0, 2, and 6. At Week 10, 103 patients were randomized to a maintenance regimen of 5 mg/kg REMICADE given either every 8 weeks or every 12 weeks.

At Week 10, 88% of patients were in clinical response (defined as a decrease from baseline in the PCDAI score of ≥15 points and total PCDAI score of ≤30 points), and 59% were in clinical remission (defined as PCDAI score of ≤10 points).

The proportion of pediatric patients achieving clinical response at Week 10 compared favorably with the proportion of adults achieving a clinical response in Study Crohn's I. The study definition of clinical response in Study Peds Crohn's was based on the PCDAI score, whereas the CDAI score was used in the adult Study Crohn's I.

At both Week 30 and Week 54, the proportion of patients in clinical response was greater in the every 8-week treatment group than in the every 12-week treatment group (73% vs. 47% at Week 30, and 64% vs. 33% at Week 54). At both Week 30 and Week 54, the proportion of patients in clinical remission was also greater in the every 8-week treatment group than in the every 12-week treatment group (60% vs. 35% at Week 30, and 56% vs. 24% at Week 54), (Table 4).

For patients in Study Peds Crohn's receiving corticosteroids at baseline, the proportion of patients able to discontinue corticosteroids while in remission at Week 30 was 46% for the every 8-week maintenance group and 33% for the every 12-week maintenance group. At Week 54, the proportion of patients able to discontinue corticosteroids while in remission was 46% for the every 8-week maintenance group and 17% for the every 12-week maintenance group.

Table 4: Response and Remission in Study Peds Crohn's
5 mg/kg REMICADE
Every 8 Week	Every 12 Week
Treatment Group	Treatment Group
Patients randomized	52	51
Clinical Response Defined as a decrease from baseline in the PCDAI score of ≥15 points and total score of ≤30 points.
Week 30	73% P-value <0.01	47%
Week 54	64%	33%
Clinical Remission Defined as a PCDAI score of ≤10 points.
Week 30	60% P-value <0.05	35%
Week 54	56%	24%

Adult Ulcerative Colitis

The safety and efficacy of REMICADE were assessed in 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies in 728 adult patients with moderately to severely active UC (Mayo score 6 to 12 [of possible range 0 to 12], Endoscopy subscore ≥2) with an inadequate response to conventional oral therapies (Studies UC I and UC II). Concomitant treatment with stable doses of aminosalicylates, corticosteroids and/or immunomodulatory agents was permitted. Corticosteroid taper was permitted after Week 8. Patients were randomized at week 0 to receive either placebo, 5 mg/kg REMICADE or 10 mg/kg REMICADE at Weeks 0, 2, 6, and every 8 weeks thereafter through Week 46 in Study UC I, and at Weeks 0, 2, 6, and every 8 weeks thereafter through Week 22 in Study UC II. In Study UC II, patients were allowed to continue blinded therapy to Week 46 at the investigator's discretion.

Adult patients in Study UC I had failed to respond or were intolerant to oral corticosteroids, 6-MP, or AZA. Adult patients in Study UC II had failed to respond or were intolerant to the above treatments and/or aminosalicylates. Similar proportions of patients in Studies UC I and UC II were receiving corticosteroids (61% and 51%, respectively), 6-MP/AZA (49% and 43%) and aminosalicylates (70% and 75%) at baseline. More patients in Study UC II than UC I were taking solely aminosalicylates for UC (26% vs. 11%, respectively). Clinical response was defined as a decrease from baseline in the Mayo score by ≥30% and ≥3 points, accompanied by a decrease in the rectal bleeding subscore of ≥1 or a rectal bleeding subscore of 0 or 1.

Clinical Response, Clinical Remission, and Mucosal Healing

In both Study UC I and Study UC II, greater percentages of patients in both REMICADE groups achieved clinical response, clinical remission and mucosal healing than in the placebo group. Each of these effects was maintained through the end of each trial (Week 54 in Study UC I, and Week 30 in Study UC II). In addition, a greater proportion of patients in REMICADE groups demonstrated sustained response and sustained remission than in the placebo groups (Table 5).

Of patients on corticosteroids at baseline, greater proportions of adult patients in the REMICADE treatment groups were in clinical remission and able to discontinue corticosteroids at Week 30 compared with the patients in the placebo treatment groups (22% in REMICADE treatment groups vs. 10% in placebo group in Study UC I; 23% in REMICADE treatment groups vs. 3% in placebo group in Study UC II). In Study UC I, this effect was maintained through Week 54 (21% in REMICADE treatment groups vs. 9% in placebo group). The REMICADE-associated response was generally similar in the 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg dose groups.

Table 5: Response, Remission and Mucosal Healing in Adult UC Studies (Studies UC I and UC II)
Study UC I			Study UC II
Placebo	5 mg/kg REMICADE	10 mg/kg REMICADE	Placebo	5 mg/kg REMICADE	10 mg/kg REMICADE
Patients randomized	121	121	122	123	121	120
Clinical Response Defined as a decrease from baseline in the Mayo score by ≥30% and ≥3 points, accompanied by a decrease in the rectal bleeding subscore of ≥1 or a rectal bleeding subscore of 0 or 1. (The Mayo score consists of the sum of four subscores: stool frequency, rectal bleeding, physician's global assessment and endoscopy findings). ^, Patients who had a prohibited change in medication, had an ostomy or colectomy, or discontinued study infusions due to lack of efficacy are considered to not be in clinical response, clinical remission or mucosal healing from the time of the event onward.
Week 8	37%	69% P<0.001,	62%	29%	65%	69%
Week 30	30%	52%	51% P<0.01	26%	47%	60%
Week 54	20%	45%	44%	NA	NA	NA
Sustained Response
(Clinical response at both Weeks 8 and 30)	23%	49%	46%	15%	41%	53%
(Clinical response at Weeks 8, 30, and 54)	14%	39%	37%	NA	NA	NA
Clinical Remission Defined as a Mayo score ≤2 points, no individual subscore >1. ^,
Week 8	15%	39%	32%	6%	34%	28%
Week 30	16%	34%	37%	11%	26%	36%
Week 54	17%	35%	34%	NA	NA	NA
Sustained Remission
(Clinical remission at both Weeks 8 and 30)	8%	23%	26%	2%	15%	23%
(Clinical remission at Weeks 8, 30 and 54)	7%	20%	20%	NA	NA	NA
Mucosal Healing Defined as a 0 or 1 on the endoscopy subscore of the Mayo score. ^,
Week 8	34%	62%	59%	31%	60%	62%
Week 30	25%	50%	49%	30%	46%	57%
Week 54	18%	45%	47%	NA	NA	NA

The improvement with REMICADE was consistent across all Mayo subscores through Week 54 (Study UC I shown in Table 6; Study UC II through Week 30 was similar).

Table 6: Proportion of Adult UC Patients in Study UC I with Mayo Subscores Indicating Inactive or Mild Disease Through Week 54
Study UC I
REMICADE
Placebo	5 mg/kg	10 mg/kg
(n=121)	(n=121)	(n=122)
Stool frequency
Baseline	17%	17%	10%
Week 8	35%	60%	58%
Week 30	35%	51%	53%
Week 54	31%	52%	51%
Rectal bleeding
Baseline	54%	40%	48%
Week 8	74%	86%	80%
Week 30	65%	74%	71%
Week 54	62%	69%	67%
Physician's Global Assessment
Baseline	4%	6%	3%
Week 8	44%	74%	64%
Week 30	36%	57%	55%
Week 54	26%	53%	53%
Endoscopy findings
Baseline	0%	0%	0%
Week 8	34%	62%	59%
Week 30	26%	51%	52%
Week 54	21%	50%	51%

Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis

The safety and effectiveness of REMICADE for reducing signs and symptoms and inducing and maintaining clinical remission in pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with moderately to severely active UC who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy are supported by evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies of REMICADE in adults. Additional safety and pharmacokinetic data were collected in an open-label pediatric UC trial in 60 pediatric patients aged 6 through 17 years (median age 14.5 years) with moderately to severely active UC (Mayo score of 6 to 12; Endoscopic subscore ≥2) and an inadequate response to conventional therapies. At baseline, the median Mayo score was 8, 53% of patients were receiving immunomodulator therapy (6-MP/AZA/MTX), and 62% of patients were receiving corticosteroids (median dose 0.5 mg/kg/day in prednisone equivalents). Discontinuation of immunomodulators and corticosteroid taper were permitted after Week 0.

All patients received induction dosing of 5 mg/kg REMICADE at Weeks 0, 2, and 6. Patients who did not respond to REMICADE at Week 8 received no further REMICADE and returned for safety follow-up. At Week 8, 45 patients were randomized to a maintenance regimen of 5 mg/kg REMICADE given either every 8 weeks through Week 46 or every 12 weeks through Week 42. Patients were allowed to change to a higher dose and/or more frequent administration schedule if they experienced loss of response.

Clinical response at Week 8 was defined as a decrease from baseline in the Mayo score by ≥30% and ≥3 points, including a decrease in the rectal bleeding subscore by ≥1 points or achievement of a rectal bleeding subscore of 0 or 1.

Clinical remission at Week 8 was measured by the Mayo score, defined as a Mayo score of ≤2 points with no individual subscore >1. Clinical remission was also assessed at Week 8 and Week 54 using the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI) ¹score and was defined by a PUCAI score of <10 points.

Endoscopies were performed at baseline and at Week 8. A Mayo endoscopy subscore of 0 indicated normal or inactive disease and a subscore of 1 indicated mild disease (erythema, decreased vascular pattern, or mild friability).

Of the 60 patients treated, 44 were in clinical response at Week 8. Of 32 patients taking concomitant immunomodulators at baseline, 23 achieved clinical response at Week 8, compared to 21 of 28 of those not taking concomitant immunomodulators at baseline. At Week 8, 24 of 60 patients were in clinical remission as measured by the Mayo score and 17 of 51 patients were in remission as measured by the PUCAI score.

At Week 54, 8 of 21 patients in the every 8-week maintenance group and 4 of 22 patients in the every 12-week maintenance group achieved remission as measured by the PUCAI score.

During maintenance phase, 23 of 45 randomized patients (9 in the every 8-week group and 14 in the every 12-week group) required an increase in their dose and/or increase in frequency of REMICADE administration due to loss of response. Nine of the 23 patients who required a change in dose had achieved remission at Week 54. Seven of those patients received the 10 mg/kg every 8-week dosing.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

The safety and efficacy of REMICADE in adult patients with RA were assessed in 2 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, pivotal trials: ATTRACT (Study RA I) and ASPIRE (Study RA II). Concurrent use of stable doses of folic acid, oral corticosteroids (≤10 mg/day) and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was permitted.

Study RA I was a placebo-controlled study of 428 patients with active RA despite treatment with MTX. Patients enrolled had a median age of 54 years, median disease duration of 8.4 years, median swollen and tender joint count of 20 and 31 respectively, and were on a median dose of 15 mg/wk of MTX. Patients received either placebo+MTX or one of 4 doses/schedules of REMICADE+MTX: 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg of REMICADE by IV infusion at Weeks 0, 2 and 6 followed by additional infusions every 4 or 8 weeks in combination with MTX.

Study RA II was a placebo-controlled study of 3 active treatment arms in 1004 MTX naive patients of 3 or fewer years' duration active RA. Patients enrolled had a median age of 51 years with a median disease duration of 0.6 years, median swollen and tender joint count of 19 and 31 , respectively, and >80% of patients had baseline joint erosions. At randomization, all patients received MTX (optimized to 20 mg/wk by Week 8) and either placebo, 3 mg/kg or 6 mg/kg REMICADE at Weeks 0, 2, and 6 and every 8 weeks thereafter.

Data on use of REMICADE without concurrent MTX are limited [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] .

Clinical Response

In Study RA I, all doses/schedules of REMICADE+MTX resulted in improvement in signs and symptoms as measured by the American College of Rheumatology response criteria (ACR 20) with a higher percentage of patients achieving an ACR 20, 50 and 70 compared to placebo+MTX (Table 7). This improvement was observed at Week 2 and maintained through Week 102. Greater effects on each component of the ACR 20 were observed in all patients treated with REMICADE+MTX compared to placebo+MTX (Table 8). More patients treated with REMICADE reached a major clinical response than placebo-treated patients (Table 7).

In Study RA II, after 54 weeks of treatment, both doses of REMICADE+MTX resulted in statistically significantly greater response in signs and symptoms compared to MTX alone as measured by the proportion of patients achieving ACR 20, 50 and 70 responses (Table 7). More patients treated with REMICADE reached a major clinical response than placebo-treated patients (Table 7).

Table 7: ACR Response (percent of patients) in Adult RA Patients (Studies RA I and RA II)
Study RA I					Study RA II
REMICADE+MTX				REMICADE+MTX
3 mg/kg		10 mg/kg		3 mg/kg	6 mg/kg
Response	Placebo+MTX	q8 wks	q4 wks	q8 wks	q4 wks	Placebo+MTX	q8 wks	q8 wks
(n=88)	(n=86)	(n=86)	(n=87)	(n=81)	(n=274)	(n=351)	(n=355)
ACR 20
Week 30	20%	50% P≤0.001	50%	52%	58%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Week 54	17%	42%	48%	59%	59%	54%	62% P<0.05	66%
ACR 50
Week 30	5%	27%	29%	31%	26%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Week 54	9%	21%	34%	40%	38%	32%	46%	50%
ACR 70
Week 30	0%	8% P<0.01	11%	18%	11%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Week 54	2%	11%	18%	26%	19%	21%	33%	37%
Major clinical response A major clinical response was defined as a 70% ACR response for 6 consecutive months (consecutive visits spanning at least 26 weeks) through Week 102 for Study RA I and Week 54 for Study RA II.	0%	7%	8%	15%	6%	8%	12%	17%

Table 8: Components of ACR 20 at Baseline and 54 Weeks (Study RA I)
Placebo+MTX		REMICADE+MTX All doses/schedules of REMICADE+MTX
Parameter (medians)	(n=88)		(n=340)
Baseline	Week 54	Baseline	Week 54
No. of Tender Joints	24	16	32	8
No. of Swollen Joints	19	13	20	7
Pain Visual Analog Scale (0=best, 10=worst)	6.7	6.1	6.8	3.3
Physician's Global Assessment	6.5	5.2	6.2	2.1
Patient's Global Assessment	6.2	6.2	6.3	3.2
Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Health Assessment Questionnaire, measurement of 8 categories: dressing and grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities (0=best, 3=worst)	1.8	1.5	1.8	1.3
CRP (mg/dL)	3.0	2.3	2.4	0.6

Radiographic Response

Structural damage in both hands and feet was assessed radiographically at Week 54 by the change from baseline in the van der Heijde-modified Sharp (vdH-S) score, a composite score of structural damage that measures the number and size of joint erosions and the degree of joint space narrowing in hands/wrists and feet.

In Study RA I, approximately 80% of patients had paired X-ray data at 54 weeks and approximately 70% at 102 weeks. The inhibition of progression of structural damage was observed at 54 weeks (Table 9) and maintained through 102 weeks.

In Study RA II, >90% of patients had at least 2 evaluable X-rays. Inhibition of progression of structural damage was observed at Weeks 30 and 54 (Table 9) in the REMICADE+MTX groups compared to MTX alone. Patients treated with REMICADE+MTX demonstrated less progression of structural damage compared to MTX alone, whether baseline acute-phase reactants (ESR and CRP) were normal or elevated: patients with elevated baseline acute-phase reactants treated with MTX alone demonstrated a mean progression in vdH-S score of 4.2 units compared to patients treated with REMICADE+MTX who demonstrated 0.5 units of progression; patients with normal baseline acute phase reactants treated with MTX alone demonstrated a mean progression in vdH-S score of 1.8 units compared to REMICADE+MTX who demonstrated 0.2 units of progression. Of patients receiving REMICADE+MTX, 59% had no progression (vdH-S score ≤0 unit) of structural damage compared to 45% of patients receiving MTX alone. In a subset of patients who began the study without erosions, REMICADE+MTX maintained an erosion-free state at 1 year in a greater proportion of patients than MTX alone, 79% (77/98) vs. 58% (23/40), respectively ( P <0.01). Fewer patients in the REMICADE+MTX groups (47%) developed erosions in uninvolved joints compared to MTX alone (59%).

Table 9: Radiographic Change from Baseline to Week 54 in Adult RA Patients (Studies RA I and RA II)
Study RA I			Study RA II
REMICADE+MTX		REMICADE+MTX
3 mg/kg	10 mg/kg	3 mg/kg	6 mg/kg
Placebo+MTX	q8 wks	q8 wks	Placebo+MTX	q8 wks	q8 wks
(n=64)	(n=71)	(n=77)	(n=282)	(n=359)	(n=363)
Total Score
Baseline
Mean	79	78	65	11.3	11.6	11.2
Median	55	57	56	5.1	5.2	5.3
Change from baseline
Mean	6.9	1.3 P<0.001 for each outcome against placebo.	0.2	3.7	0.4	0.5
Median	4.0	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.0	0.0
Erosion Score
Baseline
Mean	44	44	33	8.3	8.8	8.3
Median	25	29	22	3.0	3.8	3.8
Change from baseline
Mean	4.1	0.2	0.2	3.0	0.3	0.1
Median	2.0	0.0	0.5	0.3	0.0	0.0
JSN Score
Baseline
Mean	36	34	31	3.0	2.9	2.9
Median	26	29	24	1.0	1.0	1.0
Change from baseline
Mean	2.9	1.1	0.0	0.6	0.1	0.2
Median	1.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Physical Function Response

Physical function and disability were assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI) and the general health-related quality of life questionnaire SF-36.

In Study RA I, all doses/schedules of REMICADE+MTX showed significantly greater improvement from baseline in HAQ-DI and SF-36 physical component summary score averaged over time through Week 54 compared to placebo+MTX, and no worsening in the SF-36 mental component summary score. The median (interquartile range) improvement from baseline to Week 54 in HAQ-DI was 0.1 (-0.1, 0.5) for the placebo+MTX group and 0.4 (0.1, 0.9) for REMICADE+MTX (p<0.001). Both HAQ-DI and SF-36 effects were maintained through Week 102. Approximately 80% of patients in all doses/schedules of REMICADE+MTX remained in the trial through 102 weeks.

In Study RA II, both REMICADE treatment groups showed greater improvement in HAQ-DI from baseline averaged over time through Week 54 compared to MTX alone; 0.7 for REMICADE+MTX vs. 0.6 for MTX alone ( P ≤0.001). No worsening in the SF-36 mental component summary score was observed.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

The safety and efficacy of REMICADE were assessed in a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 279 adult patients with active AS. Patients were between 18 and 74 years of age, and had AS, as defined by the modified New York criteria for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Patients were to have had active disease as evidenced by both a Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score >4 (possible range 0–10) and spinal pain >4 (on a Visual Analog Scale [VAS] of 0–10). Patients with complete ankylosis of the spine were excluded from study participation, and the use of Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) and systemic corticosteroids were prohibited. Doses of REMICADE 5 mg/kg or placebo were administered intravenously at Weeks 0, 2, 6, 12 and 18.

At 24 weeks, improvement in the signs and symptoms of AS, as measured by the proportion of patients achieving a 20% improvement in ASAS response criteria (ASAS 20), was seen in 60% of patients in the REMICADE-treated group vs. 18% of patients in the placebo group (p<0.001). Improvement was observed at Week 2 and maintained through Week 24 (Figure 3 and Table 10).

Figure 3: Proportion of Adult AS Patients Who Achieved a ASAS 20 Response

At 24 weeks, the proportions of patients achieving a 50% and a 70% improvement in the signs and symptoms of AS, as measured by ASAS response criteria (ASAS 50 and ASAS 70, respectively), were 44% and 28%, respectively, for patients receiving REMICADE, compared to 9% and 4%, respectively, for patients receiving placebo ( P <0.001, REMICADE vs. placebo). A low level of disease activity (defined as a value <20 [on a scale of 0–100 mm] in each of the 4 ASAS response parameters) was achieved in 22% of REMICADE-treated patients vs. 1% in placebo-treated patients ( P <0.001).

Table 10: Components of AS Disease Activity
Placebo (n=78)		REMICADE 5 mg/kg (n=201)
Baseline	24 Weeks	Baseline	24 Weeks	P -value
ASAS 20 response
Criteria (Mean)
Patient Global Assessment Measured on a VAS with 0="none" and 10="severe"	6.6	6.0	6.8	3.8	<0.001
Spinal pain	7.3	6.5	7.6	4.0	<0.001
BASFI Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), average of 10 questions	5.8	5.6	5.7	3.6	<0.001
Inflammation Inflammation, average of last 2 questions on the 6-question BASDAI	6.9	5.8	6.9	3.4	<0.001
Acute Phase Reactants
Median CRP CRP normal range 0–1.0 mg/dL (mg/dL)	1.7	1.5	1.5	0.4	<0.001
Spinal Mobility (cm, Mean)
Modified Schober's test Spinal mobility normal values: modified Schober's test: >4 cm; chest expansion:>6 cm; tragus to wall: <15 cm; lateral spinal flexion: >10 cm	4.0	5.0	4.3	4.4	0.75
Chest expansion	3.6	3.7	3.3	3.9	0.04
Tragus to wall	17.3	17.4	16.9	15.7	0.02
Lateral spinal flexion	10.6	11.0	11.4	12.9	0.03

The median improvement from baseline in the general health-related quality-of-life questionnaire SF-36 physical component summary score at Week 24 was 10.2 for the REMICADE group vs. 0.8 for the placebo group ( P <0.001). There was no change in the SF-36 mental component summary score in either the REMICADE group or the placebo group.

Results of this study were similar to those seen in a multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 70 patients with AS.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Safety and efficacy of REMICADE were assessed in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 200 adult patients with active PsA despite DMARD or NSAID therapy (≥5 swollen joints and ≥5 tender joints) with 1 or more of the following subtypes: arthritis involving DIP joints (n=49), arthritis mutilans (n=3), asymmetric peripheral arthritis (n=40), polyarticular arthritis (n=100), and spondylitis with peripheral arthritis (n=8). Patients also had Ps with a qualifying target lesion ≥2 cm in diameter. Forty-six percent of patients continued on stable doses of methotrexate (≤25 mg/week). During the 24-week double-blind phase, patients received either 5 mg/kg REMICADE or placebo at Weeks 0, 2, 6, 14, and 22 (100 patients in each group). At Week 16, placebo patients with <10% improvement from baseline in both swollen and tender joint counts were switched to REMICADE induction (early escape). At Week 24, all placebo-treated patients crossed over to REMICADE induction. Dosing continued for all patients through Week 46.

Clinical Response

Treatment with REMICADE resulted in improvement in signs and symptoms, as assessed by the ACR criteria, with 58% of REMICADE-treated patients achieving ACR 20 at Week 14, compared with 11% of placebo-treated patients ( P <0.001). The response was similar regardless of concomitant use of methotrexate. Improvement was observed as early as Week 2. At 6 months, the ACR 20/50/70 responses were achieved by 54%, 41%, and 27%, respectively, of patients receiving REMICADE compared to 16%, 4%, and 2%, respectively, of patients receiving placebo. Similar responses were seen in patients with each of the subtypes of PsA, although few patients were enrolled with the arthritis mutilans and spondylitis with peripheral arthritis subtypes.

Compared to placebo, treatment with REMICADE resulted in improvements in the components of the ACR response criteria, as well as in dactylitis and enthesopathy (Table 11). The clinical response was maintained through Week 54. Similar ACR responses were observed in an earlier randomized, placebo-controlled study of 104 PsA patients, and the responses were maintained through 98 weeks in an open-label extension phase.

Table 11: Components of ACR 20 and Percentage of Adult PsA Patients with 1 or More Joints with Dactylitis and Percentage of Adult PsA Patients with Enthesopathy at Baseline and Week 24
Placebo		REMICADE 5 mg/kg P<0.001 for percent change from baseline in all components of ACR 20 at Week 24, P<0.05 for % of patients with dactylitis, and P=0.004 for % of patients with enthesopathy at Week 24
Patients Randomized	(n=100)		(n=100)
Baseline	Week 24	Baseline	Week 24
Parameter (medians)
No. of Tender Joints Scale 0–68	24	20	20	6
No. of Swollen Joints Scale 0–66	12	9	12	3
Pain Visual Analog Scale (0=best, 10=worst)	6.4	5.6	5.9	2.6
Physician's Global Assessment	6.0	4.5	5.6	1.5
Patient's Global Assessment	6.1	5.0	5.9	2.5
Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Health Assessment Questionnaire, measurement of 8 categories: dressing and grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities (0=best, 3=worst)	1.1	1.1	1.1	0.5
CRP (mg/dL) Normal range 0–0.6 mg/dL	1.2	0.9	1.0	0.4
% Patients with 1 or more digits with dactylitis	41	33	40	15
% Patients with enthesopathy	35	36	42	22

Improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) in PsA patients with baseline body surface area (BSA) ≥3% (n=87 placebo, n=83 REMICADE) was achieved at Week 14, regardless of concomitant methotrexate use, with 64% of REMICADE-treated patients achieving at least 75% improvement from baseline vs. 2% of placebo-treated patients; improvement was observed in some patients as early as Week 2. At 6 months, the PASI 75 and PASI 90 responses were achieved by 60% and 39%, respectively, of patients receiving REMICADE compared to 1% and 0%, respectively, of patients receiving placebo. The PASI response was generally maintained through Week 54. [see Clinical Studies (14.8) ] .

Radiographic Response

Structural damage in both hands and feet was assessed radiographically by the change from baseline in the van der Heijde-Sharp (vdH-S) score, modified by the addition of hand DIP joints. The total modified vdH-S score is a composite score of structural damage that measures the number and size of joint erosions and the degree of joint space narrowing (JSN) in the hands and feet. At Week 24, REMICADE-treated patients had less radiographic progression than placebo-treated patients (mean change of -0.70 vs. 0.82, P <0.001). REMICADE-treated patients also had less progression in their erosion scores (-0.56 vs 0.51) and JSN scores (-0.14 vs 0.31). The patients in the REMICADE group demonstrated continued inhibition of structural damage at Week 54. Most patients showed little or no change in the vdH-S score during this 12-month study (median change of 0 in both patients who initially received REMICADE or placebo). More patients in the placebo group (12%) had readily apparent radiographic progression compared with the REMICADE group (3%).

Physical Function

Physical function status was assessed using the HAQ Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and the SF-36 Health Survey. REMICADE-treated patients demonstrated significant improvement in physical function as assessed by HAQ-DI (median percent improvement in HAQ-DI score from baseline to Week 14 and 24 of 43% for REMICADE-treated patients vs 0% for placebo-treated patients).

During the placebo-controlled portion of the trial (24 weeks), 54% of REMICADE-treated patients achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in HAQ-DI (≥0.3 unit decrease) compared to 22% of placebo-treated patients. REMICADE-treated patients also demonstrated greater improvement in the SF-36 physical and mental component summary scores than placebo-treated patients. The responses were maintained for up to 2 years in an open-label extension study.

Plaque Psoriasis

The safety and efficacy of REMICADE were assessed in 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in patients 18 years of age and older with chronic, stable Ps involving ≥10% BSA, a minimum PASI score of 12, and who were candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Patients with guttate, pustular, or erythrodermic psoriasis were excluded from these studies. No concomitant anti-psoriatic therapies were allowed during the study, with the exception of low-potency topical corticosteroids on the face and groin after Week 10 of study initiation.

Study I (EXPRESS) evaluated 378 patients who received placebo or REMICADE at a dose of 5 mg/kg at Weeks 0, 2, and 6 (induction therapy), followed by maintenance therapy every 8 weeks. At Week 24, the placebo group crossed over to REMICADE induction therapy (5 mg/kg), followed by maintenance therapy every 8 weeks. Patients originally randomized to REMICADE continued to receive REMICADE 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks through Week 46. Across all treatment groups, the median baseline PASI score was 21 and the baseline Static Physician Global Assessment (sPGA) score ranged from moderate (52% of patients) to marked (36%) to severe (2%). In addition, 75% of patients had a BSA >20%. Seventy-one percent of patients previously received systemic therapy, and 82% received phototherapy.

Study II (EXPRESS II) evaluated 835 patients who received placebo or REMICADE at doses of 3 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg at Weeks 0, 2, and 6 (induction therapy). At Week 14, within each REMICADE dose group, patients were randomized to either scheduled (every 8 weeks) or as needed (PRN) maintenance treatment through Week 46. At Week 16, the placebo group crossed over to REMICADE induction therapy (5 mg/kg), followed by maintenance therapy every 8 weeks. Across all treatment groups, the median baseline PASI score was 18, and 63% of patients had a BSA >20%. Fifty-five percent of patients previously received systemic therapy, and 64% received a phototherapy.

Study III (SPIRIT) evaluated 249 patients who had previously received either psoralen plus ultraviolet A treatment (PUVA) or other systemic therapy for their psoriasis. These patients were randomized to receive either placebo or REMICADE at doses of 3 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg at Weeks 0, 2, and 6. At Week 26, patients with a sPGA score of moderate or worse (greater than or equal to 3 on a scale of 0 to 5) received an additional dose of the randomized treatment. Across all treatment groups, the median baseline PASI score was 19, and the baseline sPGA score ranged from moderate (62% of patients) to marked (22%) to severe (3%). In addition, 75% of patients had a BSA >20%. Of the enrolled patients, 114 (46%) received the Week 26 additional dose.

In Studies I, II and III, the primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved a reduction in score of at least 75% from baseline at Week 10 by the PASI (PASI 75). In Study I and Study III, another evaluated outcome included the proportion of patients who achieved a score of "cleared" or "minimal" by the sPGA. The sPGA is a 6-category scale ranging from "5 = severe" to "0 = cleared" indicating the physician's overall assessment of the psoriasis severity focusing on induration, erythema, and scaling. Treatment success, defined as "cleared" or "minimal," consisted of none or minimal elevation in plaque, up to faint red coloration in erythema, and none or minimal fine scale over <5% of the plaque.

Study II also evaluated the proportion of patients who achieved a score of "clear" or "excellent" by the relative Physician's Global Assessment (rPGA). The rPGA is a 6-category scale ranging from "6 = worse" to "1 = clear" that was assessed relative to baseline. Overall lesions were graded with consideration to the percent of body involvement as well as overall induration, scaling, and erythema. Treatment success, defined as "clear" or "excellent," consisted of some residual pinkness or pigmentation to marked improvement (nearly normal skin texture; some erythema may be present). The results of these studies are presented in Table 12.

Table 12: Adult Psoriasis Studies I, II, and III, Percentage of Patients who Achieved PASI 75 and Percentage who Achieved Treatment "Success" with Physician's Global Assessment at Week 10
Placebo	REMICADE
3 mg/kg	5 mg/kg
Psoriasis Study I - patients randomized Patients with missing data at Week 10 were considered as nonresponders.	77	—	301
PASI 75	2 (3%)	—	242 (80%) P<0.001 compared with placebo
sPGA	3 (4%)	—	242 (80%)
Psoriasis Study II - patients randomized	208	313	314
PASI 75	4 (2%)	220 (70%)	237 (75%)
rPGA	2 (1%)	217 (69%)	234 (75%)
Psoriasis Study III - patients randomized Patients with missing data at Week 10 were imputed by last observation.	51	99	99
PASI 75	3 (6%)	71 (72%)	87 (88%)
sPGA	5 (10%)	71 (72%)	89 (90%)

In Study I, in the subgroup of patients with more extensive Ps who had previously received phototherapy, 85% of patients on 5 mg/kg REMICADE achieved a PASI 75 at Week 10 compared with 4% of patients on placebo.

In Study II, in the subgroup of patients with more extensive Ps who had previously received phototherapy, 72% and 77% of patients on 3 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg REMICADE achieved a PASI 75 at Week 10 respectively compared with 1% on placebo. In Study II, among patients with more extensive Ps who had failed or were intolerant to phototherapy, 70% and 78% of patients on 3 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg REMICADE achieved a PASI 75 at Week 10 respectively, compared with 2% on placebo.

Maintenance of response was studied in a subset of 292 and 297 REMICADE-treated patients in the 3 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg groups; respectively, in Study II. Stratified by PASI response at Week 10 and investigational site, patients in the active treatment groups were re-randomized to either a scheduled or as needed maintenance (PRN) therapy, beginning on Week 14.

The groups that received a maintenance dose every 8 weeks appear to have a greater percentage of patients maintaining a PASI 75 through Week 50 as compared to patients who received the as-needed or PRN doses, and the best response was maintained with the 5 mg/kg every 8-week dose. These results are shown in Figure 4. At Week 46, when REMICADE serum concentrations were at trough level, in the every 8-week dose group, 54% of patients in the 5 mg/kg group compared to 36% in the 3 mg/kg group achieved PASI 75. The lower percentage of PASI 75 responders in the 3 mg/kg every 8-week dose group compared to the 5 mg/kg group was associated with a lower percentage of patients with detectable trough serum infliximab levels. This may be related in part to higher antibody rates [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . In addition, in a subset of patients who had achieved a response at Week 10, maintenance of response appears to be greater in patients who received REMICADE every 8 weeks at the 5 mg/kg dose. Regardless of whether the maintenance doses are PRN or every 8 weeks, there is a decline in response in a subpopulation of patients in each group over time. The results of Study I through Week 50 in the 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks maintenance dose group were similar to the results from Study II.

Figure 4: Proportion of Adult Ps Patients Who Achieved ≥75% Improvement in PASI from Baseline through Week 50 (patients randomized at Week 14)

Efficacy and safety of REMICADE treatment beyond 50 weeks have not been evaluated in patients with Ps.

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