Addition of an immunomodulator can reverse antibody formation and loss of response in patients treated with adalimumab

B. Ungar*, U. Kopylov, T. Engel, M. Yavzori, E. Fudim, O. Picard, A. Lang, N. Williet, S. Paul, Y. Chowers, A. Bar-Gil Shitrit, R. Eliakim, S. Ben-Horin, X. Roblin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

105 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Anti-adalimumab antibodies (AAA) are associated with loss of clinical response (LOR). Addition of an immunomodulator has been shown to reverse immunogenicity and regain response with infliximab monotherapy. Similar data on adalimumab are lacking. Aim: To study the impact of immunomodulator addition on the emergence of AAA and LOR among adalimumab therapy patients. Methods: The databases of three tertiary medical centres were reviewed to identify patients who developed AAA during adalimumab monotherapy with resultant LOR, and received an immunomodulator as a salvage combination therapy. All sera were prospectively analysed using previously described ELISA assays. Clinical response was determined using appropriate clinical scores. Elimination of AAA, designated as ‘sero-reversal’, elevation of drug levels and regained clinical response were the sought outcomes. Results: Twenty-three patients (21 Crohn's disease, and 2 ulcerative colitis) developed AAA with subsequent LOR and were thereafter prescribed an immunomodulator as salvage therapy (thiopurine n = 14, methotrexate n = 9). Eleven patients (48%) underwent sero-reversal with gradual elimination of AAA, increase in drug trough levels and restoration of clinical response (median time to sero-reversal 5 months). In 12 patients (52%), immunogenicity and loss of response could not be reversed. There was no difference between responders and nonresponders in the type of immunomodulators used or baseline clinical characteristics. Conclusions: In almost half of inflammatory bowel disease patients developing anti-adalimumab antibodies and loss of response, established immunogenicity of adalimumab can be gradually reversed by the addition of immunomodulator therapy with restoration of a clinico-biological response. However, these observations need to be confirmed with larger studies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)276-282
Number of pages7
JournalAlimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Volume45
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2017

Funding

FundersFunder number
Chaim Sheba Medical Center
Janssen and Theradiag
Rambam Health Care Center
Theradiag
AbbVie
Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
Meso Scale Diagnostics
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Janssen Pharmaceuticals
Canadian Thoracic Society

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