• Data renders evidence of clinically improved outcome in recurrent pericarditis
   
• Results were presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2019

Bermuda headquartered- Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a biopharma company has reportedly unveiled final data from Phase 2 clinical trial of rilonacept- a recombinant fusion protein that restricts the signaling of IL-1α and IL-1β.

According to Sanj K. Patel, Chairman and CEO of Kiniksa, the phase 2 trial data showcased the ability of rilonacept to enhance the outcomes linked with recurrent pericarditis. The phase 2 trial has generated rapid resolutions of pericarditis occurrences throughout the 6 month study period, along with an overall improvement in the quality of life scores, he further added.

He further stated that treatment with the help of rilonacept has led to a substantial decline in the overall cases of pericarditis and has also supported the termination of corticosteroids without the recurrence of pericarditis.

It is believed that the furnished data confirms the company’s capability in the design of RHAPSODY, the phase 3 trial of rilonacept in the incidences of pericarditis, the data for which is expected to be out by the second half of 2020.

For the record, the phase 2 trial assessed the response of the treatment to rilonacept across a varied range of people suffering from pericarditis and into five segments across two cohorts, symptomatic recurrent pericarditis patients and corticosteroid-dependent recurrent pericarditis patients.

Apparently, during the study, all the patients were given a 320 mg dose of rilonacept subcutaneously followed by a dose of 160 mg SC given every week for maintenance on top of any combination of co-administered nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids or colchicine over a period of 6 weeks.

Furthermore, there was an optional 18-week extension of the treatment period, during which the physicians were given the choice to either discontinue giving patients NSAIDs, colchicine and/or corticosteroids. The outcomes included CRP, an 11-point pain numerical rating scale (NRS), electrocardiogram and size of pericardial effusion.

Reportedly, 25 patients participated in the 6-week base treatment period from part 1 to part 5 of the phase 2 trial out of which 23 patients chose to undergo the optional 18-week extension treatment period and completed a total of 24 weeks of treatment.

Source Credits: https://investors.kiniksa.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kiniksa-presents-rilonacept-final-phase-2-clinical-data-americanr