Impact of Ixekizumab on Work Productivity in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results from the COAST-V and COAST-W Trials at 52 Weeks

Introduction Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are burdened with symptoms impacting work productivity measured by presenteeism, absenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment. Ixekizumab, a high-affinity monoclonal antibody selectively targeting interleukin-17A, has been demonstrated to improve disease signs and symptoms in two phase 3 trials of AS. This study investigated for 52 weeks the effect of ixekizumab treatment on work productivity in patients with active AS. Methods COAST-V (NCT02696785) and COAST-W (NCT02696798) were phase 3, multicenter, randomized, controlled trials investigating the efficacy of ixekizumab 80 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) and every 2 weeks (Q2W) in patients with AS naïve to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs; COAST-V) or who were inadequate responders or intolerant to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi; COAST-W). Work productivity was measured with the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire for Spondyloarthritis at weeks 16 and 52. Absenteeism, presenteeism, and overall work impairment were assessed for patients reporting paid work. Activity impairment was assessed regardless of work status. Results At baseline, 66.2% (434/656) of patients reported paid work. At week 16, bDMARD-naïve patients treated with both ixekizumab dose regimens and TNFi-experienced patients treated with ixekizumab Q2W reported significant improvements in activity impairment ( p