The aim is to evaluate safety and determine the effects of anifrolumab on essential clinical and biological parameters in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Although the pathogenesis of pSS has not been fully elucidated, one of the key immune pathways involved is type-I IFN signalling. Since anifrolumab is a fully human, IgG1κ monoclonal antibody to type-I interferon receptor subunit 1, the hypothesis is that inhibition of type-I IFN signalling by anifrolumab may reduce glandular and systemic inflammation and attenuate disease activity in patients with pSS. The study population will consist of patients who fulfil 2016 ACR-EULAR criteria for pSS and have active disease, defined by a EULAR Sjögren Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) score ≥5 and/or an unacceptable patient symptom state (EULAR Sjögren Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) score ≥5. The primary endpoint is the Composite of Relevant Endpoints for Sjögren's Syndrome (CRESS) at week 24.
The ANISE-II study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIa proof-of-concept trial. Thirty patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either anifrolumab or placebo treatment for 24 weeks. Main inclusion criteria are fulfilment of the ACR/EULAR classification criteria for pSS, disease duration of ≤10 years, and an ESSDAI and/or ESSPRI of ≥5 (at least 50% of patients need to fulfil the ESSDAI ≥5 criterion). The primary outcome measure is Composite of Relevant Endpoints for Sjögren's Syndrome (CRESS) response at week 24.