The CONSUL study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02758782) was an open label study comparing the combined use of NSAIDs and anti-TNF treatment to using anti-TNF therapy alone in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. touchIMMUNOLOGY caught up with Dr Fabian Proft (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany) to discuss the rationale, methodology and the primary endpoint of the study, which assessed the structural damage in the spine over two years and why the primary endpoint was not achieved.
The abstract ‘COmparison of the effect of treatment with NSAIDs added to anti-TNF therapy versus anti-TNF therapy alone on progression of StrUctural damage in the spine over two years in patients with ankyLosing spondylitis (CONSUL) – an open-Label, randomized controlled, multicenter trial.’ (Abstract number: OP0018) was presented at the European Congress of Rheumatology 2022, 1-4 June, 2022.
Questions
- What was the rationale for investigating the combined use of NSAIDs and anti-TNF treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis? (0:24)
- What was the methodology and eligibility criteria of the CONSUL study? (1:00)
- What was the primary endpoint and how well was it achieved? (1:54)
- Why do you think the primary endpoint was not achieved, and which patient populations might benefit from this combined treatment? (2:51)
- What was the safety and tolerability profile of the combination? (4:15)
Disclosures: Fabian Proft discloses serving on speakers bureaus for AMGEN, AbbVie, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and UCB; consulting for Novartis; and receiving grant/research support from Novartis, UCB, and Lilly.
Support: Interview and filming supported by Touch Medical Media Ltd. Interview conducted by Victoria Jones.
Filmed in coverage of the EULAR meeting 2022.
