A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of BIIB059 (Litifilimab) in Adult Participants With Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Receiving Background Nonbiologic Lupus Standard of Care (TOPAZ-2)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04961567 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : July 14, 2021
Last Update Posted : June 23, 2023
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The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate efficacy of BIIB059 (litifilimab) compared with placebo in participants with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who are receiving background lupus standard of care (SOC) therapy in reducing disease activity.
The secondary objectives of this study are to demonstrate early onset of efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in participants with active SLE, who are receiving background lupus SOC therapy in reducing disease activity; to demonstrate organ-specific efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in participants with active SLE, who are receiving background lupus SOC therapy in reducing joint disease activity; to demonstrate effect of BIIB059 compared with placebo in reducing oral corticosteroid(s) (OCS) use; to demonstrate organ-specific efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in participants with active SLE, who are receiving background lupus SOC therapy in reducing skin disease activity; to demonstrate efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in participants with active SLE, who are receiving background lupus SOC therapy in reducing occurrence of flare up to Week 52; to evaluate additional efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in reducing disease activity with additional disease activity measures; to evaluate the effect of BIIB059 compared with placebo in reducing OCS use; to assess the difference between BIIB059 and placebo on participant-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL), symptoms, and impacts of SLE; to evaluate the safety and tolerability of BIIB059 in participants with active SLE and to evaluate immunogenicity of BIIB059 in participants with active SLE.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic | Drug: BIIB059 (litifilimab) Drug: Placebo | Phase 3 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 540 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of BIIB059 in Adult Participants With Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Receiving Background Nonbiologic Lupus Standard of Care |
Actual Study Start Date : | July 16, 2021 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | September 18, 2025 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | March 5, 2026 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: BIIB059 High Dose
Participants who are receiving background nonbiologic lupus SOC therapy will receive high dose of BIIB059, subcutaneously (SC), every 4 weeks (Q4W), up to Week 48 with an additional dose at Week 2.
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Drug: BIIB059 (litifilimab)
Administered as specified in the treatment arm.
Other Name: litifilimab |
Experimental: BIIB059 Low Dose
Participants who are receiving background nonbiologic lupus SOC therapy will receive low dose of BIIB059, SC Q4W, up to Week 48 with an additional dose at Week 2.
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Drug: BIIB059 (litifilimab)
Administered as specified in the treatment arm.
Other Name: litifilimab |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Participants who are receiving background nonbiologic lupus SOC therapy will receive BIIB059 matching placebo, SC Q4W, up to Week 48 with an additional dose at Week 2.
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Drug: Placebo
Administered as specified in the treatment arm. |
- Percentage of Participants Who Achieved a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Responder Index of 4 (SRI-4) Response at Week 52 [ Time Frame: Week 52 ]
An SRI-4 response is a composite endpoint defined by the following criteria:
- Reduction from baseline of ≥4 points in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K).
- No new organ system affected as defined by no new organ system with British Isles Lupus Assessment Group-2004 (BILAG-2004) grade A and no more than 1 new organ system with BILAG-2004 grade B compared with baseline.
- No worsening from baseline in lupus disease activity as defined by <0.3-point increase on 3-point Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) - Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
- No violation to protocol-specified medication rules.
- Percentage of Participants Who Achieved an SRI-4 Response at Week 24 [ Time Frame: Week 24 ]
An SRI-4 response is a composite endpoint defined by the following criteria:
- Reduction from baseline of ≥4 points in SLEDAI-2K.
- No new organ system affected as defined by no new organ system with BILAG-2004 grade A and no more than 1 new organ system with BILAG-2004 grade B compared with baseline.
- No worsening from baseline in lupus disease activity as defined by <0.3-point increase on 3-point PGA-VAS.
- No violation to protocol-specified medication rules.
- Percentage of Participants With at Least 4 Joints (Both Swollen and Tender) at Baseline Who Achieved a Joint-50 Response at Week 52 [ Time Frame: Week 52 ]Joint-50 response is 50% reduction in total active joint count from baseline. An active joint is defined as a joint with pain and signs of inflammation (e.g., tenderness, swelling or effusion). A 28-joint assessment will be performed to determine the active joint count, which is defined as the sum of tender and swollen joint counts.
- Percentage of Participants with OCS ≥10 milligrams per day (mg/day) at Baseline Who Have OCS Reduction to ≤7.5 mg/day at Week 40, Which Is Sustained Through Week 52 with No Disease Worsening from Week 40 to Week 52 [ Time Frame: Week 40 up to Week 52 ]No worsening of the disease is defined as no new BILAG-2004 grade A or less than 2 new BILAG-2004 grade B since the last visit during the Week 40 to Week 52.
- Percentage of Participants with a CLASI-A Score ≥10 at Baseline Who Achieved a 50% Improvement from Baseline in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index Activity Score (CLASI-50) Response at Week 16 [ Time Frame: Week 16 ]Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Activity (CLASI-A) score is used to evaluate lupus skin manifestations. CLASI-A scores of 0 to 9, 10 to 20, and 21 to 70 represent disease severity of mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. CLASI-50 is 50% of improvement form baseline in CLASI-A.
- Annualized Flare Rate Through Week 52 [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]Annualized flare rate will be calculated as the total number of flares divided by the flare exposure time in days, and the ratio multiplied by 365.25.
- Change from Baseline in Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) - Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Score by Visit [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]The PGA is an investigator-administered assessment used to quantify disease activity and is measured using an anchored VAS. PGA asks the investigator to assess the participant's current disease activity from a score of 0 (none) to 3 (severe), with the assessment made relative to the most severe state of SLE.
- Percentage of Participants Who Achieved a British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG)-Based Combined Lupus Assessment (BICLA) Response by Visit [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]The BILAG disease activity index evaluates SLE activity in number of organ systems, using a separate alphabetic score (A to E) assigned to each organ system defined as follows, BILAG A: severe disease activity; BILAG B: moderate disease activity; BILAG C: Stable mild disease; BILAG D: System previously affected but now inactive; BILAG E: System never involved. BICLA is a composite endpoint defined as BILAG-2004 improvement, defined as all BILAG-2004 grade A at Baseline improved to grade B, C, or D, and all BILAG-2004 grade B at baseline improved to grade C or D, no BILAG-2004 worsening in other BILAG-2004 organ systems such that there are no new BILAG-2004 grade A or greater than 1 new BILAG-2004 grade B, no worsening in the SLEDAI-2K total score compared with Baseline, no worsening from Baseline in lupus disease activity defined by < 0.3-point increase on 3-point PGA-VAS and no violation to protocol-specified medication rules.
- Time to Onset of SRI-4 Response Sustained Through Week 52 [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]
An SRI-4 response is a composite endpoint defined by the following criteria:
- Reduction from baseline of ≥4 points in SLEDAI-2K.
- No new organ system affected as defined by no new organ system with BILAG-2004 grade A and no more than 1 new organ system with BILAG-2004 grade B compared with baseline.
- No worsening from baseline in lupus disease activity as defined by <0.3-point increase on 3-point PGA-VAS.
- No violation to protocol-specified medication rules.
- Percentage of Participants Who Achieved SRI-4, -5, or -6 Response by Visit [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]
An SRI-4 response is a composite endpoint defined by the following criteria:
- Reduction from baseline of ≥4 points in SLEDAI-2K.
- No new organ system affected as defined by no new organ system with BILAG-2004 grade A and no more than 1 new organ system with BILAG-2004 grade B compared with baseline.
- No worsening from baseline in lupus disease activity as defined by <0.3-point increase on 3-point PGA-VAS.
- No violation to protocol-specified medication rules. SRI-5 and SRI-6 are computed with a minimal five-point or six-point improvement in SLEDAI-2K being required, respectively.
- Percentage of Participants with Joint-50 Response by Visit [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]Joint-50 response is 50% reduction in total active joint count from baseline. An active joint is defined as a joint with pain and signs of inflammation (e.g., tenderness, swelling or effusion). A 28-joint assessment will be performed to determine the active joint count, which is defined as the sum of tender and swollen joint counts.
- Percentage of Participants with Baseline CLASI-A Score ≥10 Who Achieved a CLASI-20, -50, -70, or -90 Response by Visit [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Activity (CLASI-A) score is used to evaluate lupus skin manifestations. CLASI-A scores of 0 to 9, 10 to 20, and 21 to 70 represent disease severity of mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. CLASI-20, -50, -70 and -90 represent 20%, 50%, 70% or 90% improvement from baseline in CLASI-A score, respectively.
- Percentage of Participants with Baseline CLASI-A Score ≥10 Who Achieved a CLASI-A Score of ≤1 by Visit [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Activity (CLASI-A) score is used to evaluate lupus skin manifestations. CLASI-A scores of 0 to 9, 10 to 20, and 21 to 70 represent disease severity of mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. CLASI-A ≤1 represent the absolute score ≤1 in CLASI-A by visit.
- Time to First British Isles Lupus Activity Group-2004 (BILAG-2004) Severe Flare by Visit [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]BILAG-2004 severe flare is defined as an A score for items recorded as worse or new. BILAG-2004 is evaluated by scoring each item of a list of signs and symptoms given as 4 = new; 3 = worse; 2 = same; 1 = improving; 0 = not present; and ND = not done.
- Time to First Severe Flare as Defined by Safety of Estrogens in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index Flare Index (SFI) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]SFI severe flare is defined any of the following: change in SLEDAI instrument score to >12; or new or worse: central nervous system SLE; vasculitis; nephritis; myositis; platelets <60,000 per milliliter (/mL); or hemolytic anemia with hemoglobin <7 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or decrease in hemoglobin >3 g/dL and requiring: doubling prednisone dose; or increase to >0.5 milligrams per kilogram per day (mg/kg/day) or hospitalization; or increase in prednisone dose to >0.5 mg/kg/day; or new requirement for cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, or mycophenolate for SLE activity; or hospitalization for SLE activity; or increase in PGA score to >2.5.
- Percentage of Time Spent in Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]
LLDAS is a composite endpoint defined as:
- SLEDAI-2K score ≤ 4, with no activity in a major organ system (renal, central nervous system, cardiopulmonary, vasculitis, fever); and
- No new features of lupus disease activity compared with the previous assessment; and
- Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) PGA ≤ 1; and
- Current prednisone (or equivalent) dose ≤ 7.5 mg/day; and
- Standard maintenance doses of immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents.
- Percentage of Participants With Sustained LLDAS as Defined by the Number of Participants With ≥ 3, ≥ 5, and ≥ 7 Consecutive Visits in LLDAS up to and Including Week 52 [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]
LLDAS is a composite endpoint defined as:
- SLEDAI-2K score ≤ 4, with no activity in a major organ system (renal, central nervous system, cardiopulmonary, vasculitis, fever); and
- No new features of lupus disease activity compared with the previous assessment; and
- SELENA-SLEDAI PGA ≤ 1; and
- Current prednisone (or equivalent) dose ≤ 7.5 mg/day; and
- Standard maintenance doses of immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents.
- Percentage of Participants who Achieved LLDAS at Week 52 [ Time Frame: Week 52 ]
LLDAS is a composite endpoint defined as:
- SLEDAI-2K score ≤ 4, with no activity in a major organ system (renal, central nervous system, cardiopulmonary, vasculitis, fever); and
- No new features of lupus disease activity compared with the previous assessment; and
- SELENA-SLEDAI PGA ≤ 1; and
- Current prednisone (or equivalent) dose ≤ 7.5 mg/day; and
- Standard maintenance doses of immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents.
- Percentage of Participants With Baseline OCS ≥10 mg/day Who Achieved ≤7.5 mg/day at Week 52 [ Time Frame: Week 52 ]
- Change from Baseline in Lupus-Specific Health-Related Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (LupusQoL) Score [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]The LupusQoL is a participant-reported, lupus-specific, health-related quality-of-life questionnaire (HRQoL) consisting of 34 items grouped in 8 domains: physical health, pain, planning, intimate relationships, burden to others, emotional health, body image and fatigue. Participants indicate their responses on a 5-point Likert response format, where 4 = never, 3 = occasionally, 2 = a good bit of the time, 1 = most of the time, and 0 = all the time. A LupusQoL score for each domain will be reported on a 0 to 100 scale, with greater values indicating better HRQoL.
- Change from Baseline in Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) Score [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]SF-36 determines participants' overall quality of life by assessing 1) limitations in physical functioning due to health problems; 2) limitations in usual role because of physical health problems; 3) bodily pain; 4) general health perceptions; 5) vitality; 6) limitations in social functioning because of physical or emotional problems; 7) limitations in usual role due to emotional problems; and 8) general mental health. Items 1-4 primarily contribute to the physical component summary (PCS) score of SF-36. Items 5-8 primarily contribute to the mental component summary (MCS) score of SF-36. Scores on each item are summed and averaged (range: 0=worst to 100=best). Increases from baseline indicate improvement.
- Change from Baseline in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) Score [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]FACIT-Fatigue is a participant-administered HRQoL questionnaire that evaluates participant's fatigue in the 5 broad categories: physical well-being, social/family well-being, emotional well-being, functional well-being and additional concerns. The level of fatigue is measured by questions assessed on a 5-point scale (0 = not at all; 1 = a little bit; 2 = somewhat; 3 = quite a bit; 4 = very much). The responses for each item are added to obtain a total score which ranges from 0 to 52, with a higher score indicating less fatigue.
- Change from Baseline in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Score [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]PHQ-9 is a participant-administered HRQoL questionnaire to screen for the presence and severity of depression. The PHQ-9 is a participant-reported outcome (PRO) that is used to measure depression in adults. It contains 9 questions. The PHQ-9 yields an overall severity score that can range from 0 to 27 with the following severity scores: 0- 4 = none; 5-9 = mild; 10-14 = moderate; 15-19 = moderate-to-severe; and 20-27 = severe.
- Change from Baseline in Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI): Lupus Score [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]WPAI questionnaire is a validated instrument to measure impairments in work and activities. The WPAI yields four types of scores: 1. Absenteeism (work time missed) 2. Presenteeism (impairment at work / reduced on-the-job effectiveness) 3. Work productivity loss (overall work impairment / absenteeism plus presenteeism) 4. Activity Impairment. Each score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater impairment and less productivity.
- Number of Participants with Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a patient or clinical investigation participant administered a pharmaceutical product and that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. A TEAE is an AE that started or worsened in severity after the first dose of study treatment through 28 days after the last dose of study treatment or end of study (EOS) date, whichever comes earlier. An SAE is any untoward medical occurrence that at any dose results in death (a life-threatening event), in the view of the investigator, places the participant at immediate risk of death, requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, results in a birth defect, or is a medically important event.
- Number of Participants with Antibodies to BIIB059 [ Time Frame: Up to Week 52 ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Key Inclusion Criteria:
- Participant must be diagnosed with SLE at least 24 weeks prior to screening and must meet the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE, at screening by a qualified physician.
- Participant has a modified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-200 (SLEDAI-2K) score ≥6 (excluding alopecia, fever, lupus-related headache, and organic brain syndrome) at screening (adjudicated).
- Participant has a modified clinical SLEDAI-2K score ≥4 (excluding anti-dsDNA, low complement component 3 [C3] and/or complement component 4 [C4], alopecia, fever, lupus-related headache, and organic brain syndrome) at screening (adjudicated) and randomization.
- Participant has BILAG-2004 grade A in ≥1 organ system or BILAG-2004 grade B in ≥2 organ systems at screening (adjudicated) and randomization.
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Participants must be treated with one of the following background nonbiologic lupus SOC therapies, initiated ≥12 weeks prior to screening and at stable dose ≥4 weeks prior to randomization:
- Antimalarials as stand-alone treatment
- Antimalarial treatment in combination with OCS and/or a single immunosuppressant
- Treatment with OCS and/or a single immunosuppressant.
Key Exclusion Criteria:
- History of or positive test result for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
- Current hepatitis C infection (defined as positive hepatitis C virus [HCV] antibody and detectable HCV ribonucleic acid [RNA]).
- Current hepatitis B infection (defined as positive for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and/or total hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc]).
- History of severe herpes infection.
- Presence of uncontrolled or New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure.
- Active severe lupus nephritis where, in the opinion of the investigator, protocol-specified SOC is insufficient and use of a more aggressive therapeutic approach, such as adding intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide and/or high-dose IV pulse corticosteroid therapy or other treatments not permitted in the protocol, is indicated; or urine protein-creatinine ratio >2.0 or severe chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 milliliters per minute per 1.73 meter square [mL/min/1.73 m^2]) calculated using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation.
- Any active skin conditions other than cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) that may interfere with the study assessment of CLE such as but not limited to psoriasis, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis, non-LE skin lupus manifestation or drug-induced lupus.
- History or current diagnosis of a clinically significant non-SLE-related vasculitis syndrome.
- Active neuropsychiatric SLE.
- Use of oral prednisone (or equivalent) above 20 mg/day.
NOTE: Other protocol defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria may apply.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04961567
Contact: US Biogen Clinical Trial Center | 866-633-4636 | clinicaltrials@biogen.com | |
Contact: Global Biogen Clinical Trial | clinicaltrials@biogen.com |

Study Director: | Medical Director | Biogen |
Responsible Party: | Biogen |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04961567 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
230LE304 2020-005776-35 ( EudraCT Number ) |
First Posted: | July 14, 2021 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | June 23, 2023 |
Last Verified: | June 2023 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | In accordance with Biogen's Clinical Trial Transparency and Data Sharing Policy on https://www.biogentrialtransparency.com/ |
URL: | https://vivli.org/ |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Lupus SLE CLE |
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases Autoimmune Diseases Immune System Diseases |