7 Tesla MRI Brain Imaging to Decipher Filgotinib's Mode of Analgesic Action in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18-74
SponsorNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

About this trial

This is an experimental medicine, single-centre, observational test-retest study to evaluate Filgotinib's mechanism of analgesic action in RA patients.

The investigators hypothesize that Filgotinib's mechanism of analgesic action is determined by at least two factors. The first is related to those CNS sensitization pathways seen in fibromyalgia, specifically DMN-insula brain functional connectivity and insular glutamate.

The second is related to peripheral inflammation, specifically joint synovitis, blood cytokines/chemokines and DAN-LIPL functional brain connectivity. The CNS sensitization pain pathways related to fibromyalgia are more quickly modified compared to those related to peripheral inflammation and help explain Filgotinib's rapid onset of effect.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Adults ≥18 years < 75 years.

Right-handed (to reduce neuroimaging heterogeneity).

Disqualifiers

Inability to provide written informed consent.

Severe physical impairment (e.g. blindness, deafness, paraplegia).

Pregnant or breast feeding.

Severe claustrophobia precluding MRI.

Trial population

The study will involve 20 participants aged over 18 years with moderate to severe active RA, who have failed at least methotrexate, who fulfil the eligibility criteria below and who are scheduled to start Filgotinib as part of standard clinical practice. All will give full informed consent. The decision to commence filgotinib treatment, completion of all standard pre-biologic safety screening requirements, contraception requirements and patient consent to filgotinib treatment will be undertaken by the participant's usual care team as part of standard clinical practice and will be separate, and in advance of participation in this study.

Trial design

Design model

Cohort

Time perspective

Prospective

Treatments tested in this trial

Not listed

Trial groups

No trial groups listed

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

To evaluate the effects of Filgotinib in RA on CNS pain sensitisation (as measured by MRI brain) for DMN-Insula fMRI brain connectivity at 12 weeks.

Functional connectivity MRI (fMRI) investigations are conducted with subjects resting in the scanner. Ten minutes of whole-brain resting state fMRI data will be collected using a simultaneous-multi-slice (SMS) echoplanar-imaging (EPI) sequence of factor=3. A whole-brain T1-weighted structural image will also be collected using a twice magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (MP2RAGE) sequence. During the resting state, subjects will be instructed not to undertake any particular task and to stay awake with their eyes open on a fixation cross. Whole brain coverage will be performed. Upon collection of resting state fMRI data, pre-processing steps will include the removal of physiological artefacts, motion correction, realignment, registration, normalization and smoothing. Connectivity indices will be generated from matrices informed by our a priori determined regions of interest (DMN-Insula).

Time frame
12 weeks
2

To evaluate the effects of Filgotinib in RA on CNS pain sensitisation (as measured by MRI brain) for insular glutamate levels at 12 weeks.

A magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan will be undertaken in order to detect the glutamate concentration. A single voxel sequence will be employed with semi-LASER preparation. A 20x20 mm3 voxel will be placed in the R posterior insula and shimming oA magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan will be undertaken in order to detect the glutamate concentration. A single voxel sequence will be employed with semi-LASER preparation. A 20x20 mm3 voxel will be placed in the R posterior insula and shimming of the static magnetic field will be performed using advanced methods best suited to MRS acquisition at 7T, such as FASTMAP. Spectra will be analysed and quantified in JMRUI or LCModel. In addition, multi-voxel techniques will be employed to provide quantitative maps of chemical concentration across the brain.

Time frame
12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

1

To evaluate the effects of Filgotinib in RA on CNS pain sensitisation (as measured by MRI brain) for DMN-Insula fMRI brain connectivity at 4 weeks.

Functional connectivity MRI (fMRI) investigations are conducted with subjects resting in the scanner. Ten minutes of whole-brain resting state fMRI data will be collected using a simultaneous-multi-slice (SMS) echoplanar-imaging (EPI) sequence of factor=3. A whole-brain T1-weighted structural image will also be collected using a twice magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (MP2RAGE) sequence. During the resting state, subjects will be instructed not to undertake any particular task and to stay awake with their eyes open on a fixation cross. Whole brain coverage will be performed. Upon collection of resting state fMRI data, pre-processing steps will include the removal of physiological artefacts, motion correction, realignment, registration, normalization and smoothing. Connectivity indices will be generated from matrices informed by our a priori determined regions of interest (DMN-Insula).

Time frame
0-4 weeks
2

To evaluate the effects of Filgotinib in RA on CNS pain sensitisation (as measured by MRI brain) for insular glutamate levels at 4 weeks.

A magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan will be undertaken in order to detect the glutamate concentration. A single voxel sequence will be employed with semi-LASER preparation. A 20x20 mm3 voxel will be placed in the R posterior insula and shimming oA magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan will be undertaken in order to detect the glutamate concentration. A single voxel sequence will be employed with semi-LASER preparation. A 20x20 mm3 voxel will be placed in the R posterior insula and shimming of the static magnetic field will be performed using advanced methods best suited to MRS acquisition at 7T, such as FASTMAP. Spectra will be analysed and quantified in JMRUI or LCModel. In addition, multi-voxel techniques will be employed to provide quantitative maps of chemical concentration across the brain.

Time frame
0-4 weeks
3

To evaluate the effects of Filgotinib in RA on peripheral inflammation related pain as measured by MRI brain for DAN-LIPL fMRI brain connectivity (neurobiological marker of peripheral inflammatory pain) in the short term.

Functional connectivity MRI (fMRI) investigations are conducted with subjects resting in the scanner. Ten minutes of whole-brain resting state fMRI data will be collected using a simultaneous-multi-slice (SMS) echoplanar-imaging (EPI) sequence of factor=3. A whole-brain T1-weighted structural image will also be collected using a twice magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (MP2RAGE) sequence. During the resting state, subjects will be instructed not to undertake any particular task and to stay awake with their eyes open on a fixation cross. Whole brain coverage will be performed. Upon collection of resting state fMRI data, pre-processing steps will include the removal of physiological artefacts, motion correction, realignment, registration, normalization and smoothing. Connectivity indices will be generated from matrices informed by our a priori determined region of interest (DAN-IPL).

Time frame
0-4 weeks
4

To evaluate the effects of Filgotinib in RA on peripheral inflammation related pain as measured by MRI brain for DAN-LIPL fMRI brain connectivity (neurobiological marker of peripheral inflammatory pain) in the medium term.

Functional connectivity MRI (fMRI) investigations are conducted with subjects resting in the scanner. Ten minutes of whole-brain resting state fMRI data will be collected using a simultaneous-multi-slice (SMS) echoplanar-imaging (EPI) sequence of factor=3. A whole-brain T1-weighted structural image will also be collected using a twice magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (MP2RAGE) sequence. During the resting state, subjects will be instructed not to undertake any particular task and to stay awake with their eyes open on a fixation cross. Whole brain coverage will be performed. Upon collection of resting state fMRI data, pre-processing steps will include the removal of physiological artefacts, motion correction, realignment, registration, normalization and smoothing. Connectivity indices will be generated from matrices informed by our a priori determined region of interest (DAN-IPL).

Time frame
12 weeks

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Lead sponsor

Lakefront Biotherapeutics NV

Collaborator