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 volunteersQualifiers
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
Cohort
Prospective
Treatments tested in this trial
Not listed
Trial groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
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).
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.
Secondary outcomes
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).
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.
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).
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).
Sponsors and contacts
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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Lead sponsor
Lakefront Biotherapeutics NV
Collaborator