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TREMFYA – Overview of VISIBLE Clinical Trial

Last Updated: 01/04/2025

SUMMARY

  • VISIBLE (CNTO1959PSO3018; NCT05272150) is an ongoing, multicenter (eg, United States and Canada), double-blind, randomized phase 3b clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of TREMFYA compared to placebo in patients with skin of color (self-identified as non-White) with predominantly moderate to severe body plaque psoriasis (PsO) and/or scalp PsO. The study is comprised of 2 cohorts through week 112: cohort A and cohort B.1-3
    • In cohort A, the coprimary endpoints of investigator’s global assessment (IGA) score of 0 or 1 and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) 90 were achieved by significantly more patients receiving TREMFYA (74% and 57.1%, respectively) compared to placebo patients (0% and 3.8%; P<0.001) at week 16.4
    • In cohort B, the coprimary endpoints of scalp-specific investigator’s global assessment (ss-IGA) 0/1 and psoriasis scalp severity index (PSSI) 90 were achieved by significantly more patients receiving TREMFYA (68.4% and 65.8%, respectively) compared to placebo patients (11.5% and 3.8%; P<0.001) at week 16.5
    • In cohort A, at week 48, the proportion of patients achieving IGA 0/1 and PASI 90 was 70.1% and 76.6% in the TREMFYA group, and 84.0% and 76.0% in the placebo→TREMFYA group, respectively.6
    • In cohort B, at week 48, the proportion of patients achieving ss-IGA 0/1 and PSSI 90 was 85.5% and 80.3% in the TREMFYA group, and 73.9% and 78.3% in the placebo→TREMFYA group, respectively.7
    • Pooled safety results of TREMFYA through week 48 were generally consistent with the known safety profile of TREMFYA in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. No new safety signals were identified.8

CLINICAL Data

Alexis et al (2023 and 2024)4,5 and McMichael et al (2023 and 2024)9,10 reported data from VISIBLE, a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, phase 3b clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of TREMFYA compared to placebo in patients with skin of color (self-identified as non-White) with predominantly moderate to severe body plaque PsO and/or scalp PsO.

Study Design/Methods

  • VISIBLE consists of 2 cohorts including patients with moderate to severe body plaque PsO (cohort A) and/or moderate to severe scalp PsO (cohort B). Select inclusion criteria for each cohort1,2:
    • Cohort A: diagnosis of plaque PsO (with or without psoriatic arthritis [PsA]) for at least 6 months before the first administration of study drug; self-identify as non-white; candidate for phototherapy or systemic treatment for PsO; body surface area (BSA) involvement of ≥10%, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) ≥12, investigator’s global assessment (IGA) ≥3 at screening and baseline.
    • Cohort B: scalp surface area ≥30%, psoriasis scalp severity index (PSSI) ≥12, scalp specific investigator’s global assessment (ss-IGA) ≥3, and at least one plaque outside of the scalp at screening and at baseline.
  • Select exclusion criteria: non-plaque form of PsO (eg, erythrodermic, guttate, or pustular); receipt of ustekinumab, ixekizumab, secukinumab, or brodalumab within 12 weeks of first dose of study drug; history or current signs or symptoms of severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal, cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurologic, hematologic, rheumatologic, psychiatric, or metabolic disturbances; history or current serious infection (eg, sepsis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis), or had been hospitalized or received intravenous antibiotics for an infection during the 2 months before screening.
  • In both cohorts, patients were randomized in a 3:1 ratio to receive either subcutaneous (SC) TREMFYA or SC placebo at weeks 0, 4, 12, and 16 with placebo crossover to TREMFYA at week 16.
  • Colorimetry was used to objectively determine Fitzpatrick skin type, measurement of erythema in plaque PsO, and melanin in PIPA (post-inflammatory pigment alteration).3
  • Primary and secondary outcome measures are described by cohort in Table: VISIBLE Clinical Trial Outcome Measures.

VISIBLE Clinical Trial Outcome Measures1,2,4,5
Cohort
Time Frame
Co-primary Outcome Measures
Percentage of patients who achieved PASI 90 response
Cohort A
Week 16
Percentage of patients who achieved an IGA score of cleared (0) or minimal (1)
Week 16
Percentage of patients who achieved PSSI 90 response
Cohort B
Week 16
Percentage of patients who achieved ss-IGA score of absence of disease (0) or very mild disease (1)
Week 16
Secondary Outcome Measures
Percentage of patients who achieved IGA score of cleared (0)
Cohort A
Week 16
Percentage of patients who achieved PASI 100 response
Cohort A
Week 16
Change from baseline in total PASI score
Cohort A
Week 16
Change from baseline BSA
Cohort A
Week 16
Time to ≥90% reduction in PASI score
Cohort A
Week 16
Percentage of patients who achieved ≥4-point reduction from baseline PSSD itch score among patients with baseline PSSD itch ≥4 at baseline
Cohort A
Week 16
Percentage of patients who achieved ss-IGA score of absence of disease (0)
Cohort B
Week 16
Change from baseline SSA
Cohort B
Week 16
Percentage of patients who achieved PSSI 100 response
Cohort B
Week 16
Change from baseline in Total PSSI
Cohort B
Week 16
Time to ≥90% reduction in PSSI score
Cohort B
Week 16
Percentage of patients with ≥4-point reduction from baseline in scalp itch NRS score among patients with baseline scalp itch ≥4 at baseline
Cohort B
Week 16
Percentage of patients who achieved PSSD symptom score 0 among patients with baseline PSSD symptom score ≥1
Cohort A and B
Week 16
Change from baseline DLQI
Cohort A and B
Week 16
Change from baseline PSSD symptom score
Cohort A and B
Week 16
Number of patients with AE
Cohort A and B
Week 116
Number of patients with SAEs
Cohort A and B
Week 116
Note: Additional detail regarding study outcome definitions can be found on clinicaltrials.gov.
Abbreviations: AE, adverse event; BSA, body surface area; DLQI, dermatology life quality index; IGA, investigator’s global assessment; NRS, numerical rating scale; PASI, psoriasis area and severity index; PSSD, psoriasis symptoms and signs diary; PSSI, psoriasis scalp severity index; SAEs, serious adverse event; SSA, scalp surface area; ss-IGA, scalp-specific investigator’s global assessment.

Results

Cohort A – Moderate to Severe Body Plaque Psoriasis

Patient Characteristics

Baseline Disease and Clinical Characteristics of Cohort A (Full Analysis Set)4
TREMFYA
(n=77)

Placebo
(n=26)

Total
(N=103)

Age, years, mean (SD)
44.7 (11.80)
42.3 (15.73)
44.1 (12.86)
Male, n (%)
55 (71.4)
19 (73.1)
74 (71.8)
BMI, kg/m2, mean (SD)
32.6 (8.89)
32.7 (8.50)
32.6 (8.76)
Race/Ethnicity Composition, %
   Hispanic or Latino
51.9
46.2
-
   Asian
20.8
30.8
-
   Black
11.7
7.7
-
   Middle Eastern
7.8
7.7
-
   Pacific Islander or Native
   Hawaiian

-
3.8
-
   Multiracial
5.2
3.8
-
   Other
2.6
-
-
Fitzpatrick Skin Type, n (%)
   I-III
24 (31.2)
8 (30.8)
32 (31.1)
   IV-VI
53 (68.8)
18 (69.2)
71 (68.9)
PsO disease duration, years, mean (SD)
14.9 (11.04)
14.9 (8.78)
14.9 (10.47)
PASI (0-72), mean (SD)
21.2 (9.86)
19.8 (6.17)
20.8 (9.07)
IGA, n (%)
   Moderate (3)
57 (74.0)
21 (80.8)
78 (75.7)
   Severe (4)
20 (26.0)
5 (19.2)
25 (24.3)
BSA, %, mean (SD)
27.0 (20.42)
26.1 (15.90)
26.8 (19.31)
PSSD Symptom Score (0-100), mean (SD)
66.1 (25.03)
61.8 (26.99)
65.0 (25.48)
PSSD Itch Score (0-10), mean (SD)
7.5 (2.15)
7.6 (2.27)
7.5 (2.17)
Previous Treatments, n (%)
   Topical agents
61 (79.2)
19 (73.1)
80 (77.7)
   Phototherapya
14 (18.2)
6 (23.1)
20 (19.4)
   Nonbiologic systemicsb
12 (15.6)
6 (23.1)
18 (17.5)
   Biologicsc
22 (28.6)
8 (30.8)
30 (29.1)
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; BSA, body surface area; IGA, investigator’s global assessment; PASI, psoriasis area and severity index; PsO, plaque psoriasis; PSSD, psoriasis symptoms and signs diary; PUVA, Psoralen plus ultraviolet A; UVB, ultraviolet B.
aIncludes PUVA or UVB.
bIncludes PUVA, methotrexate, cyclosporine, acitretin.
cIncludes etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, brodalumab, ixekizumab, secukinumab, ustekinumab.

  • At baseline, 82 patients also had scalp PsO. Of those with baseline scalp PsO measures, 77 patients had at least mild scalp PsO (ss-IGA 2 [mild, 22.1%]; 3 [moderate, 63.6%]; and 4 [severe, 14.3%]), mean baseline PSSI score (0-72) of 21.2, mean scalp surface area (SSA) of 33% and mean scalp itch numeric rating scale (NRS; 0-10) of 6.9.9,10
Efficacy

Week 16


Major Secondary Endpoints in Cohort A at Week 164

TREMFYA
Placebo
n=77
n=26
Patients who achieved IGA 0, %
32.5; P<0.001
0
Patients who achieved PASI 100,a %
29.9; P<0.01
0
n=76
n=26
Improvement from baseline (LS Mean) PASI,b %
84.5; P<0.001
8.3
Change from baseline (LS Mean) PSSD Symptom Scoreb
-49.4; P<0.001
-8.2
Change from baseline (LS Mean) PSSD Itch Scoreb
-4.7; P<0.001
-0.7
n=75
n=26
Improvement from baseline (LS Mean) BSA,b %
77.9; P<0.001
0.9
Abbreviations: CMH, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel; BSA, body surface area; IGA, investigator’s global assessment; LS, least square; MMRM, Mixed-Effect Model Repeated Measures; PASI, psoriasis area and severity index; PsO, psoriasis; PSSD, psoriasis symptoms and signs diary.
a
P-values are based on CMH test stratified by Fitzpatrick Skin Type (I-III/ IV-VI). Non-responder imputation was used; patients who discontinued study agent due to lack of efficacy, worsening of PsO, or use of a prohibited PsO treatment prior to week 16, and patients with missing data were considered non-responders.
bLS Means and p-value were based on MMRM. Zero change was assigned after patients discontinued study agent due to lack of efficacy/worsening of PsO or initiated a prohibited PsO treatment. Missing data was handled by MMRM under missing at random assumption.


Scalp PsO Results Among Patients with At Least Mild Scalp PsOa at Baseline through Week 169,10
TREMFYA
Placebo
Improvement from baseline (LS Mean) PSSI,b %
n=56
n=20
   Week 4
53.8; P<0.01
12.3
   Week 12
71.6; P<0.01
20.7
   Week 16
81.0; P<0.001
12.1
Patients who achieved ss-IGA 0,c %
n=57
n=20
   Week 4
26.3; P<0.01
0
   Week 12
61.4; P<0.001
10.0
   Week 16
71.9; P<0.001
10.0
Patients who achieved ss-IGA 0/1,c %
n=57
n=20
   Week 4
50.9; P<0.001
5.0
   Week 12
73.7; P<0.001
15.0
   Week 16
84.2; P<0.001
20.0
n=57
n=20
Mean SSA at Week 16, %
3.1
17.9
   Change from baseline (LS Mean)
   SSAb

-29.8; P<0.001
-14.2
Change from baseline (LS Mean) Scalp Itch NRS Score at Week 16d
-4.3; P<0.001
-1.3
Abbreviations: ANCOVA, Analysis of Covariance; CMH, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel; LS, least square; MMRM, Mixed-Effect Model Repeated Measures; NRS, numeric rating scale; PsO, psoriasis; PSSI, psoriasis scalp severity index; SSA, scalp surface area; ss-IGA, scalp specific investigator’s global assessment
a
ss-IGA≥2.
bLS Means and P-value were based on MMRM. Zero change was assigned after patients discontinued study agent due to lack of efficacy/worsening of PsO or initiated a prohibited PsO treatment. Missing data was handled by MMRM under missing at random assumption.
cP-values are based on CMH test stratified by Fitzpatrick Skin Type (I-III/ IV-VI). Non-responder imputation was used; participants who discontinued study agent due to lack of efficacy, worsening of PsO, or use of a prohibited PsO treatment prior to week 16 were considered non-responders. Participants with missing data were considered non-responders.
dLS Means and P-value were based on ANCOVA. Zero change was assigned after participants discontinued study agent due to lack of efficacy/worsening of psoriasis or initiated a prohibited psoriasis treatment. Missing data were not explicitly imputed.

Week 48

  • At week 48, the proportion of patients achieving IGA 0/1 and PASI 90 was 70.1% (54/77) and 76.6% (59/77) in the TREMFYA group, and 84% (21/25) and 76.0% (19/25) in the placebo→TREMFYA group, respectively.6
  • Mean percent improvement from baseline at week 48 in BSA and PASI was 94.4% and 94.9% in patients treated with TREMFYA, and 87.2% and 91.1% in the placebo→TREMFYA group, respectively.6
  • The overall proportion of patients achieving IGA 0 and PASI 100 at week 48 were 54.5% (42/77) and 54.5% (42/77) in the TREMFYA group, and 48.0% (12/25) and 44.0% (11/25) in the placebo→TREMFYA group, respectively. 6

Cohort B – Moderate to Severe Scalp Psoriasis

Patient Characteristics

Baseline Demographics and Disease Characteristics of Cohort B (Efficacy Analysis Set)5
TREMFYA
(n=76)

Placebo
(n=26)

Total
(N=102)

Age, years, mean (SD)
42.9 (13.9)
41.1 (13.1)
42.5 (13.6)
Male, n (%)
40 (52.6)
18 (69.2)
58 (56.9)
BMI, kg/m2, mean (SD)
31.6 (8.2)
28.3 (6.3)
30.8 (7.9)
Fitzpatrick Skin Type, n (%)
   I-III
28 (36.8)
10 (38.5)
38 (37.3)
   IV-VI
48 (63.2)
16 (61.5)
64 (62.7)
Race/Ethnicity Composition, %
   Hispanic or Latino
40.8
30.8
-
   Asian
35.5
46.2
-
   Black
10.5
11.5
-
   Middle Eastern
5.3
3.8
-
   Multiracial
5.3
7.7
-
   American Indian or Alaska
   Native

1.3
-
-
   Other
1.3
-
-
PsO disease duration, years, mean (SD)
11.3 (9.8)
11.3 (12.8)
11.3 (10.6)
ss-IGA, n (%)
   Moderate (3)
64 (84.2)
20 (76.9)
84 (82.4)
   Severe (4)
12 (15.8)
6 (23.1)
18 (17.6)
PSSI (0-72), mean (SD)
34.4 (13.7)
34.0 (11.8)
34.3 (13.2)
SSA, %, mean (SD)
60.8 (27.1)
56.6 (22.4)
59.8 (26.0)
IGA, n (%)
   Minimal (1)
1 (1.3)
0
1 (1.0)
   Mild (2)
3 (3.9)
0
3 (2.9)
   Moderate (3)
60 (78.9)
19 (73.1)
79 (77.5)
   Severe (4)
12 (15.8)
7 (26.9)
19 (18.6)
PASI (0-72), mean (SD)
13.7 (9.6)
17.1 (8.2)
14.6 (9.3)
BSA, %, mean (SD)
15.7 (15.0)
19.1 (12.1)
16.6 (14.4)
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; BSA, body surface area; IGA, investigator’s global assessment; PASI, psoriasis area and severity index; PsO, plaque psoriasis; PSSD, psoriasis symptoms and signs diary; PSSI, psoriasis scalp severity index; ss-IGA, scalp-specific investigator’s global assessment; SSA, scalp surface area.
Efficacy

Week 16

  • At week 16, the coprimary endpoints of ss-IGA 0/1 and PSSI 90 were achieved by significantly more patients receiving TREMFYA (n=76; 68.4% and 65.8%, respectively) compared to placebo patients (n=26; 11.5% and 3.8%; P<0.001).
  • Major secondary endpoints are described in Table: Major Secondary Endpoints of Cohort B at Week 16.

Major Secondary Endpoints of Cohort B at Week 165
TREMFYA
Placebo
n=75
n=25
Improvement from baseline (LS Mean) PSSI,a %
87.6; P<0.001
37.8
n=76
n=26
Patients who achieved ss-IGA 0,b %
57.9; P<0.001
3.8
Patients who achieved PSSI 100,b %
59.2; P<0.001
3.8
n=75
n=23
Improvement from baseline (LS Mean) SSA,a %
86.6; P<0.001
33.4
Abbreviations: BSA, body surface area; CMH, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel; DLQI, dermatology life quality index; IGA, investigator’s global assessment; LS, least square; MMRM, Mixed-Effect Model Repeated Measures; PASI, psoriasis area and severity index; PsO, psoriasis; PSSD, psoriasis symptoms and signs diary.
a
LS Means and p-value were based on MMRM. Zero change was assigned for patients who discontinued study agent due to lack of efficacy, worsening of PsO or initiated a prohibited PsO treatment prior to week 16. Missing data was handled by MMRM under missing at random assumption.
bP-values are based on CMH test stratified by Fitzpatrick Skin Type (I-III/ IV-VI). Non-responder imputation was used; patients who discontinued study agent due to lack of efficacy, worsening of PsO, or use of a prohibited PsO treatment prior to week 16, and patients with missing data were considered non-responders.

Week 48

  • At week 48, the proportion of patients achieving ss-IGA 0/1 and PSSI 90 was 85.5% (65/76) and 80.3% (61/76) in the TREMFYA group, and 73.9% (17/23) and 78.3% (18/23) in the placebo→TREMFYA group, respectively.7
  • At week 48, the mean percent improvement from baseline in SSA and PSSI was 94.8% and 94.6% in the TREMFYA group, and 92.1% and 92.2% in the placebo→TREMFYA group, respectively.7
  • At week 48, ss-IGA 0 and PSSI 100 response was reported in 67.1% (51/76) and 68.4% (52/76) of patients in the TREMFYA group, and 56.5% (13/23) and 56.5% (13/23) of patients in the placebo→TREMFYA group, respectively.7
Safety

Cohort A – Week 16

  • Through week 16, 37.7% (29/77) of patients receiving TREMFYA and 19.2% (5/26) of patients receiving placebo reported ≥1 adverse event (AE).4
    • Infection was reported in 20.8% (16/77) of TREMFYA patients and 11.5% (3/26) of placebo patients.
    • One patient (1.3%) discontinued TREMFYA due to impetigo and atopic dermatitis.4

Cohort B – Week 16

  • Through week 16, 35.8% (29/81) of TREMFYA patients and 11.1% (3/27) of placebo patients reported at least 1 AE.
    • Infections were reported in 14.8% (12/81) of TREMFYA patients and a serious infection was reported in 3.7% (1/27) of placebo patients.
    • At least 1 SAE was reported in 3.7% (1/27) of placebo patients.
    • At least 1 injection site reaction was reported in 1.2% (1/81) of TREMFYA patients.

Pooled Analysis (Cohort A and Cohort B) - Placebo→TREMFYA Crossover (Weeks 16-48) 8

  • Through weeks 16-48 in the placebo→TREMFYA crossover period, 28.6% (14/49) of patients reported at least 1 AE.
    • At least 1 SAE was reported in 2% (1/49) of patients.
    • Infections and serious infections were reported in 18.4% (9/49) and 2% (1/49) of patients, respectively.

Pooled Analysis (Cohort A and Cohort B) - TREMFYA (Weeks 0-48)

  • Through week 0-48, 62.7% (99/158) and 1.9% (3/158) of patients treated with TREMFYA reported at least 1 AE and 1 SAE, respectively.8
    • Infections and serious infections were reported in 34.8% (55/158) and 0.6% (1/158) of patients treated with TREMFYA, respectively.
    • Injection site reaction was reported in 0.6% (1/158) of patients treated with TREMFYA.
    • Two patients (1.3%) discontinued TREMFYA due to pregnancy and impetiginized atopic dermatitis.
  • Through week 48, no death, malignancies, active tuberculosis, inflammatory bowel disease, major adverse cardiovascular events, anaphylaxis, or serum-like sickness were reported in either groups.8
  • Pooled safety results of TREMFYA through week 48 were generally consistent with the known safety profile of TREMFYA in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. No new safety signals were identified.8

LITERATURE SEARCH

A literature search of MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, BIOSIS Previews®, and DERWENT® (and/or other resources, including internal/external databases) was conducted on 13 September 2024.

 

References

1 Janssen Research & Development, LLC. Study of guselkumab in skin of color participants with moderate-to-severe plaque and/or scalp psoriasis (VISIBLE). In: ClinicalTrials.gov [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05272150 Accessed January 25, 2024.  
2 Alexis A, Bhutani T, McMichael A, et al. Study design of a phase 3b, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of guselkumab in patients with skin of color who have moderate to severe plaque and/or scalp psoriasis (VISIBLE). Poster presented at: Society for Investigative Dermatology; May 18-21, 2022; Portland, OR.  
3 Alexis A, Desai S, Choi O, et al. Advancing diversity in dermatology research: the VISIBLE study experience. Poster presented at: 2023 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting; March 17-21, 2023; New Orleans, LA.  
4 Alexis A, McMichael A, Choi O, et al. VISIBLE: guselkumab demonstrated skin clearance at week 16 in participants with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis across all skin tones. Poster presented at: Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference; October 19-22, 2023; Las Vegas, NV.  
5 Alexis A, McMichael A, Bhutani T, et al. VISIBLE cohort B: guselkumab demonstrates significant scalp clearance at week 16 in participants with moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis across all skin tones. Poster presented at: Maui Derm Hawaii; January 22-26, 2024; Maui, HI.  
6 Alexis A, Rodriguez G, Yadav G, et al. VISIBLE cohort A: guselkumab demonstrated skin clearance through week 48 in participants with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis across all skin tones. Poster presented at: Skin of Color Update; September 13-15, 2024; New York, NY.  
7 McMichael A, Bhutani T, Smith S, et al. VISIBLE cohort B: guselkumab demonstrated scalp clearance through week 48 in participants with moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis across all skin tones. Poster presented at: Skin of Color Update; September 13-15, 2024; New York, NY.  
8 Soung J, Kindred C, Kerdel F, et al. VISIBLE: guselkumab pooled safety across all skin tones through week 48. Poster presented at: Skin of Color Update; September 13-15, 2024; New York, NY.  
9 McMichael A, Gold LS, Soung J, et al. VISIBLE: guselkumab demonstrated rapid and significant scalp psoriasis clearance in participants with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis across all skin tones. Poster presented at: Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference; October 19-22, 2023; Las Vegas, NV.  
10 McMichael A, Gold LS, Soung J, et al. VISIBLE: guselkumab demonstrated significant scalp psoriasis clearance and scalp itch improvements at week 16 in skin of color participants with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Poster presented at: American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting; March 8-12, 2024; San Diego, CA.