Studies Find Association Between Vectra DA Scores and Joint Damage Progression in RA Patients

On Wednesday at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) meeting in Madrid, Spain, Crescendo Bioscience announced new results from a meta-analysis of several clinical studies. The new data demonstrated an association between high Vectra DA scores and an increased risk of joint damage progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Crescendo Bioscience researchers analyzed 800 RA patients, among 6 studies, that received DMARDs alone or in combination with adalimumab, infliximab or abatacept. The analysis aimed to evaluate the connection between Vectra DA scores, a quantified number from a multi-biomarker blood test, and radiographic progression (RP) risk.

In the individual studies, there was an association between high Vectra DA scores (>44) and RP frequency. The analysis, with all studies considered, indicated that patients with high Vectra DA scores were 3.6 to 9.5 times more likely to suffer from RP than those with low Vectra DA scores.

“In this meta-analysis, the Vectra DA test has demonstrated the superior ability to predict joint damage compared with traditional measures such as DAS28-CRP or CRP, making Vectra DA an important tool in the management of patients with RA,” Elena Hitraya, MD, PhD, chief medical officer at Crescendo Bioscience, said in a statement. “Importantly, Vectra DA also demonstrated clinical value by identifying patients with little or no risk of RP. We believe combining the Vectra DA score with conventional clinical measures will enable physicians to individualize treatment plans for their patients, improve outcomes and reduce the burden of future healthcare costs associated with this disabling disease.”

The Vectra DA scoring system has been proven useful with more than 3000 patients among 35 studies and can be used to help physicians choose proper treatments for their patients with RA.

“Importantly, this analysis confirms the consistency and robustness of the previous findings,” concluded Hitraya. “This new information advances the understanding of the role of molecule biomarkers in RA and can help to facilitate the discussion on the role of biomarkers in RA treatment guidance.”