Efficacy and safety of avacopan in patients aged 65 years and older with ANCA-associated vasculitis: a post hoc analysis of data from the ADVOCATE trial

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of avacopan in patients aged >= 65 years with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) in the phase 3 ADVOCATE trial of avacopan vs a prednisone taper, plus either rituximab or cyclophosphamide.Methods In this descriptive, post hoc analysis, patients receiving avacopan or a prednisone taper were stratified by age. Key efficacy outcomes included the rate of remission at week 26 and sustained remission at week 52.Results Of 160 patients aged >= 65, 109 were aged 65-74 and 51 were >= 75. Remission at week 26 was achieved in 71.7% vs 69.4% of patients aged 65-74 and 73.1% vs 72.0% aged >= 75 in the avacopan vs prednisone taper groups, respectively. Sustained remission at week 52 was observed in 65.0% vs 55.1% of patients aged 65-74 and 65.4% vs 56.0% aged >= 75. Relapse rates in the avacopan vs prednisone taper groups were 12.3% vs 18.8% and 3.8% vs 20.8% in the 65-74 and >= 75 subgroups, respectively. Improvements in estimated glomerular filtration rate and health-related quality of life were observed in both treatment groups. Use of avacopan compared with a prednisone taper was associated with a 61% and 49% reduction in mean glucocorticoid dose in the 65-74 and >= 75 subgroups, respectively, and lower glucocorticoid toxicity. The proportions of patients with adverse events were similar between treatment groups within each age subgroup.Conclusion These data support the efficacy and safety of an avacopan-based regimen to treat patients with GPA or MPA aged >= 65.