STRATUS: A Phase II Study of Abituzumab in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Objective. To investigate the effects of abituzurnab in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). Methods. STRATUS was a phase II, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02745145). Adults (<= 75 yrs) with SSc-I ID on stable mycophenolate were randomized (2:2:1) to receive intravenous abituzumab 1500 mg, abituzumab 500 mg, or placebo every 4 weeks for 104 weeks. The primary endpoint was the annual rate of change in absolute forced vital capacity. Results. STRATUS was terminated prematurely due to slow enrollment (n = 75 screened, n = 24 randomized), precluding robust analysis of efficacy. Abituzumab was well tolerated; no new safety signals were detected. Conclusion. Further investigation of abituzurnab for treatment of SSc-ILD is required.