PLoS ONE (Jan 2021)

Sustained functional benefits after a single set of injections with abobotulinumtoxinA using a 2-mL injection volume in adults with cervical dystonia: 12-week results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3b study.

  • Atul T Patel,
  • Mark F Lew,
  • Khashayar Dashtipour,
  • Stuart Isaacson,
  • Robert A Hauser,
  • William Ondo,
  • Pascal Maisonobe,
  • Stefan Wietek,
  • Bruce Rubin,
  • Allison Brashear

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245827
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 2
p. e0245827

Abstract

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Cervical dystonia (CD) is primarily treated with botulinum toxin, at intervals of ≥ 12 weeks. We present efficacy, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and safety in adults with CD at the last available visit after a single set of abobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT-A) injections versus placebo using 500 U in a 2-mL injection volume. In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind trial, patients were ≥ 18 years of age with primary idiopathic CD, had a Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) total score ≥ 20, and TWSTRS-Severity subscale score > 10 at baseline. Patients (N = 134) were randomized (2:1) to aboBoNT-A (n = 89) or placebo (n = 45), with aboBoNT-A patients treated with 500 units (U) if toxin-naïve, and 250 to 500 U based on previous onabotulinumtoxinA dose if non-naïve. Endpoints included total TWSTRS, Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-Pain; 24-hour), Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication, and other PROs for pain, depression, and global health. Results are for the intent-to-treat population, with "Week 12" (Wk12) comprising the last available post-baseline assessment (end-of-study or early withdrawal). Mean TWSTRS total scores improved from 42.5 at baseline to 35.4 at Wk12 with aboBoNT-A and 42.4 to 40.4 with placebo (treatment difference: -4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -8.5, -1.1; p = 0.011). At Wk12, mean (95% CI) change from baseline in NRS-Pain was -1.0 (-1.59, -0.45) for aboBoNT-A and -0.2 (-0.96, 0.65) for placebo. AboBoNT-A demonstrated numeric improvements in other PROs. More aboBoNT-A-treated patients than patients receiving placebo reported being at least "somewhat satisfied" with treatment (60.4% vs 42.2%, respectively), symptom relief (57.0% vs 40.0%), and time for treatment to work (55.8% vs 33.3%). No new adverse events were reported. Results indicate that in patients with CD, treatment with aboBoNT-A using a 2-mL injection provided sustained improvement in the TWSTRS total score and patient-perceived benefits up to 12 weeks. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Identified: NCT01753310.