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Home › Conditions › axial spondyloarthritis

Axial spondyloarthritis

Part of Arthritis

6 published articles · Updated continuously

Clinical Trial Landscape

Clinical Trials for axial spondyloarthritis

16 trials tracked for axial spondyloarthritis: 10 in phase 3 or 4 and 6 with published results. The most-cited published study has 101 citations.

16Trials tracked
10Phase 3 & 4
0Recruiting
6With published results
Phase distribution
Phase 4 1 Phase 3 9 Phase 2 1 Phase 1 1 Other / NA 4
  1. Phase 3 Multicenter Study Evaluating Certolizumab Pegol Compared to Placebo in Subjects With axSpA Without X-ray Evidence of AS Completed · 101 cited
  2. Phase 3 Continuing Versus Withdrawing Adalimumab in Maintaining Remission in Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis Completed · 99 cited
  3. Phase 3 A Study of Ixekizumab (LY2439821) in Participants With Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis Completed · 27 cited
  4. Phase 3 Study of Efficacy and Safety of Secukinumab in Psoriatic Arthritis and Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients With Active Enthesitis Including One Achilles Tendon Site Completed · 25 cited
  5. Phase 3 A Long Term Extension Study of Ixekizumab (LY2439821) in Participants With Axial Spondyloarthritis Completed · 18 cited
  6. Phase 3 AScalate: Treat-to-target in Axial Spondyloarthritis Completed · 9 cited
Show 10 more trials
  1. Phase 4 A Study to Evaluate the NSAIDS Sparing Effect of Etanercept in Subjects With Axial Spondyloarthritis Completed
  2. Phase 3 Efficacy of Golimumab in Early Axial Spondyloarthritis in Relation to Gut Inflammation Completed
  3. Phase 3 Study of Adalimumab in Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis Completed
  4. Phase 3 Infliximab for Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis (P05336 AM1) Completed
  5. Phase 2 Efficacy and Safety of Namilumab for Moderate-to-severe Axial Spondyloarthritis Completed
  6. Phase 1 A Study in Pregnant Women With Chronic Inflammatory Diseases Treated With Cimzia (Certolizumab Pegol) Completed
  7. N/A PREDICT-SpA - French Epidemiological Study of the Evaluation of the Impact of Fibromyalgia in the TNF Alpha Treatment Effect in Axial Spondyloarthritis in Both Anti-TNF naïve and - Experienced Patients Completed
  8. N/A MRE as a Screening Tool for axSpA in IBD Completed
  9. N/A Novel MRI ANd Biomarkers in GOlimumab-treated Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis Completed
  10. N/A A Study To Evaluate The Efficacy Of Enbrel (REGISTERED) Etanercept Over A Period Of 12 Months In The Routine Treatment Of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Axial Spondyloarthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Or Plaque Psoriasis. Completed

Showing the 16 most-cited and recently-updated of 16 trials. Browse the full registry →

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Counts describe the research landscape and are not a treatment recommendation. Informational only — not medical advice.

What the trials found For clinicians

Axial spondyloarthritis: what the trials found

Several biologics demonstrated significant efficacy in improving clinical scores for axial spondyloarthritis. Etanercept showed a significant reduction in ASAS scores at week 8 (-63.90; -36.63, p=0.0019) and a significant reduction in BASDAI at week 4 (-1.50; -0.56, p=0.0153) 1. Adalimumab was associated with significantly higher numbers of participants not experiencing a flare during Period 2 by week 68 (107 vs 72, p<0.001) 3, and also showed significant improvements in ASAS40 (p<0.001), ASAS20 (p=0.004), and BASDAI50 (p=0.001) responses 10.

Certolizumab Pegol demonstrated significant improvements in both ASAS40 response at week 12 (47.8% vs 11.4%, p<0.001) and week 52 (56.6% vs 15.8%, p<0.001) 2. Ixekizumab showed significant improvements in ASAS40 response across multiple cohorts (p=0.009, p=0.004) and a significant reduction in ASDAS scores (p<0.001) 4. Additionally, Ixekizumab was associated with significantly higher rates of patients not experiencing a flare compared to other groups (83.3% vs 54.7%, p<0.001; 83.3% vs 83.3%; 54.7%, p=0.003) 6.

Infliximab was associated with a higher percentage of participants maintaining ASAS Partial Remission criteria at week 52 (55% vs 40%) 9. Comparison between Secukinumab and an Adalimumab-biosimilar showed significant results for ASAS40 at week 12 (46.6% vs 34.0%, p=0.029), though the difference was not statistically significant at week 24 (p=0.119) 7.

Regarding structural and local markers, Infliximab showed a change from baseline in the Sacroiliac Overall Score (-3.0; -2.0) 9. Secukinumab results for the resolution of Achilles Tendon Enthesitis did not reach statistical significance (p=0.136) 5.

Recent results — preliminary, needs further review

  • Placebo-controlled data for ASDAS-CRP response at week 6 and clinically important ASDAS-CRP scores at week 12 are currently unconfirmed 11.
  • MRE imaging findings regarding the fulfillment of ASAS, Modified New York, and CASPAR criteria in patients with evidence of axSpA are not yet corroborated 13.

For the clinician treating this condition

  • Etanercept, Adalimumab, Certolizumab Pegol, and Ixekizumab have all demonstrated statistically significant improvements in primary clinical markers including ASAS, BASDAI, and ASDAS scores.
  • Ixekizumab is associated with significantly higher rates of patients remaining flare-free compared to other treatment groups 6.
  • Infliximab showed a measurable reduction in Sacroiliac Overall Scores at week 28 9.

AI synthesis of 11 cited trials, updated Jun 28, 2026. Informational only — not medical advice; trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. How we use AI.

HCP Mode — summaries include clinical detail, trial data, and statistical outcomes.
Patient Mode — summaries use plain language, avoiding clinical jargon.
Targeting metabolic checkpoints and mechanotransduction may address structural deterioration in axial spondyloarthritis
Allergy & Immunology Sys. Review
Targeting metabolic checkpoints and mechanotransduction may address structural deterioration in axial spondyloarthritis New research identifies why current treatments fail to stop spinal damage
This narrative review explores the limitations of current anti-inflammatory therapies for axial spondyloarthritis and intervertebral disc de…
Current medications may only mask inflammation while structural damage continues. New research points toward targeting the underlying enviro…
Frontiers Jun 30, 2026
Long-term personalized exercise therapy shows potential cost-effectiveness for patients with axial spondyloarthritis
Rheumatology RCT
Long-term personalized exercise therapy shows potential cost-effectiveness for patients with axial spondyloarthritis Personalized exercise therapy shows promise for axial spondyloarthritis patients
Researchers evaluated the cost-utility of long-term, personalized exercise therapy compared to usual care in patients with axial spondyloart…
New research looks at whether personalized, long-term exercise programs are a cost-effective way to manage severe axial spondyloarthritis.
Jun 13, 2026
Biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs show reassuring malignancy safety in inflammatory arthritides, but non-melanoma skin cancer risk rises with TNF inhibitors
Allergy & Immunology Sys. Review
Biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs show reassuring malignancy safety in inflammatory arthritides, but non-melanoma skin cancer risk rises with TNF inhibitors Biologics for arthritis: Cancer risk appears low overall
This narrative review of biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs in immune-mediated inflammatory arthritides finds most therapies have reassu…
Most biologic arthritis drugs don't raise overall cancer risk, but skin cancer risk may be higher with some.
Frontiers Jun 4, 2026
Living systematic review finds low-certainty evidence that stopping csDMARDs before surgery may increase flare risk in inflammatory arthritis
Allergy & Immunology Sys. Review
Living systematic review finds low-certainty evidence that stopping csDMARDs before surgery may increase flare risk in inflammatory arthritis Stopping arthritis drugs before surgery may raise flare risk
This living systematic review evaluates perioperative management of conventional synthetic DMARDs in adults with rheumatoid arthritis, psori…
Low-certainty evidence suggests stopping certain arthritis drugs before surgery might increase the chance of a disease flare, but infection …
Cochrane May 20, 2026
Vunakizumab improves ASAS20 response in active radiographic axial spondyloarthritis at 16 weeks
Rheumatology RCT
Vunakizumab improves ASAS20 response in active radiographic axial spondyloarthritis at 16 weeks New Drug Offers Hope for Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 to 3 trial included 548 adults with active r-axSpA in China. At week 16, the vunak…
If you live with the daily stiffness and pain of ankylosing spondylitis, a new treatment option may be on the horizon that works better than…
May 8, 2026
Meta-analysis identifies genetic variants linked to inflammatory pathways in rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis
Rheumatology Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis identifies genetic variants linked to inflammatory pathways in rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis New Gene Links Found Between Two Major Joint Diseases
This meta-analysis synthesizes data from three large European cohorts to identify new overlapping and disease-specific genetic risk factors …
This study reveals how specific genes may drive both shared and unique features of two common joint diseases, opening doors for more persona…
Frontiers Apr 24, 2026

Research across Arthritis

Related studies from across the Arthritis family.

Narrative review on multi-omics for spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis
Rheumatology Sys. Review
Narrative review on multi-omics for spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis New multi-omics strategies help doctors better understand spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis conditions
This narrative review synthesizes evidence on multi-omics strategies for spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis. It argues that integrati…
Doctors are using advanced genetic and protein tests to study spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis. These new methods help find better …
Frontiers May 12, 2026

Questions about axial spondyloarthritis

Are there specific genetic variants linked to axial spondyloarthritis?

Yes, several genetic variants are linked to axial spondyloarthritis, most notably HLA-B27, and a 2026 meta-analysis identified additional risk and protective variants in genes like BTN2A1, IKZF1, and HTT.

Full answer →
Do TNF inhibitors increase the risk of skin cancer in axial spondyloarthritis?

TNF inhibitors are linked to a small increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in axial spondyloarthritis, but overall cancer risk appears reassuring.

Full answer →
Does vunakizumab improve symptoms in patients with active axial spondyloarthritis?

Yes, vunakizumab improves symptoms in active radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, with a 2026 trial showing significantly more patients achieving ASAS20 response at 16 weeks compared to placebo.

Full answer →
Is personalized exercise therapy cost-effective for people with axial spondyloarthritis?

Yes, long-term personalized exercise therapy appears potentially cost-effective for axial spondyloarthritis patients with severe functional limitations, though upfront costs are higher than usual care.

Full answer →