Study to Demonstrate the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of an Intravenous Regimen of Secukinumab Compared to Placebo in Subjects With Active axSpA

1. Subjects with total ankylosis of the spine

2. Chest x-ray or MRI with evidence of ongoing infectious or malignant process obtained within 3 months of screening and evaluated by a qualified physician

3. Subjects taking moderate and high potency opioid analgesics (e.g. methadone, hydromorphone, morphine)

4. Presence of significant medical problems which at investigator's discretion, will prevent the subject from participating in the study, including but not limited to the following: Subjects with severely reduced kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<29 ml/min/1.73m2), history of renal trauma, glomerulonephritis, or patients with one kidney only, or a serum creatinine level exceeding 1.5 mg/dl (132.6 μmol/L)

5. Any therapy by intra-articular injections (e.g. corticosteroid) within 4 weeks before Randomization

6. Underlying conditions (including, but not limited to metabolic, hematologic, renal, hepatic, pulmonary, neurologic, endocrine, cardiac, infectious or gastrointestinal) which in the opinion of the investigator significantly immunocompromises the subject and/or places the subject at unacceptable risk for receiving an immunomodulatory therapy

7. Any medical or psychiatric condition which, in the Investigator's opinion, would preclude the participant from adhering to the protocol or completing the study per protocol

8. Active systemic infections during the last two weeks (exception: common cold) prior to randomization or any infection that reoccurs on a regular basis

9. History of ongoing, chronic or recurrent infectious disease or evidence of tuberculosis infection as defined by either a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test (the size of induration will be measured after 48-72 hours, and a positive result is defined as an induration of ≥ 5 mm or according to local practice/guidelines) or a positive QuantiFERON TB-Gold test as indicated in the assessment schedule in Table 8-1. Subjects with a positive test may participate in the study if further work up (according to local practice/guidelines) establishes conclusively that the subject has no evidence of active tuberculosis. If presence of latent tuberculosis is established, then treatment according to local country guidelines must have been initiated

10. Past medical history of infection with HIV or hepatitis B prior to randomization or active infection or on treatment for Hepatitis C at randomization

11. History of lymphoproliferative disease or any known malignancy, or history of malignancy of any organ system treated or untreated within the past 5 years, regardless of whether there is evidence of local recurrence or metastases (except for skin Bowen's disease, or basal cell carcinoma or actinic keratoses that have been treated with no evidence of recurrence in the past 12 weeks; carcinoma in situ of the cervix or non-invasive malignant colon polyps that have been removed)

12. Use or planned use of prohibited concomitant medication (see Section 6.2.2)

13. Inability or unwillingness to undergo repeated venipuncture (e.g., because of poor tolerability or lack of access to veins)

14. Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women, where pregnancy is defined as the state of a female after conception and until the termination of gestation, confirmed by a positive hCG laboratory test

15. History or evidence of ongoing alcohol or drug abuse, within the last six months before randomization

16. Screening total WBC count \<3,000/μl, or platelets \<100,000/μl or neutrophils \<1,500/μl or hemoglobin \<8.5 g/dl (85 g/L)

17. History of clinically significant liver disease or liver injury indicated by abnormal liver function tests, such as SGOT (AST), SGPT (ALT), alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin. The investigator should be guided by the following criteria:

* Any single parameter may not exceed 2 x the upper limit of normal (ULN). A single parameter elevated up to and including 2 x ULN should be re-checked once more as soon as possible, and in all cases, at least prior to randomization, to rule-out laboratory error.

* If the total bilirubin concentration is increased above 2 x ULN, total bilirubin should be differentiated into the direct and indirect reacting bilirubin. In any case, serum bilirubin should not exceed the value of 1.6 mg/dL (27 µmol/L)

18. Significant medical problems or diseases, including but not limited to the following:

uncontrolled hypertension (≥160/95 mmHg), congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association status of class III or IV), uncontrolled diabetes, or very poor functional status precluding ability to perform self-care

19. Plans for administration of live vaccines during the study period or within 6 weeks prior to randomization

20. Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they are using effective methods of contraception during the entire study or longer if required by locally approved prescribing information (e.g., 20 weeks in EU). Effective contraception methods include:

* Total abstinence (when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception

* Female sterilization (have had surgical bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy) or tubal ligation at least six weeks before taking study treatment. In case of oophorectomy alone, only when the reproductive status of the woman has been confirmed by follow up hormone level assessment

* Male sterilization (at least 6 months prior to screening). For female subjects on the study, the vasectomized male partner should be the sole partner for that subject

* Barrier methods of contraception: Condom or Occlusive cap (diaphragm or cervical/vault caps). For UK: with spermicidal foam/gel/film/cream/ vaginal suppository

* Use of oral, injected or implanted hormonal methods of contraception or other forms of hormonal contraception that have comparable efficacy (failure rate \<1%), for example hormone vaginal ring or transdermal hormone contraception

* Placement of an intrauterine device or intrauterine system In case of use of oral contraception women should have been stable on the same pill for a minimum of 3 months before taking study treatment.

Women are considered post-menopausal and not of child bearing potential if they have had 12 months of natural (spontaneous) amenorrhea with an appropriate clinical profile (e.g., age appropriate, history of vasomotor symptoms) or have had surgical bilateral oophorectomy (with or without hysterectomy) or tubal ligation at least six weeks prior to randomization. In the case of oophorectomy alone, only when the reproductive status of the woman has been confirmed by follow up hormone level assessment is she considered not of childbearing potential.

21. Active ongoing inflammatory diseases other than axSpA that might confound the evaluation of the benefits of secukinumab therapy, including inflammatory bowel disease or uveitis

22. Current severe progressive or uncontrolled disease which in the judgment of the clinical investigator renders the subject unsuitable for the trial

23. Use of other investigational drugs at the time of enrollment, or within 5 half- lives of enrollment, or within 4 weeks until the expected pharmacodynamic effect has returned to baseline, whichever is longer; or longer if required by local regulations

24. History of hypersensitivity to any of the study drug constituents

25. Previous exposure to secukinumab (AIN457) or any other biologic drug directly targeting IL-17 or the IL-17 receptor

26. Previous treatment with any cell-depleting therapies including but not limited to anti-CD20 or investigational agents (e.g., CAMPATH, anti-CD4, anti-CD5, anti-CD3, anti-CD19)

What this study is about