 - Clinical endpoints: The secondary efficacy measures were the following: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index BASFI , Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index BASMI, ASAS Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis Working Group core set of domains, Spinal pain VAS, ESR, CRP and the percentage of patients achieving 20 or greater decrease in each of these parameters. These parameters were determined at T0, T3, T6, T12 or at the time of premature withdrawal in case of drop-out. The spinal pain assessed by VAS was also done at screening. 