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Phuah JY, Maas BM, Tang A, Zhang Y, Caro L, Railkar RA, Swanson MD, Cao Y, Li H, Roadcap B, Catchpole AP, Aliprantis AO, Vora KA. Quantification of clesrovimab, an investigational, half-life extended, anti-respiratory syncytial virus protein F human monoclonal antibody in the nasal epithelial lining fluid of healthy adults. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 169:115851. [PMID: 37976891 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clesrovimab (MK-1654) is an investigational, half-life extended human monoclonal antibody (mAb) against RSV F glycoprotein in clinical trials as a prophylactic agent against RSV infection for infants. METHODS This adult study measured clesrovimab concentrations in the serum and nasal epithelial lining fluid (ELF) to establish the partitioning of the antibody after dosing. Clesrovimab concentrations in the nasal ELF were normalized for sampling dilution using urea concentrations from ELF and serum. Furthermore, in vitro RSV neutralization of human nasal ELF following dosing was also measured to examine the activity of clesrovimab in the nasal compartment. FINDINGS mAbs with YTE mutations are reported in literature to partition ∼1-2 % of serum antibodies into nasal mucosa. Nasal: serum ratios of 1:69-1:30 were observed for clesrovimab in two separate adult human trials after urea normalization, translating to 1.4-3.3 % of serum concentrations. The nasal PK and estimates of peripheral volume of distribution correlated with higher extravascular distribution of clesrovimab. These higher concentration of the antibody in the nasal ELF corroborated with the nasal sample's ability to neutralize RSV ex vivo. An overall trend of decreased viral plaque AUC was also noted with increasing availability of clesrovimab in the nasal ELF from a human RSV challenge study. INTERPRETATION Along with its extended half-life, the higher penetration of clesrovimab into the nasal epithelial lining fluid and the associated local increase in RSV neutralization activity could offer infants better protection against RSV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yu Cao
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
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Xu W, Maas B, Roadcap B, Swarup A, Steinmetz T, Luo L, Ichetovkin M, Wood S, Vazvaei-Smith F, Lee AWT, Vora K, Helmy R. Neutralization Activity of Anti-drug Antibodies Against a Biotherapeutic Can Be Predicted from a Comprehensive Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Anti-drug Antibody Data Analysis. AAPS J 2022; 24:102. [PMID: 36167856 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-022-00753-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Historically, a neutralization antibody (NAb) assay is considered critical in immunogenicity assessment of biologic therapeutics, even with low anti-drug antibody (ADA) positive rates. In 2019, FDA new guidelines issued on immunogenicity testing acknowledged the possibility of using "a highly sensitive PD marker or an appropriately designed PK assay or both that generate data that inform clinical activity" to replace a NAb assay. In the current manuscript, we present data for PK, PD, and ADA assays which collectively succeed to replace the standalone NAb assay. The data include a total LC/MS-based PK assay, a serum neutralization antibody (SNA) assay that essentially measures pharmacodynamically functional PK and can detect NAb activity in the presence of 1:1 ratio of drug, and a highly drug-tolerant ADA assay. In addition, a model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) demonstrated that the ability of SNA assay to detect NAb at 1:1 ratio of drug is sensitive enough to monitor clinically meaningful efficacy change, which is 50% reduction of SNA titer. Our strategy of preparing a holistic data package discussed here may provide a roadmap to the community for alternatives in assaying neutralizing activity of ADA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng Xu
- Preclinical Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA. .,Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania, 19486, USA.
| | - Brian Maas
- Preclinical Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Brad Roadcap
- Preclinical Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Aparna Swarup
- Preclinical Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Thomas Steinmetz
- Preclinical Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Linlin Luo
- Preclinical Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Sandra Wood
- Global Regulatory Liaison, Vaccines and Infectious Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | - Kalpit Vora
- Biology Discovery, Infectious Disease/Vaccine, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Roy Helmy
- Preclinical Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
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Anderson M, Dockendorf MF, McIntosh I, Xie I, Breidinger S, Meng D, Ren S, Zhong W, Zhang L, Roadcap B, Bateman KP, Stone J, Woolf E. An Investigation of Instability in Dried Blood Spot Samples for Pharmacokinetic Sampling in Phase 3 Trials of Verubecestat. AAPS J 2022; 24:52. [PMID: 35384529 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-022-00683-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In-clinic dried blood spot (DBS) pharmacokinetic (PK) sampling was incorporated into two phase 3 studies of verubecestat for Alzheimer's disease (EPOCH [NCT01739348] and APECS [NCT01953601]), as a potential alternative to plasma PK sampling for improved logistical feasibility and decreased blood volume burden. However, an interim PK analysis revealed verubecestat concentrations in DBS samples declined with time to assay in both trials. An investigation revealed wide variation in implementation practices for DBS sample handling procedures resulting in insufficient desiccation which caused verubecestat instability. High-resolution mass spectrometry evaluations of stressed and aged verubecestat DBS samples revealed the presence of two hydrolysis degradants. To minimize instability, new DBS handling procedures were implemented that provided additional desiccant and minimized the time to analysis. Both verubecestat hydrolysis products were previously discovered and synthesized during active pharmaceutical ingredient stability characterization. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay to quantitate the dominant verubecestat degradant in DBS samples was developed and validated. The application of this method to stressed and aged verubecestat DBS samples confirmed that degradant concentrations accounted for the observed decreases in the verubecestat concentration. Furthermore, after increasing desiccant amounts, degradant concentrations accounted for approximately 7% of the verubecestat concentration in DBS clinical samples, indicating that issues with sample handling were minimized with new storage and shipping conditions. This case study illustrates the challenges with employing new sampling techniques in large, global trials, and the importance of anticipating and mitigating implementation risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Anderson
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA.
| | - Marissa F Dockendorf
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ian McIntosh
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Iris Xie
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sheila Breidinger
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Dongfang Meng
- Process Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sumei Ren
- SM PR&D, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Wendy Zhong
- Analytical Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Analytical Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Brad Roadcap
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kevin P Bateman
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Julie Stone
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Eric Woolf
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
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Maas BM, Lommerse J, Plock N, Railkar R, Amy Cheung SY, Caro L, Chen J, Liu W, Zhang Y, Huang Q, Gao W, Qin L, Meng J, Witjes H, Schindler E, Guiastrennec B, Bellanti F, Spellman D, Roadcap B, Kalinova M, Fok-Seang J, Catchpole AP, Espeseth A, Aubrey Stoch S, Lai E, Vora KA, Aliprantis AO, Sachs JR. 998. Forward and Reverse Translational Approaches to Predict Efficacy of the Neutralizing Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Antibody MK-1654. Open Forum Infect Dis 2021. [PMCID: PMC8644347 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab466.1192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MK-1654 is a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F glycoprotein neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) with an extended half-life in late development to prevent RSV infection in infants. Neutralizing mAbs, like MK-1654, have great potential for prophylaxis against viral infection. However, well-validated approaches for clinical dose and efficacy predictions are lacking. Methods Summary-level literature data from RSV prevention studies were used in a model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) to describe the relationship between RSV incidence rates and serum neutralizing antibody (SNA) titer. The model was validated using viral challenge experiments in cotton rats and phase 3 RSV-A efficacy results in infants for an anti-RSV F mAb, REGN-2222. A phase 2b human RSV challenge study (HCS) in adults was also conducted with MK-1654. Participants (N=70) received 100, 200, 300, or 900 mg of MK-1564 or placebo and were challenged intranasally with RSV 29 days later. RSV viral load and symptomatic infection were monitored. Data from the HCS were compared to model predictions. The MBMA was used to predict efficacy of MK-1654 in a virtual population of pre- and full- term infants. Results The relationship between SNA titer and RSV incidence rate defined using the viral load data from the cotton rat approximated the relationship identified for infants from the clinical MBMA. The MBMA was quantitatively consistent with the phase 3 efficacy results against RSV A for REGN-2222. In the HCS, RSV nasal viral load measured by RT-qPCR and quantitative culture as well as symptomatic infections were decreased in MK-1654 recipients compared to placebo. Incidence rates of RSV infection in the HCS were also consistent with MBMA predictions. The model-based clinical trial simulations for MK-1654 indicated a high probability of substantial efficacy against RSV-associated medically attended lower respiratory tract infection ( >75% for 5 months) for doses ≥75 mg. Conclusion Our MBMA successfully quantified the relationship between RSV SNA and clinically relevant endpoints, including lower respiratory tract infection in infants. MBMA-based efficacy predictions support continued development of the MK-1654 antibody for the prevention of RSV in infants. Disclosures Brian M. Maas, PharmD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Jos Lommerse, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Nele Plock, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Radha Railkar, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) S. Y. Amy Cheung, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder) Luzelena Caro, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Jingxian Chen, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Wen Liu, MPH, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Ying Zhang, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Qinlei Huang, MS, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Wei Gao, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Li Qin, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Jie Meng, MSc, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Han Witjes, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Emilie Schindler, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Benjamin Guiastrennec, PharmD, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Francesco Bellanti, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Daniel Spellman, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Brad Roadcap, MS, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Amy Espeseth, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) S. Aubrey Stoch, MD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Eseng Lai, MD, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Kalpit A. Vora, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Antonios O. Aliprantis, MD, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Jeffrey R. Sachs, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder)
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wen Liu
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Ying Zhang
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | | | - Wei Gao
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Li Qin
- Certara, Princeton, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Eseng Lai
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
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Maas BM, Lommerse J, Plock N, Railkar RA, Cheung SYA, Caro L, Chen J, Liu W, Zhang Y, Huang Q, Gao W, Qin L, Meng J, Witjes H, Schindler E, Guiastrennec B, Bellanti F, Spellman DS, Roadcap B, Kalinova M, Fok-Seang J, Catchpole AP, Espeseth AS, Stoch SA, Lai E, Vora KA, Aliprantis AO, Sachs JR. Forward and reverse translational approaches to predict efficacy of neutralizing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antibody prophylaxis. EBioMedicine 2021; 73:103651. [PMID: 34775220 PMCID: PMC8603022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neutralizing mAbs can prevent communicable viral diseases. MK-1654 is a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F glycoprotein neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) under development to prevent RSV infection in infants. Development and validation of methods to predict efficacious doses of neutralizing antibodies across patient populations exposed to a time-varying force of infection (i.e., seasonal variation) are necessary. METHODS Five decades of clinical trial literature were leveraged to build a model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) describing the relationship between RSV serum neutralizing activity (SNA) and clinical endpoints. The MBMA was validated by backward translation to animal challenge experiments and forward translation to predict results of a recent RSV mAb trial. MBMA predictions were evaluated against a human trial of 70 participants who received either placebo or one of four dose-levels of MK-1654 and were challenged with RSV [NCT04086472]. The MBMA was used to perform clinical trial simulations and predict efficacy of MK-1654 in the infant target population. FINDINGS The MBMA established a quantitative relationship between RSV SNA and clinical endpoints. This relationship was quantitatively consistent with animal model challenge experiments and results of a recently published clinical trial. Additionally, SNA elicited by increasing doses of MK-1654 in humans reduced RSV symptomatic infection rates with a quantitative relationship that approximated the MBMA. The MBMA indicated a high probability that a single dose of ≥ 75 mg of MK-1654 will result in prophylactic efficacy (> 75% for 5 months) in infants. INTERPRETATION An MBMA approach can predict efficacy of neutralizing antibodies against RSV and potentially other respiratory pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Maas
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Jos Lommerse
- Certara, 100 Overlook Center STE 101, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Nele Plock
- Certara, 100 Overlook Center STE 101, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Radha A Railkar
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - S Y Amy Cheung
- Certara, 100 Overlook Center STE 101, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Luzelena Caro
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Jingxian Chen
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Wen Liu
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Qinlei Huang
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Wei Gao
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Li Qin
- Certara, 100 Overlook Center STE 101, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Jie Meng
- Certara, 100 Overlook Center STE 101, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Han Witjes
- Certara, 100 Overlook Center STE 101, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | | | | | | | - Daniel S Spellman
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Brad Roadcap
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | | | | | | | - Amy S Espeseth
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - S Aubrey Stoch
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Eseng Lai
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Kalpit A Vora
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey R Sachs
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
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Mitra A, Leyes A, Manser K, Roadcap B, Mestre C, Tatosian D, Jin L, Uemura N. Use of minipig skin biopsy model as an innovative tool to design topical formulation to achieve desired pharmacokinetics in humans. J Pharm Sci 2015; 104:1701-8. [PMID: 25691117 DOI: 10.1002/jps.24383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Revised: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In vitro cadaver skin permeation studies are often conducted to characterize the permeation profile of compounds for dermal delivery. However, its utility could be limited in the case of topical products because of lack of reliable prediction of in vivo skin kinetics. In this paper, the use of in vivo skin biopsy data to guide topical formulation development is described. A formulation was developed by compounding MK-0873, a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, into a commercially available cream base. The cream was characterized by skin pharmacokinetic studies in minipigs, which demonstrated that MK-0873 concentrations in the epidermis and dermis were substantially higher than the IC80 for human whole blood PDE4 inhibition of ∼200 nM, suggesting that cream should provide sufficient skin exposure to assess clinical efficacy. In toxicological studies, after 1 month repeat application in minipigs minor dermal irritation and minimal systemic exposure were observed. Based on these preclinical data, the cream formulation was chosen for single rising dose clinical studies, where plasma levels of MK-0873 were mostly below the LOQ, whereas skin biopsy concentrations ranged from 6.5 to 25.1 μM. These data suggested that minipig skin biopsy model can be a valuable tool to assess performance of topical formulations and guide formulation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitava Mitra
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co. Inc
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Krishna R, Bergman AJ, Jin B, Garg A, Roadcap B, Chiou R, Dru J, Cote J, Laethem T, Wang RW, Didolkar V, Vets E, Gottesdiener K, Wagner JA. Assessment of the CYP3A-Mediated Drug Interaction Potential of Anacetrapib, a Potent Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) Inhibitor, in Healthy Volunteers. J Clin Pharmacol 2013; 49:80-7. [DOI: 10.1177/0091270008326718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Migoya EM, Bergman A, Hreniuk D, Matthews N, Yi B, Roadcap B, Valesky R, Liu L, Riffel K, Groff M, Zhao JJ, Musson DG, Gambale J, Kosoglou T, Statkevich P, Lasseter KC, Laurent A, Johnson-Levonas AO, Murphy G, Gottesdiener K, Paolini JF. Bioequivalence of an ezetimibe/simvastatin combination tablet and coadministration of ezetimibe and simvastatin as separate tablets in healthy subjects. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2006; 44:83-92. [PMID: 16502768 DOI: 10.5414/cpp44083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the bioequivalence of an ezetimibe/simvastatin (EZE/SIMVA) combination tablet compared to the coadministration of ezetimibe and simvastatin as separate tablets (EZE + SIMVA). METHODS In this open-label, randomized, 2-part, 2-period crossover study, 96 healthy subjects were randomly assigned to participate in each part of the study (Part I or II), with each part consisting of 2 single-dose treatment periods separated by a 14-day washout. Part I consisted of Treatments A (EZE 10 mg + SIMVA 10 mg) and B (EZE/SIMVA 10/10 mg/mg) and Part II consisted of Treatments C (EZE 10 mg + SIMVA 80 mg) and D (EZE/SIMVA 10/80 mg/mg). Blood samples were collected up to 96 hours post-dose for determination of ezetimibe, total ezetimibe (ezetimibe + ezetimibe glucuronide), simvastatin and simvastatin acid (the most prevalent active metabolite of simvastatin) concentrations. Ezetimibe and simvastatin acid AUC(0-last) were predefined as primary endpoints and ezetimibe and simvastatin acid Cmax were secondary endpoints. Bioequivalence was achieved if 90% confidence intervals (CI) for the geometric mean ratios (GMR) (single tablet/coadministration) of AUC(0-last) and Cmax fell within prespecified bounds of (0.80, 1.25). RESULTS The GMRs of the AUC(0-last) and Cmax for ezetimibe and simvastatin acid fell within the bioequivalence limits (0.80, 1.25). EZE/ SIMVA and EZE + SIMVA were generally well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS The lowest and highest dosage strengths of EZE/SIMVA tablet were bioequivalent to the individual drug components administered together. Given the exact weight multiples of the EZE/SIMVA tablet and linear pharmacokinetics of simvastatin across the marketed dose range, bioequivalence of the intermediate tablet strengths (EZE/SIMVA 10/20 mg/mg and EZE/SIMVA 10/40 mg/mg) was inferred, although these dosages were not tested directly. These results indicate that the safety and efficacy profile of EZE + SIMVA coadministration therapy can be applied to treatment with the EZE/SIMVA tablet across the clinical dose range.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Migoya
- Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065-0900, USA.
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