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Maas BM, Strizki J, Miller RR, Kumar S, Brown M, Johnson MG, Cheng M, De Anda C, Rizk ML, Stone JA. Molnupiravir: Mechanism of action, clinical, and translational science. Clin Transl Sci 2024; 17:e13732. [PMID: 38593352 PMCID: PMC10851176 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Molnupiravir is an oral prodrug of the broadly active, antiviral ribonucleoside analog N-hydroxycytidine (NHC). The primary circulating metabolite NHC is taken up into cells and phosphorylated to NHC-triphosphate (NHC-TP). NHC-TP serves as a competitive substrate for viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which results in an accumulation of errors in the viral genome, rendering virus replication incompetent. Molnupiravir has demonstrated activity against SARS-CoV-2 both clinically and preclinically and has a high barrier to development of viral resistance. Little to no molnupiravir is observed in plasma due to rapid hydrolysis to NHC. Maximum concentrations of NHC are reached at 1.5 h following administration in a fasted state. The effective half-life of NHC is 3.3 h, reflecting minimal accumulation in the plasma following twice-daily (Q12H) dosing. The terminal half-life of NHC is 20.6 h. NHC-TP exhibits a flatter profile with a lower peak-to-trough ratio compared with NHC, which supports Q12H dosing. Renal and hepatic pathways are not major routes of elimination, as NHC is primarily cleared by metabolism to uridine and cytidine, which then mix with the endogenous nucleotide pools. In a phase III study of nonhospitalized patients with COVID-19 (MOVe-OUT), 5 days of treatment with 800 mg molnupiravir Q12H significantly reduced the incidence of hospitalization or death compared with placebo. Patients treated with molnupiravir also had a greater reduction in SARS-CoV-2 viral load and improved clinical outcomes, compared with those receiving placebo. The clinical effectiveness of molnupiravir has been further demonstrated in several real-world evidence studies. Molnupiravir is currently authorized or approved in more than 25 countries.
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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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3
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Bihorel S, Cao Y, Chawla A, Birger R, Maas BM, Gao W, Roepcke S, Sardella S, Humphrey R, Kondragunta S, Jayaraman B, Martinho M, Painter W, Painter G, Holman W, De Anda C, Brown ML, Johnson MG, Paschke A, Rizk ML, Stone JA. Population pharmacokinetics of molnupiravir in adults with COVID-19: Lack of clinically important exposure variation across individuals. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol 2023; 12:1859-1871. [PMID: 37798914 PMCID: PMC10725262 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.13031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective antiviral treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are needed to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, particularly in patients with risk factors for severe disease. Molnupiravir (MK-4482, EIDD-2801) is an orally administered, ribonucleoside prodrug of β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) with submicromolar potency against SARS-CoV-2. A population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) analysis for molnupiravir exposure was conducted using 4202 NHC plasma concentrations collected in 1207 individuals from a phase I trial in healthy participants, a phase IIa trial in non-hospitalized participants with COVID-19, a phase II trial in hospitalized participants with COVID-19, and a phase II/III trial in non-hospitalized participants with COVID-19. Molnupiravir pharmacokinetics (PK) was best described by a two-compartment model with a transit-compartment absorption model and linear elimination. Molnupiravir apparent elimination clearance increased with body weight less-than-proportionally (power 0.412) and was estimated as 70.6 L/h in 80-kg individuals with a moderate interindividual variability (43.4% coefficient of variation). Additionally, effects of sex and body mass index on apparent central volume and food status and formulation on the absorption mean transit time were identified as statistically significant descriptors of variability in these PK parameters. However, none of the identified covariate effects caused clinically relevant changes in the area under the NHC concentration versus time curve between doses, the exposure metric most closely related to clinical response. Overall, the PopPK model indicates that molnupiravir can be administered in adults without dose adjustment based on age, sex, body size, food, and mild-to-moderate renal or mild hepatic impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Bihorel
- Simulation Plus, Cognigen DivisionBuffaloNew YorkUSA
- Present address:
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.TarrytownNew YorkUSA
| | - Youfang Cao
- Merck & Co., Inc.RahwayNew JerseyUSA
- Present address:
Eisai Inc.NutleyNew JerseyUSA
| | | | | | | | - Wei Gao
- Merck & Co., Inc.RahwayNew JerseyUSA
- Present address:
EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc.BillericaMassachusettsUSA
| | | | | | | | - Sindhuri Kondragunta
- Simulation Plus, Cognigen DivisionBuffaloNew YorkUSA
- Present address:
CertaraPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | | | | | | | - George Painter
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical BiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
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Iwamoto M, Duncan KE, Wickremasingha PK, Zhao T, Liberti MV, Lemoine L, Decaesteker T, Rottey S, Maas BM, Gillespie G, Stoch SA. Assessment of pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability following twice-daily administration of molnupiravir for 10 days in healthy participants. Clin Transl Sci 2023; 16:1947-1956. [PMID: 37526305 PMCID: PMC10582664 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Molnupiravir is an orally administered, small-molecule ribonucleoside prodrug of β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) that has demonstrated potent, broad-spectrum preclinical activity against RNA viruses and has a high barrier to the development of resistance. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase I trial was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PKs), safety, and tolerability of 10.5-day administration of multiple doses of molnupiravir and its metabolites in healthy, adult participants. Participants were randomly assigned (3:1) to receive molnupiravir (400 mg [n = 6], 600 mg [n = 6], and 800 mg [n = 12]) or matching placebo (n = 8) every 12 h (q12h) for 10.5 days. Blood was collected to evaluate the PKs of NHC in plasma and of its active metabolite, NHC-triphosphate (NHC-TP), in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Molnupiravir was generally well-tolerated. All adverse events were mild or moderate in severity and none led to treatment discontinuation. No clinically meaningful dose-related safety findings were observed. Mean time to maximal concentration was ~1.50 to 1.98 h for plasma NHC and ~4.00 to 8.06 h for PBMC NHC-TP. Accumulation was minimal (<1.2) for NHC and ~2- to 2.5-fold for NHC-TP. Plasma NHC PKs was generally dose proportional, and PBMC NHC-TP PKs was less than dose proportional over the dose range studied. NHC and NHC-TP PK support twice-daily administration. Overall, molnupiravir administered at up to 800 mg q12h for 10.5 days was generally well-tolerated in healthy participants with dose-linear PKs, supporting the evaluation of longer molnupiravir dosing up to 10 days in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tian Zhao
- Merck & Co., Inc.RahwayNew JerseyUSA
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5
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Chawla A, Birger R, Wan H, Cao Y, Maas BM, Paschke A, De Anda C, Rizk ML, Stone JA. Factors Influencing COVID-19 Risk: Insights from Molnupiravir Exposure-Response Modeling of Clinical Outcomes. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2023; 113:1337-1345. [PMID: 37017631 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Molnupiravir (MOV) is an oral antiviral for the treatment of COVID-19 in outpatient settings. This analysis investigated the relationship between β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) pharmacokinetics (PK) and clinical outcomes in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 in the Phase 3 part of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled MOVe-OUT trial. Logistic regression models of the dependency of outcomes on exposures and covariates were constructed using a multi-step process. Influential covariates were identified first using placebo arm data, followed by assessment of exposure-dependency in drug effect using data from both the placebo and MOV arms. The exposure-response (E-R) analysis included 1,313 participants; 630 received MOV and 683 received placebo. Baseline viral load, baseline disease severity, age, weight, viral clade, active cancer, and diabetes were identified as significant determinants of response using placebo data. Absolute measures of viral load on days 5 and 10 were strong on-treatment predictors of hospitalization. An additive area under the curve (AUC)-based Emax model with a fixed Hill coefficient of 1 best represented the exposure-dependency in drug effect and the AUC50 was estimated to be 19,900 nM*hr. Patients at 800 mg achieved near maximal response which was larger than for 200 or 400 mg. The final E-R model was externally validated and predicted that the relative reduction in hospitalization with MOV treatment would vary with patient characteristics and factors in the population. In conclusion, the E-R results support the MOV dose of 800 mg twice daily to treat COVID-19. Many patient characteristics and factors impacted outcomes beyond drug exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hong Wan
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
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6
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Nakamura K, Fujimoto K, Hasegawa C, Aoki I, Yoshitsugu H, Ugai H, Yatsuzuka N, Tanaka Y, Furihata K, Maas BM, Wickremasingha PK, Duncan KE, Iwamoto M, Stoch SA, Uemura N. A phase I, randomized, placebo-controlled study of molnupiravir in healthy Japanese to support special approval in Japan to treat COVID-19. Clin Transl Sci 2022; 15:2697-2708. [PMID: 36053806 PMCID: PMC9538808 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13395] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Molnupiravir (MK-4482) is an oral prodrug of the antiviral ribonucleoside analog, N-hydroxycytidine (NHC), which has activity against RNA viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We conducted a phase I safety and pharmacokinetic study of molnupiravir in healthy Japanese adult participants. A sample size larger than typically used in pharmacokinetic studies was implemented to collect additional safety data in the Japanese population to support special approval for emergency use in Japan. Single doses of molnupiravir up to 1600 mg and multiple doses of 400 and 800 mg administered every 12 h (q12h) for 5.5 days were generally well-tolerated. NHC appeared rapidly in plasma and reached maximum concentration (Cmax ), with a median time to Cmax (Tmax ) between 1.00 and 2.00 h. Area under the concentration versus time curve from zero to infinity (AUC0-inf ), area under the concentration versus time curve from zero to 12 h (AUC0-12 ), and Cmax of plasma NHC increased approximately dose proportionally. With q12h dosing, the geometric mean (GM) accumulation ratios for NHC AUC0-12 and Cmax were ~1 for 400 and 800 mg. Pharmacokinetics of NHC triphosphate (NHC-TP), the active metabolite of NHC was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and also demonstrated roughly dose proportional pharmacokinetics. The GM accumulation ratios for NHC-TP AUC0-12 and Cmax were ~2.5 for 400 and 800 mg. Following administration with food, only a modest reduction (24%) in plasma NHC Cmax with comparable AUC0-inf was seen, supporting administration without regard to food.
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Orito Y, Otani N, Matsumoto Y, Fujimoto K, Oshima N, Maas BM, Caro L, Aliprantis AO, Cox KS, Tokumaru O, Kodama M, Kudo H, Imai H, Uemura N. A Phase 1 Study to Evaluate Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody MK-1654 in Healthy Japanese Adults. Clin Transl Sci 2022; 15:1753-1763. [PMID: 35506164 PMCID: PMC9283748 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection among all infants worldwide and remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. To address this unmet medical need, MK‐1654, a half‐life extended RSV neutralizing monoclonal antibody, is in clinical development for the prevention of RSV disease in infants. This was a phase I, randomized, placebo‐controlled, single‐site, double‐blind trial of MK‐1654 in 44 healthy Japanese adults. The safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, antidrug antibodies (ADAs), and serum neutralizing antibody (SNA) titers against RSV were evaluated for 1 year after a single intramuscular (i.m.) or intravenous (i.v.) dose of MK‐1654 or placebo in five groups (100 mg i.m., 300 mg i.m., 300 mg i.v., 1000 mg i.v., or placebo). MK‐1654 was generally well‐tolerated in Japanese adults. There were no serious drug‐related adverse events (AEs) reported in any MK‐1654 recipient and no discontinuations due to any AEs in the study. The half‐life of MK‐1654 ranged from 76 to 91 days across dosing groups. Estimated bioavailability was 86% for 100 mg i.m. and 77% for 300 mg i.m. One participant out of 33 (3.0%) developed detectable ADA with no apparent associated AEs. The RSV SNA titers increased in a dose‐dependent manner among participants who received MK‐1654. These data support the development of MK‐1654 for use in Japanese infants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Antonios O Aliprantis
- Merck and Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.,Present address: Flagship Pioneering, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kara S Cox
- Merck and Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
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Plock N, Lommerse J, Maas BM, Chen J, Bellanti F, Qin L, Witjes H, Pierrillas P, Railkar R, Aliprantis AO, Vora KA, Gao W, Caro L, Amy Cheung SY, Sachs JR. 1013. Predicting RSV Efficacy for MK-1654 in Temperate and Tropical Climates using MBMA and Clinical Trial Simulation to Account for Seasonal Differences in RSV Force-of-Infection. Open Forum Infect Dis 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab466.1207] [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: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
MK-1654 is a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F glycoprotein neutralizing monoclonal antibody under development to prevent RSV infection in infants. A model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) describing the relationship between RSV serum neutralizing activity (SNA) and clinically relevant endpoints (e.g. incidence rates) in humans, including lower respiratory tract infection (LRI) in infants, was presented previously. This model accounted for variable exposure to RSV over the course of the season through a force-of-infection (FOI) function modulating the overall risk of RSV infection over time. The objective of the current work was to determine whether variations in regional seasonality would impact the efficacy of a clinical trial evaluating MK-1654.
Methods
A FOI function to describe the degree of RSV exposure as a function of time was created by fitting epidemiological data to a Gaussian function added to a constant baseline value. Clinical trial simulations were conducted using the MBMA to predict seasonal incidence rates (IR) of RSV medically attended lower-respiratory tract infection (MALRI) and efficacies for a range of MK-1654 doses in both temperate and tropical regions.
Results
Epidemiological data was well captured by the FOI function. Clinical trial simulations indicated that seasonal IRs of RSV were sensitive to differences in the FOI represented by temperate and tropical regions; however, there was no substantial impact on efficacies across MK-1654 dose levels. Consistent with predictions for a temperate climate, MK-1654, when administered at the start of the RSV season in a region with a tropical climate, was also predicted to maintain high efficacy ( > 75%) for the prevention of RSV MALRI for 150 days.
Conclusion
Simulations indicated that while FOI is a substantial driver of overall RSV incidence rates, MK-1654 efficacy in a late-stage clinical trial is likely to be high, regardless of regional variations in RSV.
Disclosures
Nele Plock, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Jos Lommerse, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Brian M. Maas, PharmD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Jingxian Chen, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Francesco Bellanti, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Li Qin, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Han Witjes, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Philippe Pierrillas, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder)Merck & Co., Inc. (Independent Contractor) Radha Railkar, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Antonios O. Aliprantis, MD, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Kalpit A. Vora, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Wei Gao, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Luzelena Caro, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) S. Y. Amy Cheung, PhD, Certara (Employee, Shareholder) Jeffrey R. Sachs, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder)
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Li Qin
- Certara, Princeton, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Wei Gao
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
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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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Aliprantis AO, Wolford D, Caro L, Maas BM, Ma H, Montgomery DL, Sterling LM, Hunt A, Cox KS, Vora KA, Roadcap BA, Railkar RA, Lee AW, Stoch SA, Lai E. A Phase 1 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody MK-1654 in Healthy Adults. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2020; 10:556-566. [PMID: 33125189 DOI: 10.1002/cpdd.883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection and related morbidity and mortality in infants. Passive immunization with an RSV-neutralizing antibody can provide rapid protection to this vulnerable population. Proof-of-concept for this approach has been demonstrated by palivizumab; however, the use of this antibody is generally restricted to the highest-risk infants due to monthly dosing requirements and its cost. To address the large unmet medical need for most infants, we are evaluating MK-1654, a fully human RSV-neutralizing antibody with half-life extending mutations targeting site IV of the fusion protein. In this 2-part, placebo-controlled, double-blind, first-in-human study, 152 healthy adults were randomized 3:1 to receive a single dose of MK-1654 or placebo in 5 cohorts (100 or 300 mg as an intramuscular dose or 300, 1000, or 3000 mg as an intravenous dose). Safety, pharmacokinetics, antidrug antibodies, and RSV serum-neutralizing antibody titers were evaluated through 1 year. MK-1654 serum concentrations increased proportionally with dose and resulted in corresponding elevations in RSV serum-neutralizing antibody titers. The antibody displayed a half-life of 73 to 88 days and an estimated bioavailability of 69% at the 300-mg dose. The overall safety profile of MK-1654 was similar to placebo, and treatment-emergent antidrug antibodies were low (2.6%) with no associated adverse events. These data support the continued development of MK-1654 for the prevention of RSV disease in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hua Ma
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kara S Cox
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Eseng Lai
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
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12
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Dumond JB, Greene SA, Prince HMA, Chen J, Maas BM, Sykes C, Schauer AP, Blake KH, Nelson JAE, Gay CL, Kashuba ADM, Cohen MS. Differential extracellular, but similar intracellular, disposition of two tenofovir formulations in the male genital tract. Antivir Ther 2020; 24:45-50. [PMID: 30375984 DOI: 10.3851/imp3277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The male genital tract (MGT) is a viral sanctuary and likely HIV reservoir; understanding MGT pharmacokinetics (PK) of antiretrovirals (ARVs) used for curative strategies is critical to eradication and cure. Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a tenofovir (TFV) formulation designed to maximize efficacy/minimize toxicity with unknown MGT PK. METHODS HIV-positive and HIV-negative men receiving TFV-based regimens provided six paired blood plasma (BP) and semen samples. Extracellular (TFV, TAF, emtricitabine [FTC]) drug concentrations in BP and seminal plasma (SP), and intracellular metabolite (IM) and endogenous nucleotide (EN) concentrations were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and seminal mononuclear cells (SMCs). Exposure ratios for SP:BP, SMC:PBMC and IM:EN were calculated from PK parameters generated by noncompartmental analysis. HIV viral load was measured in BP and SP. RESULTS Sixteen HIV-positive (n=8, TDF/FTC; n=8, TAF/FTC) and eight HIV-negative (TDF/FTC) men provided samples. Median TFV SP:BP ratios differed between TDF and TAF (1.5 versus 7.4), due to lower TFV BP concentrations with TAF coupled with TFV SP concentrations similar to TDF. FTC SP BP ratios were approximately 3. SMC concentrations of IMs and ENs were a fraction of PBMC concentrations (1-22%), though IM:EN ratios exceed a suggested protective threshold. CONCLUSIONS TAF SP PK was unexpected. IM SMC concentrations were low relative to PBMC, as were EN concentrations, suggesting differences in cell phenotype and lineage in the MGT; these differences in phenotype and pharmacology may have an impact on selecting and dosing ARVs used in cure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie B Dumond
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Heather M A Prince
- UNC School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Brian M Maas
- Present address: Merck CO, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Craig Sykes
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Amanda P Schauer
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kimberly H Blake
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julie A E Nelson
- UNC School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Cynthia L Gay
- UNC School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Angela D M Kashuba
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,UNC School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Myron S Cohen
- UNC School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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13
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Maas BM, Cao Y. A minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to investigate FcRn-mediated monoclonal antibody salvage: Effects of K on, K off, endosome trafficking, and animal species. MAbs 2018; 10:1322-1331. [PMID: 30130450 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2018.1506648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Manipulation of binding affinity between monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) has been leveraged to extend mAb half-life; however, the steps required for success remain ambiguous and experimental observations are inconsistent. Recent models have considered the time course of endosomal transit a major contributor to the relationship between FcRn affinity and antibody half-life. Our objective was to develop a minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to explain how changes in IgG-FcRn association rate constant (Kon), dissociation rate constant (Koff), and endosomal transit time [T(w)] translate to improved IgG clearance across mice, monkeys and humans. By simulating mAb clearance across physiological values of Kon, Koff, and T(w), we found that lowering Koff improves clearance only until the dissociation half-life reaches endosomal transit time. In contrast, Kon influenced clearance independently of T(w).The model was then applied to fit 66 mAb plasma profiles across species digitized from the literature, and clearance of mAb (CLIgG) and vascular fluid-phase endocytosis rate (CLup) were estimated. We found that CLIgG scaled well with body weight (allometric exponent of 0.90). After accounting for mAbs with significant FcRn binding at physiological pH, CLup was allometrically scalable (exponent 0.72). For the antibodies surveyed, Kon was more highly correlated with CLIgG across all species. The relationship between Koff and KD with CLIgG was largely inconsistent. Taken together, this model provides a parsimonious approach to evaluate endosomal transit kinetics using only mAb plasma concentrations. These findings reinforce the idea that endosomal transit kinetics should be considered when modeling FcRn salvage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Maas
- a Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics , UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , USA
| | - Yanguang Cao
- a Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics , UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , USA
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14
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Garrett KL, Chen J, Maas BM, Cottrell ML, Prince HA, Sykes C, Schauer AP, White N, Dumond JB. A Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model to Predict Effective HIV Prophylaxis Dosing Strategies for People Who Inject Drugs. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2018; 367:245-251. [PMID: 30150483 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.118.251009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this work was to evaluate dosing strategies for tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), and emtricitabine (FTC) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with injection drug use with a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics analysis of concentration data generated from two single-dose clinical studies conducted in healthy women. Population pharmacokinetic models were developed using measured intracellular metabolite, endogenous nucleotide competitors, and extracellular parent drug concentrations. Intracellular metabolite concentrations were normalized to endogenous competitors and compared with an EC90 target for PrEP efficacy. Monte Carlo simulations were used to select effective dose strategies of single agents (TAF, TDF, and FTC) and combinations (TDF + FTC and TAF + FTC). Daily, intermittent, and event-driven dosing regimens at varying dosage amounts were explored. When combined, TDF + FTC and TAF + FTC both provided quick (0.5 hours) and durable (up to 84 and 108 hours, respectively) protection of ≥99% after a single dose. When dosed twice per week, protection remained at 100%. Single-agent regimens provided lower estimates of protection than either combination tested. Here, the application of pharmacokinetic modeling to in vitro target concentrations demonstrates the added utility of including FTC in a successful PrEP regimen. While no TAF-based PrEP data are currently available for comparison, this analysis suggests TAF + FTC could completely protect against percutaneous exposure with as little as two doses per week.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy L Garrett
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (K.L.G., J.C., B.M.M., M.L.C., C.S., A.P.S., J.B.D.), and School of Medicine (H.A.P., N.W.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jingxian Chen
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (K.L.G., J.C., B.M.M., M.L.C., C.S., A.P.S., J.B.D.), and School of Medicine (H.A.P., N.W.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Brian M Maas
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (K.L.G., J.C., B.M.M., M.L.C., C.S., A.P.S., J.B.D.), and School of Medicine (H.A.P., N.W.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Mackenzie L Cottrell
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (K.L.G., J.C., B.M.M., M.L.C., C.S., A.P.S., J.B.D.), and School of Medicine (H.A.P., N.W.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Heather A Prince
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (K.L.G., J.C., B.M.M., M.L.C., C.S., A.P.S., J.B.D.), and School of Medicine (H.A.P., N.W.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Craig Sykes
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (K.L.G., J.C., B.M.M., M.L.C., C.S., A.P.S., J.B.D.), and School of Medicine (H.A.P., N.W.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Amanda P Schauer
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (K.L.G., J.C., B.M.M., M.L.C., C.S., A.P.S., J.B.D.), and School of Medicine (H.A.P., N.W.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Nicole White
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (K.L.G., J.C., B.M.M., M.L.C., C.S., A.P.S., J.B.D.), and School of Medicine (H.A.P., N.W.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Julie B Dumond
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (K.L.G., J.C., B.M.M., M.L.C., C.S., A.P.S., J.B.D.), and School of Medicine (H.A.P., N.W.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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15
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Green DJ, Burnham JM, Schuette P, Liu XI, Maas BM, Yao L, McCune SK, Chen J, van den Anker JN, Burckart GJ. Primary Endpoints in Pediatric Efficacy Trials Submitted to the US FDA. J Clin Pharmacol 2018; 58:885-890. [PMID: 29663424 PMCID: PMC6112107 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.1109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The selection of appropriate endpoints in pediatric drug development trials is a critical aspect of trial design. Given the high pediatric trial failure rate, selecting optimal trial design elements, such as the primary efficacy endpoint, is essential to ensuring increased potential for trial success. The objectives of this study were to identify the primary efficacy endpoints measured in pediatric drug development trials submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration and to relate endpoint attributes to trial and label outcome. The analysis included pediatric pivotal efficacy studies submitted from September 2007 to July 2016 for which there was a corresponding adult trial for the same indication. Two hundred and thirty-four efficacy trials on 138 unique products studied in pediatric patients were assessed. The adult and pediatric endpoints were the same in 141 of the 234 trials (60.3%), and these trials succeeded in meeting their primary endpoint more often (122 of 141 [86.5%]) than when the adult and pediatric endpoints differed (57 of 93 [61.3%]; odds ratio, 4.03; 95%CI, 2.10-7.80). Trials that included both pediatric and adult patients succeeded more frequently than those trials that did not combine pediatric and adult patients (85 of 95 versus 94 of 139, respectively; odds ratio, 4.05; 95%CI, 1.94-9.31). No differences were observed in pediatric trial success between those using subjective and objective endpoints. Using the same endpoint in the pediatric trial as was measured in the corresponding adult trial and enrolling pediatric and adult patients in the same trial were attributes associated with trial success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dionna J Green
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Janelle M Burnham
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Paul Schuette
- Office of Biostatistics, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Xiaomei I Liu
- Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Brian M Maas
- University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lynne Yao
- Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Susan K McCune
- Office of Pediatric Therapeutics, Commissioner's Office, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Joseph Chen
- University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Gilbert J Burckart
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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16
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Maas BM, Wang J, Cooner F, Green D, Yuan Y, Yao L, Burckart GJ. Bone Mineral Density to Assess Pediatric Bone Health in Drug Development. Ther Innov Regul Sci 2017; 51:756-760. [PMID: 30227097 DOI: 10.1177/2168479017709047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric bone health is an important part of the safety assessment of inhaled corticosteroids and certain other drugs. Current regulatory guidance for assessment of bone health for intranasal and inhaled corticosteroid drugs is a single 1-year study of linear growth. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess whether a significant change in bone mineral density (BMD) could be observed during a 12-month period in pediatric patients being treated for asthma with an inhaled corticosteroid using a previously conducted study. METHODS The publicly available information from the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) study was used to assess whether a statistically significant difference in BMD could be detected over a 1-year period. Patients who were at Tanner stage ≥2 were excluded from analysis as is stated in the present FDA Guidance on growth studies with inhaled corticosteroids, and children with any use of oral corticosteroids were also excluded. A comparison in BMD change over time (bone mineral accretion [BMA]) between baseline and 12 months of follow-up was made for the placebo and inhaled budesonide groups using multiple regression analysis to account for age, race, and gender as covariates. RESULTS From the original 1041 patients in the CAMP study, 74 patients met the criteria for evaluation, with 42 patients receiving budesonide and 32 placebo patients. Children randomized to budesonide had a lower mean BMA than those receiving placebo (0.021 ± 0.023 [SD] g/cm2/y vs 0.036 ± 0.025 [SD] g/cm2/y). CONCLUSION In a select pediatric patient population, a significant change in BMA can be observed over 12 months on an inhaled corticosteroid. Based on this post hoc analysis, measurement of BMA as an assessment of pediatric bone health may be considered for certain drugs, especially when there is a potential signal of bone toxicity from animal or human data. The clinical relevance of this finding is presently unknown, and more data on the relationship between changes in BMA and clinical pediatric bone health outcomes are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Maas
- 1 University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jian Wang
- 2 Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Freda Cooner
- 3 Office of Biostatistics, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Dionna Green
- 4 Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, USA
| | - Ye Yuan
- 5 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lynne Yao
- 2 Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Gilbert J Burckart
- 4 Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, USA
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17
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Maas BM, Francis O, Mollan KR, Lee C, Cottrell ML, Prince HMA, Sykes C, Trezza C, Torrice C, White N, Malone S, Hudgens MG, Sharpless NE, Dumond JB. Concentrations of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Are Not Associated with Senescence Marker p16INK4a or Predictive of Intracellular Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Metabolite and Endogenous Nucleotide Exposures in Adults with HIV Infection. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168709. [PMID: 28036343 PMCID: PMC5201235 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES As the HIV-infected population ages, the role of cellular senescence and inflammation on co-morbid conditions and pharmacotherapy is increasingly of interest. p16INK4a expression, a marker for aging and senescence in T-cells, is associated with lower intracellular concentrations of endogenous nucleotides (EN) and nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). This study expands on these findings by determining whether inflammation is contributing to the association of p16INK4a expression with intracellular metabolite (IM) exposure and endogenous nucleotide concentrations. METHODS Samples from 73 HIV-infected adults receiving daily tenofovir/emtricitabine (TFV/FTC) with either efavirenz (EFV) or atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r) were tested for p16INK4a expression, and plasma cytokine and intracellular drug concentrations. Associations between p16INK4a expression and cytokine concentrations were assessed using maximum likelihood methods, and elastic net regression was applied to assess whether cytokines were predictive of intracellular metabolite/endogenous nucleotide exposures. RESULTS Enrolled participants had a median age of 48 years (range 23-73). There were no significant associations between p16INK4a expression and cytokines. Results of the elastic net regression showed weak relationships between IL-1Ra and FTC-triphosphate and deoxyadenosine triphosphate exposures, and MIP-1β, age and TFV-diphosphate exposures. CONCLUSIONS In this clinical evaluation, we found no relationships between p16INK4a expression and cytokines, or cytokines and intracellular nucleotide concentrations. While inflammation is known to play a role in this population, it is not a major contributor to the p16INK4a association with decreased IM/EN exposures in these HIV-infected participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Maas
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Owen Francis
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Katie R. Mollan
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Cynthia Lee
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Mackenzie L. Cottrell
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Heather M. A. Prince
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Craig Sykes
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Christine Trezza
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Chad Torrice
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Nicole White
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Malone
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Michael G. Hudgens
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Norman E. Sharpless
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Julie B. Dumond
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
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