A Phase 1 study of the long-acting anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody GSK3511294 in patients with asthma.

AIMS: GSK3511294 is a humanized anti-interleukin (IL)-5 monoclonal antibody (mAb) engineered for extended half-life and improved IL-5 affinity versus other anti-IL-5 mAbs. This study examined its safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and effect on blood eosinophil counts. METHODS: This was a double-blind, parallel-group, single-ascending-dose, multicenter, Phase 1 study (205 722;NCT03287310) in patients with asthma and a blood eosinophil count ≥200 cells µL-1 . Patients were randomized 3:1 within dose cohorts to receive a single subcutaneous dose of GSK3511294 (2, 10, 30, 100 or 300 mg) or placebo and followed for up to 40 weeks to assess safety (primary endpoint), ratio to baseline in blood eosinophil count, plasma PK parameters and frequency/titers of binding antidrug antibodies (all secondary). RESULTS: Forty-eight patients received the study drug and completed the study. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 92% of placebo-treated and 81% of GSK3511294-treated patients. There were no AEs leading to study withdrawal or serious AEs; hypersensitivity (one event in one patient) and injection-site reaction (three events in two patients) occurred infrequently. Marked reductions (>48%) in blood eosinophil count were seen from 24 hours post-dose with all GSK3511294 doses but not placebo; suppression was maintained for longer with increasing dose (82% and 83% adjusted reductions vs placebo with 100 and 300 mg, respectively, at week 26). PK were linear and dose proportional over the dose range; terminal half-life was 38-53 days. CONCLUSIONS: GSK3511294 was well tolerated, with linear and dose proportional PK, extended half-life and blood eosinophil count reduction, supporting less frequent dosing versus other anti-IL-5 mAbs.

A nebulised antitumour necrosis factor receptor-1 domain antibody in patients at risk of postoperative lung injury: A randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) signalling mediates the cell death and inflammatory effects of TNF-α. OBJECTIVE: The current clinical trial investigated the effects of a nebulised TNFR1 antagonist (GSK2862277) on signs of lung injury in patients undergoing oesophagectomy. DESIGN: Randomised double-blind (sponsor unblind), placebo-controlled, parallel group study. SETTING: Eight secondary care centres, the United Kingdom between April 2015 and June 2017. PATIENTS: Thirty-three patients undergoing elective transthoracic oesophagectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Patients randomly received a single nebulised dose (26 mg) of GSK2862277 (n = 17) or placebo (n = 16), given 1 to 5 h before surgery; 14 and 16, respectively competed the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Physiological and biochemical markers of lung injury, pharmacokinetic and safety endpoints were measured. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) at completion of surgery, measured using single-indicator transpulmonary thermodilution. Adjusted point estimates and 95% credible intervals (analogous to conventional confidence intervals) were constructed for each treatment using Bayesian statistical models. RESULTS: The mean change (with 95% credible intervals) from baseline in PVPI on completion of surgery was 0.00 (-0.23, 0.39) in the placebo and 0.00 (-0.24, 0.37) in the GSK2862277 treatment groups. There were no significant treatment-related differences in PaO2/FiO2 or Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. Levels of free soluble TNFR1, Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1 alpha and total protein were significantly reduced in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients treated with GSK2862277 (posterior probability of decrease with GSK2862277 vs. placebo:≥0.977; equivalent to P < 0.05). The frequency of adverse events and serious adverse events were distributed evenly across the two treatment arms. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative treatment with a single 26 mg inhaled dose of GSK2862277 did not result in significantly lower postoperative alveolar capillary leak or extra vascular lung water. Unexpectedly small increases in transpulmonary thermodilution-measured PVPI and extra vascular lung water index at completion of surgery suggest less postoperative lung injury than historically reported, which may have also compromised a clear assessment of efficacy in this trial. GSK2862277 was well tolerated, resulted in expected lung exposure and reduced biomarkers of lung permeability and inflammation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02221037.

A pilot clinical trial of recombinant human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) signaling and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We postulated that repleting ACE2 using GSK2586881, a recombinant form of human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (rhACE2), could attenuate acute lung injury. METHODS: We conducted a two-part phase II trial comprising an open-label intrapatient dose escalation and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase in ten intensive care units in North America. Patients were between the ages of 18 and 80 years, had an American-European Consensus Criteria consensus diagnosis of ARDS, and had been mechanically ventilated for less than 72 h. In part A, open-label GSK2586881 was administered at doses from 0.1 mg/kg to 0.8 mg/kg to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. Following review of data from part A, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of twice-daily doses of GSK2586881 (0.4 mg/kg) for 3 days was conducted (part B). Biomarkers, physiological assessments, and clinical endpoints were collected over the dosing period and during follow-up. RESULTS: Dose escalation in part A was well-tolerated without clinically significant hemodynamic changes. Part B was terminated after 39 of the planned 60 patients following a planned futility analysis. Angiotensin II levels decreased rapidly following infusion of GSK2586881, whereas angiotensin-(1-7) and angiotensin-(1-5) levels increased and remained elevated for 48 h. Surfactant protein D concentrations were increased, whereas there was a trend for a decrease in interleukin-6 concentrations in rhACE2-treated subjects compared with placebo. No significant differences were noted in ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen, oxygenation index, or Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. CONCLUSIONS: GSK2586881 was well-tolerated in patients with ARDS, and the rapid modulation of RAS peptides suggests target engagement, although the study was not powered to detect changes in acute physiology or clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01597635 . Registered on 26 January 2012.

Characterisation of the clinical and activated T cell response to repeat delayed-type hypersensitivity skin challenges in human subjects, with KLH and PPD, as a potential model to test T cell-targeted therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin reaction to repeated challenges of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) in healthy volunteers, as a potential model to test T cell-targeted investigational agents. SUBJECTS, TREATMENT AND METHODS: Forty-nine subjects received either KLH, PPD, or PBS repeat skin challenges, and clinical assessments including induration, erythema and Laser Doppler Imaging. Skin biopsies or suction blisters were taken after challenge to investigate the cellular infiltrate of the challenge site, the T cell activation status, as determined by LAG-3 expression, and, specifically for the blister, the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. Point estimates, estimates of variation and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were constructed for each type of challenge and timepoint. RESULTS: The DTH response could be measured at 48 and 120 h post-KLH and PPD challenge with induration, erythema and Laser Doppler Imaging, with 48 h post-challenge demonstrating the peak of the response. PPD was well tolerated in subjects after multiple challenges, however, a significant number of KLH-treated subjects demonstrated an injection site reaction 6-7 days following the SC injection. PPD demonstrated a boost effect on the second challenge as measured by increased induration, where as this was not noted consistently for KLH. Compared to unchallenged and PBS control-injected skin, increased T cell numbers were detected in the challenge site by both the skin suction blister and biopsy technique, at either time point following KLH or PPD challenge. Use of the T cell activation marker LAG-3 demonstrated the activated phenotype of these cells. In skin blisters, higher numbers of LAG-3+ T cells were detected at 48 h post-challenge, whereas in the biopsies, similar numbers of LAG-3+ cells were observed at both 48 and 120 h. Analysis of blister T cell subpopulations revealed some differences in phenotypes between the time points and between the CD4 and CD8 T cells. Blister cytokine analysis revealed a pro-inflammatory dominated signature in PPD-challenged skin. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our data support the use of a repeat KLH and PPD DTH challenge in clinical trials and that the clinical measures of induration and to a lesser extent erythema are appropriate to monitor the clinical DTH response. Both the blister and biopsy can be utilised to assess and quantify activated T cells and at the dose used, PPD was better tolerated than KLH and hence may be optimal for future studies.

A Randomized Dose-Escalation Study of the Safety and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Inhibitor Dilmapimod in Severe Trauma Subjects at Risk for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: There are no current pharmacological therapies for the prevention or treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Early dysregulated inflammation likely plays a role in acute respiratory distress syndrome development and possibly acute respiratory distress syndrome outcomes. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is central to the regulation of multiple inflammatory mediators implicated in acute organ dysfunction and is the target for a novel class of cytokine-suppressive anti-inflammatory drugs. In preclinical models, p38 inhibitors reduce lung injury following pancreatitis and burn injury. DESIGN: We conducted a phase IIa, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of dilmapimod, a novel p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, in patients at risk for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome admitted with an Injury Severity Score more than 16, excluding head trauma. Enrolled patients received 4- or 24-hour IV dilmapimod infusions at different doses or placebo, daily for 3 days, in four separate cohorts. SETTING: Multicenter randomized clinical trial of large, academic trauma centers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were enrolled. Although adverse events were common in this critically ill population, dilmapimod was well tolerated, with no clinically relevant safety findings. Pharmacokinetic models indicated that the higher dose of 10 mg given as continuous infusion over 24 hours had the most favorable plasma concentration profile. Likewise, measures of soluble inflammatory markers including interleukin-6, C-reactive peptide, interleukin-8, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 were most different between this dosing arm and placebo. Although the study was not specifically designed with acute respiratory distress syndrome as an outcome, the number of patients who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome was small (2/77). CONCLUSIONS: The novel p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor dilmapimod appears well tolerated and may merit further evaluation for prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome and other organ injury in larger clinical trials. Furthermore, results of this early-phase trial may aid in design of future studies aimed at prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome and other organ injury.

Effect of severe renal impairment on umeclidinium and umeclidinium/vilanterol pharmacokinetics and safety: a single-blind, nonrandomized study.

BACKGROUND: Umeclidinium and vilanterol, long-acting bronchodilators for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are primarily eliminated via the hepatic route; however, severe renal impairment may adversely affect some elimination pathways other than the kidney. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of severe renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of umeclidinium and umeclidinium/vilanterol. METHODS: Nine patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) and nine matched healthy volunteers received a single dose of umeclidinium 125 µg; and after a 7- to 14-day washout, a single dose of umeclidinium/vilanterol 125/25 µg. RESULTS: No clinically relevant increases in plasma umeclidinium or vilanterol systemic exposure (area under the curve or maximum observed plasma concentration) were observed following umeclidinium 125 µg or umeclidinium/vilanterol 125/25 µg administration. On average, the amount of umeclidinium excreted in 24 hours in urine (90% confidence interval) was 88% (81%-93%) and 89% (81%-93%) lower in patients with severe renal impairment compared with healthy volunteers following umeclidinium 125 µg and umeclidinium/vilanterol 125/25 µg administration, respectively. Treatments were well tolerated in both populations. CONCLUSION: Umeclidinium 125 µg or umeclidinium/vilanterol 125/25 µg administration to patients with severe renal impairment did not demonstrate clinically relevant increases in systemic exposure compared with healthy volunteers. No dose adjustment for umeclidinium and umeclidinium/vilanterol is warranted in patients with severe renal impairment.

Clinical efficacy and tolerability of a novel selective corticosteroid in atopic dermatitis--two randomised controlled trials.

Topical corticosteroids remain the first-line therapy for atopic dermatitis (AD). Hence, we investigated the efficacy and safety profile of a novel selective corticosteroid, GW870086. We performed 2 randomised, double-blind, controlled studies with 25 AD patients and 20 healthy subjects. The changes in the Three-Item Severity (TIS) score and the skin thickness were the primary end points, respectively. The adjusted TIS score (day 22) shows that the novel corticosteroid resulted in a non-significant, but dose-dependent reduction compared to placebo (GW870086 0.2% vs. placebo = -0.38, GW870086 2% vs. placebo = -0.89). Significant skin thinning was observed in the second study on days 14 and 21 when patients were treated with the comparator but not with the novel corticosteroid compared to placebo. The clinical efficacy of the new selective corticosteroid was not superior to placebo, although a dose-dependent improvement upon treatment was noticed without the onset of skin thinning.

Effects of moderate hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetic properties and tolerability of umeclidinium and vilanterol in inhalational umeclidinium monotherapy and umeclidinium/vilanterol combination therapy: an open-label, nonrandomized study.

BACKGROUND: The long-acting muscarinic antagonist umeclidinium (UMEC) is approved as a monotherapy, and in combination with the long-acting ß2-agonist vilanterol (VI), as a once-daily inhaled maintenance bronchodilator therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the US and EU; they are not indicated for the treatment of asthma. Preclinical and clinical data suggest that UMEC and VI are predominantly eliminated by the liver. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of moderate hepatic impairment on the plasma and urinary pharmacokinetic properties of each drug, and on the tolerability of inhalational UMEC/VI 125/25 µg and UMEC 125 µg. METHODS: This open-label, nonrandomized study was conducted in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score, 7-9) and in healthy volunteers (control). Patients and volunteers were administered a single dose of UMEC/VI 125/25 µg, and, after a 7- to 14-day washout period, repeat-dose UMEC 125 µg once daily for 7 days. Primary end points were the plasma pharmacokinetic properties of single- and repeat-dose UMEC and VI. Secondary end points were the urinary pharmacokinetic properties of UMEC, and the tolerability of each treatment. RESULTS: All 18 enrolled patients and volunteers (12 men, 6 women; mean age, 53.6 years) completed the study. Mean systemic exposures of UMEC and VI were similar or numerically lower in patients with moderate hepatic impairment compared with those in healthy volunteers, but the differences were not clinically significant. UMEC accumulations with 7-day dosing of UMEC were similar between patients with moderate hepatic impairment and healthy volunteers. UMEC/VI 125/25 µg and UMEC 125 µg were well-tolerated, with no safety concerns identified. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of UMEC/VI 125/25 µg or UMEC 125 µg in patients with moderate hepatic impairment did not result in clinically relevant increases in UMEC or VI exposures compared with those in healthy volunteers. Based on these findings, no dose adjustment for UMEC/VI or UMEC is warranted in patients with moderate hepatic impairment.

Efficacy and safety of once-daily GW870086 a novel selective glucocorticoid in mild-moderate asthmatics: a randomised, two-way crossover, controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of inhaled, repeat doses (28 days) of the glucocorticoid agonist GW870086, which has been designed to inhibit gene transrepression of the glucocorticoid receptor while preserving its transactivation. METHODS: This was a randomised, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover study, approved by the independent ethics committees of the study centres. Subjects with FEV(1) 40-85% of the predicted normal value (n = 36) received GW870086 (1 mg, once-daily) and placebo. RESULTS: No significant change from baseline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) was seen following administration of GW8780086 1 mg relative to placebo; mean FEV(1) (day 28), relative to placebo, was (95% confidence intervals [CI]) -0.077 L (-0.192, 0.038). A moderate positive placebo response was observed on Days 14 and 28: Mean FEV(1) (95% CI) was 0.115 L (0.040, 0.189) and 0.115 L (0.019, 0.212), respectively. The placebo response was more notable in treatment period 1 and was larger than the response to GW870086 1 mg on day 28, irrespective of period. Peak expiratory flow rate results were consistent with FEV(1) and no difference was seen between the GW870086 and placebo for rescue medication usage. CONCLUSION: This total lack of effect suggests that repeat-dose GW8700861 mg has suboptimal efficacy in mild to moderate asthma.

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single and repeat inhaled doses of umeclidinium in healthy subjects: two randomized studies.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a significant negative impact on quality of life and increases the risk of premature death. Umeclidinium is a long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist in development for the treatment of COPD with the aim to broaden treatment options for clinicians and patients by providing improved symptom control. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single and repeat inhaled doses of umeclidinium in healthy subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Two randomized, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose studies were conducted in healthy ipratropium bromide-responsive subjects. In the single-dose study, subjects (n = 20) received umeclidinium (10-350 µg), tiotropium bromide 18 µg and placebo in a crossover dosing schedule. In this study, lung function was assessed for 24 h by measuring specific airways conductance (sGaw) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). In the repeat-dose study, subjects (n = 36) received umeclidinium (250-1,000 µg) and placebo for 14 days in a parallel-group schedule. RESULTS: Adverse events (AEs) were reported in five subjects (single-dose study) and 23 subjects (repeat-dose study); none were serious. In both studies, no abnormalities in 12-lead electrocardiogram parameters, 24-h Holter monitoring or lead II monitoring were reported as AEs. Umeclidinium was rapidly absorbed following single-dose administration [time to reach the maximum plasma concentration (tmax) 5-15 min] and repeat-dose administration (tmax 5-7 min). Following repeat dosing, the geometric mean plasma elimination half-life was approximately 27 h and statistically significant accumulation was observed for the area under the plasma concentration-time curve, maximum plasma concentration and cumulative amount of unchanged drug excreted into the urine at 24 h (range 1.5- to 4.5-fold). Umeclidinium at doses of 100 µg and above, and tiotropium bromide demonstrated statistically significant bronchodilatory effects relative to placebo at 12 h post-dosing, which lasted up to 24 h for umeclidinium 350 µg and for tiotropium bromide. Relative to placebo, these increases in sGaw were 24-34 % at 12 h post-dose and 13 % at 24 h post-dose. Increases in FEV1 achieved statistical significance at 12 and 24 h for umeclidinium 100 µg and 350 µg compared with placebo. CONCLUSION: Umeclidinium was well tolerated and demonstrated bronchodilatory effects in healthy subjects for up to 24 h. These bronchodilatory effects can be potentially clinically important in patients with airway obstruction such as COPD. The data obtained have informed dose selection for subsequent trials in subjects with COPD.

Influence of renal and hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties and tolerability of fluticasone furoate and vilanterol in combination.

BACKGROUND: Renal and hepatic disease may lead to alterations in drug absorption, distribution, and elimination, and, therefore, the potential effect of renal and hepatic impairment should be investigated in drugs under development. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of renal and hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties and tolerability of fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (FF/VI) administered in combination. METHODS: Two open-label, parallel-group studies were conducted. Eligible study participants included adults with severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min) and those with mild, moderate, or severe hepatic impairment (by Child-Pugh classification). Patients were matched with healthy subjects. Participants received 7 days of inhaled FF/VI 200/25 or 100/12.5 µg (severe hepatic impairment only) once daily in the morning. Lack of effect was defined as an upper 90% confidence limit of the C(max) and AUC geometric mean impaired:healthy ratios (GMRs) of <2. RESULTS: Study participants included patients with severe renal impairment (n = 9) or with mild (n = 9), moderate (n = 9), or severe (n = 8) hepatic impairment, together with matched healthy subjects (n = 9 per study). Lack of effect of severe renal impairment was demonstrated with FF (GMRs [90% CI]: C(max), 0.96 [0.57-1.61]; AUC(0-24), 0.91 [0.60-1.38]) and VI (C(max), 0.70 [0.49-1.00]; AUC(0-24), 1.56 [1.27-1.92]). Day-7 dose-normalized FF AUC(0-24) was greater in the groups with mild, moderate, and severe hepatic impairment than in healthy subjects (GMRs [90% CI]: 1.34 [0.82-2.20], 1.83 [1.11-2.99], and 1.75 [1.05-2.91], respectively); lack of effect was not demonstrated. There was no effect of hepatic impairment on dose-normalized VI C(max) or AUC(0-24). Apart from reduced serum cortisol weighted mean (0-24 hour) in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (34% reduction [90% CI, 11%-51%] compared with healthy subjects), there was no evidence of a difference in heart rate, serum potassium, or 24-hour serum cortisol between patients with severe renal impairment of any hepatic impairment and healthy subjects. No safety concerns were identified in any of the groups with impairment or their matched healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Severe renal impairment had no apparent clinically relevant effects on the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic properties or tolerability of FF/VI. Hepatic impairment had no apparent effect on VI systemic exposure but increased FF exposure. Fluticasone furoate was associated with reduced serum cortisol in patients with moderate hepatic impairment. These data suggest that caution should be exercised when prescribing FF/VI in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment due to a risk for unwanted systemic corticosteroid effects associated with increased FF systemic exposure. Clinicaltrials.gov identifiers: NCT01266941 and NCT01266980.