Assessment timing and choice of outcome measure in determining treatment response in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: A post hoc analysis of the PRISM trial.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Treatment response and its timing are variable in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). In this study we assessed the variability using multiple outcome measures. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of the PRISM trial, a 24-week prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label, phase III study of a 10% intravenous immunoglobulin preparation for CIDP. We ascertained timing of response with primary/secondary outcome measures. RESULTS: At 6 weeks after treatment initiation, 13 of 40 subjects (32.5%) were defined as responders on the primary outcome measure, the adjusted Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause And Treatment (INCAT) scale. This increased to 20 of 41 (48.8%) at 12 weeks and to 32 of 42 (76.2%) at 24 weeks. Use of minimal important difference (MID)-determined amelioration of the inflammatory Rasch-built Overall Disability Scale (I-RODS), or of the Medical Research Council sum score (MRCSS), or of dominant hand-grip strength, in addition to the adjusted INCAT, indicated a sensitivity of 41.7% in identifying adjusted INCAT nonresponders at week 12 who subsequently responded at week 24. Specificity was 60% vs INCAT nonresponders at week 24. Consideration of amelioration of any amplitude on any secondary outcome measure indicated a 75% sensitivity, but only 30% specificity vs adjusted INCAT nonresponders at week 24. DISCUSSION: Immunoglobulin treatment continuation may be justified for up to 24 weeks in CIDP. Additional outcome measures may help in the early treatment stages to predict delayed response on the adjusted INCAT. However, their use is limited by high false-positive rates. More robust, reliable, and relevant outcome measures are needed to detect early improvement in immunoglobulin-treated CIDP.

An international multicenter efficacy and safety study of IqYmune in initial and maintenance treatment of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: PRISM study.

This prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label phase 3 study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IqYmune in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Patients received one induction dose of 2 g/kg and then seven maintenance doses of 1 g/kg at 3-week intervals. The primary endpoint was the responder rate at the end of study (EOS), defined as an improvement of ≥1 point on the adjusted inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment (INCAT) disability scale. The responder rate was compared with the responder rate of a historical placebo group (33.3%). Secondary endpoints included changes from baseline to EOS of adjusted INCAT disability score, grip strength, Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score, Rasch-modified MRC sum score, Rasch-built overall disability scale score and the clinical global impression. Forty-two patients, including 23 Ig-naïve and 19 Ig-pre-treated, were included in the efficacy set. The overall response rate at EOS was 76.2% (95% confidence interval [60.5%-87.9%]). The superiority of IqYmune compared to the historical placebo control was demonstrated (P < .0001). The responder rate was numerically higher in Ig-pre-treated than in Ig-naïve patients but confidence intervals were overlapping (84.2% [60.4%-96.6%] vs 69.6% [47.1%-86.8%]). All secondary endpoints confirmed this conclusion. The median time to response was 15 weeks [8.9-19.1 weeks]. A total of 156 adverse events including five serious were considered related to IqYmune, 87.2% were mild. Neither hemolysis nor signs of renal or hepatic impairment were observed. These results demonstrate that IqYmune is an effective and well-tolerated treatment in patients with CIDP.

IqYmune® is an effective maintenance treatment for multifocal motor neuropathy: A randomised, double-blind, multi-center cross-over non-inferiority study vs Kiovig®-The LIME Study.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is the gold-standard for maintenance treatment of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). This phase III, randomised, double-blind, multi-centre, active-control, crossover study, aimed to evaluate the non-inferiority of IqYmune® relative to Kiovig®, primarily based on efficacy criteria. Twenty-two adult MMN patients, treated with any brand of IVIg (except Kiovig® or IqYmune®) at a stable maintenance dose within the range of 1 to 2 g/kg every 4 to 8 weeks, were randomised to receive either Kiovig® followed by IqYmune®, or IqYmune® followed by Kiovig®. Each product was administered for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the difference between IqYmune® and Kiovig® in mean assessments of modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) 10 sum score (strength of 5 upper-limb and 5 lower-limb muscle groups, on both sides, giving a score from 0 to 100) during the evaluation period (non-inferiority margin of Δ = 2). A linear mixed model analysis demonstrated the non-inferiority of IqYmune® relative to Kiovig®, independently of the covariates (value at baseline, treatment period, and treatment sequence). The estimated "IqYmune® - Kiovig®" difference was -0.01, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.51 to 0.48. The number of adverse reactions (ARs) and the percentage of patients affected were similar for the two products: 39 ARs in 10 patients with IqYmune® vs 32 ARs in 11 patients with Kiovig®. No thromboembolic events nor haemolysis nor renal impairment were observed. In this first clinical trial comparing two IVIg brands for maintenance treatment of MMN, efficacy and tolerability of both brands were similar.

Efficacy and Safety of IQYMUNE®, a Ten Percent Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Adult Patients With Chronic, Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) IQYMUNE® is a highly purified 10% IVIG that was assessed using the new stringent definition of response described in the revised guideline on the clinical investigation of IVIG. The efficacy and the safety of IQYMUNE® were investigated in adult patients with chronic primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). METHODS: In this phase III multinational, multicentre, prospective, uncontrolled, open-label, single-arm study, adult patients with a baseline platelet count < 30 × 109/L were treated with IVIG 10% at a dose of 2 g/kg body weight administered over 2 consecutive days. The primary endpoint was Response over the study period and was defined according to the recent and most stringent European Medicines Agency guidelines (platelet count ≥ 30 × 109/L and a ≥ 2-fold increase from baseline, no new bleeding, and no concomitant treatment with drugs that affect platelet count and/or induce bleeding cessation). RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were enrolled; 73 infusions were administered (38 on Day 1 and 35 on Day 2). Response was reached by 24 patients corresponding to 63.2% of patients in the full analysis set (95% CI: 46.0; 78.2) and 68.6% of patients in the per-protocol set (95% CI: 50.7; 83.1). The median time to Response was 1 day. The median duration of Response was 13.5 days. Reasons for non-response were failure to reach the required platelet count (n = 12), a new bleeding event (n = 1), and forbidden medication use (n = 1). Among the 23 patients with a baseline platelet count ≤ 20 × 109/L, 19 patients (82.6%) achieved a platelet count ≥ 50 × 109/L at least once before Day 5 (previous European Medicines Agency definition of response). Treatment was well tolerated even in patients with a high flow rate (≥ 6 mL/kg/h in 40% of patients). Headache (34.2%), pyrexia (15.8%), and creatinine renal clearance decrease, including one case of decrease in glomerular filtration rate (10.5%) were the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of IQYMUNE® for 2 consecutive days at a dose of 2 g/kg was safe and efficacious. These results support the treatment of adult patients with chronic ITP with IQYMUNE®.

Efficacy and safety of ClairYg®, a ready-to-use intravenous immunoglobulin, in adult patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of IGNG that is a new liquid, saccharose and maltose-free highly purified ready-to-use 5% intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), in primary immune thrombocytopenic patients with severe thrombocytopenia. METHODS: Nineteen adults with a platelet count ≤ 25 × 109/L received a single dose of IGNG (1 g/kg) on Day 1, with a second identical dose on Day 3 if needed. Patients were followed for 30 days. Primary endpoint was the response rate, defined as the proportion of patients with a platelet count ≥ 50 × 109/L within 96 hours after the first IGNG dose. RESULTS: All but one of the 17 evaluable patients for efficacy responded with an overall response rate of 94.1% (95% CI 71.3%-99.9%). Response was observed after only one infusion (1 g/kg boby weight) in 11 patients (59%) and the others required a second dose. Mean time to response was 2.2 days. Maximum platelet count was reached within 1 week after the first dose and lasted for approximately 2 weeks. Patients requiring a second dose had lower platelet counts at baseline than patients requiring a single dose. In the 19 evaluable patients for safety, IGNG demonstrated good safety, good hepatic and renal tolerance, and did not induce hemolysis. This trial was registered at the French Medical Agency (AFSSAPS) as #DI n°060735.

New insights in the use of immunoglobulins for the management of immune deficiency (PID) patients.

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IRT) is standard treatment for patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID). Because most of the patients with PID will require long life-time immunoglobulin replacement therapy, the quality of the prescribed products is of utmost importance. The IRT is generally administered either intravenously (abbreviated IVIG), or subcutaneously (abbreviated SCIG). Both routes have been demonstrated to be effective. The preferred route may vary at different times during a given patient's life. Options are therefore not fixed and the choice of route for immunoglobulin therapy will depend on several factors, including patient characteristics, clinical indication, venous access, side effects, rural or remote location, treatment compliance and patient preference. Many years ago, immunoglobulin therapy was associated with side effects which may compromise patient's compliance and quality of life of the patients. Most of the side effects were related to impurities. Recently, major advances in the manufacturing process have been made and new processes, such as the Quality by design (QbD) approach were added into the manufacturing steps to ensure patients tolerability and safety. Due to the improved purity of the immunoglobulin products obtained by these processes, the incidence of side effects is lower, while the ways of administration of Ig therapy and the choice of the regimen has widened to suit patient's preference and needs.

Erratum: Efficacy and safety of ClairYg®, a ready-to-use intravenous immunoglobulin, in adult patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

[This corrects the article on p. 1 in vol. 7, PMID: 28203488.].