A Phase I Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase PH20 Administered Intravenously in Healthy Volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) is used in subcutaneous formulations (eg, RITUXAN HYCELA [rituximab and hyaluronidase human], HERCEPTIN HYLECTA [trastuzumab and hyaluronidase-oysk], PHESGO [pertuzumab/trastuzumab/hyaluronidase-zzxf], and Darzalex FASPRO [daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj]) to increase the dispersion and absorption of coadministered therapeutics. Although unlikely, subcutaneous products that include rHuPH20 could be mistaken for the intravenous formulation of the corresponding drugs (eg, RITUXAN [rituximab], HERCEPTIN [trastuzumab], and DARZALEX [daratumumab]). To understand the potential effects of inadvertent intravenous injection of rHuPH20, we investigated the safety profile, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of rHuPH20 administered intravenously. OBJECTIVES: This Phase I, open-label, single-center study in healthy volunteers was designed to assess the safety profile, tolerability, PK, and PD of rHuPH20 administered intravenously. METHODS: Healthy volunteers received 5 mL intravenous infusion of either 10,000 U (n = 12) or 30,000 U (n = 12) rHuPH20 over 5 minutes. Blood samples for PK and PD analysis were obtained at baseline and at various times after initiation of infusion. Adverse events and laboratory parameters were measured to assess the safety profile and tolerability of the intravenous infusion. The PK of rHuPH20 was assessed using both an enzymatic assay and a mass-based immunoassay, and plasma hyaluronan concentrations were measured as a PD marker using an HPLC-MS/MS disaccharide assay. RESULTS: All 24 volunteers (mean age = 36.5 years) completed the study, and no serious adverse events were reported in either treatment group. Overall, 2 adverse events (both Grade 1) were reported; catheter site pain in the 10,000 U group and hypotension in the 30,000 U group. Plasma concentrations of rHuPH20 increased during the 5-minute intravenous infusion (median tmax = 6 minutes from intravenous initiation) followed by a rapid plasma clearance (t1/2 ∼10 minutes from intravenous initiation). Plasma hyaluronan concentrations increased with dose and time (tmax range = 45‒120 minutes from intravenous initiation) and returned to baseline within 1 week of administration. Changes in both PK and PD measurements appeared proportional to dose. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that intravenous administration of up to 30,000 U rHuPH20 was well tolerated, rapidly cleared from the plasma, and did not appear to be associated with any serious adverse effects at doses used in subcutaneous therapeutic products. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2020; 81).

KIAA1199 expression and hyaluronan degradation colocalize in multiple sclerosis lesions.

Modification of hyaluronan (HA) accumulation has been shown to play a key role in regulating inflammatory processes linked to the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to characterize the enzymatic activity involved in HA degradation observed within focal demyelinating lesions in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model. EAE was induced in 3-month-old female C57BL/6J mice by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 33-35 (MOG33-35) peptide. The mice were monitored for 21 days. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from control and EAE mice were labeled with an immunoadhesin against HA, antibodies against KIAA1199 and glial fibrillary acidic protein, a marker for astrocytes. In situ hybridization was conducted using a KIAA1199 nucleic acid probe. In histologic sections of spinal cord from EAE mice, abnormal HA accumulation was observed in the close vicinity of the affected areas, whereas HA was totally degraded within the focal loci of damaged tissue. KIAA1199 immunoreactivity was exclusively associated with focal loci in damaged white columns of the spinal cord. KIAA1199 was mainly expressed by activated astrocytes that invaded damaged tissue. Similar findings were observed in tissue from an MS patient. Here, we show that KIAA1199, a protein that plays a role in a HA degradation pathway independent of the canonical hyaluronidases such as PH20, is specifically expressed in tissue lesions in which HA is degraded. KIAA1199 expression by activated astrocytes may explain the focal HA degradation observed during progression of MS and could represent a possible new therapeutic target.

Risk Factors, Hyaluronidase Expression, and Clinical Immunogenicity of Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase PH20, an Enzyme Enabling Subcutaneous Drug Administration.

Multiple FDA-approved and clinical-development stage therapeutics include recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) to facilitate subcutaneous administration. As rHuPH20-reactive antibodies potentially interact with endogenous PH20, we investigated rHuPH20 immunogenicity risk through hyaluronidase tissue expression, predicted B cell epitopes, CD4+ T cell stimulation indices and related these to observed clinical immunogenicity profiles from 18 clinical studies. Endogenous hyaluronidase PH20 expression in humans/mice was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative RT-PCR, and deep RNA-Seq. rHuPH20 potential T cell epitopes were evaluated in silico and confirmed in vitro. Potential B cell epitopes were predicted for rHuPH20 sequence in silico, and binding of polyclonal antibodies from various species tested on a rHuPH20 peptide microarray. Clinical immunogenicity data were collected from 2643 subjects. From 57 human adult and fetal tissues previously screened by RT-PCR, 22 tissue types were analyzed by deep RNA-Seq. Hyaluronidase PH20 messenger RNA expression was detected in adult human testes. In silico analyses of the rHuPH20 sequence revealed nine T cell epitope clusters with immunogenic potential, one cluster was homologous to human leukocyte antigen. rHuPH20 induced T cell activation in 6-10% of peripheral blood mononuclear cell donors. Fifteen epitopes in the rHuPH20 sequence had the potential to cross-react with B cells. The cumulative treatment-induced incidence of anti-rHuPH20 antibodies across clinical studies was 8.8%. Hyaluronidase PH20 expression occurs primarily in adult testes. Low CD4+ T cell activation and B cell cross-reactivity by rHuPH20 suggest weak rHuPH20 immunogenicity potential. Restricted expression patterns of endogenous PH20 indicate low immunogenicity risk of subcutaneous rHuPH20.

Dispersive effects and focused biodistribution of recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20: A locally acting and transiently active permeation enhancer.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) facilitates the dispersion and absorption of subcutaneously administered therapeutic agents. This study aimed to characterize the transient, local action of rHuPH20 in the subcutaneous (SC) space using focused biodistribution and dye dispersion studies conducted in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the biodistribution of rHuPH20, mice were intradermally administered rHuPH20 (80 U). The enzymatic activity of rHuPH20 was analyzed in the skin, lymph nodes, and plasma. Animal model sensitivity was determined by intravenous administration of rHuPH20 (80 U) to the tail vein. To evaluate local dispersion, mice received an intradermal injection of rHuPH20 followed by an intradermal injection of Trypan Blue dye at a contralateral site 45 minutes later. Dye dispersion was measured using a digital caliper. RESULTS: After intradermal rHuPH20 injection, enzymatic activity was detected within the skin near the injection site with levels decreasing rapidly after 15 minutes. There was no clear evidence of systemic exposure after administration of rHuPH20, and no discernible rHuPH20 activity was observed in lymph or plasma as a function of time after dosing. In the dye dispersion study, delivery of rHuPH20 at one site did not impact dye dispersion at a distal skin site. CONCLUSION: These observations support the classification of rHuPH20 as a transiently active and locally acting permeation enhancer.

Accelerated pharmacokinetics and glucodynamics of prandial insulins injected with recombinant human hyaluronidase.

BACKGROUND: This phase 1 study investigated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and glucodynamics of insulin lispro (Humalog; Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, IN) or regular human insulin (Humulin R; Eli Lilly and Co.) administered with or without (+/-) recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20). METHODS: Healthy male volunteers (n = 26), 18-55 years old with body mass index 18-28 kg/m(2), weight >70 kg, and normal fasting glucose, were randomized to a crossover sequence of two subcutaneous injections, each followed by a 6-h euglycemic clamp targeting glucose 90-110 mg/dL: Cohort 1 received 20 U of Humalog +/- 300 U of rHuPH20 (11.3 microg/mL), whereas Cohort 2 received 20 U of Humulin R +/- 240 U of rHuPH20 (10 microg/mL). Pharmacokinetic parameters included peak serum insulin concentration (C(max)), time to C(max) (t(max)), and area under the curve (AUC) of serum concentration versus time. Glucodynamic parameters included time to maximal glucose infusion rate (tGIR(max)) and area under the GIR-versus-time curve (G). RESULTS: For Humalog and Humulin R, respectively, rHuPH20 co-administration reduced t(max) by 51% (P = 0.0006) and 58% (P = 0.0002), increased C(max) by 90% (P = 0.0003) and 142% (P < 0.0001), increased early exposure (AUC(0-2h)) by 85% (P < 0.0001) and 211% (P < 0.0001), and reduced late exposure (AUC(4-6h)) by 41% (P < 0.0001) and 48% (P < 0.0001). Similarly, rHuPH20 reduced tGIR(max) by 41% (P = 0.006) and 35% (P = 0.01), increased early metabolism (G(0-2h)) by 52% (P = 0.001) and 127% (P < 0.0001), and reduced late metabolism (G(4-6h)) by 29% (P = 0.002) and 26% (P = 0.03) for Humalog and Humulin R, respectively. Injections were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Co-administration of rHuPH20 accelerated the PK and glucodynamics of both insulin formulations. Additional studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical relevance of these findings in patients with diabetes.

Recombinant Human PH20: Baseline Analysis of the Reactive Antibody Prevalence in the General Population Using Healthy Subjects.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human PH20 (rHuPH20) is used to depolymerize hyaluronan in the subcutaneous space, increasing the dispersion and absorption of co-administered drugs. While ~ 5 to 10% of rHuPH20 treatment-naïve healthy volunteers have demonstrated rHuPH20-reactive antibodies, associations with age, sex, fertility, and immune disorders remain unknown. OBJECTIVES: Using demographically diverse healthy volunteers, we assessed the prevalence of rHuPH20-reactive antibodies in the general population and potential associations with fertility and autoimmunity diseases. METHODS: In total, 896 subjects aged ≥ 12 years (767 adults; 129 children) without prior exposure to rHuPH20 were enrolled. A demographic and limited medical history review was performed, and K3-EDTA-anticoagulated plasma was analyzed for rHuPH20-reactive antibodies using a bridging immunoassay. RESULTS: Adult and pediatric positivity rates for rHuPH20-reactive antibodies were 5.2% (40/767) and 1.6% (2/129), respectively. Titers ranged from 5 to 2560 (median 30). In five antibody-positive subjects from whom repeated samples were available, antibody titers remained unchanged or decreased fourfold over periods up to 590 days. The prevalence of rHuPH20-reactive antibodies significantly increased with age (p = 0.0006) and was significantly higher in males than in females (p = 0.0010). Men who had fathered children had a significantly increased prevalence of rHuPH20-reactive antibodies than men who had not (p = 0.0036), whereas the rate of childbearing was not significantly different between rHuPH20 antibody-positive and -negative women. The prevalence between racial/ethnic groups was not significantly different, nor was the presence/absence of an autoimmune disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1/20 of the adult population had rHuPH20-reactive antibodies. The reason remains unknown; however, no evidence for a negative effect on fertility or association with autoimmune disease was demonstrated.

PH20 is not expressed in murine CNS and oligodendrocyte precursor cells.

OBJECTIVE: Expression of Spam1/PH20 and its modulation of high/low molecular weight hyaluronan substrate have been proposed to play an important role in murine oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) maturation in vitro and in normal and demyelinated central nervous system (CNS). We reexamined this using highly purified PH20. METHODS: Steady-state expression of mRNA in OPCs was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction; the role of PH20 in bovine testicular hyaluronidase (BTH) inhibition of OPC differentiation was explored by comparing BTH to a purified recombinant human PH20 (rHuPH20). Contaminants in commercial BTH were identified and their impact on OPC differentiation characterized. Spam1/PH20 expression in normal and demyelinated mouse CNS tissue was investigated using deep RNA sequencing and immunohistological methods with two antibodies directed against recombinant murine PH20. RESULTS: BTH, but not rHuPH20, inhibited OPC differentiation in vitro. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was identified as a significant contaminant in BTH, and bFGF immunodepletion reversed the inhibitory effects of BTH on OPC differentiation. Spam1 mRNA was undetected in OPCs in vitro and in vivo; PH20 immunolabeling was undetected in normal and demyelinated CNS. INTERPRETATION: We were unable to detect Spam1/PH20 expression in OPCs or in normal or demyelinated CNS using the most sensitive methods currently available. Further, "BTH" effects on OPC differentiation are not due to PH20, but may be attributable to contaminating bFGF. Our data suggest that caution be exercised when using some commercially available hyaluronidases, and reports of Spam1/PH20 morphogenic activity in the CNS may be due to contaminants in reagents.

Clinical Immunogenicity of rHuPH20, a Hyaluronidase Enabling Subcutaneous Drug Administration.

Recombinant human PH20 hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) is used to facilitate dispersion of subcutaneously delivered fluids and drugs. This report summarizes rHuPH20 immunogenicity findings from clinical trials where rHuPH20 was co-administered with SC human immunoglobulin, trastuzumab, rituximab, or insulin. Plasma samples were obtained from evaluable subjects participating in ten different clinical trials as well as from healthy plasma donors. A bridging immunoassay and a modified hyaluronidase activity assay were used to determine rHuPH20-reactive antibody titers and neutralizing antibodies, respectively. rHuPH20-binding antibody populations from selected subjects with positive titers were affinity-purified and subjected to further characterization such as cross-reactivity with endogenous PH20. Among individual trials, the prevalence of pre-existing rHuPH20-reactive antibodies varied between 3 and 12%, excepting the primary immunodeficiency (PID) studies. Incidence of treatment-induced rHuPH20 antibodies was 2 to 18%, with the highest titers (81,920) observed in PID. No neutralizing antibodies were observed. Within most trials, the kinetics of antibody responses were comparable between pre-existing and treatment-induced antibody responses, although responses classified as persistent were more common in subjects with pre-existing titers. There was no association between antibody positivity and either local or systemic adverse events. Pre-existing and treatment-induced antibody populations were of similar immunoglobulin isotypes and cross-reacted to endogenous PH20 to similar extents. No cross-reactivity to PH20 paralogs was detected. rHuPH20 induces only modest immunogenicity which has no association with adverse events. In addition, antibodies purified from baseline-positive individuals are qualitatively similar to those purified from individuals developing rHuPH20-reactive antibodies following exposure to the enzyme.

Tolerability and pharmacokinetic properties of ondansetron administered subcutaneously with recombinant human hyaluronidase in minipigs and healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous ondansetron facilitated by recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) is an alternative for treating nausea/vomiting in patients who cannot receive ondansetron by other routes of administration. OBJECTIVE: Based on preclinical results in minipigs, a Phase I study was designed to assess the tolerability and pharmacokinetic properties of subcutaneous ondansetron + rHuPH20 compared with intramuscular, intravenous, or oral ondansetron monotherapy in healthy volunteers. METHODS: In a crossover design, 3 minipigs were dosed with subcutaneous ondansetron 0.08 mg/kg + rHuPH20, or as intramuscular or intravenous monotherapy, for the evaluation of plasma ondansetron concentrations and local tolerability. In a randomized, open-label, 4-way crossover study, subjects received a randomized sequence of SC ondansetron 4 mg + rHuPH20, or ondansetron monotherapy IM (4 mg), IV (4 mg), or PO (8 mg), over 4 daily visits. Study participants included healthy volunteers aged 19 to 65 years with adequate venous access in both upper extremities and no history of QT-interval prolongation. Primary tolerability end points (administration-site observations, systemic adverse events [AEs], and subject-assessed pain) were assessed, and pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC, Cmax, Tmax, t½) were computed to compare relative rate and extent of systemic exposure. Results were described using summary statistics, and bioequivalence was determined with a linear mixed-effects model. RESULTS: In the preclinical study, no adverse events or significant local reactions were observed. The Cmax (45.8 ng/mL at 0.08 hour) with subcutaneous administration + rHuPH20 was 83% greater and was achieved 68% faster than with intramuscular administration (Cmax = 25 ng/mL at 0.25 hour). In the clinical study, a total of 12 subjects (7 women, 5 men; white majority; mean age, 44.8) were randomized. The majority of AEs were at the injection site, mild in severity, and transient. After subcutaneous administration of ondansetron + rHuPH20, geometric mean Cmax was 35% higher than with intramuscular ondansetron, 43% lower than with intravenous ondansetron, and 126% higher than with oral ondansetron (corrected for dose). Bioequivalence tests demonstrated that systemic exposure after subcutaneous administration was similar to that after intramuscular or intravenous administration and significantly greater than that after oral administration. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous ondansetron + rHuPH20 was generally well-tolerated. Subcutaneous dosing resulted in an extent of systemic exposure similar to that with intramuscular or intravenous dosing and greater than that with oral administration, and may be an option for clinical administration of ondansetron. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01572012.

Enzymatic depletion of tumor hyaluronan induces antitumor responses in preclinical animal models.

Hyaluronan (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan polymer that often accumulates in malignancy. Megadalton complexes of HA with proteoglycans create a hydrated connective tissue matrix, which may play an important role in tumor stroma formation. Through its colloid osmotic effects, HA complexes contribute to tumor interstitial fluid pressure, limiting the effect of therapeutic molecules on malignant cells. The therapeutic potential of enzymatic remodeling of the tumor microenvironment through HA depletion was initially investigated using a recombinant human HA-degrading enzyme, rHuPH20, which removed HA-dependent tumor cell extracellular matrices in vitro. However, rHuPH20 showed a short serum half-life (t(1/2) < 3 minutes), making depletion of tumor HA in vivo impractical. A pegylated variant of rHuPH20, PEGPH20, was therefore evaluated. Pegylation improved serum half-life (t(1/2) = 10.3 hours), making it feasible to probe the effects of sustained HA depletion on tumor physiology. In high-HA prostate PC3 tumors, i.v. administration of PEGPH20 depleted tumor HA, decreased tumor interstitial fluid pressure by 84%, decreased water content by 7%, decompressed tumor vessels, and increased tumor vascular area >3-fold. Following repeat PEGPH20 administration, tumor growth was significantly inhibited (tumor growth inhibition, 70%). Furthermore, PEGPH20 enhanced both docetaxel and liposomal doxorubicin activity in PC3 tumors (P < 0.05) but did not significantly improve the activity of docetaxel in low-HA prostate DU145 tumors. The ability of PEGPH20 to enhance chemotherapy efficacy is likely due to increased drug perfusion combined with other tumor structural changes. These results support enzymatic remodeling of the tumor stroma with PEGPH20 to treat tumors characterized by the accumulation of HA.

Tumor growth inhibition by interferon-alpha using PEGylated protein or adenovirus gene transfer with constitutive or regulated expression.

Inducible synthesis and secretion of therapeutic proteins following gene transfer could be a viable strategy to deliver biopharmaceuticals that currently require parenteral administration. Evaluating the protein pharmacokinetics and biological responses generated by different delivery modalities will provide a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy. The interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) family of proteins, used clinically for infectious and malignant diseases, has a short half-life, and IFN-alpha therapy requires frequent administration of the drug by injection. Subcutaneous xenograft tumors were inhibited by weekly administration of polyethylene glycol modified (PEGylated) IFN-alpha protein or by a single administration of an adenovirus constitutively expressing IFN-alpha (IACB). Both treatment modalities inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that increasing exposure to IFN-alpha could result in effective tumor control. A single adenovirus that encodes the components necessary for tetracycline induction (IADR) expressed IFN-alpha in a ligand-dependent manner. Adding doxycycline to the drinking water of mice treated intravenously with the inducible adenovirus IADR inhibited tumor growth by 85% compared with mice that were not given doxycycline. The correlation between serum IFN-alpha concentration and the degree of tumor growth inhibition did not depend on the delivery technology used. It is likely that it will be feasible to control expression of IFN-alpha by oral administration of small molecule drugs after gene delivery to induce therapeutic concentrations of proteins.

Interferon-alpha2b secretion by adenovirus-mediated gene delivery in rat, rabbit, and chimpanzee results in similar pharmacokinetic profiles.

Gene delivery, with subsequent protein synthesis and secretion, in vivo has been proposed as an alternative way to deliver a therapeutic protein to the systemic circulation. Interferon-alpha (IFN) protein is effective in the treatment of viral and malignant diseases but has short serum half-life that requires frequent administration. An E1 region-deleted adenovirus vector encoding human IFN-alpha2b gene driven by the cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter (rAd-IFN) was generated to assess the serum concentration-time profiles of expressed IFN protein in animal models. Intravenous administration of rAd-IFN, normalized for body weight, resulted in dose-dependent serum IFN concentrations that persisted 8-40 days with similar concentration-time profiles in rats and rabbits. We sought to determine if serum concentration-time profiles in the rat and rabbit animal models would be predictive for a larger animal and would therefore be relevant models for potential dosing of human patients. Two chimpanzees (approximately 70 kg) dosed with rAd-IFN by intravenous administration normalized to body weight achieved serum IFN concentration-time profiles similar to those observed in rats and rabbits. The role of the immune response in limiting the persistence of transgene expression was highlighted by the persistence of serum IFN concentrations for over 200 days in beige/SCID immunodeficient mice. These studies suggest that serum concentration of secreted transgene products after gene delivery in small animal models may be highly predictive for larger species and will help define dosing strategies in human patients.