Efficacy and safety of rademikibart (CBP-201), a next-generation mAb targeting IL-4Rα, in adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: A phase 2 randomized trial (CBP-201-WW001).

BACKGROUND: Rademikibart (CBP-201) is a next-generation IL-4 receptor alpha-targeting antibody. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate rademikibart in adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. METHODS: A total of 226 patients were randomized, double-blind, to subcutaneous rademikibart (300 mg every 2 weeks [Q2W], 150 mg Q2W, 300 mg every 4 weeks [Q4W]; plus 600-mg loading dose) or placebo. Randomization began in July 2020. The trial was completed in October 2021. RESULTS: The WW001 phase 2 trial achieved its primary end point: significant percent reduction from baseline in least-squares mean Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI) to week 16 with rademikibart 300 mg Q2W (-63.0%; P = .0007), 150 mg Q2W (-57.6%; P = .0067), 300 mg Q4W (-63.5%; P = .0004) versus placebo (-39.7%). EASI scores decreased significantly with 300 mg Q2W and Q4W at the earliest assessment (week 2), with no evidence of plateauing by week 16. Significant improvements were also observed in secondary end points, including pruritus. Across the primary and secondary end points, efficacy tended to be comparable with 300 mg Q2W and Q4W dosing. Rademikibart and placebo had similar, low incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) (48% vs 54%), serious TEAEs (1.8% vs 3.6%), TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation (1.2% vs 1.8%), conjunctivitis of unspecified cause (2.9% vs 0%), herpes (0.6% vs 1.8%), and injection-site reactions (1.8% vs 1.8%). Although no discontinuations were attributed to coronavirus disease 2019, pandemic-related restrictions likely had an impact on trial conduct. CONCLUSIONS: Rademikibart was efficacious and well tolerated at Q2W and Q4W intervals. Q4W dosing is a more convenient frequency than approved for current therapies.

A Mini Review of the Impact of Baseline Disease Severity on Clinical Outcomes: Should We Compare Atopic Dermatitis Clinical Trials?

Based on clinical trials of systemic treatments in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) reported between 2014 and 2023, we used linear regression to investigate relationships between baseline Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores and (1) study start date, (2) EASI response, and (3) rescue medication rates. Analysis 1 was conducted with all patients from monotherapy and combination therapy trials; analyses 2 and 3 used monotherapy trial placebo arms. Across 32 trials with a baseline inclusion criterion of EASI ≥ 16, baseline mean EASI scores decreased with study start date. The lowest and highest baseline mean EASI scores were 25.1 and 33.6 (median 21.1 and 30.5), reported for the WW001 Phase 2 trial of rademikibart (formerly CBP-201; start date, July 2020) and the SOLO1 Phase 3 trial of dupilumab (start date, December 2014), respectively. In placebo arms, lower baseline EASI scores tended to be associated with greater percent reductions in EASI scores at Week 16 and less rescue medication usage. The WW001 trial placebo arm had the lowest baseline EASI score (mean 25.2; median 22.1), lowest rescue medication rate (14.3%), and a large reduction in least squares mean EASI scores (- 39.7%) at Week 16. In summary, baseline mean EASI scores have decreased across clinical trials conducted during the last decade. Less severe AD at baseline tended to be associated with greater placebo response and less use of rescue medications in placebo arms. Intertrial differences in variables, such as baseline AD severity, limit the validity of indirectly comparing clinical trials.

Budesonide MMX for the Induction of Remission of Mild to Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Pooled Safety Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cumulative safety and tolerability of budesonide MMX, a once-daily oral corticosteroid for inducing mild to moderate ulcerative colitis remission, was examined. METHODS: Data from three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II or III studies [budesonide MMX 9 mg, 6 mg, or 3mg for 8 weeks]; one phase II study [randomisation to budesonide MMX 9 mg or placebo for 4 weeks, then open-label budesonide MMX 9 mg for 4 weeks]; and one open-label study [budesonide MMX 9 mg for 8 weeks] were pooled. RESULTS: Patients randomised to budesonide MMX 9 mg [n = 288], 6 mg [n = 254], or placebo [n = 293] had similar rates of adverse events [AEs] [27.1%, 24.8%, and 23.9%, respectively] and serious AEs [2.4%, 2.0%, and 2.7%, respectively]; treatment-related AEs and serious AEs were reported by 11.8% and 13.5%, and 5.9% and 2.2%, respectively, of patients receiving budesonide MMX 3mg [n = 17] or open-label budesonide MMX 9 mg [n = 89]. Mean morning plasma cortisol concentrations were normal from baseline to final visit across randomised groups; in patients receiving open-label budesonide, mean cortisol concentration was 129.9 nmol/l after 4 weeks, returning to normal concentrations at final visit. Budesonide MMX was not associated with an overall increased risk for glucocorticoid-related adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Budesonide MMX 9 mg was associated with normal mean cortisol concentrations at final visit and an AE incidence comparable to placebo. Overall, budesonide MMX was safe and well tolerated for inducing remission of patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.

Bioavailability profile of Uceris MMX extended-release tablets compared with Entocort EC capsules in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pharmacokinetics of the extended-release MMX® formulation of budesonide (Uceris®) with that of Entocort® EC, an extended (controlled ileal) release formulation of budesonide. METHODS: Using an open-label, randomized, three-period crossover, Latin square design, healthy male or female volunteers received single doses of 6 mg Uceris®, 9 mg Uceris® or 9 mg Entocort® EC. Standard pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The study included 12 subjects. The 9 mg Uceris® and 9 mg Entocort® EC formulations had comparable area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) data, but 9 mg Uceris® had a notably longer time to first appearance in plasma (median Tlag, 6 h versus 1 h, respectively), and a delayed time to maximum concentration (median Tmax, 15 h versus 5 h, respectively) compared with 9 mg Entocort® EC. The ratio of log-transformed AUC0-last (Uceris®/Entocort® EC) was 91% (90% confidence interval [CI] 77%, 108%) and the corresponding maximum concentration ratio was 79% (90% CI 63%, 100%). CONCLUSION: Uceris was associated with a similar extent (AUC) of systemic exposure to budesonide compared with that following Entocort. However, for Uceris, the pharmacokinetic profile was delayed, a pattern consistent with greater colonic delivery of the active substance.

Naltrexone/Bupropion combination therapy in overweight or obese patients with major depressive disorder: results of a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of 32-mg/d naltrexone sustained release and 360-mg/d bupropion sustained release (NB32) in overweight and obese patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHOD: Twenty-five female patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of MDD, an Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report score > 26, and a body mass index ≥ 27 and ≤ 43 kg/m(2) received up to 24 weeks of open-label treatment with NB32 with dietary and behavioral counseling (data collection: March 2008-July 2009). The primary endpoint was change from baseline in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score at 12 weeks; secondary endpoints included MADRS total score at week 24, change in weight, and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale responder status (CGI-I score ≤ 2) at weeks 12 and 24 (modified intent-to-treat [mITT]: patients with ≥ 1 postbaseline MADRS total score on study drug; N = 23). RESULTS: MADRS scores showed significant reductions at weeks 12 and 24 (mITT-last observation carried forward [LOCF]: -13.1 ± 7.1 and -15.3 ± 8.1, respectively, P < .001 vs baseline for all). Mean ± SD weight loss was -4.0% ± 4.6% (mITT-LOCF) and -6.1% ± 4.7% (observed cases) at week 12 and -5.3% ± 6.5% (mITT-LOCF) and -9.2% ± 6.2% (observed cases) at week 24 (P < .001 vs baseline for all). By week 24, 95% of patients (mITT-LOCF) were responders (CGI-I score ≤ 2) and 70% were in remission (CGI-I score = 1). The safety/tolerability profile of NB32 was consistent with its individual components; the most common adverse events were nausea, constipation, headache, and insomnia, with no serious adverse events attributed to NB32. CONCLUSION: Twenty-four weeks of open-label NB32 therapy with dietary and behavioral counseling was associated with improvement in depressive symptoms and reduced body weight in overweight/obese women with MDD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00624858.