Total urgency and frequency score as a measure of urgency and frequency in overactive bladder and storage lower urinary tract symptoms.

The term lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) encompasses a range of urinary symptoms, including storage symptoms (e.g. overactive bladder [OAB]) as well as voiding and post-micturition symptoms. Although treatment of male LUTS tends to focus on voiding symptoms, patients typically find storage symptoms the most bothersome. The core storage symptom is urgency, which drives the other main storage symptoms of increased daytime frequency, nocturia and incontinence. Although several validated questionnaires have been widely used to study urgency, few measure the two important storage parameters, urgency and frequency, in a single assessment. The total urgency and frequency score (TUFS) is a new validated tool that captures both variables and is derived from the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale, which has been validated in patients with OAB and LUTS. The TUFS was first validated in OAB in the phase IIa BLOSSOM study, which was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of mirabegron, a ß3 -adrenoceptor agonist, in 260 patients. The responsiveness of the TUFS to treatment has been confirmed in a further three large-scale randomized controlled trials of solifenacin in patients with OAB or LUTS. Changes in TUFS from baseline to end of treatment were consistent with changes in micturition diary variables in all four studies. Furthermore, the TUFS was significantly correlated with several health-related quality-of-life variables in the phase III NEPTUNE study. Thus, the TUFS appears to be useful for assessing improvements in major storage symptoms (urgency and frequency) in clinical trials.

Validation of the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and validity of scores derived from the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale (PPIUS) in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: A post hoc analysis of the phase II Solifenacin and Tamsulosin in Males with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia trial (NCT00510406), a 12-week clinical trial in men with LUTS associated with BPH, assessed the measurement properties of six PPIUS-derived scores: mean score; maximum urgency score; total urgency and frequency score (TUFS; average sum of urgency scores over 3 days); and numbers of urgency episodes, urgency episodes of grade 3 or 4, and urgency incontinence episodes. Test-retest reliability, presence of floor/ceiling effects, responsiveness to change, known-group validity, and concurrent validity were assessed for each score. RESULTS: A total of 901 patients had at least one valid PPIUS assessment after baseline. TUFS demonstrated good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.8), discriminated between groups defined based on International Prostate Symptom Score storage score severity (known-groups validity), had high concurrent validity, and had high responsiveness to change (Guyatt's responsiveness statistic 0.88), with an absence of floor or ceiling effects. The psychometric properties of other PPIUS-derived scores were not as consistently robust and showed either low-to-moderate responsiveness, presence of a floor or ceiling effect, or low-to-moderate test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the PPIUS is reliable and valid in patients with LUTS associated with BPH. TUFS provided the best combination of psychometric properties of the six scores derived from the PPIUS and appeared to be an appropriate measure of urgency and frequency.

Severity of overactive bladder symptoms and response to dose escalation in a randomized, double-blind trial of solifenacin (SUNRISE).

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: Antimuscarinics are effective and well tolerated for treatment of OAB. Studies have found that a flexible dosing strategy can be effective in improving OAB symptoms with minimal impact on tolerability. This study confirms these findings with two doses of solifenacin, and shows that improved outcomes can be achieved by increasing solifenacin dose (from 5 to 10 mg) in patients with more severe symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between severity of baseline overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and requests for solifenacin dose increases, and the efficacy of 5 and 10 mg solifenacin doses in relieving OAB symptoms in patients who requested a dose increase. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a 16-week clinical study, patients with OAB were randomized to double-blind treatment with solifenacin or placebo once daily. At week 8, all patients could request a dose increase; these patients entered a second phase of 8 weeks in which those in the solifenacin group were randomized to either 5 or 10 mg doses. The primary efficacy variable was mean change in the number of urgency episodes with or without incontinence per 24 h, measured using the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale (PPIUS; grades 3 and 4). RESULTS: Of 591 patients receiving solifenacin at 8 weeks, 275 (46.5%) requested a dose increase to 10 mg, and were further randomized to receive 10 mg (n = 140) or to remain on 5 mg (n = 135). Patients who requested a dose increase at week 8 generally had more severe OAB symptoms at baseline and a smaller response at week 8 to the initial solifenacin 5 mg dosage than those who did not. Greater reductions in the mean number of severe urgency episodes (PPIUS grades 3 and 4) were observed from week 8 to the end of treatment for patients requesting a dose increase and randomized to 10 mg solifenacin compared with those randomized to remain on 5 mg (mean reductions -0.9 vs -0.4, respectively), although these did not reach statistical significance. Statistically significant reductions were observed in mean total urgency score (TUS; -2.7 vs -0.6; P = 0.010), mean maximum PPIUS urgency rating (-0.3 vs -0.1; P = 0.034) and mean micturition frequency (-0.8 vs -0.1; P = 0.037). For all other OAB variables, greater changes were observed in the solifenacin 10 mg group but these did not reach statistical significance. Of those who requested a dose increase, eight (5.7%) patients randomized to receive 10 mg and one (0.7%) patient randomized to remain on 5 mg reported new or worsening cases of dry mouth. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the solifenacin dose to 10 mg further improved OAB symptoms in patients who requested a dose increase after 8 weeks' treatment with 5 mg solifenacin. The present study supports the view that patients with severe OAB symptoms benefit from a higher antimuscarinic dose.

A phase II dose-ranging study of mirabegron in patients with overactive bladder.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Mirabegron is a potent and selective ß3-adrenoceptor agonist that may represent an alternative treatment option in place of antimuscarinics for patients with overactive bladder. METHODS: Patients completed a single-blinded, 2-week placebo run-in period followed by 12 weeks of randomized (n = 928) double-blinded treatment with mirabegron oral controlled absorption system (OCAS) 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg once-daily (QD), placebo or tolterodine extended release (ER) 4 mg QD. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to end-of-treatment in mean number of micturition episodes/24 h. Secondary endpoints included changes in mean volume voided per micturition; mean number of urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence, and urgency episodes/24 h; severity of urgency; nocturia; and quality of life measures. Safety parameters included vital signs, adverse events, laboratory tests, electrocardiogram measurements and post-void residual volume. RESULTS: Mirabegron 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg resulted in dose-dependent reductions (improvements) from baseline to end-of-treatment in micturition frequency of 1.9, 2.1, 2.1, and 2.2 micturitions/24 h respectively, versus 1.4 micturitions/24 h with placebo (p ≤ 0.05 for the mirabegron 50-, 100-, and 200-mg comparisons). There was a statistically significant improvement with mirabegron compared with placebo for most secondary endpoints including quality of life variables. While there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase from baseline in pulse rate in the mirabegron 100-mg and 200-mg groups, this was not associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The favorable efficacy and tolerability of mirabegron in this phase II dose-finding study has led to its successful advancement into a phase III clinical development program.

Single dose pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of mirabegron, a ß3-adrenoceptor agonist for treatment of overactive bladder.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mirabegron is a potent and selective ß3-adrenoceptor agonist in development for treatment of overactive bladder. METHODS: Mirabegron pharmacokinetics after single intravenous (i.v.) and oral doses, absolute bioavailability (F), dose proportionality, sex differences and tolerability were assessed in 2 single-dose, open-label, randomized, parallel-group, cross-over studies in healthy men (exploratory Study 1, n = 12) and men and women (Study 2, n = 91). RESULTS: After oral dosing (25 - 150 mg), peak plasma concentrations were attained after ~ 4 h. Mean half-life was around 40 h for both routes of administration. Volume of distribution at steady state was 1,670 l and total clearance was around 57 l/h for i.v. dosing. Mirabegron pharmacokinetics were linear after i.v. dosing (7.5 - 50 mg), but exposure increased more than proportionally after oral dosing due to increased F (29% for 25 mg to 45% at 150 mg). About 20% of the (absorbed) dose was excreted unchanged into urine. Area under the curve (AUC) was 27% and 64% higher in females than males after i.v. and oral dosing respectively; differences were mostly attributed to body weight, and for oral dosing, also to F. CONCLUSIONS: Mirabegron pharmacokinetics were linear after i.v. dosing (7.5 - 50 mg), but increased more than proportionally after oral dosing (25 - 150 mg) as a result of increased F. Sex differences in exposure could be explained by body weight and for oral dosing, also by F. Mirabegron was in general well tolerated up to the highest doses studied, 50 mg i.v. and 150 mg oral.

Solifenacin in the treatment of urgency and other symptoms of overactive bladder: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, rising-dose trial.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of the antimuscarinic agent solifenacin on urinary urgency, using a range of novel and established outcome measures, as urgency is the principal symptom of the overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study (SUNRISE, solifenacin in the treatment of urgency symptoms of OAB in a rising dose, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, efficacy trial) was a randomized, double-blind, 16-week, placebo-controlled, multicentre study of solifenacin 5/10 mg in 863 patients with symptoms of OAB for > or = 3 months. The primary efficacy variable was the change from baseline to endpoint in the number of episodes of severe urgency with or without urgency incontinence per 24 h, as measured using the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale, grade 3 + 4. Secondary efficacy variables included patient-reported outcomes for bladder condition, urgency bother and treatment satisfaction. A 3-day voiding diary was used to record micturition frequency and episodes of urgency and incontinence. A 7-day diary was used to assess speed of onset of effect. RESULTS: Solifenacin 5/10 mg was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the mean number of episodes of severe urgency with or without incontinence per 24 h from baseline to endpoint (-2.6 vs -1.8, P < 0.001). There were also statistically significant differences in favour of solifenacin 5/10 mg over placebo for all secondary variables measured at endpoint, including patient-reported outcomes. There was a significant improvement in urgency as early as day 3 of treatment. Treatmente-mergent adverse events with solifenacin 5/10 mg were mainly mild or moderate in severity, and only led to discontinuation in 3.6% of patients. CONCLUSION: Solifenacin significantly reduced the number of urgency episodes and the extent of urgency bother, and was well tolerated; it was effective as early as day 3 of treatment.

Long-term safety and efficacy of single-tablet combinations of solifenacin and tamsulosin oral controlled absorption system in men with storage and voiding lower urinary tract symptoms: results from the NEPTUNE Study and NEPTUNE II open-label extension.

BACKGROUND: Short-term trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of combination therapy using antimuscarinics and α-blockers in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The Study of Solifenacin Succinate and Tamsulosin Hydrochloride OCAS (oral controlled absorption system) in Males with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (NEPTUNE) II is the first long-term study using solifenacin (Soli) and the oral controlled absorption system formulation of tamsulosin (TOCAS). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term (up to 52 wk) safety and efficacy of flexible dosing of two fixed-dose combinations (FDC) of Soli plus TOCAS in men with moderate to severe storage symptoms and voiding symptoms. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients with both storage and voiding LUTS, maximum urinary flow rate of 4.0-12.0 ml/s, prostate size <75 ml, and postvoid residuals ≤ 150 ml, who completed the 12-wk, double-blind NEPTUNE study could continue in the 40-wk, open-label NEPTUNE II study. INTERVENTION: FDC of Soli 6 mg plus TOCAS 0.4 mg, or Soli 9 mg plus TOCAS 0.4mg; patients could switch between doses in NEPTUNE II. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Safety and efficacy data from NEPTUNE and NEPTUNE II were combined to cover a 52-wk period. Primary efficacy end points were total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and total urgency and frequency score (TUFS); secondary end points included IPSS storage and voiding subscores, micturition diary variables, and quality of life parameters. RESULTS: In all, 1066 men completed NEPTUNE and received one dose or more of study medication in NEPTUNE II. Treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 499 (46.8%) patients who participated in NEPTUNE II; most were mild or moderate. Urinary retention occurred in 13 of 1208 (1.1%) patients receiving one or more FDCs in NEPTUNE and/or NEPTUNE II; 8 (0.7%) required catheterisation (acute urinary retention [AUR]). Reductions in total IPSS and TUFS during NEPTUNE were maintained for up to 52 wk of FDC treatment, with mean reductions of 9.0 (standard deviation [SD]: 5.7) and 10.1 (SD: 9.2), respectively, from baseline to end of treatment. Clinically relevant improvements were also observed for secondary efficacy end points. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term treatment with FDC Soli plus TOCAS was well tolerated and efficacious in men with storage and voiding LUTS, with a low incidence of AUR. PATIENT SUMMARY: Treatment with solifenacin plus tamsulosin in a fixed-dose combination tablet was well tolerated by men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Improvements in symptoms were achieved after 4 wk of treatment, with further improvements at week 16 maintained for up to 52 wk throughout the study.

Randomized double-blind, active-controlled phase 3 study to assess 12-month safety and efficacy of mirabegron, a ß(3)-adrenoceptor agonist, in overactive bladder.

BACKGROUND: Despite several antimuscarinic treatment options for overactive bladder (OAB), there is still a need for distinct treatment approaches to manage this condition. Mirabegron, a ß(3)-adrenoceptor agonist, has demonstrated efficacy and tolerability for up to 12 wk in phase 3 trials. OBJECTIVE: To assess the 12-mo safety and efficacy of mirabegron. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients ≥ 18 yr of age with OAB symptoms for ≥ 3 mo. INTERVENTIONS: After a 2-wk single-blind placebo run-in, patients with eight or more micturitions per 24h and three or more urgency episodes in a 3-d micturition diary were randomized 1:1:1 to once-daily mirabegron 50mg, mirabegron 100mg, or tolterodine extended release (ER) 4 mg for 12 mo. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Primary variable: incidence and severity of treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs). Secondary variables: change from baseline at months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 in key OAB symptoms. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 812, 820, and 812 patients received mirabegron 50mg, mirabegron 100mg, and tolterodine ER 4 mg, respectively. Baseline demographic and OAB characteristics were similar across groups. TEAEs were reported in 59.7%, 61.3%, and 62.6% of patients, respectively; most were mild or moderate. Serious TEAEs were reported in 5.2%, 6.2%, and 5.4% of patients, respectively. The most common TEAEs were similar across groups. Dry mouth was reported by 2.8%, 2.3%, and 8.6% of patients, respectively. Adjusted mean changes from baseline to final visit in morning systolic blood pressure were 0.2, 0.4, and -0.5mm Hg for mirabegron 50mg, 100mg, and tolterodine ER 4 mg, respectively. Mirabegron and the active control, tolterodine, improved key OAB symptoms from the first measured time point of 4 wk, and efficacy was maintained throughout the 12-mo treatment period. The study was not placebo controlled, which was a limitation. CONCLUSIONS: The safety and tolerability of mirabegron was established over 1 yr, with sustained efficacy observed over this treatment period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00688688.

Combination therapy with solifenacin and tamsulosin oral controlled absorption system in a single tablet for lower urinary tract symptoms in men: efficacy and safety results from the randomised controlled NEPTUNE trial.

BACKGROUND: Storage symptoms are particularly bothersome in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) but may not be adequately treated by α-blocker monotherapy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of solifenacin and an oral controlled absorption system (OCAS) formulation of tamsulosin compared with placebo and compared with tamsulosin OCAS (TOCAS) monotherapy in men with moderate to severe storage symptoms and voiding symptoms. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A double-blind 12-wk phase 3 study in 1334 men with storage and voiding LUTS: total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥ 13, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) 4.0-12.0 ml/s, two or more urgency episodes per 24 h of Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale grade 3 or 4, and eight or more micturitions per 24h. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomised to placebo, TOCAS 0.4 mg, FDC solifenacin 6 mg plus TOCAS 0.4 mg, or FDC solifenacin 9 mg plus TOCAS 0.4 mg. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Primary efficacy end points were (1) total IPSS and (2) Total Urgency and Frequency Score (TUFS). An FDC met the success criteria if it demonstrated superiority compared with placebo and noninferiority compared with TOCAS for total IPSS, as well as superiority compared with TOCAS for TUFS. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Reductions in total IPSS and TUFS were observed with both solifenacin 6 mg plus TOCAS (-7.0 and -8.1, respectively) and solifenacin 9 mg plus TOCAS (-6.5 and -7.6, respectively) compared with TOCAS (-6.2 and -6.7, respectively) and placebo (-5.4 and -4.4, respectively). Solifenacin 6 mg plus TOCAS met all prespecified success criteria for both primary end points, while solifenacin 9 mg plus TOCAS met success criteria compared with placebo but not compared with TOCAS. Both FDCs improved quality of life (QoL) measures and were well tolerated, with low incidences of acute urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS: The FDC of solifenacin 6 mg plus TOCAS significantly improved storage and voiding symptoms, as well as QoL parameters, compared with placebo. This FDC also improved storage symptoms and QoL compared with TOCAS alone in men with moderate to severe storage symptoms and voiding symptoms, and it was well tolerated.

Efficacy and tolerability of mirabegron, a ß(3)-adrenoceptor agonist, in patients with overactive bladder: results from a randomised European-Australian phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Mirabegron, a ß(3)-adrenoceptor agonist, has been developed for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB). OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of mirabegron versus placebo. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Multicenter randomised double-blind, parallel-group placebo- and tolterodine-controlled phase 3 trial conducted in 27 countries in Europe and Australia in patients ≥ 18 yr of age with symptoms of OAB for ≥ 3 mo. INTERVENTION: After a 2-wk single-blind placebo run-in period, patients were randomised to receive placebo, mirabegron 50mg, mirabegron 100mg, or tolterodine extended release 4 mg orally once daily for 12 wk. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Patients completed a micturition diary and quality-of-life (QoL) assessments. Co-primary efficacy end points were change from baseline to final visit in the mean number of incontinence episodes and micturitions per 24h. The primary comparison was between mirabegron and placebo with a secondary comparison between tolterodine and placebo. Safety parameters included adverse events (AEs), laboratory assessments, vital signs, electrocardiograms, and postvoid residual volume. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 1978 patients were randomised and received the study drug. Mirabegron 50-mg and 100-mg groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements (adjusted mean change from baseline [95% confidence intervals]) at the final visit in the number of incontinence episodes per 24h (-1.57 [-1.79 to -1.35] and -1.46 [-1.68 to -1.23], respectively, vs placebo -1.17 [-1.39 to -0.95]) and number of micturitions per 24h (-1.93 [-2.15 to -1.72] and -1.77 [-1.99 to -1.56], respectively, vs placebo -1.34 [-1.55 to -1.12]; p<0.05 for all comparisons). Statistically significant improvements were also observed in other key efficacy end points and QoL outcomes. The incidence of treatment-emergent AEs was similar across treatment groups. The main limitation of this study was the short (12-wk) duration of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Mirabegron represents a new class of treatment for OAB with proven efficacy and good tolerability. TRIAL IDENTIFICATION: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT00689104.