Twelve years of experience with miglustat in the treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease: The Spanish ZAGAL project.

We report data from a prospective, observational study (ZAGAL) evaluating miglustat 100mg three times daily orally. in treatment-naïve patients and patients with type 1 Gaucher Disease (GD1) switched from previous enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Clinical evolution, changes in organ size, blood counts, disease biomarkers, bone marrow infiltration (S-MRI), bone mineral density by broadband ultrasound densitometry (BMD), safety and tolerability annual reports were analysed. Between May 2004 and April 2016, 63 patients received miglustat therapy; 20 (32%) untreated and 43 (68%) switched. At the time of this report 39 patients (14 [36%] treatment-naïve; 25 [64%] switch) remain on miglustat. With over 12-year follow-up, hematologic counts, liver and spleen volumes remained stable. In total, 80% of patients achieved current GD1 therapeutic goals. Plasma chitotriosidase activity and CCL-18/PARC concentration showed a trend towards a slight increase. Reductions on S-MRI (p=0.042) with an increase in BMD (p<0.01) were registered. Gastrointestinal disturbances were reported in 25/63 (40%), causing miglustat suspension in 11/63 (17.5%) cases. Thirty-eight patients (60%) experienced a fine hand tremor and two a reversible peripheral neuropathy. Overall, miglustat was effective as a long-term therapy in mild to moderate naïve and ERT stabilized patients. No unexpected safety signals were identified during 12-years follow-up.

Tratamiento con velaglucerasa en dos pacientes con enfermedad de Gaucher de tipo 1 / Safety of use of velaglucerase in 2 patients with type 1 Gaucher's disease

La incidencia de reacciones adversas de tipo inmunológico en pacientes con enfermedad de Gaucher (EG) en tratamiento de sustitución enzimática con imiglucerasa se ha referido en torno al 17%, y están relacionadas con la presencia de anticuerpos inmunoglobulina G no neutralizantes. Los ensayos clínicos con una nueva enzima obtenida en cultivo de células humanas (GA-GCB-velaglucerasa) han demostrado ausencia de reacciones adversas de tipo inmune y escasa producción de anticuerpos anti-velaglucerasa, a pesar de que algunos pacientes tenían como antecedente el desarrollo de anticuerpos frente a imiglucerasa. Presentamos los casos clínicos de 2 pacientes diagnosticadas de EG en la infancia y que desarrollaron anticuerpos anti-imiglucerasa e importante reacción adversa inmunoalérgica durante la perfusión de imiglucerasa, precisando sistemáticamente la administración previa de esteroides y antihistamínicos con cada perfusión y tiempos de perfusión > 4 h (AU)

The incidence of immunologic reactions in patients with Gaucher’s disease (GD) on enzymatic replacement therapy with imiglucerase is about 17% and related with the presence of non-neutralizing immunoglobulin G antibodies. The clinical trials with a new enzyme obtained in human cells (GA-GCB-velaglucerase) have demonstrated absence of immune reactions and no antibodies against the enzyme in spite of some patients had previous developed antibodies against imiglucerase. We present 2 clinical cases of patients diagnosed with EG in childhood and who developed antibodies and important imiglucerase immunoallergic adverse reaction during the imiglucerase perfusion, indicating systematic administration of steroids and antihistamines prior to each perfusion and perfusion time > 4 h (AU)

Tratamiento actual de la enfermedad de Gaucher y nuevas perspectivas / Current treatment for Gaucher's disease and new prospects

Dos nuevas enzimas útiles para el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Gaucher (EG) han finalizado los ensayos clínicos: velaglucerasa alfa y taliglucerasa alfa. Se aceleró su aceptación en los programas de acceso en las agencias reguladoras debido a la escasez en el suministro de imiglucerasa producido en junio de 2009. Velaglucerasa alfa ha sido aprobada tanto por la Food and Drug Administration como por la Agencia Europea del Medicamento (EMA). Han transcurrido ya 8 años desde que se inició el primer ensayo de fase I/II realizado con velaglucerasa. No se han producido efectos adversos graves relacionados con la enzima, ni aparición de anticuerpos o retiradas del ensayo. Se ha referido una mejoría de las variables clínicas estadísticamente significativas (p < 0,004) en la concentración media de hemoglobina a los 9 y 48 meses (19,2 y 21,7%, respectivamente), incremento en el recuento de plaquetas (67,6 y 157,8%, respectivamente), reducción del volumen hepático (< 18,2 y < 42,8%, respectivamente) y del volumen esplénico (< 49,5 y < 79,3%, respectivamente). A los 2 años del inicio del tratamiento, todos los pacientes habían normalizado las concentraciones de hemoglobina y el recuento de plaquetas era >100 × 109/l, todos los pacientes normalizaron prácticamente el volumen hepático y redujeron en más del 50% el volumen esplénico. En estos momentos, el fármaco se encuentra en indicación para pacientes (niños o adultos) con EG de tipo 1 sintomática y es aceptado como fármaco huérfano por la EMA a un coste similar al de imiglucerasa. La taliglucerasa alfa, obtenida en cultivos transfectados de células vegetales, se encuentra pendiente de aprobación (AU)

Two new useful enzymes have recently undergone clinical trials for the treatment of Gaucher’s disease (GD): velaglucerase alpha and taliglucerase alpha were both approved for early access programs as of the June 2009 shortage in Imiglucerase supply. Velaglucerase has been approved by both, Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency. The Phase I/II trial of velaglucerase is in its 8th year: There were no drug-related serious adverse events or withdrawals, and no antibodies. Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.004) were noted in mean percent change from baseline to nine months and baseline to 48 months for hemoglobin (19.2% and 21.7%, respectively), platelet counts (67.6% and 157.8%, respectively), normalized liver volume. At present, velaglucerase alpha is indicated in type 1 GD symptomatic patients (children or adults) and is accepted as an orphan drug by the EMA with similar cost to imiglucerase. Taliglucerasa alpha, obtained from transfected plant cell cultures, is pending to approval (AU)

Neurological manifestations in patients with Gaucher disease and their relatives, it is just a coincidence?

Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by defective function of glucocerebrosidase. GD presents a wide spectrum of manifestations, and patients and their relatives may develop neurological abnormalities more frequently than the general population. This study aims to determine the presence of neurological symptoms (NS) and Parkinson's disease (PD) in Spanish GD patients and their relatives. We surveyed 87 GD Spanish families and validated the information obtained on the neurological involvement through their physicians, as well as the historical data included in the Spanish Gaucher Disease Registry. Neurological abnormalities were correlated with the genetic characteristics. Statistical analyses included descriptive parameters, ANOVA, t-test, correlation study and Pearson coefficient. Information was obtained from 118 patients and 324 relatives. Out of 110 patients with type 1 GD, 32 (29.1%) reported NS and 7 (6.4%) had PD. In relatives, a total of 39 (13.1%) subjects had NS, including 16 with PD (5.3%). The prevalence of NS in genetic carriers (15.9%) was greater than that in non-carriers (5.9%; p < 0.01). Patients with PD carried the following GBA mutations: S364R, D409H, L444P, R257Q, IVS4-2A > G, c.500insT, and L336P. Relatives with PD exhibited a wide spectrum of mutations: L444P, N370S, V398I, R257Q, G202R, c.1439-1445del7, [E326K; N188S], and c.953delT. We observed a high incidence of PD in type 1 GD and relative's carriers. PD was more frequent in carriers of L444P and other rare GBA mutations. Therefore, it is important to perform a systematic neurological exam in patients with type 1 GD and carriers with high risk mutations.

[Safety of use of velaglucerase in 2 patients with type 1 Gaucher's disease]. / Tratamiento con velaglucerasa en dos pacientes con enfermedad de Gaucher de tipo 1.

The incidence of immunologic reactions in patients with Gaucher's disease (GD) on enzymatic replacement therapy with imiglucerase is about 17% and related with the presence of non-neutralizing immunoglobulin G antibodies. The clinical trials with a new enzyme obtained in human cells (GA-GCB-velaglucerase) have demonstrated absence of immune reactions and no antibodies against the enzyme in spite of some patients had previous developed antibodies against imiglucerase. We present 2 clinical cases of patients diagnosed with EG in childhood and who developed antibodies and important imiglucerase immunoallergic adverse reaction during the imiglucerase perfusion, indicating systematic administration of steroids and antihistamines prior to each perfusion and perfusion time > 4h.

[Current treatment for Gaucher's disease and new prospects]. / Tratamiento actual de la enfermedad de Gaucher y nuevas perspectivas.

Two new useful enzymes have recently undergone clinical trials for the treatment of Gaucher's disease (GD): velaglucerase alpha and taliglucerase alpha were both approved for early access programs as of the June 2009 shortage in Imiglucerase supply. Velaglucerase has been approved by both, Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency. The Phase I/II trial of velaglucerase is in its 8th year: There were no drug-related serious adverse events or withdrawals, and no antibodies. Statistically significant improvements (p<0.004) were noted in mean percent change from baseline to nine months and baseline to 48 months for hemoglobin (19.2% and 21.7%, respectively), platelet counts (67.6% and 157.8%, respectively), normalized liver volume (<18.2% and <42.8%, respectively), and normalized spleen volume (<49.5% and <79.3%, respectively). Within 2 years of initiation of therapy, all patients achieved normalization of hemoglobin level, all but one patient achieved platelet counts of greater than 100×10(9)/L, all patients achieved near normalization in liver volumes, and all patients but one exhibited a reduction of more than 50% in spleen volume. At present, velaglucerase alpha is indicated in type 1 GD symptomatic patients (children or adults) and is accepted as an orphan drug by the EMA with similar cost to imiglucerase. Taliglucerasa alpha, obtained from transfected plant cell cultures, is pending to approval.

Real-world clinical experience with long-term miglustat maintenance therapy in type 1 Gaucher disease: the ZAGAL project.

There are few published data from real-world clinical experience with miglustat (Zavesca), an oral inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase, in type 1 Gaucher disease. We report data from a prospective, open-label investigational study that evaluated substrate reduction therapy with miglustat 100 mg t.i.d. as a maintenance therapy in patients with Type 1 Gaucher disease who had been switched from previous enzyme replacement therapy. Long-term data on changes in organ size, blood counts, disease severity bio-markers, bone marrow infiltration, overall clinical status and safety/tolerability were analyzed from 28 patients with Type 1 Gaucher disease who were attending routine clinic visits. Assessments were performed at six, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months of therapy. Disease severity biomarkers improved up to 48 months after initiation of miglustat, while other disease parameters remained stable. Miglustat showed an acceptable profile of safety and tolerability throughout treatment. In conclusion, miglustat is an effective therapy for the long-term maintenance of patients with Type 1 Gaucher disease previously stabilized with enzyme replacement therapy.

[Neurological manifestations in patients with Gaucher disease and in their relatives]. / Manifestaciones neurológicas en pacientes con enfermedad de Gaucher y en sus familiares.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Gaucher disease (GD) is characterized by a wide spectrum of manifestations. Previous reports indicate that GD relatives could develop neurological abnormalities more frequently than the general population. We aimed to know the presence of neurological symptoms (NS) in GD patients and their relatives. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From January to December 2006 we performed a postal survey contacting 42 physicians and 92 families to evaluate NS and correlate them with genetic characteristics. Statistical analysis using descriptive parameters, ANOVA, t-test and a correlation study including Pearson coefficient were performed. RESULTS: Information from 72 families (78.3% responses) including 99 patients and 266 relatives was obtained. Thirty type 1 GD (32.6%) reported NS: tremor 8 (8.7%), uncoordinated movements 9 (9.8%), concentration defects 11 (11.9%), strabism 7 (7.6%), deafness 8 (8.7%), Parkinson disease (PD) 7 (7.6%) and peripheral neuropathy 10 (10.9%). Thirty-six (13.5%) first or second degrees relatives presented the following NS: PD 14 (4.9%), epilepsy 8 (3.0%), tremor 7 (2.6%), deafness 2 (0.7%) and others 5 (1.9%). 17.3% of carriers had NS versus 5.7% in non-carriers (p = 0.0096). Patients with PD had mutations in S364R, D409H, L444P, [IVS4-2a ==> g; c.(-203)A ==> G], c.500insT and L336P. In relatives with PD a wide spectrum of mutations was observed: L444P, N370S, V398I, G202R, c.1439-1445del7, [E326K; N188S] and c.953delT. In other NS, predominant mutations were D409H, G195W, R120W, R147X, L336P and G377S. CONCLUSIONS: A higher incidence than expected of PD and other NS in GD type 1 patients and relatives was observed. These manifestations appear frequently in L444P or rare mutations carriers. It is important to perform a systematic neurological exam in type 1 GD patients and carriers with risk mutations.

Short-term effect of miglustat in every day clinical use in treatment-naïve or previously treated patients with type 1 Gaucher's disease.

In a prospective, open-label study, 25 patients with mild-to-moderate type 1 Gaucher's disease (GD1) were treated with miglustat (Zavesca), an oral glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, over 12 months. Of the 25 patients, 10 were therapy-naïve and 15 had previously received enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Clinical status, blood parameters, biomarkers, and organomegaly were assessed at baseline at 6 months and at 12 months. At 6 months the previously untreated patients showed a mean increase in hemoglobin of 0.77 g/dL, platelet counts improved or remaining stable, chitotriosidase and CCL18 decreased. These results were similar to those observed in 40 Spanish GD1 patients on ERT. Bone marrow infiltration cleared at 12 months. In the previously treated group, clinical and hematologic parameters and biomarkers were maintained/ improved at 12 months. Miglustat was well tolerated. The efficacy of miglustat treatment after 6 months was comparable to that of ERT.