Demonstrating Bioequivalence for Two Dose Strengths of Niraparib and Abiraterone Acetate Dual-Action Tablets Versus Single Agents: Utility of Clinical Study Data Supplemented with Modeling and Simulation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The combination of niraparib and abiraterone acetate (AA) plus prednisone is under investigation for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). Regular-strength (RS) and lower-strength (LS) dual-action tablets (DATs), comprising niraparib 100 mg/AA 500 mg and niraparib 50 mg/AA 500 mg, respectively, were developed to reduce pill burden and improve patient experience. A bioequivalence (BE)/bioavailability (BA) study was conducted under modified fasting conditions in patients with mCRPC to support approval of the DATs. METHODS: This open-label randomized BA/BE study (NCT04577833) was conducted at 14 sites in the USA and Europe. The study had a sequential design, including a 21-day screening phase, a pharmacokinetic (PK) assessment phase comprising three periods [namely (1) single-dose with up to 1-week run-in, (2) daily dose on days 1-11, and (3) daily dose on days 12-22], an extension where both niraparib and AA as single-agent combination (SAC; reference) or AA alone was continued from day 23 until discontinuation, and a 30-day follow-up phase. Patients were randomly assigned in a parallel-group design (four-sequence randomization) to receive a single oral dose of niraparib 100 mg/AA 1000 mg as a LS-DAT or SAC in period 1, and patients continued as randomized into a two-way crossover design during periods 2 and 3 where they received niraparib 200 mg/AA 1000 mg once daily as a RS-DAT or SAC. The design was powered on the basis of crossover assessment of RS-DAT versus SAC. During repeated dosing (periods 2 and 3, and extension phase), all patients also received prednisone/prednisolone 5 mg twice daily. Plasma samples were collected for measurement of niraparib and abiraterone plasma concentrations. Statistical assessment of the RS-DAT and LS-DAT versus SAC was performed on log-transformed pharmacokinetic parameters data from periods 2 and 3 (crossover) and from period 1 (parallel), respectively. Additional paired analyses and model-based bioequivalence assessments were conducted to evaluate the similarity between the LS-DAT and SAC. RESULTS: For the RS-DAT versus SAC, the 90% confidence intervals (CI) of geometric mean ratios (GMR) for maximum concentration at a steady state (Cmax,ss) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0-24 h at a steady state (AUC 0-24h,ss) were respectively 99.18-106.12% and 97.91-104.31% for niraparib and 87.59-106.69 and 86.91-100.23% for abiraterone. For the LS-DAT vs SAC, the 90% CI of GMR for AUC0-72h of niraparib was 80.31-101.12% in primary analysis, the 90% CI of GMR for Cmax,ss and AUC 0-24h,ss of abiraterone was 85.41-118.34% and 86.51-121.64% respectively, and 96.4% of simulated LS-DAT versus SAC BE trials met the BE criteria for both niraparib and abiraterone. CONCLUSIONS: The RS-DAT met BE criteria (range 80%-125%) versus SAC based on 90% CI of GMR for Cmax,ss and AUC 0-24h,ss. The LS-DAT was considered BE to SAC on the basis of the niraparib component meeting the BE criteria in the primary analysis for AUC 0-72h; abiraterone meeting the BE criteria in additional paired analyses based on Cmax,ss and AUC 0-24h,ss; and the percentage of simulated LS-DAT versus SAC BE trials meeting the BE criteria for both. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT04577833.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Ponesimod, a Selective S1P1 Receptor Modulator, in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

Ponesimod, a selective, rapidly reversible, and orally active, sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor (S1P) modulator, is indicated for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of ponesimod was studied in 16 phase I, one phase II, and one phase III clinical studies. Ponesimod population PK was characterized by an open two-compartment disposition model with a terminal half-life of 33 h (accumulation factor of 2- to 2.6-fold), and fast and almost complete oral absorption (absolute oral bioavailability: 84%), reaching peak plasma and blood concentrations within 2-4 h. Ponesimod is highly metabolized, and the parent compound along with its two major (non-clinically active) metabolites are mainly excreted in the feces (recovery: 57.3-79.6%) and to a lesser extent in the urine (recovery: 10.3-18.4%). Additionally, the population PKPD model characterized the ponesimod effects on heart rate: a transient, dose-dependent decrease in heart rate in the first days of dosing, that is mitigated by administering the first doses of ponesimod treatment using a gradual up-titration schedule, before reaching the daily maintenance dose of 20 mg. This selected maintenance dose has been shown to be superior in reducing annualized relapse rate (ARR) when compared with teriflunomide in a pivotal phase III study. Furthermore, a dose-dependent reduction of peripheral lymphocyte counts that is sustained with continued daily oral dosing of ponesimod and is rapidly (4-7 days) reversible upon drug discontinuation has been characterized with an indirect response model.

Quantifying Antibody Persistence After a Single Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Ad26.COV2.S in Humans Using a Mechanistic Modeling and Simulation Approach.

Understanding persistence of humoral immune responses elicited by vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is critical for informing the duration of protection and appropriate booster timing. We developed a mechanistic model to characterize the time course of humoral immune responses in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-seronegative adults after primary vaccination with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, Ad26.COV2.S. The persistence of antibody responses was quantified through mechanistic modeling-based simulations. Two biomarkers of humoral immune responses were examined: SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies determined by wild-type virus neutralization assay (wtVNA) and spike protein-binding antibodies determined by indirect spike protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (S-ELISA). The persistence of antibody responses was defined as the period of time during which wtVNA and S-ELISA titers remained above the lower limit of quantification. A total of 442 wtVNA and 1,185 S-ELISA titers from 82 and 220 participants, respectively, were analyzed following administration of a single dose of Ad26.COV2.S (5 × 1010 viral particles). The mechanistic model adequately described the time course of observed wtVNA and S-ELISA serum titers and its associated variability up to 8 months following vaccination. Mechanistic model-based simulations show that single-dose Ad26.COV2.S elicits durable but waning antibody responses up to 24 months following immunization. Of the estimated model parameters, the production rate of memory B cells was decreased in older adults relative to younger adults, and the antibody production rate mediated by long-lived plasma cells was increased in women relative to men. A steeper waning of antibody responses was predicted in men and in older adults.

Efficacy and safety exposure-response relationships of apalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer: results from the phase 3 TITAN study.

PURPOSE: Apalutamide plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) has been approved for treatment of patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) based on data from phase 3 TITAN study. This analysis was conducted to describe pharmacokinetics of apalutamide and N-desmethyl-apalutamide and explore relationships between apalutamide exposure and selected clinical efficacy and safety observations. METHODS: 1052 patients were randomized to apalutamide + ADT (n = 525) or placebo + ADT (n = 527). A previously developed population pharmacokinetic model was applied. Cox regression analysis investigated the relationships between apalutamide exposure and overall survival (OS; n = 1004) and radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS; n = 1003). Logistic regression analysis assessed the relationships between apalutamide exposure and selected clinically relevant adverse events (n = 1051). RESULTS: Apalutamide + ADT treatment was efficacious in extending rPFS and OS versus placebo + ADT. Within a relatively narrow apalutamide exposure range (coefficient of variation: 22%), no statistical association was detected between rPFS, OS and apalutamide exposure quartiles. Incidence of skin rash and pruritus increased significantly with increasing apalutamide exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in apalutamide exposure were not associated with clinically relevant differences in rPFS or OS in patients with mCSPC. Patients with increased apalutamide exposure are more likely to develop skin rash and pruritus. Dose reductions may improve these adverse events, based on an individual risk-benefit approach.

Dose Correction for a Michaelis-Menten Approximation of a Target-Mediated Drug Disposition Model with a Multiple Intravenous Dosing Regimens.

This study aimed to develop a method for implementing dose correction in a Michaelis-Menten (M-M) approximation of a target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) model with multiple intravenous (IV) bolus administrations. We derived the formula of a correction factor (Fcorr) for each dose in a multiple IV bolus dosing regimens for M-M model. Fcorr depends on the residual free drug amount prior IV bolus dosing event and dose amount. We conducted a stochastic simulation and estimation (SSE) exercise based on therapeutic antibody PK parameters to evaluate the effect of Fcorr on parameter estimation. Previously published clinical PK data of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) from four clinical trials in healthy subjects receiving multiple IV bolus doses were analyzed by both M-M model with and without dose correction (MMC and MMNC) as well as the rapid-binding/quasi-steady-state (RB/QSS) TMDD models. Our results showed that MMNC introduced bias to fixed-effect parameter estimates and overestimated random-effect variables. Compared with MMC, MMNC was not able to adequately characterize the nonlinearity in the PK data of antibody and rHuEPO. The MMC-based simulation demonstrated that thricely weekly 10 IU/kg rHuEPO dosing regimen yielded Fcorr = 0.5. This result suggested that the lower-than-expected exposure for rHuEPO at low dose is due to target binding. An M-M approximation of the TMDD model should include a dose correction to avoid model misfitting and potential bias in the estimated PK parameters.

Influence of Disease and Patient Characteristics on Daratumumab Exposure and Clinical Outcomes in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the influence of disease and patient characteristics on exposure to daratumumab, an immunoglobulin Gκ (IgGκ) monoclonal antibody, and clinical outcomes in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Baseline myeloma type, albumin levels, renal/hepatic function, age, sex, race, weight, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status, refractory status, and number of prior therapies were evaluated using data from two clinical studies-GEN501 (N = 104) and SIRIUS (N = 124). RESULTS: Daratumumab clearance was approximately 110% higher in IgG myeloma patients than non-IgG myeloma patients, leading to significantly lower exposure in IgG myeloma patients based on maximum trough serum concentrations (p < 0.0001). However, the overall response rate was similar for IgG and non-IgG myeloma patients (odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.54-2.17, p = 0.82). For a given exposure, the drug effect was significantly higher (approximately two times) in IgG versus non-IgG patients (p = 0.03). The influence of other patient and disease characteristics on daratumumab exposure was minimal and no significant effect on efficacy was observed (p ≥ 0.1). The incidences of infections and overall grade 3 or higher adverse events in subpopulations were generally consistent with that of the overall population. CONCLUSION: Due to competition with the MM-produced IgG M-protein for neonatal Fc receptor protection from clearance, IgG-based monoclonal antibodies in general may have significantly higher clearance and lower concentrations in IgG MM patients compared with non-IgG MM patients. Careful evaluation of the impact of exposure and patient and disease characteristics on safety and efficacy is warranted for all IgG-based monoclonal antibodies used in MM.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationship of AMG 811, an anti-IFN-γ IgG1 monoclonal antibody, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationships between AMG 811 exposure, concentration changes in serum IFN-γ, and IFN-γ-induced protein 10 (CXCL10), and to identify important contributions of baseline covariates to these relationships. METHODS: A mechanism based pharmacokinetic (PK)-pharmacodynamic (PD) model was developed. A target mediated disposition model was used to describe AMG 811 and target IFN-γ interaction. CXCL10 was predicted to be driven by estimated free IFN-γ levels. RESULTS: For an average systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) subject, the linear clearance (CL) of AMG 811 was 0.176 L/day, and the central (Vc) and peripheral (Vp) volumes of distribution were 1.48 and 2.12 L, respectively. Body weight was found to correlate with CL, Vc, Vp, and inter compartment clearance (Q); and age was found to correlate with Vc. The relationship between estimated free serum IFN-γ concentration levels and serum CXCL10 in logarithmic scales was best described by a linear model with slope and intercept estimated to be 0.197 and -0.3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The largest observed reduction of serum CXCL10 concentration was achieved at the highest AMG 811 dose tested (180 mg SC). This model enables simulations of AMG 811 PK-PD profiles under various dosing regimens to support future clinical studies.

Population pharmacokinetic analysis of pegylated human erythropoietin in rats.

The purpose of this study was to model the pharmacokinetics of the pegylated human erythropoietin (PEG-EPO) after single-dose administration in rats, and to evaluate the influence of weight, sex, and pregnancy status on the pharmacokinetic parameters. A total of 436 serum concentrations from 193 Sprague-Dawley rats were obtained from four pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies, in which a single dose of PEG-EPO was administered by the intravenous (i.v.; dose range: 2.5 to 500 microg/kg) and subcutaneous (s.c.; dose range: 12.5 to 500 microg/kg) route. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using nonlinear mixed effect modeling (NONMEM V software) to determine the population mean of pharmacokinetic parameters and the variances of the interindividual random effects. The effect of weight, sex, and pregnancy status on the pharmacokinetic parameters was evaluated by forward inclusion and backward elimination process, using the likelihood ratio test. Nonparametric bootstrap analysis was employed as an internal model evaluation technique to qualify the model developed. An open two-compartment model with linear elimination from the central compartment, a first-order absorption with lag time characterized the serum concentration-time profiles of PEG-EPO after i.v. and s.c. administration. For a male rat of 0.24 kg, the average CL, Vc, Q, Vp, Ka, Tlag, and F was estimated to be 0.728 mL/h, 15.8 mL, 0.373 mL/h, 6.99 mL, 0.0618 h(-1), 3.13 h, and 48.8%, respectively. A twofold increase in weight corresponded with a 170 and 238% increase in CL and Vc, respectively. In female rats, Vp was reduced by 11%, whereas F was increased by 15%. No effect of pregnancy status on any of the parameters could be identified. The interindividual variability in CL, Vc, Vp, Ka, and F was estimated at 10.7, 14.7, 16.6, 11.0, and 13.6%, respectively. Nonparametric bootstrap analysis confirmed the accuracy and the precision of the NONMEM parameter estimates. A population pharmacokinetic approach was used to integrate the knowledge gathered from several pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies in rats. The pharmacokinetics of PEG-EPO in the rat was successfully modeled using a two-compartmental model with a linear elimination from the central compartment and a first-order absorption process with lag time. Weight and sex, but not pregnancy status, were identified as covariates of interest during preclinical development. The population pharmacokinetic model developed will be further used for the purpose of interspecies scaling and PK/PD modeling.