Iptacopan in Idiopathic Immune Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis: Protocol of the APPARENT Multicenter, Randomized Phase 3 Study.

Introduction: Immune complex-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) is an ultra-rare, fast-progressing kidney disease that may be idiopathic (primary) or secondary to chronic infection, autoimmune disorders, or monoclonal gammopathies. Dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway is implicated in the pathophysiology of IC-MPGN; and currently, there are no approved targeted treatments. Iptacopan is an oral, highly potent proximal complement inhibitor that specifically binds to factor B and inhibits the alternative pathway (AP). Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study (APPARENT; NCT05755386) will evaluate the efficacy and safety of iptacopan in patients with idiopathic (primary) IC-MPGN, enrolling up to 68 patients (minimum of 10 adolescents) aged 12 to 60 years with biopsy-confirmed IC-MPGN, proteinuria ≥1 g/g, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 ml/min per 1.73 m2. All patients will receive maximally tolerated angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker and vaccination against encapsulated bacteria. Patients with any organ transplant, progressive crescentic glomerulonephritis, or kidney biopsy with >50% interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, will be excluded. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive either iptacopan 200 mg twice daily (bid) or placebo for 6 months, followed by open-label treatment with iptacopan 200 mg bid for all patients for 6 months. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of iptacopan versus placebo in proteinuria reduction measured as urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) (24-h urine) at 6 months. Key secondary end points will assess kidney function measured by eGFR, patients who achieve a proteinuria-eGFR composite end point, and patient-reported fatigue. Conclusion: This study will provide evidence toward the efficacy and safety of iptacopan in idiopathic (primary) IC-MPGN.

Long-Term Effects of Everolimus-Facilitated Tacrolimus Reduction in Living-Donor Liver Transplant Recipients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The study objective was to evaluate the effect of everolimus (EVR) in combination with reduced tacrolimus (rTAC) compared with a standard TAC (sTAC) regimen on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence in de novo living-donor liver transplantation recipients (LDLTRs) with primary HCC at liver transplantation through 5 years after transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this multicenter, non-interventional study, LDLTRs with primary HCC, who were previously randomized to either everolimus plus reduced tacrolimus (EVR+rTAC) or standard tacrolimus (sTAC), and who completed the 2-year core H2307 study, were followed up. Data were collected retrospectively (end of core to the start of follow-up study), and prospectively (during the 3-year follow-up study). RESULTS Of 117 LDLTRs with HCC at LT in the core H2307 study (EVR+rTAC, N=56; sTAC, N=61), 86 patients (EVR+rTAC, N=41; sTAC, N=45) entered the follow-up study. Overall HCC recurrence was lower but statistically non-significant in the EVR+rTAC group (3.6% vs 11.5% in sTAC; P=0.136) at 5 years after LT. There was no graft loss or chronic rejection. Acute rejection and death were comparable between treatment groups. Higher mean estimated glomerular filtration rate in the EVR+rTAC group (76.8 vs 65.8 mL/min/1.73 m² in sTAC) was maintained up to 5 years. Reported adverse events were numerically lower in the EVR+rTAC group (41.0% vs 53.5% sTAC) but not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Although statistically not significant, early EVR initiation reduced HCC recurrence, with comparable efficacy and safety, and better long-term renal function, than that of sTAC treatment.

Pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of siponimod (BAF312) in subjects with different levels of hepatic impairment: a single-dose, open-label, parallel-group study
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of siponimod and major metabolites in subjects with mild, moderate, and severe hepatic impairment (HI) compared with demographically-matched healthy subjects (HS). METHODS: This open-label, parallel-group study enrolled 40 subjects (each HI group, n = 8; HS group, n = 16). A staged design was employed starting with the enrollment of subjects with mild HI, followed by those with moderate and severe HI. All subjects received single oral doses of 0.25 mg siponimod on day 1; PK and safety data were collected during the 21-day follow-up. RESULTS: All subjects had similar baseline characteristics and completed the study. No significant differences were observed in the plasma exposure of siponimod in mild, moderate, and severe HI groups vs. HS: Cmax changed by 16%, -13%, and -16%; AUC by 5%, -13%, and 15%, respectively. The unbound siponimod PK parameters vs. HS were similar in the mild HI, and increased in the moderate (Cmax, 15%; AUC, 17%) and severe HI groups (Cmax, 11%; AUC, 50%). Exposure of M3 and M5 also showed 2- to 5-fold increase, particularly in the moderate and severe HI groups vs HS. There were no clinically-relevant safety findings. CONCLUSIONS: Single oral doses of 0.25 mg siponimod were well tolerated, and HI did not significantly alter exposure to siponimod. Increase in the M3 and M5 metabolites requires further evaluation. These results do not warrant any dose adjustments of siponimod in subjects with HI.
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Effects of Therapeutic and Supratherapeutic Doses of Siponimod (BAF312) on Cardiac Repolarization in Healthy Subjects.

PURPOSE: The International Conference on Harmonisation E14 guideline mandates an intensive cardiac safety evaluation in a clinical thorough QT study, typically in healthy subjects, for all new non-antiarrhythmic drugs with systemic bioavailability. This thorough QT study investigated the effects of therapeutic (2 mg) and supratherapeutic (10 mg) doses of siponimod (BAF312) on cardiac repolarization in healthy subjects. METHODS: The study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo- and moxifloxacin-controlled, multiple oral dose study. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned to 3 groups to receive siponimod (up-titration to 2 and 10 mg over 18 days), placebo (Days -1 to 18), or moxifloxacin 400 mg Days 10 and 18). Triplicate ECGs were extracted at prespecified time points from Holter ECGs recorded from 1 hour predose until 24 hours postdose at baseline and on-treatment assessment Days 10 and 18. The primary pharmacodynamic variable was the time-matched, placebo-corrected, baseline-adjusted mean QTcF (ΔΔQTcF) at steady-state conditions. In addition, the pharmacokinetic parameters of siponimod and its main circulating metabolite M3 and its metabolite M5 were evaluated. FINDINGS: Of the 304 enrolled subjects, 281 (92.4%) were included in the pharmacodynamic analysis and 270 (88.8%) completed the study. The upper bounds of the 2-sided 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for ΔΔQTcF at both siponimod doses were within the regulatory threshold of 10 milliseconds (ms) at all predefined on-treatment time points, with the absence of any dose-related effects. The highest observed upper limits of the 2-sided 90% CIs of 9.8 and 9.6 ms for therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses, respectively, were both observed at 3 hours postdose. No treatment-emergent QTc values >480 ms and no QTc increases of >60 ms from baseline were observed. Similar results were obtained with individualized heart rate correction of cardiac repolarization (QTcI). Assay validity was demonstrated by maximum ΔΔQTcF of >5 ms after 400 mg moxifloxacin on both on-treatment assessment days. The selected supratherapeutic dose produced approximately 5-fold higher exposures (Cmax and AUC) than the therapeutic dose, and was considered appropriate to investigate the effects of siponimod on QT/QTc at substantial multiples of the anticipated maximum therapeutic exposure. IMPLICATIONS: The findings provide evidence that siponimod is not associated with a significant arrhythmogenic potential related to QT prolongation.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction of siponimod (BAF312) and propranolol in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiac and pulmonary effects of siponimod (BAF312) and propranolol co-administration in healthy subjects. METHODS: Healthy subjects (n=76) were randomized in a doubleblind manner to receive propranolol at siponimod steady state (group A), siponimod at propranolol steady state (group B), placebo (group C) and propranolol (group D). Pharmacodynamic evaluations included maximum change from baseline in time-matched hourly average heart rate (Emax HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (Emax MABP) over 24 hours postdose, change from baseline in PR intervals, cardiac rhythm, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Pharmacokinetic and safety parameters were also assessed. RESULTS: Siponimod and propranolol when administered alone resulted in similar HR decrease at steady state. Compared to propranolol alone, the combination at steady state had an additional 6.21 bpm (95%CI: 2.32, 10.11) decrease of mean EmaxHR, a decrease of 5.04 bpm (0.52, 9.56) for group A and 7.39 bpm (2.87, 11.90) for group B. A minor decrease in MABP and a trend towards PR interval increase were noted with co-administration treatment vs. propranolol alone. There were no episodes of second-degree atrioventricular blocks or sinus pauses>3 seconds. Baseline-corrected FEV1 was reduced by -0.07 L (95% CI: -0.17, 0.03) for group A and -0.05 L (-0.15, 0.05) for group B vs. propranolol alone. There were no cardiovascular adverse events during coadministration treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Coadministration of siponimod and propranolol was well tolerated. Bradyarrhythmic effects were less pronounced when propranolol was added to siponimod steady-state therapy compared with siponimod addition to propranolol.

Effect of oral siponimod (BAF312) on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a monophasic oral contraceptive in healthy female subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of siponimod (BAF312) on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of a monophasic oral contraceptive (OC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a phase 1, single-center, open-label, multipledose, single-sequence study in healthy females. Eligible subjects (n = 23) were exposed sequentially to two treatment periods: period 1 (OC alone) and period 2 (OC + siponimod) in two consecutive menstrual periods. PK parameters were assessed on day 21 of both treatment periods. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, and progesterone concentrations were measured at baseline and days 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 16, 19, 21, and 23 of each period. Largest ovarian follicle size and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentration were measured and Hoogland score was calculated at baseline and day 21 of each period. Safety and tolerability of siponimod was also assessed. RESULTS: Co-administration (OC + siponimod) increased the AUC(τ,ss) and C(max,ss) of levonorgestrel by 28% and 18%, respectively, but had no effect on the PK of ethinylestradiol. No significant changes in estradiol, FSH, and LH were noted with co-administration vs. OC alone. Progesterone levels < 5 nmol/L, largest follicle size < 10 mm, and Hoogland score of 1 on day 21 indicated lack of ovulation in all subjects during co-administration. Co-administration was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PK and PD of the OC were not altered to a clinically significant extent and contraceptive efficacy was maintained with co-administration. Hence, OC as a contraceptive measure can be safely co-administered with siponimod.

Evaluation of tumor markers in southern Indian breast cancer patients.

Tumor markers are biochemical substances elaborated by tumor cells either due to the cause or effect of malignant processes. Here we investigated serum levels of cancer antigen (CA15.3) and carcino embryonic antigen (CEA) in 153 pre and post operated southern Indian breast cancer patients (stage-I- 45, stage-II-55, stage-III- 53 samples) and 37 normal controls.Patients with malignant lesions had high frequencies of abnormal CA15.3 in stage-II (46.3%) and stage-III ( 42.6%) and of CEA in stage-III (64.3%). The mean serum levels of CA 15.3 in all stages dropped significantly after 9 days of mastectomy, but this was not the case with CEA even after 27 days. At 27 days after mastectomy, values for CA 15.3 had again significantly increased. Tumor size, node metastases (>or= 4) and stage of disease (>or= III), but not patient's age, were associated with higher preoperative levels. Evaluation of CA15.3 and CEA values showed sensitivities and specificities of 35.3% and 18.3% and 95.6% and 62.7%, respectively. Based on these findings we conclude that correlation with CA 15.3 was superior to CEA in terms of stage of disease, so that this is the more powerful marker for detecting lesions and determining response to treatment.