Abstract
Objective: To investigate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and exposure–response of the approved 900/1,200 mg dosing regimen for the terminal complement component 5 (C5) inhibitor eculizumab in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG).Methods: The analysis used data from 62 patients aged ≥ 18 years with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive refractory gMG who received eculizumab during the REGAIN study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01997229). One- and two-compartment population-pharmacokinetic models were evaluated, and the impact of covariates on pharmacokinetic parameters was assessed. Relationships between eculizumab exposure and free C5 concentration, in vitro hemolytic activity, clinical response, and tolerability were characterized.Results: Steady-state serum eculizumab concentrations were achieved by Week 4 and were sustained throughout the 26-week treatment period. The eculizumab pharmacokinetic data were well-described by a two-compartment model with first-order elimination, including effects of body weight on pharmacokinetic parameters and plasma-exchange events on clearance. Complete inhibition of terminal complement was achieved in nearly all patients at the time of trough and peak eculizumab concentrations at all post-dose timepoints assessed (free C5 < 0.5 μg/ml in 92% of patients; in vitro hemolysis < 20% in 87% of patients). Serum eculizumab concentrations of ≥116 μg/ml achieved free C5 concentrations of < 0.5 μg/ml. Clinical efficacy and tolerability were consistent across the eculizumab exposure range.Conclusions: Rigorous, quantitative, model-based exposure–response analysis of serum eculizumab concentration and response data demonstrated that the approved eculizumab dosing (900/1,200 mg) for adults with anti-AChR antibody-positive refractory gMG rapidly achieved complete inhibition of terminal complement activation and provided sustained clinical efficacy across the eculizumab exposure range.
Highlights
Eculizumab is the first complement-targeting drug approved for the treatment of complement-mediated neurological autoimmune diseases, such as myasthenia gravis (MG) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)
Study Population and Study Design. This analysis was based on pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, efficacy, and safety data from the randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, Phase 3 REGAIN study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01997229) of eculizumab in patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive refractory generalized MG (gMG)
Pharmacokinetic parameters were available for all 62 patients
Summary
Eculizumab is the first complement-targeting drug approved for the treatment of complement-mediated neurological autoimmune diseases, such as myasthenia gravis (MG) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) It binds and with high affinity to human terminal complement component C5, inhibiting its cleavage to C5a and C5b during complement activation [1]. Anti-AChR antibodies (which are primarily of subclasses IgG1 and IgG3) activate the classical complement cascade, leading to the formation of the membrane attack complex. This damages the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction, leading to abnormal neuromuscular transmission and the characteristic symptoms of muscle weakness and fatigability. Inhibition of terminal complement activation is a logical approach to prevent damage at the neuromuscular junction in patients with anti-AChR antibody-positive gMG [8]
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