Common Reason For Discontinuation Research Articles

Safety and outcome of treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in liver transplant recipients.

Liver transplant (LT) recipients have an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB), which is associated with higher mortality rates. This retrospective cohort study assessed the outcome and tolerability of screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in LT recipients. Between March 2020 and February 2022, all adult LT candidates at our institution were screened for LTBI. The candidates who tested positive for interferon-γ-releasing assay or met epidemiological or clinical-radiological criteria for LTBI were treated and monitored. Among the 857 LT recipients, 199 (23.2%) were diagnosed with LTBI, of which 171 (85.9%) initiated LTBI treatment. The median duration of follow-up was 677days. Adequate LTBI treatment occurred in 141/171 (82.5%) patients and was discontinued prematurely in 30/171 (17.5%) patients. The most common reason for discontinuation was liver enzyme elevation (11/30, 36.7%), although only five discontinued treatment due to suspicion of isoniazid-associated hepatotoxicity. None of the LTBI-treated patients developed active TB during the follow-up period, while 3.6% (1/28) of untreated LTBI patients and 0.6% (4/658) of patients without LTBI developed TB. These findings demonstrate that LTBI screening and treatment is a safe and effective strategy to prevent TB in LT recipients. However, monitoring for adverse events and liver enzyme elevation is recommended.

541 - Real-world effectiveness of dupilumab in adult and adolescent patients with atopic dermatitis: 3-year data from the PROSE registry

Abstract Background Dupilumab has shown efficacy in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in clinical trials, but there is a need for long-term data on patients starting dupilumab treatment for atopic dermatitis in a real-world setting. Methods PROSE (NCT03428646) is an ongoing 5-year, prospective, observational study of patients aged ≥12 years who initiated commercially available dupilumab treatment for AD per country-specific prescribing information. Patients received a loading dose of dupilumab at baseline, without restrictions on post-baseline dosing changes or concomitant medication and were encouraged to stay in the study if they discontinued dupilumab. Data presented are descriptive, from a 3-year interim analysis. Results 857 patients were enrolled. In these patients, mean (SD) age was 40.1 (17.9) years, AD duration 17.4 (16.2) years, and dupilumab treatment duration 23.1 (13.7) months (M). Mean (SE) baseline EASI total score was 16.2 (0.4), Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) 7.1(0.1), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) 13.3 (0.3), and skin pain NRS 5.4 (0.1). 189 (22.1%) patients had withdrawn by data cut-off; the most common reasons for discontinuation were withdrawal of consent in 76 patients and loss to follow-up in 30. Mean (SE) EASI total score was 5.6 (0.4) at 3M, 2.9 (0.2) at 12M, 2.7 (0.4) at 24M, and 1.7 (0.3) at 36M. Mean (SE) change from baseline in Peak Pruritus NRS was −3.5 (0.2) at 3M, −4.2 (0.2) at 12M, −4.7 (0.2) at 24M, and −5.1 (0.3) at 36M. Mean (SE) change from baseline in DLQI was −7.4 (0.3) at 3M, −8.3 (0.7) at 12M, −9.2 (0.9) at 24M, and −8.8 (1.5) at 36M. Mean (SE) change from baseline in skin pain NRS was −3.3 (0.3) at 3M, −3.8 (0.2) at 12M, −4.0 (0.3) at 24M, and −4.6 (0.3) at 36M. Safety findings were consistent with the previously described safety profile of dupilumab. Conclusion In this interim analysis of the PROSE registry, sustained disease control was observed in patients with moderate-to-­severe AD for up to 3 years after initiating dupilumab treatment.

Real-life data of immune recovery using bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in virologically suppressed people living with HIV. Results at 48-96 weeks of RETROBIC Study.

Switching strategy with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) has become a gold standard for people living with HIV (PLWH), achieving high efficacy and safety rates. However, data regarding immune status in long-term real-life cohorts of pretreated patients are needed. We performed a multicentre, non-controlled, retrospective study in virologically suppressed PLWH switching to B/F/TAF. We evaluated CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio, efficacy and safety at weeks 48 and 96. The study comprised 1966 PLWH from 12 hospitals in Spain, of whom 80% were men, and the median age was 51.0 [42.0-57.0] years. The median time of HIV infection was 18.0 [10.0-27.0] years. No significant changes in CD4+, CD8+ T cells, or CD4+/CD8+ were observed after 96 weeks. Nevertheless, in women at weeks 48 and 96, we found a significant increase of CD4+ T cells and a significant decrease in CD8+ T cells. In patients ≥60 years at week 96, CD4 T cells significantly increased and CD8+ T cells significantly decreased at week 48. The on-treatment analysis revealed HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL in 95.6% (1700/1779) and 96.7% (1312/1356) of patients at weeks 48 and 96, respectively. The rates increased to 99.2% (1765/1779) and 99.7% (1352/1356) when considering HIV-RNA <200 copies/mL. No resistance mutations were detected in virologic failures. B/F/TAF discontinuations accounted for 10.2% (200). Simplification was the most common reason for discontinuation in 3.8% (74) of patients. In long-term virologically controlled PLWH, B/F/TAF achieved high efficacy rates and slightly improved immune status in women and individuals aged 60 and over after 48 and 96 of switching.

Retrospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of T-DXd in HER2-positive unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer: EN-DEAVOR study.

274 Background: Relatively limited clinical data exists for patients who receive T-DXd treatment in the 3L+ setting for HER2-positive unresectable advanced/recurrent gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. Insufficient data exists on real world patient populations that are likely to be excluded from clinical trials (e.g., elderly patients, those with significant co-morbidities). Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the real-world clinical effectiveness and safety of T-DXd in patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer. Methods: This study (UMIN000049032) was a real-world, multicenter, non-interventional, retrospective cohort study conducted in Japan. Patients with HER2-positive unresectable advanced/recurrent gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer treated with T-DXd were enrolled. The patients were first administered T-DXd between Sep 2020, when T-DXd became available for clinical use in Japan, and Sep 2021. We followed up on these patients' records until Sep 2022. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS), time to treatment failure (TTF), objective response (ORR), adverse events (AEs) of Grade ≥3, and adverse events leading to dose reduction, interruption, or discontinuation. Results: A total of 318 patients were enrolled, and 312 patients were analyzed, excluding 6 patients due to double enrollment or miss-enrollment (median age 70 years, performance status 0 or 1/≥2 [87%/12%], 43% patients with ascites). Median OS, rwPFS, and TTF were 8.90 months, 4.57 months, and 3.94 months, respectively. Overall ORR was 32.7%; it was 43.8% in the 226 patients with a target lesion. Regarding safety, the incidence of Grade ≥ 3 AEs was 48.4%. A total of 190/312 (60.9%) patients treated with T-DXd experienced dose reduction, interruption, or discontinuation of T-DXd treatment due to AEs. The most common reasons for dose reduction or interruption were neutrophil count decreased, anorexia, and malaise, while the most common reasons for discontinuation were interstitial pneumonia, anorexia, malaise, and nausea. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of T-DXd in the 3L+ setting in real-world patients with HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal cancer. No new safety signals were identified on the basis of this study.

Real-World Treatment and Care Patterns in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Initiating First-Line Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy in the United States.

Treatment guidelines for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) recommend targeting low disease activity or remission and switching therapies for patients not reaching those targets. We evaluated real-world use of disease activity measures, treatment discontinuation, and switching patterns among patients with RA initiating a first-line tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi). Data from adult patients with RA initiating a first-line TNFi were collected from the American Rheumatology Network (January 2014-August 2021). The proportion of patients with recorded disease activity scores (Clinical Disease Activity Index [CDAI] or Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 [RAPID3]) at TNFi initiation was assessed. Among patients with moderate or severe RA at TNFi initiation, reasons for discontinuation and subsequent advanced therapy were evaluated. Among TNFi initiators (n=15,182), 44.8% recorded a CDAI/RAPID3 score at treatment initiation; of those who did not, 47.0% had recorded a tender and/or swollen joint count or pain score. Among patients with moderate or severe RA (n=1,651), 52% discontinued their initial TNFi during follow-up, of which 15%, 46%, 28%, and 12% initiated the same TNFi, another TNFi, a non-TNFi biologic, or a Janus kinase inhibitor, respectively. The proportion of patients restarting the same TNFi or initiating another TNFi varied according to TNFi discontinuation reason. In clinical practice, over half of patients with RA initiating a first-line TNFi did not have baseline disease activity assessments. Many patients cycled through TNFi despite citing lack of efficacy as the most common reason for discontinuation. Consistent, objective monitoring of treatment response and timely switch to effective therapy is needed in patients with RA.

Adherence and discontinuation of prescription cannabidiol for the management of seizure disorders at an integrated care center

ObjectiveEvaluate adherence, discontinuation rates, and reasons for non-adherence and discontinuation of prescription CBD during the 12-months post-initiation period at an integrated care center. MethodsThis was a prospective study of patients prescribed CBD by a neurology clinic provider with initial prescription fulfillment through the center’s specialty pharmacy from January 2019 through April 2020. Baseline demographics and reasons for non-adherence and/or discontinuation were collected from the electronic health record and pharmacy claims history was used to calculate adherence using proportion of days covered (PDC). Patients were included in the PDC analysis if they had at least 3 fills during the study period. Non-adherence was defined as a PDC < 0.8. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data with categorical variables represented as frequencies and percentages and continuous variables as medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs). ResultsWe included 136 patients with a median age of 14 years (IQR 9 - 21). Most patients were white (n = 115, 85%), with a diagnosis of intractable epilepsy (n = 100, 74%). Among the 128 patients with 3 or more fills, the median PDC was 0.99 (IQR 0.95 – 1.00) with non-adherence seen in 6% (n = 8) of patients. The most common reason for non-adherence was side effects (n = 2, 25%). Prescription CBD was discontinued by 23% (n = 31) of patients with a median time to discontinuation of 117 days (IQR 68 – 216). The most common reason for discontinuation was major side effects (n = 12, 39%). The most common side effects leading to discontinuation were agitation/irritability (n = 4), mood changes (n = 4), aggressive behavior (n = 3), and increased seizure frequency (n = 3). ConclusionAdherence to prescription CBD at an integrated care center was high with approximately 94% of patients considered adherent. Providers and pharmacists may improve adherence and discontinuation rates by educating patients on the timeline of response, potential side effects, and potential for dose adjustments.

Long-term continuations rate of ring pessary use for symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse.

To evaluate long-term continuation rates, adverse events of ring pessary use at a minimum of 5years follow-up, and factors associated with discontinuation in symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Women with symptomatic POP who were treated with vaginal ring pessary and had successful fittings were included. Adverse events and reasons for discontinuation of pessary use were recorded. Patients who were lost to follow-up were defined as discontinuation. During 12year-period, 239 of 329 POP patients (72.6%) had successful fittings with ring pessary. The mean age was 67.8 ± 8.9years (range 27-86) and 70% of patients had advanced stage. The cumulative probability of continued ring pessary use was 84.1%, 64.4%, 49.3%, and 33.5%, at 1, 3, 5, and 10years, respectively. Most common reason for discontinuation was frequent expulsion (21.6%), followed by vaginal erosion (16.5%), no prolapse improvement (12.4%), and inability or inconvenience to do self-care (9.3%). However, 9 patients (9.3%) had improvement of prolapse and were able to discontinue pessary insertion. Age above 70years, wide introitus, and incapability of self-care are independent factors associated with long-term discontinuation. Adverse events occurred in 23.4% of patients, 18.8% of them had vaginal erosion, 11.7% vaginal discharge/infection, and 18.4% de novo SUI. However, no statistical significance existed between those who continued and discontinued pessary use due to these adverse events. Ring pessary is an effective treatment in symptomatic POP, with acceptable long-term continuation rates and minor adverse events. Self-care of pessary is very important aiming to minimize adverse events. Advanced age, wide introitus and incapability of self-care were associated factors for long-term discontinuation.

Long-term safety of brazikumab in the open-label period of a randomized phase 2a study of patients with Crohn’s disease

BackgroundShort-term efficacy and safety of brazikumab (MEDI2070), a human monoclonal antibody and anti-p19 subunit inhibitor of interleukin-23, was demonstrated in a phase 2a trial in patients with moderate-to-severe active Crohn’s disease (CD). We report brazikumab long-term safety and tolerability from the open-label period of this phase 2a study.MethodsPatients who completed the 12-week, double-blind induction period were eligible for inclusion in an open-label period where all patients received subcutaneous brazikumab (210 mg) every 4 weeks for 100 weeks. Patients had moderate-to-severe active CD and had failed or were intolerant to ≥ 1 anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) agent. Safety assessments included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs); further assessments were pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity.ResultsOf the 104 patients who entered the open-label period, 57 (54.8%) continued to the end of the open-label period and 47 (45.2%) discontinued brazikumab. The most common reasons for discontinuation were lack of response (14.4%), patient decision (12.5%), and TEAEs (11.5%). In total, 44 (84.6%) in the group switching from placebo to brazikumab (placebo/brazikumab) and 43 (82.7%) in the group continuing brazikumab (brazikumab/brazikumab) experienced 1 or more TEAEs. Most TEAEs were mild-to-moderate in severity. Common TEAEs included nasopharyngitis and headache. Numbers of treatment-emergent serious adverse events (TESAEs) were similar between groups. Infections occurred in 40.4% of patients in the placebo/brazikumab group and 50% in the brazikumab/brazikumab group. There were 5 TESAEs of infection, none of which were opportunistic. No major adverse cardiac events, malignancies, or deaths were reported.ConclusionsBrazikumab was well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile over a 100-week period in patients with moderate-to-severe active CD who failed or were intolerant to 1 or more anti-TNFα agents.Trial registrationNCT01714726; registered October 26, 2012.

Levodopa-Entacapone-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel Treatment in Advanced Parkinson's Disease: A Single-Center Study of 30 Patients.

Levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel (LECIG) is a novel device assisted treatment option for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been available in Finland since 2020. There is paucity of scientific studies considering LECIG treatment in clinical practice. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the changes in medication, adverse events and early discontinuations of LECIG treatment in real life clinical practice. The records of 30 consecutive patients, who received LECIG between years 2020 and 2022 in Helsinki University Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. Data considering changes in medication, discontinuations, and adverse events during the first six months of LECIG treatment was collected. Mean levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) rose significantly between baseline before LECIG and six months with treatment (1230 mg vs. 1570 mg, P = 0.001). Three patients were discarded during nasojejunal tube test phase and seven discontinued the treatment during six-month follow-up. Most common reasons for discontinuation were difficulty in finding suitable infusion rate and neuropsychiatric problems. Safety issues encountered were similar to those reported with levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) treatment. One case of rhabdomyolysis due to severe dyskinesia during LECIG treatment was observed. Patients were satisfied with the small size of the pump system. LEDD seems to increase during the first months of LECIG treatment. When compared to studies on LCIG, safety profile of LECIG appears similar, but early discontinuation rate is higher than expected. However, long-term studies are lacking. Only clear advantage to LCIG appears to be the smaller LECIG pump size.

Tolerability and Outcomes of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Patients with Severe Renal Dysfunction

Introduction: There is limited data on the outcomes and tolerability of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitors for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in patients with severe renal dysfunction, particularly older adults. The most commonly prescribed BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, is believed to be safe for mild to moderate renal dysfunction. However, severe renal failure has been excluded from prospective studies, and there is no guidance on dosing under the FDA label. Furthermore, ibrutinib itself can cause kidney injury and worsen existing renal dysfunction. This national Veterans Affairs (VA) analysis aims to review the safety and tolerability of BTK inhibitors in severe renal impairment. Methods: An electronic query of the VA Corporate Data Warehouse and retrospective chart review were performed to identify patients with CLL treated with a BTK inhibitor between 2013-2022 and who had severe chronic kidney disease defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) &amp;lt; 30 ml/min/1.73 m 2 overlapping with their treatment period. Isolated acute kidney injuries lasting &amp;lt; 1 month were excluded. Fisher's exact test was utilized to evaluate categorical variables, logistic regression for binary outcomes, and log-rank and Cox regression for time-to-event analyses. Results: A total of 115 patients across 68 VA medical centers received 124 lines of BTK inhibitors with an eGFR &amp;lt; 30 (Table 1). The median duration of follow-up from the start of therapy was 26 months (range, 0.5 - 94). The median age was 74, and 98% were male, reflecting the U.S. veteran population. 64% had an eGFR &amp;lt; 30 at the start of therapy, with 18% requiring dialysis, while the remaining 36% experienced progressive renal dysfunction during treatment. The oral BTK agents prescribed were ibrutinib ( n = 103), acalabrutinib ( n = 18), and zanubrutinib ( n = 3). Most BTK inhibitors (n = 94 of 124 lines, 76%) were initiated at the FDA-label dose. 46 (37%) later required dose reduction, primarily due to drug toxicity ( n = 37). The most common reasons for dose reduction were cytopenia ( n = 10), failure to thrive ( n = 6), bleeding ( n = 5), and worsening renal function ( n = 5). Discontinuation of therapy for toxicity occurred in 50% (ibrutinib), 39% (acalabrutinib), and 33% (zanubrutinib). The most common reasons for discontinuation were infection ( n = 15), bleeding ( n = 10), arrhythmia ( n = 9), and disease progression ( n = 9). Among patients who received ibrutinib ( n = 103), the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 45 and 49 months, respectively. In multivariate Cox regression, covariates associated with shorter PFS included the baseline severity of renal failure (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.21 - 2.88), cirrhosis (HR 6.36, 95% CI 1.45 - 19.76), and heart failure (HR 4.20, 95% CI 1.82 - 9.47). Younger age, dialysis, and absence of atrial fibrillation at the start of therapy were protective in univariate but not multivariate models. Heart failure and cirrhosis retained their prognostic impact on OS in multivariate modeling. Factors including race, rural residence, obesity, IGHV status, and TP53 deletion were not significantly associated with survival in this cohort. The median duration of therapy of ibrutinib was 33 months. Ibrutinib dose reductions at initiation or during treatment were associated with a longer duration of therapy (Figure 1). Of note, dose reductions did not significantly reduce the response rate to ibrutinib or worsen survival. Interestingly, 11 patients had CLL-related kidney dysfunction. However, kidney function did not improve after treatment with a BTK inhibitor in any of the 115 patients. Progression of renal impairment was observed in 51 patients (50%) on ibrutinib, 8 (44%) on acalabrutinib, and none on zanubrutinib. The etiology of worsening renal function was uncertain for the majority of patients. Conclusion: The clinical outcomes of BTK inhibitors in patients with CLL and severe renal dysfunction have not been well-described. In our real-world data analysis, these agents appear to be a reasonable therapeutic option in severe renal impairment, including in older adults and those on dialysis. Lab monitoring is needed, given the risk of worsening renal function. Dose modifications may help improve tolerability without reducing efficacy. Unfortunately, severe renal dysfunction is unlikely to improve with CLL treatment, even in CLL-related kidney failure.

Predictors of Outcomes with Venetoclax-Based Treatment in Patients with Progressive Disease or Intolerance after Covalent BTK Inhibitors

Background: Venetoclax (Ven) is a standard of care for the treatment of patients (pts) with CLL/SLL. In the relapsed setting, there is very limited data on the efficacy of Ven after covalent BTK inhibitors ([cBTKi], ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, or zanubrutinib), and there is no prospective trial data on the feasibility of a Ven-based fixed-duration therapy after cBTKi failure. Recently, novel treatment options like pirtobrutinib, a non-covalent BTKi, have shown high efficacy after cBTKi, prompting scrutiny of Ven-based therapies after cBTKi failure, including Ven monotherapy and combination treatment with anti-CD20 antibodies. In this study, we aim to evaluate: 1) The efficacy of Ven-based therapy after cBTKi, 2) Predictors of the efficacy of Ven in this setting, and 3) The feasibility of fixed-duration therapy with Ven after BTKi. Methods: In this single-institution, retrospective study, we used our institutional CLL registry to identify patients with a CLL/SLL diagnosis who received Ven (with or without anti-CD20 antibodies) for at least two months after prior treatment with a cBTKi. Patient-level clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. Progressive disease (PD) was defined by the treating physician based on clinical, laboratory, and/or imaging data. Progression-free survival (PFS) and Overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Maier estimates. Results: We identified 80 pts who started Ven between 1/2016-12/2022 after prior treatment with a cBTKi. Median age was 62 (range: 40-80), and 53% were male. FISH abnormalities included: 58% del17p, 25% del11q, 48% del 13q, and 19% with trisomy 12. The median prior lines of treatment were 2 (range: 1-7). Prior first cBTKis were ibrutinib (92.5%), acalabrutinib (6.5%), and zanubrutinib (1.5%). A total of 7 pts (9%) received more than one prior cBTKi (1 ibrutinib, 6 acalabrutinib). Prior cBTKi was used as first-line treatment in 21 pts (26%), and 51 (64%) pts received prior treatment with chemotherapy. The median duration of cBTKi treatment was 25 months (range 1-92). Reasons for cBTKi discontinuation were PD (n=56, 70%) and intolerance (n=24, 30%). Most pts started Ven-based therapy immediately after cBTKi (n=53, 66%), although 21 (26%) received one interim line, and 6 (7.5%) received more than one interim line. Ven was used either as monotherapy (n=45, 56%) or with anti-CD20 antibodies (n=35, 44%). The median time on Ven was 11 months (2-55 months). At the time of analysis, 75% of pts had stopped Ven, with the most common reason for discontinuation being PD (31, 53%), followed by treatment completion (19, 32%). Median PFS after starting Ven was 29 months (95% CI: 17-44) for the entire cohort. Median PFS was significantly inferior in pts who experienced PD on prior cBTKi compared with those who were intolerant to prior cBTKi (17 months vs. 55 months, p=0.002). Inferior PFS was also observed in patients with del17p (7 months vs. 26 months without del17p, p=0.003) and in pts who received Ven monotherapy vs. combination therapy with anti-CD20 antibodies (21 months vs. not reached, p=0.01). There was no difference in PFS based on prior treatment with chemotherapy or for pts who received treatments between cBTKi and Ven. In multivariable analysis, having del17p (HR 3.04, 95%CI [1.38-6.65]), Ven monotherapy (HR 3.19, 95% CI [1.52-6.68]) and PD on prior cBTKi (HR 4.29, 95% [1.50-12.29]) were associated with inferior PFS. With a median of 28 months of follow-up, 26 pts (32%) stopped Ven and did not experience PD. This included 23% of pts with PD after prior cBTKi and 54% of pts intolerant to prior cBTKi (p=0.007). Conclusion: Venetoclax-based therapy after cBTKi provides disease control, but not to the extent reported by the only prospective trial in this setting (Jones, Lancet Oncol, 2018). Inferior PFS was observed in pts who had PD after prior cBTKi (vs. being intolerant), pts who received Ven monotherapy (vs. combined with anti-CD20 antibodies), and those with del17p. While this study may be limited in assessing the feasibility of fixed-duration Ven therapy after cBTKi, our results indicate that such an approach may only be feasible in a subset of pts who stopped cBTKi because of intolerance and not PD.

Phase 1 Dose Escalation Study of Pembrolizumab in Combination with Rituximab and Lenalidomide for Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell or Follicular Lymphoma Following Progression after Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy

Introduction: While autologous CD19-targeting chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T) can induce high complete response (CR) rates in relapsed and refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL), over 50% of patients experience progressive disease. Survival following CAR T failure is dismal, with only 1 in 5 patients living &amp;gt;2 years. Multiple studies indicated that resistance to CAR T therapy may be driven by CAR T cell intrinsic and/or tumor intrinsic mechanisms. Here, we evaluated the combination of PD-1 blockade with rituximab (R) and lenalidomide (len) with the rationale that it would restore the function of exhausted T cells, enhance CAR T function with len and target the tumor and its immunosuppressive microenvironment. Methods: In this single center, phase I dose-escalation study, eligible patients included adults with r/r LBCL or FL who progressed following CD19 CAR T. Treatment consisted of R (375 mg/m2/day) on days 1, 8, and 15 of cycle 1 and day 1 of cycle 2. Pembrolizumab (200 mg/day) was administered on day 1 of each 21-day cycle with the cycles repeated for up to 2 years (those who attain an investigator-determined CR could stop pembrolizumab after 24 weeks). A standard 3+3 dose escalation of len was pursued to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), starting at 2.5 mg and escalated up to 10 mg on days 1-14 of each cycle for up to 12 cycles. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included safety, CR rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Exploratory objectives sought to determine the effect of combination therapy on peripheral blood T cells and evaluate baseline tumor characteristics that associated with clinical outcomes. Results: Fourteen patients initiated study treatment, 13 had LBCL (high grade B-cell lymphoma n=4; non-GCB DLBCL n=4; GCB DLBCL n=3; transformed FL n=2), 1 had FL. 12 progressed following axicabtagene ciloleucel, 1 progressed after lisocabtagene maraleucel, and 1 following an investigational allogeneic CAR T. The median time from CAR (day 0) to enrollment was 171 days (range 60-1134). The median time to progression following prior CAR T was 104 days (range 22-280). Median age was 57.5 years (range 41-73), 64% were male, all had advanced stage disease (stage III n=1, stage IV n=13), 79% had high-risk IPI, and 79% had an ECOG performance status of 1. Patients had a median of 3 prior lines of therapy (range 2-5), 86% were refractory to their last therapy. Four were treated at dose level 1 (2.5 mg len), 7 at dose level 2 (5 mg len), and 3 at dose level 3 (10 mg len). Five DLTs were observed, 3 at dose level 2 (3 gr 4 neutropenia &amp;gt; 7 days) and 2 at dose level 3 (1 gr 4 neutropenia &amp;gt; 7 days and 1 gr 3 febrile neutropenia). The RP2D was determined to be 2.5 mg of len. The most common all grade treatment-emergent non-hematologic adverse events (TEAEs) included rash (n=6, 43%), hyperglycemia (n=6, 43%), arthralgia/myalgia (n=5, 36%), diarrhea (n=4, 29%), and AST/ALT elevation (n=3, 21%). Grade 3 or higher TEAEs included 79% neutropenia (gr3 n=2; gr4 n=9), 29% lung infection (gr3 n=3; gr5 n=1), 21% febrile neutropenia (gr3 n=3), 21% lymphopenia (gr3 n=3), 21% anemia (gr3 n=3), and 14% thrombocytopenia (gr3 n=1; gr 4 n=1). With a median follow up of 37.5 months, the most common reason for discontinuation was progressive disease (n=7). Four patients (all LBCL) responded with all achieving a CR (ORR and CR rates were 29%) and all 4 patients remain in CR beyond 2 years, Figure 1. Median time to CR was 39.5 days. Median PFS was 2.3 months (95% CI: 1.6 mos-NR). Six patients died due to progressive lymphoma. Two patients died as a result of treatment-related AEs, 1 due to COVID19 infection, and 1 due to pneumonia/respiratory failure. Median OS was 21.3 months (95% CI:4.7 mos-NR). Conclusion: In these heavily pre-treated patients who progressed following CAR T-cell therapy, neutropenia was the dose limiting toxicity that prevented escalation of lenalidomide beyond 2.5 mg when combined with pembrolizumab and R. Four durable CRs were observed, none were observed at the RP2D. Risk mitigating strategies to reduce the incidence of febrile or grade 4 neutropenia and biomarker exploration to identify those likely to achieve a durable response are needed to explore this combination further.

1535. Persistence With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in an Active-Duty Military Population

Abstract Background There is limited data on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) use and persistence in the military. Despite universal access to care, there is concern that PrEP persistence may be lower in military populations due to frequent deployments, need for relocations, and perceived stigma. This study evaluated the persistence rates as well as reasons for PrEP discontinuation in a military cohort. Methods The Brooke Army Medical Center Infectious Diseases clinic provides PrEP to service members at Joint Base San Antonio. This study evaluated all active-duty service members who received PrEP between 2020-2022. All charts were examined to determine patient demographics and years on PrEP. If a patient stopped PrEP, they were contacted to determine etiology of discontinuation and invited to restart PrEP. Results In total, 112 service members received PrEP during the study period. The cohort was predominantly male (99%) with median age 30 [IQR: 26-34] and a median of 2 years [IQR: 0-3] receiving PrEP (Table 1). The most common indication was multiple sexual partners with less than 100% condom use (n=98, 88%). At the end of the study, most (n=88, 79%) patients were still receiving PrEP including 33 (37%) at other military or civilian facilities. Of the 24 service members who were no longer receiving PrEP, 18 (75%), were able to be contacted (Table 2). Two (1%) patients seroconverted while off PrEP with reasons for discontinuation being abstinence and difficulty making appointments. No patients contacted during this study were interested in restarting PrEP. Demographic Information of 112 Active-Duty Service Members Receiving PrEP at Brooke Army Medical Center 2020-2022 Reasons for PrEP Discontinuation at Brooke Army Medical Center 2020-2022 Conclusion This is the first study to evaluate PrEP persistence in an active-duty population. In this cohort with universal access to care, PrEP persistence rates and years receiving PrEP were greater than seen in other populations. While the most common reason for discontinuation was changes in sexual behavior, systemic factors still contributed to PrEP discontinuation. Future studies should elucidate the challenges to PrEP care in the military. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

The Discontinuation Rate With Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum for Peyronie’s Disease in a High-volume Practice Is Unexpectedly High: Identifying Opportunities for Patient Care Improvement

To elucidate reasons for premature discontinuation of Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) injections for the treatment of penile curvature associated with Peyronie's disease. A database of men who underwent CCH injections at a single institution was queried to identify men who completed fewer than 8 injections. Chart review was conducted to identify reasons for treatment discontinuation. When this could not be identified, patients were contacted first via the online patient portal and next by phone. Of 406 patients who underwent CCH treatment, 133 did not complete 8 injections (32.8%). The most common reasons for discontinuation were satisfactory curve reduction (27%), unsatisfactory curve reduction (21%), bothersome side effect (15%), and pursuit of surgery (12%). Other less common reasons included other health concerns, pausing treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, high cost, transferring care elsewhere, and lack of awareness that more injections were indicated. We present the largest series of patients to date dedicated to evaluation of CCH discontinuation. We find that up to 1/3 of patients who begin CCH injections will not complete the full treatment course. Understanding the reasons for discontinuation can help providers better stratify patients for CCH treatment vs other modalities. In addition, as previous studies indicate curvature improvements are equally likely to be seen in the final four injections as the first four, our data points to the potential impact of improved patient education for individuals who discontinue due to unsatisfactory curve reduction.

Abstract 14084: Empagliflozin in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure

Introduction: The sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are recommended as part of guideline-directed medication therapy (GDMT) for those with heart failure (HF) and New York Heart Associated (NYHA) class II-IV symptoms. The 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA HF guidelines recommend SGLT2i in those with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and to consider in those with mid-range or preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF and HFpEF). Hypothesis: We aimed to evaluate the initiation of empagliflozin in patients hospitalized with HF to prove tolerability over other GDMT and continuation at discharge. Methods: This was a multi-center, retrospective review of empagliflozin initiation at 2 campuses of the same health system (NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island and NYU Langone Health) from November 2021 -October 2022. We included patients &gt; 18 years of age with HF that received empagliflozin during hospitalization. Data collection included patient characteristics, empagliflozin dose, ejection fraction (EF), BNP, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and other GDMT including beta-blockers (BB), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA). The primary outcome was empagliflozin initiation per EF. Secondary outcomes included evaluation of GDMT and continuation of therapies at discharge. Results: In total 434 medical records were reviewed, with 244 patients continued empagliflozin from home and 190 new initiations. When evaluated by EF, 73% of empagliflozin initiation occurred in patients with HFrEF, 22% in HFpEF and 5% in HFmrEF. The median age was 68 years (60-78), with a median BMI of 28 (24-34), and 64% were male. Concomitant GDMT included BB in 56%, ACEi/ARB in 33%, ARNI in 12%, MRA in 14% and loop diuretics in 48% of patients. The majority of these patients (87%) were able to continue empagliflozin at discharge. Out of the 13% that did not continue empagliflozin, the most common reason for discontinuation was lack of insurance coverage. Conclusions: Empagliflozin was safely initiated in patients hospitalized with a HF exacerbation and led to greater tolerability over other GDMT at hospital discharge.

Pirtobrutinib, a Non-Covalent (reversible) BTK Inhibitor, in Mantle Cell Lymphoma Patients Previously Treated with a Covalent BTK Inhibitor: Results from a China Phase 2 Study

Background Pirtobrutinib, a highly selective, non-covalent (reversible) Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), inhibits both wildtype and C481-mutant BTK and has favorable oral pharmacology that enables continuous BTK inhibition throughout the dosing interval regardless of protein turnover, and shows promising efficacy and favorable safety profile in patients with pre-treated B-cell malignancies including a covalent BTKi (cBTKi). This study (NCT04849416) was a China only phase 2, open-label, multi-center trial aiming to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral pirtobrutinib as a monotherapy for patients with B-cell malignancies. This abstract summarizes the findings on the efficacy in a cBTKi pre-treated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) population and safety outcomes among all enrolled patients. Methods Eligible Chinese patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies were enrolled and assigned to one of three cohorts based on tumor histology and prior treatment history. All enrolled patients received pirtobrutinib monotherapy at a daily dose of 200 mg, until disease progression (PD), unacceptable side effects, or other reasons for discontinuation. The primary analysis set (PAS) comprised patients with centrally confirmed non-blastoid MCL, who received a prior cBTKi, and with measurable lesion(s) at baseline. The efficacy analysis set (EAS) was extended into all MCL patients treated with a prior cBTKi. The safety population included all patients who received at least one dose of pirtobrutinib. The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness by assessing the overall response rate (ORR) based on Lugano criteria and was conducted by an independent review committee (IRC). Secondary objectives included duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety profile. Results As of April 10, 2023, of 39 enrolled MCL patients, 28 were in the PAS and 35 were in the EAS for efficacy analysis. The safety analysis included a total of 87 enrolled patients and the median duration of therapy was 4.2 months. In the PAS population (N=28) with cBTKi pre-treated non-blastoid MCL, patients had a median of 3.0 prior lines of therapy (range, 1-8). The majority received prior chemotherapy (96.4%) and an anti-CD20 antibody (85.7%). The most common reason for discontinuation from the prior cBTKi was PD (85.7%). The IRC-assessed ORR was 71.4% (95% CI, 51.3-86.8), with 4 patients (14.3%) achieving complete responses (CR) and 16 patients (57.1%) achieving partial responses (PR). The median DOR assessed by IRC was not reached at the cut-off date with a 6-month DOR rate of 66.02% (95% CI, 39.29-83.14). The median IRC-assessed PFS was 9.43 months (95% CI: 5.32-not evaluable [NE]), and the median OS was 15.47 months (95% CI, 8.67-NE). The EAS (N=35), demonstrated similar efficacy results with IRC-assessed ORR 62.9% (95% CI, 44.9-78.5) and the 6-month DOR rate was 64.45%. In the safety population (N=87) of all enrolled B-cell malignancy patients, common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of any grade included decreased neutrophil count (40.2%*), anemia (31%), and increased bilirubin (23.0%, with 2.3% grade ≥3 and none led to dose modification). The most frequent grade ≥3 TEAE was decreased neutrophil count (25.3%*). All grade hemorrhage was observed in 19.5% patient (n=17, with 2.3% grade ≥3), while all grade hypertension was 5.7% (n=5, with 2.3% grade ≥3), and no patient developed atrial fibrillation/flutter. Three patients (3.4%) stopped treatment due to treatment-related TEAEs, and 2 patients (2.3%) experienced treatment related fatal TEAEs (one infection and one patient with reported tumor lysis syndrome, tumor necrosis, and hemorrhage). Conclusion Pirtobrutinib demonstrated clinically meaningful and durable antitumor activity in a cBTKi pre-treated MCL Chinese population and showed a well-tolerated safety profile in patients with B-cell malignancies. * Aggregate of neutropenia and neutrophil count decreased

Sustained Efficacy and Safety with Asciminib (ASC) after Almost 4 Years of Median Follow-up from Ascembl, a Phase 3 Study of ASC Vs Bosutinib (BOS) in Patients (Pts) with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (CML-CP) after ≥2 Prior Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs): An End of Study Treatment (EOS Tx) Update, Including Results from Switch Population

CONCLUSIONS CML requires chronic therapy, emphasizing the need for Txs that are characterized by high, durable efficacy and a low adverse event (AE) burden. ASC, the first BCR::ABL1 inhibitor Specifically Targeting the ABL Myristoyl Pocket (STAMP), demonstrated significantly superior efficacy and better safety/tolerability compared with BOS in pts with CML-CP who received ≥2 prior TKIs in the phase 3 ASCEMBL study. Major molecular response (MMR) rate was 25.5% with ASC vs 13.2% with BOS at wk 24, meeting the primary objective, and 37.6% vs 15.8% at wk 96, meeting the key secondary objective. Despite the longer duration of exposure to ASC, safety/tolerability remained consistently better with ASC vs BOS, with fewer all-grade and grade ≥3 AEs and AEs leading to Tx discontinuation observed. After a median follow-up of 3.7 y, we report EOS Tx results from ASCEMBL (cutoff: March 22, 2023). We also report the first available data from pts who experienced Tx failure on BOS and switched to ASC. Adults (aged ≥18 y) with CML-CP after ≥2 prior TKIs, with intolerance or lack of efficacy per 2013 ELN recommendations were randomized 2:1 to receive either ASC 40 mg twice daily or BOS 500 mg once daily. Pts who met Tx failure criteria per 2013 ELN while on BOS could switch to ASC and were analyzed separately. Pts who discontinued BOS due to intolerance could not switch. EOS will occur 5 y from when the last enrolled pt received first Tx dose. A total of 233 pts were randomized to ASC (n=157) or BOS (n=76). The most common reason for discontinuation was lack of efficacy in 40 (25.5%) pts on ASC and 28 (36.8%) on BOS. At the time of EOS Tx cutoff, Tx with ASC and BOS was ongoing in 77 (49.4%) and 8 (10.5%) pts, respectively; pts deriving benefit from study Tx at EOS TX, per investigator assessment, continued receiving posttrial access. MMR rate at wk 156 continued to be higher with ASC (33.8%) than with BOS (10.5%) (Figure 1). The difference after adjusting for baseline (BL) major cytogenetic response was 23.2%(95% CI, 13.1%-33.2%; 2-sided P&amp;lt;.001). The BCR::ABL1IS ≤1% rate at wk 156 in pts without this level of response at BL also continued to be higher with ASC (43.0%) than with BOS (11.1%). Despite the longer median duration (range) of exposure to ASC (156.0 [0.1-256.3] wk) vs BOS (30.5 [1.0-239.3] wk), safety/tolerability of ASC continued to be better compared with BOS and were consistent with previous analyses. Two new pts had AEs leading to Tx discontinuation since the wk 96 cutoff (1 pt on ASC reported pregnancy; 1 pt on BOS reported diarrhea), and rates remained lower with ASC vs BOS (8.3% vs 27.6%). The most frequent (≥10%) grade ≥3 AEs with ASC vs BOS were thrombocytopenia (22.4% vs 9.2%), neutropenia (18.6% vs 14.5%), diarrhea (0% vs 10.5%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (0.6% vs 14.5%). Most AEs occurred within the first 6 months (Figure 2). Exposure-adjusted incidence rates of arterial occlusive events (AOEs) with ASC decreased since the wk 96 cutoff, from 3.0 to 2.2 per 100 pt-y, and no new AOEs occurred with ASC, indicating that the risk of AOEs did not increase over time. Among pts who discontinued Tx due to lack of efficacy or disease progression, no new mutations occurred since the wk 96 cutoff. Of 28 pts who discontinued BOS for lack of efficacy, 25 switched to ASC. Almost all switch pts (96%) had BL BCR::ABL1IS &amp;gt;10% prior to switch. No switch pts achieved MMR at or by wk 48 post switch. However, at wk 48, 24% achieved BCR::ABL1IS ≤10% and 8% achieved BCR::ABL1IS ≤1%. The safety profile of ASC in switch pts was consistent with that in pts receiving ASC in the randomized period. Most frequent (≥10%) grade ≥3 AEs were neutropenia (32.0%) and thrombocytopenia (24.0%). AEs leading to Tx discontinuation occurred in 8.0% of switch pts. With almost 4 y of follow-up in ASCEMBL, ASC continued to show greater efficacy and better safety/tolerability than BOS in pts with CML-CP after ≥2 prior TKIs. The robust safety profile of ASC was sustained through each analysis in ASCEMBL (wk 24, wk 96, and EOS Tx), confirming that pts receiving ASC can maintain a high level of response and continue Tx without experiencing late-emerging AEs. Results in the switch population support the use of ASC early in the Tx paradigm. ASCEMBL EOS Tx results continue to strongly support ASC as the therapy of choice for pts with suboptimal responses and/or intolerance to ≥2 prior TKIs, allowing more pts to remain on Tx and achieve their Tx goals without needing to switch.

Efficacy of Brentuximab Vedotin Maintenance Therapy Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma with and without Pre-Transplant Exposure to Novel Agents

Background: Maintenance therapy with brentuximab vedotin (BV) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) improved progression-free survival (PFS) among high-risk patients (pts) with relapsed or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in the phase III AETHERA trial. However, cHL treatment has changed significantly since that trial with frequent incorporation of BV and PD-1 inhibitors into earlier lines of therapy. The efficacy of BV maintenance may be different among pts who receive novel agents before ASCT. Methods: Pts with a diagnosis of R/R cHL who underwent ASCT between 2010 and 2022 were identified at 5 US transplant centers. Pts receiving no systemic post-ASCT maintenance or BV maintenance were included, while pts receiving investigational maintenance treatments were excluded. Medical records were reviewed to identify clinical variables. Results: 921 pts were identified. Median age was 32 yrs (IQR 24-44). 641 pts (70%) had primary refractory disease or relapsed within 12 months of frontline therapy, 326 (35%) had extranodal disease at relapse, and 173 (19%) had B symptoms at relapse. Pts received a median of 2 (1-9) lines of therapy before ASCT, including 295 (32%) who received ≥3 lines. 425 (46%) pts received BV before ASCT (including 24 pts as part of frontline treatment). 70 pts (8%) were BV-refractory (defined as failure to achieve an objective response to any BV-based treatment). 169 (18%) received a PD-1 agent with salvage treatment. 638 pts (69%) had a complete response on pre-ASCT positron emission tomography (PET). BEAM (71%) or CBV (21%) conditioning were used for most pts and 236 pts (26%) received peri-ASCT radiation. 224 pts (24%) received post-ASCT BV maintenance (including 37% of pts undergoing ASCT from 2015-2022). Compared to pts receiving no maintenance, pts receiving BV maintenance were more likely to have primary refractory/early relapsed disease (79% vs 67%, p&amp;lt;0.001), have received only 1 salvage regimen (79% vs 65%, p=0.001), and received BEAM conditioning (83% vs 67%, p&amp;lt;0.001). BV maintenance pts were less likely to receive peri-ASCT radiation (20% vs 28%, p=0.022). The median number of BV maintenance cycles was 10 (1-18) and the most common reason for discontinuation was neuropathy. Median post-ASCT follow-up was 4.9 yrs. 5-yr PFS and OS after ASCT were 70% (95% CI 67-74%) and 85% (83-88%), respectively. Because BV-refractory pts were much less likely to receive BV maintenance (p=0.0044) and had inferior PFS (HR 2.2, p&amp;lt;0.001) (and therefore would serve as a confounder), we excluded BV-refractory pts from additional analyses. Use of BV maintenance was associated with improved PFS (5-yr 81% vs 67%, HR 0.47 [0.33-0.69], p&amp;lt;0.001) and OS (5-yr 92% vs 83%, HR 0.38 [0.20-0.73], p=0.004). The benefit of BV maintenance depended upon pre-ASCT therapy. BV maintenance was associated with a significant improvement in PFS for pts who received no novel agents before ASCT (HR 0.41 [0.25-0.65], p&amp;lt;0.001), but not for BV-treated (HR 0.69 [0.38-1.25], p=0.22) or PD-1-treated pts (HR 0.63 [0.13-3.03], p=0.56) ( Figure). Among pts with 0-1 modified AETHERA risk factors, BV maintenance was not associated with a significant PFS benefit in any treatment subgroup (no novel agents, HR 0.50, p=0.087; BV-treated, HR 1.28, p=0.67; PD-1-treated, HR 2.97, p=0.44). For pts with 2+ modified AETHERA risk factors, BV maintenance significantly improved PFS in the no novel agent group (HR 0.35, p&amp;lt;0.001) but not in the BV-treated (HR 0.55, p=0.099) or PD-1 treated groups (HR 0.24, p=0.19). In multivariable analyses that included key variables (age, year of ASCT, conditioning regimen, peri-ASCT radiation, early relapse/primary refractory disease, B symptoms, extranodal sites, pre-ASCT PET, lines of therapy), BV maintenance was associated with a significant PFS benefit among pts who received no novel agents before ASCT (HR 0.27 [0.12-0.65], p&amp;lt;0.001), but not for pts treated with BV (HR 0.56 [0.28-1.10], p=0.091) or PD-1 blockade (HR 1.10 [0.22-5.56], p=0.91) before ASCT. Conclusions: In this large cohort, BV maintenance was associated with the clearest benefit among pts who received only chemotherapy before ASCT. We were unable to identify a significant improvement in PFS for pts receiving novel agents before ASCT (which could be due to insufficient power to detect a small benefit in this population), suggesting that if these pts benefit from BV maintenance, its impact is likely more limited.

Adherence to treatment and parents’ perspective about effectiveness of melatonin in children with autism spectrum disorder and sleep disturbances

ObjectiveMelatonin is considered an effective pharmacological treatment for the sleep disturbances that are reported in > 50% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, real-life data about the long-term course and effectiveness of melatonin treatment in children with ASD is lacking.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we assessed the adherence to melatonin treatment and parents’ perspective of its effect on sleep quality and daytime behavior in children with ASD via a parental phone survey of children in the Azrieli National Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research (ANCAN) database. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the effect of key demographic and clinical characteristics on treatment adherence.ResultsMelatonin was recommended for ~ 8% of children in the ANCAN database. These children were characterized by more severe symptoms of autism. The median adherence time for melatonin treatment exceeded 88 months, with the most common reason for discontinuation being a lack of effectiveness (14%). Mild side-effects were reported in 14% of children, and 86%, 54%, and 45% experienced improvements in sleep onset, sleep duration and night awakenings, respectively. Notably, melatonin also improved the daytime behaviors of > 28% of the children. Adherence to treatment was independently associated with improvements in night awakenings and educational functioning (aHR = 0.142, 95%CI = 0.036–0.565; and aHR = 0.195, 95%CI = 0.047–0.806, respectively).ConclusionsBased on parents’ report, melatonin is a safe and effective treatment that improves both sleep difficulties and daily behavior of children with ASD.

Efficacy and tolerability of dolutegravir/lamivudine versusdolutegravir/rilpivirine in switching from a three-drug regimen based on nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: A retrospective cohort study.

Real-life comparisons of dolutegravir/rilpivirine (DTG/RPV) and DTG/lamivudine (3TC) regimens in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHIV) who switched from a standard three-drug regimen based on nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are missing.This study aimed to compare DTG/3TC and DTG/RPV in virologically suppressed patients (HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL) coming from any NNRTI-based regimen in terms of discontinuation due to virologic failure (VF) discontinuation rates due to all causes, and adverse events. As a secondary outcome, we evaluated the difference in creatinine, total cholesterol, CD4, and triglycerides from baseline to weeks 48 after the switch.Of the 415 PLWHs included in the study, 278 (66.9%) switched to DTG/3TC, and 137 (33.1%) switched to DTG/RPV. Overall, 48 PLWHs (11.6%) discontinued the treatment:38 with DTG/3TC and 10 with DTG/RPV with similar discontinuation rates: 5.01 × 100 py (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.64-6.94)and 4.66 × 100 py (95% CI 2.51-8.67), respectively. The most common reason for discontinuation was toxicity (26 patients, 22/278 [7.9%]in the DTG/3TC group and 4/137 [2.9%]in the DTG/RPV group), mainly neurologic toxicity (never above grade 2). We found no differences in discontinuation rates due to treatment adverse events. Two study participants experienced virological failure in the DTG/3TC arm. We observed no significant difference in CD4 cell counts, lipid parameters, or renal function between the two groups at 48 weeks.This study demonstrated that, in clinical practice, a two-drug regimen with DTG/3TC or DTG/RPV is characterized by a low discontinuation rate and VF in virologically suppressed PLWHs switched from an NNRTI-based three antiretroviral drugs regimen.