Ongoing Open-label Extension Study Research Articles

Long-term treatment with selective PI3Kδ inhibitor leniolisib in adults with activated PI3Kδ syndrome

AbstractActivated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) syndrome (APDS) is an inborn error of immunity that manifests as immune deficiency and dysregulation; symptoms include frequent infections and lymphoproliferation. In our dose-finding and phase 3 placebo-controlled trials, treatment with the selective PI3Kδ inhibitor leniolisib reduced lymphoproliferation and normalized lymphocyte subsets. Here, we present 6 years of follow-up from the 6 adult patients in the original dose-finding trial receiving leniolisib. We used data from the ongoing open-label extension study, which was supplemented at later time points by investigators, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessed through a clinician-reported questionnaire. We observed improvements in HRQoL: 5 of 6 patients experienced an increase in physical capabilities and socialization, and a decrease in prescribed medications. Immune subsets improved in all patients: mean transitional B-cell levels decreased from 38.17% to 2.47% and the CD4:CD8 T-cell ratio normalized to 1.11. Manifestations seen before and within the first year of leniolisib exposure, such as infections and gastrointestinal conditions, attenuated after year 2, with few new conditions emerging out to year 6. Thrombocytopenia or lymphopenia remained present in half of patients at year 6. Of 83 adverse events through year 5, 90.36% were grade 1; none were grade 4/5 nor deemed leniolisib related. Collectively, we saw an enhancement in HRQoL as well as durable changes in lymphocyte subsets and clinical manifestations, further supporting the use of leniolisib as a long-term therapeutic option for the treatment of APDS. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT02859727.

Management of acute breakthrough hemolysis with intensive pegcetacoplan dosing in patients with PNH

AbstractParoxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is characterized by complement-mediated intravascular hemolysis leading to anemia, fatigue, and potentially life-threatening thrombotic complications. Breakthrough hemolysis (BTH) was first described in patients with PNH treated with terminal complement C5 inhibitors when intravascular hemolysis reoccurred despite treatment. Pegcetacoplan, the first proximal complement C3 inhibitor, offers broad hemolysis control in patients with PNH. While experience of managing BTH on C5 inhibitors is documented, very limited guidance exists for proximal complement inhibitors. This interim analysis assessed the effect of intensive treatment with pegcetacoplan following an acute BTH event in a subset of patients enrolled in the ongoing open-label extension study of pegcetacoplan in PNH. Thirteen patients with acute BTH included in the analysis received either a single IV dose of 1080 mg (n = 4) or 1080 mg subcutaneous (SC) dosing on 3 consecutive days (n = 9). A potential, clinically-relevant complement-amplifying condition, such as infection or vaccination, was reported in approximately half of the patients experiencing an acute BTH. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels decreased between day 1 and day 2 in 8 of 12 evaluable patients and in all 13 patients at day 7 to 12. Nine of 13 patients (69%) achieved LDH <2× the upper limit of normal by day 14 to 19. All adverse events associated with the acute BTH event were considered resolved by the investigators. Overall, intensive treatment with pegcetacoplan was safe and well tolerated. These novel data support effective management of acute BTH events in patients on pegcetacoplan with intensive IV or SC pegcetacoplan dosing. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03531255.

Spesolimab for Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory disorder characterized by painful inflammatory nodules (N), abscesses (A) and draining tunnels (dT), primarily affecting intertriginous areas. Interleukin-36 (IL-36) signaling has been notably expressed within HS inflammatory lesions. To address the need for targeted therapies, this Phase IIa proof-of-clinical-concept (PoCC) study (NCT04762277) explored the effect of spesolimab, an anti-IL-36 receptor monoclonal antibody, in patients with moderate-to-severe HS.&#x0D; Methods: Eligible patients (N=52) were randomized (2:1) to receive spesolimab or placebo (1200 mg intravenous dosing once weekly for three weeks [loading dose], followed by 1200 mg subcutaneous dosing every 2 weeks for 12 weeks). No formal statistical tests were performed, as this was an exploratory study. Of patients who completed the study, 45 were enrolled in an ongoing open-label extension (OLE) study (NCT04876391) with spesolimab. For each study, endpoints included change from baseline at Weeks 12 and 24 in total A, N and dT (ANdT) counts, and adverse events (AEs).&#x0D; Results: Mean changes from baseline at Week 12 in dT, A and total ANdT counts were -1.30, -0.53 and -4.87 in the spesolimab arm, and 1.07, 3.07 and -0.86 in the placebo arm, respectively. Mean changes in N count were numerically similar between the spesolimab (-3.00) and placebo (-5.00) arms. Of patients with ≥1 dT at baseline, a numerically greater proportion had a decrease in dT count at Week 12 in the spesolimab (16/24, 66.7%) versus the placebo (5/13, 38.5%) arm. Least squares mean changes from baseline in total AN count at Week 12 were -38.8% and -34.7% in the spesolimab and placebo arms, respectively, which may have been affected by higher baseline AN and N counts in the spesolimab versus placebo arm. In the OLE, patients originally randomized to spesolimab (n=30) achieved sustained reductions in dT count and in International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score (IHS4) at Week 24. The safety profile of spesolimab was similar to that reported in other trials; among the 52 patients enrolled in the PoCC study, 77.8% (spesolimab) and 87.5% (placebo) of patients reported ≥1 AE. No patients receiving spesolimab reported serious AEs, and no new safety concerns were identified by Week 24. No deaths were reported.&#x0D; Conclusion: Our findings show that spesolimab was well tolerated and decreased all HS lesions. These results support the development of spesolimab in HS.&#x0D; This study was supported and funded by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Tafamidis Efficacy Among Octogenarian Patients in the Phase 3 ATTR-ACT and Ongoing Long-Term Extension Study

BackgroundTafamidis was approved to treat patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) on the basis of findings from the phase 3 Tafamidis in Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial (ATTR-ACT). ObjectivesThis study was a post hoc analysis exploring tafamidis efficacy in octogenarian patients. MethodsAnalysis of patients aged <80 and ≥80 years in ATTR-ACT and its ongoing open-label long-term extension (LTE) study, where all patients receive tafamidis. ResultsAfter 30 months in ATTR-ACT, least squares (LS) mean change from baseline in 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration, and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Overall Summary (KCCQ-OS) score were smaller (all P < 0.05) in patients aged ≥80 years treated with tafamidis (n = 51) vs placebo (n = 37). At the LTE study interim analysis, patients aged ≥80 years treated continuously with tafamidis had a smaller decline in KCCQ-OS score (P < 0.05) and trended toward longer median survival (45 vs 27 months; all-cause mortality HR: 0.6828 [95% CI: 0.4048-1.1517]; P = 0.1526) than those initially treated with placebo in ATTR-ACT. Similar efficacy was observed in patients aged <80 years in ATTR-ACT, including smaller LS mean change from baseline in 6MWT distance, NT-proBNP concentration, and KCCQ-OS score, and lower rate of cardiovascular-related hospitalizations with tafamidis (n = 125) vs placebo (n = 140). In the LTE study, patients aged <80 years treated continuously with tafamidis had a longer median survival (80 vs 41 months; HR = 0.4513 [95% CI: 0.3176-0.6413]; P < 0.0001) and a smaller decline in KCCQ-OS score than those initially treated with placebo. ConclusionsThe findings demonstrate tafamidis efficacy for patients with ATTR-CM both in those aged <80 and those aged ≥80 years. (Tafamidis in Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial [ATTR-ACT]; NCT01994889/Long-term Safety of Tafamidis in Subjects With Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy; NCT02791230)

Safety and efficacy of zilucoplan in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis (RAISE): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study

Generalised myasthenia gravis is a chronic, unpredictable, and debilitating rare disease, often accompanied by high treatment burden and with an unmet need for more efficacious and well tolerated treatments. Zilucoplan is a subcutaneous, self-administered macrocyclic peptide complement C5 inhibitor. We aimed to assess safety, efficacy, and tolerability of zilucoplan in patients with acetylcholine receptor autoantibody (AChR)-positive generalised myasthenia gravis. RAISE was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial that was done at 75 sites in Europe, Japan, and North America. We enrolled patients (aged 18-74 years) with AChR-positive generalised myasthenia gravis (Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America disease class II-IV), a myasthenia gravis activities of daily living (MG-ADL) score of least 6, and a quantitative myasthenia gravis score of at least 12. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive subcutaneous zilucoplan 0·3 mg/kg once daily by self-injection, or matched placebo, for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline to week 12 in MG-ADL score in the modified intention-to-treat population (all randomly assigned patients who received at least one dose of study drug and had at least one post-dosing MG-ADL score). Safety was mainly assessed by the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in all patients who had received at least one dose of zilucoplan or placebo. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04115293. An open-label extension study is ongoing (NCT04225871). Between Sept 17, 2019, and Sept 10, 2021, 239 patients were screened for the study, of whom 174 (73%) were eligible. 86 (49%) patients were randomly assigned to zilucoplan 0·3 mg/kg and 88 (51%) were assigned to placebo. Patients assigned to zilucoplan showed a greater reduction in MG-ADL score from baseline to week 12, compared with those assigned to placebo (least squares mean change -4·39 [95% CI -5·28 to -3·50] vs -2·30 [-3·17 to -1·43]; least squares mean difference -2·09 [-3·24 to -0·95]; p=0·0004). TEAEs occurred in 66 (77%) patients in the zilucoplan group and in 62 (70%) patients in the placebo group. The most common TEAE was injection-site bruising (n=14 [16%] in the zilucoplan group and n=8 [9%] in the placebo group). Incidences of serious TEAEs and serious infections were similar in both groups. One patient died in each group; neither death (COVID-19 [zilucoplan] and cerebral haemorrhage [placebo]) was considered related to the study drug. Zilucoplan treatment showed rapid and clinically meaningful improvements in myasthenia gravis-specific efficacy outcomes, had a favourable safety profile, and was well tolerated, with no major safety findings. Zilucoplan is a new potential treatment option for a broad population of patients with AChR-positive generalised myasthenia gravis. The long-term safety and efficacy of zilucoplan is being assessed in an ongoing open-label extension study. UCB Pharma.

Inhaled pirfenidone solution (AP01) for IPF: a randomised, open-label, dose–response trial

IntroductionOral pirfenidone reduces lung function decline and mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Systemic exposure can have significant side effects, including nausea, rash, photosensitivity, weight loss and fatigue....

Understanding and modifying Fabry disease: Rationale and design of a pivotal Phase 3 study and results from a patient-reported outcome validation study

The use of available treatments for Fabry disease (FD) (including enzyme replacement therapy [ERT]) may be restricted by their limited symptom improvement and mode of administration. Lucerastat is currently being investigated in the MODIFY study as oral substrate reduction therapy for the treatment of FD. By reducing the net globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) load in tissues, lucerastat has disease-modifying potential to improve symptoms and delay disease progression.MODIFY is a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase 3 study (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT03425539); here we present the rationale and design of this study. Eligible adults with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of FD and FD-specific neuropathic pain entered screening. Patients were randomized (2:1) to receive either oral lucerastat twice daily or placebo for 6 months; treatment allocation was stratified according to sex and ERT treatment status. The main objectives of MODIFY are to assess the effects of lucerastat on neuropathic pain, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, FD biomarkers, and determine its safety and tolerability.Neuropathic pain and GI symptoms are key features of FD that have a significant impact on quality of life. Despite various tools available to assess pain and GI symptoms, there are currently limited tools available to assess neuropathic and GI symptoms in FD, validated according to health authority guidelines. Based on FDA recommendations, we undertook a patient-reported outcome (PRO) validation study, using a novel eDiary-based PRO tool to assess the validity of evaluating neuropathic pain as a primary efficacy endpoint in MODIFY. Results from the PRO validation study are included.To date, MODIFY is the largest Phase 3 clinical study conducted in patients with FD. Enrollment to MODIFY is now complete, with 118 patients randomized. Results will be presented in a separate publication. Long-term effects of lucerastat are being assessed in the ongoing open-label extension study (NCT03737214).

Pozelimab, a Human Monoclonal Antibody Against Complement Factor C5, Provided Inhibition of Intravascular Hemolysis in Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

INTRODUCTIONParoxysmal Nocturnal hemoglobuinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired, life-threatening disorder characterised by intravascular hemolysis and increased risk of thrombosis. Current available treatments represent a significant burden to patients and include anti-complement factor 5 (C5) therapies, eculizumab and ravulizumab, both intravenous infusions, or more recently, twice weekly C3 inhibitor, Pegcetacoplan, a subcutaneous (SC) infusion treatment.Pozelimab (REGN3918), a fully human monoclonal immunoglobulin G4 antibody directed against C5, has been shown to bind with high affinity to wild-type and variant (R885H/C) human C5 and block its activity.In a healthy volunteer study (NCT03115996), SC administration of pozelimab was found to be generally well tolerated while providing complete inhibition of ex vivo-assessed hemolytic activity [Weyne J et al. Blood. 2018;S1:1039]. The data suggested that pozelimab may provide control of intravascular hemolysis in patients with active PNH, and thus could provide an important new alternative for patients supporting progression to a first-in-patient study of pozelimab in patients with active PNH.OBJECTIVETo demonstrate a clinically significant reduction in intravascular hemolysis by once-weekly SC administration of pozelimab over 26 weeks of treatment in patients with active PNH.METHODSThis is a phase 2, open-label, single-arm, 26-week treatment study in 24 patients with active symptomatic PNH who are naïve to complement inhibitor therapy, or who have received prior treatment with a complement inhibitor but not within 6 months prior to the start of the study (NCT03946748).The treatment regimen consists of pozelimab as a single IV loading dose of 30 mg/kg followed thereafter by weekly SC 800 mg administrations.The effect of pozelimab on intravascular hemolysis (monitored via LDH levels) and transfusion avoidance, as well as safety, is to be assessed from baseline to week 26 (study day 183; only partial data were available for some patients at the time of abstract submission). Pozelimab pharmacodynamics was assessed utilizing a sheep red blood cell (RBC) complement activity assay (CH50) and rabbit RBC complement activity assay (AH50).RESULTSAll 24 patients completed the 26-week treatment period with no study drug discontinuation and have been enrolled into an ongoing open-label extension study (NCT04162470). An interim analysis on the first 17 patients was previously reported. All 17 patients had at least 71 days of treatment, with 10 patients receiving treatment for up to 183 days. All enrolled patients had baseline LDH levels ≥2 x upper limit of normal (ULN). Participants were enrolled in two cohorts: Cohort A for dose confirmation and Cohort B for further evaluation of efficacy and safety.Interim Efficacy AnalysisAs previously reported, treatment with pozelimab led to a rapid and sustained reduction in LDH through study week 26. All 17 patients achieved LDH reduction to below the clinically significant threshold of LDH ≤1.5 x ULN.All but one patient achieved control of intravascular hemolysis (LDH ≤1.5 x ULN) at week 2, and all but one patient achieved normalization of LDH (LDH ≤1.0 x ULN) at week 4.Importantly, one patient who is a carrier of a C5 variant known to be resistant to blockade by eculizumab/ravulizumab demonstrated rapid and sustained normalization of LDH.Interim SafetyAs previously reported, no serious adverse events or adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were reported. Common treatment-emergent adverse events included headache (4 patients; 23.5%) and nausea (2 patients; 11.8%).No breakthrough hemolysis events were observed.CONCLUSIONSPozelimab administered SC once weekly led to the inhibition of intravascular hemolysis in patients with active PNH and was generally well-tolerated. An update to the previously reported interim analysis will be provided.Upon successful completion of the 26-week treatment period, patients are enrolled into an open-label extension study. DisclosuresWeyne: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Chaudhari: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Harari: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Miller: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Dain: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: Contractor. Meagher: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Rodgers: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Perlee: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Morton: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Weinreich: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Yancopoulos: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Griffin: Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BioCryst Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sobi Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apellis: Other: Educational grant support.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Voxelotor for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Results from an Open-Label Extension of the Phase 3 HOPE Trial

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Voxelotor for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Results from an Open-Label Extension of the Phase 3 HOPE Trial

Long-Term Survival, Safety and Tolerability with Selexipag in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Results from GRIPHON and its Open-Label Extension

IntroductionIn the event-driven GRIPHON randomised-controlled trial, the oral prostacyclin receptor agonist selexipag significantly reduced the risk of disease progression (composite primary endpoint of morbidity/mortality), compared with placebo, in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The ongoing open-label extension study (GRIPHON OL) collects further data on long-term safety, tolerability, and survival of PAH patients treated with selexipag. MethodsPatients randomised to selexipag or placebo in GRIPHON could enter GRIPHON OL either after experiencing a morbidity event during double-blind treatment or at the end of the study. Patients were followed for adverse events (AE) and survival from selexipag initiation up to 3 days and 30 days after end of treatment, respectively. Data are presented up to a cut-off date of 1 September 2019.ResultsOverall, 953 patients in GRIPHON and GRIPHON OL were treated with selexipag. At the time of selexipag initiation, 81.2% of patients were receiving background PAH therapy. Median (min, max) exposure to selexipag was 31.7 months (0, 106), corresponding to a total of 3054.4 patient-years. The most frequently reported AEs were related to known prostacyclin-related effects or underlying disease. There were 305 (32.0%) patients who experienced an AE leading to treatment discontinuation. Survival during GRIPHON and GRIPHON OL was assessed for the 574 patients randomised to selexipag in GRIPHON. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates (95%CI) at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years were 92.0% (89.4, 94.0), 79.3% (75.4, 82.6), 71.2% (66.5, 75.3) and 63.0% (57.4, 68.1), respectively.ConclusionsThese results provide the longest follow-up period published to date for a PAH therapy. The safety profile of selexipag over this extended treatment period was consistent with that observed in GRIPHON. A large proportion of the population was receiving background therapy at selexipag initiation, providing further insight into the long-term safety of selexipag as part of a combination therapy regimen.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01106014 and NCT01112306Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-021-01898-1.

Long-Term Maintenance of Platelet Responses in Adult Patients with Persistent/Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia Treated with Fostamatinib: 1-Year Efficacy and Safety Results

Long-Term Maintenance of Platelet Responses in Adult Patients with Persistent/Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia Treated with Fostamatinib: 1-Year Efficacy and Safety Results

Ozanimod in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis: a profile of its use

Ozanimod (Zeposia®), a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator with high selectivity for S1P receptor subtypes 1 and 5 (S1P1 and S1P5), represents another oral disease-modifying therapy option for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. In two randomised, double-blind, phase 3 clinical trials, once-daily oral ozanimod 0.92 mg significantly reduced annualised relapse rates and MRI lesion accumulation compared with once-weekly intramuscular interferon β-1a 30 µg. Furthermore, an ongoing open-label extension study provides evidence that the therapeutic effects of ozanimod are sustained in the longer term. Ozanimod is generally well tolerated. The once-daily oral administration provides a convenient dosing regimen, and the high selectivity for S1P1 and S1P5 receptors has the potential to improve safety by reducing potential off-target effects.

16292 Dupilumab treatment for up to 3 years demonstrates sustained efficacy in adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: Results from LIBERTY AD Adult OLE

Background: Dupilumab is approved in the US for treatment of patients aged ≥12 years with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Here, we primarily report efficacy data of dupilumab in an ongoing open-label extension (OLE) study in adult AD patients (NCT01949311), collected for up to 3 years at data cutoff (December 1, 2018).

Fenfluramine HCl (Fintepla® ) provides long-term clinically meaningful reduction in seizure frequency: Analysis of an ongoing open-label extension study.

ObjectiveFenfluramine has been shown to provide clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions in convulsive seizure frequency in children and adolescents (aged 2‐18 years) with Dravet syndrome in two randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trials. The objective of this analysis was to assess longer‐term safety and efficacy of fenfluramine in patients who completed one of the double‐blind studies and entered an open‐label extension (OLE) study.MethodsPatients enrolling in the OLE study initiated fenfluramine at 0.2 mg/kg/d regardless of their treatment assignment in the double‐blind study. After 4 weeks, the fenfluramine dose could be titrated based on efficacy and tolerability to maximum of 0.7 mg/kg/d (absolute maximum 27 mg/d) or maximum of 0.4 mg/kg/d (absolute maximum 17 mg/d) in patients receiving concomitant stiripentol. The number and type of seizures were recorded daily in an electronic diary, and safety, including echocardiography, was assessed at Months 1, 2, and 3, and at 3‐month intervals thereafter.ResultsA total of 232 patients were enrolled as of March 13, 2018. During this analysis period, patients were treated for a median 256 days (range = 46‐634 days). Over the entire OLE analysis period, the median decrease in convulsive seizure frequency compared to baseline in the double‐blind studies was −66.8% (range = −100% to 234.9%; P < .001). The median reduction in seizure frequency was similar in patients <6 (−75.7%) and ≥6 years old (−64.7%). The most commonly reported adverse events included pyrexia (21.6%), nasopharyngitis (19.4%), and decreased appetite (−15.9%). No valvular heart disease (VHD) or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was observed.SignificanceStudy results demonstrate that fenfluramine provides clinically meaningful (≥50%) seizure frequency reduction over an extended period in patients with Dravet syndrome. No patient developed VHD or PAH, and fenfluramine was generally well tolerated.

Risankizumab: A Review in Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis.

Risankizumab (Skyrizi®; risankizumab-rzaa) is a humanized immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 monoclonal antibody that specifically targets the p19 subunit of interleukin (IL)-23, thereby inhibiting IL-23-dependent cell signaling. Subcutaneous risankizumab is approved for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy (in the EU), those who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy (in the USA) and those who have an inadequate response to conventional therapies (in Japan). In pivotal phase III trials (UltIMMa-1, UltIMMa-2, IMMvent and IMMhance), risankizumab was more effective than placebo, ustekinumab and adalimumab with regard to the proportion of patients achieving ≥ 90% improvement from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI 90) and a static Physician’s Global Assessment score of 0 or 1 at week 16, with these benefits maintained over the longer term. In supportive head-to-head trials, risankizumab was also superior to secukinumab and fumaric acid esters in terms of PASI 90 response rate. In an ongoing open-label extension study (LIMMitless), risankizumab was associated with durable and improved efficacy after switching from ustekinumab or adalimumab, as well as durable maintenance of efficacy through > 2.5 years of continuous exposure. Treatment with risankizumab improved health-related quality of life and was generally well tolerated, both in the short- and longer-term. In conclusion, risankizumab represents a useful new treatment option for patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Cannabidiol for Adjuvant Treatment of Seizures Associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome: An Evidence Review Group Perspective of a NICE Single Technology Appraisal.

GW Research Ltd. provided two separate, but similar, submissions to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD) 10mg/kg/day, trade name Epidyolex®, for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS). This paper highlights important methodological issues related to the company submissions, the Evidence Review Group (ERG) reports, and the subsequent development of the NICE guidance by the Appraisal Committee (AC) for the use of CBD. The company identified four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of CBD (GWPCARE1 and GWPCARE2 for DS, and GWPCARE3 and GWPCARE4 for LGS) and an ongoing open-label extension study (GWPCARE5) as relevant to both submissions. In these RCTs, CBD in addition to current clinical management (CCM) was compared to CCM without CBD (i.e. CCM plus placebo). GWPCARE2 and GWPCARE3 were three-arm studies and compared two dosages of CBD (10mg/kg/day and 20mg/kg/day) in addition to CCM and CCM plus placebo. GWPCARE1 and GWPCARE4 compared CBD (20mg/kg/day) in addition to CCM and CCM plus placebo. Both DS patients in GWPCARE2 and LGS patients in GWPCARE3 who received 10mg/kg/day CBD in addition to CCM achieved better seizure frequency outcomes than those who received CCM plus placebo. In the company's base case, use of CBD for LGS patients resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £31,107 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained and, for DS patients, £36,046 per QALY gained versus CCM. The ERG considered that these ICERs were extremely uncertain and suffered from validity issues concerning model structure (e.g. patients receiving CCM moved back to baseline drop seizure frequency), input (e.g. inclusion of caregivers' QALYs), and transparency issues (e.g. hidden worksheets and coding in Visual Basic for Applications), and hence incorporated adjustments to the original base case which increased the ICERs. During the process, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) licence granted marketing authorisation for CBD only in conjunction with clobazam. Hence, the company provided evidence from this subgroup in an additional submission, which resulted in an ICER of £33,721 per QALY gained for LGS and an ICER of £32,471 per QALY gained for DS. In this submission and clarifications, the ERG was able to verify and validate most of the company's responses to the ERG's concerns. However, some issues remained regarding the face validity of model assumptions on patient pathways after treatment discontinuation. Finally, the AC recommended CBD with clobazam as an option for treating seizures associated with LGS and DS in patients aged 2years and older only if (1) the frequency of drop seizures is checked every 6months and CBD is stopped if the frequency has not fallen by at least 30% compared with 6months before starting treatment and (2) the company provides CBD according to the commercial arrangement.

Long-Term (2-Year) Safety and Efficacy of Adjunctive ZX008 (Fenfluramine Hydrochloride Oral Solution) for Dravet Syndrome: Interim Results of an Ongoing Open-Label Extension Study (4684)

Long-Term (2-Year) Safety and Efficacy of Adjunctive ZX008 (Fenfluramine Hydrochloride Oral Solution) for Dravet Syndrome: Interim Results of an Ongoing Open-Label Extension Study (4684)

Eculizumab: A Review in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

The terminal complement protein (C5) inhibitor eculizumab (Soliris®) is the first agent to be specifically approved in the EU, USA, Canada and Japan for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in adults who are aquaporin-4 water channel autoantibody (AQP4-IgG) seropositive and (in the EU only) for those with a relapsing course of disease. In the phase III PREVENT trial, eculizumab significantly reduced the risk of adjudicated relapse relative to placebo in patients with AQP4-IgG-seropositive NMOSD, approximately a quarter of whom did not receive concomitant immunosuppressive therapies. The beneficial effect of eculizumab was seen across all patient subgroups analysed and was accompanied by improvements in neurological and functional disability assessments, as well as generic health-related quality of life measures; it was sustained through 4 years of treatment, according to combined data from the PREVENT trial and an interim analysis of its ongoing open-label extension study. The safety profile of eculizumab in AQP4-IgG-seropositive NMOSD was consistent with that seen for the drug in other approved indications. Thus, eculizumab provides an effective, generally well tolerated and approved treatment option for this rare, disabling and potentially life-threatening condition.Video abstract Video (MP4 241640 KB)Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40265-020-01297-w.

Continued benefit demonstrated with BAY 81-8973 prophylaxis in previously treated children with severe haemophilia A: Interim analysis from the LEOPOLD Kids extension study

IntroductionBAY 81-8973 (Kovaltry®), a recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) product, was efficacious and well tolerated in paediatric previously treated patients (PTPs) with severe haemophilia A for ≥50 exposure days (EDs) in the LEOPOLD Kids study. Because long-term prophylaxis (≥100 EDs) can provide substantial patient benefits, FVIII products should demonstrate long-term safety and efficacy. AimTo demonstrate long-term (≥100 EDs) efficacy and safety of BAY 81-8973 in paediatric PTPs. MethodsPTPs aged ≤12 years with severe haemophilia A without inhibitors could continue in the ongoing open-label extension study after completing ≥50 EDs in the LEOPOLD Kids main study. Patients received BAY 81-8973 for prophylaxis (25–50 IU/kg ≥2×/week), bleed treatment, and surgery. Bleeds were documented in electronic patient diaries. Inhibitor development was monitored every 6 months. ResultsAt the August 2017 interim data cutoff, 46 patients (median [range] age at enrolment, 6.0 [1.0–11.0] years) had spent a median (range) of 602.5 (148–1069) EDs and 4.6 (1.0–5.9) years in the main plus extension studies. Median (quartile [Q]1; Q3) annualised bleeding rate for bleeds within 48 h after a prophylaxis infusion and total bleeds was 1.0 (0.2; 1.9) and 2.0 (0.4; 3.6), respectively. Most (>94%) bleeds were mild or moderate; 71.8% were treated with ≤1 infusion. BAY 81-8973 was also well tolerated with only one treatment-related adverse event (transient, low-titre inhibitor which did not require treatment adjustment). ConclusionBAY 81-8973 was efficacious for prophylaxis and treatment of bleeds during >4.5 years in paediatric PTPs with severe haemophilia A.

A safety, tolerability and biomarker update from an ongoing open-label extension study of RG6042 in adults with early manifest Huntington’s disease

A safety, tolerability and biomarker update from an ongoing open-label extension study of RG6042 in adults with early manifest Huntington’s disease