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1.
Pegcetacoplan controls hemolysis in complement inhibitor-naive patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Wong RSM, Navarro-Cabrera JR, Comia NS, Goh YT, Idrobo H, Kongkabpan D, Gómez-Almaguer D, Al-Adhami M, Ajayi T, Alvarenga P, et al
Blood advances. 2023
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disease characterized by complement-mediated hemolysis. Pegcetacoplan is the first C3-targeted therapy approved for adults with PNH (United States), adults with PNH with inadequate response to or intolerance of a C5 inhibitor (Australia), and adults with anemia despite C5-targeted therapy for 3 months (European Union). PRINCE was a phase 3, randomized, multicenter, open-label, controlled study to evaluate efficacy and safety of pegcetacoplan versus control (supportive care only; eg, blood transfusions, corticosteroids, and supplements) in complement inhibitor-naive patients with PNH. Eligible adults receiving supportive care only for PNH were randomized and stratified based on their number of transfusions (<4, ≥4) 12 months before screening. Patients received pegcetacoplan 1080 mg subcutaneously twice weekly or continued supportive care (control) for 26 weeks. Coprimary endpoints were hemoglobin stabilization (avoidance of >1-g/dL decrease in hemoglobin levels without transfusions) from baseline through week 26 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) change at week 26. Overall, 53 patients received pegcetacoplan (n=35) or control (n=18). Pegcetacoplan was superior to control for hemoglobin stabilization (pegcetacoplan, 85.7%; control, 0; difference, 73.1% [95% CI: 57.2, 89.0]; P <0.0001) and change from baseline in LDH (least-square mean change: pegcetacoplan, -1870.5 U/L; control -400.1 U/L; difference, -1470.4 U/L [95% CI: -2113.4, -827.3]; P <0.0001). Pegcetacoplan was well tolerated. No pegcetacoplan-related adverse events were serious, and no new safety signals observed. Pegcetacoplan rapidly and significantly stabilized hemoglobin and reduced LDH in complement inhibitor-naive patients and had a favorable safety profile. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04085601.
PICO Summary
Population
Adult patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria enrolled in the PRINCE trial conducted in 22 centres in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Colombia, Mexico and Peru (n= 53).
Intervention
Subcutaneous infusions of pegcetacoplan (pegcetacoplan group, n= 35).
Comparison
Supportive care including transfusions, anticoagulants, corticosteroids, and supplements (control group, n= 18).
Outcome
Pegcetacoplan was superior to control for haemoglobin stabilization (pegcetacoplan, 85.7%; control, 0; difference, 73.1%, 95% CI [57.2, 89.0]) and change from baseline in lactate dehydrogenase, (least-square mean change: pegcetacoplan, -1870.5 U/L; control -400.1 U/L; difference, -1470.4 U/L, 95% CI [-2113.4, -827.3]). Pegcetacoplan was well tolerated. No pegcetacoplan-related adverse events were serious, and no new safety signals were observed.
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Evaluation of collagen turnover biomarkers as an objective measure for efficacy of treatment with rurioctocog alfa pegol in Hemophilia A patients: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
Manon-Jensen, T., Tangada, S., Bager, C., Chowdary, P., Klamroth, R., von Drygalski, A., Windyga, J., Escobar, M., Frederiksen, P., Engl, W., et al
Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH. 2023
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemophilia patients with recurrent hemarthroses develop hemophilic arthropathy (HA). Regular prophylaxis with factor VIII (FVIII) can reduce HA, but there is a need for objective outcome measures to evaluate treatment efficacy. METHODS Joint remodeling was assessed by analyzing serum levels of collagen remodeling products at baseline and months 3, 6, 9, and 12 in a 98 patient subset receiving pharmacokinetics-guided prophylaxis with rurioctocog alfa pegol, targeting FVIII trough levels of 1-3 IU/dL or 8-12 IU/dL (PROPEL study, NCT0285960). RESULTS Basement membrane metabolism-related type 4 collagen remodeling products (C4M and PRO-C4) decreased after 3 months at all time points by up to 25% at 1-3 IU/dL (p=.049, p<.0001) and 8-12 IU/dL FVIII trough levels (p=.0002, p<.0001). Interstitial tissue metabolism-related type 3 (C3M) and 5 (PRO-C5) collagen remodeling products decreased after 3 months, by up to 19% at 1-3 IU/dL FVIII trough level (p=.0001, p=.009) and 23% at 8-12 IU/dL FVIII trough level (p=.0002, p=.001). An increase of up to 12% was seen for cartilage metabolism-related type 2 collagen product (PRO-C2, not C2M) after 6 months at both trough levels (p=.01, p=.005). When stratified by prior treatment, changes in C3M (p=.03) and C4M (p=.02) levels were observed between trough levels for prior on-demand treatment but not for prophylaxis prior to study entry. CONCLUSION Joint improvement measured by collagen remodelling biomarkers specific to the basement membrane, interstitial matrix, and cartilage was seen with pharmacokinetics-guided prophylaxis. These collagen remodeling biomarkers warrant further exploration as biomarkers to guide treatment toward improvement in HA.
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Efficacy and Safety of Biosimilar Romiplostim Versus Innovator Romiplostim in Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia
Chandrakala, S., Toshniwal, M., Halvawala, M., Padwal, N., Sidharthan, N., Malhotra, P., Prashantha, B., Ballikar, R., Shah, S., Apte, S., et al
Indian journal of hematology & blood transfusion : an official journal of Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. 2023;39(3):435-441
Abstract
Romiplostim is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapy for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Biosimilar is a biological product that has no clinical meaningful difference from an existing FDA-approved reference product. It has a potential of lowering health-care-related cost. Biosimilar of romiplostim can be made available to patients with ITP at a low cost and can be beneficial in providing the best therapy. Thus, the efficacy and safety of biosimilar romiplostim (ENZ110) was compared with innovator romiplostim (Nplate) with respect to platelet response in patients with chronic ITP. This was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, and double-blind clinical trial. Patients with chronic ITP, aged 18-65 years, were enrolled in a study and were randomized to receive either ENZ110 or Nplate in a 3:1 ratio for a treatment period of 12 weeks, respectively. After completion of the treatment period, the patients were followed-up for one week to evaluate the platelet response and to monitor the adverse events (AEs). Over the duration of 12 weeks, platelet response of > 50 × 10(9)/L was achieved in 85.3% patients treated with ENZ110 and in 75.0% patients treated with Nplate in per protocol population. In intent-to-treat population, 83.8% patients with ENZ110 and 76.9% patients with Nplate achieved a platelet response of > 50 × 10(9)/L. In the ENZ110 group, 111 AEs were recorded in 66.7% patients, while 18 AEs were reported in 61.5% patients in the Nplate group. The study demonstrated non-inferiority with comparable efficacy and safety between biosimilar romiplostim and innovator romiplostim in patients with chronic ITP. Trial registration number and date of registration: CTRI/2019/04/018614.
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Rilzabrutinib versus placebo in adults and adolescents with persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia: LUNA 3 phase III study
Kuter, D. J., Bussel, J. B., Ghanima, W., Cooper, N., Gernsheimer, T., Lambert, M. P., Liebman, H. A., Tarantino, M. D., Lee, M., Guo, H., et al
Therapeutic advances in hematology. 2023;14:20406207231205431
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is characterized by primarily autoantibody-mediated platelet destruction and impaired platelet production resulting in thrombocytopenia and an increased risk of bleeding. Other manifestations include increased risk of thrombosis and diminished quality of life. Current treatment approaches are directed toward lowering the rate of platelet destruction or stimulating platelet production to prevent bleeding. Rilzabrutinib is an oral, reversible, potent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor that was specifically designed to treat immune-mediated diseases and mediates its therapeutic effect through a dual mechanism of action: (1) inhibiting B-cell activation and (2) interrupting antibody-coated cell phagocytosis by Fc gamma receptor in spleen and liver. A 24-week dose-finding phase I/II study of rilzabrutinib in patients with ITP showed a 40% platelet response (⩾2 consecutive platelet counts of ⩾50 × 10(9)/L and increase from baseline ⩾20 × 10(9)/L without rescue medication use) and a well-tolerated safety profile with only grade 1/2 transient adverse events across dose levels. OBJECTIVES Assess the efficacy and safety of oral rilzabrutinib in adult and adolescent patients with persistent or chronic ITP. DESIGN Rilzabrutinib 400 mg BID is being evaluated in the ongoing LUNA 3 multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The primary endpoint is durable platelet response, defined as achieving platelet counts of ⩾50 × 10(9)/L for at least two-thirds of ⩾8 available weekly scheduled platelet measurements during the last 12 weeks (including ⩾2 available measurements within the last 6 weeks) of the 24-week blinded treatment period in the absence of rescue therapy. ETHICS Ethical guidelines and informed consent are followed. DISCUSSION The LUNA 3 trial will further investigate rilzabrutinib's safety and efficacy in adult and adolescent patients, with the primary goal of addressing a major objective in treating patients with ITP: durability of platelet response. TRAIL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04562766: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04562766; EU Clinical Trials Register EudraCT 2020-002063-60: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=2020-002063-60.
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Romiplostim in primary immune thrombocytopenia that is persistent or chronic: phase III multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in China
Zhou, H., Zhou, J., Wu, D., Ma, L., Du, X., Niu, T., Yang, R., Liu, J., Zhang, F., Shi, Q., et al
Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis. 2023;7(5):100192
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple trials have confirmed that romiplostim could increase platelet count in individuals with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but no related study has assessed Chinese patients. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of romiplostim as a second-line treatment of persistent or chronic ITP in Chinese adults. METHODS This phase III multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, then open-label clinical trial (NCT02868099, CTR20150395) was conducted at 28 investigational sites in China. The patients were randomly assigned (3:1) to romiplostim (starting and maximum doses of 1 and 10 μg/kg, respectively) or placebo for 9 weeks (double-blind period), followed by the open-label period (both groups administered romiplostim) to week 22. The primary endpoint was the time (in weeks) during which platelet counts were ≥50 × 10(9)/L in the double-blind period. RESULTS In this study, 202 patients (romiplostim, n = 151; placebo, n = 51) started the treatment. The median (range) numbers of weeks with platelet response after 6 weeks of treatment were 2 (0-6) and 0 (0-2) in patients administered romiplostim and placebo, respectively (P < .001). During the double-blind period, the proportions of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events were comparable between the romiplostim and placebo groups (82.8% vs 82.4%). The treatment-emergent adverse event with ≥10% difference in incidence between these 2 groups was injection site bleeding (1.3% vs 11.8%). CONCLUSION Romiplostim significantly increased the time with maintained platelet response in patients with persistent or chronic ITP in comparison with placebo. No new safety signal was observed. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02868099. www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/clinicaltrials.searchlist.dhtml, CTR20150395.
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Efficacy and safety of QL0911 in adult patients with chronic primary immune thrombocytopenia: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial
Zhou, H., Han, S., Jin, J., Huang, R., Guo, X., Shen, X., Wang, B., Wang, X., Yao, H., Du, X., et al
Journal of translational internal medicine. 2023;11(4):423-432
Abstract
OBJECTIVE QL0911, a recombinant human thrombopoietin mimetic peptide-Fc fusion protein, is a romiplostim (Nplate(®)) biosimilar used to treat primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). This phase III study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of QL0911 in adult patients with chronic primary ITP over a 24-week treatment period. METHODS We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study in patients diagnosed with primary ITP for at least 12 months who had received at least one first-line ITP treatment with no response or recurrence after treatment, or who relapsed after splenectomy at 44 sites in China. Patients were randomly allocated (2:1 ratio) to QL0911 or placebo injection subcutaneously once weekly at an initial dose of 1 μg/kg for 24 weeks. The doses were adjusted to maintain the target platelet counts from 50 × 109/L to 200 × 109/L. Patients and investigators were blinded to the assignment. The primary endpoints were the proportion of patients who achieved a durable platelet response at week 24 (platelet count, ≥ 50 × 109/L during 6 of the last 8 weeks of treatment) and safety. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05621330). RESULTS Between October 2019 and December 2021, 216 patients were randomly assigned (QL0911,144; placebo,72). A durable platelet response was achieved by significantly more patients in the QL0911 group (61.8%, 95% CI: 53.3-69.8; P < 0.0001) than in the placebo group (0%). The mean duration of platelet responses was 15.9 (SE: 0.43) weeks with QL0911, and 1.9 (SE:0.26) week with placebo. Consistent results were achieved in subgroup analyses categorized by baseline splenectomy status (yes/no), concomitant ITP treatment (yes/no), and baseline platelet count (≤ 10 × 109/L, > 10 × 109/L, ≤ 20 × 109/L, > 20 × 109/L, and < 30 × 109/L). The incidence of TEAEs was comparable between the QL0911 and the placebo groups (91.7% and 88.9%, respectively). The most common adverse events overall were ecchymosis (28.5% for QL0911 vs. 37.5% for placebo), upper respiratory tract infections respiratory tract infections (31.9% for QL0911 vs. 27.8% for placebo), and gingival bleeding (17.4% for QL0911 vs. 26.4% for placebo). CONCLUSION QL0911 was well-tolerated and increased and maintained platelet counts in adults with ITP. QL0911, a biosimilar to romiplostim (Nplate®), may be a novel treatment option for patients with ITP who have failed or relapsed from first-line treatment in China. Ongoing studies will provide further data on long-term efficacy and safety in such patient populations.
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BAY 81-8973 Efficacy and Safety in Previously Untreated and Minimally Treated Children with Severe Hemophilia A: The LEOPOLD Kids Trial
Ljung, R., Chan, A. K. C., Glosli, H., Afonja, O., Becker, B., Tseneklidou-Stoeter, D., Mancuso, M. E., Saulyte-Trakymiene, S., Kenet, G.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2023;123(1):27-39
Abstract
INTRODUCTION BAY 81-8973, a full-length recombinant factor VIII for hemophilia A treatment, has been extensively evaluated in previously treated patients in the LEOPOLD (Long-Term Efficacy Open-Label Program in Severe Hemophilia A Disease) clinical trials. AIM: To assess BAY 81-8973 efficacy and safety when used for bleed prophylaxis and treatment in previously untreated/minimally treated patients (PUPs/MTPs). METHODS In this phase III, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled study, PUPs/MTPs (<6 years old) with severe hemophilia A received BAY 81-8973 (15-50 IU/kg) at least once weekly as prophylaxis. Primary efficacy endpoint was the annualized bleeding rate (ABR) within 48 hours after prophylaxis infusion. Adverse events and immunogenicity were assessed. Patients who developed inhibitors were offered immune tolerance induction (ITI) treatment in an optional extension phase. RESULTS Fifty-two patients were enrolled, with 43 patients (mean age: 13.6 months) treated. Median (interquartile range) ABR for all bleeds within 48 hours of prophylaxis infusion was 0.0 (0.0-1.8) among patients without inhibitors (n = 20) and 0.0 (0.0-2.2) among all patients. As expected, inhibitors were the most frequent treatment-related adverse event (high titer: 17 [39.5%] patients; low titer: 6 [13.9%] patients). Six of 12 patients who underwent ITI treatment in the extension phase (high titer [n = 5], low titer [n = 1]) achieved a negative inhibitor titer. CONCLUSION BAY 81-8973 was effective for bleed prevention and treatment in PUPs/MTPs. The observed inhibitor rate was strongly influenced by a cluster of inhibitor cases, and consequently, slightly higher than in other PUP/MTP studies. Overall, the BAY 81-8973 benefit-risk profile remains unchanged and supported by ongoing safety surveillance. Immune tolerance can be achieved with BAY 81-8973.
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Recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) of different dosing regimens for refractory/relapsed primary immune thrombocytopenia: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial and pharmacokinetics study
Liu, X., Bai, Y., Wang, T., Song, Y., Sun, F., Xia, R., Zhu, F., Ma, J., Lu, Q., Ye, X., et al
Platelets. 2023;34(1):2157806
Abstract
Recombinant human TPO (rhTPO) is effective for refractory/relapsed primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but optimal dosing regimen remains elusive. In this multicenter, randomized, controlled trial, a total of 282 adult ITP patients (mean age 47.3 years; 82 men) with a platelet count ≤30 × 10(9)/L or >30 × 10(9)/L with active bleeding randomly received a once daily (QD) subcutaneous injection of 7500 U (n = 64) or 15000 U rhTPO for 14 injections, or 15000 U or 30000 U rhTPO once every other day (QOD) for 7 injections. The primary outcomes included change from baseline in platelet count and total response rate (TRR) on day 14. On day 14, the median increase of platelet count from baseline was the highest in the 15000-U QD group (167.5 × 10(9)/L, interquartile range [IQR] 23.0-295.0 × 10(9)/L), followed by the 30000-U QOD group (57.5 × 10(9)/L, IQR 9.0-190.0 × 10(9)/L) (ANCOVA P < .001; P = .266 with baseline count as a covariate). The TRR on day 14 was also the highest in the 15000-U QD group (63.2%), followed by the 30000-U QOD group (59.7%). The rate of grade 3 and above adverse events did not differ among the four groups. There were no new safety concerns. All 4 regimens are safe and well-tolerated. The 30000-U QOD regimen is practically indistinguishable in efficacy to the 15000-U QD regimen.
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Avatrombopag for adult chronic primary immune thrombocytopenia: a randomized phase 3 trial in China
Mei, H., Zhou, H., Hou, M., Sun, J., Zhang, L., Luo, J., Jiang, Z., Ye, X., Xu, Y., Lu, J., et al
Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis. 2023;7(6):102158
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder with decreased platelet counts and increased bleeding risk. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of avatrombopag, a second-generation oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, for the treatment of Chinese patients with chronic primary ITP. METHODS This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study (CTR20210431) consisted of a 6-week double-blind core treatment phase followed by a 20-week, open-label extension phase. Chinese adults with chronic primary ITP for at least 12 months and a platelet count <30 × 10(9)/L were randomized (2:1) to receive avatrombopag (initial dose of 20 mg/day) or matched placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of subjects with a platelet count ≥50 × 10(9)/L at week 6 of the core treatment phase in absence of rescue therapy. RESULTS In total, 74 patients were randomized (avatrombopag: N = 48; placebo: N = 26) between March 5, 2021, and August 6, 2021; all of whom entered the extension phase (72 received avatrombopag up to 26 weeks). At week 6 of the core study, the platelet response (≥50 x 10(9)/L) rate was significantly higher in the avatrombopag group (77.1%; 95% CI, 62.7, 88.0) vs placebo (7.7%; 95% CI, 1.0, 25.1); the treatment difference was 69.4% (95% CI, 56.2, 86.3; P < .0001). During the 6-week core study, treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 41 (85.4%) and 20 (76.9%) patients in the avatrombopag and placebo groups, respectively. The most common avatrombopag-related treatment-emergent adverse events were upper respiratory tract infection (14/48 [29.2%]), increased platelet count (13/48 [27.1%]) and headache (7/48 [14.6%]). CONCLUSION Avatrombopag was efficacious and generally well tolerated in Chinese patients with chronic primary ITP, with comparable efficacy and safety to previous reports in Western patients.
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Recombinant human thrombopoietin promotes platelet recovery in DCAG-treated patients with intermediate-high-risk MDS/hypoproliferative AML
Chen X, Wang Y, Zang Y, Wei Z, Zhang W, Wei X, Luo G, Chen L, Zhang Y, Xu Z
Medicine. 2023;102(13):e33373
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Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to explore the effects of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on platelet recovery in decitabine, cytarabine, aclarubicin, and G-CSF (DCAG)-treated patients with intermediate-high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome/hypo proliferative acute myeloid leukemia. METHODS Recruited patients were at a ratio of 1:1 into 2 groups: the rhTPO group (DCAG + rhTPO) and control group (DCAG). The primary endpoint was the time for platelets to recover to ≥ 20 × 109/L. The secondary endpoints were the time for platelets to recover to ≥ 30 × 109/L and ≥ 50 × 109/L, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS The time required for platelet recovery to ≥ 20 × 109/L, ≥30 × 109/L, and ≥ 50 × 109/L in the rhTPO group was significantly shorter (6.5 ± 2.2 vs 8.4 ± 3.1 days, 9.0 ± 2.7 vs 12.2 ± 3.9 days, 12.4 ± 4.7 vs 15.5 ± 9.3 days, respectively; all P < .05 vs controls). The amount of platelet transfusion in the rhTPO group was smaller (4.4 ± 3.1 vs 6.1 ± 4.0 U, P = .047 vs controls). The bleeding score was lower (P = .045 vs controls). The OS and PFS were significantly different (P = .009 and P = .004). The multivariable analysis showed that age, karyotype, and time for PLT recovery to ≥ 20 × 109/L were independently associated with OS. Adverse events were similar. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that rhTPO leads to a faster platelet recovery after DCAG treatment, reduces the risk of bleeding, reduces the number of platelet transfusions, and prolongs the OS and PFS.