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1.
Subcutaneous marzeptacog alfa (activated) for on-demand treatment of bleeding events in subjects with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors
Faraj, A., Nyberg, J., Blouse, G. E., Knudsen, T., Simonsson, U. S. H.
Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. 2024
Abstract
Marzeptacog alfa (MarzAA) is under development for subcutaneous treatment of episodic bleeds in hemophilia A/B patients and was studied in a Phase 3 trial evaluating MarzAA compared to standard-of-care (SoC) for on-demand use. The work presented here aimed to evaluate MarzAA and SoC treatment of bleeding events on a standardized 4-point efficacy scale (poor, fair, good and excellent). Two continuous-time Markov modeling approaches were explored; a four-state model analyzing all four categories of bleeding improvement and a two-state model analyzing a binarized outcome (treatment failure [poor/fair], and treatment success [good/excellent]). Different covariates impacting improvement of bleeding episodes as well as a putative relationship between MarzAA exposure and improvement of bleeding episodes were evaluated. In the final four-state model, higher baseline diastolic blood pressure and higher age (>33 years of age) were found to negatively and positively impact improvement of bleeding condition, respectively. Bleeding events occurring in knees and ankles were found to improve faster than bleeding events at other locations. The covariate effects had most impact on early treatment success (=<3 hours) whereas at later timepoints (>12 hours), treatment success was similar for all patients indicating that these covariates might be clinically relevant for early treatment response. A statistically significant relationship between MarzAA zero-order absorption and improvement of bleedings (p< 0.05) were identified albeit with low precision. No statistically significant difference in treatment response between MarzAA and intravenous SoC was identified, indicating the potential of MarzAA for treatment of episodic bleeding events with a favorable subcutaneous administration route.
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2.
Long-term treatment with fostamatinib in Japanese patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia: An open-label extension study following a phase 3 placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study
Kuwana, M., Ito, T., Kowata, S., Hatta, Y., Fujimaki, K., Naito, K., Kurahashi, S., Kagoo, T., Tanimoto, K., Saotome, S., et al
American journal of hematology. 2024
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3.
Determinants of lenalidomide response with or without erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in myelodysplastic syndromes: the HOVON89 trial
van de Loosdrecht, A. A., Cremers, E. M. P., Alhan, C., Duetz, C., In 't Hout, F. E. M., Visser-Wisselaar, H. A., Chitu, D. A., Verbrugge, A., Cunha, S. M., Ossenkoppele, G. J., et al
Leukemia. 2024
Abstract
A randomized phase-II study was performed in low/int-1 risk MDS (IPSS) to study efficacy and safety of lenalidomide without (arm A) or with (arm B) ESA/G-CSF. In arm B, patients without erythroid response (HI-E) after 4 cycles received ESA; G-CSF was added if no HI-E was obtained by cycle 9. HI-E served as primary endpoint. Flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing were performed to identify predictors of response. The final evaluation comprised 184 patients; 84% non-del(5q), 16% isolated del(5q); median follow-up: 70.7 months. In arm A and B, 39 and 41% of patients achieved HI-E; median time-to-HI-E: 3.2 months for both arms, median duration of-HI-E: 9.8 months. HI-E was significantly lower in non-del(5q) vs. del(5q): 32% vs. 80%. The same accounted for transfusion independency-at-week 24 (16% vs. 67%), but similar in both arms. Apart from presence of del(5q), high percentages of bone marrow lymphocytes and progenitor B-cells, a low number of mutations, absence of ring sideroblasts, and SF3B1 mutations predicted HI-E. In conclusion, lenalidomide induced HI-E in patients with non-del(5q) and del(5q) MDS without additional effect of ESA/G-CSF. The identified predictors of response may guide application of lenalidomide in lower-risk MDS in the era of precision medicine. (EudraCT 2008-002195-10).
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4.
Mitapivat improves ineffective erythropoiesis and iron overload in adult patients with pyruvate kinase deficiency
van Beers, E. J., Al-Samkari, H., Grace, R. F., Barcellini, W., Glenthøj, A., DiBacco, M., Wind-Rotolo, M., Xu, R., Beynon, V., Patel, P., et al
Blood advances. 2024
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is a rare, hereditary disease characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia. Iron overload is a common complication regardless of age, genotype, or transfusion history. Mitapivat, an oral, allosteric PK activator, improves anemia and hemolysis in adult patients with PK deficiency. Mitapivat's impact on iron overload and ineffective erythropoiesis was evaluated in adults with PK deficiency who were not regularly transfused in the phase 3 ACTIVATE trial and long-term extension (LTE) (NCT03548220/NCT03853798). Patients in the LTE received mitapivat throughout ACTIVATE/LTE (baseline to Week [W] 96; mitapivat-to-mitapivat [M/M] arm) or switched from placebo (baseline to W24) to mitapivat (W24 to 96; placebo-to-mitapivat [P/M] arm). Changes from baseline in markers of iron overload and erythropoiesis were assessed to W96. Improvements in hepcidin (mean [95% confidence interval ⟨CI ⟩] 4770.0 ng/L [-1532.3, 11,072.3], erythroferrone (-9834.9 ng/L [-14,328.4, -5341.3]), soluble transferrin receptor (-56.0 nmol/L [-84.8, -27.2]), and erythropoietin (-32.85 IU/L [-54.65, -11.06]) were observed in the M/M arm (n=40) from baseline to W24, sustained to W96. No improvements were observed in the P/M arm (n=40) to W24; however, upon transitioning to mitapivat, improvements similar to the M/M arm were seen. Mean (95% CI) changes from baseline in liver iron concentration (LIC) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at W96 were -2.0 mg Fe/g dry weight (dw) (-4.8, -0.8; M/M arm) and -1.8 mg Fe/g dw (-4.4, 0.80; P/M arm). Mitapivat is the first disease-modifying pharmacotherapy shown to have beneficial effects on iron overload and ineffective erythropoiesis in patients with PK deficiency.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with pyruvate kinase deficiency not regularly transfused, enrolled in the phase 3 ACTIVATE clinical trial and long term extension (LTE) (n= 80).
Intervention
Mitapivat throughout ACTIVATE/LTE baseline to week (W) 96 (mitapivat-to-mitapivat M/M arm, n= 40).
Comparison
Switched from placebo (baseline to W24) to mitapivat W24 to 96 (placebo-to-mitapivat P/M arm, n= 40).
Outcome
Changes from baseline in markers of iron overload and erythropoiesis were assessed to W96. Improvements in hepcidin (mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] 4770.0 ng/L [-1532.3, 11,072.3]), erythroferrone (-9834.9 ng/L [-14,328.4, -5341.3]), soluble transferrin receptor (-56.0 nmol/L [-84.8, -27.2]), and erythropoietin (-32.85 IU/L [-54.65, -11.06]) were observed in the M/M arm from baseline to W24, sustained to W96. No improvements were observed in the P/M arm to W24; however, upon transitioning to mitapivat, improvements similar to the M/M arm were seen. Mean (95% CI) changes from baseline in liver iron concentration by magnetic resonance imaging at W96 were -2.0 mg Fe/g dry weight (dw) (-4.8, -0.8; M/M arm) and -1.8 mg Fe/g dw (-4.4, 0.80; P/M arm).
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5.
Ferric carboxymaltose effects on restless legs syndrome and on brain iron in patients with iron deficiency anemia
Bae, H., Cho, Y. W., Kim, K. T., Li, X., Earley, C. J.
Sleep medicine. 2023;109:128-131
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brain iron status is fundamental in RLS pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical efficacy and brain iron concentration improvement in RLS patients with IDA, using 1500 mg FCM. METHODS This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. RLS patients with IDA were grouped into either 1500 mg FCM or placebo. The primary outcomes were the change from baseline on the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group scale (IRLS) and brain iron measured by QSM and R2∗. RESULTS A total of 18 RLS patients with IDA were enrolled, 10 in the FCM group and 8 in the placebo. At the week 6 endpoint, the FCM group showed significant improvement in both IRLS (-13.60 ± 9.47 vs. -3.63 ± 5.40, p = 0.011) and VAS (-40.50 ± 28.81 vs. -0.63 ± 28.28, p = 0.004) from baseline. Change from baseline with R2∗ techniques showed a treatment effect for the thalamus and QSM technique for both the substantia nigra and pulvinar. A correlation was proved between the IRLS difference and the difference of QSM in thalamus (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that 1500 mg FCM effectively treats RLS symptoms in IDA patients over six weeks, with MRI measurements of improved brain iron content serving as a potential biomarker for RLS patients.
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Health-related quality of life in patients with β-thalassemia: Data from the phase 3 BELIEVE trial of luspatercept
Cappellini MD, Taher AT, Piga A, Shah F, Voskaridou E, Viprakasit V, Porter JB, Hermine O, Neufeld EJ, Thompson AA, et al
European journal of haematology. 2023
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with transfusion-dependent (TD) β-thalassemia require long-term red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) that lead to iron overload, impacting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS The impact of luspatercept, a first-in-class erythroid maturation agent, versus placebo on HRQoL of patients with TD β-thalassemia was evaluated in the phase 3 BELIEVE trial. HRQoL was assessed at baseline and every 12 weeks using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Transfusion-dependent Quality of Life questionnaire (TranQol). Mean change in HRQoL was evaluated from baseline to week 48 for patients receiving luspatercept + best supportive care (BSC) and placebo + BSC and between luspatercept responders and non-responders. RESULTS Through week 48, for both groups, mean scores on SF-36 and TranQol domains were stable over time and did not have a clinically meaningful change. At week 48, more patients who achieved clinical response (≥50% reduction in RBCT burden over 24 weeks) in the luspatercept + BSC group had improvement in SF-36 Physical Function compared with placebo + BSC (27.1% vs. 11.5%; p = .019). CONCLUSIONS Luspatercept + BSC reduced transfusion burden while maintaining patients' HRQoL. HRQoL domain improvements from baseline through 48 weeks were also enhanced for luspatercept responders.
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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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8.
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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Efficacy and safety of intravenous bevacizumab on severe bleeding associated with hemorrhagic hereditary telangiectasia: A national, randomized multicenter trial
Dupuis-Girod, S., Rivière, S., Lavigne, C., Fargeton, A. E., Gilbert-Dussardier, B., Grobost, V., Leguy-Seguin, V., Maillard, H., Mohamed, S., Decullier, E., et al
Journal of internal medicine. 2023
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bevacizumab-a humanized monoclonal antibody-has been widely used to treat patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, but no randomized trial has yet been conducted. METHODS This study is a double-blind multi-center randomized phase 2 trial with a 1:1 active-treatment-to-placebo ratio. We included patients over the age of 18 with a confirmed diagnosis and the need for at least four red blood cell units transfused in the three months before study enrollment. Bevacizumab was administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg every 14 days with a total of six injections. The primary efficacy criterion was a decrease of at least 50% in the cumulative number of red blood cell units transfused in a three-month period before and after treatment. RESULTS 24 patients (12 in each group) were included and randomized at four different centers. In intention-to-treat analysis, 63.6% of patients (7/11) in the bevacizumab group versus 33.3% of patients (4/12) in the placebo group decreased the number of blood transfusions by at least 50% (p = 0.22). Hemoglobin levels significantly improved at six months in the bevacizumab versus placebo group (p = 0.02). The pharmacokinetics study revealed that patients with high exposure to bevacizumab had a significant decrease in red blood cell transfusions (p = 0.03). Fifty-nine adverse events were observed, 34 in the placebo arm versus 25 in the bevacizumab arm. CONCLUSION Though the present trial was underpowered, patients with HHT receiving bevacizumab required numerically fewer red blood cell transfusions than those receiving placebo, particularly those with high exposure. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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10.
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.