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Vpriv (Velaglucerase Alfa) - Description and Clinical Pharmacology

 
 



DESCRIPTION

The active ingredient of VPRIV is velaglucerase alfa, which is produced by gene activation technology in a human fibroblast cell line. Velaglucerase alfa is a glycoprotein of 497 amino acids; with a molecular weight of approximately 63 kDa. Velaglucerase alfa has the same amino acid sequence as the naturally occurring human enzyme, glucocerebrosidase. Velaglucerase alfa contains 5 potential N-linked glycosylation sites; four of these sites are occupied by glycan chains. Velaglucerase alfa contains predominantly high mannose-type N-linked glycan chains. The high mannose type N-linked glycan chains are specifically recognized and internalized via the mannose receptor present on the surface on macrophages, the cells that accumulate glucocerebroside in Gaucher disease. Velaglucerase alfa catalyzes the hydrolysis of the glycolipid glucocerebroside to glucose and ceramide in the lysosome.

VPRIV is a hydrolytic lysosomal glucocerebroside-specific enzyme. VPRIV is dosed by Units/kg, where one Unit of enzyme activity is defined as the quantity of enzyme required to convert one micromole of p-nitrophenyl ß-D-glucopyranoside to p-nitrophenol per minute at 37°C.

VPRIV is supplied as a sterile, preservative free, lyophilized powder in single-use vials, each containing 400 Units, for intravenous use. Following reconstitution with Sterile Water for Injection, USP, the solution contains the components listed in Table 2.

Table 2: Composition of VPRIV Reconstituted Solution
Extractable 400 Units/vial
Active Ingredient
velaglucerase alfa 400 Units
Inactive Ingredients
citric acid, monohydrate 5.04 mg
polysorbate 20 0.44 mg
sodium citrate, dihydrate 51.76 mg
Sucrose 200 mg

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Mechanism of Action

Gaucher disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the GBA gene, which results in a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme beta-glucocerebrosidase. Glucocerebrosidase catalyzes the conversion of the sphingolipid glucocerebroside into glucose and ceramide. The enzymatic deficiency causes an accumulation of glucocerebroside primarily in the lysosomal compartment of macrophages, giving rise to foam cells or "Gaucher cells". Velaglucerase alfa catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucocerebroside, reducing the amount of accumulated glucocerebroside. In clinical trials VPRIV reduced spleen and liver size, and improved anemia and thrombocytopenia.

In this lysosomal storage disorder (LSD), clinical features are reflective of the accumulation of Gaucher cells in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and other organs. The accumulation of Gaucher cells in the liver and spleen leads to organomegaly. Presence of Gaucher cells in the bone marrow and spleen lead to clinically significant anemia and thrombocytopenia.

Pharmacokinetics

In a multicenter study conducted in pediatric (N=7, 4 to 17 years old) and adult (N=15, 19 to 62 years old) patients with type 1 Gaucher disease, pharmacokinetic evaluations were performed at Weeks 1 and 37 following 60-minute intravenous infusions of VPRIV 60 Units/kg every other week. Serum velaglucerase alfa concentrations declined rapidly with a mean half life of 11 to 12 minutes. The mean velaglucerase alfa clearance ranged from 6.72 to 7.56 mL/min/kg. The mean volume of distribution at steady state ranged from 82 to 108 mL/kg (8.2% to 10.8% of body weight).

No accumulation or change in velaglucerase alfa pharmacokinetics over time from Weeks 1 to 37 was observed upon multiple-dosing 60 Units/kg every other week.

Based on the limited data, there were no notable pharmacokinetic differences between male and female patients in this study. The effect of age on pharmacokinetics of velaglucerase alfa was inconclusive.

The effect of anti-drug antibody formation on the pharmacokinetic parameters of velaglucerase alfa is unknown.

NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Long-term studies in animals to evaluate carcinogenic potential or studies to evaluate mutagenic potential have not been performed with velaglucerase alfa.

In a male and female fertility study in rats, velaglucerase alfa did not cause any significant adverse effect on male or female fertility parameters up to a maximum dose of 17 mg/kg/day (102 mg/m2/day, about 1.8 times the recommended human dose of 60 Units/kg/day based on the body surface area).

CLINICAL STUDIES

Overview of Clinical Studies of VPRIV for Gaucher Disease

The efficacy of VPRIV was assessed in three clinical trials in a total of 99 patients with type 1 Gaucher disease: 82 patients age 4 years and older received VPRIV and 17 patients age 3 years and older received imiglucerase. Studies I and II were conducted in patients who were not currently receiving Gaucher disease-specific therapy. Study III was conducted in patients who were receiving imiglucerase treatment immediately before starting VPRIV. The long-term safety of VPRIV was assessed in Study IV, an open-label extension trial in a total of 93 patients with type 1 Gaucher disease ages 3 years and older. Patients who had completed Studies I to III were eligible to participate in Study IV. In Studies I through IV, VPRIV was administered intravenously over 60 minutes at a maximum dose of 60 Units/kg every other week. Doses above 60 Units/kg were not studied in these trials.

Clinical Trials of VPRIV as Initial Therapy

Study I was a 12-month, randomized, double-blind, parallel-dose-group, multinational trial in 25 patients age 4 years and older with Gaucher disease-related anemia and either thrombocytopenia or organomegaly. Patients were not allowed to have had disease-specific therapy for at least the previous 30 months; all but one had no prior therapy. The mean age was 26 years and 60% were male. Patients were randomized to receive VPRIV at a dose of either 45 Units/kg (N=13) or 60 Units/kg (N=12) every other week. The recommended starting dose in naïve patients is 60 Units/kg. The 45 Units/kg dosage is not recommended as a starting dose in naïve patients [see Dosage and Administration].

At baseline, mean hemoglobin concentration was 10.6 g/dL, mean platelet count was 97 × 109/L, mean liver volume was 3.6 % of body weight (% BW), and mean spleen volume was 2.9 % BW.

For all studies, liver and spleen volumes were measured by MRI. The changes in clinical parameters after 12 months of treatment are shown in Table 3. The observed change from baseline in the primary endpoint, hemoglobin concentration, was considered to be clinically meaningful in the 60 Units/kg dose, in light of the natural history of untreated Gaucher disease.

Table 3: Mean Change from Baseline to Month 12 for Clinical Parameters in Patients with Type 1 Gaucher Disease Initiating Therapy with VPRIV in Study I
Clinical Parameter Mean Changes from Baseline ± Std. Err. of the Mean
VPRIV Dose (given every other week)
45 Units/kg 1
N = 13
60 Units/kg
N = 12
Hemoglobin concentration change
(g/dL)
2.4 ± 0.4 2 2.4 ± 0.3 3
Platelet count change
(× 109/L)
41 ± 14 51 ± 12
Liver volume change
(% BW)
-0.30 ± 0.29 -0.84 ± 0.33
Spleen volume change
(% BW)
-1.9 ± 0.6 -1.9 ± 0.5

1 The recommended starting dose in naïve patients is 60 Units/kg. The 45 Units/kg dosage is not recommended as a starting dose in naïve patients [see Dosage and Administration].
2 Statistically significant changes from baseline after adjusting for performing multiple tests
3 Primary study endpoint was hemoglobin concentration change in the 60 Units/kg group, p < 0.001

Study II was a 9-month, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled (imiglucerase), parallel-group, multinational study in 34 patients age 4 years and older. Patients were required to have Gaucher disease-related anemia and either thrombocytopenia or organomegaly. Patients were not allowed to have had disease-specific therapy for at least the previous 12 months. The mean age was 30 years and 53% were female; the youngest patient who received VPRIV was age 4 years. Patients were randomized to receive either 60 Units/kg of VPRIV (N=17) or 60 Units/kg of imiglucerase (N=17) every other week.

At baseline, the mean hemoglobin concentration was 11.0 g/dL, mean platelet count was 171 × 109/L, and mean liver volume was 4.3 % BW. For the patients who had not had splenectomy (7 in each group) the mean spleen volume was 3.4 % BW. After 9 months of treatment, the mean absolute increase from baseline in hemoglobin concentration was 1.6 g/dL ± 0.2 (SE) for patients treated with VPRIV. The mean treatment difference in change from baseline to 9 months [VPRIV – imiglucerase] was 0.1 g/dL ± 0.4 (SE).

In both studies, examination of age and gender subgroups did not identify differences in response to VPRIV among these subgroups. The number of non-Caucasian patients in these studies was too small to adequately assess any difference in effects by race.

In Study IV, treatment naïve patients were administered VPRIV. Treatment-naïve patients continued to show improvements in clinical parameters (hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, liver volume, and spleen volume) compared with baseline for up to 60 months of treatment with ERT.

Clinical Trial in Patients Switching from Imiglucerase Treatment to VPRIV

Study III was a 12-month, open-label, single-arm, multinational study in 40 patients age 9 years and older who had been receiving treatment with imiglucerase at doses ranging between 15 Units/kg to 60 Units/kg for a minimum of 30 consecutive months. Patients also were required to have a stable biweekly dose of imiglucerase for at least 6 months prior to enrollment. The mean age was 36 years and 55% were female. Imiglucerase therapy was stopped, and treatment with VPRIV was administered every other week at the same number of units as the patient's previous imiglucerase dose. Adjustment of dosage was allowed by study criteria if needed in order to maintain clinical parameters [see Dosage and Administration].

Hemoglobin concentrations and platelet counts remained stable on average through 12 months of VPRIV treatment. After 12 months of treatment with VPRIV the median hemoglobin concentration was 13.5 g/dL (range: 10.8, 16.1) vs. the baseline value of 13.8 g/dL (range: 10.4, 16.5), and the median platelet count after 12 months was 174 × 109/L (range: 24, 408) vs. the baseline value of 162 × 109/L (range: 29, 399). No patient required dosage adjustment during the 12-month treatment period.

In Study IV, patients who had previously been receiving imiglucerase treatment were administered VPRIV. Patients previously treated with imiglucerase maintained stability in clinical parameters (hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, liver volume, and spleen volume) compared with baseline for up to 60 months of treatment with ERT.

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