Clinical Pharmacology for Ayvakit
Mechanism Of Action
Avapritinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets KIT D816V, PDGFRA and PDGFRA D842 mutants as well as multiple KIT exon 11, 11/17 and 17 mutants with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) less than 25 nM in biochemical assays. Certain mutations in PDGFRA and KIT can result in the autophosphorylation and constitutive activation of these receptors which can contribute to tumor and mast cell proliferation. Other potential targets for avapritinib include wild type KIT, PDGFRB, and CSFR1.
In cellular assays, avapritinib inhibited the autophosphorylation of KIT D816V with an IC50 of 4 nM, approximately 48-fold lower concentration than wild-type KIT. In cellular assays, avapritinib inhibited the proliferation in KIT mutant cell lines, including a murine mastocytoma cell line and a human mast cell leukemia cell line. Avapritinib also showed growth inhibitory activity in a xenograft model of murine mastocytoma with KIT exon 17 mutation.
Avapritinib inhibited the autophosphorylation of PDGFRA D842V, a mutation associated with resistance to approved kinase inhibitors, with an IC50 of 30 nM. Avapritinib also had anti-tumor activity in mice implanted with an imatinib-resistant patient-derived xenograft model of human GIST with activating KIT exon 11/17 mutations.
Pharmacodynamics
Exposure-Response Relationships
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors or Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis
Based on the data from four clinicals trials conducted in patients with advanced malignancies and AdvSM, including NAVIGATOR, EXPLORER, and PATHFINDER, higher exposure was associated with increased risk of Grade ≥ 3 related adverse effects, any Grade pooled cognitive adverse effects, Grade ≥ 2 pooled cognitive adverse effects, and Grade ≥ 2 pooled edema adverse effects over the dose range of 30 mg to 400 mg (0.1 to 1.33 times the recommended dose for GIST and 0.15 to 2 times the recommended dose for AdvSM) once daily.
Based on exposure and efficacy data from EXPLORER and PATHFINDER (n=84), higher avapritinib exposure was associated with faster time to response over the dose range of 30 mg to 400 mg (0.15 to 2 times the recommended dose for AdvSM) once daily.
Cardiac Electrophysiology
The effect of AYVAKIT on the QTc interval was evaluated in an open-label, single-arm study in 27 patients administered doses of 300 mg or 400 mg (12 to 16 times the lowest recommended 25 mg dose, 1.33times the highest recommended 300 mg dose) once daily. No large mean increase in QTc (i.e.> 20 ms) was detected at the mean steady state maximum concentration (Cmax) of 899 ng/mL.
Pharmacokinetics
Avapritinib Cmax and AUC increased approximately proportionally over the dose range of 25 mg to 400 mg once daily. Steady state concentrations of avapritinib were reached prior to day 15 following daily dosing. Steady state pharmacokinetic parameters per recommended dosing regimen are described in Table 10.
Table 10. Steady State Pharmacokinetic Parameters of AYVAKIT Following Different Dosing Regimen
| Pharmacokinetic Parameters |
25 mg once daily
(ISM) |
200 mg once daily
(AdvSM) |
300 mg once daily
(GIST) |
| Cmax (ng/mL) Geometric Mean (CV%) |
70.2 (47.8 %, n=9) |
377 (62%, n=18) |
813 (52%, n=110) |
AUC0-24h (h•ng/mL) Geometric
Mean (CV%) |
1330 (49.5 %, n = 9) |
6600 (54%, n=16) |
15400 (48%, n=110) |
Mean accumulation ratio of
AUC 0-24h |
4.06 (n=9) |
6.41 (n=9) |
3.82 (n=34) |
| Abbreviations: CV%=coefficient of variation |
Absorption
The median time to peak concentration (Tmax) ranged from 2 to 4 hours following single doses of avapritinib.
Effect of Food
The Cmax of avapritinib was increased by 59% and the AUC0-INF was increased by 29% when AYVAKIT was taken with a high-calorie, high-fat meal (approximately 909 calories, 58 grams carbohydrate, 56 grams fat and 43 grams protein) compared to those in the fasted state.
Distribution
The mean (CV %) apparent volume of distribution of avapritinib is 1310 L (51.5%) at300 mg in patients with GIST, 1900 L (43.2%) at 200 mg in patients with AdvSM, and 1400 L (59.1%) at 25 mg in patients with ISM. In vitro protein binding of avapritinib is 98.8% and is independent of concentration. The blood-to-plasma ratio is 0.95.
Elimination
The mean plasma elimination half-life of avapritinib was 32 to 57 hours in patients with GIST, 20 to 39 hours in patients with AdvSM, and 38 to 45 hours in patients with ISM. The steady state mean (CV%) apparent oral clearance of avapritinib is 21.8 L/h (54.9%) at 300 mg in patients with GIST, 40.3 L/h (86.0%) at 200 mg in patients with AdvSM, and 21.6 L/h (58.1%) at 25 mg in patients with ISM.
Metabolism
Avapritinib is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and to a lesser extent by CYP2C9 in vitro. Following a single oral dose of approximately 310 mg of radiolabeled avapritinib to healthy subjects, unchanged avapritinib (49%) and its metabolites M690 (hydroxy glucuronide; 35%) and M499 (oxidative deamination; 14%) were the major circulating compounds. The formation of the glucuronide M690 is catalyzed mainly by UGT1A3. Following oral administration of AYVAKIT 300 mg once daily in patients, the steady state AUC of M499 is approximately 80% of the AUC of avapritinib. M499 is not likely to contribute to efficacy at the recommended dose of avapritinib.
Excretion
Following a single oral dose of approximately 310 mg of radiolabeled avapritinib to healthy subjects, 70% of the radioactive dose was recovered in feces (11% unchanged) and 18% in urine (0.23% unchanged).
Specific Populations
No clinically significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of avapritinib were observed based on age (18 to 90 years), sex, race (White, Black, or Asian), body weight (39.5 to 156.3 kg), mild to moderate (CLcr 30 to 89 mL/min estimated by Cockcroft-Gault) renal impairment, or mild (total bilirubin ≤ ULN and AST > ULN or total bilirubin > 1 to 1.5 times ULN and any AST) to moderate (total bilirubin > 1.5 to 3 times ULN and any AST) hepatic impairment. In a dedicated hepatic impairment study following a single oral dose administration of 100 mg avapritinib, the mean unbound AUC was 61% higher in subjects with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C) as compared to matched healthy subjects with normal hepatic function. The effect of severe renal impairment (CLcr 15 to 29 mL/min) and end-stage renal disease (CLcr < 15 mL/min) on the pharmacokinetics of avapritinib is unknown.
Drug Interaction Studies
Clinical Studies And Model-Informed Approaches
Effect of Strong and Moderate CYP3A Inhibitors on Avapritinib
Coadministration of AYVAKIT 300 mg once daily with itraconazole 200 mg once daily (a strong CYP3A inhibitor) is predicted to increase avapritinib AUC by 600% at steady state.
Coadministration of AYVAKIT 300 mg once daily with fluconazole 200 mg once daily (a moderate CYP3A inhibitor) is predicted to increase avapritinib AUC by 210% at steady state [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Effect of Strong and Moderate CYP3A Inducers on Avapritinib
Coadministration of AYVAKIT 400 mg as a single dose with rifampin 600 mg once daily (a strong CYP3A inducer) decreased avapritinib Cmax by 74% and AUC0-INF by 92%.
Coadministration of AYVAKIT 300 mg once daily with efavirenz 600 mg once daily (a moderate CYP3A inducer) is predicted to decrease avapritinib Cmax by 55% and AUC by 62% at steady state [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Effect of Acid-Reducing Agents on Avapritinib
No clinically significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of avapritinib were identified when coadministered with gastric acid reducing agents.
Hormonal Contraceptives
In a drug-drug interaction study of 15 subjects, coadministration of AYVAKIT 25 mg once daily with an oral contraceptive (levonorgestrel 0.15 mg/ethinyl estradiol 0.03 mg) resulted in a mean ethinyl estradiol AUC ratio of 1.15 (90% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04, 1.28) and a mean ethinyl estradiol Cmax ratio of 1.46 (90% CI: 1.17, 1.81) relative to participants administered the oral contraceptive alone. This increase in ethinyl estradiol Cmax may lead to an increased risk of ethinyl estradiol-related adverse events.
In Vitro Studies
Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Enzymes
In vitro studies indicate that avapritinib is a time-dependent inhibitor as well as an inducer of CYP3A at clinically relevant concentrations.
Avapritinib is an inhibitor of CYP2C9 at clinically relevant concentrations. Avapritinib is not an inhibitor of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C19, or CYP2D6 at clinically relevant concentrations.
Avapritinib is not an inducer of CYP1A2 or CYP2B6. Avapritinib is a substrate of CYP3A.
M499 is an inhibitor of CYP3A, CYP2C8, or CYP2C9 at clinically relevant concentrations. M499 is not an inhibitor of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C19, or CYP2D6 at clinically relevant concentrations.
Transporter Systems
Avapritinib is an inhibitor of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), intestinal BCRP, MATE1, MATE2-K, and BSEP, but not an inhibitor of OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OAT1, OAT3, OCT1, or OCT2. Avapritinib is not a substrate of P-gp or BCRP, OAT1, OAT3, OCT1, OCT2, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, MATE1, MATE2-K and BSEP. The effect of M499 on transporter systems is unknown.
Animal Toxicology And/Or Pharmacology
In repeat dose toxicology studies, administration of avapritinib to rats for up to 28 days and to dogs for up to 3 months resulted in tremors at doses greater than or equal to 100 mg/kg/day or 30 mg/kg/day (approximately 8 and 1.5 times the human exposure based on AUC at the 300 mg dose). Hemorrhage in the brain and spinal cord occurred in dogs at doses greater than or equal to 15 mg/kg/day (approximately 9.0, 1.8, or 0.8 times the human exposure based on AUC at the 25 mg, 200 mg. or 300 mg dose, respectively) and choroid plexus edema in the brain occurred in dogs at doses greater than or equal to 7.5 mg/kg/day (approximately 4.7, 1 or 0.4 times the human exposure based on AUC at the 25 mg, 200 mg or 300 mg dose, respectively), but were not observed in a 9-month study at 5 mg/kg/day.
An in vitro phototoxicity study in 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and an in vivo phototoxicity study in pigmented rats demonstrated that avapritinib has a slight potential for phototoxicity.
Clinical Studies
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
The efficacy of AYVAKIT was demonstrated in NAVIGATOR (NCT02508532), a multi-center, single-arm, open-label clinical trial. Eligible patients were required to have a confirmed diagnosis of GIST and 23 an ECOG performance status (PS) of 0 to 2. Patients received AYVAKIT 300 mg or 400 mg (1.33 times the recommended dose) orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The trial initially enrolled patients at a starting dose of 400 mg, which was later reduced to the recommended dose of 300 mg due to toxicity. As there was no apparent difference in overall response rate (ORR) between patients who received 300 mg daily compared to those who received 400 mg daily, these patients were pooled for the efficacy evaluation. The major efficacy outcome measure was ORR based on disease assessment by independent radiological review using modified RECIST v1.1 criteria, in which lymph nodes and bone lesions were not target lesions and progressively growing new tumor nodules within a pre-existing tumor mass was progression. An additional efficacy outcome measure was duration of response (DOR).
Patients With GIST Harboring A PDGFRA Exon 18 Mutation
Patients with unresectable or metastatic GIST harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation were identified by local or central assessment using a PCR-or NGS-based assay. The assessment of efficacy was based on a total of 43 patients, including 38 patients with PDGFRA D842V mutations. The median duration of follow up for patients with PDGFRA exon 18 mutations was 10.6 months (range: 0.3 to 24.9 months).
The study population characteristics were median age of 64 years (range: 29 to 90 years), 67% were male, 67% were White, 93% had an ECOG PS of 0-1, 98% had metastatic disease, 53% had largest target lesion >5 cm, and 86% had prior surgical resection. The median number of prior kinase inhibitors was 1 (range: 0 to 5).
Efficacy results in patients with GIST harboring PDGFRA exon 18 mutations including the subgroup of patients with PDGFRA D842V mutations enrolled in NAVIGATOR are summarized in Table 11.
Table 11. Efficacy Results for Patients with GIST Harboring PDGFRA Exon 18 Mutations in NAVIGATOR
| Efficacy Parameter |
PDGFRA exon 181
N = 43 |
PDGFRA D842V
N = 38 |
| Overall Response Rate (95% CI) |
84% (69%, 93%) |
89% (75%, 97%) |
| Complete Response, n (%) |
3 (7%) |
3 (8%) |
| Partial Response, n (%) |
33 (77%) |
31 (82%) |
| Duration of Response |
n=36 |
n=34 |
| Median in months (range) |
NR (1.9+, 20.3+) |
NR (1.9+, 20.3+) |
Patients with DOR ≥ 6-
months, n (%)* |
22 (61%) |
20 (59%) |
Abbreviations: CI=confidence interval; NR=not reached
+ Denotes ongoing response
1 Exon 18 mutations other than D842V included in this population are: deletion of D842_H845 (n=3); D842Y (n=1); and deletion of D842_H845 with insertion of V (n=1).
* 11 patients with an ongoing response were followed < 6 months from onset of response. |
Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis
The efficacy of AYVAKIT was demonstrated in EXPLORER (NCT02561988) and PATHFINDER (NCT03580655), two multi-center, single-arm, open-label clinical trials. Response-evaluable patients include those with a confirmed diagnosis of AdvSM per World Health Organization (WHO) and deemed evaluable by modified international working group-myeloproliferative neoplasms research and treatment-European competence network on mastocytosis (IWG-MRT-ECNM) criteria at baseline as adjudicated by an independent central committee, who received at least 1 dose of AYVAKIT, had at least 2 post-baseline bone marrow assessments, and had been on study for at least 24 weeks, or had an end of study visit. All enrolled patients had an ECOG performance status (PS) of 0 to 3 and 91% had a platelet count of ≥ 50 X 109/L prior to initiation of therapy.
Patients enrolled in EXPLORER received a starting dose of AYVAKIT ranging from 30 mg to 400 mg (0.15 – 2 times the recommended dose) orally once daily. In PATHFINDER, patients were enrolled at a starting dose of 200 mg orally once daily. The efficacy of AYVAKIT in the treatment of AdvSM was based on overall response rate (ORR) in 53 patients with AdvSM dosed at up to 200 mg daily per modified IWG-MRT-ECNM criteria as adjudicated by the central committee. Additional efficacy outcome measures were duration of response (DOR), time to response, and changes in individual measures of mast cell burden.
The median duration of follow up for these patients was 11.6 months (95% confidence interval: 9.9, 16.3).
The study population characteristics were median age of 67 years (range: 37 to 85 years), 58% were male, 98% were White, 68% had an ECOG PS of 0-1, 32% had an ECOG PS of2-3, 40% had ongoing corticosteroid therapy use for AdvSM at baseline, 66% had prior antineoplastic therapy, 47% had received prior midostaurin, and 94% had a D816V mutation. The median bone marrow mast cell infiltrate was 50%, the median serum tryptase level was 255.8 ng/mL, and the median KIT D816V mutant allele fraction was 12.2%.
Efficacy results in patients with AdvSM enrolled in EXPLORER and PATHFINDER are summarized in Table 12.
Table 12. Efficacy Results for Patients with AdvSM in EXPLORER and PATHFINDER
|
All evaluable
patients |
ASM |
SM-AHN |
MCL |
Overall Response Rate1, %
per modified IWG-MRT-ECNM (95% CI2) |
N=53
57
(42, 70) |
N=2
100
(16, 100) |
N=40
58
(41, 73) |
N=11
45
(17, 77) |
| Complete Remission with full or partial hematologic recovery, % |
28 |
50 |
33 |
9 |
| Partial Remission, % |
28 |
50 |
25 |
36 |
| Clinical Improvement, % |
15 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
| Stable Disease, % |
19 |
0 |
13 |
45 |
Abbreviations: CI=confidence interval; CR=complete remission; CRh=complete remission with partial recovery of peripheral blood counts; PR=partial remission
1 Overall Response Rate (ORR) per modified IWG-MRT-ECNM is defined as patients who achieved a CR, CRh or PR (CR + CRh + PR)
2 Clopper–Pearson confidence interval |
For all evaluable patients, the median duration of response was 38.3 months (95% confidence interval: 19, not estimable) and the median time to response was 2.1 months.
In the subgroup of patients with MCL, the efficacy of AYVAKIT was based on complete remission (CR).
Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis
The efficacy of AYVAKIT was demonstrated in PIONEER (NCT03731260), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in adult patients with Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis (ISM) based on World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Enrolled patients had moderate to severe symptoms despite receiving at least 2 symptom directed therapies. Patients were randomized to receive 25 mg AYVAKIT orally once daily with best supportive care versus placebo with best supportive care. The treatment duration was over a 24-week period, during the randomized portion of the study.
Efficacy was based on the absolute mean change from baseline to Week 24 in the Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis-Symptom Assessment Form (ISM-SAF) total symptom score (TSS). The ISM-SAF is a patient-reported outcome measure assessing ISM signs and symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, spots, itching, flushing, bone pain, fatigue, dizziness, headache, brain fog. Scores ranged from 0 (“none”) to 10 (“worst imaginable”). The item scores were summed to calculate a daily ISM-SAF TSS (range 0110), with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. A biweekly average ISM-SAF TSS was used to evaluate efficacy endpoints.
Additional supportive results included the proportion of AYVAKIT-treated patients achieving ≥50% reduction from baseline through Week 24 in TSS compared to placebo. Objective measures of mast cell burden were assessed including the proportion of AYVAKIT-treated patients with a ≥50% reduction from baseline through Week 24 in serum tryptase, peripheral blood KIT D816V allele fraction and bone marrow mast cells.
The median age of the patients who received AYVAKIT was 50 years (range: 18 to 77 years), 71% were female, 77% were White, <1% were Asian, 3% had other race and 19% had missing race. Ethnicities included 4% Hispanic or Latino. KIT D816V mutations were identified in 93% of patients. At baseline, the mean TSS was 50.17 (standard deviation: 19.15), the median serum tryptase level was 38.40 ng/mL, the median KIT D816V mutant allele fraction was 0.39% by ddPCR and the median bone marrow mast cell infiltrate was 7%. Study population characteristics were similar in the placebo group.
The majority of patients who received AYVAKIT (99.3%) or placebo (100%) received concomitant best supportive care at baseline (median of 3 therapies in the AYVAKIT group and 4 in the placebo group). The most common therapies in the AYVAKIT group were H1 antihistamines (97%), H2 antihistamines (66%), leukotriene inhibitors (35%) and cromolyn sodium (30%)
Efficacy results are summarized in Tables 13 and 14.
Table 13. Efficacy Results for Patients with ISM in PIONEER at Week 24
| Efficacy Parameter |
AYVAKIT (25 mg once daily) + BSC
N=141 |
Placebo + BSC
N=71 |
2-sided p-value |
| Absolute Mean change in the ISM-SAF TSS,sup>1 |
| Change from baseline (95% CI) |
-15.33
(-18.36, -12.31) |
-9.64
(-13.61, -5.68) |
0.012 |
| Difference from placebo (95% CI) |
-5.69
(-10.16, -1.23) |
| % of patients achieving ≥50% reduction in the ISM-SAF TSS2 (95% CI) |
25
(17.9, 32.8) |
10
(4.1, 19.3) |
0.009 |
Abbreviations: BSC=best supportive care; CI=confidence interval; ISM-SAF= Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis-Symptom Assessment Form TSS=Total Symptom Score
1Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation was used to impute the missing values at Baseline or C7D1.
2Patients with missing values at Baseline or C7D1 were counted in the denominator but not numerator. |
Table 14. Efficacy Results Related to Mast Cell Burden for Patients with ISM in PIONEER at Week 24
| Efficacy Parameter |
AYVAKIT (25
mg once daily) +
BSC |
Placebo + BSC |
2-sided p-value |
| % of patients with a ≥50% reduction in serum tryptase (95% CI) |
N=141
53.9
(45.3, 62.3) |
N=71
0
(0.0, 5.1) |
<0.0001 |
| % of patients with a ≥50% reduction in peripheral blood KIT D816V allele fraction or undetectable (95% CI) |
N=118
67.8
(58.6, 76.1) |
N=63
6.3
(1.8, 15.5) |
<0.0001 |
| % of patients with a ≥50% reduction in bone marrow mast cells or no aggregates (95% CI) |
N=106
52.8
(42.9, 62.6) |
N=57
22.8
(12.7, 35.8) |
<0.0001 |
| Abbreviations: BSC=best supportive care; CI=confidence interval |
To aid in the interpretation of the ISM-SAF TSS absolute mean change from baseline results, the proportion of patients reporting less than or equal to any particular level of change in the ISM-SAF TSS from baseline to Week 24 is depicted in a cumulative distribution function plot as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Cumulative Proportion of Patients with ISM in PIONEER Reporting Change in ISMSAF TSS From Baseline to Week 24