CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Mechanism Of Action
Dexlansoprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds, the substituted benzimidazoles, that
suppress gastric acid secretion by specific inhibition of the (H+ , K+ )-ATPase at the secretory surface
of the gastric parietal cell. Because this enzyme is regarded as the acid (proton) pump within the
parietal cell, dexlansoprazole has been characterized as a gastric proton-pump inhibitor, in that it blocks
the final step of acid production.
Pharmacodynamics
Antisecretory Activity
The effects of DEXILANT capsules 60 mg (n=20) or lansoprazole 30 mg (n=23) once daily for five
days on 24 hour intragastric pH were assessed in healthy subjects in a multiple-dose crossover study.
The results are summarized in Table 5.
Table 5. Effect on 24 Hour Intragastric pH on
Day 5 After Administration of DEXILANT or
Lansoprazole
DEXILANT
60 mg capsules |
Lansoprazole 30 mg |
Mean Intragastric pH |
4.55 |
4.13 |
% Time Intragastric pH >4 (hours ) |
71
(17 hours) |
60
(14 hours) |
Serum Gastrin Effects
The effect of dexlansoprazole on serum gastrin concentrations was evaluated in approximately 3460
patients in clinical trials up to eight weeks and in 1023 patients for up to six to 12 months. The mean
fasting gastrin concentrations increased from baseline during treatment with DEXILANT 30 and 60 mg
capsules. In patients treated for more than six months, mean serum gastrin levels increased during
approximately the first three months of treatment and were stable for the remainder of treatment. Mean
serum gastrin levels returned to pre-treatment levels within one month of discontinuation of treatment.
Increased gastrin causes enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia and increased serum CgA levels. The
increased CgA levels may cause false positive results in diagnostic investigations for neuroendocrine
tumors [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Enterochromaffin-Like Cell (ECL) Effects
There were no reports of ECL cell hyperplasia in gastric biopsy specimens obtained from 653 patients
treated with DEXILANT 30, 60, or 90 mg capsules for up to 12 months.
During lifetime exposure of rats dosed daily with up to 150 mg/kg/day of lansoprazole, marked
hypergastrinemia was observed followed by ECL cell proliferation and formation of carcinoid tumors,
especially in female rats [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Cardiac Electrophysiology
At a dose five times the maximum recommended dose, dexlansoprazole does not prolong the QT
interval to any clinically relevant extent.
Pharmacokinetics
The dual delayed-release formulation of DEXILANT capsules results in a dexlansoprazole plasma
concentration-time profile with two distinct peaks; the first peak occurs one to two hours after
administration, followed by a second peak within four to five hours (see Figure 1). Dexlansoprazole is
eliminated with a half-life of approximately one to two hours in healthy subjects and in patients with
symptomatic GERD. No accumulation of dexlansoprazole occurs after multiple, once daily doses of
DEXILANT 30 or 60 mg capsules although mean AUCt and Cmax values of dexlansoprazole were
slightly higher (less than 10%) on Day 5 than on Day 1.
Figure 1: Mean Plasma Dexlansoprazole Concentration – Time Profile Following Oral
Administration of 30 or 60 mg DEXILANT Capsules Once Daily for 5 Days in Healthy Adult
Subjects
The pharmacokinetics of dexlansoprazole are highly variable, with percent coefficient of variation
(CV%) values for Cmax , AUC, and CL/F of greater than 30% (see Table 6).
Table 6. Mean (CV%) Pharmacokinetic Parameters for
Adult Subjects on Day 5 After Administration of DEXILANT Capsules
Dose
(mg) |
Cmax
(ng/mL) |
AUC24
(ng·h/mL) |
CL/F
(L/h) |
30 |
658 (40%)
(N=44) |
3275 (47%)
(N=43) |
11.4 (48%)
(N=43) |
60 |
1397 (51%)
(N=79) |
6529 (60%)
(N=73) |
11.6 (46%)
(N=41) |
Absorption
After oral administration of DEXILANT 30 or 60 mg capsules to healthy subjects and symptomatic
GERD patients, mean Cmax and AUC values of dexlansoprazole increased approximately dose
proportionally (see Figure 1).
When granules of DEXILANT 60 mg capsules are mixed with water and dosed via NG tube or orally
via syringe, the bioavailability (Cmax and AUC) of dexlansoprazole was similar to that when
DEXILANT 60 mg was administered as an intact capsule [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Effect On Food
In food-effect studies in healthy subjects receiving DEXILANT capsules under various fed conditions
compared to fasting, increases in C ranged from 12 to 55%, increases in AUC ranged from 9 to
37%, and Tmax varied (ranging from a decrease of 0.7 hours to an increase of three hours) [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Distribution
Plasma protein binding of dexlansoprazole ranged from 96 to 99% in healthy subjects and was
independent of concentration from 0.01 to 20 mcg/mL. The apparent volume of distribution (Vz /F) after
multiple doses in symptomatic GERD patients was 40 L.
Elimination
Metabolism
Dexlansoprazole is extensively metabolized in the liver by oxidation, reduction, and subsequent
formation of sulfate, glucuronide and glutathione conjugates to inactive metabolites. Oxidative
metabolites are formed by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme system including hydroxylation mainly
by CYP2C19, and oxidation to the sulfone by CYP3A4.
CYP2C19 is a polymorphic liver enzyme which exhibits three phenotypes in the metabolism of
CYP2C19 substrates: extensive metabolizers (*1/*1), intermediate metabolizers (*1/mutant) and poor
metabolizers (mutant/mutant). Dexlansoprazole is the major circulating component in plasma regardless
of CYP2C19 metabolizer status. In CYP2C19 intermediate and extensive metabolizers, the major plasma
metabolites are 5-hydroxy dexlansoprazole and its glucuronide conjugate, while in CYP2C19 poor
metabolizers dexlansoprazole sulfone is the major plasma metabolite.
Excretion
Following the administration of DEXILANT capsules, no unchanged dexlansoprazole is excreted in
urine. Following the administration of [ 14C] dexlansoprazole to six healthy male subjects, approximately
50.7% (standard deviation (SD): 9.0%) of the administered radioactivity was excreted in urine and
47.6% (SD: 7.3%) in the feces. Apparent clearance (CL/F) in healthy subjects was 11.4 to 11.6 L/hour,
respectively, after five days of 30 or 60 mg once daily administration.
Specific Populations
Age
Pediatric Population
The pharmacokinetics of dexlansoprazole in patients under the age of 12 years have not been studied.
Patients 12 To 17 Years Of Age
The pharmacokinetics of dexlansoprazole were studied in 36 patients 12 to 17 years of age with
symptomatic GERD in a multi-center trial. Patients were randomized to receive DEXILANT 30 or 60
mg capsules once daily for seven days. The dexlansoprazole mean Cmax and AUC in patients 12 to 17
years of age were 105 and 88%, respectively, compared to those observed in adults at the 30 mg dose,
and were 81 and 78%, respectively, at the 60 mg dose (see Tables 6 and 7).
Table 7. Mean (%CV) Pharmacokinetic Parameters in Patients 12 to 17
Years of Age with Symptomatic GERD on Day 7 After Administration of
DEXILANT Capsules Once Daily for 7 Days
Dose
(mg) |
Cmax
(ng/mL) |
AUCtau
(ng·h/mL) |
CL/F
(L/h) |
30
(N=17) |
691
(53) |
2886
(47) |
12.8
(48) |
60
(N=18) |
1136
(51) |
5120
(58) |
15.3
(49) |
Age
Geriatric Population
The terminal elimination half-life of dexlansoprazole is significantly increased in geriatric subjects
compared to younger subjects (2.2 and 1.5 hours, respectively). Dexlansoprazole exhibited higher
systemic exposure (AUC) in geriatric subjects (34% higher) than younger subjects [see Use In Specific Populations].
Sex
In a study of 12 male and 12 female healthy subjects who received a single oral dose of DEXILANT 60
mg capsules, females had higher systemic exposure (AUC) (43% higher) than males. This difference in
exposure between males and female does not represent a significant safety concern.
Renal Impairment
Dexlansoprazole is extensively metabolized in the liver to inactive metabolites, and no parent drug is
recovered in the urine following an oral dose of dexlansoprazole. Therefore, the pharmacokinetics of
dexlansoprazole are not expected to be altered in patients with renal impairment, and no studies were
conducted in patients with renal impairment. In addition, the pharmacokinetics of lansoprazole were not
clinically different in patients with mild, moderate or severe renal impairment compared to healthy
subjects with normal renal function.
Hepatic Impairment
In a study of 12 patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B) who received a single
oral dose of 60 mg DEXILANT capsules, the systemic exposure (AUC) of bound and unbound
dexlansoprazole was approximately two times greater compared to subjects with normal hepatic
function. This difference in exposure was not due to a difference in protein binding. No studies have
been conducted in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C) [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, Use In Specific Populations].
Drug-Drug Interactions
Effect Of Dexlansoprazole On Other Drugs
Cytochrome P 450 Interactions
Dexlansoprazole is metabolized, in part, by CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 [see Pharmacokinetics].
In vitro studies have shown that dexlansoprazole is not likely to inhibit CYP isoforms 1A1, 1A2, 2A6,
2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1 or 3A4. As such, no clinically relevant interactions with drugs metabolized
by these CYP enzymes would be expected. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that DEXILANT did
not have an impact on the pharmacokinetics of co-administered phenytoin (CYP2C9 substrate) or
theophylline (CYP1A2 substrate). The subjects' CYP1A2 genotypes in the drug-drug interaction study
with theophylline were not determined. Although in vitro studies indicated that DEXILANT has the
potential to inhibit CYP2C19 in vivo, an in vivo drug-drug interaction study in mainly CYP2C19 extensive
and intermediate metabolizers has shown that DEXILANT does not affect the pharmacokinetics of
diazepam (CYP2C19 substrate).
Clopidogrel
Clopidogrel is metabolized to its active metabolite in part by CYP2C19. A study of healthy subjects
who were CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers, receiving once daily administration of clopidogrel 75 mg
alone or concomitantly with DEXILANT 60 mg capsules (n=40), for nine days was conducted. The
mean AUC of the active metabolite of clopidogrel was reduced by approximately 9% (mean AUC ratio
was 91%, with 90% CI of 86 to 97%) when DEXILANT was co-administered compared to
administration of clopidogrel alone. Pharmacodynamic parameters were also measured and
demonstrated that the change in inhibition of platelet aggregation (induced by 5 mcM ADP) was related
to the change in the exposure to clopidogrel active metabolite. The effect on exposure to the active
metabolite of clopidogrel and on clopidogrel-induced platelet inhibition is not considered clinically
important.
Effect Of Other Drugs On Dexlansoprazole
Because dexlansoprazole is metabolized by CYP2C19 and CYP3A4, inducers and inhibitors of these
enzymes may potentially alter exposure of dexlansoprazole.
Pharmacogenomics
Effect Of CYP2C19 Polymorphism On Systemic Exposure Of Dexlansoprazole
Systemic exposure of dexlansoprazole is generally higher in intermediate and poor metabolizers. In
male Japanese subjects who received a single dose of DEXILANT 30 or 60 mg capsules (N=2 to 6
subjects/group), mean dexlansoprazole C maxand AUC values were up to two times higher in
intermediate compared to extensive metabolizers; in poor metabolizers, mean Cmax was up to four times
higher and mean AUC was up to 12 times higher compared to extensive metabolizers. Though such
study was not conducted in Caucasians and African Americans, it is expected dexlansoprazole exposure
in these races will be affected by CYP2C19 phenotypes as well.
Clinical Studies
Healing Of Erosive Esophagitis In Adults
Two multi-center, double-blind, active-controlled, randomized, eight week studies were conducted in
patients with endoscopically confirmed EE. Severity of the disease was classified based on the Los
Angeles Classification Grading System (Grades A-D). Patients were randomized to one of the
following three treatment groups: DEXILANT 60 mg capsules daily, DEXILANT 90 mg capsules
daily or lansoprazole 30 mg daily. Patients who were H. pylori positive or who had Barrett’s Esophagus
and/or definite dysplastic changes at baseline were excluded from these studies. A total of 4092
patients were enrolled and ranged in age from 18 to 90 years (median age 48 years) with 54% male.
Race was distributed as follows: 87% Caucasian, 5% Black and 8% other. Based on the Los Angeles
Classification, 71% of patients had mild EE (Grades A and B) and 29% of patients had moderate to
severe EE (Grades C and D) before treatment.
The studies were designed to test non-inferiority. If non-inferiority was demonstrated then superiority
would be tested. Although non-inferiority was demonstrated in both studies, the finding of superiority in
one study was not replicated in the other.
The proportion of patients with healed EE at Week 4 or 8 is presented below in Table 8.
Table 8. EE Healing Rates* in Adults : All Grades
Study |
Number of
Patients (N)† |
Treatment
Group
(daily) |
Week 4
%
Healed |
Week 8‡
%
Healed |
(95% CI) for the Treatment
Difference
(DEXILANT–
Lansoprazole) by Week 8 |
1 |
657 |
DEXILANT 60
mg capsules |
70 |
87 |
(-1.5, 6.1)§ |
648 |
Lansoprazole 30 (-1.5, 6.1)
mg |
65 |
85 |
2 |
639 |
DEXILANT 60
mg capsules |
66 |
85 |
(2.2, 10.5)§ |
656 |
Lansoprazole 30 mg |
65 |
79 |
CI = Confidence interval
*Based on crude rate estimates, patients who did not have endoscopically documented healed EE and
prematurely discontinued were considered not healed.
†Patients with at least one post-baseline endoscopy.
‡Primary efficacy endpoint.
§Demonstrated non-inferiority to lansoprazole. |
DEXILANT 90 mg capsules were studied and did not provide additional clinical benefit over
DEXILANT 60 mg.
Maintenance Of Healed Erosive Esophagitis And Relief Of Heartburn In Adults
A multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study was conducted in patients who
successfully completed an EE study and showed endoscopically confirmed healed EE. Maintenance of
healing and symptom resolution over a six month period were evaluated with DEXILANT 30 or 60 mg
capsules once daily compared to placebo. A total of 445 patients were enrolled and ranged in age from
18 to 85 years (median age 49 years), with 52% female. Race was distributed as follows: 90%
Caucasian, 5% Black and 5% other.
Sixty six percent of patients treated with 30 mg of DEXILANT capsules remained healed over the six
month time period as confirmed by endoscopy (see Table 9).
Table 9. Maintenance Rates of Healed EE at Month 6 in
Adults
Number of
Patients
(N)† |
Treatment Group
(daily) |
Maintenance Rate
(%) |
125 |
DEXILANT 30 mg
capsules |
66.4‡ |
119 |
Placebo |
14.3 |
*Based on crude rate estimates, patients who did not have
endoscopically documented relapse and prematurely discontinued
were considered to have relapsed.
†Patients with at least one post-baseline endoscopy
‡Statistically significant vs placebo |
DEXILANT 60 mg capsules were studied and did not provide additional clinical benefit over
DEXILANT 30 mg daily.
The effect of DEXILANT 30 mg capsules on maintenance of relief of heartburn was also evaluated.
Upon entry into the maintenance study, a majority of patients’ baseline heartburn severity was rated as
none. DEXILANT 30 mg capsules demonstrated a statistically significantly higher percent of 24 hour
heartburn-free periods compared to placebo over the six month treatment period (see Table 10). The
majority of patients treated with placebo discontinued due to relapse of EE between Month 2 and Month
6.
Table 10. Median Percentage of 24 Hour Heartburn-Free Periods of the Maintenance
of Healed EE Study in Adults
|
Overall Treatment* |
Month 1 |
Month 6 |
Treatment
Group
(daily) |
N |
Heartburn-
Free 24
hour
Periods
(%) |
N |
Heartburn-
Free 24
hour
Periods
(%) |
N |
Heartburn-
Free 24
hour
Periods
(%) |
DEXILANT
30 mg
capsules |
132 |
96.1† |
126 |
96.7 |
80 |
98.3 |
Placebo |
141 |
28.6 |
117 |
28.6 |
23 |
73.3 |
*Secondary efficacy endpoint
†Statistically significant vs placebo |
Treatment Of Symptomatic Non-Erosive GERD In Adults
A multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, four week study was conducted in
patients with a diagnosis of symptomatic non-erosive GERD made primarily by presentation of
symptoms. These patients who identified heartburn as their primary symptom, had a history of heartburn
for six months or longer, had heartburn on at least four of seven days immediately prior to
randomization and had no esophageal erosions as confirmed by endoscopy. However, patients with
symptoms which were not acid-related may not have been excluded using these inclusion criteria.
Patients were randomized to one of the following treatment groups: DEXILANT 30 mg daily, 60 mg
daily, or placebo. A total of 947 patients were enrolled and ranged in age from 18 to 86 years (median
age 48 years) with 71% female. Race was distributed as follows: 82% Caucasian, 14% Black and 4%
other.
DEXILANT 30 mg capsules provided statistically significantly greater percent of days with heartburn-
free 24 hour periods over placebo as assessed by daily diary over four weeks (see Table 11).
DEXILANT 60 mg capsules was studied and provided no additional clinical benefit over DEXILANT
30 mg capsules.
Table 11. Median Percentages of 24 Hour Heartburn-Free Periods
During the 4 Week Treatment Period of the Symptomatic Non-Erosive
GERD Study in Adults
N |
Treatment Group
(daily) |
Heartburn-Free 24
hour Periods
(%) |
312 |
DEXILANT 30 mg
capsules |
54.9* |
310 |
Placebo |
18.5 |
*Statistically significant vs placebo |
A higher percentage of patients on DEXILANT 30 mg capsules had heartburn-free 24 hour periods
compared to placebo as early as the first three days of treatment and this was sustained throughout the
treatment period (percentage of patients on Day 3: DEXILANT 38% vs placebo 15%; on Day 28:
DEXILANT 63% vs placebo 40%).
Pediatric GERD
Use of DEXILANT in patients 12 to 17 years of age is supported by evidence from adequate and wellcontrolled
studies of DEXILANT capsules in adults, with additional safety, efficacy, and
pharmacokinetic data from studies performed in pediatric patients.
Healing Of EE, Maintenance Of Healed EE And Relief Of Heartburn
In a multi-center, 36 week trial, 62 patients 12 to 17 years of age with a documented history of GERD
for at least three months and endoscopically-proven erosive esophagitis (EE) were enrolled to evaluate
the healing of EE, maintenance of healed EE and relief of heartburn, followed by an additional 12 weeks
without treatment. The median age was 15 years, with males accounting for 61% of the patients. Based
on the Los Angeles Classification Grading Scale, 97% of patients had mild EE (Grades A and B), and
3% of patients had moderate to severe EE (Grades C and D) before treatment.
In the first eight weeks, 62 patients were treated with DEXILANT 60 mg capsules once daily to
evaluate the healing of EE. Of the 62 patients, 58 patients completed the eight week trial, and 51 (88%)
patients achieved healing of EE, as confirmed by endoscopy, over eight weeks of treatment (see Table
12).
Table 12. Healing of EE at Week 8 in Pediatric Patients 12 to 17 Years of
Age
|
DEXILANT 60 mg capsules |
Proportion of randomized patients
healed
n (%)
95% CI |
51/62 (82%)
(70, 91)* |
Proportion of evaluable patients
healed†
n (%)
95% CI |
51/58 (88%)
(77, 95)* |
*Reported are the exact confidence limits.
†Includes only patients who underwent post-baseline endoscopy. |
After the initial eight weeks of treatment, all 51 patients with healed EE were randomized to receive
treatment with DEXILANT 30 mg capsules or placebo, once daily for an additional 16 weeks to
evaluate maintenance of healing and symptom resolution. Maintenance of healing was assessed by
endoscopy at Week 24. Of the 51 patients randomized, 13 patients discontinued early. Of these, five
patients did not undergo post-baseline endoscopy. Eighteen of 22 (82%) evaluable patients treated with
DEXILANT 30 mg capsules remained healed over the 16 week treatment period as confirmed by
endoscopy, compared with 14 of 24 (58%) in placebo (see Table 13).
Table 13. Maintenance of Healed EE at Week 24 in Pediatric Patients 12
to 17 Years of Age
|
DEXILANT 30
mg capsules |
Placebo |
Proportion of randomized patients who
maintained healing of EE
n (%)
95% Cl |
18/25 (72%)
(51, 88)† |
14/26 (54%)
(33, 73)† |
Proportion of evaluable patients who
maintained healing of EE‡
n (%)
95% Cl |
18/22 (82%)
(60, 95)† |
14/24 (58%)
(37, 78)† |
*Following eight weeks of initial therapy and 16 weeks of maintenance therapy.
†Reported are the exact confidence limits.
‡Includes patients with at least one post-baseline endoscopy. |
Relief of heartburn was assessed in randomized patients during the 16 week maintenance period. The
median percentage of 24 hour heartburn-free periods was 87% for those receiving DEXILANT 30 mg
capsules compared to 68% for those receiving placebo.
Out of the 32 patients who maintained healing of EE at the end of the 16 week maintenance period, 27
patients (16 treated with DEXILANT and 11 treated with placebo during the double-blind phase) were
followed for an additional 12 weeks without therapy. Twenty four of the 27 patients completed the 12
week follow-up period. One patient required treatment with acid suppression therapy.
Treatment Of Symptomatic Non-Erosive GERD
In a single-arm, open-label, multi-center trial, 104 pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age with
symptomatic non-erosive GERD were treated with DEXILANT 30 mg capsules once daily, for four
weeks to evaluate safety and effectiveness. Patients had a documented history of GERD symptoms for at
least three months prior to screening, reported heartburn on at least three out of seven days during
screening, and had no esophageal erosions as confirmed by endoscopy. The median age was 15 years,
with females accounting for 70% of the patients. During the four week treatment period, the median
percentage of 24 hour heartburn free periods was 47%.