Clinical Pharmacology for Fibryga
Mechanism Of Action
Fibrinogen (Factor I) is a soluble plasma protein that, during the coagulation process, is converted to fibrin, one of the key components of the blood clot. Fibrinogen is a heterohexamer with a molecular weight of 340 kDa and composed of two sets of Aalpha, Bbeta, and gamma polypeptide chains.
Following coagulation activation and thrombin generation, fibrinogen is cleaved by thrombin at specific sites on the Aalpha and Bbeta chains to remove fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and fibrinopeptide B (FPB). The removal of FPA and FPB exposes binding sites on the fibrinogen molecule and leads to the formation of fibrin monomers that subsequently undergo polymerization. The resulting fibrin is stabilized by activated factor XIII. Factor XIIIa acts on fibrin to form cross links between fibrin polymers and renders the fibrin clot more resistant to fibrinolysis. The end product of the coagulation cascade is cross-linked fibrin which stabilizes the primary platelet plug and achieves secondary hemostasis.
Pharmacodynamics
Administration of FIBRYGAto patients with congenital fibrinogen deficiency supplements the missing coagulation factor or increases low plasma fibrinogen levels. Normal plasma fibrinogen level is in the range of 200-450 mg/dL.
An open-label, prospective, randomized, controlled, two-arm, cross-over study was conducted in 22 subjects with congenital fibrinogen deficiency (afibrinogenemia), ranging in age from 12 to 53 years (6 adolescents, 16 adults). Each subject received a single intravenous 70 mg/kg dose of FIBRYGA and the comparator product. Blood samples were drawn from the patients to measure the fibrinogen activity at baseline and up to 14 days after the infusion. Maximum Clot Firmness (MCF) was measured by thromboelastometry (ROTEM).
For each subject, MCF was determined before (baseline) and one hour after the single dose administration of FIBRYGA. In this cross-over study, the results were compared with another fibrinogen concentrate available on the US market. The results of the study demonstrated that the MCF values were significantly higher after administration of FIBRYGA than at baseline (see Table 2). The mean change from pre-infusion to 1 hour post-infusion was 9.7 mm in the primary analysis (9.0 mm for subjects < 18 years old and 9.9 mm for subjects ≥ 18 to < 65 years old).
Table 2: MCF [mm] (ITT population) n=22
| Time point |
Mean ± SD |
Median (range) |
| Pre-infusion |
0 ± 0 |
0 (0-0) |
| 1 hour post-infusion |
9.7 ± 3.0 |
10.0 (4.0-16.0) |
| Mean change (primary analysis)a |
9.7 ± 3.0 |
10.0 (4.0-16.0) |
MCF = maximum clot firmness; mm = millimeter; ITT = intention-to-treat.
a p-value was <0.0001, 95% CI 8.37, 10.99 |
Pharmacokinetics
An open-label, prospective, randomized, controlled, two-arm, cross-over study was conducted in 22 subjects with congenital fibrinogen deficiency (afibrinogenemia), ranging in age from 12 to 53 years (6 adolescents, 16 adults), where each subject received a single intravenous 70 mg/kg dose of FIBRYGA and the comparator product. In addition, a prospective, open-label, uncontrolled, multicenter clinical study was conducted in 14 pediatric subjects with afibrinogenemia, ranging in age from 1 to 10 years. Thirteen subjects each received a single intravenous 70 mg/kg dose of FIBRYGA. In both studies, blood samples were drawn from the subjects to determine the fibrinogen activity at baseline and up to 14 days after the infusion. The pharmacokinetic parameters of FIBRYGA (n=34) are summarized in Table 3.
In the study of adult and adolescent subjects, the incremental in vivo recovery (IVR) was determined from levels obtained up to 4 hours post-infusion. The median incremental IVR was a 1.8 mg/dL (range 1.1-2.6 mg/dL) increase per mg/kg. The median in vivo recovery indicates that a dose of 70 mg/kg will increase patients’ fibrinogen plasma concentration by approximately 125 mg/dL. In pediatric subjects, the incremental in vivo recovery (IVR) was determined from levels obtained up to 3 hours post-infusion. The median incremental IVR was a 1.4 mg/dL (range 1.3-2.1 mg/dL) increase per mg/kg.
Table 3: Pharmacokinetic Parameters for Fibrinogen Activity
| Parameters |
Mean ± SD (range) |
| Adult and adolescent subjects (n=21) |
Pediatric subjects 6 to <12 years of age (n=8) |
Pediatric subjects <6 years of age (n=5) |
| Half-life [hr] |
75.9 ± 23.8
(40.0-157.0) |
66.1 ± 12.1
(57.7-91.6) |
56.9 ± 10.8
(45.6-67.0) |
| Cmax [mg/dL] |
139.0 ± 36.9
(83.0-216.0) |
112.4 ± 19.8
(93.0-154.0) |
99.0 ± 4.9
(94.0-106.0) |
| AUC [mg*hr/mL] |
124.8 ± 34.6
(65.7-193.3) |
102.1 ± 22.2
(78.2-140.9) |
83.8 ± 12.4
(73.2-97.4) |
| AUCnorm for dose of 70 mg/kg [mg*hr/mL] |
113.7± 31.5
(59.7-175.5) |
97.2 ± 21.2
(74.4-134.2) |
79.8 ± 11.8
(69.7-92.8) |
| Incremental IVR mg/dL/(mg/kg) |
1.8 ± 0.5
(1.1-2.6) |
1.5 ± 0.3
(1.3-2.1) |
1.3 ± 0.1
(1.3-1.4) |
| Clearance [mL/hr/kg] |
0.7 ± 0.2
(0.4-1.2) |
0.7 ± 0.1
(0.5-0.9) |
0.9 ± 0.1
(0.8-1.0) |
| Mean residence time [hr] |
106.3 ± 30.9
(58.7-205.5) |
92.2 ± 17.1
(79.7-126.7) |
78.4 ± 14.0
(63.6-91.5) |
| Volume of distribution at steady state [mL/kg] |
70.2 ± 29.9
(36.9-149.1) |
67.2 ± 8.2
(52.8-76.8) |
68.6 ± 4.4
(63.9-72.7) |
| Cmax = maximum plasma concentration; AUC = area under the curve; AUCnorm = area under the curve normalized to the dose administered; SD = standard deviation |
No difference in fibrinogen activity was observed between males and females. There was no difference in the pharmacokinetics of FIBRYGA between adults and adolescents (12-17 years of age). Lower recovery, shorter half-life and faster clearance were observed in children aged 1 to < 12 years, compared to adults and adolescents. Other parameters, such as Cmax (maximum plasma concentration),
AUC (area under the curve) and AUCnorm (area under the curve normalized to the dose administered), were also lower in children. Such differences may be expected for the younger age subgroup owing to physiological differences in body size and composition.
Clinical Studies
The following data come from subjects with congenital fibrinogen deficiency (afibrinogenemia and hypofibrinogenemia) treated in two prospective, open-label, uncontrolled, multicenter clinical studies to assess efficacy of FIBRYGA for treatment of bleeding events (BEs), one study evaluated 24 adolescents and adults ages 12 to 54 years, and one evaluated 8 children 1 to 10 years of age.
Efficacy of FIBRYGA in treating BEs was measured using an objective 4-point hemostatic efficacy-scale based on criteria such as bleeding cessation, changes in hemoglobin, and use of any other hemostatic means. In the adult and adolescent study, 24 subjects received FIBRYGA treatment for 87 evaluable BEs one of which was major and 86 minor. Major bleeding included spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage, while minor bleeding included spontaneous occult gastrointestinal bleeding, mild hemarthrosis, superficial muscle, soft tissue or oral bleeding. Sixty-five (75%) of evaluable BEs were spontaneous and 22 (25%) BEs were traumatic. The major BE (intracranial hemorrhage) required two infusions. The median number of infusions for minor BEs was one. Four (4.5%) minor BEs required 2 infusions and one (1.1%) minor BE (gastrointestinal bleeding) required 7 infusions. The treatment of one BE was classified as failure (moderate efficacy) and 86 of 87 (98.9%) of evaluable BEs were assessed as having a successful efficacy outcome (8 ratings of good and 78 ratings of excellent efficacy).
Ten BEs were treated in the study of children, 2 were major and 8 minor. Major bleeds were thigh hematoma, and intraperitoneal bleed from splenic rupture, while minor bleeding included soft tissue or oral bleeding. Five (50.0%) BEs were spontaneous and five (50.0%) were traumatic. The median (range) number of infusions per BE was 1 (1-4). Of the two major treated BEs, one required three infusions, while the other received four infusions, both achieved a hemostatic efficacy score of good. Three of 10 BEs in children were assessed as having a good hemostatic efficacy score, and seven as having an excellent hemostatic efficacy score, therefore 10 (100%) had a successful efficacy outcome (rating of good or excellent efficacy).