Clinical Pharmacology for Kanuma
Mechanism Of Action
LAL deficiency is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder characterized by a genetic defect resulting in a marked decrease or loss in activity of the lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) enzyme. The primary site of action of the LAL enzyme is the lysosome, where the enzyme normally causes the breakdown of lipid particles, including LDL-c and triglycerides. Deficient LAL enzyme activity results in progressive complications due to the lysosomal accumulation of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides in multiple organs, including the liver, spleen, intestine, and the walls of blood vessels. The resulting lipid accumulation in the liver may lead to increased liver fat content and progression of liver disease, including fibrosis and cirrhosis. Lipid accumulation in the intestinal wall leads to malabsorption and growth failure. In parallel, dyslipidemia due to impaired degradation of lysosomal lipid is common with elevated LDL-c and triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c).
Sebelipase alfa binds to cell surface receptors via glycans expressed on the protein and is subsequently internalized into lysosomes. Sebelipase alfa catalyzes the lysosomal hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides to free cholesterol, glycerol and free fatty acids.
Pharmacodynamics
In clinical trials, after initiation of dosing with KANUMA, breakdown of accumulated lysosomal lipid led to initial increases in LDL-c and triglycerides within the first 2 to 4 weeks of treatment. In general, following increases in LDL-c and triglycerides, these parameters decreased to below pre-treatment values within 8 weeks of treatment with KANUMA.
In all patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values at baseline (82 of 84 patients in clinical trials), reductions in ALT values were observed, generally within 2 weeks after initiation of treatment with KANUMA. Treatment interruption resulted in increases in LDL-c and ALT values and decreases in HDL-c.
Pharmacokinetics
The pharmacokinetic profile of sebelipase alfa was nonlinear with a greater than dose- proportional increase in exposure between 1 and 3 mg/kg based on non-compartmental analysis of data from 26 adults. No accumulation was observed following once weekly or once every other week dosing.
Using a population pharmacokinetic model, sebelipase alfa pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated for 65 pediatric and adult patients who received intravenous infusions of KANUMA at 1 mg/kg at Week 22 (Table 4); 24 patients were 4 to 11 years old, 23 were 12 to 17 years old, and 18 were adults. The pharmacokinetic profiles of sebelipase alfa were similar between adolescents and adults. The Tmax and T1/2 were similar across all age groups.
Table 4: Mean (SD) Pharmacokinetics Parameters at Week 22 in Pediatric and Adult Patients Receiving 1 mg/kg Once Every Other Week.
| Parameter |
4-11 years old |
12-17 years old |
≥18 years old |
| N=24 |
N=23 |
N=18 |
AUC
(ng·hr/mL) |
942 (388) |
1454 (699) |
1861 (599) |
| Cmax (ng/mL) |
490 (205) |
784 (480) |
957 (303) |
| Tmax (hr) |
1.3 (0.6) |
1.1 (0.3) |
1.3 (0.6) |
| CL (L/hr) |
31.1 (7.1) |
37.4 (12.4) |
38.2 (12.5) |
| Vc (L) |
3.6 (3.0) |
5.4 (2.4) |
5.3 (1.6) |
| T1/2 (min) |
5.4 (4.3) |
6.6 (3.7) |
6.6 (3.7) |
Parameter values were estimated using a population pharmacokinetic model.
AUC = Area under the plasma concentration time curve. Cmax = Maximum concentration. Tmax = Time to maximum concentration. CL = Clearance. Vc = Central volume of distribution. T1/2 = Half-life. |
Animal Toxicology And/Or Pharmacology
In a rat disease model of LAL deficiency that exhibits several abnormalities analogous to the human disease, sebelipase alfa administered intravenously at dosages up to 3 mg/kg once weekly showed improvements in survival, body weight gain, organ weight reduction, reduction in serum transaminases (ALT and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]), reduction in serum and hepatic lipids, and improvement in liver histopathology.
Clinical Studies
Infants With Rapidly Progressive LAL Deficiency Presenting Within The First 6 Months Of Life
A multicenter, open-label, single-arm clinical study of KANUMA was conducted in 9 infants with LAL deficiency who had growth failure or other evidence of rapidly progressive disease prior to 6 months of age. The age range at entry was 1 to 6 months. Patients received KANUMA at 0.35 mg/kg once weekly for the first 2 weeks and then 1 mg/kg once weekly. Due to suboptimal clinical response, doses in all 6 surviving patients were escalated to 3 mg/kg once weekly, between 4 and 88 weeks (median 11 weeks) after starting treatment at 1 mg/kg.
The efficacy of KANUMA was assessed by comparing the survival of the 9 KANUMA-treated patients (followed in the open-label, single-arm trial) at 12 months of age to the survival in an untreated, historical cohort of 21 patients with a similar age at disease presentation and clinical characteristics. Of the 9 KANUMA-treated patients, 6 patients survived beyond 12 months of age, compared to 0 of 21 patients who survived in the historical cohort, all of whom had died by 8 months of age. The median age of the 6 surviving KANUMA-treated patients was 18.1 months (range 12 to 42.2 months).
Following initiation of treatment with KANUMA 1 mg/kg once weekly, weight-for-age (WFA) z-scores improved in 3 of 5 surviving patients with growth failure, and all 6 surviving patients demonstrated improvements in WFA z-scores following dose escalation to 3 mg/kg once weekly.
Continuation Treatment
Across Study 1 and another study, Study 3, in infants with rapidly progressive LAL Deficiency, 9 patients received successive dose escalations up to 5 mg/kg once weekly due to suboptimal clinical response [see Recommended Dosage]. The median duration of exposure to 5 mg/kg for the 9 patients whose doses were escalated to 5 mg/kg once weekly was 33 months (range 27 to 39 months) for patients in Study 1 and 15 months (range 5 to 24 months) in Study 3.
Of the 9 patients whose KANUMA dose was escalated to 5 mg/kg once weekly, 6 were alive at their last follow up at 3 years, and 2 were alive at their last follow up at 5 years. Of these 9 patients, 6 experienced normalization of ALT and/or AST which had remained abnormal on the lower KANUMA dose.
Pediatric And Adult Patients With LAL Deficiency
The safety and efficacy of KANUMA were assessed in 66 pediatric and adult patients with LAL deficiency, aged 4 to 58 years (71% were less than 18 years old), in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized to receive KANUMA at a dosage of 1 mg/kg (n=36) or placebo (n=30) once every other week for 20 weeks in the double-blind period. Sixty- two of the 66 (94%) patients had LDL-c of 130 mg/dL or greater at study entry. The majority of patients (58%) had LDL-c above 190 mg/dL at study entry, and 24% of patients with LDL-c above 190 mg/dL remained on lipid lowering medications.
At the completion of the 20-week double-blind period of the trial, a statistically significant improvement in percent change from baseline in LDL-c was observed in the KANUMA-treated group as compared to the placebo group (mean difference and 95% C.I.: -22%, [-33%, -15%]; p<0.0001). LDL-c of less than 130 mg/dL was achieved in 13 of 32 (41%; 95% C.I.: [24%,58%]) KANUMA-treated patients and in only 2 of 30 (7%; 95% C.I.: [0%, 16%]) placebo- treated patients with baseline LDL-c of 130 mg/dL or greater. A statistically significant improvement in percent change from baseline at 20 weeks was also observed in the KANUMA- treated group compared to the placebo group for other parameters related to LAL deficiency, including decreases in non-HDL-c (mean difference and 95% C.I.: -21%, [-30%, -15%]; p<0.0001) and triglycerides (mean difference and 95% C.I.: -14%, [-28%, -1%]; p=0.0375), and increases in HDL-c (mean difference and 95% C.I.: 20%, [12%, 26%]; p<0.0001). The effect of KANUMA on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been established.
Patients treated with KANUMA had larger reductions from baseline in ALT values and liver fat content (measured by MRI), compared to patients treated with placebo. The significance of these findings as they relate to progression of liver disease in LAL deficiency has not been established.
Open Label Treatment
Pediatric and adult patients who participated in the randomized, placebo-controlled trial were eligible to continue treatment in an open-label extension. Sixty-five of the 66 patients entered the open-label extension and were treated with KANUMA at a dosage of 1 mg/kg once every other week. During the open-label extension, patients treated with KANUMA for up to 36 weeks demonstrated improvements in lipid parameters, including LDL-c and HDL-c levels, and ALT.
Continuation Treatment
Across Study 2 and another study, Study 4, in children and adults with LAL Deficiency, 23 of 97 patients received dose escalations from the protocol-defined starting dose of 1 mg/kg every other week (12 patients in Study 2 and 11 patients in Study 4). The median duration of exposure to the 3 mg/kg every other week regimen was 28 months (range 6 to 33 months) for patients in Study 2 and 12 months (range 3 to 27 months) in Study 4. Before being escalated to 3 mg/kg every other week, patients were on 1 mg/kg every other week for a median of 19 months (range 6 to 33 months), and most dose escalations were initiated in response to an increase in serum transaminase levels, an increase in serum lipids, or a decrease in WFA z-scores in children.
Of the 23 patients whose KANUMA dose was escalated to 3 mg/kg every other week, 20 were children. After the dose escalation, 14 of the 23 patients experienced normalization of one or more of the following biomarkers which had remained abnormally high on the lower KANUMA dose: serum transaminases, triglycerides, and/or LDL-c.