CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Mechanism Of Action
Plerixafor is an inhibitor of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor and blocks binding of its cognate ligand, stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α). SDF-1α and CXCR4 are recognized to play a role in the trafficking and homing of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to the marrow compartment. Once in the marrow, stem cell CXCR4 can act to help anchor these cells to the marrow matrix, either directly via SDF-1α or through the induction of other adhesion molecules. Treatment with plerixafor resulted in leukocytosis and elevations in circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells in mice, dogs and humans. CD34+ cells mobilized by plerixafor were capable of engraftment with long-term repopulating capacity up to one year in canine transplantation models.
Pharmacodynamics
Data on the fold increase in peripheral blood CD34+ cell count (cells/mcL) by apheresis day were evaluated in two placebo-controlled clinical studies in patients with NHL and MM (Study 1 and Study 2, respectively). The fold increase in CD34+ cell count (cells/mcL) over the 24-hour period starting from the day prior to the first apheresis and ending the next morning just before the first apheresis is summarized in Table 3. During this 24-hour period, a single dose of Mozobil or placebo was administered 10 to 11 hours prior to apheresis.
Table 3: Fold Increase in Peripheral Blood CD34+ Cell Count Following Pretreatment with G-CSF and Administration of Plerixafor
Study |
Mozobil® and G-CSF |
Placebo and G-CSF |
Median |
Mean (SD) |
Median |
Mean (SD) |
Study 1 |
5.0 |
6.1 (5.4) |
1.4 |
1.9 (1.5) |
Study 2 |
4.8 |
6.4 (6.8) |
1.7 |
2.4 (7.3) |
In pharmacodynamic studies of Mozobil in healthy volunteers, peak mobilization of CD34+ cells was observed between 6 and 9 hours after administration. In pharmacodynamic studies of Mozobil in conjunction with G-CSF in healthy volunteers, a sustained elevation in the peripheral blood CD34+ count was observed from 4 to 18 hours after plerixafor administration with a peak CD34+ count between 10 and 14 hours.
QT/QTc Prolongation
There is no indication of a QT/QTc prolonging effect of Mozobil in single doses up to 0.40 mg/kg. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 48 healthy subjects were administered a single subcutaneous dose of plerixafor (0.24 mg/kg and 0.40 mg/kg) and placebo. Peak concentrations for 0.40 mg/kg Mozobil were approximately 1.8-fold higher than the peak concentrations following the 0.24 mg/kg single subcutaneous dose.
Pharmacokinetics
The single-dose pharmacokinetics of plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg were evaluated in patients with NHL and MM following pretreatment with G-CSF (10 micrograms/kg once daily for 4 consecutive days). Plerixafor exhibits linear kinetics between the 0.04 mg/kg to 0.24 mg/kg dose range. The pharmacokinetics of plerixafor was similar across clinical studies in healthy subjects who received plerixafor alone and NHL and MM patients who received plerixafor in combination with G-CSF.
A population pharmacokinetic analysis incorporated plerixafor data from 63 subjects (NHL patients, MM patients, subjects with varying degrees of renal impairment, and healthy subjects) who received a single SC dose (0.04 mg/kg to 0.24 mg/kg) of plerixafor. A two-compartment disposition model with first order absorption and elimination was found to adequately describe the plerixafor concentration-time profile. Significant relationships between clearance and creatinine clearance (CLCR), as well as between central volume of distribution and body weight were observed. The distribution half-life (t1/2α) was estimated to be 0.3 hours and the terminal population half-life (t1/2β) was 5.3 hours in patients with normal renal function.
The population pharmacokinetic analysis showed that the mg/kg-based dosage results in an increased plerixafor exposure (AUC0-24h) with increasing body weight. In order to compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of plerixafor following 0.24 mg/kg-based and fixed (20 mg) doses, a follow-up trial was conducted in patients with NHL (N=61) who were treated with 0.24 mg/kg or 20 mg of plerixafor. The trial was conducted in patients weighing 70 kg or less. The fixed 20 mg dose showed 1.43-fold higher exposure (AUC0-10h) than the 0.24 mg/kg dose (Table 4). The fixed 20 mg dose also showed numerically higher response rate (5.2% [60.0% vs 54.8%] based on the local lab data and 11.7% [63.3% vs 51.6%] based on the central lab data) in attaining the target of ≥5 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg than the mg/kg-based dose. However, the median time to reach ≥5 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg was 3 days for both treatment groups, and the safety profile between the groups was similar. Based on these results, further analysis was conducted by FDA reviewers and a body weight of 83 kg was selected as an appropriate cut-off point to transition patients from fixed to weight based dosing.
Table 4: Systemic Exposure (AUC0-10h) Comparisons of Fixed and Weight-Based Regimens
Regimen |
Geometric Mean AUC |
Fixed 20 mg (n=30) |
3991.2 |
0.24 mg/kg (n=31) |
2792.7 |
Ratio (90%CI) |
1.43 (1.32,1.54) |
There is limited experience with the 0.24 mg/kg dose of plerixafor in patients weighing above 160 kg. Therefore, the dose should not exceed that of a 160 kg patient (i.e., 40 mg/day if CLCR is >50 mL/min and 27 mg/day if CLCR is ≤50 mL/min) [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Absorption
Peak plasma concentrations occurred at approximately 30 to 60 minutes after a SC dose.
Distribution
Plerixafor is bound to human plasma proteins up to 58%. The apparent volume of distribution of plerixafor in humans is 0.3 L/kg demonstrating that plerixafor is largely confined to, but not limited to, the extravascular fluid space.
Metabolism
The metabolism of plerixafor was evaluated with in vitro assays. Plerixafor is not metabolized as shown in assays using human liver microsomes or human primary hepatocytes and does not exhibit inhibitory activity in vitro towards the major drug metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes (1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1 and 3A4/5). In in vitro studies with human hepatocytes, plerixafor does not induce CYP1A2, CYP2B6, or CYP3A4 enzymes. These findings suggest that plerixafor has a low potential for involvement in cytochrome P450dependent drug-drug interactions.
Elimination
The major route of elimination of plerixafor is urinary. Following a 0.24 mg/kg dose in healthy volunteers with normal renal function, approximately 70% of the dose was excreted in the urine as the parent drug during the first 24 hours following administration. In studies with healthy subjects and patients, the terminal half-life in plasma ranges between 3 and 5 hours. At concentrations similar to what are seen clinically, plerixafor did not act as a substrate or inhibitor of P-glycoprotein in an in vitro study with MDCKII and MDCKII-MDR1 cell models.
Special Populations
Renal Impairment
Following a single 0.24 mg/kg SC dose, plerixafor clearance was reduced in subjects with varying degrees of renal impairment and was positively correlated with CLCR. The mean AUC024h of plerixafor in subjects with mild (CLCR 51-80 mL/min), moderate (CLCR 31-50 mL/min), and severe (CLCR <31 mL/min) renal impairment was 7%, 32%, and 39% higher than healthy subjects with normal renal function, respectively. Renal impairment had no effect on Cmax. A population pharmacokinetic analysis indicated an increased exposure (AUC0-24h) in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment compared to patients with CLCR >50 mL/min. These results support a dose reduction of one-third in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (CLCR ≤50 mL/min) in order to match the exposure in patients with normal renal function. The population pharmacokinetic analysis showed that the mg/kg-based dosage results in an increased plerixafor exposure (AUC0-24h) with increasing body weight; therefore, if CLCR is ≤50 mL/min the dose should not exceed 27 mg/day [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Since plerixafor is primarily eliminated by the kidneys, coadministration of plerixafor with drugs that reduce renal function or compete for active tubular secretion may increase serum concentrations of plerixafor or the coadministered drug. The effects of coadministration of plerixafor with other drugs that are renally eliminated or are known to affect renal function have not been evaluated.
Race
Clinical data show similar plerixafor pharmacokinetics for Caucasians and African Americans, and the effect of other racial/ethnic groups has not been studied.
Gender
Clinical data show no effect of gender on plerixafor pharmacokinetics.
Age
Clinical data show no effect of age on plerixafor pharmacokinetics.
Clinical Studies
The efficacy and safety of Mozobil in conjunction with G-CSF in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM) were evaluated in two placebo-controlled studies (Studies 1 and 2). Patients were randomized to receive either Mozobil 0.24 mg/kg or placebo on each evening prior to apheresis. Patients received daily morning doses of G-CSF 10 micrograms/kg for 4 days prior to the first dose of Mozobil or placebo and on each morning prior to apheresis. Two hundred and ninety-eight (298) NHL patients were included in the primary efficacy analyses for Study 1. The mean age was 55 years (range 29-75) and 58 years (range 22-75) in the Mozobil and placebo groups, respectively, and 93% of subjects were Caucasian. In study 2, 302 patients with MM were included in the primary efficacy analyses. The mean age (58 years) and age range (28-75) were similar in the Mozobil and placebo groups, and 81% of subjects were Caucasian.
In Study 1, 59% of NHL patients who were mobilized with Mozobil and G-CSF collected ≥5 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg from the peripheral blood in four or fewer apheresis sessions, compared with 20% of patients who were mobilized with placebo and G-CSF (p <0.001). Other CD34+ cell mobilization outcomes showed similar findings (Table 5).
Table 5: Study 1 Efficacy Results -CD34+ Cell Mobilization in NHL Patients
Efficacy Endpoint |
Mozobil® and G-CSF (n=150) |
Placebo and G-CSF (n=148) |
p-valuea |
Patients achieving ≥5 × 106 cells/kg in ≤4 apheresis days |
89 (59%) |
29 (20%) |
<0.001 |
Patients achieving ≥2 × 106 cells/kg in ≤4 apheresis days |
130 (87%) |
70 (47%) |
<0.001 |
a p-value calculated using Pearson’s Chi-Squared test |
The median number of days to reach ≥5 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg was 3 days for the Mozobil group and not evaluable for the placebo group. Table 6 presents the proportion of patients who achieved ≥5 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg by apheresis day.
Table 6: Study 1 Efficacy Results – Proportion of Patients Who Achieved ≥5 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg by Apheresis Day in NHL Patients
Days |
Proportiona in Mozobil® and G-CSF (n=147b) |
Proportiona in Placebo and G-CSF (n=142b) |
1 |
27.9% |
4.2% |
2 |
49.1% |
14.2% |
3 |
57.7% |
21.6% |
4 |
65.6% |
24.2% |
aPercents determined by Kaplan Meier method
bn includes all patients who received at least one day of apheresis |
In Study 2, 72% of MM patients who were mobilized with Mozobil and G-CSF collected ≥6 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg from the peripheral blood in two or fewer apheresis sessions, compared with 34% of patients who were mobilized with placebo and G-CSF (p <0.001). Other CD34+ cell mobilization outcomes showed similar findings (Table 7).
Table 7: Study 2 Efficacy Results – CD34+ Cell Mobilization in Multiple Myeloma Patients
Efficacy Endpoint |
Mozobil® and G-CSF (n=148) |
Placebo and G-CSF (n=154) |
p-valuea |
Patients achieving ≥6 × 106 cells/kg in ≤2 apheresis days |
106 (72%) |
53 (34%) |
<0.001 |
Patients achieving ≥6 × 106 cells/kg in ≤4 apheresis days |
112 (76%) |
79 (51%) |
<0.001 |
Patients achieving ≥2 × 106 cells/kg in ≤4 apheresis days |
141 (95%) |
136 (88%) |
0.028 |
a p-value calculated using Pearson’s Chi-Squared test |
The median number of days to reach ≥6 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg was 1 day for the Mozobil group and 4 days for the placebo group. Table 8 presents the proportion of patients who achieved ≥6 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg by apheresis day.
Table 8: Study 2 . Proportion of Patients Who Achieved ≥6 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg by Apheresis Day in MM Patients
Days |
Proportiona in Mozobil® and G-CSF (n=144b) |
Proportiona in Placebo and G-CSF (n=150b) |
1 |
54.2% |
17.3% |
2 |
77.9% |
35.3% |
3 |
86.8% |
48.9% |
4 |
86.8% |
55.9% |
a Percents determined by Kaplan Meier method
b n includes all patients who received at least one day of apheresis |
Multiple factors can influence time to engraftment and graft durability following stem cell transplantation. For transplanted patients in the Phase 3 studies, time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment and graft durability were similar across the treatment groups.