Clinical Pharmacology for Ravicti
Mechanism Of Action
UCDs are inherited deficiencies of enzymes or transporters necessary for the synthesis of urea from ammonia (NH3, NH4+). Absence of these enzymes or transporters results in the accumulation of toxic levels of ammonia in the blood and brain of affected patients. RAVICTI is a triglyceride containing 3 molecules of PBA. PAA, the major metabolite of PBA, is the active moiety of RAVICTI. PAA conjugates with glutamine (which contains 2 molecules of nitrogen) via acetylation in the liver and kidneys to form PAGN, which is excreted by the kidneys (Figure 1). On a molar basis, PAGN, like urea, contains 2 moles of nitrogen and provides an alternate vehicle for waste nitrogen excretion.
Figure 1: RAVICTI Mechanism of Action
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacological Effects
In clinical studies, total 24-hour area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of ammonia levels was comparable at steady state during the switchover period between RAVICTI and sodium phenylbutyrate [see Clinical Studies].
Cardiac Electrophysiology
The effect of multiple doses of RAVICTI 13.2 g/day and 19.8 g/day (approximately 69% and 104% of the maximum recommended daily dosage) on QTc interval was evaluated in a randomized, placebo- and active-controlled (moxifloxacin 400 mg), four-treatment-arm, crossover study in 57 healthy subjects. The upper bound of the one-sided 95% CI for the largest placebo-adjusted, baseline-corrected QTc, based on individual correction method (QTcI) for RAVICTI, was below 10 ms.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
RAVICTI is a pro-drug of PBA. Upon oral ingestion, PBA is released from the glycerol backbone in the gastrointestinal tract by lipases. PBA derived from RAVICTI is further converted by β-oxidation to PAA.
In healthy, fasting adult subjects receiving a single oral dose of 2.9 mL/m2 of RAVICTI, peak plasma levels of PBA, PAA, and PAGN occurred at 2 hours, 4 hours, and 4 hours, respectively. Upon single-dose administration of RAVICTI, plasma concentrations of PBA were quantifiable in 15 of 22 participants at the first sample time postdose (0.25 hours). Mean maximum concentration (Cmax) for PBA, PAA, and PAGN was 37.0 micrograms/mL, 14.9 micrograms/mL, and 30.2 micrograms/mL, respectively. In healthy subjects, intact glycerol phenylbutyrate was detected in plasma. While the study was inconclusive, the incomplete hydrolysis of glycerol phenylbutyrate cannot be ruled out.
In healthy subjects, the systemic exposure to PAA, PBA, and PAGN increased in a dose-dependent manner. Following 4 mL of RAVICTI 3 times a day for 3 days, the mean Cmax and AUC were 66 micrograms/mL and 930 micrograms•h/mL for PBA and 28 micrograms/mL and 942 micrograms•h/mL for PAA, respectively. In the same study, following 6 mL of RAVICTI three times a day for 3 days, mean Cmax and AUC were 100 micrograms/mL and 1400 micrograms•h/mL for PBA and 65 μg/mL and 2064 micrograms•h/mL for PAA, respectively.
In adult patients with UCDs receiving multiple doses of RAVICTI, maximum plasma concentrations at steady state (Cmax,ss) of PBA, PAA, and PAGN occurred at 8 hours, 12 hours, and 10 hours, respectively, after the first dose in the day. Intact glycerol phenylbutyrate was not detectable in plasma in patients with UCDs.
In clinical studies of RAVICTI in patients with UCDs, the peak observed PAA concentrations by age group are shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Peak PAA Concentrations in Patients with UCDs Treated with RAVICTI in Clinical Trials
| Age Range |
RAVICTI Dose |
Mean Peak PAA Concentration*
(SD) |
Median Peak PAA Concentration*
(Range) |
Less than 2 months
(n=16) |
3.1 to 12.7 mL/m2/day (3.4 to 14 g/m2/day) |
257 (162) |
205 (96 to 707) |
2 months to less than 2 years
(n=17) |
3.3 to 12.3 mL/m2/day (3.7 to 13.5 g/m2/day) |
142 (299) |
35 (1 to 1215) |
2 years to 17 years
(n=53) |
1.4 to 13.7 mL/m2/day (1.5 to 15.1 g/m2/day) |
70 (79) |
50 (1 to 410) |
Adults
(n=43) |
0.6 to 14 mL/m2/day
(0.7 to 15.4 g/m2/day) |
39 (40) |
25 (1.6 to 178) |
| *micrograms/mL |
Distribution
In vitro, the extent of plasma protein binding for 14C-labeled metabolites was 81% to 98% for PBA (over 1 to 250 micrograms/mL), and 37% to 66% for PAA (over 5 to 500 micrograms/mL). The protein binding for PAGN was 7% to 12% and no concentration effects were noted.
Elimination
Metabolism
Upon oral administration, pancreatic lipases hydrolyze RAVICTI (i.e., glycerol phenylbutyrate), and release PBA. PBA undergoes β-oxidation to PAA, which is conjugated with glutamine in the liver and in the kidney through the enzyme phenylacetyl-CoA: L-glutamine-N-acetyltransferase to form PAGN. PAGN is subsequently eliminated in the urine.
Saturation of conjugation of PAA and glutamine to form PAGN was suggested by increases in the ratio of plasma PAA to PAGN with increasing dose and with increasing severity of hepatic impairment.
In healthy subjects, after administration of 4 mL, 6 mL, and 9 mL 3 times daily for 3 days, the ratio of mean AUC0-23h of PAA to PAGN was 1, 1.25, and 1.6, respectively. In a separate study, in patients with hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B and C), the ratios of mean Cmax values for PAA to PAGN among all patients dosed with 6 mL and 9 mL twice daily were 3 and 3.7.
In in vitro studies, the specific activity of lipases for glycerol phenylbutyrate was in the following decreasing order: pancreatic triglyceride lipase, carboxyl ester lipase, and pancreatic lipase–related protein 2. Further, glycerol phenylbutyrate was hydrolyzed in vitro by esterases in human plasma. In these in vitro studies, a complete disappearance of glycerol phenylbutyrate did not produce molar equivalent PBA, suggesting the formation of mono- or bis-ester metabolites. However, the formation of mono- or bis-esters was not studied in humans.
Excretion
The mean (SD) percentage of administered PBA excreted as PAGN was approximately 69% (17) in adults and 66% (24) in pediatric patients with UCDs at steady state. PAA and PBA represented minor urinary metabolites, each accounting for less than 1% of the administered dose of PBA.
Specific Populations
Age
Pediatric Population
Population pharmacokinetic modeling and dosing simulations suggest body surface area to be the most significant covariate explaining the variability of PAA clearance. PAA clearance was 10.9 L/h, 16.4 L/h, and 24.4 L/h, respectively, for patients ages 3 to 5, 6 to 11, and 12 to 17 years with UCDs.
In pediatric patients with UCDs (n = 14) ages 2 months to less than 2 years, PAA clearance was 6.8 L/h.
In pediatric patients with UCDs (n = 16) ages less than 2 months, PAA clearance was 3.8 L/h. The mean peak ratio of PAA to PAGN in UCD patients aged birth to less than 2 months was higher (mean: 1.6; range 0.1 to 7.1) than that of UCD patients aged 2 months to less than 2 years (mean 0.5; range 0.1 to 1.2).
Sex
In healthy adult subjects, a gender effect was found for all metabolites, with women generally having higher plasma concentrations of all metabolites than men at a given dose level. In healthy female subjects, mean Cmax for PAA was 51 and 120% higher than in male volunteers after administration of 4 mL and 6 mL 3 times daily for 3 days, respectively. The dose normalized mean AUC0-23h for PAA was 108% higher in females than in males.
Renal Impairment
The pharmacokinetics of RAVICTI in patients with impaired renal function, including those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or those on hemodialysis, have not been studied [see Use In Specific Populations].
Hepatic Impairment
The effects of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of RAVICTI were studied in patients with mild, moderate and severe hepatic impairment of (Child-Pugh class A, B, and C, respectively) receiving 100 mg/kg of RAVICTI twice daily for 7 days.
Plasma glycerol phenylbutyrate was not measured in patients with hepatic impairment.
After multiple doses of RAVICTI in patients with hepatic impairment of Child-Pugh A, B, and C, geometric mean AUCt of PBA was 42%, 84%, and 50% higher, respectively, while geometric mean AUCt of PAA was 22%, 53%, and 94% higher, respectively, than in healthy subjects.
In patients with hepatic impairment of Child-Pugh A, B, and C, geometric mean AUCt of PAGN was 42%, 27%, and 22% lower, respectively, than that in healthy subjects.
The proportion of PBA excreted as PAGN in the urine in Child-Pugh A, B, and C was 80%, 58%, and 85%, respectively, and, in healthy volunteers, was 67%.
In another study in patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B and C), mean Cmax of PAA was 144 micrograms/mL (range: 14 to 358 micrograms/mL) after daily dosing of 6 mL of RAVICTI twice daily, while mean Cmax of PAA was 292 micrograms/mL (range: 57 to 655 micrograms/mL) after daily dosing of 9 mL of RAVICTI twice daily. The ratio of mean Cmax values for PAA to PAGN among all patients dosed with 6 mL and 9 mL twice daily were 3 and 3.7, respectively.
After multiple doses, a PAA concentration greater than 200 micrograms/mL was associated with a ratio of plasma PAA to PAGN concentrations higher than 2.5 [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Drug Interaction Studies
In vitro PBA or PAA did not induce CYP1A2, suggesting that in vivo drug interactions via induction of CYP1A2 is unlikely.
In in vitro studies, PBA at a concentration of 800 micrograms/mL caused greater than 60% reversible inhibition of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4/5 (testosterone 6β-hydroxylase activity). The in vitro study suggested that in vivo drug interactions with substrates of CYP2D6 cannot be ruled out. The inhibition of CYP isoenzymes 1A2, 2C8, 2C19, and 2D6 by PAA at the concentration of 2.8 mg/mL was observed in vitro. Clinical implication of these results is unknown.
Effects Of RAVICTI On Other Drugs
Midazolam
In healthy subjects, when oral midazolam was administered after multiple doses of RAVICTI (4 mL three times a day for 3 days) under fed conditions, the mean Cmax and AUC for midazolam were 25% and 32% lower, respectively, compared to administration of midazolam alone. In addition, the mean Cmax and AUC for 1-hydroxy midazolam were 28% and 58% higher, respectively, compared to administration of midazolam alone [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Celecoxib
Concomitant administration of RAVICTI did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of celecoxib, a substrate of CYP2C9. When 200 mg of celecoxib was orally administered with RAVICTI after multiple doses of RAVICTI (4 mL three times a day for 6 days) under fed conditions (a standard breakfast was consumed 5 minutes after celecoxib administration), the mean Cmax and AUC for celecoxib were 13% and 8% lower than after administration of celecoxib alone.
Clinical Studies
Clinical Studies In Adult Patients With UCDs
Active-Controlled, 4-Week, Noninferiority Study (Study 1)
A randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, crossover, noninferiority study (Study 1) compared RAVICTI to sodium phenylbutyrate by evaluating ammonia levels in patients with UCDs who had been on sodium phenylbutyrate prior to enrollment for control of their UCD. Patients were required to have a confirmed diagnosis of UCD involving deficiencies of CPS, OTC, or ASS, confirmed via enzymatic, biochemical, or genetic testing. Patients had to have no clinical evidence of hyperammonemia at enrollment and were not allowed to receive drugs known to increase ammonia levels (e.g., valproate), increase protein catabolism (e.g., corticosteroids), or significantly affect renal clearance (e.g., probenecid). The primary endpoint was the 24-hour AUC (a measure of exposure to ammonia over 24 hours) for venous ammonia on days 14 and 28 when the drugs were expected to be at steady state. Statistical noninferiority would be established if the upper limit of the 2-sided 95% CI for the ratio of the geometric means (RAVICTI/sodium phenylbutyrate) for the endpoint was 1.25 or less.
Forty-five patients were randomized 1:1 to 1 of 2 treatment arms to receive either
- Sodium phenylbutyrate for 2 weeks → RAVICTI for 2 weeks; or
- RAVICTI for 2 weeks → sodium phenylbutyrate for 2 weeks.
Sodium phenylbutyrate or RAVICTI were administered three times daily with meals. The dose of RAVICTI was calculated to deliver the same amount of PBA as the sodium phenylbutyrate dose the patients were taking when they entered the study. Forty-four patients received at least 1 dose of RAVICTI in the study.
Patients adhered to a low-protein diet and received amino acid supplements throughout the study. After 2 weeks of dosing, by which time patients had reached steady state on each treatment, all patients had 24 hours of ammonia measurements.
Demographic characteristics of the 45 patients enrolled in Study 1 were as follows: mean age at enrollment was 33 years (range: 18 to 75 years); 69% were female; 33% had adult-onset disease; 89% had OTC deficiency; 7% had ASS deficiency; 4% had CPS deficiency.
RAVICTI was non-inferior to sodium phenylbutyrate with respect to the 24-hour AUC for ammonia. Forty-four patients were evaluated in this analysis. Mean 24-hour AUCs for ammonia during steady-state dosing were 866 micromol•h/L and 977 micromol•h/L with RAVICTI and sodium phenylbutyrate, respectively. The ratio of geometric means was 0.91 [95% CI 0.8, 1.04].
The mean ammonia levels over 24-hours after 2 weeks of dosing (on day 14 and 28) in the double-blind short-term study (Study 1) are displayed in Figure 2 below. The mean and median maximum ammonia levels (Cmax) over 24 hours and 24-hour AUC for ammonia are summarized in Table 3. Ammonia values across different laboratories were normalized to a common normal range of 9 to 35 micromol/L using the following formula after standardization of the units to micromol/L:
Normalized ammonia (micromol/L) = ammonia readout in micromol/L x (35/ULN of a laboratory reference range specified for each assay)
Figure 2: Ammonia Levels in Adult Patients with UCDs in Short-Term Treatment Study 1
Table 3: Ammonia Levels in Adult Patients with UCDs in Short-Term Treatment Study 1
| Timepoint |
Ammonia (n=44) |
| Mean (SD) |
Median (min, max) |
| Daily Cmax (micromol/L) |
| RAVICTI |
61 (46) |
51 (12, 245) |
| Sodium phenylbutyrate |
71 (67) |
46 (14, 303) |
| 24-Hour AUC (micromol•h/L) |
| RAVICTI |
866 (661) |
673 (206, 3351) |
| Sodium phenylbutyrate |
977 (865) |
653 (302, 4666) |
Open-Label, Uncontrolled, Extension Study In Adults
A long-term (12-month), uncontrolled, open-label study (Study 2) was conducted to assess monthly ammonia control and hyperammonemic crisis over a 12-month period. A total of 51 adults were in the study and all but 6 had been converted from sodium phenylbutyrate to RAVICTI. Venous ammonia levels were monitored monthly. Mean fasting ammonia values in adults in Study 2 were within normal limits during long-term treatment with RAVICTI (range: 6 to 30 micromol/L). Of 51 adult patients participating in the 12-month, open-label treatment with RAVICTI, 7 patients (14%) reported a total of 10 hyperammonemic crises. The fasting ammonia measured during Study 2 is displayed in Figure 3. Ammonia values across different laboratories were normalized to a common normal range of 9 to 35 micromol/L.
Figure 3: Ammonia Levels in Adult Patients with UCDs in Long-Term Treatment Study 2
Open-Label, Long-Term Study In Adults
An open-label long-term, study (Study 5) was conducted to assess ammonia control in adult patients with UCDs. The study enrolled patients with UCDs who had completed the safety extensions of Study 1, Study 3 or Study 4 (Study 2, 3E and 4E, respectively). A total of 43 adult patients between the ages of 19 and 61 years were in the study. The median length of study participation was 1.9 years (range 0 to 4.5 years). Venous ammonia levels were monitored at a minimum of every 6 months. Mean fasting ammonia values in adult patients in Study 5 were within normal limits during long-term (24 months) treatment with RAVICTI (range: 24.2 to 31.4 micromol/L). Of the 43 adult patients participating in the open-label treatment with RAVICTI, 9 patients (21%) reported a total of 21 hyperammonemic crises. Ammonia values across different laboratories were normalized to a common normal range of 10 to 35 micromol/L.
Clinical Studies In Pediatric Patients 2 Years To 17 Years Of Age With UCDs
The efficacy of RAVICTI in pediatric patients 2 years to 17 years of age with UCDs was evaluated in 2 fixed-sequence, open-label, sodium phenylbutyrate to RAVICTI switchover studies (Studies 3 and 4). Study 3 was 7 days in duration and Study 4 was 10 days in duration.
These studies compared ammonia levels of patients on RAVICTI to ammonia levels of patients on sodium phenylbutyrate in 26 pediatric patients between 2 months and 17 years of age with UCDs. Four patients less than 2 years of age were excluded from this analysis due to insufficient data. The dose of RAVICTI was calculated to deliver the same amount of PBA as the dose of sodium phenylbutyrate that patients were taking when they entered the trial. Sodium phenylbutyrate or RAVICTI were administered in divided doses with meals. Patients adhered to a low-protein diet throughout the study. After a dosing period with each treatment, all patients underwent 24 hours of venous ammonia measurements, as well as blood and urine pharmacokinetic assessments.
UCD subtypes included OTC (n=12), ASL (n=8), and ASS deficiency (n=2), and patients received a mean RAVICTI dose of 8 mL/m2/day (8.8 g/m2/day), with doses ranging from 1.4 to 13.1 mL/m2/day (1.5 to 14.4 g/m2/day). Doses in these patients were based on previous dosing of sodium phenylbutyrate.
The 24-hour AUCs for ammonia (AUC0-24h) in 11 pediatric patients 6 years to 17 years of age with UCDs (Study 3) and 11 pediatric patients 2 years to 5 years of age with UCDs (Study 4) were similar between treatments. In pediatric patients 6 years to 17 years of age, the ammonia AUC0-24h was 604 micromol•h/L vs 815 micromol•h/L on RAVICTI vs sodium phenylbutyrate, respectively. In patients between 2 years and 5 years of age with UCDs, the ammonia AUC0-24h was 632 micromol•h/L vs 720 micromol•h/L on RAVICTI versus sodium phenylbutyrate, respectively.
The mean ammonia levels over 24 hours in open-label, short-term Studies 3 and 4 at common time points are displayed in Figure 4. Ammonia values across different laboratories were normalized to a common normal range of 9 to 35 micromol/L using the following formula after standardization of the units to micromol/L:
- Normalized ammonia (micromol/L) = ammonia readout in micromol/L x (35/ULN of a laboratory reference range specified for each assay)
Figure 4: Ammonia Levels in Pediatric Patients 2 Years to 17 Years of Age with UCDs in Short-Term Treatment Studies 3 and 4
Open-Label, Uncontrolled, Extension Studies In Pediatric Patients 2 Years To 17 Years Of Age
Long-term (12-month), uncontrolled, open-label studies were conducted to assess monthly ammonia control and hyperammonemic crises over a 12-month period. In two studies (Study 2, which also enrolled adults, and an extension of Study 3, referred to here as Study 3E), a total of 26 pediatric patients ages 6 years to 17 years were enrolled and all but 1 had been converted from sodium phenylbutyrate to RAVICTI. Mean fasting venous ammonia levels were within normal limits (range 17 to 23 micromol/L) during long-term treatment with RAVICTI. Of the 26 pediatric patients 6 years to 17 years of age participating in these two trials, 5 patients (19%) reported a total of 5 hyperammonemic crises. The fasting ammonia levels measured during these two extension studies in patients 6 years to 17 years are displayed in Figure 5. Ammonia values across different laboratories were normalized to a common normal range of 9 to 35 micromol/L.
Figure 5: Ammonia Levels in Pediatric Patients 2 Years to 17 Years of Age with UCDs in Long-Term Treatment Studies 2 and 3E
In an extension of Study 4 (referred to as Study 4E), after a median time on study of 4.5 months (range: 1 to 5.7 months), 2 of 16 pediatric patients ages 2 years to 5 years had experienced three hyperammonemic crises.
Open-Label, Long-Term Study In Pediatric Patients 1 Year To 17 Years Of Age
An open-label, long-term study (Study 5) was conducted to assess ammonia levels in pediatric patients with UCD. The study enrolled patients with UCDs who had completed Studies 2, 3E and 4E. A total of 45 pediatric patients ages 1 year to 17 years were included in the study. The median length of treatment was 1.7 years (range 0.2 to 4.6 years). Venous ammonia levels were monitored at a minimum every 6 months. Mean ammonia values in pediatric patients in Study 5 were within normal limits during long-term (24 months) treatment with RAVICTI (range: 15.4 to 25.1 micromol/L). Of the 45 pediatric patients participating in the open-label treatment with RAVICTI, 11 patients (24%) reported a total of 22 hyperammonemic crises. Ammonia values across different laboratories were normalized to a common normal range of 10 to 35 micromol/L.
Clinical Studies In Pediatric Patients Less Than 2 Years Of Age With UCDs
The efficacy of RAVICTI in pediatric patients less than 2 years of age with UCDs was evaluated in uncontrolled, open label studies (Studies 4/4E, 5 [see Clinical Studies In Pediatric Patients 2 Years To 17 Years Of Age With UCDs] and 6). A total of 17 pediatric patients with UCDs aged 2 months to less than 2 years participated in Studies 4/4E, 5 and 6. Study 6 enrolled 16 pediatric patients less than 2 months of age.
Uncontrolled, Open-Label Studies In Pediatric Patients Aged 2 Months To Less Than 2 Years Of Age (Studies 4/4E, 5)
A total of 7 patients with UCDs aged 2 months to less than 2 years participated in Studies 4/4E and 5. In these studies, there were 7, 6, 6, 6 and 3 pediatric patients who completed 1, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months, respectively (mean and median exposure of 15 and 17 months, respectively). Patients were converted from sodium phenylbutyrate to RAVICTI. The dosage of RAVICTI was calculated to deliver the same amount of PBA as the sodium phenylbutyrate dosage the patients were taking when they entered the study.
Patients received a mean RAVICTI dose of 7.5 mL/m2/day (8.2 g/m2/day), with doses ranging from 3.3 to 12.3 mL/m2/day (3.7 to 13.5 g/m2/day). Patients were dosed three times per day (n=3) or four times per day (n = 4).
Venous ammonia levels were monitored on days 1, 3, and 10 in Study 4 and at week 1 in Study 4E. Two patients had elevated ammonia values on day 1 of treatment (122 micromol/L and 111 micromol/L respectively) and neither had associated signs and symptoms of hyperammonemia. At day 10/week 1, six of the 7 patients had normal ammonia levels (less than 100 micromol/L) while the remaining patient had an elevated ammonia value on day 10 (168 micromol/L) and was asymptomatic.
During the extension period, venous ammonia levels were monitored monthly. Ammonia values across different laboratories were normalized (transformed) to a common normal pediatric range of 28 to 57 micromol/L for comparability. The mean ammonia levels in pediatric patients at month 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 were 58, 49, 34, 65, and 31 micromol/L during treatment with RAVICTI, respectively.
Three patients reported a total of 3 hyperammonemic crises defined as having signs and symptoms consistent with hyperammonemia (such as frequent vomiting, nausea, headache, lethargy, irritability, combativeness, and/or somnolence) associated with high ammonia levels (greater than 100 micromol/L) and requiring medical intervention. Hyperammonemic crises were precipitated by gastroenteritis, vomiting, infection or no precipitating event (one patient). There were 4 patients who had one ammonia level that exceeded 100 micromol/L which was not associated with a hyperammonemic crisis.
Uncontrolled, Open-Label Study In Pediatric Patients Less Than 2 Years Of Age (Study 6)
Study 6 was an uncontrolled, open label study in pediatric patients less than 2 years of age. The primary efficacy endpoint was successful transition to RAVICTI within a period of 4 days followed by 3 days of observation for a total of 7 days, where successful transition was defined as no signs and symptoms of hyperammonemia and a venous ammonia level less than 100 micromol/L. Ammonia levels were monitored for up to 4 days during transition and on day 7.
Pediatric Patients 2 Months to Less than 2 Years of Age
A total of 10 pediatric patients with UCDs aged 2 months to less than 2 years participated in Study 6, of which 6 patients converted from sodium phenylbutyrate to RAVICTI and 1 patient converted from sodium phenyl butyrate and sodium benzoate. The dosage of RAVICTI was calculated to deliver the same amount of PBA as the sodium phenylbutyrate dosage the patients were taking when they entered the trial. Two patients were treatment-naïve and received RAVICTI dosage of 7.5 mL/m2/day and 9.4 mL/m2/day, respectively. One additional patient was gradually discontinued from intravenous sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate while RAVICTI was initiated. The dosage of RAVICTI after transition was 8.5 mL/m2/day.
There were 9, 7, 7, 4, 1 and 4 pediatric patients who completed 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively (mean and median exposure of 9 and 9 months, respectively).
Patients received a mean RAVICTI dose of 8 mL/m2/day (8.8 g/m2/day), with doses ranging from 4.8 to 11.5 mL/m2/day (5.3 to 12.6 g/m2/day). Patients were dosed three times a day (n=6), four times a day (n = 2), or five or more times a day (n=2).
Nine patients successfully transitioned as defined by the primary endpoint. One additional patient developed hyperammonemia on day 3 of dosing and experienced surgical complications (bowel perforation and peritonitis) following jejunal tube placement on day 4. This patient developed hyperammonemic crisis on day 6, and subsequently died of sepsis from peritonitis unrelated to drug. Although two patients had day 7 ammonia values of 150 micromol/L and 111 micromol/L respectively, neither had associated signs and symptoms of hyperammonemia.
During the extension phase, venous ammonia levels were monitored monthly. Ammonia values across different laboratories were normalized (transformed) to a common normal pediatric range of 28 to 57 micromol/L for comparability. The mean normalized ammonia levels in pediatric patients at months 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 were 67, 53, 78, 93, 78, 67, 38, 38, 36, 48 and 53 micromol/L during treatment with RAVICTI, respectively. Three patients reported a total of 7 hyperammonemic crises as defined in Study 4/4E and 5. Hyperammonemic crises were precipitated by vomiting, upper respiratory tract infection, gastroenteritis, decreased caloric intake or had no identified precipitating event (3 events). There was one additional patient who had one ammonia level that exceeded 100 micromol/L which was not associated with a hyperammonemic crisis.
Pediatric Patients Less than 2 Months of Age
A total of 16 pediatric patients less than 2 months of age participated in Study 6. Median age at enrollment was 0.5 months (range: 0.1 to 2 months). Eight patients had OTC deficiency, 7 patients had ASS deficiency, and 1 patient had ASL deficiency. Ten of the 16 patients transitioned from sodium phenylbutyrate to RAVICTI within 3 days of treatment and their initial dosage of RAVICTI was calculated to deliver the same amount of phenylbutyrate as the sodium phenylbutyrate dosage administered prior to RAVICTI dosing. Three of the 16 patients were treatment-naïve and started RAVICTI at dosages of 9, 9.4, and 9.6 mL/m2/day. The remaining 3 of the 16 patients transitioned from intravenous sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate to RAVICTI within 3 days of treatment and their initial dosages of RAVICTI were 10.4, 10.9, and 10.9 mL/m2/day.
Of the 16 patients, 16, 14, 12, 6, and 3 patients were treated for 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively.
After the initial 7-day transition period, patients received a mean RAVICTI dosage of 8 mL/m2/day (8.8 g/m2/day), with doses ranging from 3.1 to 12.7 mL/m2/day (3.4 to 14 g/m2/day). The frequency of dosing varied throughout the study. The majority of patients were dosed three times per day with feeding. No patients discontinued during the 7-day transition phase. Ammonia values across different laboratories were normalized (transformed) to a common normal pediatric range of 28 to 57 micromol/L for comparability.
During the safety extension phase (months 1-24), venous ammonia levels were monitored monthly for the first 6 months of treatment and every 3 months thereafter until the patients terminated or completed the study. During the safety extension phase, 1 patient discontinued from the study due to an adverse event (increased hepatic enzymes), 2 patients were withdrawn from the study by their parent/guardian, and 4 patients discontinued from the study early to undergo a liver transplant (protocol-defined discontinuation criterion). The normalized ammonia levels in pediatric patients with available values (which varied by month of treatment) in Study 6 in patients less than 2 months of age are shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Ammonia* Levels in Pediatric Patients Less than 2 Months of Age with UCDs in Study 6
| Month |
N (patients with available ammonia level) |
Normalized Ammonia (micromol/L)** |
Mean
(SD) |
Median
(Min, Max) |
| 1 |
15 |
71 (52) |
60 (18, 227) |
| 2 |
11 |
58 (40) |
50 (16, 168) |
| 3 |
14 |
53 (34) |
46 (11, 122) |
| 4 |
11 |
94 (106) |
64 (35, 407) |
| 5 |
10 |
52 (18) |
57 (27, 86) |
| 6 |
9 |
49 (24) |
42 (22, 91) |
| 9 |
8 |
56 (34) |
45 (22, 122) |
| 12 |
6 |
35 (17) |
36 (11, 60) |
| 15 |
4 |
52 (12) |
52 (39, 67) |
| 18 |
3 |
64 (14) |
63 (50, 78) |
| 24 |
9 |
63 (29) |
72 (23, 106) |
*normalized ammonia (micromol/L) = ammonia readout in micromol/L x (35/ULN of a laboratory reference range specified for each assay)
**normal range: 28 to 57 micromol/L. |
Five patients (all less than 1 month of age) experienced a total of 7 hyperammonemic crises defined as in Study 4/4E and 5. Hyperammonemic crises were precipitated by upper respiratory tract infection (2 events), change in diet (1 event), or had no identified precipitating event (4 events).