CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Mechanism Of Action
Conivaptan hydrochloride is a
dual arginine vasopressin (AVP) antagonist with nanomolar affinity for human V1A
and V2 receptors in vitro. The level of AVP in circulating blood is critical
for the regulation of water and electrolyte balance and is usually elevated in
both euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia. The AVP effect is mediated
through V2 receptors, which are functionally coupled to aquaporin channels in
the apical membrane of the collecting ducts of the kidney. These receptors help
to maintain plasma osmolality within the normal range. The predominant
pharmacodynamic effect of conivaptan hydrochloride in the treatment of
hyponatremia is through its V2 antagonism of AVP in the renal collecting ducts,
an effect that results in aquaresis, or excretion of free water.
Pharmacodynamics
The pharmacodynamic effects of
conivaptan hydrochloride include increased free water excretion (i.e.,
effective water clearance [EWC]) generally accompanied by increased net fluid
loss, increased urine output, and decreased urine osmolality. Studies in animal
models of hyponatremia showed that conivaptan hydrochloride prevented the
occurrence of hyponatremia-related physical signs in rats with the syndrome of
inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion.
Electrophysiology
The effect of VAPRISOL 40 mg IV
and 80 mg IV on the QT interval was evaluated after the first dose (Day 1) and at
the last day during treatment (Day 4) in a randomized, single-blind, parallel
group, placebo-and positive-controlled (moxifloxacin 400 mg IV) study in
healthy male and female volunteers aged 18 to 45 years. Digital ECGs were
obtained at baseline and on Days 1 and 4. Moxifloxacin elicited
placebo-corrected changes from baseline in individualized QT correction (QTcI)
of +7 to +10 msec on Days 1 and 4, respectively, indicating that the study had
assay sensitivity. The placebo-corrected changes from baseline in QTcI in the
VAPRISOL 40 mg and 80 mg dose groups on Day 1 were -3.5 msec and -2.9 msec,
respectively, and -2.1 msec for both dose groups on Day 4. The results suggest
that conivaptan has no clinically significant effect on cardiac repolarization.
Pharmacokinetics
The pharmacokinetics of
conivaptan have been characterized in healthy subjects, specific populations
and patients following both oral and intravenous dosing regimens. The
pharmacokinetics of conivaptan following intravenous infusion (40 mg/day to 80
mg/day) and oral administration are non-linear, and inhibition by
conivaptan of its own metabolism seems to be the major factor for the
non-linearity. The intersubject variability of conivaptan pharmacokinetics is
high (94% CV in CL). The pharmacokinetics of conivaptan and its metabolites
were characterized in healthy male subjects administered conivaptan
hydrochloride as a 20 mg loading dose (infused over 30 minutes) followed by a
continuous infusion of 40 mg/day for 3 days. Mean Cmax for conivaptan was 619
ng/mL and occurred at the end of the loading dose. Plasma concentrations
reached a minimum at approximately 12 hours after start of the loading dose,
then gradually increased over the duration of the infusion to a mean
concentration of 188 ng/mL at the end of the infusion. The mean terminal
elimination half-life after conivaptan infusion was 5.0 hours, and the mean
clearance was 253.3 mL/min.
In an open-label safety and efficacy study, the
pharmacokinetics of conivaptan were characterized in hypervolemic or euvolemic
hyponatremia patients (ages 20 - 92 years) receiving conivaptan hydrochloride
as a 20 mg loading dose (infused over 30 minutes) followed by a continuous
infusion of 20 or 40 mg/day for 4 days. The median-plasma conivaptan
concentrations are shown in Figure 1. The median (range) elimination half-life
was 5.3 (3.3 - 9.3) or 8.1 (4.1 - 22.5) hours in the 20 mg/day or 40 mg/day
group, respectively, based on data from rich PK sampling.
Figure 1: Median Plasma Concentration-Time Profiles
from Rich PK Sampling Post 20 mg Loading Dose and 20 mg/day (open circle) or 40
mg/day (closed circle) Infusion for 4 Days
Distribution
Conivaptan is extensively bound
to human plasma proteins, being 99% bound over the concentration range of
approximately 10 to 1000 ng/mL.
Metabolism And Excretion
CYP3A was identified as the
sole cytochrome P450 isozyme responsible for the metabolism of conivaptan. Four
metabolites have been identified. The pharmacological activity of the
metabolites at V1A and V2 receptors ranged from approximately 3-50% and 50-100%
that of conivaptan, respectively. The combined exposure of the metabolites
following intravenous administration of conivaptan is approximately 7% that of
conivaptan and hence, their contribution to the clinical effect of conivaptan
is minimal.
After intravenous (10 mg) or
oral (20 mg) administration of conivaptan hydrochloride in a mass balance
study, approximately 83% of the dose was excreted in feces as total
radioactivity and 12% in urine over several days of collection. Over the
first 24 hours after dosing, approximately 1% of the intravenous dose was
excreted in urine as intact conivaptan.
Specific Populations
Hepatic Impairment
In subjects with moderate and severe hepatic impairment,
the area under the plasma concentration-time curve for unbound conivaptan was
2.3-to 2.5-fold the values observed in normal volunteers. The plasma protein
binding of conivaptan decreased approximately 27% and 50%, respectively in
patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment. No clinically relevant
increase in systemic exposure was observed in subjects with mild hepatic impairment
[see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and Use in Specific Populations].
Renal Impairment
Mild and moderate renal impairment (CLcr 30 - 80 mL/min)
do not affect exposure to VAPRISOL to a clinically relevant extent. Use in
patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr < 30 mL/min) is not recommended [see
Use in Specific Populations].
Drug Interactions
CYP3A
Conivaptan is a sensitive substrate of CYP3A. The effect
of ketoconazole, a potent CYP3A inhibitor, on the pharmacokinetics of
intravenous conivaptan has not been evaluated. Coadministration of oral
conivaptan hydrochloride 10 mg with ketoconazole 200 mg resulted in Cmax and
AUC of conivaptan 4-and 11-fold, respectively, levels with conivaptan alone [see
CONTRAINDICATIONS, DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Conivaptan is a potent mechanism-based inhibitor of
CYP3A. The effect of conivaptan on the pharmacokinetics of co-administered
CYP3A substrates has been evaluated with the coadministration of conivaptan
with midazolam, simvastatin, and amlodipine. VAPRISOL 40 mg/day increased the
mean AUC values by approximately 100%-for 1 mg intravenous or by 200% for 2 mg
oral doses of midazolam. VAPRISOL 30 mg/day tripled the AUC of simvastatin.
Oral conivaptan hydrochloride 40 mg twice daily doubled the AUC and half-life
of amlodipine.
Digoxin
Coadministration of a 0.5 mg dose of digoxin, a
P-glycoprotein substrate, with oral conivaptan hydrochloride 40 mg twice daily
resulted in a 30% reduction in clearance and 79% and 43% increases in digoxin Cmax
and AUC values, respectively [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Warfarin
VAPRISOL (40 mg/day for 4 days) administered with a
single 25 mg dose of warfarin, which undergoes major metabolism by CYP2C9 and
minor metabolism by CYP3A, increased the mean S-warfarin AUC and S-warfarin Cmax
by 14% and 17%, respectively. The corresponding prothrombin time and
international normalized ratio values were unchanged.
Captopril and Furosemide
The pharmacokinetics of oral conivaptan (20 -40 mg/day)
were unchanged with coadministration of either captopril 25 mg or furosemide up
to 80 mg/day.
Clinical Studies
Hyponatremia
The effect on serum sodium of VAPRISOL was demonstrated
in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter study conducted
in 84 patients with euvolemic (N=56) or hypervolemic (N=28) hyponatremia (serum
sodium 115 -130 mEq/L) from a variety of underlying causes (malignant or
nonmalignant diseases of the central nervous system, lung, or abdomen;
congestive heart failure; hypertension; myocardial infarction; diabetes;
osteoarthritis; or idiopathic). Study participants were randomized to receive
either placebo IV (N=29), VAPRISOL 40 mg/day IV (N=29), or VAPRISOL 80 mg/day
IV (N=26). Daily fluid intake was restricted to 2 liters. VAPRISOL or placebo
was administered as a continuous infusion following a 30 minute IV loading dose
on the first treatment day and patients were treated for 4 days. Serum or
plasma sodium concentrations were assessed pre-dose (Hour 0) and at 4, 6, 10,
and 24 hours post-dose on all treatment days.
Mean serum sodium concentration was 123.3 mEq/L at study
entry. The mean change in serum sodium concentration from baseline over the
4-day treatment period is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Mean (SE) Change from Baseline in Sodium
Concentrations with VAPRISOL 40 mg/day
Following treatment with 40 mg/day of VAPRISOL, the mean
change from baseline in serum sodium concentration at the end of 2 days of
treatment with VAPRISOL was 5.3 mEq/L (mean concentration 128.6 mEq/L). At the
end of the 4-day treatment period, the mean change from baseline was 6.5 mEq/L
(mean concentration 129.8 mEq/L). In addition, after 2 days and 4 days of
treatment with VAPRISOL, 41% (after 2 days) and 69% (after 4 days) of patients
achieved a ≥ 6 mEq/L increase in serum sodium concentration or a normal
serum sodium of ≥ 135 mEq/L. Although 80 mg/day was also studied, it was
not significantly more effective than 40 mg/day and was associated with a
higher incidence of infusion site reactions and a higher rate of
discontinuations for adverse events [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Additional
efficacy data are summarized in Table 2.
Table 2: Efficacy Outcomes
of Treatment with VAPRISOL 40 mg/day
Efficacy Variable |
Placebo
(N=29) |
VAPRISOL 40 mg/day
( N=29) |
Day 2‡ |
Day 4 |
Day 2‡ |
Day 4 |
Baseline adjusted serum Na+ AUC over duration of treatment (mEqhr/L) |
Mean (SD) |
6.2 (81.8) |
61.4 (242.3) |
205.9 (171.6) |
500.8 (365.5) |
LS Mean ± SE |
3.8 ± 26.9 |
12.9 ± 61.2 |
205.6 ± 26.6* |
490.9 ± 56.8* |
Number of patients (%) and median event time (h) from first dose of study medication to a confirmed ≥ 4 mEq/L increase from Baseline in serum Na+, [95% CI] |
2 (7%) |
9 (31%) |
22 (76%) |
23 (79%) |
Not estimable |
Not estimable |
23.7* |
23.7* |
Not estimable |
Not estimable |
[10, 2] |
[10, 2] |
Serum Na+ (mEq/L) |
Baseline mean (SD) |
124.3 (4.1) |
124.3 (4.1) |
123.3 (4.7) |
123.3 (4.7) |
Mean (SD) at end of treatment |
124.5 (4.7) |
125.8 (4.9) |
128.6 (5.9) |
129.8 (4.8) |
Change from Baseline to end of treatment |
Mean change (SD) |
0.2 (2.5) |
1.5 (4.6) |
5.3 (4.4) |
6.5 (4.4) |
LS Mean change ± SE |
0.1 ± 0.7 |
0.8 ± 0.8 |
5.2 ± 0.7* |
6.3 ± 0.7* |
Number (%) of patients who obtained a confirmed ≥ 6 mEq/L increase from Baseline in serum Na+ or a normal serum Na+ concentration ≥ 135 mEq/L during treatment |
0 (0) |
6 (21%) |
12 (41%)* |
20 (69%)* |
*: P ≤ 0.001 vs placebo
‡: efficacy variables were assessed on Day 2 of a 4-day treatment period |
The aquaretic effect of
VAPRISOL is shown in Figure 3. VAPRISOL produced a baseline-corrected
cumulative increase in effective water clearance of over 3800 mL compared to
approximately 1300 mL with placebo by Day 4.
Figure 3: Baseline-Corrected Mean (SE) Cumulative
Effective Water Clearance (EWC)
EWC= V x (1-UNa + UK/ PNa+PK), where
V is urine volume (mL/d), UNa is urine sodium concentration, UK is urine
potassium concentration, PNa is plasma/serum sodium concentration, and PK is
plasma/serum potassium concentration.
The effect on serum sodium of
VAPRISOL (administered as a 20 or 40 mg/day IV continuous infusion for 4 days
following a 30 minute IV infusion of a 20 mg loading dose on the first
treatment day) was also evaluated in an open-label study of 251 patients with
euvolemic or hypervolemic hyponatremia. The results are shown in Table 3.
Table 3: Efficacy Outcomes
of Treatment with VAPRISOL 20 or 40 mg/day
Primary Efficacy Endpoint |
20 mg/day
N=37 |
40 mg/day
N=214 |
Baseline adjusted serum Na+ AUC over duration of treatment (mEqhr/L) Mean (SD) |
753.8 (429.9) |
689.2 (417.3) |
Secondary Efficacy Endpoints |
Number of patients (%) |
29 (78%) |
178 (83%) |
and median event time (h) from first dose of study medication to a confirmed ≥ 4mEq/L increase from Baseline in serum Na+, [95% CI] |
23.8[12.0, 36.0] |
24.4 [24.0, 35.8] |
Total time (h) from first dose of study medication to end of treatment in which patients had a confirmed ≥ 4 mEq/L increase in serum Na+ from Baseline Mean (SD) |
60.6 (35.2) |
59.5 (33.2) |
Serum Na+ (mEq/L) |
Baseline mean (SD) |
122.5 (5.2) |
123.8 (4.6) |
Mean (SD) at end of treatment |
131.8 (3.9) |
132.5 (4.6) |
Mean Change (SD) from Baseline to End of Treatment |
9.4 (5.3) |
8.8 (5.4) |
Mean (SD) at Follow-up Day 11 |
129.9 (6.2) |
131.8 (5.8) |
Mean Change (SD) from Baseline to Follow-up Day 11 |
7.1 (8.2) |
8.0 (6.5) |
Mean (SD) at Follow-up Day 34 |
134.3 (4.5) |
134.3 (5.2) |
Mean Change (SD) from Baseline to Follow-up Day 34 |
11.5 (7.3) |
10.7 (6.7) |
Number (%) of patients who obtained a confirmed > 6 mEq/L increase from Baseline in serum Na+ or a normal serum Na+ concentration > 135 mEq/L during treatment |
26 (70%) |
154 (72%) |
Heart Failure
The effectiveness of VAPRISOL
for the treatment of congestive heart failure has not been established. In 10
Phase 2/pilot heart failure studies, VAPRISOL did not show statistically
significant improvement for heart failure outcomes, including such measures as
length of hospital stay, changes in categorized physical findings of heart
failure, change in ejection fraction, change in exercise tolerance, change in
functional status, or change in heart failure symptoms, compared to placebo. In
these studies, the changes in the physical findings and heart failure symptoms
were no worse in the VAPRISOL-treated group (N=818) compared to the placebo group
(N=290) [see INDICATIONS AND USAGE].