Exposure-Response and Population Pharmacokinetic Analyses of a Novel Subcutaneous Formulation of Daratumumab Administered to Multiple Myeloma Patients

Modeling the subcutaneous pharmacokinetics of antibodies co-administered with rHuPH20

Predicting the subcutaneous (SC) pharmacokinetics (PK) of antibodies in humans is challenging, with clinical data currently being the only reliable data source for modeling SC absorption and bioavailability. Recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) is an enzyme that facilitates SC delivery of high-dose, high-volume therapeutics. Numerous monoclonal antibodies have been co-administered SC with rHuPH20 in a clinical setting, establishing an extensive PK database. The goal of this work is to demonstrate how aggregated clinical data can be leveraged in a universal modeling framework for characterizing SC antibody PK, resulting in parameterization that can be used in predictive simulations of new antibodies. Data for 10 individual antibodies co-administered SC with rHuPH20 were obtained from publicly available sources. PK modeling of each antibody was conducted using the same model structure, but uniquely parameterized. The model structure consisted of a two-compartment model to capture linear kinetics, plus a target-binding mechanism to accommodate nonlinear kinetics driven by antibody-target complex formation and elimination. The clinical PK profiles for all antibodies were accurately described using the universal modeling framework. The SC PK parameters of absorption and bioavailability were consistent across the range of antibody and target properties evaluated. SC administration with rHuPH20 yielded a 30% increase in absorption rate on average and similar or better bioavailability. These parameter values can serve as initial conditions for model-based PK predictions for new antibodies co-administered SC with rHuPH20 to enable evaluation of optimal SC dose and schedule regimens prior to and during clinical development.

Role of daratumumab in the frontline management of multiple myeloma: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of multiple myeloma (MM) has gradually increased over the last few decades in India due to growing population, better disease awareness, and improved diagnostic procedures. Despite such advances, MM remains an incurable and relapsing disease due to its heterogeneity and genomic instability. With the inclusion of monoclonal antibodies, especially daratumumab in the frontline regimen, the management landscape of MM has improved significantly resulting in better disease control and patient outcomes.

AREAS COVERED

This review aims to provide an in-depth summary of efficacy and safety of frontline daratumumab therapy in treatment of MM including patients with high-risk cytogenetic profile.

EXPERT OPINION

Based on the review of literature, daratumumab in frontline therapy has demonstrated improved efficacy in terms of reduction in disease progression or death, and superior minimal residual disease (MRD)-negativity rates with an acceptable safety profile in patients with newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) including patients with high-risk cytogenetic profile. Daratumumab alone or in combination with other drugs has shown similar clinical outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory MM. Hence, daratumumab can be used upfront in patients with MM.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Daratumumab

Daratumumab is a fully human, monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 and a first-in-class CD38-targeting drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory and newly diagnosed multiple myeloma or newly diagnosed light-chain amyloidosis. CD38 is heavily expressed on malignant myeloma cells, and daratumumab exerts anti-myeloma activity via immune-mediated mechanisms, direct induction of apoptosis, and immunomodulation. Daratumumab is used as monotherapy or in combination with standard-of-care myeloma therapies, including proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, DNA-alkylating agents, and corticosteroids. Following an intravenous infusion, daratumumab exhibits nonlinear pharmacokinetics (PK), as clearance decreases with higher doses and over time because of target-mediated effects. Dosing schedules vary depending on indications and co-administered drugs, but generally daratumumab is administered weekly for 6-9 weeks followed by a less frequent dosing regimen, once every 2-4 weeks. Daratumumab exposure is strongly correlated with efficacy, and the exposure-efficacy relationship follows a maximal effect model, whereas exposure is not correlated with safety endpoints. The approved dose of 16 mg/kg of daratumumab results in the saturation of 99% of the target at the end of weekly dosing in most patients, and high target saturation is maintained over time during the less frequent dosing schedule. Infusion-related reactions are frequently observed in patients given daratumumab, particularly with the first infusion, thus prompting long durations of infusion (~ 7 h) and splitting of the first dose across 2 days. This led to the development of a subcutaneous delivery formulation for daratumumab (Dara-SC). Dara-SC provides a similar efficacy and safety profile to intravenous daratumumab (Dara-IV) but has a much lower rate of infusion-related reactions and a shorter infusion time. Exposure-response relationships for efficacy and safety endpoints were similar between Dara-SC and Dara-IV, and co-administered drugs with either Dara-IV or Dara-SC do not significantly affect daratumumab PK. Except for baseline myeloma type and albumin level, none of the other investigated disease and patient characteristics (renal/hepatic function, age, sex, race, weight, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status) was identified to have clinically relevant effects on exposure to daratumumab monotherapy or combination therapy regimens. Dara-IV exposure was significantly lower in patients with immunoglobulin G myeloma compared with patients with non-immunoglobulin G myeloma (p < 0.0001) and in patients with a lower albumin level, whereas the overall response rate was similar regardless of the myeloma type and albumin level. Daratumumab dose adjustment is not currently recommended based on disease and patient characteristics.

Pharmacodynamic-Mediated Drug Disposition (PDMDD) Model of Daratumumab Monotherapy in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

We aimed to quantify the daratumumab concentration- and CD38 dynamics-dependent pharmacokinetics using a pharmacodynamic mediated disposition model (PDMDD) in patients with multiple myeloma (MMY) following daratumumab IV or SC monotherapy. Daratumumab, a human IgG monoclonal antibody targeting CD38 with a direct on-tumor and immunomodulatory mechanism of action, has been approved to treat patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODS

In total, 7788 daratumumab plasma samples from 850 patients with diagnosis of MMY were used. The serum concentration-time data of daratumumab were analysed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling with NONMEM^®. The PDMDD with quasi steady-state approximation (QSS) was compared to the previously developed Michaelis-Menten (MM) approximation with respect to the parameter estimates, the goodness-of-fit plots and prediction-corrected visual predictive check, as well as model-based simulations. The effect of patients' covariates on daratumumab pharmacokinetics was also investigated.

RESULTS

The QSS approximation characterized the concentration- and CD38 dynamics-dependency of daratumumab pharmacokinetics within the doses ranging from 0.1 to 24 mg/kg after IV administration and 1200 and 1800 mg after SC administration in patients with MMY, mechanistically describing the binding of daratumumab and CD38, the internalization of the daratumumab-CD38 complex and the CD38 turnover. Compared to the previously developed MM approximation, the MM approximation with the non-constant total target and dose-correction provided substantial improvement of the model fit, but it was still not as good as the QSS approximation. The effect of the previously identified covariates as well as the newly identified covariate (baseline M protein) on daratumumab pharmacokinetics was confirmed, but the magnitude of the effect was deemed not clinically relevant.

CONCLUSIONS

Accounting for the CD38 turnover and its binding capacity to daratumumab, the QSS approximation provided a mechanistic interpretation of daratumumab PK parameters and consequently well described the concentration- and CD38 dynamics-dependency of daratumumab pharmacokinetics. CLINICAL STUDIES INCLUDED IN THE ANALYSIS WERE REGISTERED WITH THE NCT NUMBER BELOW AT HTTP://WWW.

CLINICALTRIALS

GOV : MMY1002 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02116569), MMY1003 (NCT02852837), MMY1004 (NCT02519452), MMY1008 (NCT03242889), GEN501 (NCT00574288), MMY2002 (NCT01985126), MMY3012 (NCT03277105).

Pharmacokinetic characterization, benefits and barriers of subcutaneous administration of monoclonal antibodies in oncology

OBJECTIVE

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in oncology are slowly becoming the dominant treatment option for many different cancer types. The main route of administration, infusion, requires extensive product preparations, patient hospitalization and close monitoring. Patient comfort improvement, staff workload reduction and cost savings dictated the development of subcutaneous formulations. The aim of this review is to present pharmacokinetic characteristics of subcutaneous products, discuss the differences between intravenous and subcutaneous routes and to point out the advantages as well as challenges of administration route shift from the formulation development and pharmacometric angle.

DATA SOURCES

Food and Drug administration's Purple book database and electronic medicines compendium were used to identify monoclonal antibodies in oncology approved as subcutaneous forms. Using keywords subcutaneous, monoclonal antibodies, pharmacokinetics, model, as well as specific drugs previously identified, both PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were researched.

DATA SUMMARY

There are currently six approved subcutaneous onco-monoclonal antibodies on the market. For each of them, exposure to the drug was similar in relation to infusion, treatment effectiveness was the same, administration was well tolerated by the patients and costs of the medical service were reduced.

CONCLUSION

Development of subcutaneous forms for existing and emerging new monoclonal antibodies for cancer treatment as well as shifting from administration via infusion should be encouraged due to patient preference, lower costs and overall lack of substantial differences in efficacy and safety between the two routes.

Bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone with or without daratumumab in transplant-ineligible Asian patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: the phase 3 OCTANS study

INTRODUCTION

In the global phase 3 ALCYONE trial, daratumumab plus bortezomib/melphalan/prednisone (D-VMP) improved outcomes versus VMP in transplant-ineligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. Here, we report the primary analysis of the phase 3 OCTANS trial of D-VMP versus VMP in transplant-ineligible Asian NDMM patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 220 patients were randomized (2:1) to receive 9 cycles of VMP (bortezomib 1.3 mg/m² subcutaneously twice weekly in Cycle 1 and weekly in Cycles 2 to 9; melphalan 9 mg/m² orally; and prednisone 60 mg/m² orally on Days 1 to 4 of each cycle) ± daratumumab 16 mg/kg intravenously weekly in Cycle 1, every 3 weeks in Cycles 2 to 9, and every 4 weeks thereafter until disease progression.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 12.3 months, very good partial response or better rates (primary endpoint) were 74.0% versus 43.2% with D-VMP versus VMP (odds ratio, 3.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.99-6.43; P < .0001). Median progression-free survival (PFS) with D-VMP versus VMP was not reached versus 18.2 months (hazard ratio, .43; 95% CI, .24-.77; P = .0033); 12-month PFS rates were 84.2% versus 64.6%. The most frequent grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events with D-VMP/VMP were thrombocytopenia (46.5%/45.1%), neutropenia (39.6%/50.7%), and leukopenia (31.3%/36.6%).

CONCLUSION

D-VMP demonstrated a favorable benefit/risk profile in transplant-ineligible Asian NDMM patients. This trial was registered at www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov as #NCT03217812.

Monoclonal antibody and protein therapeutic formulations for subcutaneous delivery: high-concentration, low-volume vs. low-concentration, high-volume

Biologic drugs are used to treat a variety of cancers and chronic diseases. While most of these treatments are administered intravenously by trained healthcare professionals, a noticeable trend has emerged favoring subcutaneous (SC) administration. SC administration of biologics poses several challenges. Biologic drugs often require higher doses for optimal efficacy, surpassing the low volume capacity of traditional SC delivery methods like autoinjectors. Consequently, high concentrations of active ingredients are needed, creating time-consuming formulation obstacles. Alternatives to traditional SC delivery systems are therefore needed to support higher-volume biologic formulations and to reduce development time and other risks associated with high-concentration biologic formulations. Here, we outline key considerations for SC biologic drug formulations and delivery and explore a paradigm shift: the flexibility afforded by low-to-moderate-concentration drugs in high-volume formulations as an alternative to the traditionally difficult approach of high-concentration, low-volume SC formulation delivery.

Population pharmacokinetics and exposure-response analyses of daratumumab plus pomalidomide/dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma

AIM

A population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model was developed to characterize pharmacokinetics (PK) of subcutaneous or intravenous daratumumab administration in a new indication (i.e., combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone [D-Pd] in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma [RRMM]). Analyses were conducted to explore exposure-response (E-R) relationships for efficacy and select treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).

METHODS

The PPK analysis included pooled data from the D-Pd cohorts of the phase 3 APOLLO and phase 1b EQUULEUS studies. Covariates were evaluated in the PPK model. Model-predicted exposures to daratumumab were compared between covariate subgroups of interest and used to investigate relationships between daratumumab exposure and efficacy and safety in APOLLO.

RESULTS

The PPK analysis included 1146 daratumumab PK samples from 239 patients (APOLLO, n = 140; EQUULEUS, n = 99). Observed concentration-time data of daratumumab were well described by a two-compartment PPK model with first-order absorption and parallel linear and nonlinear elimination pathways. Treatment with D-Pd provided similar daratumumab PK characteristics versus historical daratumumab monotherapy. The E-R dataset contained data from 290 APOLLO patients (D-Pd, n = 140; Pd, n = 150). The PK-efficacy relationship of daratumumab supported improved progression-free survival for patients in the D-Pd group vs. the Pd group. Additionally, TEAEs did not increase with increasing PK exposure in the D-Pd group.

CONCLUSIONS

The PPK and E-R analyses support the daratumumab subcutaneous 1800 mg dosing regimen in combination with Pd for treatment of patients with RRMM. No dose adjustment is recommended in this indication for any of the investigated factors, none of which had clinically relevant effects on daratumumab PK.

Toxicity management strategies for next-generation novel therapeutics in multiple myeloma

The therapeutic options available for patients with multiple myeloma have greatly expanded over the past decade and incorporating these novel agents into routine clinical practice has significantly improved outcomes. The next generation of therapeutics is available for relapsed and refractory patients either as standard of care or in clinical trial, and these drugs represent a generational paradigm shift. Patients now have access to a multitude of novel immunotherapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies, an antibody-drug conjugate, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T), and bispecific T-cell redirecting antibodies, and novel oral therapies including selinexor (selective inhibitor of nuclear export) and venetoclax (bcl-2 inhibitor). While these drugs have the potential to be highly efficacious in certain subsets of patients when used as single agents or in combination regimens, they are each associated with unique toxicity profiles. It is imperative to understand these potential adverse events to ensure patient safety. Appropriate supportive care management is paramount to maximize drug exposure and therapeutic efficacy. The following review focuses its discussion on drugs and combination regimens that are currently FDA-approved and those that continue to be investigated in clinical trials, highlights the clinically relevant toxicity profiles for each of the different agents, and provides practical considerations for the treatment team.

Population Pharmacokinetics and Exposure-Response Modeling of Daratumumab Subcutaneous Administration in Patients With Light-Chain Amyloidosis

The purpose of this study is to characterize the population pharmacokinetics (popPK) of subcutaneous (SC) daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone and explore the relationship between daratumumab systemic exposure and selected efficacy and safety end points in patients with newly diagnosed systemic amyloid light-chain amyloidosis. The popPK analysis included pharmacokinetic and immunogenicity data from patients receiving daratumumab SC in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone in the ANDROMEDA study (AMY3001; safety run-in, n = 28; randomized phase, n = 183). Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was used to characterize the popPK and quantify the impact of potential covariates. The exposure-response (E-R) analysis included data from all patients in the randomized phase of ANDROMEDA (n = 388). Logistic regression and survival analysis were used to evaluate the relationships between daratumumab systemic exposure and efficacy end points. The E-R analysis on safety was conducted using quartile comparison and logistic regression analysis. The observed concentration-time data of daratumumab SC were well described by a 1-compartment popPK model with first-order absorption and parallel linear and nonlinear Michaelis-Menten elimination pathways. None of the investigated covariates were determined to be clinically meaningful. Daratumumab systemic exposure was generally similar across subgroups that achieved different levels of hematologic response, and there was no apparent relationship between daratumumab systemic exposure and the investigated safety end points. In conclusion, the popPK and E-R analyses supported the selected 1800-mg flat dose of daratumumab SC in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone regimen for the treatment of light-chain amyloidosis. No dose adjustment was recommended for investigated covariates.