Efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of a 10% liquid immune globulin preparation (GAMMAGARD LIQUID, 10%) administered subcutaneously in subjects with primary immunodeficiency disease

Initiating immunoglobulin replacement therapy helps reduce severe infections and shifts healthcare resource utilization to outpatient services among US patients with inborn errors of immunity

AIMS

Patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are predisposed to severe recurrent/chronic infections, and often require hospitalization, resulting in substantial burden to patients/healthcare systems. While immunoglobulin replacement therapies (IgRTs) are the standard first-line treatment for most forms of IEI, limited real-world data exist regarding clinical characteristics and treatment costs for patients with IEI initiating such treatment. This retrospective analysis examined infection and treatment characteristics in US patients with IEI initiating IgRT with immune globulin infusion (human), 10% (IG10%). Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and associated costs before and after treatment initiation were compared. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 on infection diagnoses was evaluated.

METHODS

Patients with IEI initiating IG10% between July 2012 and August 2019 were selected from Merative MarketScan Databases using diagnosis/prescription codes. Patients were followed 6 months before and after first IG10% claim date. Demographic and clinical characteristics were described. Treatment characteristics and HCRU before and after IG10% initiation were compared. Infection diagnoses during 2020 and 2019 (March-December) were compared.

RESULTS

The study included 1,497 patients with IEI diagnoses (mean age = 43.4 years) initiating IG10%, with frequently reported comorbidities like asthma (32.1%). Following IG10% initiation, fewer severe infection diagnoses (11.6% vs 19.9%), fewer infection-related inpatient (10.8% vs 19.5%) and outpatient services (71.6% vs 79.9%), and lower infection-related total healthcare costs ($7,849 vs $13,995; p < 0.001)-driven by lower inpatient costs ($2,746 vs $9,900)-were observed than before. Fewer patients had infection diagnoses during COVID-19 (22.8%) than the prior year (31.2%).

CONCLUSION

Patients with IEI are susceptible to severe infections leading to high disease burden and treatment costs. Following IG10% initiation, we observed fewer infections, lower infection-related treatment costs, and shift in care (inpatient to outpatient) leading to significant cost savings. Among patients with IEI, 27% fewer infection diagnoses were observed during the early COVID-19 lockdown period than the prior year.

Exact sample size determination for a single Poisson random sample

Classical power analysis for sample size determination is typically performed in clinical trials. A "hybrid" classical Bayesian or a "fully Bayesian" approach can be alternatively used in order to add flexibility to the design assumptions needed at the planning stage of the study and to explicitly incorporate prior information in the procedure. In this paper, we exploit and compare these approaches to obtain the optimal sample size of a single-arm trial based on Poisson data. We adopt exact methods to establish the rejection of the null hypothesis within a frequentist or a Bayesian perspective and suggest the use of a conservative criterion for sample size determination that accounts for the not strictly monotonic behavior of the power function in the presence of discrete data. A Shiny web app in R has been developed to provide a user-friendly interface to easily compute the optimal sample size according to the proposed criteria and to assure the reproducibility of the results.

Insights into Facilitated Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Use in Patients with Secondary Immunodeficiency Diseases: A FIGARO Subgroup Analysis

The Facilitated Immunoglobulin Administration Registry And Outcomes (FIGARO) Study was a European, multicenter, prospective, observational study conducted across Europe designed to provide insights on the clinical use and tolerability of facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin (fSCIG). Data herein are reported for the cohort of patients with secondary immunodeficiency (SID), with a subgroup analysis by age. The SID cohort included 31 patients: 1 pediatric, 15 adult, and 15 older adult patients. Over the 36-month observation period, the median monthly dose of fSCIG (30 g) and median monthly infusion volume per patient (300 mL) remained constant in both adult-age cohorts. Serum trough levels tended to increase over time. Most patients required only one infusion site and could receive the full dose every 3-4 weeks. There was a trend toward self-administration at home. In the adult group, infusion site inflammation and headache were reported at the inclusion visit (n = 1 each), with no adverse drug reactions reported at any of the follow-up visits. No acute severe bacterial infections were reported during the study follow-up. These results demonstrate the feasibility and tolerability of fSCIG use in patients with SID and the flexibility of administration settings including self-administration at home in patients aged ≥65 years.

A Multi‑Center, Open‑Label, Single‑Arm Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy, Pharmacokinetics, and Safety and Tolerability of IGSC 20% in Subjects with Primary Immunodeficiency

Purpose

The purpose of this phase 3 study was to evaluate the efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), and safety of Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human), 20% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified (IGSC 20%) in patients with primary immunodeficiency (PI).

Methods

Immunoglobulin treatment-experienced subjects with PI received 52 weeks of IGSC 20% given weekly at the same dose as the subject’s previous IgG regimen (DAF 1:1); the minimum dose was 100 mg/kg/week. The primary endpoint was serious bacterial infections (SBIs [null vs alternative hypothesis: SBI rate per person per year ≥ 1 vs < 1]). IgG subclasses and specific pathogen antibody levels were also measured.

Results

Sixty-one subjects (19 children [≤ 12 years], 10 adolescents [> 12–16 years], and 32 adults) were enrolled. The rate of SBIs per person per year was 0.017. The 1-sided 99% upper confidence limit was 0.036 (< 1), and the null hypothesis was rejected. The rate of hospitalization due to infection per person per year was 0.017 (2-sided 95% confidence interval: 0.008–0.033) overall. The mean trough total IgG concentrations were comparable to the previous IgG replacement regimen. The average of the individual mean trough ratios (IGSC 20%:previous regimen) was 1.078 (range: 0.83–1.54). The average steady-state mean trough IgG concentrations were 947.64 and 891.37 mg/dL, respectively. Seven subjects had serious treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs); none was drug-related. The rate of all TEAEs, including local infusion site reactions, during 3045 IGSC 20% infusions was 0.135. Most TEAEs were mild or moderate.

Conclusions

IGSC 20% demonstrated efficacy and good safety and tolerability in subjects with PI.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10875-021-01181-6.

Ten-year population trends of immunoglobulin use, burden of adult antibody deficiency and feasibility of subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) replacement in Hong Kong Chinese

Background

Adult antibody deficiency remains under-recognised and under-studied - especially among Asian populations. Patterns of immunoglobulin use and the feasibility of subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) replacement among Chinese patients remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the trends of immunoglobulin use, burden of adult antibody deficiency and the outcomes of patients on SCIg compared to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) replacement in Hong Kong through a retrospective observational study.

Methods

Population-wide data of immunoglobulin recipients in Hong Kong between 2012 and 2021, and longitudinal clinical data of adult immunodeficiency patients at Queen Mary Hospital were collected and analysed.

Results

Total immunoglobulin consumption and recurrent immunoglobulin recipients increased continuously from 175,512g to 298,514g (ρ=0.99, p<0.001) and 886 to 1,508 (ρ=0.89, p=0.001) between 2012-21 in Hong Kong. Among 469 immunoglobulin recipients at Queen Mary Hospital in 2021, 344 (73.3%) were indicated for replacement. Compared to those on IVIg (n=14), patients on SCIg replacement (n=8) had fewer immunodeficiency-related hospitalisations (IRR=0.11) and shorter duration of hospitalisation stay (IRR=0.10) per year, as well as better quality of life (SF-36v2 Health Survey and Life Quality Index). Estimated annual healthcare cost of SCIg replacement per patient was lower than that of IVIg (HKD196,850 [USD25,096] vs HKD222,136 [USD28,319]).

Conclusion

There was a significantly increasing burden of adult antibody deficiency and immunoglobulin consumption in Hong Kong. SCIg was feasible and more cost-effective when compared to IVIg, with SCIg patients experiencing better clinical outcomes and quality of life. Future prospective studies to confirm the long-term efficacy and superiority of SCIg are required.

Novel cannula design improves large volume auto-injection rates for high viscosity solutions

A prototype reusable large-volume (2 mL) autoinjector (LVAI) was designed to compare injection performance of a novel 27 gauge ultra-thin wall (UTW) pre-filled syringe (PFS) cannula (8 mm external cannula length, 14.4 mm total needle length) against an existing 27 gauge special thin wall (STW) PFS cannula (12.7 mm external cannula length, 19 mm total needle length) across a range of injectate viscosities (2.3–30 cP) in a series of in vivo feasibility studies in swine. The UTW cannula had an approximately 30% greater cross-sectional lumen area than the STW cannula. The target exposed needle length was adjusted to ensure appropriate needle penetration depth and achieve injectate deposition in the subcutaneous (SC) tissue. Delivery time and volume, injection site leakage, injectate depot location, and local tissue effects were examined. The STW and UTW cannulae both provided effective SC delivery of contrast placebo solutions, and were able to accommodate injectate viscosity up to 30 cP without quantifiable leakage from the tissue and with minor tissue effects which resolved within 1–2 hours. Delivery times at each viscosity were significantly different between PFS types with the UTW PFS producing faster delivery times. In a histological substudy of the UTW cannula using injectate viscosities up to 50 cP, injection site reactions were rare and, when present, were of minimal severity. This series of studies demonstrates the feasibility of LVAI SC injection and informs autoinjector and PFS design considerations. Use of a UTW cannula may enable more rapid LVAI injections with minimal tissue effects, especially for higher viscosity formulations.

Infection rates and tolerability of three different immunoglobulin administration modalities in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases

Aim: This post hoc analysis evaluated the efficacy and overall tolerability of immunoglobulin (Ig) treatment modalities (intravenous Ig [iv.Ig], subcutaneous Ig [sc.Ig] and facilitated sc.Ig [fsc.Ig]). Materials & methods: A total of 30 participants with primary immunodeficiency diseases aged ≥2 years sequentially received iv.Ig, sc.Ig and fsc.Ig during consecutive clinical studies. Results: For iv.Ig, sc.Ig and fsc.Ig, rates of validated acute serious bacterial infections/participant-year (0, 0.09 and 0.04, respectively) and all infections/participant year (4.17, 3.68 and 2.42, respectively) were similarly low; rates of systemic and local causally related adverse events/participant-year were 5.60, 1.93 and 0.88, respectively and 0.13, 0.92 and 1.57, respectively. Conclusion: fsc.Ig provided similar efficacy to iv.Ig and sc.Ig. Clinical Trial registration: NCT00546871, NCT00814320, NCT01175213 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of a New 10% Intravenous Immunoglobulin for the Treatment of Primary Immunodeficiencies

We report here the results of a phase 3 study to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of GC5107, a new 10% liquid intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in preventing serious bacterial infections in patients with primary immunodeficiency (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02783482). Over a 12-month study period, 49 patients aged 3 to 70 years with a confirmed diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency received GC5107 at doses ranging from 319 to 881 mg/kg body weight every 21 or 28 days, according to their previous IVIG maintenance therapy. A total of 667 infusions of GC5107 were administered comprising a total of 45.86 patient-years of treatment. A single acute serious bacterial infection occurred during the study, resulting in an incidence of 0.02 events per patient-year (upper 99% one-sided confidence interval limit: 0.21), meeting the prespecified primary efficacy endpoint. The mean incidence of infections other than acute serious bacterial infections was 2.9 infections per patient-year. Efficacy was also demonstrated by the low mean annualized rate of hospitalizations due to infection (0.1 day) and the mean annualized duration of hospitalizations (0.1 day). The mean rate of intravenous and oral antibiotic use was 0.1 day and 13.2 days, respectively. There was a mean of 7.1 days of missed work, school, or daycare days. The proportion of infusions with temporally associated adverse events (TAAEs) occurring during or within 72 hours after GC5107 infusion was 0.24 (upper 95% one-sided confidence interval limit: 0.31), meeting the pre-specified primary safety endpoint. Overall, 149 of 667 infusions (22%) were associated with TAAEs. The most common TAAE was headache, reported by 49% of patients. More than 98% (731/743) of all adverse events that occurred throughout the 12-month study period were mild or moderate. More than 98% of infusions were completed without discontinuation, interruption or rate reduction. There were no treatment-emergent serious adverse events related to GC5107 or study discontinuations due to an adverse event. Overall, pharmacokinetic parameters for GC5107 were within the range of those reported in studies of other marketed IVIG products. Results of the present study demonstrate that GC5107 is an effective, safe and well-tolerated treatment for patients with primary immunodeficiency.

Steady-State Serum IgG Trough Levels Are Adequate for Pharmacokinetic Assessment in Patients with Immunodeficiencies Receiving Subcutaneous Immune Globulin

Patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases often require lifelong immunoglobulin (IG) therapy. Most clinical trials investigating IG therapies characterize serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles by serially assessing serum IgG levels. This retrospective analysis evaluated whether steady-state serum IgG trough level measurement alone is adequate for PK assessment. Based on individual patient serum IgG trough levels from two pivotal trials (phase 2/3 European [NCT01412385] and North American [NCT01218438]) of weekly 20% subcutaneous IG (SCIG; Cuvitru, Ig20Gly), trough level-predicted IgG AUC (AUC_τ,tp) were calculated and compared with the reported AUC calculated from serum IgG concentration-time profiles (AUC_τ). In both studies, mean AUC_τ,tp values for Ig20Gly were essentially equivalent to AUC_τ with point estimates of geometric mean ratio (GMR) of AUC_τ,tp/AUC_τ near 1.0 and 90% CIs within 0.80-1.25. In contrast, for IVIG, 10%, mean AUC_τ,tp values were lower than AUC_τ by >20%, (GMR [90% CI]: 0.74 [0.70-0.78] and 0.77 [0.73-0.81] for the two studies, respectively). Mean AUC_τ,tp values calculated for 4 other SCIG products (based on mean IgG trough levels reported in the literature/labels) were also essentially equivalent to the reported AUC_τ (differences <10% for all except HyQvia, a facilitated SCIG product), while differences for IVIG products were >20%. In conclusion, steady-state serum IgG levels following weekly SCIG remain stable, allowing for reliable prediction of AUC over the dosing interval using trough IgG levels. These findings indicate that measuring steady-state serum IgG trough levels alone may be adequate for PK assessment of weekly SCIG.

Treatment of children with primary immunodeficiencies with a subcutaneous immunoglobulin 16.5% (cutaquig® [octanorm])

Background: Subcutaneous human immunoglobulin (16.5%; octanorm/cutaquig^®) was efficacious and well tolerated in patients with primary immunodeficiencies in a Phase III study. A subanalysis of pediatric data is presented here. Materials & methods: Children (2-16 years) previously treated with intravenous human immunoglobulin received weekly subcutaneous human immunoglobulin infusions over 64 weeks. The main objective was to assess the efficacy of cutaquig in preventing serious bacterial infections. Results: 38 children received 2213 infusions of cutaquig. No serious bacterial infections developed during the study. The rate of other infections was 3.1 per person-year and the rate of adverse drug reactions was 0.083 per infusion. Higher immunoglobulin G trough levels were achieved with cutaquig compared with previous intravenous therapy. Conclusion: Once-weekly infusions of cutaquig were efficacious and well tolerated in children with primary immunodeficiencies.

A systematic review of population pharmacokinetic analyses of polyclonal immunoglobulin G therapy

BACKGROUND

Population pharmacokinetics (popPK) using the nonlinear mixed-effect (NLME) modeling approach is an essential tool for guiding dose individualization. Several popPK analyses using the NLME have been conducted to characterize the pharmacokinetics of immunoglobulin G (IgG).

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the current information on popPK of polyclonal IgG therapy.

METHOD

A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception to December 2020. Additional relevant studies were also included by reviewing the reference list of the reviewed articles. All popPK studies that employed the NLME modeling approach were included and data were synthesized descriptively.

RESULTS

This review included seven studies. Most of the popPK models were developed in patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID). IgG pharmacokinetics was described as a two-compartment model in five studies, while it was described as a one-compartment model in two other studies. Among all tested covariates, weight was consistently identified as a significant predictor for clearance (CL) of IgG. Whereas, weight and disease type were found to be significant predictors for the volume of distribution in central compartment (Vc). In a typical 70 kg adult, the median estimated values of Vc and CL were 4.04 L and 0.144 L/day, respectively. The between subject variability of Vc was considered large. Only two studies evaluated their models using external data.

CONCLUSIONS

Seven popPK studies of IgG were found and discussed, with only weight being a significant covariate across all studies. Future studies linking pharmacokinetics with pharmacodynamics in PID and other patient populations are required.

Real-World Experiences With Facilitated Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Substitution in Patients With Hypogammaglobulinemia, Using a Three-Step Ramp-Up Schedule

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy with facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin (fSCIg) can be self-administrated at home and given at longer intervals compared to subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) therapy, but real-word experience of home-based fSCIg therapy is limited. Herein we present our real-word clinical experiences with home-based fSCIg therapy using a three-step ramp-up schedule. We registered data from all patients with immunodeficiency starting fSCIg from 01.01.2017 to 31.12.2019. For comparison we also included patients starting conventional SCIg training. Fifty-four patients followed for a median of 18 months (IQR 12, range 0-40), received fSCIg training, and 84 patients received conventional SCIg training. Out of 54 patients starting with fSCIg, 41 patients had previous experience with conventional SCIg therapy, and the main reason for starting fSCIg was 'longer intervals between therapies' (n=48). We found an increase in training requirement for fSCIg (3 ± 1 [2-9] days) compared to conventional SCIg (2 ± 0 [1-7] days), P< 0.001 (median ± IQR, [range]). For fSCIg training, IgG levels were stable from baseline (8.9 ± 2.3 g/L), 3-6 months (10.2 ± 2.2 g/L) and 9-12 months (9.9 ± 2.3 g/L), P= 0.11 (mean ± SD). The most common side-effect was: 'rubor around injection site' (n=48, 89%). No patients experienced severe adverse events (grade 3-4). Thirteen patients (24%) discontinued fSCIg therapy due to local adverse events (n=9), cognitive/psychological difficulties (n=6) and/or systemic adverse events (n=3). In conclusion, fSCIg training using a three-step ramp-up schedule is safe and well tolerated by the majority of patients, but requires longer training time compared to conventional SCIg.

Safety and tolerability of IgPro10 in Japanese primary immunodeficiency patients: a registrational study

Studies investigating the safety of IgPro10 (Privigen^®, CSL Behring, King of Prussia, PA, USA) in Japanese patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) are lacking. This study evaluated safety and tolerability of IgPro10 in Japanese patients with PID. In this prospective, open-label, single-arm, registrational study for Japan, IgPro10 was administered intravenously at pre-study doses of 138-556 mg/kg body weight per 3-/4-weekly dosing cycle for up to 4 months. Frequency and intensity of adverse events (AEs), their relationship to IgPro10 and AE rate per infusion (AERI) were evaluated. Of 11 enrolled patients, 10 completed the study. The median (range) total duration of exposure was 16.14 (4.1-16.3) weeks. Eight patients reported 19 AEs, none severe (based on maximum severity), giving an AERI of 0.442. One AE was deemed related to IgPro10 treatment. Three patients experienced temporally associated AEs. No serious AEs or deaths were reported. Nine patients (90%) who completed the study tolerated flow rates of ≥ 8 mg/kg/min; 5 tolerated 12 mg/kg/min (7.2 mL/kg/h), translating into a threefold decrease in mean infusion time. IgPro10 was well tolerated at a flow rate of up to 12 mg/kg/min. Safety and tolerability findings were consistent with previously reported studies in non-Japanese patients with PID.

Patient experience with subcutaneous immunoglobulin 20%, Ig20Gly, for primary immunodeficiency diseases: a prespecified post hoc analysis of combined data from 2 pivotal trials

BACKGROUND

Often, patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID), which are marked by the absence or loss of functional antibodies, require lifelong treatment with immunoglobulin (IG) replacement therapy administered either intravenously (intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIG]) or subcutaneously (subcutaneous immunoglobulin [SCIG]). In patients with PID, the 20% SCIG product, Ig20Gly, was shown to be efficacious and well tolerated in 2 phase 2/3 trials conducted in North America and Europe. This analysis evaluated patient satisfaction with Ig20Gly therapy and treatment preferences.

METHODS

This prespecified post hoc analysis showed combined data from 2 Ig20Gly pivotal trials. Treatment satisfaction was assessed in the pre-Ig20Gly period and after ≥11 months of Ig20Gly treatment using the Life Quality Index (LQI; both studies) and the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication-9 (TSQM-9; North American study only). Treatment preference was assessed using a survey at the end of the European study. Median within-patient differences in LQI and TSQM-9 scores between the pre-Ig20Gly period and the end of the Ig20Gly treatment period were assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

A total of 113 patients (n = 68 [North American]; n = 45 [Europe]) with PID were included in the analysis. In the combined LQI analysis (n = 110), significant improvements were observed in the treatment interference (median ∆: + 2.8; P = 0.006) and therapy setting (median ∆: + 5.6; P < 0.0001) domains, and in the item-level scores for convenience (median ∆: + 1.0; P < 0.0001) and interference with work/school (median ∆: + 1.0; P = 0.0001) categories. In the subgroup analyses, significant improvements in the treatment interference and therapy setting domains and the convenience and interference with work/school items were observed for those who had previously received treatment outside the home, those who had previously received IVIG, and those in the North American study. Significant improvements were observed in the TSQM-9 treatment convenience domain (median ∆: + 11.1; P < 0.0001) and selected item-level scores in the North American study. In the European study, most (88.9%) patients preferred to continue Ig20Gly versus other IG treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

After ≥11 months of taking Ig20Gly, patients reported high levels of treatment satisfaction, convenience, and preference for Ig20Gly, with consistent results across studies and use of multiple patient-reported outcome measures.

Primary immunodeficiency disease: a cost-utility analysis comparing intravenous vs subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in Australia

BACKGROUND

Hospital-based intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment has been the standard treatment mode for patients with primary immunodeficiency disease (PID). With the newer home-based subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) becoming approved for use in most countries, the question arises as to whether SCIg is a cost-effective treatment mode compared to IVIg in Australia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We developed a Markov cohort simulation model with six health states: PID without infection, PID with infection treated at home or hospital, bronchiectasis without infection, bronchiectasis with infection treated at home or hospital, bronchiectasis with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, and death, from an Australian healthcare system perspective. A 10-year time horizon with weekly cycles was chosen, and the expected costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of the two treatment options estimated.

RESULTS

The cumulative 10-year cost per patient was 297,547 Australian dollars (A$) with IVIg and A$ 251,713 for SCIg. IVIg resulted in 5.55 QALYs and SCIg 5.57 QALYs. Thus, SCIg appears to be a cost-saving option and possibly improves QALY from the Australian healthcare system perspective (i.e., the dominant treatment option). A probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that the SCIg option is preferred in 93.2% of simulations given willingness to pay of A$ 50,000 per QALY gained.

DISCUSSION

The results suggest that home-based SCIg is a cost-effective treatment option for patients with PID in Queensland, Australia.

Clinical Practice Experience with HyQvia in Adults Using Alternative Dosing Regimens and Pediatric Patients: A Retrospective Study

Introduction

HyQvia (Immune Globulin Infusion 10% [Human] with Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase) was developed to combine the advantages of intravenous and subcutaneous immune globulin (SCIG), allowing administration of larger volumes at a single subcutaneous site with less frequent dosing when compared to other SCIG products. Current US prescribing guidelines for HyQvia are limited to adults and do not encompass the flexibility required to achieve success in all patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID).

Methods

This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the clinical experience of treating patients with PID with HyQvia regimens outside of package insert recommendations as well as in pediatric patients. Data were abstracted from 38 patient records (317 HyQvia infusions), including five patients less than 16 years of age, from seven US immunology clinics.

Results

Among 37 patients receiving HyQvia regimens differing from prescribing guidelines, the most notable variations included shorter ramp-up periods, use of two rather than one infusion site, and slower than maximal infusion rates to mitigate local adverse events (AEs). The medication volume infused for single site doses ranged from 75 to 200 mL and doses split between two sites ranged from 100 to 750 mL. The most common type of regimen variation was a condensed ramp-up phase (shorter schedule, higher doses), and 96% (24/25) of patients managed in this way completed ramp-up. The most common ramp-up schedule was three infusions (one at 25–45%, another at 50–75%, and the final at 100% of target dose) spread over 2–4 weeks.

Conclusions

A shorter ramp-up schedule did not appear to increase the number of AEs compared to standard ramp-up schedules. For patients with AEs, slower infusion rates and the use of two sites may improve medication tolerability. Four of five pediatric patients reported no AEs, and only one discontinued, stating a fear of needles. HyQvia may be tailored to adults requiring alternative rates, ramp-up, and/or dosing regimens and may be especially well-suited to children.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-020-01264-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Immune globulin subcutaneous, human - klhw 20% for primary humoral immunodeficiency: an open-label, Phase III study

Aim: This prospective, Phase III study assessed the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and tolerability of immune globulin subcutaneous, human - klhw 20% solution (IGSC-C 20%) in participants with primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI), compared with immune globulin injection (human), 10% caprylate/chromatography purified (IGIV-C 10%). Patients & methods: About 53 participants enrolled. Total 44 received IGIV-C 10% in the run-in phase and then entered the IV phase (with an additional nine who were already receiving IGIV-C 10% and entered the IV phase directly) for steady-state IV PK assessments. Total 49 entered the SC phase (weekly doses of IGSC-C 20% for ∼24 weeks). The PK profiles of IGIV-C 10% and IGSC-C 20% and their safety and tolerability parameters were compared. Results: At a dose adjustment factor of 1.37, IGSC-C 20% provided comparable (noninferior and bioequivalent) overall total immunoglobulin G exposure to IGIV-C 10% over an equal time interval. About 33 participants reported 79 adverse events during run-in + IV phases; 41 participants reported 141 adverse events during the SC phase, with most being local infusion site reactions. The majority of infusion site reactions were mild to moderate in severity. Conclusion: IGSC-C 20% was bioequivalent to IGIV-C 10% and was well tolerated, with a safety profile comparable with IGIV-C 10%, in this study. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02604810.

Clinical Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of a New Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin 16.5% (Octanorm [Cutaquig®]) in the Treatment of Patients With Primary Immunodeficiencies

Introduction: Subcutaneously administered immunoglobulin (SCIG) is increasingly used to treat patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs). Octanorm (marketed as cutaquig® in USA and Canada) is a new 16.5% solution of human SCIG, manufactured by a process based on that of the intravenous preparation (IVIG) octagam®. Objectives: To investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of octanorm in a prospective, open-label, single-arm phase 3 study involving adult and pediatric patients with PIDs (NCT01888484; clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01888484). Methods: Patients who were previously treated with IVIG received a total of 64 weekly SCIG infusions, including 12 weekly infusions during the wash-in/wash-out period, followed by 52 weekly infusions during the evaluation period. Results: A total of 61 patients aged 2-73 years received 3,497 infusions of octanorm. The mean dose per patient was 0.175 g/kg/infusion. The mean calculated dose conversion factor from the patients' previous IVIG dose for octanorm was 1.37. No serious bacterial infections developed during the study. The rate of other infections per person-year during the primary observation period was 3.43 (upper 95% CI 4.57). All but one non-bacterial infection were mild or moderate in intensity. IgG trough levels were constant during the course of the study. Eleven patients (18.0%) experienced 14 mild or moderate systemic adverse events (AEs) related to octanorm. The rate of related AEs per infusion was 0.004. In 76.7% of infusions, no infusion site reactions were observed and only two (0.3%) reactions were deemed severe. The incidence of site reactions decreased with successive infusions. Conclusion: The new 16.5% SCIG octanorm was shown to be efficacious in preventing infections in PIDs, and was well tolerated.

Tolerability of subcutaneous immunoglobulin 20%, Ig20Gly, in pediatric patients with primary immunodeficiencies

AIM

To assess Ig20Gly tolerability in pediatric patients with primary immunodeficiencies.

PATIENTS & METHODS

Infusion parameters and tolerability were analyzed in pediatric patients (aged 2-5 years [n = 6], 6-11 years [n = 22] and 12-17 years [n = 22]) receiving Ig20Gly in two Phase II/III trials.

RESULTS

Of 2624 Ig20Gly infusions, >99% did not require any rate reduction, interruption or discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs). Median maximum infusion rates and volumes/site were higher in patients 12-17 years of age (30 ml/h/site; 30 ml/site) versus 6-11 years (20 ml/h/site; 15 ml/site) and 2-5 years (18 ml/h/site; 14 ml/site). Rates of causally related systemic and local AEs (0.009 and 0.063 AEs/infusion) were low.

CONCLUSION

Ig20Gly infused at relatively high rates and volumes was well tolerated in children.

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Hizentra® in Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency in Japan, Europe, and the United States: a Review of 7 Phase 3 Trials

Many patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) require immunoglobulin G (IgG) replacement therapy, delivered as intravenous IgG (IVIG) or subcutaneous IgG (SCIG). We aim to identify trends in efficacy and safety that would not be evident in individual studies of small patient numbers. Seven open-label, Phase 3, prospective, multicenter studies of the efficacy and safety of Hizentra® (a SCIG), conducted in Japan, Europe, and the US were summarized. Overall, 125 unique patients received 15,013 weekly infusions during a total observation period of 250.9 patient-years. Mean weekly doses of Hizentra® were 83.22–221.3 mg/kg body weight; infusion rates per patient (total body rate) were 25.2–49.3 mL/h across studies. The rates of infections and serious bacterial infections were 3.10 and 0.03 events per patient/year, respectively. Annualized rates of days hospitalized due to infection, out of work/school, and prophylactic antibiotic use were 0.95, 5.14, and 36.78 per patient, respectively. For the equivalent monthly dose, weekly Hizentra® SCIG administration resulted in expectedly-increased serum IgG trough levels in patients switching from IVIG, and maintained levels in patients switching from previous SCIG. Adverse events (AEs) totaled 5039 (events/infusion 0.094–0.773), almost all of which were mild/moderate. Three thousand one hundred ninety-seven were considered treatment-related, the most common of which were injection site reactions (2919 events; 0.001–0.592 AEs per infusion). Systemic AEs were very uncommon. The results from these seven studies indicate that Hizentra® therapy was both efficacious and well tolerated during long-term treatment. This is particularly important in patients with PID, who may require lifelong IgG replacement therapy.

Pharmacokinetics of a novel human intravenous immunoglobulin 10% in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases: Analysis of a phase III, multicentre, prospective, open-label study

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is commonly used to treat patients with primary antibody deficiency. This prospective, open-label, non-randomised, multicentre, phase III trial investigated the pharmacokinetics of a new 10% liquid IVIG product (panzyga®; Octapharma) in 51 patients aged 2-75 years with common variable immunodeficiency (n = 43) or X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (n = 8). Patients were treated with IVIG 10% every 3 (n = 21) or 4 weeks (n = 30) at a dose of 200-800 mg/kg for 12 months. Total immunoglobulin G (IgG) and subclass concentrations approximately doubled from pre- to 15 min post-infusion. The maximum concentration of total IgG (mean ± SD) was 21.82 ± 5.83 g/L in patients treated 3-weekly and 17.42 ± 3.34 g/L in patients treated 4-weekly. Median trough IgG concentrations were nearly constant over the course of the study, remaining between 11.0 and 12.2 g/L for patients on the 3-week schedule and between 8.10 and 8.65 g/L for patients on the 4-week schedule. The median terminal half-life of total IgG was 36.1 (range 18.5-65.9) days, with generally similar values for the IgG subclasses (26.7-38.0 days). Median half-lives for specific antibodies ranged between 21.3 and 51.2 days for anti-cytomegalovirus, anti-Haemophilus influenzae, anti-measles, anti-tetanus toxoid, anti-varicella zoster virus antibodies, and anti-Streptococcus pneumoniae subtype antibodies. Overall, IVIG 10% demonstrated pharmacokinetic properties similar to those of other commercial IVIG 10% preparations and 3- or 4-weekly administration achieved sufficient concentrations of IgG, IgG subclasses, and specific antibodies, exceeding the recommended level needed to effectively prevent serious bacterial infections.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in Iranian patients with primary immunodeficiencies

Background: Economic evaluation of subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy (SCIG) is important, and it has recently been used for treatment of patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) diseases, and can improve allocation of resources in health care systems. The present research aimed at providing an economic assessment of SCIG and IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin therapy) administration in Iran. Methods: Data related to clinical effectiveness were obtained from a meta-analysis. Economic analysis was performed taking into account the perspective of health care providers. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was applied for economic evaluation of the 2 methods, and GDP per capita was considered as a threshold. Results: The results of meta-analysis suggested a higher effectiveness of SCIG compared to IVIG in serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels (SMD= 0.336) and adverse effects (OR= 0.497), while the cost of IVIG was higher than SCIG ($1370 vs. $121). The ICER obtained in this paper ($2939 for adverse effects and $4348 for serum Ig level) was less than the GDP per capita in Iran ($4,916.10), and thus SCIG is a more cost-effective therapy for PID patients. Conclusion: Switching from IVIG to SCIG is cost-effective for PID patients and is approved by the health care providers' points of view in this study.

Recombinant human hyaluronidase-facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin infusion in primary immunodeficiency diseases

Most primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDDs) resulting in antibody deficiency require intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin G (SCIG) replacement therapy. The flow and distribution of SCIG to the vasculature is impeded by the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix, which limits the infusion rate and volume per site, necessitating frequent infusions and multiple infusion sites. Hyaluronidase depolymerizes hyaluronan and is a spreading factor for injectable biologics. Recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) increases SCIG absorption and dispersion. In patients with PIDD, SCIG facilitated with rHuPH20 (IGHy) has been shown to prevent infections, be well-tolerated and reduce infusion frequency and number of infusion sites as compared with conventional SCIG. This article reviews IGHy clinical studies and real-world practice data in patients with PIDD.

Impact of Site of Care on Infection Rates Among Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Receiving Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy

Purpose

Patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDD) are at increased risk of infection and may require lifelong immunoglobulin G (IgG) replacement. Infection incidence rates were determined for patients with PIDD receiving intravenously administered IgG (IGIV) in a home or hospital outpatient infusion center (HOIC).

Methods

Data were extracted from a large, US-based, employer-sponsored administrative database. Patients were eligible for analysis if they had ≥1 inpatient or emergency room claim or ≥2 outpatient claims with a PIDD diagnosis between January 2002 and March 2013, 12 months of continuous health plan enrollment prior to index date (i.e., first IGIV infusion date), and 6 months of continuous IGIV at the same site of care after the index date. Incidences of pneumonia (bacterial or viral) and bronchitis (all types) within 7 days of IGIV infusion were retrospectively determined and compared between sites of care.

Results

A total of 1076 patients were included in the analysis; 51 and 49% received IGIV at home and at an HOIC, respectively. The event/patient-year of pneumonia was significantly lower in patients receiving IGIV at home compared to an outpatient hospital (0.102 vs. 0.216, p = 0.0071). Similarly, the event/patient-year of bronchitis was significantly lower among patients infusing at home compared to an HOIC (0.150 vs. 0.288, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

PIDD patients experienced incidence rates for pneumonia and bronchitis that were lower for patients receiving home-based IGIV treatment versus HOIC-based IGIV treatment. The lower infection rates in the home setting suggest that infection risk may be an important factor in site of care selection.

Practical Considerations for Self-Administration of Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin G Utilizing Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase, an Advanced Method of Subcutaneous Administration: A Nurse's Perspective

An approved subcutaneous infusion of immunoglobulin G using recombinant human hyaluronidase (IGHy) allows adult patients with primary immunodeficiency disease to self-administer every 3 to 4 weeks using 1 to 2 subcutaneous infusion site(s). This article reviews the practical considerations for nurses to simplify patient education and training. Key considerations include pump choice and parameters, ancillary supplies, and technique. Patient education includes infusion log upkeep and management of potential reactions. Educational initiatives should be designed to meet specific patient needs. Successful IGHy self-administration depends on proper patient training and continuing interaction between the health care team and the patient to optimize the patient experience.

Efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a novel human immune globulin subcutaneous, 20%: a Phase 2/3 study in Europe in patients with primary immunodeficiencies

A highly concentrated (20%) immunoglobulin (Ig)G preparation for subcutaneous administration (IGSC 20%), would offer a new option for antibody replacement therapy in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDD). The efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of IGSC 20% were evaluated in a prospective trial in Europe in 49 patients with PIDD aged 2–67 years. Over a median of 358 days, patients received 2349 IGSC 20% infusions at monthly doses equivalent to those administered for previous intravenous or subcutaneous IgG treatment. The rate of validated acute bacterial infections (VASBIs) was significantly lower than 1 per year (0·022/patient‐year, P < 0·0001); the rate of all infections was 4·38/patient‐year. Median trough IgG concentrations were ≥ 8 g/l. There was no serious adverse event (AE) deemed related to IGSC 20% treatment; related non‐serious AEs occurred at a rate of 0·101 event/infusion. The incidence of local related AEs was 0·069 event/infusion (0·036 event/infusion, when excluding a 13‐year‐old patient who reported 79 of 162 total related local AEs). The incidence of related systemic AEs was 0·032 event/infusion. Most related AEs were mild, none were severe. For 64·6% of patients and in 94·8% of IGSC 20% infusions, no local related AE occurred. The median infusion duration was 0·95 (range = 0·3‐4·1) h using mainly one to two administration sites [median = 2 sites (range = 1–5)]. Almost all infusions (99·8%) were administered without interruption/stopping or rate reduction. These results demonstrate that IGSC 20% provides an effective and well‐tolerated therapy for patients previously on intravenous or subcutaneous treatment, without the need for dose adjustment.

Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of a Novel Human Immune Globulin Subcutaneous, 20 % in Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases in North America

Patients with primary immunodeficiency disease (PIDD) typically require life-long intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) immunoglobulin (Ig) replacement therapy to prevent recurrent infections. The efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of a highly concentrated (20 %) Ig preparation for SC administration (IGSC 20 %) were evaluated in a prospective trial in patients with PIDD. A total of 74 patients (aged 3-83 years) received 4327 IGSC 20 % infusions over a median of 380.5 days. The rate of validated serious bacterial infections was 0.012 event/patient-year (p < 0.0001 compared with the historical control), and the annualized rate of infection was 2.41 events/patient. Median IgG trough levels were >14.5 g/l. The median maximum infusion rate was 60 ml/h/site (range 4.4-180), resulting in a median infusion duration of 0.95 h. A volume ≥30 ml was infused per site in 74.8 % of IGSC 20 % infusions. Most (84.9 %) infusions were administered using ≤2 infusion sites; for 99.8 % of infusions, there was no need to interrupt/stop administration or reduce the infusion rate. No related serious adverse event (AE) occurred during IGSC 20 % treatment; related non-serious AEs occurred at a rate of 0.036 event/infusion. The incidence of related local AEs was 0.015 event/infusion and of related systemic AEs was 0.021 event/infusion; most were mild in severity, none severe. Increased infusion rates or volumes were not associated with higher AE rates. The investigated IGSC 20 % treatment was shown to be effective and safe, enabling higher infusion rates and volumes per site compared to conventional SC treatments, resulting in fewer infusion sites and shorter infusion durations.

Recombinant human hyaluronidase facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin treatment in pediatric patients with primary immunodeficiencies: long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability

AIM

To assess the long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability of recombinant human hyaluronidase-facilitated subcutaneous infusion of immunoglobulin (Ig) (fSCIG; HYQVIA(®); IGHy) in children aged <18 years.

PATIENTS & METHODS

Patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases were included in the studies. IGHy was administered every 3 or 4 weeks.

RESULTS

Validated acute serious bacterial infections were reported at 0.08/patient-year (four pneumonia episodes in three patients). No serious adverse drug reaction (ADR) was reported, and rates of local and systemic ADRs were low (0.09/infusion and 0.1/infusion). Infection rates were low (3.02/patient-year) with sustained Ig trough levels (median: 1009 mg/dl). Of 674 IGHy infusions, 97.2% required no change of administration due to ADR, in most (82.5%) with one infusion site. No patient developed neutralizing anti-rHuPH20 antibodies. Postpivotal study, 100% of patients aged <14 years or their caregivers and 85.7% of patients aged 14 to <18 years expressed preference for IGHy compared with Ig administered intravenously or Ig administered subcutaneously.

CONCLUSION

These studies, with the longest (maximum: 3.3 years) duration of any reported Ig replacement trials in children with primary immunodeficiency diseases, showed low infection, local and systemic reaction rates along with well-tolerated infusions given in a single site.

Long-Term Tolerability, Safety, and Efficacy of Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase-Facilitated Subcutaneous Infusion of Human Immunoglobulin for Primary Immunodeficiency

Purpose

Treatment of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDD) with subcutaneous (SC) infusions of IgG preceded by injection of recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) (IGHy) to increase SC tissue permeability was evaluated in two consecutive, prospective, non-controlled, multi-center studies.

Methods

Subjects >4 years of age received SC IgG replacement at a weekly dose equivalent of 108 % of their previous intravenous (IV) dose, facilitated by prior injection of 75 U/g IgG of rHuPH20. Starting with weekly SC infusions, the interval was increased (ramped-up) to a 3- or 4-week schedule.

Results

Eighty-three subjects (24 < 18 years; 59 ≥ 18 years) received 2729 infusions (excluding ramp-up) at a mean dose of 0.155 g/kg/week in the pivotal and 0.156 g/kg/week in the extension study. IGHy exposure exceeded 30 months in 48 subjects.

During 187.7 subject-years of IGHy exposure, 2005 adverse events (AEs) (10.68 per subject-year) occurred. The rate of related systemic AEs during consecutive 1-year periods remained low; the rate of related local AEs decreased from 3.68/subject-year in months 1–12 to approximately 1.50/subject-year after 30 months of treatment. Fifteen subjects transiently developed anti-rHuPH20 binding antibody. There was no difference in AE rates in these subjects before and after the first titer increase to ≥1:160.

The rate of infections during IGHy exposure was 2.99 per subject-year and did not increase during the studies. Annual infection rates were 3.02 in subjects <18 years and 2.98 in subjects ≥18 years.

Conclusions

Long-term replacement therapy with IGHy was safe and effective in 83 pediatric and adult subjects with PIDD.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10875-016-0298-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Health Resource Utilization in Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency Disease Prior to and Following 12 Months of Immunoglobulin G Treatment

PURPOSE

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has not been examined in patients with predominant antibody deficiency both pre- and post-immunoglobulin G (IgG) treatment initiation. HRQOL and health resource utilization (HRU) were assessed in newly diagnosed patients with primary immunodeficiency disease (PIDD) pre- and 12 months post-IgG treatment initiation.

METHODS

Adults (age ≥18 years) completed the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, version 2; pediatric patients (PP)/caregivers completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Scores were compared with normative data from the US general population (GP) and patients with other chronic conditions (OCC).

RESULTS

Seventeen adult patients (APs), 8 PPs, and 8 caregivers completed baseline assessments. APs had significantly lower baseline mean physical component summary scores versus GP (37.4 vs 50.5, p < 0.01) adults with chronic back pain (44.1, p < 0.05) or cancer (44.4, p < 0.05) and lower mental component summary scores versus GP (41.6 vs 49.2, p < 0.05). PPs had lower PedsQL total (63.1 vs 82.7), physical summary (64.5 vs 84.5), and psychosocial summary (62.5 vs 81.7) scores versus GP. Post-IgG treatment, 14 APs, 6 PPs, and 8 caregivers completed assessments. Hospital admissions (0.2 versus 1.8, p < 0.01), serious infections (3.3 versus 10.9, p < 0.01) and antibiotic prescriptions (3.0 versus 7.1; p < 0.01) decreased significantly overall. While APs reported significant improvement in role-physical (p = 0.01), general health (p < 0.01), and social functioning (p = 0.02) and caregivers in vitality (p < 0.01), PPs did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-IgG treatment, patients with PIDD experienced diminished HRQOL versus GP and patients with OCC; post-treatment, HRU decreased and certain HRQOL aspects improved for APs and caregivers.

A Comparative Study of Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin in Adult Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) is a new therapeutic procedure for patients with primary immunodeficiency (PI). This research is a systematic review of studies on the efficacy and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and SCIG in adult patients with PI. This study includes a systematic review of cohorts and randomized clinical trials (24 articles) from 5 databases with no time limits. Random effects meta-analysis was performed for outcomes such as efficacy and safety. Standard mean difference (SMD) of serum immunoglobulin level was equal to 0.336 (P <0.01; 0.205-0.467) and the odds ratio (OR) of side effects was 0.497 (P=0.1; 0.180-1.371). The results indicate that SCIG leads to a higher level of immunoglobulin and a reduction in side effects but shows the same infection rate as IVIG. Our analysis shows that shifting from IVIG to SCIG therapy can have clinical benefits for PI patients.

The history and evolution of immunoglobulin products and their clinical indications

The history of providing antibodies to treat diseases began in the 19th century with the discovery of tetanus and diphtheria toxins and the demonstration that immunity to tetanus and diphtheria infections could be transferred by immune sera. Characterization of the mediators of this immunity resulted in the discovery that antibodies are proteins that can be isolated and used to protect against infectious diseases. Development of a method to isolate antibodies from human plasma that could be safely injected into people initiated the development of human gamma globulin preparations to provide antibodies to patients with inherited antibody deficiencies. To overcome the limitations imposed by intramuscular injection of gamma globulin, intravenous gamma globulin preparations were developed that began to be used in a wide variety of clinical conditions. Thus the original clinical indication for infection prevention was expanded to several other indications that employ large doses to suppress inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The most recent development in immunoglobulin therapy is the production of concentrated immune globulins for subcutaneous injection. Home infusions of subcutaneous immunoglobulin are increasingly used to treat immunodeficient patients and are being studied for other clinical applications.

Experience with Subgam, a Subcutaneously Administered Human Normal Immunoglobulin (ClinicalTrials.gov--NCT02247141)

Background and Objectives

A multi-centre, non-comparative study examining the efficacy and safety of Subgam, a normal immunoglobulin (IgG) given weekly as a rapid subcutaneous infusion to patients with primary immune deficiency (PID), is reported. Also included is a summary of adverse drug reactions associated with the use of marketed Subgam in the UK.

Materials and Methods

50 patients with stable PID on IgG therapy were enrolled: Stage 1 included three infusions with prior IgG product followed by 6 months with Subgam, Stage 2 involved long-term Subgam therapy up to 4 years.

Results

Stage 1, 85% of the subjects aged >12 years and 93% of the subjects aged <12 years achieved IgG levels ≥6 and ≥4 g/L, respectively at all observations. There were 3.62 infections/patient/year during Subgam treatment. The most common product-related events were infusion site reactions (50% of patients). Recent post-hoc pharmacokinetics analysis of the post-infusion serum total IgG concentration indicated that the mean dose-normalised incremental IgG AUCτ following intravenous dosing (120.5 g.day/L) was 1.64-fold that of the dose-normalised mean incremental IgG AUCτ following subcutaneous dosing (73.6 g.day/L), corresponding to an estimated IgG bioavailability for subcutaneous dosing of 61%. Only 34 post-licensing adverse reactions have been received in 30 patients over a period of 10 years; fourteen were classed as serious as defined by the ICH guidelines on good clinical practice. The most common post-licensing adverse reaction was infusion site reaction (7 reports). There were 7 reports of flu-like symptoms (pyrexia/shivering/rigors/feeling hot or cold), 2 other reports of combined flu-like symptoms and infusion site reactions, 5 reports of generalised skin reactions, and 3 reports of combined infusion site and skin reactions. There were also reports of anaphylaxis (2 reports) and 8 other adverse events (including headache). In conclusion, Subgam is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of PID.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02247141

Overview of recombinant human hyaluronidase-facilitated subcutaneous infusion of IgG in primary immunodeficiencies

Subcutaneous administration of immunoglobulin (IGSC) in a home setting, compared with intravenous administration, can improve patient quality of life. During IGSC, however, the subcutaneous extracellular matrix inhibits flow and fluid entry into the vascular compartment, which limits the amount of drug delivered. Recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) increases the absorption and dispersion of infused fluids and drugs. Results from a Phase III, prospective, open-label, noncontrolled study of patients with primary immunodeficiencies indicated that IGSC infusion, facilitated by rHuPH20, is well tolerated and delivers infusion volumes at treatment intervals and rates equivalent to intravenous administration. This drug evaluation provides an overview of rHuPH20 and results of clinical studies of IGSC infusion facilitated by rHuPH20 in patients with primary immunodeficiencies.

20% subcutaneous immunoglobulin for patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) are a group of rare disorders that patients do not have normal function of the immune system. Subcutaneous immunoglobulin 20% (SCIG-20%) was a candidate when considering replacement therapy with immunoglobulin in PID, but the evidence was not clear. To understand and interpret the available evidence, we conducted a systematic review to assess the efficacy and safety of SCIG-20% for patients with PID.

METHOD

Literature searches were conducted in PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CBM, VIP, CNKI, WanFang, LILACS and U.S. ClinicalTrials.gov. Clinical studies published in full text that met predefined inclusion criteria were eligible irrespective of language. Reviewers independently assessed all potential studies and extracted data. The fixed-effect model was used in meta-analysis.

RESULTS

4 studies involving 100 patients were included. The pooled rate of infection was 0.80 with the annual rate of 3.74. 38% patients missed days from work/school and annual rate was 4.54days in one year per patient. Only 4% patients were hospitalized due to infection and it costs 1.57days in one year per patient. 70% patients used antibiotics during 58.4days in one year per patient. 80 patients (80.0%) who experienced 1630 AEs were considered related to SCIG-20%. Only 7 related AEs were severe, of which, 4 were local reactions and 3 were headaches. Studies on health related quality of life and satisfaction suggested that patients with SCIG-20% had a good life quality and satisfied with SCIG treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

SCIG-20% treatment was not recommended for patients with primary immunodeficiency. Low quality of each outcome suggested that the evidence on effect of SCIG-20% for patients with PID is inadequate. Further comparative studies are urgently needed, especially in comparison with IVIG or SCIG of other concentrations.

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy for primary immunodeficiencies

Exogenous antibody therapy to protect patients against infections and toxins is over 100 years old, yet progress continues to be made in the manufacture, administration and application of this type of immunotherapy, known as therapeutic human immunoglobulin. For the majority of patients with primary immunodeficiencies, immunoglobulin replacement is the only life-saving therapy and treatment is life-long, since the vast majority of primary immunodeficiency patients have primary antibody failure. Successful treatment depends on multiple factors: the availability of products, the type of immunodeficiency and any comorbidities of the individual patient. Essential components include long-term follow-up, regular monitoring and a close relationship between the patient and the multidisciplinary clinical immunology team. In this article, we describe the current immunoglobulin products and the types of adverse reactions. We provide evidence for clinical decision-making regarding dosing, route of administration and location of therapy, highlighting current ‘best practice’ recommendations.

Immune globulin (human) 10 % liquid: a review of its use in primary immunodeficiency disorders

Human immune globulin (IG) 10 % liquid (Gammagard Liquid®) is a ready-to-use, highly purified, and concentrated immunoglobulin (Ig)G solution approved in the US for both intravenous and subcutaneous antibody replacement therapy in patients aged ≥ 2 years with primary humoral immunodeficiency. Intravenous IG 10 % liquid every 3-4 weeks for ≥ 12 months, at median serum IgG trough levels of 9.6-11.2 g/L, completely prevented acute serious bacterial infections (SBIs) in a phase III clinical trial. Weekly subcutaneous IG 10 % liquid at a dose equal to 137 % of the equivalent weekly intravenous dose, which was earlier determined to produce the same IgG exposure, produced higher serum trough IgG levels and lower peak IgG levels than intravenous administration, and also effectively reduced SBIs; the infection rate was 0.067 SBIs/subject/year, which met the US FDA efficacy criterion of < 1 SBI/subject/year. The rates for non-serious infections of any kind were low for both intravenous and subcutaneous therapy. Both intravenous and subcutaneous IG 10 % liquid were safe and generally well tolerated. Systemic adverse reactions were more frequent with intravenous therapy and local infusion-site reactions were more frequent with subcutaneous therapy, but the latter reduced over time. Most adverse reactions were of mild or moderate intensity. Thus, IG 10 % liquid is an effective and generally well-tolerated preparation for both intravenous and subcutaneous IgG replacement therapy in patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders involving antibody deficiency. It offers the benefits of a ready-to-use, liquid preparation and the convenience of home-based therapy in appropriate patients.

Pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation of biweekly subcutaneous immunoglobulin dosing in primary immunodeficiency

Replacement therapy with immunoglobulin G (IgG) given as intravenous or subcutaneous (SC) infusions is the standard treatment for patients with primary immunodeficiency. Due to the life-long need for replacement, increased flexibility in the administration and dosage regimens would improve patients' quality of life. A population pharmacokinetic model that can predict plasma IgG concentrations for various routes, dosage regimens, and patient groups is a valuable tool to improve patient therapy. Such a model was developed based on IgG concentrations from 151 unique adult and pediatric patients who participated in 4 clinical trials of intravenous and SC IgG replacement therapy. Simulations predicted that the same total IgG dose, delivered SC, either in 1 biweekly dose (once every 2 weeks), or in 2 weekly doses, results in IgG peak and trough concentrations that remain within ± 10% of each other throughout the 14-day period. The developed population pharmacokinetic model predicted that biweekly SC Hizentra dosing offers a viable alternative to weekly SC therapy, allowing more flexible and optimized dosage regimens for patients with primary immunodeficiency.

Adverse effects of IgG therapy

IgG is widely used for patients with immune deficiencies and in a broad range of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Up to 40% of intravenous infusions of IgG may be associated with adverse effects (AEs), which are mostly uncomfortable or unpleasant but often are not serious. The most common infusion-related AE is headache. More serious reactions, including true anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions, occur less frequently. Most reactions are related to the rate of infusion and can be prevented or treated just by slowing the infusion rate. Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antihistamines, or corticosteroids also may be helpful in preventing or treating these common AEs. IgA deficiency with the potential of IgG or IgE antibodies against IgA increases the risk of some AEs but should not be viewed as a contraindication if IgG therapy is needed. Potentially serious AEs include renal dysfunction and/or failure, thromboembolic events, and acute hemolysis. These events usually are multifactorial, related to combinations of constituents in the IgG product as well as risk factors for the recipient. Awareness of these factors should allow minimization of the risks and consequences of these AEs. Subcutaneous IgG is absorbed more slowly into the circulation and has a lower incidence of AEs, but awareness and diligence are necessary whenever IgG is administered.