Cardiac risk assessment based on early Phase I data and PK-QTc analysis is concordant with the outcome of thorough QTc trials: an assessment based on eleven drug candidates

Assessing QTc Effects of Vericiguat Using Two Different Concentration-QTc Modeling Approaches

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Vericiguat is a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization due to heart failure. A dedicated QTc study in patients with chronic coronary syndromes demonstrated no clinically relevant QTc effect of vericiguat for exposures across the therapeutic dose range (2.5-10 mg). Interval prolongation concentration-QTc (C-QTc) modeling was performed to complement the statistical evaluations of QTc in the dedicated QTc study.

METHODS

Individual time-matched, baseline- and placebo-corrected Fridericia-corrected QT interval values (ΔΔQTcF) were derived. Two approaches for ΔΔQTcF calculation were investigated: (1) ΔΔQTcF correction with data from a single baseline (as in the primary statistical analysis); and (2) ΔΔQTcF correction with a modeled baseline (considering all available individual non-treatment baselines). The ΔΔQTcF values were related to observed vericiguat concentrations with linear mixed-effects modeling.

RESULTS

For both modeling approaches, a positive relationship was found between ΔΔQTcF and vericiguat concentration; however, the slope for the single-baseline approach was not statistically significant, whereas the slope from the modeled-baseline approach was statistically significant. The upper bound of the two-sided 90% confidence interval for model-derived QTc was < 10 ms at the highest observed exposure (745 μg/L; investigated dose range 2.5-10 mg).

CONCLUSION

By applying a single-baseline approach and a modeled-baseline approach that integrated all available QTc data across doses to characterize the QTc prolongation potential, this study showed that vericiguat 2.5-10 mg is not associated with clinically relevant QTc effects, in line with the conclusion from the primary statistical analysis.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03504982.

Effect of hydroxychloroquine on the cardiac ventricular repolarization: A randomized clinical trial

Aims

Hydroxychloroquine has been suggested as possible treatment for severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus‐2. Studies reported an increased risk of QTcF‐prolongation after treatment with hydroxychloroquine. The aim of this study was to analyse the concentration‐dependent effects of hydroxychloroquine on the ventricular repolarization, including QTcF‐duration and T‐wave morphology.

Methods

Twenty young (≤30 y) and 20 elderly (65–75 y) healthy male subjects were included. Subjects were randomized to receive either a total dose of 2400 mg hydroxychloroquine over 5 days, or placebo (ratio 1:1). Follow‐up duration was 28 days. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded as triplicate at baseline and 4 postdose single recordings, followed by hydroxychloroquine concentration measurements. ECG intervals (RR, QRS, PR, QTcF, J‐Tpc, Tp‐Te) and T‐wave morphology, measured with the morphology combination score, were analysed with a prespecified linear mixed effects concentration–effect model.

Results

There were no significant associations between hydroxychloroquine concentrations and ECG characteristics, including RR‐, QRS‐ and QTcF‐interval (P = .09, .34, .25). Mean ΔΔQTcF‐interval prolongation did not exceed 5 ms and the upper limit of the 90% confidence interval did not exceed 10 ms at the highest measured concentrations (200 ng/mL). There were no associations between hydroxychloroquine concentration and the T‐wave morphology (P = .34 for morphology combination score). There was no significant effect of age group on ECG characteristics.

Conclusion

In this study, hydroxychloroquine did not affect ventricular repolarization, including the QTcF‐interval and T‐wave morphology, at plasma concentrations up to 200 ng/mL. Based on this analysis, hydroxychloroquine does not appear to increase the risk of QTcF‐induced arrhythmias.