Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Equivalence of Pegfilgrastim-cbqv and Pegfilgrastim in Healthy Subjects

Demonstration of Physicochemical and Functional Similarity of Biosimilar Pegfilgrastim-cbqv to Pegfilgrastim

BACKGROUND

Pegfilgrastim-cbqv/CHS-1701 (UDENYCA®) (hereafter referred to as pegfilgrastim-cbqv) was approved in 2018 by the US Food and Drug Administration as a biosimilar for pegfilgrastim (Neulasta®) (hereafter referred to as pegfilgrastim). Both pegfilgrastim-cbqv and pegfilgrastim are conjugates of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (r-metHuG-CSF) with a 20 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) indicated to decrease the incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia, in patients receiving myelosuppressive anticancer drugs. The demonstration of analytical similarity for PEG-protein conjugates presents unique challenges since both the protein and PEG attributes must be characterized.

OBJECTIVE

The current study demonstrates the analytical similarity of pegfilgrastim-cbqv and the reference product, pegfilgrastim. In addition to the physicochemical and functional characterization of the protein, the study assessed attributes specific to PEGylation including PEG size and polydispersity, site of attachment, linker composition, and PEGylation process-related variants.

METHODS

The structural, functional, and stability attributes of pegfilgrastim-cbqv and pegfilgrastim were compared using state-of-the-art analytical methods. For the protein, the primary structure, disulfide structure, and secondary and tertiary structures were assessed using traditional protein characterization techniques such as mass spectrometry (MS), circular dichroism (CD), intrinsic fluorescence, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as more advanced techniques such as two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and hydrogen deuterium exchange (HDX). For the PEG moiety, the site of attachment, occupancy, linker composition, size and polydispersity were compared using mass spectrometry (both intact and after endoprotease digestion), multiangle light scattering detection (MALS), and Edman degradation. Purity assessments included the assessment of both protein variants and PEGylation variants using chromatographic and electrophoretic analytical separation techniques. The functional similarity between pegfilgrastim-cbqv and pegfilgrastim was compared using both a cell-based bioassay and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The degradation rates and stability profiles were compared under accelerated and stressed conditions.

RESULTS

Biosimilarity was demonstrated by a thorough assessment of physiochemical and functional attributes, as well as comparative stability, of pegfilgrastim-cbqv relative to pegfilgrastim. These studies demonstrated identical primary structure and disulfide structure, highly similar secondary and tertiary structure, as well as functional similarity. The impurity profile of pegfilgrastim-cbqv was comparable to that of pegfilgrastim with only minor differences in PEGylation variants and a slight offset in the PEG molar mass. These differences were not clinically relevant. The degradation profiles were qualitatively and quantitatively similar under accelerated and stress conditions.

CONCLUSION

The structural, functional, and stability data demonstrate that pegfilgrastim-cbqv is highly similar to the reference product, pegfilgrastim.

A Randomized, Open-Label Study Conducted to Evaluate the Bioequivalence of Pegfilgrastim-cbqv On-Body Injector Versus Prefilled Syringe in Healthy Male Participants

INTRODUCTION

To help prevent febrile neutropenia, pegfilgrastim-cbqv (UDENYCA®; Coherus BioSciences), a pegfilgrastim (NEULASTA®; Amgen) biosimilar, is administered 24-96 h after myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Delivery of pegfilgrastim-cbqv using an on-body injector (OBI) provides an alternative method of administration, affording options in drug delivery. This study aimed to establish pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) bioequivalence and assess the safety of pegfilgrastim-cbqv administered using an OBI compared with a prefilled syringe (PFS).

METHODS

In this open-label, two-period crossover study, healthy adult male participants (N = 189) were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive pegfilgrastim-cbqv 6 mg subcutaneously using an OBI (n = 92) or a PFS (n = 95) in period 1 and then an injection via the other method in period 2. Primary PK end points were area under the concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity, area under the concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last quantifiable concentration, and maximum plasma concentration. Secondary PD end points, safety, immunogenicity, and tolerability were also assessed.

RESULTS

The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios for the PK and PD end points fell within the predetermined range (80-125%), indicating PK and PD bioequivalence between pegfilgrastim-cbqv OBI and pegfilgrastim-cbqv PFS. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 87.8% and 75.8% of participants in the OBI and PFS groups, respectively. Most TEAEs were musculoskeletal effects. The most common OBI-related TEAE was injection site erythema (31.7%), which was mild, transient, and self-limiting. The incidence of treatment-emergent antidrug antibodies (ADAs) was similar between the OBI and PFS. ADAs had no apparent impact on PK, PD, or safety. Neutralizing antibodies were not detected in any participant.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of the study showed PK and PD bioequivalence of pegfilgrastim-cbqv administered using OBI compared with PFS. OBI and PFS administration had similar safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity profiles. No unexpected safety signals were identified. Graphical Abstract available for this article.

Achieving white blood cell equity: are the safety profiles of biosimilar and reference pegfilgrastims comparable?

Biosimilars can provide choices for patients and may provide cost savings; however, their uptake has been slow in the USA, in part due to limited knowledge. To provide additional confidence in US pegfilgrastim biosimilars, this narrative review compared the safety profiles of biosimilar pegfilgrastims, currently approved or filed for approval in the USA, with the EU- and US-approved reference pegfilgrastims. Headache and bone pain were common to biosimilars and reference products and occurred at a similar incidence. Clinical trial data on the safety profiles of biosimilar pegfilgrastims and reference products have demonstrated similarity and comparability, with no unexpected safety outcomes. Overall, the safety profiles of biosimilar pegfilgrastims and reference pegfilgrastims demonstrated a high degree of similarity and comparability.

Comparative effectiveness of pegfilgrastim biosimilars vs originator for prevention of febrile neutropenia: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Real-world evidence on the comparative effectiveness of pegfilgrastim biosimilars compared with the originator product is limited. OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) among users of pegfilgrastim biosimilars (pegfilgrastim-jmdb and pegfilgrastim-cbqv) and the originator product. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using 2019 IBM MarketScan databases to assess comparative effectiveness of pegfilgrastim originator and biosimilars for prevention of FN among patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Patients with cancer, including breast, lung, colorectal, esophageal and gastric, pancreatic, prostate, ovarian, and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, initiating myelosuppressive chemotherapy courses were selected. We further selected patients who used pegfilgrastim originator and biosimilars within 3 days of chemotherapy completion. FN-associated hospitalizations were measured by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes. After 1:1 propensity score matching, we used equivalence (with a margin of 6%) hypothesis tests to compare FN-related hospitalization risk in the first cycle and across all cycles between biosimilars and originator users. RESULTS: A total of 2,045 patients were included, of which 445 (21.8%) used pegfilgrastim-jmdb, 636 (31.1%) used pegfilgrastim-cbqv, and 964 (47.1%) used pegfilgrastim originator. After matching, 13 out of 445 originator users and 17 out of 445 pegfilgrastim-jmdb users developed FN after the first chemotherapy cycle (risk difference was 0.9%; P < 0.001 for equivalence test indicating statistical equivalence). After matching, 14 out of 633 originator users and 16 out of 633 pegfilgrastim-cbqv users developed FN (risk difference was 0.32%; P < 0.001 for equivalence test indicating statistical equivalence). Results across all cycles (including the first cycle) were consistent with that in the first cycle. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world study of patients with cancer receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy, there was no difference in FN risk between patients receiving pegfilgrastim originator and biosimilars in the first cycle and across all cycles. These results add further to the current evidence on pegfilgrastim biosimilars and support wider adoption of pegfilgrastim biosimilars among payers, providers, and patients. Future studies assessing the tolerability, side effects, and other safety issues of pegfilgrastim biosimilars are needed.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG): The nature, immunogenicity, and role in the hypersensitivity of PEGylated products

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a versatile polymer that is widely used as an additive in foods and cosmetics, and as a carrier in PEGylated therapeutics. Even though PEG is thought to be less immunogenic, or perhaps even non-immunogenic, with a variety of physicochemical properties, there is mounting evidence that PEG causes immunogenic responses when conjugated with other materials such as proteins and nanocarriers. Under these conditions, PEG with other materials can result in the production of anti-PEG antibodies after administration. The antibodies that are induced seem to have a deleterious impact on the therapeutic efficacy of subsequently administered PEGylated formulations. In addition, hypersensitivity to PEGylated formulations could be a significant barrier to the utility of PEGylated products. Several reports have linked the presence of anti-PEG antibodies to incidences of complement activation-related pseudoallergy (CARPA) following the administration of PEGylated formulations. The use of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which are composed mainly of PEGylated lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), has recently gained wide acceptance, although many cases of post-vaccination hypersensitivity have been documented. Therefore, our review focuses not only on the importance of PEGs and its great role in improving the therapeutic efficacy of various medications, but also on the hypersensitivity reactions attributed to the use of PEGylated products that include PEG-based mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Biosimilar Pegfilgrastim-cbqv Demonstrated Similar Immunogenicity to Pegfilgrastim in Healthy Subjects Across Three Randomized Clinical Studies

Introduction

Biologic therapeutics can trigger immune responses in patients. As part of the totality of evidence that is required for regulatory approval of biosimilars, immunogenicity similarity must be assessed in the clinical programs. Pegfilgrastim-cbqv (UDENYCA^®) is a pegfilgrastim biosimilar approved in the USA and European Union. This article demonstrates the similar immunogenicity of pegfilgrastim-cbqv compared with its reference product, pegfilgrastim (Neulasta^®).

Methods

The immunogenicity of pegfilgrastim-cbqv was assessed in three clinical studies in healthy subjects (one specifically designed to evaluate immunogenicity similarity and two studies to assess pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics bioequivalence) using a tiered approach, in which plasma samples were tested for the presence of antidrug antibodies (ADAs) as well as ADA binding-specificity, titer and neutralizing activity. To assess the clinical impact of ADAs, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety profiles were compared between ADA-positive and -negative subjects.

Results

These studies demonstrated similar immunogenicity of pegfilgrastim-cbqv and pegfilgrastim. The small differences in ADA incidence between treatment groups observed in the immunogenicity study were driven by non-neutralizing, low-titer, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-reactive ADAs, which are commonly present in healthy subjects. No treatment-emergent neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) were detected in either treatment group, and there was no apparent impact of ADAs on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics or safety.

Conclusion

Pegfilgrastim-cbqv has similar immunogenicity to pegfilgrastim. The presented immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety data support the overall demonstration of no clinically meaningful differences between pegfilgrastim-cbqv and pegfilgrastim.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT02418104 (CHS-1701-04, April 2015), NCT02650973 (CHS-1701-05, February 2016) and NCT02385851 (CHS-1701-03, March 2015).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-021-02024-x.

Supportive therapies in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia and appropriate use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors: a Delphi consensus statement

PURPOSE

Data indicate that the use of prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) for chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN) in routine practice is not consistent with guideline recommendations. The initiative "supportive care for febrile neutropenia prevention and appropriateness of G-CFS use" was undertaken to address the issue of inappropriate prescription of G-CSFs and to improve guideline adherence in the treatment of FN.

METHODS

In a two-round Delphi procedure, 36 medical oncologists reviewed clinically relevant recommendations on risk assessment, the appropriate use of G-CSFs, and the prevention of FN based on available literature and individual clinical expertise.

RESULTS

The consensus was reached on 16 out of 38 recommendations, which are backed by evidence from randomised clinical trials and routine clinical practice. The medical oncologists agreed that the severity of neutropenia depends on patients' characteristics and chemotherapy intensity, and therefore, the risk of severe neutropenia or FN should be assessed at each chemotherapy cycle so as to initiate prophylaxis with G-CSFs if required. The use of biosimilar G-CSFs, with similar efficacy and safety profiles to the originator biologic, has improved the availability and sustainability of cancer care. The timing of supportive therapy is crucial; for example, long-acting G-CSF should be administered 24-72 h after chemotherapy administration. Each biological agent has a recommended administration dose and duration, and it is important to follow these recommendations to avoid complications associated with under-prophylaxis.

CONCLUSION

It is hoped that these statements will help to increase adherence to guideline recommendations for appropriate G-CSF use and improve patient care.

Same-day versus next-day pegfilgrastim or pegfilgrastim-cbqv in patients with lymphoma receiving CHOP-like chemotherapy

Aim: To compare the incidence of febrile neutropenia and related outcomes of prophylactic same-day versus next-day pegfilgrastim/pegfilgrastim-cbqv in patients with lymphoma receiving cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP)-like chemotherapy. Methods: Retrospective, real-world, single-institution study. Results: 93 patients received 460 cycles of CHOP-like chemotherapy. The incidence of febrile neutropenia and grade 3/4 chemotherapy-induced neutropenia was 5 and 16.5%, respectively. In 401 cycles pegfilgrastim was administered same-day versus 12 cycles next-day. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 17 cycles versus 0 cycles (p = 1.00) and grade 3/4 chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in 65 cycles (16.2%) versus 1 cycle (16.7%; p = 1.00) with same-day versus next-day pegfilgrastim administration, respectively. Conclusion: Pegfilgrastim may be safely administered on the same day as chemotherapy in patients with lymphoma receiving CHOP-like chemotherapy.

Pharmacokinetics, Immunogenicity and Safety Study for SHR-1309 Injection and Perjeta® in Healthy Chinese Male Volunteers

Objectives: Pertuzumab is a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and safety of the test preparation SHR-1309 injecta and the reference preparation Perjeta® in healthy Chinese male subjects.

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, single dose, two-way, parallel bioequivalence trial, a total of 80 qualified Chinese male subjects were selected and randomly divided into two groups. Each subject was intravenously injected with SHR-1309 or Perjeta®. Blood samples were collected at 21 different time points for pharmacokinetic analysis. In addition, immunogenicity was assessed at five different time points. The safety of the medication was monitored throughout the whole trial.

Results: C_max and AUC_0-t were the primary pharmacokinetic parameters. Under a 90% confidence interval, their geometric mean ratios were 98.30 and 88.41% for SHR-1309 injection and Perjeta®, respectively. The geometric mean ratio of secondary pharmacokinetic parameters AUC_0-∞ was 88.58%. These evaluation indexes are in the standard range of 80–125%, so SHR-1309 can be considered bioequivalent to Perjeta®. After 1,680 h (day 70) of administration, the two groups had 12 and 13 subjects who produced antidrug antibody (ADA), respectively. The occurrence time and proportion of ADA in SHR-1309 and Perjeta® were similar between subjects, and they had similar immunogenicity. During the entire trial period, there were 71 drug-related adverse reactions in 29 subjects who received SHR-1309 and 61 drug-related adverse reactions in 32 subjects who received Perjeta®. The incidence of adverse reactions between the two drugs was similar.

Conclusion: The pharmacokinetic parameters, immunogenicity and safety of the biosimilar SHR-1309 injection produced by Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. were similar to the original drug Perjeta® produced by Roche Pharma AG. The two drugs met the bioequivalence evaluation criteria. Therefore, SHR-1309 is bioequivalent to Perjeta®. Clinical trial registration: CTR20200,738.

Conversion to supportive care with biosimilar pegfilgrastim-cbqv enables budget-neutral expanded access to R-CHOP treatment in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

This pharmacoeconomic simulation (1) assessed the cost-efficiency of converting a panel of 20,000 patients at risk of chemotherapy-induced (febrile) neutropenia (CIN/FN) from reference pegfilgrastim to biosimilar pegfilgrastim-cbqv; (2) estimated how savings can be used to provide budget-neutral expanded access to R-CHOP therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients; and 3) determined the number-needed-to-convert (NNC) to purchase one additional dose of R-CHOP (US payer perspective). Model inputs included biosimilar conversion from pre-filled syringe [PFS] or on-body injector [OBI] reference pegfilgrastim; age-proportional blended costs for reference pegfilgrastim PFS and OBI, pegfilgrastim-cbqv and R-CHOP; medication administration costs; biosimilar conversion rates of 10-100 %; and 1-6 cycles of prophylaxis. Cost-savings were used to estimate the number of doses of R-CHOP that could be purchased and the NNC to purchase one additional dose. Converting a panel of 20,000 patients requiring CIN/FN prophylaxis to biosimilar pegfilgrastim-cbqv from a low of 1 cycle and 10 % conversion to a high of 6 cycles and 100 % conversion yielded savings from $1,567,195 to $96,668,126. The budget-neutral acquisition of R-CHOP doses afforded by these savings ranged from 227 to 13,999 doses, the latter enabling 2333 patients to receive 6 cycles of R-CHOP treatment with no additional cost to the payer. These results are achieved if all 20,000 panel patients requiring GCSF support are prophylacted with biosimilar pegfilgrastim-cbqv for 6 cycles, yielding an NNC of 1.43 patients per additional R-CHOP dose. This simulation underscores the clinic-economic benefit of prophylaxis with biosimilar growth factor and pegfilgrastim-cbqv specifically.

Cost-efficiency and expanded access of prophylaxis for chemotherapy-induced (febrile) neutropenia: economic simulation analysis for the US of conversion from reference pegfilgrastim to biosimilar pegfilgrastim-cbqv

AIMS

In this pharmacoeconomic simulation, we: (1) modeled the cost-efficiency of converting patients from reference pegfilgrastim to biosimilar pegfilgrastim-cbqv for prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced (febrile) neutropenia (CIN/FN) from the US payer perspective, (2) simulated how savings enable, on a budget-neutral basis, expanded access to pegfilgrastim-cbqv, and (3) estimated the number-needed-to-convert (NNC) to purchase one additional dose of pegfilgrastim-cbqv.

METHODS

In a hypothetical panel of 20,000 patients, we modeled cost-savings utilizing: two reference formulations (pre-filled syringe [PFS] and on-body injector [OBI]), three medication cost inputs (average sales price [ASP], wholesale acquisition cost [WAC], and an age-proportionate blended ASP/WAC rate), administration cost for injection (PFS) and device application (OBI), conversion rates of 10-100%, and 1-6 cycles of prophylaxis. Cost-savings were used to estimate additional doses of pegfilgrastim-cbqv that could be purchased and the NNC to purchase one additional dose.

RESULTS

Using ASP and 10% conversion from reference OBI to pegfilgrastim-cbqv, savings range from $326,744 (1 cycle) to $2.0M (6 cycles) which could provide 93-556 additional doses of pegfilgrastim-cbqv, respectively; the NNC to purchase one additional dose of pegfilgrastim-cbqv ranges from 21.6 (1 cycle) down to 3.6 patients (6 cycles). The WAC model saves $41.1M per cycle and $246.7M over 6 cycles at 100% conversion from reference PFS which could provide 9,709-58,253 additional pegfilgrastim-cbqv doses; the NNC ranges from 2.1 (1 cycle) to 0.3 (6 cycles). Using the blended ASP/WAC rate, converting 50% from reference OBI to pegfilgrastim-cbqv would save $10.2M per cycle and $60.9M over 6 cycles providing 2,638-15,829 additional doses of pegfilgrastim-cbqv; NNCs are 3.8 (1 cycle) and 0.6 patients (6 cycles).

CONCLUSIONS

Converting 20,000 patients from reference to pegfilgrastim-cbqv over 6 cycles can generate savings up to $246.7M, enough to purchase up to 58,253 additional doses of pegfilgrastim-cbqv. This simulation provides economic justification for prophylaxis with biosimilar pegfilgrastim-cbqv.