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Strezsak V, Allignol A, Bühler K, Fischer R, Hubbard J, Longobardi S, Lispi M, Schertz J, Verpillat P. Dosing Characteristics of Recombinant Human Luteinizing Hormone or Human Menopausal Gonadotrophin-Derived LH Activity in Patients Undergoing Ovarian Stimulation: A German Fertility Database Study. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2023; 88:214-225. [PMID: 37369184 PMCID: PMC10614274 DOI: 10.1159/000530360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate dosing of recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH) or human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG)-derived medications with LH activity in ovarian stimulation (OS) cycles for in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN A non-interventional study was performed to analyse data from the German RecDate database (January 2007-December 2011). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Starting/total r-hLH/hMG dose, OS duration/cycle number, r-hLH/hMG initiation day (first day of administration), and population/cycle characteristics were assessed in women (≥18 years) undergoing OS for IVF/ICSI using r-hLH or hMG-derived medications (excluding corifollitropin alfa, clomiphene citrate, letrozole, mini/micro-dose human chorionic gonadotrophin, and urofollitropin alone). Data were summarized descriptively. RESULTS 67,858 identified cycles utilized medications containing r-hLH (10,749), hMG (56,432), or both (677). Mean (standard deviation) OS duration with r-hLH and hMG was 10.1 (4.43) and 9.8 (6.16) days, respectively. Median (25th-75th percentile) r-hLH starting dose (75.0 [75.0-150.0] IU) was consistent across patients regardless of age, infertility diagnosis, or gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) protocol. Median (25th-75th percentile) hMG-derived LH activity starting dose was 225.0 (150.0-300.0) IU, regardless of GnRH protocol, but was lower in women aged <35 years and those with ovulation disorders/polycystic ovary syndrome. Median (25th-75th percentile) total dose for r-hLH (750.0 [337.5-1,125.0] IU) and hMG-derived LH activity (1,575.0 [750.0-2,625.0] IU) varied according to patients' age, infertility diagnosis, cycle number, and r-hLH/hMG initiation day. GnRH antagonist use resulted in a numerically higher median total hMG-derived LH activity dose than GnRH agonist use. LIMITATIONS The data used in this study were taken from electronic medical records relating to a specific timeframe (2007-2011) and therefore may not accurately reflect current clinical practice; however, it is likely that the differences between the two compounds would be maintained. Additionally, secondary data sources may suffer from uniformity and quality issues. CONCLUSIONS The standard of care for OS cycles is described with respect to IVF/ICSI treatment including an LH component in Germany during the specified timeframe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Strezsak
- Global Clinical Development, Research and Development, EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Arthur Allignol
- Global Epidemiology, Research and Development, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Klaus Bühler
- Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Scientific-Clinical Centre for Endometriosis of the University Hospitals of Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | | | - Julie Hubbard
- Global Clinical Development, Research and Development, EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Salvatore Longobardi
- Global Clinical Development, Research and Development, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Monica Lispi
- Global Medical Affairs Fertility, Research and Development, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
- Unit of Endocrinology, PhD School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Joan Schertz
- Global Clinical Development, Research and Development, EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Patrice Verpillat
- Global Epidemiology, Research and Development, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
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Koloda Y, Korsak V, Rozenson O, Anshina M, Sagamonova K, Baranov I, Yakovenko S, D'Hooghe T, Ershova A, Lispi M. Use of a recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone:recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hFSH:r-hLH) 2:1 combination for controlled ovarian stimulation during assisted reproductive technology treatment: A real-world study of routine practice in the Russian Federation. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2022; 85:134-148. [PMID: 35216907 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2022.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Two observational studies in the Russian Federation described patient demographics/clinical decision for treatment with recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone:recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hFSH:r-hLH) 2:1 combination for ovarian stimulation (OS) during assisted reproductive technology (ART) and outcomes, respectively. The first (prospective) study enrolled 500 patients. After post-hoc regrouping to assign patients to discrete groups, 378 (75.6%) met the local Russian label for an r-hFSH:r-hLH 2:1 combination, 105 (21%) were treated according to other physician preference, and 17 (3.4%) met only the ESHRE Bologna criteria for a poor ovarian response. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was 30.4%. A total of 158/175 (90.3%) women achieving clinical pregnancy in the prospective study participated in the second (retrospective) study. The live birth rate per cycle was 25.8%. No new safety concerns were reported. These results support the use of the r-hFSH:r-hLH 2:1 combination in patients with a poor/suboptimal response to OS for ART treatment in the Russian Federation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Koloda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Centre of Reproduction "Life Line," 121471 Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Vladislav Korsak
- International Centre for Reproductive Medicine (ICRM), Komendantskij prospect, 197350 St Petersburg, Russian Federation.
| | - Oleg Rozenson
- Biopharma, LCC Merck, Valovaya Str. 35, Moscow-115054, Russian Federation, an affiliate of Merck KGaA.
| | - Margarita Anshina
- IVF & Reproductive Genetics Center (FertiMed), Moscow, Moscow, 3 Park Str., 8/19 and 12, Russian Federation.
| | - Karina Sagamonova
- Human Reproduction and IVF Center, Rostov-on-Don, Bodraya ulitsa, 90, Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Igor Baranov
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology named after Academician V.I.Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 4, Oparina Street, Moscow, Russian Federation, 117997.
| | - Sergey Yakovenko
- Altravita IVF Clinic, Nagornaya st. 4A, Moscow, 117186, Russian Federation; Biophysics Department of Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation.
| | - Thomas D'Hooghe
- Global Medical Affairs Fertility, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, F135/002, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany; Department of Development and Regeneration, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Anna Ershova
- Biopharma, LCC Merck, Valovaya Str. 35, Moscow-115054, Russian Federation, an affiliate of Merck KGaA.
| | - Monica Lispi
- Global Medical Affairs Fertility, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, F135/002, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany; International PhD School in Clinical and Experimental Medicine (CEM), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi n. 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
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Fatemi H, Bilger W, Denis D, Griesinger G, La Marca A, Longobardi S, Mahony M, Yin X, D'Hooghe T. Dose adjustment of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) during ovarian stimulation as part of medically-assisted reproduction in clinical studies: a systematic review covering 10 years (2007-2017). Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2021; 19:68. [PMID: 33975610 PMCID: PMC8112039 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-021-00744-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individualization of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) starting dose is considered standard clinical practice during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Furthermore, the gonadotropin dose is regularly adjusted during COS to avoid hyper- or hypo-ovarian response, but limited data are currently available to characterize such adjustments. This review describes the frequency and direction (increase/decrease) of recombinant-human FSH (r-hFSH) dose adjustment reported in clinical trials. METHODS We evaluated the proportion of patients undergoing ART treatment who received ≥ 1 r-hFSH dose adjustments. The inclusion criteria included studies (published Sept 2007 to Sept 2017) in women receiving ART treatment that allowed dose adjustment within the study protocol and that reported ≥ 1 dose adjustments of r-hFSH; studies not allowing/reporting dose adjustment were excluded. Data on study design, dose adjustment and patient characteristics were extracted. Point-incidence estimates were calculated per study and overall based on pooled number of cycles with dose adjustment across studies. The Clopper-Pearson method was used to calculate 95% confidence intervals (CI) for incidence where adjustment occurred in < 10% of patients; otherwise, a normal approximation method was used. RESULTS Initially, 1409 publications were identified, of which 318 were excluded during initial screening and 1073 were excluded after full text review for not meeting the inclusion criteria. Eighteen studies (6630 cycles) reported dose adjustment: 5/18 studies (1359 cycles) reported data for an unspecified dose adjustment (direction not defined), in 10/18 studies (3952 cycles) dose increases were reported, and in 11/18 studies (5123 cycles) dose decreases were reported. The studies were performed in women with poor, normal and high response, with one study reporting in oocyte donors and one in obese women. The median day that dose adjustment was permitted was Day 6 after the start of treatment. The point estimates for incidence (95% CI) for unspecified dose adjustment, dose increases, and dose decreases were 45.3% (42.7, 48.0), 19.2% (18.0, 20.5), and 9.5% (8.7, 10.3), respectively. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review highlights that, in studies in which dose adjustment was allowed and reported, the estimated incidence of r-hFSH dose adjustments during ovarian stimulation was up to 45%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Human Fatemi
- ART Fertility Clinics, Abu Dhabi & Dubai and Muscat Royal Marina Village, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wilma Bilger
- Medical Affairs Fertility, Endocrinology & General Medicine, Merck Serono GmbH (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Deborah Denis
- Global Clinical Development, EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Inc (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Georg Griesinger
- Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Antonio La Marca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche Materno-Infantili e dell'Adulto, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Clinica Eugin Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Salvatore Longobardi
- Global Clinical Development, Merck Serono S.p.A (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), 00176, Rome, Italy
| | - Mary Mahony
- Medical Affairs - Endocrinology/Reproductive Health, EMD Serono, Inc (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Rockland, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Yin
- Research & Development, EMD Serono, Inc (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Thomas D'Hooghe
- Global Medical Affairs Fertility, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
- Department of Development & Regeneration, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Abramova N, Hubbard J, Schertz J, Richter E. Safety of Follitropin Alfa/Lutropin Alfa for Stimulation of Follicular Development. Drug Saf 2020; 42:453-461. [PMID: 30341677 PMCID: PMC6426819 DOI: 10.1007/s40264-018-0742-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH) is used in a fixed-ratio combination with recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) for the stimulation of follicular development. Objective The objective of this article was to conduct a review of safety data to evaluate the risks of r-hFSH/r-hLH treatment. Methods Data were retrieved from the Global Safety Database (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) including reports from healthcare professionals, patients, health authorities, clinical trials, non-interventional studies, and the literature. Reports of important risks (identified and potential) as per the risk management plan applicable at the time of data retrieval were obtained up to December 2017. The estimated patient exposure to r-hFSH/r-hLH in the post-marketing setting was 427,012 treatment cycles. Nine hundred patients received r-hFSH/r-hLH during company-sponsored clinical trials (pre- and post-marketing). Results We identified 72 case reports describing important risks related to r-hFSH/r-hLH use, including 46 cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (10.8 per 100,000 treatment cycles) and 24 of hypersensitivity reaction (5.6 per 100,000 treatment cycles). No thromboembolic events were reported. One congenital anomaly, not suspected to be related to r-hFSH/r-hLH use, was reported during a clinical trial; the event was resolved by corrective surgery. Two fatal cases were identified; one case of recurrent malignant melanoma (suspected to be related to r-hFSH/r-hLH use) and one case resulting from complications of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Conclusion Cumulative reporting rates of important identified and potential risks of r-hFSH/r-hLH during a 10-year surveillance period demonstrate the benefit–risk balance is positive. This post-marketing surveillance and continued surveillance of safety events should provide reassurance about the use of r-hFSH/r-hLH in clinical practice. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s40264-018-0742-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie Hubbard
- EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Joan Schertz
- EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Emilia Richter
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
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