Randomized, open-label, phase 2a study to evaluate the contribution of artefenomel to the clinical and parasiticidal activity of artefenomel plus ferroquine in African patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria

BACKGROUND

The contribution of artefenomel to the clinical and parasiticidal activity of ferroquine and artefenomel in combination in uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria was investigated.

METHODS

This Phase 2a, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study was conducted from 11th September 2018 to 6th November 2019 across seven centres in Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Kenya, and Uganda. Patients aged ≥ 14-69 years with microscopically confirmed infection (≥ 3000 to ≤ 50,000 parasites/µL blood) were randomized 1:1:1:1 to 400 mg ferroquine, or 400 mg ferroquine plus artefenomel 300, 600, or 1000 mg, administered as a single oral dose. The primary efficacy analysis was a logistic regression evaluating the contribution of artefenomel exposure to Day 28 PCR-adjusted adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR). Safety was also evaluated.

RESULTS

The randomized population included 140 patients. For the primary analysis in the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic efficacy population (N = 121), the contribution of artefenomel AUC_0-∞ to Day 28 PCR-adjusted ACPR was not demonstrated when accounting for ferroquine AUC_0-d28, baseline parasitaemia, and other model covariates: odds ratio 1.1 (95% CI 0.98, 1.2; P = 0.245). In the per-protocol population, Day 28 PCR-adjusted ACPR was 80.8% (21/26; 95% CI 60.6, 93.4) with ferroquine alone and 90.3% (28/31; 95% CI 74.2, 98.0), 90.9% (30/33; 95% CI 75.7, 98.1) and 87.1% (27/31; 95% CI 70.2, 96.4) with 300, 600, and 1000 mg artefenomel, respectively. Median time to parasite clearance (Kaplan-Meier) was 56.1 h with ferroquine, more rapid with artefenomel, but similar for all doses (30.0 h). There were no deaths. Adverse events (AEs) of any cause occurred in 51.4% (18/35) of patients with ferroquine 400 mg alone, and 58.3% (21/36), 66.7% (24/36), and 72.7% (24/33) with 300, 600, and 1000 mg artefenomel, respectively. All AEs were of mild-to-moderate severity, and consistent with the known profiles of the compounds. Vomiting was the most reported AE. There were no cases of QTcF prolongation ≥ 500 ms or > 60 ms from baseline.

CONCLUSION

The contribution of artefenomel exposure to the clinical and parasitological activity of ferroquine/artefenomel could not be demonstrated in this study. Parasite clearance was faster with ferroquine/artefenomel versus ferroquine alone. All treatments were well tolerated.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03660839 (7 September, 2018).

Unanticipated CNS Safety Signal in a Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial of Co-Administered Atovaquone-Proguanil and Amodiaquine

Atovaquone‐proguanil (ATV‐PG) plus amodiaquine (AQ) has been considered as a potential replacement for sulfadoxine‐pyrimethamine plus AQ for seasonal malaria chemoprevention in African children. This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel group study assessed the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PKs) of ATV‐PG plus AQ in healthy adult males and females of Black sub‐Saharan African origin. Participants were randomized to four treatment groups: ATV‐PG/AQ (n = 8), ATV‐PG/placebo (n = 12), AQ/placebo (n = 12), and placebo/placebo (n = 12). Treatments were administered orally once daily for 3 days (days 1–3) at daily doses of ATV‐PQ 1000/400 mg and AQ 612 mg. Co‐administration of ATV‐PG/AQ had no clinically relevant effect on PK parameters for ATV, PG, the PG metabolite cycloguanil, AQ, or the AQ metabolite N‐desethyl‐amodiaquine. Adverse events occurred in 8 of 8 (100%) of participants receiving ATV‐PG/AQ, 11 of 12 (91.7%) receiving ATV‐PG, 11 of 12 (91.7%) receiving AQ, and 3 of 12 (25%) receiving placebo. The safety and tolerability profiles of ATV‐PG and AQ were consistent with previous reports. In the ATV‐PG/AQ group, 2 of 8 participants experienced extrapyramidal adverse effects (EPAEs) on day 3, both psychiatric and physical, which appeared unrelated to drug plasma PKs or cytochrome P450 2C8 phenotype. Although rare cases are reported with AQ administration, the high incidence of EPAE was unexpected in this small study. Owing to the unanticipated increased frequency of EPAE observed, the combination of ATV‐PQ plus AQ is not recommended for further evaluation in prophylaxis of malaria in African children.

African isolates show a high proportion of multiple copies of the Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin-2 gene, a piperaquine resistance marker

BACKGROUND

Today, the development of new and well-tolerated anti-malarial drugs is strongly justified by the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance. In 2014-2015, a phase 2b clinical study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a single oral dose of Artefenomel (OZ439)-piperaquine (PPQ) in Asian and African patients presenting with uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

METHODS

Blood samples collected before treatment offered the opportunity to investigate the proportion of multidrug resistant parasite genotypes, including P. falciparum kelch13 mutations and copy number variation of both P. falciparum plasmepsin 2 (Pfpm2) and P. falciparum multidrug resistance 1 (Pfmdr1) genes.

RESULTS

Validated kelch13 resistance mutations including C580Y, I543T, P553L and V568G were only detected in parasites from Vietnamese patients. In Africa, isolates with multiple copies of the Pfmdr1 gene were shown to be more frequent than previously reported (21.1%, range from 12.4% in Burkina Faso to 27.4% in Uganda). More strikingly, high proportions of isolates with multiple copies of the Pfpm2 gene, associated with piperaquine (PPQ) resistance, were frequently observed in the African sites, especially in Burkina Faso and Uganda (> 30%).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings were considered to sharply contrast with the recent description of increased sensitivity to PPQ of Ugandan parasite isolates. This emphasizes the necessity to investigate in vitro susceptibility profiles to PPQ of African isolates with multiple copies of the Pfpm2 gene and estimate the risk of development of PPQ resistance in Africa. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov reference: NCT02083380. Study title: Phase II efficacy study of artefenomel and piperaquine in adults and children with P. falciparum malaria. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=NCT02083380&cntry=&state=&city=&dist= . FSFV: 23-Jul-2014; LSLV: 09-Oct-2015.

A discovery and development roadmap for new endectocidal transmission-blocking agents in malaria

Reaching the overall goal of eliminating malaria requires halting disease transmission. One approach to blocking transmission is to prevent passage of the parasite to a mosquito, by preventing formation or transmission of gametocytes. An alternative approach, pioneered in the veterinary field, is to use endectocides, which are molecules that render vertebrate blood meals toxic for the mosquito vector, also killing the parasite. Field studies and modelling suggest that reducing the lifespan of the mosquito may significantly reduce transmission, given the lengthy maturation process of the parasite. To guide the development of new endectocides, or the reformulation of existing molecules, it is important to construct a framework of the required attributes, commonly called the target candidate profile. Here, using a combination of insights from current endectocides, mathematical models of the malaria transmission dynamics, and known impacts of vector control, a target candidate profile (TCP-6) and a regulatory strategy are proposed for a transmission reducing agent. The parameters chosen can be used to assess the potential of a new medicine, independent of whether it has classical endectocide activity, reduces the insect and parasite lifespan or any combination of all three, thereby constituting an ‘endectocidal transmission blocking’ paradigm.

Injectable anti-malarials revisited: discovery and development of new agents to protect against malaria

Over the last 15 years, the majority of malaria drug discovery and development efforts have focused on new molecules and regimens to treat patients with uncomplicated or severe disease. In addition, a number of new molecular scaffolds have been discovered which block the replication of the parasite in the liver, offering the possibility of new tools for oral prophylaxis or chemoprotection, potentially with once-weekly dosing. However, an intervention which requires less frequent administration than this would be a key tool for the control and elimination of malaria. Recent progress in HIV drug discovery has shown that small molecules can be formulated for injections as native molecules or pro-drugs which provide protection for at least 2 months. Advances in antibody engineering offer an alternative approach whereby a single injection could potentially provide protection for several months. Building on earlier profiles for uncomplicated and severe malaria, a target product profile is proposed here for an injectable medicine providing long-term protection from this disease. As with all of such profiles, factors such as efficacy, cost, safety and tolerability are key, but with the changing disease landscape in Africa, new clinical and regulatory approaches are required to develop prophylactic/chemoprotective medicines. An overall framework for these approaches is suggested here.

A randomised, double-blind clinical phase II trial of the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a single dose combination treatment with artefenomel and piperaquine in adults and children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria

BACKGROUND

The clinical development of a single encounter treatment for uncomplicated malaria has the potential to significantly improve the effectiveness of antimalarials. Exploratory data suggested that the combination of artefenomel and piperaquine phosphate (PQP) has the potential to achieve satisfactory cure rates as a single dose therapy. The primary objective of the study was to determine whether a single dose of artefenomel (800 mg) plus PQP in ascending doses is an efficacious treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the 'target' population of children ≤ 5 years of age in Africa as well as Asian patients of all ages.

METHODS

Patients in six African countries and in Vietnam were randomised to treatment with follow-up for 42-63 days. Efficacy, tolerability, safety and pharmacokinetics were assessed. Additional key objectives were to characterise the exposure-response relationship for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-adjusted adequate clinical and parasitological response at day 28 post-dose (ACPR28) and to further investigate Kelch13 mutations. Patients in Africa (n = 355) and Vietnam (n = 82) were included, with 85% of the total population being children < 5 years of age.

RESULTS

ACPR28 in the per protocol population (95% confidence interval) was 70.8% (61.13-79.19), 68.4% (59.13-76.66) and 78.6% (70.09-85.67) for doses of 800 mg artefenomel with 640 mg, 960 mg and 1440 mg of PQP respectively. ACPR28 was lower in Vietnamese than in African patients (66.2%; 54.55-76.62 and 74.5%; 68.81-79.68) respectively. Within the African population, efficacy was lowest in the youngest age group of ≥ 0.5 to ≤ 2 years, 52.7% (38.80-66.35). Initial parasite clearance was twice as long in Vietnam than in Africa. Within Vietnam, the frequency of the Kelch13 mutation was 70.1% and was clearly associated with parasite clearance half-life (PCt1/2). The most significant tolerability finding was vomiting (28.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this first clinical trial evaluating a single encounter antimalarial therapy, none of the treatment arms reached the target efficacy of > 95% PCR-adjusted ACPR at day 28. Achieving very high efficacy following single dose treatment is challenging, since > 95% of the population must have sufficient concentrations to achieve cure across a range of parasite sensitivities and baseline parasitaemia levels. While challenging, the development of tools suitable for deployment as single encounter curative treatments for adults and children in Africa and to support elimination strategies remains a key development goal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02083380 . Registered on 7 March 2014.

New developments in anti-malarial target candidate and product profiles

A decade of discovery and development of new anti-malarial medicines has led to a renewed focus on malaria elimination and eradication. Changes in the way new anti-malarial drugs are discovered and developed have led to a dramatic increase in the number and diversity of new molecules presently in pre-clinical and early clinical development. The twin challenges faced can be summarized by multi-drug resistant malaria from the Greater Mekong Sub-region, and the need to provide simplified medicines. This review lists changes in anti-malarial target candidate and target product profiles over the last 4 years. As well as new medicines to treat disease and prevent transmission, there has been increased focus on the longer term goal of finding new medicines for chemoprotection, potentially with long-acting molecules, or parenteral formulations. Other gaps in the malaria armamentarium, such as drugs to treat severe malaria and endectocides (that kill mosquitoes which feed on people who have taken the drug), are defined here. Ultimately the elimination of malaria requires medicines that are safe and well-tolerated to be used in vulnerable populations: in pregnancy, especially the first trimester, and in those suffering from malnutrition or co-infection with other pathogens. These updates reflect the maturing of an understanding of the key challenges in producing the next generation of medicines to control, eliminate and ultimately eradicate malaria.

Antimalarial activity of artefenomel (OZ439), a novel synthetic antimalarial endoperoxide, in patients with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria: an open-label phase 2 trial

Background

Artefenomel (OZ439) is a novel synthetic trioxolane with improved pharmacokinetic properties compared with other antimalarial drugs with the artemisinin pharmacophore. Artefenomel has been generally well tolerated in volunteers at doses up to 1600 mg and is being developed as a partner drug in an antimalarial combination treatment. We investigated the efficacy, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of artefenomel at different doses in patients with Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax malaria.

Methods

This phase 2a exploratory, open-label trial was done at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok, and the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit in Thailand. Adult patients with acute, uncomplicated P falciparum or P vivax malaria received artefenomel in a single oral dose (200 mg, 400 mg, 800 mg, or 1200 mg). The first cohort received 800 mg. Testing of a new dose of artefenomel in a patient cohort was decided on after safety and efficacy assessment of the preceding cohort. The primary endpoint was the natural log parasite reduction per 24 h. Definitive oral treatment was given at 36 h. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01213966.

Findings

Between Oct 24, 2010, and May 25, 2012, 82 patients were enrolled (20 in each of the 200 mg, 400 mg, and 800 mg cohorts, and 21 in the 1200 mg cohort). One patient withdrew consent (before the administration of artefenomel) but there were no further dropouts. The parasite reduction rates per 24 h ranged from 0·90 to 1·88 for P falciparum, and 2·09 to 2·53 for P vivax. All doses were equally effective in both P falciparum and P vivax malaria, with median parasite clearance half-lives of 4·1 h (range 1·3–6·7) to 5·6 h (2·0–8·5) for P falciparum and 2·3 h (1·2–3·9) to 3·2 h (0·9–15·0) for P vivax. Maximum plasma concentrations, dose-proportional to 800 mg, occurred at 4 h (median). The estimated elimination half-life was 46–62 h. No serious drug-related adverse effects were reported; other adverse effects were generally mild and reversible, with the highest number in the 1200 mg cohort (17 [81%] patients with at least one adverse event). The most frequently reported adverse effect was an asymptomatic increase in plasma creatine phosphokinase concentration (200 mg, n=5; 400 mg, n=3; 800 mg, n=1; 1200 mg, n=3).

Interpretation

Artefenomel is a new synthetic antimalarial peroxide with a good safety profile that clears parasitaemia rapidly in both P falciparum and P vivax malaria. Its long half-life suggests a possible use in a single-dose treatment in combination with other drugs.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and UK Department for International Development.

Evaluation of the QT effect of a combination of piperaquine and a novel anti-malarial drug candidate OZ439, for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria

AIMS

The aim was to investigate the QT effect of a single dose combination regimen of piperaquine phosphate (PQP) and a novel aromatic trioxolane, OZ439, for malaria treatment.

METHODS

Exposure-response (ER) analysis was performed on data from a placebo-controlled, single dose, study with OZ439 and PQP. Fifty-nine healthy subjects aged 18 to 55 years received OZ439 alone or placebo in a first period, followed by OZ439 plus PQP or matching placebos in period 2. OZ439 and PQP doses ranged from 100-800 mg and 160-1440 mg, respectively. Twelve-lead ECG tracings and PK samples were collected serially pre- and post-dosing.

RESULTS

A significant relation between plasma concentrations and placebo-corrected change from baseline QTc F (ΔΔQTc F) was demonstrated for piperaquine, but not for OZ439, with a mean slope of 0.047 ms per ng ml(-1) (90% CI 0.038, 0.057). Using an ER model that accounts for plasma concentrations of both piperaquine and OZ439, a largest mean QTc F effect of 14 ms (90% CI 10, 18 ms) and 18 ms (90% CI 14, 22 ms) was predicted at expected plasma concentrations of a single dose 800 mg OZ439 combined with PQP 960 mg (188 ng ml(-1) ) and 1440 mg (281 ng ml(-1) ), respectively, administered in the fasted state.

CONCLUSIONS

Piperaquine prolongs the QTc interval in a concentration-dependent way. A single dose regimen combining 800 mg OZ439 with 960 mg or 1440 mg PQP is expected to result in lower peak piperaquine plasma concentrations compared with available 3 day PQP-artemisinin combinations and can therefore be predicted to cause less QTc prolongation.

SAR of a series of inhaled A(2A) agonists and comparison of inhaled pharmacokinetics in a preclinical model with clinical pharmacokinetic data

COPD is a major cause of mortality in the western world. A(2A) agonists are postulated to reduce the lung inflammation that causes COPD. The cardiovascular effects of A(2A) agonists dictate that a compound needs to be delivered by inhalation to be therapeutically useful. The pharmacological and pharmacokinetic SAR of a series of inhaled A(2A) agonists is described leading through to human pharmacokinetic data for a clinical candidate.

Role of mechanistically-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models in drug development : a case study of a therapeutic protein

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

This case study describes the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling undertaken during the development programme for UK-279,276 (neutrophil inhibitory factor), focusing on the transition from early empirical-based models to a final mechanistic-based model. UK-279,276 binds to the CD11b/CD18 (MAC-1) on neutrophils and was under development for the treatment of ischaemic stroke.

METHODS

The aims, data, models, results and value-to-drug development process across four stages of model development are described: (i) the validation of the pharmacokinetic assay; (ii) the development and application of an empirical patient pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model; (iii) the development of a mechanistic-based model to bridge between patients and healthy volunteers; and (iv) propagation of the stage III model to a large efficacy study. The analyses utilised available concentration measurements (stages I-IV), CD11b receptor occupancy data (stages I-III) and neutrophil count data (stages III-IV) from three healthy volunteers (study 1, n=51; study 2, n=31; study 4, n=15) and two patient studies (study 3, n=169; study 5, n=992). In studies 1-4, subjects received placebo or between three and six doses of UK-279,276 covering a range of 0.006 and 1.5 mg/kg as a single 15-minute intravenous infusion. In study 5, subjects received placebo or one of 15 possible doses of UK-279,276 (10--20mg) assigned through adaptive design and administered as a single 15-minute intravenous infusion. All model building was conducted using NONMEM version VI (beta). The empirical pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model developed during stage I was used to demonstrate that the pharmacokinetic assay was measuring biologically active drug. Simulations from the stage II model, developed from study 3, were used in the design of study 5. The model supported the switch to a fixed-dose regimen and the selection of the maximum dose and dosage increments. The common mechanistic-based model developed during stage III was used to support the 'comparability strategy' for UK-279,276 and provided insight into the underlying clearance mechanisms. At stage 4, the prior functionality available with NONMEM was used to successfully propagate the model from stage III in order to analyse the pharmacokinetic data from study 5. The analysis indicated that the exposure in study 5 was consistent with prior data. The role of empirical-based models in providing the learning for future mechanistic model development was highlighted. Similarly, the qualitative and quantitative aspects to knowledge propagation and the ultimate benefits from the development of the mechanistic-based model were demonstrated. While the empirical-based models were used to guide some early drug development decisions for UK-279,276, the development of the mechanistic-based model was valuable in linking the complex pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of UK-279,276 across the phases of drug development.

Bridging the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of UK-279,276 Across Healthy Volunteers and Stroke Patients Using a Mechanistically Based Model for Target-Mediated Disposition

PURPOSE

UK-279,276 is a recombinant glycoprotein and is a selective antagonist of CD11b, which in preclinical models of acute stroke blocks the infiltration of activated neutrophils into the site of infarction. Binding of UK-279,276 to the CD11b receptors is hypothesized to facilitate its elimination. The event of an acute stroke leads to proliferation of neutrophils and an up-regulation of CD11b, which results in different pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) in patients than in healthy volunteers. The aim of this current analysis was to develop a mechanistically based model to bridge the differences between healthy volunteers and patients.

METHODS

PK samples, neutrophil counts, and total number and number of free CD11b receptors per neutrophils from three healthy volunteer studies (n=98) and one patient study (n=169) were modeled using the mixed effects modeling software NONMEM version VI (beta). Three mechanistic submodels were developed based on underlying physiology and pharmacology: (1) neutrophil maturation and proliferation, (2) CD11b up-regulation, and (3) three clearance pathways for UK-279-276 including CD11b-mediated elimination.

RESULTS

The model accurately described the time course of CD11b expression, CD11b binding, and the measured PK of UK-279,276 and accounted for the PK/PD differences between healthy volunteers and patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A complex mechanistic model that closely resembled the "true" underlying system provided an effective bridge between healthy volunteers and patients by appropriately accounting for the underlying disease-dependent target mediated disposition.

Serum cyclosporin levels, hepatic drug metabolism and renal tubulotoxicity

The present study was designed to examine inter-relationships between serum cyclosporin (CsA) levels, hepatic drug metabolising enzyme activity and CsA induced nephrotoxicity. CsA (25 mg/kg p.o.) was administered daily to male Sprague-Dawley rats: groups of animals were killed on days 0, 4, 7, 10 and 14 and thereafter at weekly intervals over the 7-week course of the experiment. Nephrotoxicity was evaluated by measuring tubular enzymuria and by light microscopy and serum CsA levels (parent drug plus certain metabolites) were determined by radioimmunoassay. The hepatic microsomal mono-oxygenase enzyme system was monitored by measurement of cytochrome P-450, aminopyrine N-demethylase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. Nephrotoxicity appeared within 4 days of starting treatment and continued for 4 weeks. Between weeks 4 and 6 there was a period of complete remission followed by the return of renal damage. Aminopyrine N-demethylase activity fell during the first 4 weeks. During the period of remission, however, N-demethylase activity rose to a point significantly higher than pretreatment values and serum CsA levels fell to their lowest concentration. With relapse, hepatic N-demethylase activity again fell below normal and serum drug levels rose to their pre-remission values. From the third week onward, changes in NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity paralleled those in N-demethylase activity. The hepatic microsomal concentration of cytochrome P-450 did not, however, change significantly during the 7-week period of CsA treatment. Our results suggest that the spontaneous remission of CsA-induced nephrotoxicity is due to a reduction in circulating drug levels caused by increased hepatic CsA metabolism.

Carbon-13 in tree rings indicates no record of sea-surface temperature

When the correct values for the temperature coefficient of carbon dioxide solubility in seawater are used, theoretical calculations show that no measurable carbon-isotope redistribution occurs between sea and air for any plausible change in the sea-surface temperature. Although this fact invalidates one possible paleothermometer, it somewhat simplifies the interpretation of carbon-13 data in terrestrial biological samples.