Model-Based Dose Selection of Subcutaneous Nivolumab in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

The pharmacokinetics (PK) of intravenous (i.v.) nivolumab is well characterized. A subcutaneous (s.c.) nivolumab formulation with and without recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 enzyme is being evaluated in CheckMate 8KX (NCT03656718). A model-based analysis was conducted to characterize the PK of nivolumab s.c. and predict systemic exposures after i.v. and s.c. administration to guide dosing regimen selection for nivolumab s.c. A prior i.v. model was modified to incorporate an s.c. extravascular compartment and estimate the absorption rate constant and bioavailability of nivolumab s.c. Serum concentration-time data from 82 patients treated with nivolumab s.c. 720, 960, or 1,200 mg were pooled with existing i.v. data from multiple studies for model development. Prediction-corrected visual predictive check (pcVPC) plots assessed the model's performance. Stochastic simulations were conducted to predict exposures for i.v. and s.c. administration. The data were described by a two-compartment model with time-varying clearance, zero-order infusion into the central compartment after i.v. dosing, and first-order absorption from the extravascular compartment after s.c. dosing. The pcVPC suggested that the model adequately described the observed nivolumab s.c. data. Predicted nivolumab exposures at 1,200 mg s.c. every 4 weeks (q4w) were higher than those at the approved dose of 3 mg/kg i.v. q2w and lower than those at the highest tested safe dose of 10 mg/kg i.v. q2w. Nivolumab PK is well-characterized using the combined s.c./i.v. population PK model. The model-based analysis facilitated a comprehensive benefit-risk assessment of nivolumab s.c. and informed selection of 1,200 mg s.c. q4w for phase III evaluation.

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of the Tyrosine Kinase 2 Inhibitor Deucravacitinib in Healthy Chinese Subjects

INTRODUCTION

Deucravacitinib, an oral, selective, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, blocks cytokine signaling involved in psoriasis pathogenesis. This ethnic-bridging study evaluated deucravacitinib pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and safety in healthy Chinese subjects.

METHODS

This phase I, double-blind, single-/multiple-dose study randomized healthy Chinese subjects 4:1 to a single dose of deucravacitinib 6 mg or placebo (group 1) or deucravacitinib 12 mg or placebo (group 2) on day 1; groups 1 and 2 received deucravacitinib 6 mg and 12 mg once daily, respectively, or placebo on days 5-19. Blood samples were collected on days 1-5 (0 predose-96 h postdose), day 5 (0-24 h postdose), days 9 and 12 (0 h), and day 19 (0-24 h postdose). Deucravacitinib and metabolite (BMT-153261, BMT-158170) concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry; pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. Urine was collected on days 1-4 (4 h predose-96 h postdose). Safety was monitored throughout.

RESULTS

Forty healthy Chinese subjects (groups 1 and 2: deucravacitinib, n = 32; placebo, n = 8) were enrolled. Deucravacitinib was rapidly absorbed after single-/multiple-dose administration, with median time to maximal plasma concentration of 1.5-2.3 h. Systemic exposure after single or multiple doses increased approximately twofold with twofold dose increase. Modest deucravacitinib accumulation was observed after multiple-dose administration (1.3- to 1.4-fold increase in area under the curve [AUC] under one dosing interval). Metabolite-to-parent ratios for maximal plasma concentration and AUC remained consistent in each dose group. Mean urinary percent recovery and renal clearance were similar between dose groups. Most adverse events (AEs) were mild/moderate, with no serious treatment-related AEs, deaths, or discontinuations due to AEs.

CONCLUSION

Deucravacitinib was safe and well tolerated in healthy Chinese subjects. Deucravacitinib exhibited rapid absorption, dose-related increases in exposure, comparable half-life, and no evidence of time-dependent pharmacokinetics, suggesting minimal effect of Chinese ethnicity on deucravacitinib pharmacokinetics.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03956953.

Absolute and Relative Bioavailability of Oral Solid Dosage Formulations of Deucravacitinib in Humans

Deucravacitinib is an oral, selective, allosteric inhibitor of tyrosine kinase 2, an intracellular signaling kinase involved in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. The absolute and relative bioavailability (BA) were evaluated in phase 1, open-label studies in healthy adults to assess (1) the absolute BA of the deucravacitinib tablet formulation following single oral administration of a 12-mg tablet and an intravenous microdose infusion of 0.1-mg carbon-13 and nitrogen-15-labeled deucravacitinib ([13 C2 , 15 N3 ] deucravacitinib) solution in 8 subjects, and (2) the relative oral BA of deucravacitinib tablet and capsule formulations at the 3- and 12-mg dose levels in 20 subjects. The absolute oral availability of deucravacitinib in the tablet formulation was near complete at approximately 99%. The total clearance (254 mL/min) was low relative to hepatic blood flow, and volume of distribution (∼140 L) was greater than total body water, indicating extravascular distribution. Deucravacitinib systemic exposure (maximum plasma concentration, area under the plasma drug concentration curve from time zero to the time of the last quantifiable nonzero concentration, and area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve from time zero extrapolated to infinity) after administration of the tablet formulation were similar to the capsule at the tested 3- and 12-mg doses. In both studies, deucravacitinib was safe with no clinically relevant changes in laboratory values, electrocardiogram parameters, or vital signs.

Exposure-response analysis for nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (CheckMate 040)

This analysis was conducted to inform dose selection of a combination of nivolumab plus ipilimumab for the treatment of sorafenib-experienced patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CheckMate 040 is an open-label, multicohort, phase I/II trial in adults with advanced HCC that evaluated nivolumab monotherapy (0.1-10 mg/kg once every 2 weeks [q2w]) and the following three combinations of nivolumab plus ipilimumab: (1) nivolumab 1 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks (q3w) for four doses, followed by nivolumab monotherapy 240 mg q2w (arm A); (2) nivolumab 3 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg q3w for four doses, followed by nivolumab monotherapy 240 mg q2w (arm B); and (3) nivolumab 3 mg/kg q2w plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks continuously (arm C). Exposure-response relationships (efficacy and safety) were characterized using nivolumab and ipilimumab concentrations after the first dose (Cavg1) as the exposure measure. Objective tumor response (OTR) and overall survival (OS) improvements were associated with increased ipilimumab exposure (OTR: odds ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-1.86; OS: hazard ratio 0.86, 95% CI 0.75-0.98), but not nivolumab exposure (OTR: odds ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.97-1.02; OS: hazard ratio 1.08, 95% CI 0.89-1.32). Hepatic treatment-related and immune-mediated adverse events were more common in arm A than in arms B or C. Nivolumab 1 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg q3w for four doses, followed by nivolumab monotherapy 240 mg q2w had the most favorable benefit:risk profile in patients with advanced HCC.

First-in-human study of deucravacitinib: A selective, potent, allosteric small-molecule inhibitor of tyrosine kinase 2

This randomized, double-blind, single- and multiple-ascending dose study assessed the pharmacokinetics (PKs), pharmacodynamics, and safety of deucravacitinib (Sotyktu™), a selective and potent small-molecule inhibitor of tyrosine kinase 2, in 100 (75 active, 25 placebo) healthy volunteers (NCT02534636). Deucravacitinib was rapidly absorbed, with a half-life of 8-15 h, and 1.4-1.9-fold accumulation after multiple dosing. Deucravacitinib inhibited interleukin (IL)-12/IL-18-induced interferon (IFN)γ production ex vivo in a dose- and concentration-dependent manner. Following in vivo challenge with IFNα-2a, deucravacitinib demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of lymphocyte count decreases and expression of 53 IFN-regulated genes. There were no serious adverse events (AEs); the overall frequency of AEs was similar in the deucravacitinib (64%) and placebo (68%) groups. In this first-in-human study, deucravacitinib inhibited IL-12/IL-23 and type I IFN pathways in healthy volunteers, with favorable PK and safety profiles. Deucravacitinib is a promising therapeutic option for immune-mediated diseases, including Crohn's disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

POS0672 ASSESSMENT OF THE DRUG-DRUG INTERACTION POTENTIAL OF BRANEBRUTINIB (BMS-986195), A HIGHLY POTENT AND SELECTIVE IRREVERSIBLE COVALENT INHIBITOR OF BRUTON’S TYROSINE KINASE, IN HEALTHY PARTICIPANTS

Background

Branebrutinib (BMS-986195) is a highly potent and selective irreversible small-molecule covalent inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK),1 a non-receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the pathophysiology of immune-mediated diseases. Branebrutinib has the potential to be best in its class, as it achieves ~100% BTK occupancy in humans, sustained over a 24-hour dosing interval at low doses (≤ 10 mg once daily [QD]) despite its short half-life (≤ 2 hours),2 and demonstrates potent efficacy in murine models of immune-mediated diseases.1 Branebrutinib is under clinical study in multiple autoimmune inflammatory disorders such as RA, systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren’s syndrome, and atopic dermatitis. In vitro drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies with branebrutinib predicted pharmacokinetic DDI potential with substrates of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 and the breast cancer resistant protein drug transporter.

Objectives

To assess the DDI potential of branebrutinib when co-administered with potential concomitant medications and probe substrates of major drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and drug transporters.

Methods

DDI risk with branebrutinib was assessed in 3 single-sequence, cross-over clinical studies in healthy participants. In the first 2-part study, MTX was administered alone or with steady-state (SS) branebrutinib (10 mg QD) in part 1; in part 2, caffeine, montelukast, flurbiprofen, omeprazole, midazolam, digoxin, and pravastatin were taken with or without SS branebrutinib (9 mg QD). In the second study, rosuvastatin was taken alone or with SS branebrutinib (9 mg QD). In cycle 1 of the third study, the oral contraceptive (OC) loestrin (1.5 mg norethindrone/30 μg ethinyl estradiol) was taken alone; in cycle 2, SS branebrutinib (9 mg QD) was taken alone or with the OC.

Results

Weak DDI with montelukast (CYP2C8) was observed, leading to a mild increase in montelukast exposure (max concentration [Cmax], 56%; area under the curve [AUC], 27%). A mild increase in digoxin exposure (P-glycoprotein [P-gp] substrates; Cmax, 57%; AUC, 21%) was also observed. There was no potential DDI with MTX (Table 1). No other clinically relevant DDIs with branebrutinib were observed. No serious AEs or other significant AEs occurred during these studies. All AEs were mild to moderate in intensity.

Table 1.

Results from clinical DDI studies of branebrutinib

Adjusted geometric mean ratios with (test) and without (reference) branebrutinibConcomitant medication or probe substrateDME or drug transporter testedCmax ratio (90% CI)AUC ratio (90% CI)Digoxin (0.25 mg)P-gp1.57 (1.36–1.80)1.21 (1.11–1.32)MTX (7.5 mg)BCRP, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OAT1, OAT3, MRP2, MRP41.00 (0.92–1.09)0.94 (0.90–0.99)Pravastatin (40 mg)OATP1B1, OATP1B31.25 (1.00–1.57)1.06 (0.90–1.25)Rosuvastatin (10 mg)BCRP, OATP1B1, OATP1B30.81 (0.71–0.93)0.96 (0.88–1.04)Montelukast (10 mg)CYP2C81.56 (1.24–1.95)1.27 (1.10–1.47)Caffeine (200 mg)CYP1A20.98 (0.94–1.01)1.16 (1.08–1.24)Flurbiprofen (50 mg)CYP2C91.06 (0.97–1.16)1.12 (1.09–1.15)Omeprazole (50 mg)CYP2C191.05 (0.85–1.30)0.97 (0.84–1.13)Midazolam (5 mg)CYP3A40.95 (0.82–1.11)1.00 (0.84–1.19)Ethinyl estradiol (30 μg)CYP3A, CYP2C9, UGAT1A1, SULT1E11.16 (1.09–1.23)1.17 (1.12–1.22)Norethindrone (1.5 mg)CYP3A4, CYP2C191.10 (1.04–1.15)1.06 (1.01–1.12)

BCRP, breast cancer resistant protein; MRP, multidrug resistance-associated protein; OAT, organic anion transporting polypeptide; SULT, estrogen sulfotransferase; UGAT, uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase.

Conclusion

In all 3 studies, co-administration of SS branebrutinib was generally well tolerated. The only potentially significant DDIs with substrates of major DMEs or transporters were mild increases in montelukast (CYP2C8) and digoxin (P-gp) exposures.

References

[1]Watterson SH, et al. J Med Chem 2019;62:3228–50.

[2]Catlett IM, et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2020;86:1849–59.

Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb. Editorial assistance was provided by Candice Judith Dcosta, MSc, of Caudex, and was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb.

Disclosure of Interests

Aberra Fura Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Ihab Girgis Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, CSL Behring, Miroslawa Nowak Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Leon Carayannopoulos Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Dennis Grasela Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Wenying Li Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Bindu Murthy Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Urvi Aras Shareholder of: Bristol Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol Myers Squibb

Lack of Electrocardiographic Effects of Deucravacitinib in Healthy Subjects

Deucravacitinib is a novel, oral, selective inhibitor of the intracellular signaling kinase tyrosine kinase 2. This phase 1, randomized, partially double‐blind, 4‐period crossover study in healthy adults was conducted to determine whether deucravacitinib 12 mg (therapeutic dose) or 36 mg (supratherapeutic dose) had a clinically relevant effect on the corrected QT interval and other electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters. Subjects received 1 of 4 sequences of placebo, deucravacitinib 12 mg, deucravacitinib 36 mg, and moxifloxacin 400 mg (positive control) in a randomized crossover fashion. The placebo‐corrected change from baseline for the QT interval corrected for heart rate using the Fridericia method (QTcF), ECG parameters, and safety measures were evaluated. A clinically meaningful QTcF prolongation of >10 milliseconds was not found for deucravacitinib at tested doses. Assay sensitivity was demonstrated by the observation of known QT effects of moxifloxacin in the study. Deucravacitinib had no clinically relevant effect on other parameters and was generally well tolerated. The majority of adverse events (AEs) were mild, and all AEs resolved by study's end. Three treatment‐related serious AEs of pharyngitis, cellulitis, and lymphadenopathy occurred in 1 subject following administration of deucravacitinib 12 mg, but resolved by end of study. This study demonstrated that a single oral dose of deucravacitinib 12 or 36 mg did not produce a clinically relevant effect on the corrected QT interval or other measured ECG parameters in healthy adults.

CheckMate 8KX: Phase 1/2 multitumor preliminary analyses of a subcutaneous formulation of nivolumab (± rHuPH20)

2575

Background: Immunotherapy has transformed cancer survival expectations. Nivolumab (NIVO), a programmed death-1 inhibitor, is approved for intravenous (IV) administration across multiple cancers. BMS is developing a subcutaneous (SC) NIVO formulation with a permeation enhancer, recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 enzyme (rHuPH20), to allow for more rapid delivery and the potential to decrease treatment burden. We report the first data on pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, safety, and immunogenicity for SC NIVO + rHuPH20. Methods: CheckMate 8KX is a phase 1/2 study in checkpoint inhibitor-naïve patients (pts) who were ≥ 18 years of age, ECOG PS 0–1, with metastatic/unresectable solid tumors and measurable disease. The primary objective was to describe SC NIVO PK; secondary objectives were safety and immunogenicity. Additional analyses compared exposures to historical IV NIVO (Zhao X, et al. J Clin Oncol 2020;31:302–309). In cycle 1, pts in Part A received SC NIVO 720 mg + rHuPH20, and pts in Part B received SC NIVO 720 mg, SC NIVO 960 mg + rHuPH20, or SC NIVO 960 mg. For cycles 2+, pts in Parts A and B received IV NIVO 480 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W). Pts still on study switched to Part C, SC NIVO 1200 mg + rHuPH20 until end of therapy. In Part D, pts received de novo SC NIVO 1200 mg + rHuPH20 Q4W. Results: Patient characteristics varied by age, weight, tumor type, and prior treatment. NIVO exposures increased with increasing SC dose (Table). For 960 mg and 1200 mg NIVO + rHuPH20, Cavg and Ctau were above geometric mean exposures for IV NIVO 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks (Q2W), and Cmax was below IV NIVO 10 mg/kg Q2W. In Part C (n = 28), 13 (46.4%) pts experienced any-grade TRAEs with no new/worsening grade 3+ TRAEs or TRAEs leading to discontinuation/death; 7 (25.0%) reported grade 1 local site reactions. In Part D (n = 36), 27 (75.0%) pts experienced any-grade TRAEs, 4 (11.1%) grade 3/4 TRAEs, 2 (5.6%) serious grade 3/4 TRAEs with 1 leading to discontinuation, and no treatment-related deaths; 10 (27.8%) reported grade 1 local site reactions. Anti-NIVO antibodies (Ab) were observed with SC NIVO but not associated with altered PK/safety, or neutralizing Ab. Exploratory biomarker data found increased CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 tumor expression in post-treatment biopsies, similar to IV NIVO. Conclusions: Exposures associated with SC NIVO + rHuPH20 doses investigated in CheckMate 8KX were well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with IV NIVO. Data support evaluation of SC NIVO + rHuPH20 in a phase 3 study. Clinical trial information: NCT03656718. [Table: see text]

Utilizing pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics modeling to simultaneously examine free CCL2, total CCL2 and carlumab (CNTO 888) concentration time data

The chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) promotes angiogenesis, tumor proliferation, migration, and metastasis. Carlumab is a human IgG1κ monoclonal antibody with high CCL2 binding affinity. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data from 21 cancer patients with refractory tumors were analyzed. The PK/PD model characterized the temporal relationships between serum concentrations of carlumab, free CCL2, and the carlumab-CCL2 complex. Dose-dependent increases in total CCL2 concentrations were observed and were consistent with shifting free CCL2. Free CCL2 declined rapidly after the initial carlumab infusion, returned to baseline within 7 days, and increased to levels greater than baseline following subsequent doses. Mean predicted half-lives of carlumab and carlumab-CCL2 complex were approximately 2.4 days and approximately 1 hour for free CCL2. The mean dissociation constant (KD ), 2.4 nM, was substantially higher than predicted by in vitro experiments, and model-based simulation revealed this was the major factor hindering the suppression of free CCL2 at clinically viable doses.

Development of a preclinical PK/PD model to assess antitumor response of a sequential aflibercept and doxorubicin-dosing strategy in acute myeloid leukemia

Timing of the anti-angiogenic agent with respect to the chemotherapeutic agent may be crucial in determining the success of combination therapy in cancer. We investigated the effects of sequential therapy with the potent VEGF inhibitor, aflibercept, and doxorubicin (DOX) in preclinical acute myeloid leukemia (AML) models. Mice were engrafted with human HL-60 and HEL-luciferase leukemia cells via S.C. and/or I.V. injection and treated with two to three doses of aflibercept (5-25 mg/kg) up to 3-7 days prior to doxorubicin (30 mg/kg) administration. Leukemia growth was determined by local tumor measurements (days 0-16) and systemic bioluminescent imaging (days 0-28) in animals receiving DOX (3 mg/kg) with or without aflibercept. A PK/PD model was developed to characterize how prior administration of aflibercept altered intratumoral DOX uptake. DOX concentration-time profiles were described using a four-compartment PK model with linear elimination. We determined that intratumoral DOX concentrations were 6-fold higher in the aflibercept plus DOX treatment group versus DOX alone in association with increased drug uptake rates (from 0.125 to 0.471 ml/h/kg) into tumor without affecting drug efflux. PD modeling demonstrated that the observed growth retardation was mainly due to the combination of DOX plus TRAP group; 0.00794 vs. 0.0043 h(-1). This PK/PD modeling approach in leukemia enabled us to predict the effects of dosing frequency and sequence for the combination of anti-VEGF and cytotoxic agents on AML growth in both xenograft and marrow, and may be useful in the design of future rational combinatorial dosing regimens in hematological malignancies.

Chemopreventive and anti-angiogenic effects of dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate in an N-methyl nitrosourea-induced breast cancer animal model

The effect of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a component of cruciferous vegetables, on the initiation and progression of cancer was investigated in a chemically induced estrogen-dependent breast cancer model. Breast cancer was induced in female Sprague Dawley rats (8 weeks old) by the administration of N-methyl nitrosourea (NMU). Animals were administered 50 or 150 µmol/kg oral PEITC and monitored for tumor appearance for 18 weeks. The PEITC treatment prolonged the tumor-free survival time and decreased the tumor incidence and multiplicity. The time to the first palpable tumor was prolonged from 69 days in the control, to 84 and 88 days in the 50 and 150 µmol/kg PEITC-treated groups. The tumor incidence in the control, 50 µmol/kg, and 150 µmol/kg PEITC-treated groups was 56.6%, 25.0% and 17.2%, while the tumor multiplicity was 1.03, 0.25 and 0.21, respectively. Differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05) from the control, but there were no significant differences between the two dose levels. The intratumoral capillary density decreased from 4.21 ± 0.30 vessels per field in the controls to 2.46 ± 0.25 in the 50 µmol/kg and 2.36 ± 0.23 in the 150 µmol/kg PEITC-treated animals. These studies indicate that supplementation with PEITC prolongs the tumor-free survival, reduces tumor incidence and burden, and is chemoprotective in NMU-induced estrogen-dependent breast cancer in rats. For the first time, it is reported that PEITC has anti-angiogenic effects in a chemically induced breast cancer animal model, representing a potentially significant mechanism contributing to its chemopreventive activity.

The effect of fluvastatin of hyperlipidemia in renal transplant recipients: a prospective, placebo-controlled study

Posttransplant hyperlipidemia is a common complication which may affect long term cardiovascular mortality. In this prospective, placebo-controlled study, 19 renal transplant recipients (11 male 8 female, mean age 31.2 +/- 8.4 years) with good allograft function (serum creatinine <2 mg/dl) more than 6 months after transplantation were included. All the patients had hyperlipidemia (serum cholesterol >230 mg/dl and/or LDL-cholesterol >130 mg/dl) despite dietary interventions. The patients were treated with a triple immunosuppressive regimen. After a 8-week period of placebo plus diet regimen, the patients were put on fluvastatin plus diet for another 8 weeks. The patients were followed for its effect on lipid parameters and side effects. After convertion to fluvastatin, serum cholesterol (263.0 +/- 31.6 vs 223.2 +/- 31.6 mg/dl, p = 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (174.4 +/- 28.3 vs 136.4 +/- 28.5 mg/dl, p = 0.002), Apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 (131.1 +/- 16.9 vs 114.7 +/- 18.4 mg/dl, p = 0.001) and Apo B (109.0 +/- 29.8 vs 97.3 +/- 31.5 mg/dl, p = 0.02) levels decreased significantly. Serum levels of triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels did not vary under fluvastatin. Serum lipoprotein (a) levels were also unchanged during the whole study period (24.9 +/- 19.4 vs 23.1 +/- 19.8 mg/dl, p > 0.05). We concluded that fluvastatin effectively decreased atherogenic lipoproteins such as serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Apo B in posttransplant hyperlipidemia, however fluvastatin had no effect on another independent risk factor of atherogenesis, serum lipoprotein (a) levels.