Development of trofinetide for the treatment of Rett syndrome: from bench to bedside

Rett syndrome (RTT) is rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene that encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a DNA-binding protein with roles in epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Functional loss of MeCP2 results in abnormal neuronal maturation and plasticity, characterized by loss of verbal communication and loss of fine and gross motor function, among others. Trofinetide, a synthetic analog of glycine-proline-glutamate, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of RTT in adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older. Here, we present the development of trofinetide from bench research to clinical studies and emphasize how the collaboration between academia, the pharmaceutical industry, and patient advocacy led to the recent approval. The bench-to-bedside development of trofinetide underscores the value of collaboration between these groups in the development and approval of treatments for rare diseases.

Changes in physical function in older women with endometrial cancer with or without adjuvant therapy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate changes in physical function (PF) for older women with endometrial cancer (EC) + / - adjuvant therapy in the Women's Health Initiative Life and Longevity after Cancer cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study examined women ≥ 70 years of age with EC with available treatment records. Change in PF was measured using the RAND-36 and compared between groups using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Multivariable median regression was used to compare the changes in scores while adjusting for confounding variables.

RESULTS

Included in the study were 287 women, 150 (52.3%) women who did not receive adjuvant therapy and 137 (47.7%) who received adjuvant therapy. When comparing PF scores, there was a statistically significant difference in the median percent change in functional decline, with a greater decline in those who received adjuvant therapy (- 5.9% [- 23.5 to 0%]) compared to those who did not (0 [- 18.8 to + 6.7%]), p = 0.02). Results were not statistically significant after multivariable adjustment, but women who underwent chemotherapy had a greater percent change (median ∆ - 13.8% [- 35.5 to 0%]) compared to those who received radiation alone (median ∆ - 5.9% [- 31.3 to 0%]) or chemotherapy and radiation (median ∆ - 6.5% [- 25.8 to + 5.7%].

CONCLUSIONS

Older women with EC who received adjuvant therapy experienced greater change in PF than those who did not receive adjuvant therapy, particularly women who received chemotherapy. These results were not statistically significant on multivariate analysis.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

EC survivors may experience changes in PF because of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Additional supportive care may need to be provided to older women to mitigate functional decline.

Litifilimab (BIIB059), a promising investigational drug for cutaneous lupus erythematosus

INTRODUCTION

There are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapies for cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Litifilimab is a monoclonal antibody against BDCA2, a plasmacytoid dendritic cell specific antigen, currently under investigation for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and CLE. The LILAC study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, is a phase II randomized controlled trial for CLE which demonstrated superiority of Litifilimab over placebo using a skin directed outcome measure.

AREAS COVERED

This review identifies challenges that have hindered the development of any approved treatments for CLE, recent SLE trials that include skin disease data, and the pharmacological properties of litifilimab. We review the clinical efficacy and safety of litifilimab for both SLE and CLE in the phase I and II clinical trials. This review aims to highlight the need for more CLE specific clinical trials and examine the potential of litifilimab as the first FDA approved therapy for CLE. (Clinical trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT02847598.).

EXPERT OPINION

Litifilimab demonstrated efficacy in a randomized phase II clinical trial as a standalone CLE trial using validated skin specific outcome measures, making it the first successful clinical trial for a CLE targeted therapy. If approved, litifilimab will be a pivotal change in the landscape of CLE management especially for severe and refractory disease.