Abstract Details

Title Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Ravulizumab in Adults with Anti-Aquaporin-4 Antibody-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder During the Phase 3 CHAMPION-NMOSD trial

Topic Autoimmune Neurology

Presentation(s) S5 - Autoimmune Neurology: NMOSD and MG, a Focus on Treatment Trials (1:36 PM-1:48 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 004

Background

Ravulizumab has a long elimination half-life allowing maintenance dosing every 8 weeks. As a result of 4 amino acid substitutions into the eculizumab frame that augment endosomal pH-dependent C5 binding and enhance recycling, the serum half-life and duration of action of ravulizumab is prolonged compared with eculizumab.

Objective

To describe the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of the long-acting terminal complement 5 (C5) inhibitor ravulizumab in adults with anti-aquaporin-4 antibody-positive (AQP4+) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in the CHAMPION-NMOSD trial (NCT04201262).

Design/Methods

Patients aged ≥18 years received a weight-based intravenous loading dose of ravulizumab (2400–3000 mg) on day 1, then weight-based maintenance doses (3000–3600 mg) on day 15 and once every 8 weeks thereafter. PK assessments included maximum observed concentration (C_max, assessed at the end of infusion) and concentration at the end of the dosage interval (C_trough, assessed predose) for ravulizumab. PD assessments included time-matched observed serum free C5 concentration up to 50 weeks.

Results

The PK/PD analysis included 58 ravulizumab-treated patients. Serum ravulizumab concentrations at or above the therapeutic threshold (175 μg/mL) were achieved within 60 minutes after dose administration and maintained from first dose to week 50 in all patients. Following a maintenance ravulizumab dose at week 50, the mean (standard deviation) C_max and C_trough were 1877.6 (413.61) and 754.1 (220.71) μg/mL, respectively (n=52). Immediate and complete inhibition of serum free C5 (terminal complement) was observed (free C5 serum concentrations <0.5 μg/mL) by the end of the first ravulizumab infusion and sustained throughout the treatment period in patients with NMOSD.

Conclusions

Serum ravulizumab concentrations were maintained above the therapeutic threshold in all patients through 50 weeks of treatment. Inhibition of serum free C5 was complete and sustained throughout the treatment period. The 8-week dosing interval of ravulizumab represents a potential new therapy option for relapse prevention in adults with AQP4+ NMOSD.

Authors/Disclosures
Stephan Ortiz, PhD (Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease) PRESENTER	Dr. Ortiz has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Alexion/AstraZeneca Rare Disease. Dr. Ortiz has stock in Alexion.
Sean J. Pittock, MD (Mayo Clinic Dept of Neurology)	Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Genentech, Inc.. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sage Therapeutics, Inc.. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Astellas. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Prime Therapeutics. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for UCB. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Roche/Genentech. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Alexion. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for MedImmune/Viela Bio. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Arialys Therapeutics. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Roche/Genentech. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for UCB, Inc. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Hoffman/LaRoche AG. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Genetech. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for F. Hofman/LaRoche. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Alexion. Dr. Pittock has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Arialys. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received research support from Grifols. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received research support from Viela Bio/MedImmune/Horizon. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received research support from Alexion Pharmaceuticals. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received research support from F. Hoffman/LaRoche/Genentech. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received research support from NovelMed. The institution of Dr. Pittock has received research support from AstaZeneca. Dr. Pittock has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Dr. Pittock has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Dr. Pittock has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.
Achim Berthele (School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Dept.)	Achim Berthele has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Biogen. Achim Berthele has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Bayer. Achim Berthele has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Celgene. Achim Berthele has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Merck. Achim Berthele has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Roche. Achim Berthele has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Alexion. Achim Berthele has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Novartis. Achim Berthele has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biogen. Achim Berthele has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Alexion.
Michael Levy, MD, PhD, FAAN (Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School)	Dr. Levy has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Mitsubishi Pharma. Dr. Levy has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for UCB Pharma. Dr. Levy has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sanofi. Dr. Levy has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Alexion. Dr. Levy has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Horizon. Dr. Levy has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Genentech. Dr. Levy has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Elsevier. Dr. Levy has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Various law firms. The institution of Dr. Levy has received research support from National Institutes Health.
Ichiro Nakashima, MD, PhD (Department of Neurology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital)	Dr. Nakashima has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Alexion. Dr. Nakashima has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Biogen. Dr. Nakashima has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Novartis. Dr. Nakashima has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Chugai. Dr. Nakashima has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Alexion. Dr. Nakashima has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biogen. Dr. Nakashima has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Novartis. Dr. Nakashima has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Chugai. The institution of Dr. Nakashima has received research support from LSI Medience.
Celia Oreja Guevara	Celia Oreja Guevara has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for merck. Celia Oreja Guevara has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for roche. Celia Oreja Guevara has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for sanofi. Celia Oreja Guevara has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for novartis.
Ho Jin Kim, MD (National Cancer Center)	Dr. Kim has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Aprilbio, HanAll BioPharma, Viela Bio. Dr. Kim has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Alexion, Biogen, Celltrion, Eisai, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi Genzyme, Teva-Handok. Dr. Kim has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Multiple Sclerosis Journal, Journal of Clinical Neurology.