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Background Many patients do not respond or eventually relapse on treatment with programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors due to secondary or acquired resistance; therefore, there is a need to investigate novel PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Methods This open-label, non-randomised study investigated the safety and anti-tumour activity of BGB-A333, a PD-L1 inhibitor, alone and in combination with tislelizumab in patients with advanced solid tumours with progression during/after standard therapy. The primary objectives were to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), safety and tolerability for BGB-A333 alone and in combination with tislelizumab (Phase 1a/1b) and to determine the overall response rate (ORR) with BGB-A333 plus tislelizumab (Phase 2). Results Overall, 39 patients across Phase 1a (N = 15), 1b (N = 12) and 2 (N = 12) were enroled. In Phase 1a, an RP2D of 1350 mg was determined. In Phase 1a and 1b/2, serious treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in five and eight patients, respectively. Two patients experienced TEAEs that led to death. In Phase 2, the ORR was 41.7% (n = 5/12; 95% confidence interval: 15.17%, 72.33%). Conclusions TEAEs reported with BGB-A333 were consistent with other PD-L1 inhibitors. Encouraging preliminary anti-tumour activity was observed with BGB-A333 in combination with tislelizumab. Clinical trial registration NCT03379259.

Supplementary Table S1. IC50 values of ipatasertib on cell viability in cell lines with or without alterations in PTEN or PIK3CA. Supplementary Table S2. Percent tumor growth inhibition (%TGI) in xenograft models with or without alterations in PTEN or PIK3CA. Supplementary Table S3. PI3K/Akt pathway status in archival tumors. Supplementary Table S4. Reasons for discontinuation of study. Supplementary Table S5. Common adverse events for ipatasertib in {greater than or equal to} 10% of patients in any presented group. Supplementary Table S6. All Grade {greater than or equal to} 3 adverse events related to ipatasertib. Supplementary Table S7. Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C) values for patients who had both pre-treatment and post-treatment values in Stages 1 and 2. Supplementary Table S8. Summary data for patients with best radiographic stable disease (SD) by RECIST version 1.0 criteria. Supplementary Figure S1. Exposure plots confirm that exposures achieved in patients in the dose-escalation stage (right side) correlated with exposures in preclinical models at TGI90 (left side). Supplementary Figure S2. Relationship between exposure of ipatasertib to the most common ipatasertib-related AEs of fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and rash. Supplementary Figure S3. Suppression of pGSK3β in platelet-rich plasma versus ipatasertib concentrations. Supplementary Figure S4. Pharmacodynamic (PD) dose-dependent elevations in glucose and insulin following treatment with ipatasertib.

Immune checkpoint blockers have dramatically improved the chances of survival in patients with metastatic cancer, but only a subset of the patients respond to treatment. Search for novel targets that can improve the responder rates and overcome the limitations of adverse events commonly seen with combination therapies, like PD-1 plus CTLA-4 blockade and PD-1/PD-L1 plus chemotherapy, led to the development of monoclonal antibodies blocking T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), a inhibitory checkpoint receptor expressed on activated T cells and NK cells. The strategy showed potential in pre-clinical and early clinical studies, and 5 molecules are now in advanced stages of evaluation (phase II and above). This review aims to provide an overview of clinical development of anti-TIGIT antibodies and describes the factors considered and thought process during early clinical development. Critical aspects that can decide the fate of clinical programs, such as origin of the antibody, Ig isotype, FCγR binding, and the dose as well as dosing schedule, are discussed along with the summary of available efficacy and safety data from clinical studies and the challenges in the development of anti-TIGIT antibodies, such as identifying patients who can benefit from therapy and getting payer coverage.

The aims of this work were to characterize ipatasertib exposure–response (E‐R) relationships in a phase II study and to quantitatively assess benefit‐risk using a clinical utility index approach to support ipatasertib phase III dose selection in patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer. Logistic regression and Cox proportional‐hazards models characterized E‐R relationships for safety and efficacy endpoints, respectively. Exposure metrics with and without considering dose interruptions/reductions (modifications) were tested in the E‐R models. Despite a steeper E‐R relationship when accounting for dose modifications, similar dose‐response projections were generated. The clinical utility index analysis assessed important attributes, weights, and clinically meaningful cutoff/tradeoff values based on predefined minimal, target, and optimistic product profiles. Ipatasertib 400 mg daily, showing the highest probability of achieving the minimal product profiles and better benefit‐risk balance than other doses (200–500 mg daily), was selected for further development in metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer.

To examine the single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics (PK), CYP3A inhibition potential of ipatasertib, and effect of food on PK of ipatasertib in patients with refractory solid tumors and a dedicated food effect assessment in healthy subjects. The Phase I dose-escalation study enrolled patients with solid tumors in a standard 3 + 3 design with a 1 week washout after the first dose, followed by once-daily dosing on a 3-week-on/1-week-off schedule. In the expansion cohort, the effect of ipatasertib on CYP3A substrate (midazolam) was assessed by examining the change in midazolam exposure when dosed in the absence and presence of steady-state ipatasertib at 600 mg. The effect of food on ipatasertib PK was studied with ipatasertib administered in fed or fasted state (6 patients from Phase I patient study and 18 healthy subjects from the dedicated food effect study). Ipatasertib was generally well tolerated at doses up to 600 mg given daily for 21 days. Ipatasertib showed rapid absorption (tmax, 0.5–3 h), was dose-proportional over a range of 200–800 mg, had a median half-life (range) of 45.0 h (27.8–66.9 h), and had approximately two-fold accumulation following once-daily dosing. Midazolam exposure (AUC0-∞) increased by 2.2-fold in the presence of ipatasertib. PK was comparable in subjects administered ipatasertib in a fed or fasted state. Ipatasertib exhibited rapid absorption and was dose-proportional over a broad dose range. Ipatasertib appeared to be a moderate CYP3A inhibitor when administered at 600 mg and could be administered with or without food in clinical studies. NCT01090960 (registered March 23, 2010); NCT02536391 (registered August 31, 2015).

Background: T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and tyrosine based inhibitory motif domain (TIGIT) is a co-inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor expressed on several types of immune cells, which can suppress T-cell activation, promote T-cell exhaustion, and suppress natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity. Recent clinical data with anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) indicate that TIGIT blockade is a highly promising therapy when combined with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. However, unlike PD-1 receptor occupancy (RO), there is a lack of information regarding RO in peripheral blood and tumors at different dose regimens with anti-TIGIT therapies. This study aims to predict intratumoral RO for a series of anti-TIGIT antibodies with known pharmacokinetic (PK) and binding characteristics (ociperlimab [BGB-A1217], vibostolimab, domvanalimab, etigilimab, tiragolumab) utilizing a physiologically-based PK (PBPK)/RO model. Methods: The PBPK/RO model describes biodistribution of mAbs within bodily fluids, detailed transport across the endothelial barrier, two-step binding with the membrane-bound TIGIT receptor (taking into account target expression level, number of cells expressing target receptor and internalization process), linear and non-linear clearance of mAbs (via uptake by endothelium and internalization of mAb:TIGIT complexes, respectively). Physiological parameters were taken from the literature, while other parameters were identified based on available in vitro and in vivo data. Clinical PK data of anti-TIGIT mAbs were used for model calibration. Results: The model-predicted results for RO in peripheral blood demonstrated almost complete occupancy, which is supported by clinical data available for ociperlimab and domvanalimab (predicted 99.9% vs observed 100%). A similar tendency was observed for all studied cell types (CD8, CD4, regulatory T cells) despite the significant differences in TIGIT expression on different cell types. According to model predictions, the intratumoral RO was close to the values reported for blood over a range of doses close to the recommended Phase 2 dose (e.g. ociperlimab 900 mg Q3W median trough RO with 95% CI: blood 99.96% [99.89, 99.98] vs tumor 99.75% [98.88, 99.94]). The direct comparison of extended dosing regimens (e.g. ociperlimab 150/200/300 mg per week regimens) demonstrated a sustainable level of TIGIT blockade and comparable values of trough RO. Conclusions: The PBPK/RO model accurately predicted the RO in peripheral blood and tumors for different anti-TIGIT mAbs by taking into account their PK and binding properties. Moreover, the model allowed a direct comparison of RO across different regimens and different anti-TIGIT mAbs. The predicted TIGIT receptor occupancy within the tumor may be useful for future dose selection or optimization in clinical trials. Citation Format: Dmitry Shchelokov, Oleg Demin Jr, Oleg Demin, Ahsan Rizwan, Yun Zhang, Wei Tan, Srikumar Sahasranaman, Nageshwar Budha. Prediction of intratumoral TIGIT receptor occupancy after the treatment with anti-TIGIT antibodies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5421.

Identification of covariates, including biomarkers, spirometry, and diaries/questionnaires, that predict asthma exacerbations would allow better clinical predictions, shorter phase II trials and inform decisions on phase III design, and/or initiation (go/no‐go). The objective of this work was to characterize asthma‐exacerbation hazard as a function of baseline and time‐varying covariates. A repeated time‐to‐event (RTTE) model for exacerbations was developed using data from a 52‐week phase IIb trial, including 502 patients with asthma randomized to placebo or 70 mg, 210 mg, or 490 mg astegolimab every 4 weeks. Covariate analysis was performed for 20 baseline covariates using the full random effects modeling approach, followed by time‐varying covariate analysis of nine covariates using the stepwise covariate model (SCM) building procedure. Following the SCM, an astegolimab treatment effect was explored. Diary‐based symptom score (difference in objective function value [dOFV] of −83.7) and rescue medication use (dOFV = −33.5), and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (dOFV = −14.9) were identified as significant time‐varying covariates. Of note, time‐varying covariates become more useful with more frequent measurements, which should favor the daily diary scores over others. The most influential baseline covariates were exacerbation history and diary‐based symptom score (i.e., symptom score was important as both time‐varying and baseline covariate). A (nonsignificant) astegolimab treatment effect was included in the final model because the limited data set did not allow concluding the remaining effect size as irrelevant. Without time‐varying covariates, the treatment effect was statistically significant (p

To assess circulating biomarkers as predictors of antitumor response to atezolizumab (anti‐programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1), Tecentriq) serum pharmacokinetic (PK) and 95 plasma biomarkers were analyzed in 88 patients with relapsed/refractory non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving atezolizumab i.v. q3w (10–20 mg/kg) in the PCD4989g phase I clinical trial. Following exploratory analyses, two plasma biomarkers were chosen for further study and correlation with change in tumor size (the sum of the longest diameter) was assessed in a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) tumor modeling framework. When longitudinal kinetics of biomarkers and tumor size were modeled, tumor shrinkage was found to significantly correlate with area under the curve (AUC), baseline factors (metastatic sites, liver metastases, and smoking status), and relative change in interleukin (IL)‐18 level from baseline at day 21 (RCFBIL ‐18,d21). Although AUC was a major predictor of tumor shrinkage, the effect was estimated to dissipate with an average half‐life of 80 days, whereas RCFBIL ‐18,d21 seemed relevant to the duration of the response.

Pictilisib, a weakly basic compound, is an orally administered, potent, and selective pan-inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases for oncology indications. To investigate the significance of high-fat food and gastric pH on pictilisib pharmacokinetics (PK) and enable label recommendations, a dedicated clinical study was conducted in healthy volunteers, whereby both top-down (population PK, PopPK) and bottom-up (physiologically based PK, PBPK) approaches were applied to enhance confidence of recommendation and facilitate the clinical development through scenario simulations. The PopPK model identified food (for absorption rate constant (Ka )) and proton pump inhibitors (PPI, for relative bioavailability (Frel ) and Ka ) as significant covariates. Food and PPI also impacted the variability of Frel . The PBPK model accounted for the supersaturation tendency of pictilisib, and gastric emptying physiology successfully predicted the food and PPI effect on pictilisib absorption. Our research highlights the importance of applying both quantitative approaches to address critical drug development questions.

Background Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) downregulates low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors, thereby leading to a rise in circulating LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). RG7652 is a fully human monoclonal antibody against PCSK9. This placebo-controlled, phase 1 ascending-dose study in healthy subjects evaluated the safety of RG7652 and its efficacy as a potential LDL-C–lowering drug. Hypothesis Anti-PCSK9 antibody therapy safely and effectively reduces LDL-C. Methods Subjects (N = 80) were randomized into 10 cohorts. Six sequential single-dose cohorts received 10, 40, 150, 300, 600, or 800 mg of RG7652 via subcutaneous injection. Four multiple-dose cohorts received 40 or 150 mg of RG7652 once weekly for 4 weeks, either with or without statin therapy (atorvastatin). Results Adverse events (AEs) were generally mild; the most common AEs were temporary injection-site reactions. No serious AEs, severe AEs, AEs leading to study-drug discontinuation, or dose-limiting toxicities were reported. RG7652 monotherapy reduced mean LDL-C levels by up to 64% and as much as 100 mg/dL at week 2; the effect magnitude and duration increased with dose (≥57 days following a single RG7652 dose ≥300 mg). Exploratory analyses showed reduced oxidized LDL, lipoprotein(a), and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 with RG7652. Antidrug antibody against RG7652 tested positive in 2 of 60 (3.3%) RG7652-treated and in 4 of 20 (20.0%) placebo-treated subjects. Simultaneous atorvastatin administration did not appear to impact the pharmacokinetic profile or lipid-lowering effects of RG7652. Conclusions Overall, RG7652 elicited substantial and sustained dose-related LDL-C reductions with an acceptable safety profile and minimal immunogenicity.

Background: Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), play critical roles in the immune modulation of tumor progression. Although both pathways have overlapping elements, each has a distinct mechanism of action. Nonclinical studies have demonstrated that potential synergistic antitumor effects can result from blocking both PD-1 and PD-L1. BGB-A333 is an investigational humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody against PD-L1 that has antitumor activity in xenograft models. Tislelizumab, a clinical-stage anti-PD-1 antibody engineered to minimize binding to FcγR on macrophages in order to abrogate antibody-dependent phagocytosis, has demonstrated clinical activity in patients with advanced solid tumors. Here we report preliminary results from the phase 1 component of an open-label phase 1/2 study (NCT03379259) of BGB-A333 alone and in combination with tislelizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. Methods: Phase 1 of this study consisted of two parts. In Part A, patients received single-agent BGB-A333 IV Q3W at increasing doses; in Part B patients received BGB-A333 1350 mg IV Q3W + tislelizumab 200 mg IV Q3W. Eligible patients had unresectable advanced or metastatic cancer and an ECOG performance status of ≤1. Safety/tolerability profile (primary endpoint) was examined by monitoring adverse events (AEs); secondary endpoints included antitumor activity, assessed by RECIST v1.1, and the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of each antibody. Results: As of Oct 30, 2019, 15 patients were enrolled in Part A (450 mg, n=3; 900 mg, n=3; 1350 mg, n=6; 1800 mg, n=3) and 12 in Part B. Across both parts, patients were female (n=17/29; 63%); squamous cell carcinoma of either skin or head and neck (n=5) and ovarian cancer (n=4) were the most common tumor types. Thirteen patients (48%) had ≥2 lines of prior systemic therapy. The most common treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) were fatigue (N=5; Part A, n=3; Part B, n=2) and nausea (N=4; n=2 in A and B); the only grade ≥3 TRAE occurring in ≥1 patient was grade 3 maculo-papular rash (N=2; n=1 in A and B). One patient in Part B experienced a fatal AE (acute kidney injury) considered possibly related to study treatment. Of the 15 patients receiving BGB-A333 monotherapy in Part A, three (20%) achieved a confirmed complete response and two (13.3%) achieved a partial response (PR). Two of the 12 (16.7%) patients receiving combination therapy in Part B achieved a PR. The PK of BGB-A333 was comparable to a typical IgG1 antibody, and was similar as a single-agent or in combination with tislelizumab. The PK of tislelizumab was comparable with historical data. Conclusions: BGB-A333, alone or in combination with tislelizumab, was generally well tolerated and demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with advanced solid tumors. Based on these data, expansion cohorts have been initiated. Citation Format: Jayesh Desai, Mark Voskoboynik, Ben Markman, Sophia Frentzas, Paul Foster, Nageshwar Budha, Jing Song, Tarek Meniawy. Preliminary safety and efficacy data of BGB-A333, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, alone and in combination with tislelizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr CT253.

The purpose of this work was to present a consolidated set of guidelines for the analysis of uncontrolled concomitant medications (ConMed) as a covariate and potential perpetrator in population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) analyses. This white paper is the result of an industry-academia-regulatory collaboration. It is the recommendation of the working group that greater focus be given to the analysis of uncontrolled ConMeds as part of a PopPK analysis of Phase 2/3 data to ensure that the resulting outcome in the PopPK analysis can be viewed as reliable. Other recommendations include: (1) collection of start and stop date and clock time, as well as dose and frequency, in Case Report Forms regarding ConMed administration schedule; (2) prespecification of goals and the methods of analysis, (3) consideration of alternate models, other than the binary covariate model, that might more fully characterize the interaction between perpetrator and victim drug, (4) analysts should consider whether the sample size, not the percent of subjects taking a ConMed, is sufficient to detect a ConMed effect if one is present and to consider the correlation with other covariates when the analysis is conducted, (5) grouping of ConMeds should be based on mechanism (e.g., PGP-inhibitor) and not drug class (e.g., beta-blocker), and (6) when reporting the results in a publication, all details related to the ConMed analysis should be presented allowing the reader to understand the methods and be able to appropriately interpret the results.

Summary Background Obesity has been linked to increased mortality in several cancer types; however, the relation between obesity and survival outcomes in metastatic melanoma is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between body-mass index (BMI) and progression-free survival or overall survival in patients with metastatic melanoma who received targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy. Methods This retrospective study analysed independent cohorts of patients with metastatic melanoma assigned to treatment with targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy in randomised clinical trials and one retrospective study of patients treated with immunotherapy. Patients were classified according to BMI, following the WHO definitions, as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. Patients without BMI and underweight patients were excluded. The primary outcomes were the associations between BMI and progression-free survival or overall survival, stratified by treatment type and sex. We did multivariable analyses in the independent cohorts, and combined adjusted hazard ratios in a mixed-effects meta-analysis to provide a precise estimate of the association between BMI and survival outcomes; heterogeneity was assessed with meta-regression analyses. Analyses were done on the predefined intention-to-treat population in the randomised controlled trials and on all patients included in the retrospective study. Findings The six cohorts consisted of a total of 2046 patients with metastatic melanoma treated with targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy between Aug 8, 2006, and Jan 15, 2016. 1918 patients were included in the analysis. Two cohorts containing patients from randomised controlled trials treated with targeted therapy (dabrafenib plus trametinib [n=599] and vemurafenib plus cobimetinib [n=240]), two cohorts containing patients treated with immunotherapy (one randomised controlled trial of ipilimumab plus dacarbazine [n=207] and a retrospective cohort treated with pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or atezolizumab [n=331]), and two cohorts containing patients treated with chemotherapy (two randomised controlled trials of dacarbazine [n=320 and n=221]) were classified according to BMI as normal (694 [36%] patients), overweight (711 [37%]), or obese (513 [27%]). In the pooled analysis, obesity, compared with normal BMI, was associated with improved survival in patients with metastatic melanoma (average adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·77 [95% CI 0·66–0·90] for progression-free survival and 0·74 [0·58–0·95] for overall survival). The survival benefit associated with obesity was restricted to patients treated with targeted therapy (HR 0·72 [0·57–0·91] for progression-free survival and 0·60 [0·45–0·79] for overall survival) and immunotherapy (HR 0·75 [0·56–1·00] and 0·64 [0·47–0·86]). No associations were observed with chemotherapy (HR 0·87 [0·65–1·17, p interaction =0·61] for progression-free survival and 1·03 [0·80–1·34, p interaction =0·01] for overall survival). The association of BMI with overall survival for patients treated with targeted and immune therapies differed by sex, with inverse associations in men (HR 0·53 [0·40–0·70]), but no associations observed in women (HR 0·85 [0·61–1·18, p interaction =0·03]). Interpretation Our results suggest that in patients with metastatic melanoma, obesity is associated with improved progression-free survival and overall survival compared with those outcomes in patients with normal BMI, and that this association is mainly seen in male patients treated with targeted or immune therapy. These results have implications for the design of future clinical trials for patients with metastatic melanoma and the magnitude of the benefit found supports further investigation of the underlying mechanism of these associations. Funding ASCO/CCF Young Investigator Award, ASCO/CCF Career Development Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) Melanoma Moonshot Program, MDACC Melanoma SPORE, and the Dr Miriam and Sheldon G Adelson Medical Research Foundation.

RG7652 is a human immunoglobulin 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and is designed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. A target-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure RG7652 levels in human serum in a Phase I study. Although target-binding assay formats are generally used to quantify free therapeutic, the actual therapeutic species being measured are affected by assay conditions, such as sample dilution and incubation time, and levels of soluble target in the samples. Therefore, in the presence of high concentrations of circulating target, the choice of reagents and assay conditions can have a significant effect on the observed pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles. Phase I RG7652 PK analysis using the ELISA data resulted in a nonlinear dose normalized exposure. An investigation was conducted to characterize the ELISA to determine whether the assay format and reagents may have contributed to the PK observation. In addition, to confirm the ELISA results, a second orthogonal method, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using a signature peptide as surrogate, was developed and implemented. A subset of PK samples, randomly selected from half of the subjects in the 6 single ascending dose (SAD) cohorts in the Phase I clinical study, was analyzed with the LC-MS/MS assay, and the data were found to be comparable to the ELISA data. This paper illustrates the importance of reagent characterization, as well as the benefits of using an orthogonal approach to eliminate bioanalytical contributions when encountering unexpected observations.

PCSK9 is a promising target for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease. A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology model of the mechanisms of action of statin and anti‐PCSK9 therapies was developed to predict low density lipoprotein (LDL) changes in response to anti‐PCSK9 mAb for different treatment protocols and patient subpopulations. Mechanistic interactions and cross‐regulation of LDL, LDL receptor, and PCSK9 were modeled, and numerous virtual subjects were developed and validated against clinical data. Simulations predict a slightly greater maximum percent reduction in LDL cholesterol (LDLc) when anti‐PCSK9 is administered on statin background therapy compared to as a monotherapy. The difference results primarily from higher PCSK9 levels in patients on statin background. However, higher PCSK9 levels are also predicted to increase clearance of anti‐PCSK9, resulting in a faster rebound of LDLc. Simulations of subjects with impaired LDL receptor (LDLR) function predict compromised anti‐PCSK9 responses in patients such as homozygous familial hypercholesterolemics, whose functional LDLR is below 10% of normal. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst. Pharmacol. (2014) 3, e149; doi:10.1038/psp.2014.47; published online 26 November 2014

Background: Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a key component of the B-cell receptor signaling pathway. The BTK inhibitors ibrutinib and acalabrutinib have been approved for the treatment of various B-cell malignancies. Zanubrutinib is a potent and highly specific next-generation BTK inhibitor currently in Phase 3 clinical testing. Achieving complete and sustained target engagement with respect to BTK receptor occupancy is thought to be an important factor for attaining deeper and durable clinical responses with the BTK inhibitors. Testing for BTK occupancy in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) can be assessed in clinical studies. However, it is difficult to sample deep target tissues such as bone marrow (BM) and lymph nodes (LN) in patients to assess receptor occupancy. The objectives of this work were (1) to develop a QSP model to describe and predict the BTK receptor occupancy in PBMC, BM and LN after dosing with these BTK inhibitors in patients with B-cell malignancies, (2) to understand the impact of different dosing regimens (once daily (QD) v/s twice daily (BID)) on BTK receptor occupancy. Methods: A mathematical model was developed that describes: (1) pharmacokinetics (PK) of BTK inhibitors; (2) intracellular concentration of BTK inhibitors in PBMC, BM and LN; (3) binding of BTK inhibitors with BTK including competition with ATP and (4) BTK degradation/turnover rate. This QSP model includes ibrutinib with its metabolite PCI-45227, acalabrutinib with its metabolite ACP-5862, and zanubrutinib. Previously developed minimal Physiologically-based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models were used to reproduce PK of BTK inhibitors. Intracellular concentrations of BTK inhibitors were described in the model in accordance with PBPK equations for small molecules (Rodgers and Rowland. J Pharm Sci. 2006) and on the basis of their physico-chemical properties. Parameters and interindividual variability in parameter values were taken from previously developed models and estimated using experimental data. Sensitivity analyses using key model parameters such as BTK degradation/turnover rate were performed. The model was validated using available in vitro and clinical data on BTK occupancy. Results: The QSP model accurately described the observed clinical data on PK of BTK inhibitors during treatment with different doses and regimens of ibrutinib, acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib. There was good agreement between model prediction and observed BTK occupancy in PBMC and LN (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Zanubrutinib (160 mg BID) was predicted to result in higher median BTK occupancy with less variability in both PBMC and LN than ibrutinib (420 mg QD, 560 mg QD) and acalabrutinib (100 mg BID). In the absence of clinical BTK occupancy data in BM, the model predicted that steady-state trough BTK occupancy in BM were also predicted to be higher after zanubrutinib 160 mg BID administration, than those after ibrutinib 560 mg or 420 mg QD administration, and after acalabrutinib 100 mg BID administration. These differences are attributed to the PK properties (higher AUC and fraction unbound in plasma), binding properties to BTK (Kd, inactivation rate constant), and higher lipophilicity for zanubrutinib. The model predicted that 160 mg BID of zanubrutinib resulted in higher median trough BTK occupancy than 320 mg QD with less variability which is consistent with the observed clinical data (Figure 3). Conclusions: A QSP model was successfully developed and validated, which predicted higher median BTK occupancy with less variability for zanubrutinib in PBMC, BM and LN than ibrutinib and acalabrutinib. A BID dosing regimen produces higher BTK occupancy than a QD regimen over the dosing interval. Ongoing clinical trials with 160 mg BID zanubrutinib will help to determine if improved BTK occupancy in these peripheral and deep target tissues translate into improvements in clinical outcomes. Disclosures Sahasranaman: BeiGene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Demin:BeiGene USA, Inc.: Consultancy; InSysBio LLC: Employment. Shchelokov:InSysBio LLC: Employment; BeiGene USA, Inc.: Consultancy. Musatova:BeiGene USA, Inc.: Consultancy; InSysBio LLC: Employment. Budha:BeiGene Ltd.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ou:BeiGene: Employment.

Previous studies have demonstrated that increased gastric pH from the use of acid-reducing agents, such as proton-pump inhibitors or H2-receptor antagonists, can significantly impact the absorption of weakly basic drugs that exhibit pH-dependent solubility. Clinically practical strategies to mitigate this interaction have not been developed. This pilot study evaluated the extent and time course of gastric reacidification after a solid oral dosage form of anhydrous betaine HCl in healthy volunteers with pharmacologically induced hypochlorhydria. Six healthy volunteers with baseline normochlorhydria (fasting gastric pH < 4) were enrolled in this single period study. Hypochlorhydria was induced via 20 mg oral rabeprazole twice daily for four days. On the fifth day, an additional 20 mg dose of oral rabeprazole was given and gastric pH was monitored continuously using the Heidelberg pH capsule. After gastric pH > 4 was confirmed for 15 min, 1500 mg of betaine HCl was given orally with 90 mL of water and gastric pH was continuously monitored for 2 h. Betaine HCl significantly lowered gastric pH by 4.5 (± 0.5) units from 5.2 (± 0.5) to 0.6 (± 0.2) (P < 0.001) during the 30 min interval after administration. The onset of effect of betaine HCl was rapid, with a mean time to pH < 3 of 6.3 (± 4.3) min. The reacidification period was temporary with a gastric pH < 3 and < 4 lasting 73 (± 33) and 77 (± 30) min, respectively. Betaine HCl was well tolerated by all subjects. In healthy volunteers with pharmacologically induced hypochlorhydria, betaine HCl was effective at temporarily lowering gastric pH. The rapid onset and relatively short duration of gastric pH reduction gives betaine HCl the potential to aid the absorption of orally administered weakly basic drugs that exhibit pH-dependent solubility when administered under hypochlorhydric conditions.

Activation of AKT signaling by PTEN loss or PIK3CA mutations occurs frequently in human cancers, but targeting AKT has been difficult due to the mechanism-based toxicities of inhibitors that target the inactive conformation of AKT. Ipatasertib (GDC-0068) is a novel selective ATP-competitive small-molecule inhibitor of AKT that preferentially targets active phosphorylated AKT (pAKT) and is potent in cell lines with evidence of AKT activation. In this phase I study, ipatasertib was well tolerated; most adverse events were gastrointestinal and grade 1–2 in severity. The exposures of ipatasertib ≥200 mg daily in patients correlated with preclinical TGI90, and pharmacodynamic studies confirmed that multiple targets (i.e., PRAS40, GSK3β, and mTOR) were inhibited in paired on-treatment biopsies. Preliminary antitumor activity was observed; 16 of 52 patients (30%), with diverse solid tumors and who progressed on prior therapies, had radiographic stable disease, and many of their tumors had activation of AKT. Significance: Potent inhibition of AKT signaling with ipatasertib was associated with a tolerable safety profile and meaningful disease control in a subgroup of patients. Targeting pAKT with an ATP-competitive inhibitor provides a greater therapeutic window than allosteric inhibitors. Further investigation with ipatasertib is ongoing in phase II studies. Cancer Discov; 7(1); 102–13. ©2016 AACR. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1

Potential differences in pharmacokinetics (PK) between healthy subjects and patients with cancer were investigated using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic approach integrating demographic and physiological data from patients with cancer. Demographic data such as age, sex and body weight, and clinical laboratory measurements such as albumin, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AAG) and hematocrit were collected in ~2500 patients with cancer. A custom oncology population profile was built using the observed relationships among demographic variables and laboratory measurements in Simcyp® software, a population based ADME simulator. Patients with cancer were older compared with the age distribution in a built-in healthy volunteer profile in Simcyp. Hematocrit and albumin levels were lower and AAG levels were higher in patients with cancer. The custom population profile was used to investigate the disease effect on the pharmacokinetics of two probe substrates, saquinavir and midazolam. Higher saquinavir exposure was predicted in patients relative to healthy subjects, which was explained by the altered drug binding due to elevated AAG levels in patients with cancer. Consistent with historical clinical data, similar midazolam exposure was predicted in patients and healthy subjects, supporting the hypothesis that the CYP3A activity is not altered in patients with cancer. These results suggest that the custom oncology population profile is a promising tool for the prediction of PK in patients with cancer. Further evaluation and extension of this population profile with more compounds and more data will be needed.

RG7652 (MPSK3169A), a fully human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), blocks the interaction between PCSK9 and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor. EQUATOR (ClinicalTrials.govNCT01609140), a randomized, double-blind, and dose-ranging phase 2 study, evaluated RG7652 in patients (1) at high risk for or (2) with coronary heart disease (CHD). The primary end point was change in LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) from baseline to day 169. Patients (n = 248; median age, 64 years; 57% men; 52% with established CHD; 82% on statins) with baseline LDL-C levels of 90 to 250 mg/dl (mean, 126 mg/dl) continuing on standard-of-care therapy were randomized to receive 1 of 5 RG7652 doses or placebo, subcutaneously every 4, 8, or 12 weeks for 24 weeks. Significant dose-dependent reductions in LDL-C levels from baseline to nadir (56 to 74 mg/dl [48% to 60%]) were observed in all RG7652-dosed patients; effects persisted to day 169 with the highest doses (reduction vs placebo up to 62 mg/dl [51%]) with no unexpected safety signals. RG7652 reduced apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) levels. LDL-C subfraction analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed a prominent decrease in large LDL-C and some decrease in small LDL particles. There was significant reduction in mean particle size of LDL-C on day 169 but no significant reductions in systemic markers of inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). RG7652 reduced LDL-C levels and was well tolerated in patients at high risk for or with CHD on standard-of-care therapy. In conclusion, RG7562 treatment affected large LDL-C and, to a lesser extent, small LDL-C particles; RG7562 did not affect systemic circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling can be used to predict drug pharmacokinetics in virtual populations using models that integrate understanding of physiological systems. PBPK models have been widely utilized for predicting pharmacokinetics in clinically untested scenarios during drug applications and regulatory reviews in recent years. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the application of PBPK in new drug application (NDA) review documents from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past 4 years.

Cobimetinib is eliminated mainly through cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4-mediated hepatic metabolism in humans. A clinical drug–drug interaction (DDI) study with the potent CYP3A4 inhibitor itraconazole resulted in an approximately sevenfold increase in cobimetinib exposure. The DDI risk for cobimetinib with other CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers needs to be assessed in order to provide dosing instructions. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed for cobimetinib using in vitro data. It was then optimized and verified using clinical pharmacokinetic data and itraconazole–cobimetinib DDI data. The contribution of CYP3A4 to the clearance of cobimetinib in humans was confirmed using sensitivity analysis in a retrospective simulation of itraconazole–cobimetinib DDI data. The verified PBPK model was then used to predict the effect of other CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers on cobimetinib pharmacokinetics. The PBPK model described cobimetinib pharmacokinetic profiles after both intravenous and oral administration of cobimetinib well and accurately simulated the itraconazole–cobimetinib DDI. Sensitivity analysis suggested that CYP3A4 contributes ~78 % of the total clearance of cobimetinib. The PBPK model predicted no change in cobimetinib exposure (area under the plasma concentration–time curve, AUC) with the weak CYP3A inhibitor fluvoxamine and a three to fourfold increase with the moderate CYP3A inhibitors, erythromycin and diltiazem. Similarly, cobimetinib exposure in the presence of strong (rifampicin) and moderate (efavirenz) CYP3A inducers was predicted to decrease by 83 and 72 %, respectively. This study demonstrates the value of using PBPK simulation to assess the clinical DDI risk inorder to provide dosing instructions with other CYP3A4 perpetrators.

Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins suppress apoptosis and are overexpressed in a variety of cancers. GDC-0152 is a potent and selective IAP antagonist being developed as an anticancer agent. In preclinical safety studies, dogs were particularly sensitive to GDC-0152 showing adverse signs of a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) driven systemic inflammatory response, related to cellular IAP degradation and activation of NFκB signaling, at lower exposures compared with rat. In addition, downstream increases in systemic levels of cytokines and chemokines, such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), were observed. A semimechanistic population toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic (TK/TD) model incorporating transit compartments was used to fit MCP-1 plasma concentrations from rats or dogs given iv GDC-0152 doses. Estimated TD parameters inferred that lower GDC-0152 plasma concentrations triggered more severe increases in plasma MCP-1 in dogs compared with rats. Human simulations performed using dog TD parameters and human pharmacokinetics predicted 300-2400% increases of MCP-1 in humans at iv doses from 0.76 to 1.48mg/kg. Similar simulations using rat TD parameters suggest little or no change. Patients given iv doses of GDC-0152 up to 1.48mg/kg iv showed no substantial increases in systemic MCP-1 or signs of a severe TNF-α driven systemic inflammatory response. Emerging clinical data reported for other IAP antagonists are consistent with our observations. Taken together, the data suggest dogs are more sensitive to IAP antagonists compared with humans and rats. This study illustrates how TK/TD analysis can be utilized to quantitatively translate and context an identified preclinical safety risk in dogs to humans.

A majority of the novel orally administered, molecularly targeted anticancer therapies are weak bases that exhibit pH-dependent solubility, and suppression of gastric acidity with acid-reducing agents could impair their absorption. In addition, a majority of cancer patients frequently take acid-reducing agents to alleviate symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, thereby raising the potential for a common but underappreciated drug-drug interaction (DDI) that could decrease the exposure of anticancer medication and result in subsequent failure of therapy. This article is a review of the available clinical literature describing the extent of the interaction between 15 orally administered, small-molecule targeted anticancer therapies and acid-reducing agents. The currently available clinical data suggest that the magnitude of this DDI is largest for compounds whose in vitro solubility varies over the pH range 1-4. This range represents the normal physiological gastric acidity (pH ~1) and gastric acidity while on an acid-reducing agent (pH ~4).

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of GDC-0152 in human plasma to support clinical development. The method consisted of a solid-phase extraction for sample preparation and LC-MS/MS analysis in the positive ion mode using TurboIonSpray(TM) for analysis. d(7) -GDC-0152 was used as the internal standard. A linear regression (weighted 1/concentration(2) ) was used to fit calibration curves over the concentration range of 0.02-10.0 ng/mL for GDC-0152. There were no endogenous interference components in the blank human plasma tested. The accuracy at the lower limit of quantitation was 99.3% with a precision (%CV) of 13.9%. For quality control samples at 0.0600, 2.00 and 8.00 ng/mL, the between-run %CV was ≤8.64. Between-run percentage accuracy ranged from 98.2 to 99.6%. GDC-0152 was stable in human plasma for 363 days at -20°C and for 659 days at -70°C storage. GDC-0152 was stable in human plasma at room temperature for up to 25 h and through three freeze-thaw cycles. In whole blood, GDC-0152 was stable for 12 h at 4°C and at ambient temperature. This validated LC-MS/MS method for determination of GDC-0152 was used to support clinical studies.

Purpose: To determine the dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), adverse events (AE), pharmacokinetics, and preliminary evidence of antitumor activity of CUDC-427 (formerly GDC-0917), a selective antagonist of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins. Experimental Design: Patients with advanced solid malignancies were treated with escalating doses of CUDC-427 orally on a daily 14-day on/7-day off schedule in 21-day cycles using a modified continuous reassessment method design. Blood samples were assayed to determine the pharmacokinetic properties, pharmacodynamic alterations of cellular IAP levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels. Results: Forty-two patients received 119 cycles of CUDC-427. Overall, the most common treatment-related toxicities were fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and rash. One DLT (grade 3 fatigue) occurred in a patient at 450 mg dose level during cycle 1, and 5 patients experienced AEs related to CUDC-427 that led to discontinuation and included grade 3 pruritus, and fatigue, and grade 2 drug hypersensitivity, pneumonitis, rash, and QT prolongation. The maximum planned dose of 600 mg orally daily for 2 weeks was reached, which allometrically scaled to exceed the IC90 in preclinical xenograft studies. Significant decreases in cIAP-1 levels in PBMCs were observed in all patients 6 hours after initial dosing. Responses included durable complete responses in one patient with ovarian cancer and one patient with MALT lymphoma. Conclusions: CUDC-427 can be administered safely at doses up to 600 mg daily for 14 days every 3 weeks. The absence of severe toxicities, inhibition of cIAP-1 in PBMC, and antitumor activity warrant further studies. Clin Cancer Res; 22(18); 4567–73. ©2016 AACR.

To characterize cobimetinib pharmacokinetics and evaluate impact of clinically relevant covariates on cobimetinib pharmacokinetics. Plasma samples (N = 4886) were collected from 487 patients with various solid tumors (mainly melanoma) in three clinical studies (MEK4592g, NO25395, GO28141). Cobimetinib was administered orally, once daily on either a 21-day-on/7-day-off, 14-day-on/14-day-off or 28-day-on schedule in a 28-day dosing cycle as single agent or in combination with vemurafenib. Cobimetinib doses ranged from 2.1 to 125 mg. NONMEM was used for pharmacokinetic analysis. A linear two-compartment model with first-order absorption, lag time and first-order elimination described cobimetinib pharmacokinetics. The typical estimates (inter-individual variability) of apparent clearance (CL/F), central volume of distribution (V2/F) and terminal half-life were 322 L/day (58 %), 511 L (49 %) and 2.2 days, respectively. Inter-occasion variability on relative bioavailability was estimated at 46 %. CL/F decreased with age. V2/F increased with body weight (BWT). However, the impact of age and BWT on cobimetinib steady-state exposure (peak and trough concentrations and AUC following the recommended daily dose of 60 mg 21-day-on/7-day-off) was limited (

RG7652 is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody targeting human PCSK9, a regulator of serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) levels. RG7652 prevents degradation of the hepatic LDLc receptors by blocking PCSK9 binding and thereby resulting in efficient LDLc uptake by hepatocytes. The pharmacokinetics of RG7652 have been evaluated in healthy subjects after single and multiple subcutaneous doses. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) models were developed to explain the antibody PK and LDLc time course data. The PK and PD models based on data from healthy subjects were used to simulate the effects of RG7652 on LDLc levels for a range of potential dose regimens in patients with coronary heart disease. A one-compartment PK model combined with an indirect PD response model was able to adequately describe the PK and LDLc data. Simulations of 400 mg every 4 weeks or 800 mg every 8 weeks regimens show significant LDLc reduction and suggest that dosing RG7652 once every month or once every 2 months is predicted to be optimal for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The PK and PD model successfully described the PK and LDLc data from healthy subjects in a Phase 1 study, and the model-based simulations provided useful insights and quantitative understanding for the selection of Phase 2 study doses in patients with coronary heart disease. The approach used in the case study demonstrates the utility of modeling and simulation in designing dose-ranging studies.

Acid-reducing agents (ARAs) are the most commonly prescribed medications in North America and Western Europe. There are currently no data describing the prevalence of their use among cancer patients. However, this is a paramount question due to the potential for significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between ARAs, most commonly proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and orally administered cancer therapeutics that display pH-dependent solubility, which may lead to decreased drug absorption and decreased therapeutic benefit. Of recently approved orally administered cancer therapeutics,50% are characterized as having pH-dependent solubility, but there are currently no data describing the potential for this ARA-DDI liability among targeted agents currently in clinical development. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the prevalence of ARA use among different cancer populations and (2) investigate the prevalence of orally administered cancer therapeutics currently in development that may be liable for an ARA-DDI. To address the question of ARA use among cancer patients, a retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed using two large healthcare databases: Thomson Reuters MarketScan (N = 1,776,443) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA, N = 1,171,833). Among all cancer patients, the total prevalence proportion of ARA use (no. of cancer patients receiving an ARA/total no. of cancer patients) was 20% and 33% for the MarketScan and VA databases, respectively. PPIs were the most commonly prescribed agent, comprising 79% and 65% of all cancer patients receiving a prescription for an ARA (no. of cancer patients receiving a PPI /no. of cancer patients receiving an ARA) for the MarketScan and VA databases, respectively. To estimate the ARA-DDI liability of orally administered molecular targeted cancer therapeutics currently in development, two publicly available databases, (1) Kinase SARfari and (2) canSAR, were examined. For those orally administered clinical candidates that had available structures, the pKa's and corresponding relative solubilities were calculated for a normal fasting pH of 1.2 and an "ARA-hypochlorhydric" pH of 4. Taking calculated pKa's and relative solubilities into consideration, clinical candidates were classified based on their risk for an ARA-DDI. More than one-quarter (28%) of the molecules investigated are at high risk for an ARA-DDI, and of those high risk molecules, nearly three-quarters (73%) are being clinically evaluated for at least one of five cancer types with the highest prevalence of ARA use (gastrointestinal, pancreatic, lung, glioblastoma multiforme, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)). These data strongly suggest that with the clinical development of ARA-DDI-susceptible cancer therapeutics will come continued challenges for drug-development scientists, oncologists, and regulatory agencies in ensuring that patients achieve safe and efficacious exposures of their cancer therapeutics and thus optimal patient outcomes.

The application of modeling and simulation techniques is increasingly common in the preclinical stages of the drug development process. GDC-0917 [( S )-1-(( S )-2-cyclohexyl-2-(( S )-2-(methylamino)propanamido)acetyl)- N -(2-(oxazol-2-yl)-4-phenylthiazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide] is a potent second-generation antagonist of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins that is being developed for the treatment of various cancers. GDC-0917 has low to moderate clearance in the mouse (12.0 ml/min/kg), rat (27.0 ml/min/kg), and dog (15.3 ml/min/kg), and high clearance in the monkey (67.6 ml/min/kg). Accordingly, oral bioavailability was lowest in monkeys compared with other species. Based on our experience with a prototype molecule with similar structure, in vitro–in vivo extrapolation was used to predict a moderate clearance (11.5 ml/min/kg) in humans. The predicted human volume of distribution was estimated using simple allometry at 6.69 l/kg. Translational pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) analysis using results from MDA-MB-231-X1.1 breast cancer xenograft studies and predicted human pharmacokinetics suggests that ED 50 and ED 90 targets can be achieved in humans using acceptable doses (72 mg and 660 mg, respectively) and under an acceptable time frame. The relationship between GDC-0917 concentrations and pharmacodynamic response (cIAP1 degradation) was characterized using an in vitro peripheral blood mononuclear cell immunoassay. Simulations of human GDC-0917 plasma concentration-time profile and cIAP1 degradation at the 5-mg starting dose in the phase 1 clinical trial agreed well with observations. This work shows the importance of leveraging information from prototype molecules and illustrates how modeling and simulation can be used to add value to preclinical studies in the early stages of the drug development process.

The compound (S)-1-[(S)-2-cyclohexyl-2-([S]-2-[methylamino]propanamido)acetyl]-N-(4-phenyl-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide (GDC-0152) is a peptidomimetic small molecule antagonist of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins with antitumor activity. The mass balance, pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and metabolism of GDC-0152 was investigated in rats following intravenous administration of 15 mg/kg of [(14)C]GDC-0152, labeled either at the terminal phenyl ring (A) or at the carbonyl of the 2-amino-2-cyclohexylacetyl moiety (B). In rats, 92.2%-95.1% of the radiolabeled GDC-0152 dose was recovered. Approximately 62.3% and 25.1% of A was excreted in urine and feces, respectively. By contrast, B was excreted almost equally in urine (27.2%), feces (32.2%), and expired air (27.5%). GDC-0152 underwent extensive metabolism, with less than 9% of the dose recovered as parent in excreta. Similarly, in plasma, GDC-0152 represented 16.7% and 7.5% of the area under the curve of the total radioactivity for A and B, respectively. The terminal half-life (t(1/2)) for total radioactivity was longer for B (21.2 hours) than for A (4.59 hours). GDC-0152 was highly metabolized via oxidation and amide hydrolysis, followed by subsequent sulfation and glucuronidation. The most abundant circulating metabolites were the amide hydrolyzed products, M26, M28, M30, M31, and M34, which ranged from 3.5% to 9.0% of total radioactivity. In quantitative whole-body autoradiography studies, the residence of radioactivity in tissues was longer for B than for A, which is consistent with the t(1/2) of the total radioactivity in circulation. A novel 4-phenyl-5-amino-1,2,3-thiadiazole (M28) oxidative cleavage resulted in the formation of hippuric acid (M24). This biotransformation was also observed in rat hepatocyte incubations with para-substituted M28 analogs. In addition, the formation of M24 was inhibited by 1-aminobenzotriazole, which points to the involvement of P450 enzymes.

A series of compounds were designed and synthesized as antagonists of cIAP1/2, ML-IAP, and XIAP based on the N-terminus, AVPI, of mature Smac. Compound 1 (GDC-0152) has the best profile of these compounds; it binds to the XIAP BIR3 domain, the BIR domain of ML-IAP, and the BIR3 domains of cIAP1 and cIAP2 with K(i) values of 28, 14, 17, and 43 nM, respectively. These compounds promote degradation of cIAP1, induce activation of caspase-3/7, and lead to decreased viability of breast cancer cells without affecting normal mammary epithelial cells. Compound 1 inhibits tumor growth when dosed orally in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer xenograft model. Compound 1 was advanced to human clinical trials, and it exhibited linear pharmacokinetics over the dose range (0.049 to 1.48 mg/kg) tested. Mean plasma clearance in humans was 9 ± 3 mL/min/kg, and the volume of distribution was 0.6 ± 0.2 L/kg.

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of GDC-0152 in human plasma to support clinical development. The method consisted of a solid-phase extraction for sample preparation and LC-MS/MS analysis in the positive ion mode using TurboIonSpray(TM) for analysis. d(7) -GDC-0152 was used as the internal standard. A linear regression (weighted 1/concentration(2) ) was used to fit calibration curves over the concentration range of 0.02-10.0 ng/mL for GDC-0152. There were no endogenous interference components in the blank human plasma tested. The accuracy at the lower limit of quantitation was 99.3% with a precision (%CV) of 13.9%. For quality control samples at 0.0600, 2.00 and 8.00 ng/mL, the between-run %CV was ≤8.64. Between-run percentage accuracy ranged from 98.2 to 99.6%. GDC-0152 was stable in human plasma for 363 days at -20°C and for 659 days at -70°C storage. GDC-0152 was stable in human plasma at room temperature for up to 25 h and through three freeze-thaw cycles. In whole blood, GDC-0152 was stable for 12 h at 4°C and at ambient temperature. This validated LC-MS/MS method for determination of GDC-0152 was used to support clinical studies.

2573 Background: Cobimetinib (COBI), an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinases, when combined with vemurafenib (VEM) has been shown to significantly improve PFS (p < 0.001) over VEM alone i...

Purpose: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) regulates hepatic LDL receptors, playing a key role in cholesterol metabolism. Gain of function genetic mutations cause autosomal dominant hypercholesterolaemia, while nonsense mutations lower LDL-c and the risk of coronary events. RG7652 (MPSK3169A) is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against PCSK9. This first-in-human study evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy in healthy individuals with elevated LDL-c. Methods: This Phase I study tested single and multiple doses of RG7652 and placebo given subcutaneously to 80 healthy volunteers with elevated serum LDL-c concentrations. Subjects entered six ascending, single-dose (SD) and four multiple-dose (MD) cohorts allocated 6 active:2 placebo. Two MD cohorts included atorvastatin therapy (40 mg daily) prior to administration of study drug. Following cohort safety reviews, escalation to the next higher dose cohort continued. The primary efficacy endpoint was change in LDL-c 2 weeks after final dose of study drug, with safety follow-up occurring during Weeks 8-16. Results: Eighty subjects (mean age 45 years, range 19-64; 48% male) with mean LDL-c of 162 mg/dL (4.2 mmol/L) were randomised. RG7652 reduced mean LDL-c by as much as 90 mg/dL (60%) from baseline, with a dose-dependent effect that appeared to saturate at the highest doses. The average reduction in LDL-c at Day 15 in SD and Day 36 in MD was >40 mg/dL in all cohorts other than the lowest dose. RG7652 had similar LDL-c lowering effects and kinetics when added to atorvastatin. No dose-limiting safety effects were identified and no subjects discontinued study drug for adverse events (AEs). Thirty-seven AEs, all mild, were attributed to study drug: 27 in 14 RG7652 subjects; 10 in 6 placebo subjects. Conclusions: The anti-PCSK9 mAb, RG7652, safely decreased LDL-c in healthy volunteers with elevated LDL-c as monotherapy and in combination with atorvastatin. The results support further testing of RG7652 in dyslipidaemic patients.

Objectives Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) regulates hepatic LDL receptors, playing a key role in cholesterol metabolism. Gain of function genetic mutations cause autosomal dominant hypercholesterolaemia, while nonsense mutations lower LDL-c and the risk of coronary events. RG7652 (MPSK3169A) is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against PCSK9. This first-in-human study evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy in healthy individuals with elevated LDL-c. Methods This Phase I study tested single and multiple doses of RG7652 and placebo given subcutaneously to 80 healthy volunteers with elevated serum LDL-c concentrations. Subjects entered six ascending, single-dose (SD) and four multiple-dose (MD) cohorts allocated 6 active: 2 placebo. Two MD cohorts included atorvastatin therapy (40 mg daily) prior to administration of study drug. Following cohort safety reviews, escalation to the next higher dose cohort continued. The primary efficacy endpoint was change in LDL-c 2 weeks after final dose of study drug, with safety follow-up occurring during Weeks 8–16. Results Eighty subjects (mean age 45 years, range 19-64; 48% male) with mean LDL-c of 162 mg/dL (4.2 mmol/L) were randomised. RG7652 reduced mean LDL-c by as much as 90 mg/dL (60%) from baseline, with a dose-dependent effect that appeared to saturate at the highest doses. The average reduction in LDL-c at Day 15 in SD and Day 36 in MD was > 40 mg/dL in all cohorts other than the lowest dose. RG7652 had similar LDL-c lowering effects and kinetics when added to atorvastatin. No dose-limiting safety effects were identified and no subjects discontinued study drug for adverse events (AEs). Thirty-seven AEs, all mild, were attributed to study drug: 27 in 14 RG7652 subjects; 10 in 6 placebo subjects. Conclusions The anti-PCSK9 mAb, RG7652, safely decreased LDL-c in healthy volunteers with elevated LDL-c as monotherapy and in combination with atorvastatin. The results support further testing of RG7652 in dyslipidaemic patients.

2503 Background: GDCE0917 is a small molecule that triggers tumor cell apoptosis by selectively antagonizing IAP proteins. Preclinical studies demonstrated antitumor efficacy of GDC-0917 alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. Methods: Oral GDC-0917 was given on Day (d) 1 followed by 2d off and a 2-week (w) on/ 1w off treatment (tx) schedule (21d cycle) starting d4. A modified continual reassessment method was used for dose escalation. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT, assessed d1-24), PK, adverse events (AEs), pharmacodynamics (PD), and clinical activity were evaluated. Results: 42 pts of age 36-86 (median 60.5) were enrolled in 11 cohorts (5-600 mg) and received 1-15 cycles (median 2) of GDC-0917. One DLT, Grade (G) 3 fatigue, was observed at 450 mg. The maximum tolerated dose was not determined although plasma concentrations of preclinically defined IC90 were reached. The most frequent AEs were diarrhea, fatigue and nausea (26.2% each), vomiting (23.8%), and constipation (19%). The most frequent AEs reported as tx-related were mostly G1-2 and included fatigue and nausea (21.4% each), vomiting (14.3%), rash (11.9%) and pruritus (9.5%). AEs reported as tx-related that were ≥ G3 in > 1 pt were elevated AST and ALT (2 pts, at 450 and 600 mg). AEs reported as tx-related that resulted in tx discontinuation were G3 fatigue, G2 QTc prolongation, G2 drug hypersensitivity, G2 pneumonitis (1 pt each), and G3 pruritus/G2 rash (same pt). GDC-0917 peak concentrations were observed 2-3h post dosing. Exposure was dose-proportional with a mean plasma elimination t1/2of 4-8h and no apparent accumulation at steady state. Rapid down-modulation of cIAP1 was observed in PBMCs at all dose levels. Evaluation of tumor biopsies demonstrated decreases in cIAP1 (2 pts total, at 40 and 200 mg) and increases in activated caspase-3 and cPARP (1 pt at 200 mg). Two pts (4.8%) had a complete response (both unconfirmed, ovarian Ca and MALT lymphoma [PET]); 4 pts (9.5%) had stable disease for ≥ 3 months. Conclusions: GDC-0917 had a favorable safety, PK and PD profile in pts with advanced malignancies. These encouraging results support further clinical evaluation of this agent. Clinical trial information: NCT01226277.

GDC-0068 is a highly selective ATP-competitive small molecule that inhibits all three isoforms of Akt with IC50 values of 5 to 30 nM. GDC-0068 selectively inhibits cancer cells with activated Akt signaling (e.g. via PTEN loss or PIK3CA mutations). Patients with advanced solid tumors were treated with GDC-0068 using a 3+3 escalation design. GDC-0068 was dosed PO QD on a 21-day on, 7-day off schedule; endpoints included safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and determination of pathway knockdown. Pharmacodynamics (PD) endpoints in surrogate tissue [platelet rich plasma (PRP)] were evaluated in all patients. In addition, at least two patients per cohort had pre- and on-treatment (day 15) tumor biopsies at doses ≥100mg QD. The tumor tissue samples were evaluated using reverse phase protein array (RPPA). Thirty patients were enrolled across 7 cohorts (25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg QD). GDC-0068 was generally well-tolerated at doses ≤ 600 mg. Preliminary PK analyses show a dose proportional increase in exposure over the dose range tested. In addition, clinical exposures at doses ≥ 200 mg QD met or exceeded GDC-0068 exposures associated with tumor stasis in multiple PTEN null preclinical xenograft models. PK/PD evaluation showed dose-dependent Akt pathway inhibition in the PRP assay, with ≥70% inhibition of pGSK3 in all patients at doses ≥ 200 mg QD. Pre- and on-treatment tumor biopsies showed ≥50% decrease in pPRAS40 and cyclin D1 in multiple patients at doses of 200 mg QD and higher. In addition, evidence of feedback activation of the MAP kinase pathway after treatment with GDC-0068 was observed in biopsy samples. One patient with PTEN low/ PIK3CA H1047R/ KRAS wt CRC had prolonged stable disease and showed Akt pathway suppression by multiple downstream markers. GDC-0068 is well tolerated at doses ≤ 600 mg with a favorable safety profile and dose proportional pharmacokinetics. Treatment with GDC-0068 results in substantial pathway knockdown in both surrogate and tumor tissues at doses ≥ 200 mg QD. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B154.