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Background. Polycythemia vera (PV) patients are treated with periodic therapeutic phlebotomy (TP) in order to maintain hematocrit levels 45%, thereby potentially increasing their risk of thrombosis. Symptomatic iron deficiency represents a challenge in PV as it is commonly present at diagnosis [Ginzburg Leukemia 2018] and worsens after repeated and/or frequent TP, and often symptomatic from their iron deficiency. We hypothesized that both iron deficiency and expanded erythropoiesis in PV lead to suppression of hepcidin, the body's main negative regulator of iron metabolism, and that hepcidin suppression enhances iron absorption and availability for enhanced erythropoiesis in TP-requiring PV patients. We previously demonstrated that PTG-300, a hepcidin-mimetic, caused dose-related anemia in preclinical studies. In a phase 2 trial in β-thalassemia, PTG-300 leads to a sustained (3-7 days) decrease in serum iron and transferrin saturation (TSAT) but did not demonstrate off-target effects. The current study aims to compare the iron status and phlebotomy requirements in high TP-requiring PV patients before and during treatment with PTG-300 (Figure 1). Methods. PTG-300-04 is a 3-part Phase 2 trial consisting of (1) a 28-week dose-finding; (2) a 12-week blinded randomized withdrawal (1:1) PTG-300 vs placebo; and (3) a 52-week open label extension (Figure 1). Eligibility criteria include PV diagnosis (by 2016 WHO criteria) and ≥3 phlebotomies with or without concurrent cytoreductive therapy to maintain hematocrit ≤45% in the 24 weeks prior to enrollment. PTG-300 doses of 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg administered subcutaneously weekly were adjusted to maintain hematocrit Results. Thirteen subjects were enrolled to date: 7/13 with low risk, mean age 57.4 years (range 31-74). Six receiving TP alone, 6 concurrent hydroxyurea, 1 on concurrent interferon; TP in the 24 weeks prior to enrollment = 3-9; median time between TP = 42 days. After instruction, each of the patients self-administered the drug at home. Eight subjects have been treated for ≥3 months with PTG-300 (Figure 2a). Three subjects have been randomized. During the open label dose finding portion of the study, all subjects were phlebotomy-free with the exception of one subject. Three subjects completed part 1 (28 weeks) with no TP as compared to 3-5 TP required in a similar period prior to study initiation. During the 28-week dose-finding period, the hematocrit was continuously controlled below 45% in all but two subjects' (Figure 2b). Two subjects had hematocrits transiently >45% but remained below 45% after phlebotomy in one and dose increase in both. Furthermore, erythrocyte numbers decreased (Figure 2c) and MCV increased in all but two subjects. These findings suggest a redistribution of iron within erythropoiesis. Lastly, prior to treatment, mean iron-related parameters were consistent with systemic iron deficiency while serum ferritin increased progressively toward normal range. Most frequent adverse events were injection site reaction (ISR) reported by three patients. Most of the reactions were grade 1-2 and were transient in nature and no patient discontinued the drug. Conclusions. The current results indicate that PTG-300 is an effective agent for the treatment of PV, reversing iron deficiency and eliminating the need for TP in PV patients. Elimination of TP requirements for 7 months in TP-dependent PV patients is significant and unexpected. The effect of PTG-300 on PV-related symptoms is also being evaluated. Continued patient enrollment will enable more definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy and safety of hepcidin mimetic PTG-300 in PV patients with high TP requirements. PTG-300 looks very promising in eliminating the therapeutic phlebotomies in both low and high-risk patients. Disclosures Kremyanskaya: Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Protagonist Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Kuykendall:Blueprint Medicines: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Yacoub:Roche: Other: Support of parent study and funding of editorial support; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Hylapharm: Current equity holder in private company; Cara Therapeutics: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Ardelyx: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Agios: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Dynavax: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Yang:AROG: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Jannsen: Research Funding; Protagonist: Research Funding. Gupta:Protagonist: Current Employment. Valone:Protagonist: Current Employment. Khanna:Protagonist: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Verstovsek:PharmaEssentia: Research Funding; Blueprint Medicines Corp: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; CTI Biopharma Corp: Research Funding; Protagonist Therapeutics: Research Funding; ItalPharma: Research Funding. Hoffman:Forbius: Consultancy; Dompe: Research Funding; Protagonist: Consultancy; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

7003 Background: Polycythemia (PV) patients with hematocrit (HCT) levels > 45% are at an increased risk of thrombosis and are treated with therapeutic phlebotomy (TP) alone or in combination with cytoreductive agents. Current therapies are not effective in reaching a HCT < 45% or uniformly tolerated. Rusfertide (PTG-300) is a hepcidin mimetic being developed as a non-cytoreductive option to consistently control HCT at < 45% in PV patients. Methods: We report results from two Phase 2 trials investigating the activity of rusfertide in PV patients. The first (NCT04057040) was conducted in patients with excessive erythrocytosis despite TP (3 or more in the 6 months prior to enrolling) ± cytoreductive therapy with a HCT < 45% at study entry. This study comprised 1) a 28-week open-label dose finding phase; 2) a 12-week double-blind randomized (1:1) withdrawal; and 3) a 3-year open-label extension with all subjects receiving rusfertide. Rusfertide doses,10-120 mg, were self-administered SQ weekly and adjusted monthly to maintain HCT < 45%. The second study (NCT04767802) enrolled poorly controlled PV patients with HCT > 48% at study entry despite TP ± hydroxyurea. Rusfertide dosing was initiated as 40 mg twice weekly and reduced to once weekly dosing when HCT < 45% was reached. Results: As of December 2021, 63 subjects were enrolled in Study 1. TP alone was the most common treatment (n = 30). The mean number of TP in the 28 weeks prior to enrollment was 4.63 and was 0.43 after treatment. On rusfertide, patients consistently maintained HCT < 45%, essentially eliminating TP, had normalization of serum ferritin, MCV values and iron deficiency. Rusfertide-treated patients also reported a statistically significant improvement in symptom burden at week 28. 20 subjects were enrolled in Study 2. TP with hydroxyurea was the most common treatment (n = 12). Mean HCT was 50.7% pre-treatment and mean time to reach HCT < 45% without TP was 4.79 weeks with persistently well controlled HCT thereafter. Rusfertide significantly reduced erythrocyte counts by ̃1.2x106/μL within 8 weeks of treatment. In both trials rusfertide did not result in changes in the number of WBC; clinically not meaningful transient increases in platelet numbers were noted. Rusfertide was well tolerated, with mostly grade 1-2 adverse events (AE). The most common AEs were injection site reactions. These were typically transient, manageable with topical therapies, and did not lead to study withdrawal. Conclusions: Rusfertide, when added to standard therapy, demonstrated robust activity in managing PV patients with sub-optimally controlled erythrocytosis in 2 trials, enrolling patients with HCT < 45% (Study 1), and HCT > 48% (Study 2). Taken together, these data show that the non-cytoreductive rusfertide, is a promising novel agent for PV patients which leads to sustained HCT control < 45%. A pivotal Phase 3 study is scheduled to begin in 2022. Clinical trial information: NCT04057040 and NCT04767802.

Objectives Extended-release (ER) carbidopa-levodopa (CD-LD) (IPX066/RYTARY/NUMIENT) produces improvements in "off" time, "on" time without troublesome dyskinesia, and Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale scores compared with immediate-release (IR) CD-LD or IR CD-LD plus entacapone (CLE). Post hoc analyses of 2 ER CD-LD phase 3 trials evaluated whether the efficacy and safety of ER CD-LD relative to the respective active comparators were altered by concomitant medications (dopaminergic agonists, monoamine oxidase B [MAO-B] inhibitors, or amantadine). Methods ADVANCE-PD (n = 393) assessed safety and efficacy of ER CD-LD versus IR CD-LD. ASCEND-PD (n = 91) evaluated ER CD-LD versus CLE. In both studies, IR- and CLE-experienced patients underwent a 6-week, open-label dose-conversion period to ER CD-LD prior to randomization. For analysis, the randomized population was divided into 3 subgroups: dopaminergic agonists, rasagiline or selegiline, and amantadine. For each subgroup, changes from baseline in PD diary measures ("off" time and "on" time with and without troublesome dyskinesia), Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Parts II + III scores, and adverse events were analyzed, comparing ER CD-LD with the active comparator. Results and conclusions Concomitant dopaminergic agonist or MAO-B inhibitor use did not diminish the efficacy (improvement in "off" time and "on" time without troublesome dyskinesia) of ER CD-LD compared with IR CD-LD or CLE, whereas the improvement with concomitant amantadine failed to reach significance. Safety and tolerability were similar among the subgroups, and ER CD-LD did not increase troublesome dyskinesia. For patients on oral LD regimens and taking a dopaminergic agonist, and/or a MAO-B inhibitor, changing from an IR to an ER CD-LD formulation provides approximately an additional hour of "good" on time.

Background. Polycythemia vera (PV) patients are treated with periodic therapeutic phlebotomy (TP) alone or in combination with either hydroxyurea (HU), ruxolitinib (RUX) or interferon (IFN) to maintain hematocrit (HCT) levels below 45% as per NCCN guidelines. Since patients are seen periodically, PV patients may spend significant time with HCT levels above 45%, thereby increasing their risk of thrombosis [Marchioli NEJM 2013]. PV is associated with systemic symptoms with fatigue. These fatigue-related symptoms are found to be the most prevalent and severe as reported in an international survey among PV patients [Scherber Cancer 2016]. Symptomatic iron deficiency represents an unaddressed clinical challenge to PV patients as most PV patients have iron deficiency at diagnosis due to increased iron utilization [Ginzburg Leukemia 2018]. The iron deficiency worsens after repeated TP. We have demonstrated in a phase 2 study that rusfertide (PTG-300) has a good tolerability profile and achieves HCT control in PV patients with improvement in iron deficiency. Methods. This is a Phase 3, multicenter, global, randomized trial that compares the efficacy and safety of rusfertide compared to placebo when added on to current therapy for PV (Figure 1). The study population is PV subjects who require frequent phlebotomies to control their hematocrit with or without concurrent therapy. This is a three-part study in subjects with polycythemia vera: - Part 1a: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, add-on parallel-group period for 32 weeks. Subjects will be stratified by their ongoing PV treatment and randomized 1:1 to rusfertide or placebo added-on to their ongoing PV treatment. - Part 1b: open-label treatment phase during which all subjects who complete Part 1a successfully will receive rusfertide for 20 weeks (Week 32 through Week 52). - Part 2: Long term extension (LTE) phase during which all subjects who complete Part 1b will continue to receive rusfertide for 32 weeks (Week 52 to Week 84). Inclusion Criteria: Approximately 250 subjects will be randomized. Eligibility criteria include PV diagnosis (by 2016 WHO criteria) and frequent phlebotomies with or without concurrent cytoreductive therapy to maintain HCT below 45% in the 6 months prior to enrollment in Part 1. Eligible subjects will continue to receive their therapy at screening for PV (phlebotomy alone (TP) or cytoreductive therapy + TP) and must have a hematocrit The "add on" design allows subjects to receive standard cytoreductive therapy to control WBC and/or platelets and to receive rusfertide/placebo. The dose of cytoreductive therapy in Part 1a and Part 1b may be decreased for safety but may not be increased for efficacy including control of hematocrit, elevated platelets and/or WBC. Primary endpoint: Proportion of subjects achieving a response starting at Week 20 through Week 32 (inclusive) who receive rusfertide compared to placebo. A response is defined as absence of phlebotomy eligibility defined as either: 1. a confirmed hematocrit ≥45% and that is at least 3% higher than the baseline hematocrit (value immediately prior to randomization at Week 0); confirmation required within 1 to 7 days, or 2. a hematocrit ≥48%. Key words: Hepcidin, Hematocrit, Rusfertide, PTG-300, Polycythemia Vera, PV, Therapeutic Phlebotomy Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Verstovsek: Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; PharmaEssentia: Research Funding; Protagonist Therapeutics: Research Funding; CTI BioPharma: Research Funding; Ital Pharma: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Blueprint Medicines Corp: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; Constellation: Consultancy; Pragmatist: Consultancy. Kuykendall: Pharmaessentia: Honoraria; Protagonist: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Incyte: Consultancy; Blueprint: Honoraria. Hoffman: AbbVie Inc.: Other: Data Safety Monitoring Board, Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Data Safety Monitoring Board, Research Funding; Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy; Kartos Therapeutics, Inc.: Research Funding. Pemmaraju: Incyte: Consultancy; HemOnc Times/Oncology Times: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: Research Support, Research Funding; Abbvie Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding; MustangBio: Consultancy, Other; Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy; DAVA Oncology: Consultancy; Dan's House of Hope: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy; Roche Diagnostics: Consultancy; LFB Biotechnologies: Consultancy; ASCO Leukemia Advisory Panel: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Plexxicon: Other, Research Funding; Samus: Other, Research Funding; Sager Strong Foundation: Other; Aptitude Health: Consultancy; Affymetrix: Consultancy, Research Funding; CareDx, Inc.: Consultancy; Springer Science + Business Media: Other; ASH Communications Committee: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cellectis S.A. ADR: Other, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.: Other, Research Funding; Clearview Healthcare Partners: Consultancy; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.: Consultancy; ImmunoGen, Inc: Consultancy; Pacylex Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Valone: Protagonist Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Modi: Protagonist Therapeutics: Current Employment. Khanna: Protagonist: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. O'Connor: Protagonist Therapeutics: Current Employment. Gupta: Protagonist Therapeutics: Current Employment. Kiladjian: Taiho Oncology, Inc.: Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; PharmaEssentia: Other: Personal fees; AOP Orphan: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Background. Polycythemia (PV) patients with hematocrit above 45% are at increased risk of thrombotic complications and are treated with phlebotomy and/or cytoreductive therapy to reach a hematocrit target below 45%. Rusfertide (PTG-300) is a peptidic mimetic of hepcidin that is being developed for treatment of polycythemia vera (PV). A Phase 2 trial has indicated that rusfertide is effective at reducing the number of phlebotomies and maintaining hematocrit below 45% without phlebotomy in PV patients who are either high-risk or low-risk, patients treated with cytoreductive therapy (hydroxyurea, interferon, ruxolitinib) and patients treated with phlebotomy alone (Kremyanskaya, ASH 2020). The current trial (PTG-300-08) tested the ability of rusfertide to normalize hematocrit in PV patients with elevated hematocrit without instituting phlebotomy treatment to normalize hematocrit to below 45% in PV patients without requiring phlebotomy and/or cytoreductive treatment. Methods. Eligible study subjects were diagnosed with PV (in accordance with the WHO 2016 criteria), had baseline hematocrit above 48%, and a history of 3 or more hematocrit values above 48% in the year prior to enrollment. High-risk and low-risk subjects treated with phlebotomy alone or with concurrent cytoreductive therapy were eligible. Rusfertide was added on to each subject's current therapy. The initial rusfertide dose was 40 mg administered subcutaneously twice weekly. When each subject's hematocrit was below 45%, the dosing schedule was changed to weekly and the rusfertide dose was adjusted to maintain hematocrit below 45%. Results. Sixteen subjects (12 male and 4 females) have been enrolled. The mean age is 56.1 years; the mean time since diagnosis is 3.74 years; 10 subjects are low risk PV; 12 subjects are receiving concurrent hydroxyurea and 4 subjects were not receiving cytoreductive therapy. Baseline values (mean, min-max) HCT (51.0%, 47.4 - 59), WBC (12,338/µL, 7,000 - 24,600), RBCs (5.9x10 6/µL, 4.3 - 7.6), platelets (486,500/µL, 242,000 - 904,000). All subjects had rapid decreases in hematocrit to below 45% without the use of phlebotomy (Figure 1a). Hematocrit levels remained well controlled after falling below 45% as investigators reduced rusfertide dose to maintenance once weekly regimen. Hemoglobin (Figure 1b) fell rapidly. Erythrocyte counts (Figure 1c) also fell rapidly, indicating that decreased hematocrit is due to decreased erythrocytosis. For the 11 subjects with adequate follow-up, the mean rate of absolute hematocrit decrease was 1.76% per week (median: 1.81%/week; min - max: 0.65 - 2.69%) and the mean time to reach goal hematocrit below 45% was 4.79 weeks (median: 4.14 weeks, min - max: 3.57 - 8.14). Eight subjects reported adverse events (AEs). Injection site reactions (ISRs) occurred in 7 subjects and were mild or moderate in severity. The most common ISRs were erythema (n=7), induration (n=5) and pruritis (n=2). Adverse events other than ISRs that occurred in 2 or more subjects were hypertension (n=2), pyrexia (n=2) and thrombocytosis (n=2). There were two serious adverse events (worsening migraine and pleuritic chest pain) and both were considered unrelated to rusfertide. Overall, rusfertide was well tolerated. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that induction therapy with twice weekly rusfertide administration was effective in rapidly achieving target hematocrit below 45% without phlebotomy in all PV patients which was then successfully maintained with weekly rusfertide treatment. Moreover, the twice weekly injections of rusfertide used to rapidly lower hematocrit levels were safe and well tolerated. Key words: Hepcidin, Hematocrit, Rusfertide, PTG-300, Polycythemia Vera, PV, Therapeutic Phlebotomy Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Gupta: Protagonist Therapeutics: Current Employment. Valone: Protagonist Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Khanna: Protagonist: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Modi: Protagonist Therapeutics: Current Employment. Hoffman: Kartos Therapeutics, Inc.: Research Funding; Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy; Novartis: Other: Data Safety Monitoring Board, Research Funding; AbbVie Inc.: Other: Data Safety Monitoring Board, Research Funding.

Background IPX066 (Rytary®; carbidopa and levodopa [CD-LD] extended-release capsules) was designed to achieve therapeutic LD plasma concentrations within 1 h of dosing and maintain LD concentrations for a prolonged duration in early or advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods In this open-label study, patients underwent 6 weeks of conversion to IPX066 from their prior controlled-release (CR) ± immediate-release (IR) CD-LD therapy and 6 months of maintenance (with an additional 6 months of IPX066 at some sites). Clinical utility was assessed at both the end of conversion and maintenance. Results Among 43 patients initiated on IPX066, 33 completed conversion. The mean LD conversion ratio was 1.8 among 30 patients previously on CR plus IR (and 1.5 among 3 previously taking CR alone). The mean IPX066 dosing frequency was 3.5 times/day compared with 2.6 times/day for CR plus 4.6 times/day for IR previously (and 4.7 times/day for CR alone). By patient and clinician global improvement ratings after 6-month maintenance, ≥ 43.8% of patients were much or very much improved from their previous treatment, and ≥ 68.8% were at least minimally improved. Adverse events were consistent with those reported in prior IPX066 studies. Conclusions These results suggest that advanced PD patients using CR CD-LD ± IR can be safely converted to IPX066, with high likelihood of achieving a stable regimen, less frequent LD dosing, and improved overall clinical benefit. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01411137 .

Background. The majority of PV patients are iron deficient at diagnosis [Ginzburg Leukemia 2018]. PV patients are treated with periodic therapeutic phlebotomy (TP) in order to maintain hematocrit levels 70% within 12 hours and the effect persists for 3-7 days. In a phase 2 trial in β-thalassemia, PTG-300 also decreased serum iron and TSAT but did not demonstrate off-target effects. The current study aims to compare the iron status in frequent TP-requiring PV patients before, during, and after treatment with PTG-300. Methods. Polycythemia patients who met 2016 WHO criteria for diagnosis were enrolled in the 28-week dose finding part of a Phase 2 trial. All patients required ≥3 phlebotomies with or without concurrent cytoreductive therapy over 6 months prior to enrollment. Patients were given PTG-300 doses of 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg administered subcutaneously weekly in individualized adjustment to maintain hematocrit Results. Thirteen subjects were enrolled to date: 7/13 with low risk, mean age 57.4 years (range 31-74). Six receiving TP alone, 6 on concurrent hydroxyurea, 1 on concurrent interferon; TP in the 24 weeks prior to enrollment = 3-9; median time between TP = 42 days. All subjects-maintained hematocrit Conclusions. The current results indicate that PTG-300 is an effective agent for the controlling hematocrit and reversing iron deficiency. The effect of PTG-300 on PV-related symptoms and those of iron deficiency, are also being evaluated. Continued patient enrollment will enable more definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy and safety of hepcidin mimetic PTG-300 in PV patients with high TP requirements. Disclosures Kremyanskaya: Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Protagonist Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kuykendall:Novartis: Research Funding; Blueprint Medicines: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Yacoub:Agios: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Hylapharm: Current equity holder in private company; Cara Therapeutics: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Ardelyx: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Dynavax: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Other: Support of parent study and funding of editorial support. Yang:AROG: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Protagonist: Research Funding; Jannsen: Research Funding. Gupta:Protagonist: Current Employment. Valone:Protagonist: Current Employment. Khanna:Protagonist: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Hoffman:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Dompe: Research Funding; Forbius: Consultancy; Protagonist: Consultancy. Verstovsek:Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; ItalPharma: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; Protagonist Therapeutics: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma Corp: Research Funding; Blueprint Medicines Corp: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; PharmaEssentia: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding.

OBJECTIVE IPX203 is an investigational oral extended-release capsule formulation of carbidopa-levodopa (CD-LD). The aim of this study was to characterize the single-dose pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and safety of IPX203 in subjects with advanced Parkinson disease compared with immediate-release (IR) CD-LD and extended-release CD-LD (Rytary). METHODS This was a randomized, open-label, rater-blinded, multicenter, single-dose crossover study. Blinded clinicians assessed subject's motor state and Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III scores for up to 10 hours postdose. Duration of effect was determined using improvement thresholds in the MDS-UPDRS part III. RESULTS Levodopa concentrations increased rapidly and similarly across all 3 treatments and were sustained for a longer duration after IPX203 dosing. All treatments exhibited a rapid onset of pharmacodynamic effect, whereas IPX203 had a significantly longer duration of effect based on MDS-UPDRS part III scores compared with IR CD-LD (P < 0.0001) and Rytary (P ≤ 0.0290). IPX203 had a 2.7-hour advantage over IR CD-LD (P < 0.0001) and a 0.9-hour advantage over Rytary in "off" time (P = 0.023) and in "good on" time (2.6 hours more than IR CD-LD, P < 0.0001; 0.9 hours more than Rytary, P = 0.0259) as measured by the Investigator Assessment of Subject's Motor State. Subjects were 77% more likely to require rescue following IR CD-LD treatment compared with IPX203 (hazard ratio, 0.23; P < 0.0001). More subjects reported treatment-emergent adverse effects during IR CD-LD (28.0%) and IPX203 (19.2%) than during Rytary (8.0%) treatment. CONCLUSIONS Compared with Rytary and IR CD-LD, IPX203 had a longer pharmacodynamic effect consistent with LD pharmacokinetics for the 3 treatments. The safety and tolerability of IPX203 were similar to those of IR CD-LD and Rytary.

Robert A Hauser,1 Aaron Ellenbogen,2 Sarita Khanna,3 Suneel Gupta,3 Nishit B Modi3 1Departments of Neurology, Molecular Pharmacology, and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; 2Quest Research Institute, Bingham Farms, MI, USA; 3Impax Laboratories, Inc., Hayward, CA, USA Background: In patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), oral dosing of extended-release carbidopa-levodopa (Rytary, IPX066 [ER CD-LD]) achieves peak levodopa plasma concentrations within 1 hour and maintains them for 4–6 hours. Aims: To compare the onset and duration of ER CD-LD benefit with those of immediate-release carbidopa-levodopa (IR CD-LD) in PD patients with motor fluctuations, using crossover data, and to evaluate which threshold values of improvement in finger-tapping and Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scores yield results most similar to those for trained raters’ “on”/“off” assessments. Methods: Patients underwent serial “on”/“off” rating and provided serial finger-tapping and UPDRS motor scores after receiving, in an “off” state, their usual morning IR dose or an ER dose designed to produce a similar levodopa peak concentration. Predefined improvement thresholds for analysis were 10%, 15%, and 20% increases in finger-tapping score and 2.5, 5, 7, and 11-point decreases in UPDRS motor score. Serial plasma samples were assayed for levodopa. Results: Among 27 patients, mean time to onset of an “on” state was similar for ER compared with IR CD-LD (0.83 vs 0.81 hour), but mean duration was significantly longer for ER CD-LD than for IR CD-LD (5.56 vs 2.69 hours; P

Background Due to the short half-life of levodopa, immediate-release carbidopa-levodopa (IR CD-LD) produces fluctuating LD concentrations, contributing to a risk of eventual motor complications. IPX066 was designed to rapidly attain therapeutic LD concentrations and maintain them to allow a dosing interval of ∼6 hours. Objective To extensively analyze the dosing data collected in IPX066 studies during open-label conversions from IR CD-LD alone or with entacapone (CLE) and identify patterns relevant for managing conversion in the clinical setting. Methods Patients had ≥2.5 hours/day of "off" time despite a stable IR or CLE regimen. Suggested initial dosing conversion tables based on prior LD daily dosage were provided. Results Of 450 patients previously treated with IR CD-LD and 110 with CLE, 87.3% and 82.7% completed conversion to IPX066, respectively. At the end of conversion, average IPX066 LD daily dosages were higher than pre-conversion dosages, with a mean conversion ratio of 2.1±0.6 for IR CD-LD and 2.8±0.8 for CLE; >90% of patients took IPX066 3 or 4 times/day, compared with a median of 5 times/day at baseline in both studies. After conversion, daily "off" time significantly decreased, with no significant increase in troublesome dyskinesia. The most common adverse event reported during conversion was nausea, with an incidence of 5.3% for conversion from IR and 7.3% from CLE. Conclusions Among PD patients with substantial "off" time, a majority were safely converted to IPX066. The sustained LD profile from the IPX066 formulation allowed an increase in LD dose accompanied by improved motor functions, without increased troublesome dyskinesia.

Background and Objective IPX066 is a multiparticulate extended-release formulation of carbidopa–levodopa, designed to produce prolonged therapeutic levodopa plasma concentrations. This 9-month open-label extension study assessed its long-term safety and clinical utility in early and advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods Participants were enrolled from two phase III IPX066 studies and one open-label phase II study. Early PD patients were titrated to an appropriate dosing regimen while advanced patients started with regimens established in the antecedent studies. Adjustment was allowed throughout the extension. Clinical utility measures included the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Patient Global Impression (PGI) ratings. Results Among 268 early PD patients, 53.4 % reported adverse events (AEs) and 1.1 % (three patients) discontinued due to AEs; the most frequent AEs were nausea (5.6 %) and insomnia (5.6 %). Among 349 advanced patients, 60.2 % reported AEs and 3.7 % (13 patients) discontinued due to AEs; the most frequent AEs were dyskinesia (6.9 %) and fall (6.6 %). At month 9 (or early termination), 78.3 % of early patients were taking IPX066 three times daily (median: 720 mg/day) and 87.7 % of advanced patients were taking IPX066 three or four times daily (median: 1450 mg/day). Adjusting for 70 % bioavailability relative to immediate-release (IR) carbidopa–levodopa, the median dosages correspond to ~500 and ~1015 mg/day of IR levodopa in early and advanced PD, respectively. Based on the plasma profiles previously observed in PD patients, the IPX066 regimens in the extension can be estimated to provide a levodopa Cmax (maximum plasma drug concentration) similar to or lower than that provided by IR regimens during the antecedent trials. UPDRS and PGI findings showed sustained treatment effects throughout the extension. Conclusion During 9 months of extended use, IPX066 exhibited a safety/tolerability profile consistent with dopaminergic PD therapy.

Introduction: Carbidopa-levodopa extended-release capsules (ER CD-LD, IPX066) significantly improve motor symptoms and activities of daily living in early and advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). ER CD-LD produces an initial peak in plasma levodopa concentrations at about one hour, which are maintained for about 4–5 hours before declining.

Introduction: Carbidopa-levodopa extended-release capsules (ER CD-LD, IPX066) significantly improves motor symptoms and activities of daily living in early and advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). ER CD-LD produces an initial peak in plasma levodopa concentrations at about one hour, which are maintained for about 4–5 hours before declining.

Background IPX066, an investigational extended-release carbidopa–levodopa (CD-LD) preparation, has demonstrated a rapid attainment and prolonged maintenance of therapeutic LD plasma concentrations in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). This phase-3 crossover study assessed its efficacy and safety vs. CD-LD plus entacapone (CL + E). Methods At baseline, all patients had motor fluctuations despite a stable regimen of CL + E or CD-LD-entacapone combination tablets (CLE). The study included a 6-week conversion from CL + E or CLE to IPX066, followed by two 2-week, double-blind crossover treatment periods in randomized order, one on IPX066 (and placebo CL + E), the other on CL + E (and placebo IPX066), separated by 1-week open-label IPX066 treatment. The primary efficacy measure was mean percent daily “off” time during waking hours (from patient diaries). Results Of 91 randomized patients, 84 completed the study. Their median daily LD dosage was 1495 mg from IPX066 and 600 mg from CL + E, corresponding, after correction for bioavailability, to an approximately 22% higher LD exposure on IPX066. Compared with CL + E, IPX066 demonstrated a lower percent “off” time (24.0% vs. 32.5%; p

ContextPatient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine is commonly used to provide acute postoperative pain control after major surgery. The fentanyl hydrochloride patient-controlled transdermal system eliminates the need for venous access and complicated programming of pumps.ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of an investigational patient-controlled iontophoretic transdermal system using fentanyl hydrochloride compared with a standard intravenous morphine patient-controlled pump.Design, Setting, and PatientsProspective randomized controlled parallel-group trial conducted between September 2000 and March 2001 at 33 North American hospitals, enrolling 636 adult patients who had just undergone major surgery.InterventionsIn surgical recovery rooms, patients were randomly assigned to intravenous morphine (1-mg bolus every 5 minutes; maximum of 10 mg/h) by a patient-controlled analgesia pump (n = 320) or iontophoretic fentanyl hydrochloride (40-µg infusion over 10 minutes) by a patient-controlled transdermal system (n = 316). Supplemental analgesia (morphine or fentanyl intravenous boluses) was administered as needed before and for the first 3 hours after activation of the PCA treatments. Patients then used the PCA treatments without additional analgesics for up to 72 hours.Main Outcome MeasuresThe primary efficacy variable was patient global assessment of the method of pain control during the first 24 hours. Additional efficacy measures were the proportion of patients discontinuing the study because of inadequate analgesia for any reason, patient-reported pain intensity scores on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS), and patient global assessments at 48 and 72 hours. Adverse effects were also recorded.ResultsRatings of good or excellent after 24 hours of treatment for the method of pain control were given by 73.7% of patients (233/316) who used transdermal fentanyl PCA and 76.9% of patients (246/320) who used intravenous morphine PCA; treatment difference was –3.2% (95% confidence interval, –9.9% to 3.5%; P = .36). Early patient discontinuations (25.9% fentanyl vs 25.0% morphine; P = .78) and last pain intensity scores (32.7 fentanyl vs 31.1 morphine on the VAS; P = .45) were not different between the 2 treatments. With continued treatment for up to 48 or 72 hours, more than 80% of patient assessments in each treatment group were good or excellent. The incidence of opioid-related adverse events was similar between the groups.ConclusionAn investigational PCA transdermal system using iontophoresis to deliver fentanyl provided postsurgical pain control equivalent to that of a standard intravenous morphine regimen delivered by a PCA pump.

Objective: To compare efficacy and safety of IPX066 to CLE in advanced fluctuating PD subjects. Background IPX066 is designed to provide rapid absorption and maintain a longer duration of stable LD concentrations than Immediate-release CD-LD. Design/Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind, 2-period cross-over study in advanced subjects on stable CLE (N=110). After open-label dose conversion to IPX066 (6 weeks), subjects were randomized to receive IPX066 followed by CLE or vice versa (2 weeks/period with 1 week open-label IPX066 between periods). The primary efficacy endpoint was percent “off- time” during waking hours (24-hr subject diaries). Results: During double-blind cross-over period, IPX066 demonstrated lower percentage of “off-time” than CLE (23.98% vs. 32.48%, p p p Conclusions: IPX066, dosed 3.5 times/day, improved control of motor symptoms compared to CLE, dosed 5.0 times/day in PD patients with motor fluctuations. These results indicate IPX066 may be a useful treatment option in advanced PD patients. Supported by: IMPAX Pharmaceuticals, a division of Impax Laboratories, Inc., Hayward. Disclosure: Dr. Stocchi has received personal compensation for activities with TEVA, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Lundbeck, Schering-Plough, IMPAX, Merck Serono, IMPAX and UCB. Dr. Stocchi has received research support from Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline. Dr. Dillmann has received personal compensation for activities with GSK and Orion. Dr. Ellenbogen has received personal compensation for activities with XenoPort, Inc., Teva Neuroscience, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Allergan, Inc., Novartis, Ipsen and GlaxoSmithKline, Inc. as a speaker and/or consultant. Dr. Hsu has received personal compensation for activities with IMPAX Labs as an employee.Dr. Hsu holds stock and/or stock options in IMPAX Labs, which sponsored research in which Dr.Hsu was involved as an investigator.Dr. Hsu holds stock and/or stock options in IMPAX Labs. Dr. Khanna has received personal compensation for activities with IMPAX Pharma as an employee. Dr. Khanna holds stock and/or stock options in IMPAX Pharma, which sponsored research in which Dr. Khanna was involved as an investigator. Dr. Rubens has received personal compensation for activities with IMPAX Pharmaceuticals as an employeeDr. Rubens holds stock and/or stock options in IMPAX Pharmaceuticals, which sponsored research in which Dr. Rubens was involved as an investigator. Dr. Liang has received personal compensation for activities with Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, TEVA, and Chelsea. Dr. Gupta has received personal compensation for activities with Impax Labs as an employee. Dr. Gupta holds stock and/or stock options in Impax Labs, which sponsored research in which Dr. Gupta was involved as an investigator. Dr. Gupta has received research support from Impax Labs.