Search

Etranacogene dezaparvovec (AMT-061) is a recombinant AAV5 vector including a gene cassette containing the factor IX (FIX) Padua variant under the control of a liver-specific promoter. A phase 2b study was conducted to confirm that a single dose of 2 × 1013 genome copies per kilogram of etranacogene dezaparvovec will result in FIX activity ≥5% 6 weeks after dosing. Secondary end points included FIX activity at other time points, bleed frequency, FIX replacement, and safety. Etranacogene dezaparvovec was administered as a single IV infusion to 3 adults with severe to moderately severe hemophilia B. Before treatment, participants had low levels of preexisting neutralizing antibodies to AAV5. This article reports a planned 26-week interim assessment. At week 6, mean FIX activity was 31% (23.9%-37.8%), increasing to 47% (33.2%-57.0%) at 26 weeks, with 2 subjects exhibiting sustained activity >40%. Consistent with the FIX activity, etranacogene dezaparvovec was associated with a complete bleed cessation with no need for FIX replacement therapy up to 26 weeks. Etranacogene dezaparvovec was generally well tolerated. No clinically significant elevations in levels of liver enzymes or inflammatory markers were observed, and no use of corticosteroids related to treatment was required. In individuals with severe to moderately severe hemophilia B, etranacogene dezaparvovec resulted in clinically relevant increases in FIX activity, cessation of bleeds, and abrogation of the need for FIX replacement, despite the presence of preexisting anti-AAV5 neutralizing antibodies detected by using a highly sensitive luciferase assay. Consistency of results in the 3 participants supported an expanded evaluation of the safety/efficacy of etranacogene dezaparvovec in the HOPE-B (Health Outcomes With Padua Gene; Evaluation in Hemophilia-B) phase 3 trial. The current trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03489291.

To evaluate the effects of metreleptin in patients with partial lipodystrophy (PL). Patients aged ≥ 6 months with PL, circulating leptin < 12.0 ng/mL, and diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, or hypertriglyceridemia received metreleptin doses (once or twice daily) titrated to a mean of 0.124 mg/kg/day. Changes from baseline to month 12 in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting serum triglycerides (TGs; co-primary endpoints), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and liver volume were evaluated. Additional assessments included the proportions of patients achieving target decreases in HbA1c or fasting TGs at month 12, long-term treatment effects, and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Significant (p< 0.05) reductions in HbA1c (−0.6%), fasting TGs (−20.8%), FPG (−1.2 mmol/L), and liver volume (−13.4%) were observed in the overall PL population at month 12. In a subgroup of patients with baseline HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or TGs ≥ 5.65 mmol/L, significant (p< 0.05) reductions were seen in HbA1c (−0.9%), fasting TGs (−37.4%), FPG (−1.9 mmol/L), and liver volume (−12.4%). In this subgroup, 67.9% of patients had a ≥ 1% decrease in HbA1c or ≥ 30% decrease in fasting TGs, and 42.9% had a ≥ 2% decrease in HbA1c or ≥ 40% decrease in fasting TGs. Long-term treatment in this subgroup led to significant (p< 0.05) reductions at months 12, 24, and 36 in HbA1c, fasting TGs, and FPG. Metreleptin was well tolerated with no unexpected safety signals. The most common TEAEs were abdominal pain, hypoglycemia, and nausea. In patients with PL, treatment with metreleptin was well tolerated and resulted in improvements in glycemic control, hypertriglyceridemia, and liver volume.

The purpose of this study is to summarize the effectiveness and safety of metreleptin in patients with congenital or acquired generalized lipodystrophy. Patients (n= 66) aged ≥6 months had lipodystrophy, low circulating leptin, and ≥1 metabolic abnormality (diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, or hypertriglyceridemia). Metreleptin dose (once or twice daily) was titrated to a mean dose of 0.10 mg/kg/day with a maximum of 0.24 mg/kg/day. Means and changes from baseline to month 12 were assessed for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting triglycerides (TGs), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Additional assessments included the proportions of patients achieving target decreases in HbA1c or fasting TGs at months 4, 12, and 36, medication changes, and estimates of liver size. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were recorded. Significant mean reductions from baseline were seen at month 12 for HbA1c (–2.2%, n= 59) and FPG (–3.0 mmol/L, n= 59) and mean percent change in fasting TGs (–32.1%, n= 57) (all p≤ 0.001). Reductions from baseline over time in these parameters were also significant at month 36 (all p< 0.001, n= 14). At month 4, 34.8% of patients had a ≥1% reduction in HbA1c and 62.5% had a ≥30% reduction in fasting TGs; at month 12, 80% of patients had a ≥1% decrease in HbA1c or ≥30% decrease in TGs, and 66% had a decrease of ≥2% in HbA1c or ≥40% decrease in TGs. Of those on medications, 41%, 22%, and 24% discontinued insulin, oral antidiabetic medications, or lipid-lowering medications, respectively. Mean decrease in liver volume at month 12 was 33.8% (p< 0.001, n= 12). Most TEAEs were of mild/moderate severity. In patients with generalized lipodystrophy, long-term treatment with metreleptin was well tolerated and resulted in sustained improvements in hypertriglyceridemia, glycemic control, and liver volume.

Sixty two different replacement hip joints manufactured by 19 companies are currently available in Britain, half of which have been introduced in the past five years.(1) A minimum follow up [...]

Pipe: Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; Apcintex: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy; BioMarin: Consultancy; Shire: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; uniQure: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; HEMA Biologics: Consultancy; Catalyst Bioscience: Consultancy; Freeline: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Spark Therapeutics: Consultancy. Giermasz:Genentech/Roche: Consultancy, Other: Research, Speakers Bureau; Sangamo: Other: Research; BioMarin: Consultancy, Other: Research; uniQure: Consultancy, Other: Research; Bioverativ/Sanofi: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Castaman:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Kedrion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda (SHIRE): Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Uniqure: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Werfen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novo Nordisk: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Research Funding; Sobi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Key:Uniqure BV: Research Funding. Leebeek:CSL Behring: Research Funding; Baxalta/Shire: Research Funding; uniQure BV: Consultancy, Research Funding. Miesbach:Bayer, Chugai, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Takeda/Shire, UniQure: Speakers Bureau; Bayer, BioMarin, CSL Behring, Chugai, Freeline, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Roche, Takeda/Shire, UniQure: Consultancy; Bayer, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Takeda/Shire: Research Funding. Recht:Bioverativ, CSL Behring, Genentech, Kedrion, NovoNordisk, Pfizer, Shire, Uniqure: Consultancy; American Thorombosis & Hemostasis Network: Other: Immediate Past Chair; Bioverativ, Genentech, NovoNordisk Shire: Research Funding. Gomez:Alnylam: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Takeda, UniQure: Research Funding. Long:Uniqure BV: Employment. Gut:Uniqure BV: Employment. von Drygalski:University of California San Diego: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties; UniQure, Bayer, Bioverativ/Sanofi, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Biomarin, Shire, CSL Behring: Consultancy; Hematherix Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Founder.

Introduction

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "Penalized for Working" in the January 2015 issue, "Controlling Your Opioids" in the January 2015 issue and "Accessible Living Before Its Time" in the January 2015 issue.