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Was ist neu? Diagnostik Telomeropathie-Erkrankungen und andere konstitutionelle Ursachen werden zunehmend auch im Erwachsenenalter als AA-Ursache erkannt. Screening-Untersuchungen, Erfassung der Familiengeschichte und körperliche Untersuchung auf mögliche Hinweise konstitutioneller Syndrome sind daher auch bei erwachsenen AA-Patienten durchzuführen. Therapie Eine Stammzelltransplantation von unverwandten 10/10-Spendern ergibt fast ebenso gute Ergebnisse wie von Familienspendern bei Patienten unter 30. Eltrombopag ist zur Behandlung von refraktären Patienten mit schwerer aplastischer Anämie zugelassen. Patienten mit Chromosom-7-Anomalien sollen kein Eltrombopag erhalten; vor Eltrombopag-Therapie muss ein zytogenetisches Screening erfolgen. Patienten mit seltenen Erkrankungen wie der AA sollte die Anbindung an Patientenselbsthilfegruppen empfohlen werden und die Lebensqualität muss bei allen Therapieformen adäquat erfasst und gewürdigt werden. Ausblick Eine immunsuppressive Therapie mit ATG und CSA wird zukünftig mit Eltrombopag kombiniert werden. Romiplostim, ein weiterer TRA, ist ebenfalls wirksam bei AA. Die differenzierte molekulare Diagnostik wird die Pathophysiologie klonaler Evolution weiter verstehbar machen.

Background: First-line durvalumab plus etoposide with either cisplatin or carboplatin (platinum–etoposide) showed a significant improvement in overall survival versus platinum–etoposide alone in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in the CASPIAN study. Here we report updated results, including the primary analysis for overall survival with durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus platinum–etoposide versus platinum–etoposide alone. Methods: CASPIAN is an ongoing, open-label, sponsor-blind, randomised, controlled phase 3 trial at 209 cancer treatment centres in 23 countries worldwide. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older (20 years in Japan) and had treatment-naive, histologically or cytologically documented ES-SCLC, with a WHO performance status of 0 or 1. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) in blocks of six, stratified by planned platinum, using an interactive voice-response or web-response system to receive intravenous durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus platinum–etoposide, durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide, or platinum–etoposide alone. In all groups, patients received etoposide 80–100 mg/m2 on days 1–3 of each cycle with investigator's choice of either carboplatin area under the curve 5–6 mg/mL/min or cisplatin 75–80 mg/m2 on day 1 of each cycle. Patients in the platinum–etoposide group received up to six cycles of platinum–etoposide every 3 weeks and optional prophylactic cranial irradiation (investigator's discretion). Patients in the immunotherapy groups received four cycles of platinum–etoposide plus durvalumab 1500 mg with or without tremelimumab 75 mg every 3 weeks followed by maintenance durvalumab 1500 mg every 4 weeks. The two primary endpoints were overall survival for durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide versus platinum–etoposide and for durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus platinum–etoposide versus platinum–etoposide in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03043872. Findings: Between March 27, 2017, and May 29, 2018, 972 patients were screened and 805 were randomly assigned (268 to durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus platinum–etoposide, 268 to durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide, and 269 to platinum–etoposide). As of Jan 27, 2020, the median follow-up was 25·1 months (IQR 22·3–27·9). Durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus platinum–etoposide was not associated with a significant improvement in overall survival versus platinum–etoposide (hazard ratio [HR] 0·82 [95% CI 0·68–1·00]; p=0·045); median overall survival was 10·4 months (95% CI 9·6–12·0) versus 10·5 months (9·3–11·2). Durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide showed sustained improvement in overall survival versus platinum–etoposide (HR 0·75 [95% CI 0·62–0·91]; nominal p=0·0032); median overall survival was 12·9 months (95% CI 11·3–14·7) versus 10·5 months (9·3–11·2). The most common any-cause grade 3 or worse adverse events were neutropenia (85 [32%] of 266 patients in the durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus platinum–etoposide group, 64 [24%] of 265 patients in the durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide group, and 88 [33%] of 266 patients in the platinum–etoposide group) and anaemia (34 [13%], 24 [9%], and 48 [18%]). Any-cause serious adverse events were reported in 121 (45%) patients in the durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus platinum–etoposide group, 85 (32%) in the durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide group, and 97 (36%) in the platinum–etoposide group. Treatment-related deaths occurred in 12 (5%) patients in the durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus platinum–etoposide group (death, febrile neutropenia, and pulmonary embolism [n=2 each]; enterocolitis, general physical health deterioration and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, pneumonia, pneumonitis and hepatitis, respiratory failure, and sudden death [n=1 each]), six (2%) patients in the durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide group (cardiac arrest, dehydration, hepatotoxicity, interstitial lung disease, pancytopenia, and sepsis [n=1 each]), and two (1%) in the platinum–etoposide group (pancytopenia and thrombocytopenia [n=1 each]). Interpretation: First-line durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide showed sustained overall survival improvement versus platinum–etoposide but the addition of tremelimumab to durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide did not significantly improve outcomes versus platinum–etoposide. These results support the use of durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide as a new standard of care for the first-line treatment of ES-SCLC. Funding: AstraZeneca.

BACKGROUND: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) with broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) is frequently performed in patients with hematological malignancies and pulmonary opacities. While the safety of the procedure in this patient population has been shown, data about the diagnostic yield widely differ between studies. Furthermore, data comparing diagnostic yield and safety of flexible bronchoscopy to narrow sources of pulmonary infections in patients with and without underlying hematological malignancy are lacking. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of bronchoscopies done for the diagnostic work-up of pulmonary infections. Diagnostic yield and the occurrence of complications in patients with and without hematological disease were compared. RESULTS: In total n=268 bronchoscopies were done in patients suffering from a hematological malignancy (HM) compared to n=408 bronchoscopies in patients without hematological malignancy (NHM). The overall diagnostic yield was similar and did not differ between the groups (HM: 67.2% vs. NHM: 64.7%; P=0.5622). However, when cultures positive for Candida were not considered as clinically relevant diagnostic yield was higher in the HM group (HM: 62.7% vs. NHM: 53.9%; P=0.0261) due to a higher detection rate of fungi and viruses (both P0.05). There was no difference in the complication rate between the groups and most complications were considered as minor. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our data demonstrate similar diagnostic yield and safety of flexible bronchoscopy for diagnosing pulmonary infection in patients with and without underlying hematological malignancy.

Complement C5 inhibition is the standard of care (SoC) for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) with significant clinical symptoms. Constant and complete suppression of the terminal complement pathway and the high serum concentration of C5 pose challenges to drug development that result in IV-only treatment options. Crovalimab, a sequential monoclonal antibody recycling technology antibody was engineered for extended self-administered subcutaneous dosing of small volumes in diseases amenable for C5 inhibition. A 3-part open-label adaptive phase 1/2 trial was conducted to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and exploratory efficacy in healthy volunteers (part 1), as well as in complement blockade–naive (part 2) and C5 inhibitor–treated (part 3) PNH patients. Twenty-nine patients were included in part 2 (n = 10) and part 3 (n = 19). Crovalimab concentrations exceeded the prespecified 100-µg/mL level and resulted in complete and sustained terminal complement pathway inhibition in treatment-naive and C5 inhibitor–pretreated PNH patients. Hemolytic activity and free C5 levels were suppressed below clinically relevant thresholds (liposome assay

In the current classification of the World Health Organization (WHO), bone marrow mastocytosis (BMM) is a provisional variant of indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) defined by bone marrow involvement and absence of skin lesions. However, no additional diagnostic criteria for BMM have been proposed. Within the registry dataset of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis, we compared characteristics and outcomes of 390 patients with BMM and 1175 patients with typical ISM. BMM patients were significantly older, predominantly male, had lower tryptase and lower burden of neoplastic mast cells, and displayed a higher frequency of allergic reactions, mainly triggered by Hymenoptera, than patients with typical ISM. The estimated 10-year progression-free survival of BMM and typical ISM was 95.9% and 92.6%, respectively. In BMM patients defined by WHO-based criteria, the presence of one B-Finding and tryptase level ≥125 ng/mL were identified as risk factors for progression in multivariate analyses. BMM patients without any of these risk factors were found to have better progression-free survival (p < 0.05) and better overall survival (p < 0.05) than other ISM patients. These data support the proposal to define BMM as a separate SM variant characterized by SM criteria, absence of skin lesions, absence of B-Findings, and tryptase levels

Future oncology 17(30), 3965-3976 (2021). doi:10.2217/fon-2021-0424, Published by Future Medicine Ltd, London

Background: Most patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) have extensive-stage disease at presentation, and prognosis remains poor. Recently, immunotherapy has demonstrated clinical activity in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). The CASPIAN trial assessed durvalumab, with or without tremelimumab, in combination with etoposide plus either cisplatin or carboplatin (platinum–etoposide) in treatment-naive patients with ES-SCLC. Methods: This randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial was done at 209 sites across 23 countries. Eligible patients were adults with untreated ES-SCLC, with WHO performance status 0 or 1 and measurable disease as per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. Patients were randomly assigned (in a 1:1:1 ratio) to durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide; durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus platinum–etoposide; or platinum–etoposide alone. All drugs were administered intravenously. Platinum–etoposide consisted of etoposide 80–100 mg/m2 on days 1–3 of each cycle with investigator's choice of either carboplatin area under the curve 5–6 mg/mL per min or cisplatin 75–80 mg/m2 (administered on day 1 of each cycle). Patients received up to four cycles of platinum–etoposide plus durvalumab 1500 mg with or without tremelimumab 75 mg every 3 weeks followed by maintenance durvalumab 1500 mg every 4 weeks in the immunotherapy groups and up to six cycles of platinum–etoposide every 3 weeks plus prophylactic cranial irradiation (investigator's discretion) in the platinum–etoposide group. The primary endpoint was overall survival in the intention-to-treat population. We report results for the durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide group versus the platinum–etoposide group from a planned interim analysis. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03043872, and is ongoing. Findings: Patients were enrolled between March 27, 2017, and May 29, 2018. 268 patients were allocated to the durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide group and 269 to the platinum–etoposide group. Durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide was associated with a significant improvement in overall survival, with a hazard ratio of 0·73 (95% CI 0·59–0·91; p=0·0047]); median overall survival was 13·0 months (95% CI 11·5–14·8) in the durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide group versus 10·3 months (9·3–11·2) in the platinum–etoposide group, with 34% (26·9–41·0) versus 25% (18·4–31·6) of patients alive at 18 months. Any-cause adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 163 (62%) of 265 treated patients in the durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide group and 166 (62%) of 266 in the platinum–etoposide group; adverse events leading to death occurred in 13 (5%) and 15 (6%) patients. Interpretation: First-line durvalumab plus platinum–etoposide significantly improved overall survival in patients with ES-SCLC versus a clinically relevant control group. Safety findings were consistent with the known safety profiles of all drugs received. Funding: AstraZeneca.

Objectives Colonization and infection with third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (3GCR-EC) are frequent in haematological and oncological patients. In this high-risk setting, German guidelines recommend single-room contact precautions (SCP) for patients with 3GCR-EC that are non-susceptible to fluoroquinolones (F3GCR-EC). However, this recommendation is controversial, as evidence is limited. Methods We performed a prospective, multicentre cohort study at four haematology and oncology departments assessing the impact of SCP on hospital-acquired colonization or bloodstream infection (BSI) with F3GCR-EC. Two sites performed SCP for F3GCR-EC patients including single rooms, gloves and gowns (SCP sites), and two did not (NCP sites). Active screening for 3GCR-EC was performed and isolates were characterized with molecular typing methods including whole genome sequencing and core genome multiple locus sequence typing to assess patient-to-patient transmission. Potential confounders were assessed by competing-risk regression analysis. Results Within 12 months, 1386 patients at NCP sites and 1582 patients at SCP sites were included. Hospital-acquisition of F3GCR-EC was observed in 22/1386 (1.59%) and 16/1582 (1.01%) patients, respectively (p 0.191). There were 3/1386 (0.22%) patients with BSI caused by F3GCR-EC at NCP sites and 4/1582 (0.25%) at SCP sites (p 1.000). Patient-to-patient transmission occurred in three cases at NCP and SCP sites each (p 1.000). The number of patients needed to screen in order to prevent one patient-to-patient transmission of F3GCR-EC was determined to be 3729. Conclusions Use of SCP had no significant impact on hospital-acquisition or patient-to-patient transmission of F3GCR-EC in this high-risk setting.

Mastocytosis is a unique hematologic neoplasm with complex biology and pathology and a variable clinical course. The disease can essentially be divided into cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) and systemic mastocytosis (SM). In adults, SM is diagnosed in most cases and manifests as either indolent or advanced disease. Patients with advanced SM have an unfavorable prognosis with reduced survival. However, so far, little is known about the prevalence of various categories of SM and about prognostic factors. In an attempt to learn more about the behavior and evolution of various forms of CM and SM, the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) initiated a mastocytosis registry in 2012. In this article, the set up and start phase of this registry are described. Until 2018, more than 3000 patients from 12 countries and 25 centers have been enrolled. In a majority of all patients, robust follow-up data and relevant clinical end points are available. Using this data set, a series of registry projects have been launched, with the aim to validate previously identified diagnostic and prognostic variables and to identify new disease-related and patient-related parameters in various forms of mastocytosis. Moreover, the core data set of the registry will be useful to establish multiparametric scoring systems through which prognostication and individualized management of patients with mastocytosis should improve in the foreseeable future. (C) 2019 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Trials 22(1), 622 (2021). doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05577-y, Published by BioMed Central, London

Background Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired disease characterized by chronic complement-mediated hemolysis. C5 inhibition controls intravascular hemolysis in untreated PNH but cannot address extravascular hemolysis. Pegcetacoplan, a pegylated peptide targeting proximal complement protein C3, potentially inhibits both intravascular and extravascular hemolysis. Methods We conducted a phase 3 open-label, controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of pegcetacoplan as compared with eculizumab in adults with PNH and hemoglobin levels lower than 10.5 g per deciliter despite eculizumab therapy. After a 4-week run-in phase in which all patients received pegcetacoplan plus eculizumab, we randomly assigned patients to subcutaneous pegcetacoplan monotherapy (41 patients) or intravenous eculizumab (39 patients). The primary end point was the mean change in hemoglobin level from baseline to week 16. Additional clinical and hematologic markers of hemolysis and safety were assessed. Results Pegcetacoplan was superior to eculizumab with respect to the change in hemoglobin level from baseline to week 16, with an adjusted (least squares) mean difference of 3.84 g per deciliter (P Conclusions Pegcetacoplan was superior to eculizumab in improving hemoglobin and clinical and hematologic outcomes in patients with PNH by providing broad hemolysis control, including control of intravascular and extravascular hemolysis. (Funded by Apellis Pharmaceuticals; PEGASUS ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03500549. opens in new tab.)

Context: Pegcetacoplan (PEG) is a C3 complement inhibitor recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). PEG was superior to eculizumab (ECU; C5-inhibitor) in improving hemoglobin levels at week 16 during the phase 3 PEGASUS trial (NCT03500549) in patients with suboptimal response to prior ECU treatment. Objective: We report on efficacy and safety of PEG and results from a post hoc time-aligned analysis based on start of PEG dosing. Design: Eighty PNH patients (≥18 years, hemoglobin levels Results: PEG-to-PEG patients achieved sustained improvements in hemoglobin levels at week 16 through the OLP (week 48 mean hemoglobin level: 11.3 g/dL; CFB: 2.5 g/dL). ECU-to-PEG patients displayed improved hemoglobin levels during the OLP (week 48 mean hemoglobin level: 11.6 g/dL; CFB: 2.9 g/dL). Timepoint alignment demonstrated no significant difference (p=0.64) between improvements in hemoglobin levels at 28 and 48 weeks among PEG-to-PEG and ECU-to-PEG groups, respectively. Thirty percent of patients reported a serious AE, 6% possibly PEG-related. Common AEs for PEG-treated patients were injection site reactions (36%), hemolysis (24%), and diarrhea (21%). Twelve patients (15%) discontinued PEG due to AEs: 3 in RCP, 8 in OLP, 1 during follow-up, including one death due to COVID-19, unrelated to PEG. Conclusions: PEG-treated patients experienced sustained improvements in hemoglobin levels at week 48, and the safety profile of PEG was consistent with previously reported data. The treatment effect of PEG on hemoglobin levels over time was similar between PEG-to-PEG and ECU-to-PEG groups. Thus, PEG represents a new effective therapeutic option for PNH patients.

Respiratory medicine case reports 34, 101560 (2021). doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2021.101560, Published by Elsevier, Amsterdam

Theranostics 11(1), 292-303 (2021). doi:10.7150/thno.51872, Published by Ivyspring, Wyoming, NSW

Robust data on the outcome of MET-aberrant NSCLC with nontargeted therapies are limited, especially in consideration of the heterogeneity of MET-amplified tumors (METamp).A total of 337 tumor specimens of patients with MET-altered Union for International Cancer Control stage IIIB/IV NSCLC were analyzed using next-generation sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. The evaluation focused on the type of MET aberration, co-occurring mutations, programmed death-ligand 1 expression, and overall survival (OS).METamp tumors (n = 278) had a high frequency of co-occurring mutations (80% for all amplification levels), whereas 57.6% of the 59 patients with MET gene and exon 14 (METex14) tumors had no additional mutations. In the METamp tumors, with increasing gene copy number (GCN), the frequency of inactivating TP53 mutations increased (GCN4: 58.2%; GCN ≥ 10: 76.5%), whereas the frequency of KRAS mutations decreased (GCN4: 43.2%; GCN ≥ 10: 11.8%). A total of 10.1% of all the METamp tumors with a GCN ≥ 10 had a significant worse OS (4.0 mo; 95% CI: 1.9-6.0) compared with the tumors with GCN10 (12.0 mo; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.4-14.6). In the METamp NSCLC, OS with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy was significantly better compared with chemotherapy with 19.0 months (95% CI: 15.8-22.2) versus 8.0 months (95% CI: 5.8-10.2, p0.0001). No significant difference in median OS was found between ICI therapy and chemotherapy in the patients with METex14 (p = 0.147).METex14, METamp GCN ≥ 10, and METamp GCN10 represent the subgroups of MET-dysregulated NSCLC with distinct molecular and clinical features. The patients with METex14 do not seem to benefit from immunotherapy in contrast to the patients with METamp, which is of particular relevance for the prognostically poor METamp GCN ≥ 10 subgroup.

Summary Dyskeratosis Congenita (DKC) is a systemic disorder caused by mutations resulting in impaired telomere maintenance. Clinical features include bone marrow failure and an increased risk of developing hematological malignancies. There are conflicting data whether androgen derivatives (AD) can elongate telomeres in vivo and whether AD treatment enhances the risk of gaining myelodysplastic syndrome‐related mutations. Seven TERC or TERT‐mutated DKC patients underwent AD treatment. All patients revealed hematological response. Telomere length of lymphocytes and granulocytes increased significantly and no MDS‐related mutations were detected. Pending longer follow‐up, treatment with AD seems to represent an efficient and safe therapy for DKC patients., publishedVersion

Mastocytosis is a rare neoplasm characterized by the expansion and accumulation of mast cells in various organ systems. Systemic mastocytosis (SM) may or may not present with cutaneous lesions. To examine the frequency and clinical impact of cutaneous involvement, data on 1,510 patients with mastocytosis collected in the registry of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis were analyzed. Cutaneous involvement was found in 1,195 of 1,510 patients (79.1%). Of these, 286 had cutaneous mastocytosis, and 721 had SM with skin involvement. Adult patients with skin involvement who did not have a bone marrow examination (n = 188) were defined as having mastocytosis in the skin. In 315 patients, SM without skin involvement was found. The percentage of cases with cutaneous involvement was higher in indolent SM (100%) and smoldering SM (87.9%) compared to aggressive SM (46.8%) or mast cell leukemia (38.5%). After a median follow-up of 5.6 years, no patient with cutaneous masto-cytosis had died, but 2.6% of the patients with mastocytosis in the skin, 5.7% of the patients with SM with skin involvement, and 28.95% of the patients with SM without skin involvement had died. Overall survival was longer in patients with skin involvement (cutaneous mastocytosis and/or mastocytosis in the skin and/or SM with skin involvement) than in patients with SM without skin involvement (P < 0.0001). These data argue for a thorough examination of both the skin and bone marrow in adult patients with mastocytosis.

Background: In indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM), several risk factors of disease progression have been identified. Previous studies, performed with limited patient numbers, have also shown that the clinical course in ISM is stable and comparable to that of cutaneous mastocytosis (CM). The aim of this project was to compare the prognosis of patients with ISM with that of patients with CM.Methods: We employed a dataset of 1993 patients from the registry of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) to compare outcomes of ISM and CM.Results: We found that overall survival (OS) is worse in ISM compared to CM. Moreover, in patients with typical ISM, bone marrow mastocytosis (BMM), and smoldering SM (SSM), 4.1% of disease progressions have been observed (4.9% of progressions in typical ISM group, 1.7% in BMM, and 9.4% in SSM). Progressions to advanced SM were observed in 2.9% of these patients. In contrast, six patients with CM (1.7%) converted to ISM and no definitive progression to advanced SM was found. No significant differences in OS and event-free survival (EFS) were found when comparing ISM, BMM, and SSM. Higher risk of both progression and death was significantly associated with male gender, worse performance status, and organomegaly.Conclusion: Our data confirm the clinical impact of the WHO classification that separates ISM from CM and from other SM variants.

Background Invasive fungal diseases remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients undergoing intensive cytotoxic therapy. The choice of the most appropriate antifungal treatment (AFT) depends on the fungal species suspected or identified, the patient's risk factors (eg length and depth of granulocytopenia) and the expected side effects. Objectives Since the last edition of recommendations for 'Treatment of invasive fungal infections in cancer patients' of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) in 2013, treatment strategies were gradually moving away from solely empirical therapy of presumed or possible invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) towards pre-emptive therapy of probable IFD. Methods The guideline was prepared by German clinical experts for infections in cancer patients in a stepwise consensus process. MEDLINE was systematically searched for English-language publications from January 1975 up to September 2019 using the key terms such as 'invasive fungal infection' and/or 'invasive fungal disease' and at least one of the following: antifungal agents, cancer, haematological malignancy, antifungal therapy, neutropenia, granulocytopenia, mycoses, aspergillosis, candidosis and mucormycosis. Results AFT of IFDs in cancer patients may include not only antifungal agents but also non-pharmacologic treatment. In addition, the armamentarium of antifungals for treatment of IFDs has been broadened (eg licensing of isavuconazole). Additional antifungals are currently under investigation or in clinical trials. Conclusions Here, updated recommendations for the treatment of proven or probable IFDs are given. All recommendations including the levels of evidence are summarised in tables to give the reader rapid access to key information.

Background: The evaluation of quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with care in palliative care patients and their relatives is an important aspect of palliative care research, likewise important to get a direct feedback for the success of treatment. Here, questionnaires are important tools for measuring outcomes of care in medicine. Several validated, predominantly English, questionnaires already exist. These have been translated in different languages but German. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) is an established tool for the evaluation of QoL in cancer patients. The FACIT-Pal, a 46-item-questionnaire of this group of questionnaires, measures the QoL in palliative care patients. It includes a new palliative care subscale which is not yet available in German. The FAMCARE-2, a 17-item-questionnaire, evaluates the relatives’ satisfaction with the care and support they received from palliative care team. Methods: The translation process followed a protocol including multiple independent translators as well as a forth and back translation. Results: A German version of FAMCARE-2 and FACIT-Pal was translated based on the original questionnaire. Relevant differences between the English original versions and the back translations weren't revealed by the original scale developers. Conclusions: The final versions of the German translations have been authorized by the scale developers. The FAMCARE-2 and the FACIT-Pal are now available in German and can be used for research and quality control purposes.

BACKGROUND: Mastocytosis in adults often presents with skin lesions. A bone marrow biopsy is necessary to confirm or exclude the presence of systemic mastocytosis (SM) in these cases. When a bone marrow biopsy is not performed, the provisional diagnosis is mastocytosis in the skin (MIS). No generally accepted scoring system has been established to estimate the risk of SM in these patients.OBJECTIVE: To develop a risk score to predict SM in adults with MIS.METHODS: We examined 1145 patients with MIS from the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis Registry who underwent a bone marrow biopsy. A total of 944 patients had SM and 201 patients had cutaneous mastocytosis; 63.7% were female, and 36.3% were male. Median age was 44 +/- 13.3 years. The median serum tryptase level amounted to 29.3 +/- 81.9 ng/mL. We established a multivariate regression model using the whole population of patients as a training and validation set (bootstrapping). A risk score was developed and validated with receiver-operating curves.RESULTS: In the multivariate model, the tryptase level (P < .001), constitutional/cardiovascular symptoms (P = .014), and bone symptoms/osteoporosis (P < .001) were independent predictors of SM (P < .001; sensitivity, 90.7%; specificity, 69.1%). A 6-point risk score was established (risk, 10.7%-98.0%) and validated.CONCLUSIONS: Using a large data set of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis Registry, we created a risk score to predict the presence of SM in patients with MIS. Although the score will need further validation in independent cohorts, our score seems to discriminate safely between patients with SM and with pure cutaneous mastocytosis. (C) 2020 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Background: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, potentially life-threatening hematologic disease characterized by various degrees of hemolysis, bone marrow failure, and thrombophilia. Pegcetacoplan (PEG), a C3 complement-inhibitor approved by the FDA for treatment of adults with PNH, has demonstrated improved hemoglobin (Hb) levels for PNH patients with screening Hb levels Aims: This post hoc analysis evaluated the safety and efficacy of 16 weeks of PEG therapy for PNH treatment in a subgroup of patients with baseline Hb levels ≥10.0 g/dL from the PADDOCK (NCT02588833) Phase 1b, PEGASUS (NCT03500549) Phase 3, and PRINCE (NCT04085601) Phase 3 studies. Methods: Adult PNH patients from the PADDOCK, PEGASUS, and PRINCE studies with baseline Hb levels ≥10.0 g/dL and no transfusions within 14 days of baseline were included in this analysis. PADDOCK evaluated PEG therapy at 270-360 mg/day subcutaneously (SC) in complement-inhibitor naïve PNH patients. PEGASUS enrolled PNH patients that remained anemic despite stable ECU treatment (≥3 months) with Hb levels Post hoc analyses were performed at Week 16 for PADDOCK and PRINCE, Week 16 for PEGASUS patients treated with PEG during the RCP, and Week 36 for PEGASUS patients who switched from ECU to PEG during the OLP (16 weeks of PEG monotherapy). Endpoints included change from baseline (CFB) in Hb, percentage of patients with Hb response (≥1 g/dL Hb increase without transfusion), percentage of patients with Hb ≥12 g/dL without transfusion, and CFB in absolute reticulocyte count (ARC), lactate dehydrogenase level (LDH), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) after 16 weeks of PEG monotherapy. Transfusion recipients (PADDOCK, n=0; PEGASUS, n=2, [1 RCP, 1 OLP]; PRINCE=0) were defined as Hb non-responders and censored for all analyses. Results: In total, 24 patients had baseline Hb levels ≥10.0 g/dL at the baseline visit: six from PADDOCK, nine from PEGASUS (6 RCP, 3 OLP), and nine from PRINCE (1 SOC escape [began PEG at Week 6], 8 PEG). Overall, patients from all three studies achieved improved Hb levels (Table) with the majority demonstrating a Hb response and Hb ≥12 g/dL (Table). Mean decreases in ARC and LDH (Table) were observed with mean LDH less than the upper limit of normal at 16 weeks in all studies (Table). Clinically significant increases in mean FACIT-Fatigue scores were observed in all three groups (Table). No thrombotic incidents were noted in this patient population. Two PEGASUS patients had transfusions of 5 units over 2 days and of 6 units over 16 weeks due to breakthrough hemolysis. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that PEG can further improve hematological outcomes in PNH patients with baseline Hb levels ≥10.0 g/dL who are complement-inhibitor naïve or remained anemic after ECU therapy. While these patients had near normal Hb at baseline, they also had elevated ARC prior to PEG therapy, suggesting ongoing hemolysis. Improvements in mean Hb level, Hb response, ARC, LDH level, and FACIT-Fatigue score suggest that PEG is effective in this subgroup resulting in a decline in overall hemolytic activity and a clinically significant improvement in fatigue. Overall, these results suggest that the utility of PEG is not restricted to naïve and complement-inhibitor experienced PNH patients with low baseline Hb but can be efficacious in those with near-normal baseline Hb, resulting in further clinical improvements in relevant PNH parameters. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Panse: Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Grunenthal: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Boehringer Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Chugai: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Peffault De Latour: Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB: Consultancy, Honoraria. Schafhausen: Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Blueprint Medicines: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Straetmans: Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Al-Adhami: Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment. Ajayi: Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Chen: Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Yeh: Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Wong: Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

Introduction: Telomere biology disorders (TBD) are caused by mutations affecting proper telomere maintenance resulting in premature telomere shortening. Telomere length (TL) assessment is currently being used for screening and diagnosis of TBD of which Dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is the most prominent TBD subtype typically found in children and adolescents. In adults, TBDs are characterized by a broad spectrum of more "cryptic" diverging mono- or oligosymptomatic clinical manifestations such as bone marrow failure (BMF), hepatopathy or interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, despite growing general clinical awareness and exertion of improved TL screening strategies, insufficient data are available about the clinical course of adult, late-onset TBDs. Here, we present a series of 41 consecutive adult TBD cases from 2014 to 2021 identified through the Aachen Telomeropathy registry. Methods and Patients: Median follow-up of the cohort was 2.0 (range 0-6.2) years. In 39/41 patients TBD diagnosis was established based on coexistence of the following three criteria: 1.) Identification of pathogenic variant in a known TBD-related gene via next-generation panel sequencing (NGS) or sequential whole exome sequencing (WES). 2.) The presence of prematurely shortened TL below the 1% percentile (39/41) or 5% percentile (2/41) in the lymphocyte gate detected by flow-FISH and 3.) the presence of BMF or ILD as predominant clinical manifestation. In 2 out of 41 cases, WES did not identify a definitive pathogenic variant. Here, diagnosis of TBD was established due to short telomere below the 1% percentile, BMF and the presence of typical DKC stigmata, other TBD symptoms and a positive family history. Results: Mean age of our cohort was 35.9 ± 17.6 years. 49% (n=20) of patients were females. Results of the genetic screening revealed heterozygous pathogenic variants in TERC (n=14) and TERT (n=11) as the most frequent variants, followed by RTEL1 (n=6), TIN2 (n=1), CTC1 (n=1) and DKC1 (n=1). Homozygous or compound heterozygous pathogenic variants were found for CTC1 (n=2), NHP2 (n=2) or TCAB1 (n=1). 46% (n=19) of patients had a positive family history. BMF was the most frequent symptom with 93% (n=38) presenting with leukopenia, 78% (n=32) with anemia and 76% (n=31) with thrombocytopenia. ILD was suspected/confirmed clinically in 44% (n=18), hepatopathies in 29% (n=12) and cancer in 12% of the patients in past medical history (n=5, liposarcoma, breast cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, endometrial cancer). Symptoms of the typical DKC triad (leukoplakia, nail dystrophy, abnormal skin pigmentation) were observed in 41% (n=17). Of those, 76% (13/17) presented with only one or two clinical signs. Based on past medical history, the onset of first TBD manifestation was observed at a mean age of 26.9 ± 18.3 years. Time from first symptom observed to the diagnosis of TBD was 8.2 ± 9.5 years. 22% (n=9) patients died during follow-up with mean time of 11.7 ± 10.1 years from first manifestation of TBD to death. Regarding treatment, 39% (n=16) were listed for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo Tx), but only 38% (6/16) of these eventually received allo Tx. Immunosuppressive therapy with ATG and CSA was carried out in 12% (n=5) of the patients with no patient responding to treatment. Eltrombopag was given in 5% of cases (n=2) without response. 15% (n=6) received androgen treatment with danazol as the most frequently used drug in five of the six reported cases. All patients showed a response at least in one hematological lineage. Conclusions: Our data support the notion that despite the recent progress in screening and genetic diagnostics, late-onset TBD is still frequently underdiagnosed with several years from first manifestation of disease to diagnosis. Implementation of routine screening for TBD might improve the rate of correct TBD diagnosis and could help to avoid ineffective treatments. Disclosures Beier: Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Other: Travel reembursement; Alexion: Speakers Bureau. Roeth: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kira: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bioverativ, a Sanofi company: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria. Platzbecker: AbbVie: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Geron: Honoraria. Radsak: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: e.g. travel support; JAZZ: Other: e.g. travel support; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: e.g. travel support; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: e.g. travel support; Astellas: Other: e.g. travel support; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Corat: Consultancy, Honoraria; Cogent Biosciences: Consultancy, Honoraria; TEVA: Consultancy, Honoraria; Otsuka: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Other: e.g. travel support; Abbvie: Other: e.g. travel support. Schafhausen: Blueprint Medicines: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Corbacioglu: Gentium/Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria. Heuser: AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; BergenBio: Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer Pharma AG: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Tolremo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Koschmieder: Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: (e.g. travel support); Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: (e.g. travel support); Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: (e.g. travel support); Karthos: Other: Travel support; Shire: Honoraria, Other; CTI: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Geron: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: (e.g. travel support), Research Funding; Alexion: Other: Travel support; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: (e.g. travel support); Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: (e.g. travel support), Research Funding; Ariad: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: (e.g. travel support); Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Baxalta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other; Abbvie: Other: Travel support; Image Biosciences: Other: Travel support; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; AOP Pharma: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: (e.g. travel support), Research Funding. Panse: Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Boehringer Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Grunenthal: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Isfort: Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel reimbursement; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel reimbursement; Ariad: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria; Hexal: Other: Travel reimbursement; Mundipharma: Other: Travel reimbursement; Amgen: Other: Travel reimbursement; Roche: Other: Travel reimbursement; Alexion: Other: Travel reimbursement. Brummendorf: Bristol Myers: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Repeat Diagnostics: Research Funding; Takepart Media: Honoraria.

Introduction: Systemic mastocytosis is a clonal, hematologic neoplasm driven by KIT D816V mutation in >90% of cases, with limited treatment options. In a phase I study, ava, a potent inhibitor of KIT D816V, induced durable responses which deepened over time in pts with AdvSM, regardless of prior therapy or AdvSM subtype. PATHFINDER (NCT03580655) is a pivotal open-label, single-arm phase II study of ava in pts with AdvSM. Methods: Pts were aged ≥18 years with centrally confirmed diagnosis of an AdvSM subtype. Primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) by modified International Working Group-Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research and Treatment and European Competence Network on Mastocytosis criteria. This pre-specified interim analysis included 32 response-evaluable pts. Secondary endpoints included mean baseline change in AdvSM-Symptom Assessment Form Total Symptom Score (TSS) (Gotlib J et al. ASH 2018) and safety. Results: At June 23, 2020, 62 pts with AdvSM received ava primarily at 200 mg orally once daily (QD). Median age was 69 years (range 31-88), 31% had ECOG PS 2-3, and 68% had prior systemic treatment (55% with midostaurin). At 10.4 months median follow-up, 52/62 (84%) pts remained on treatment. ORR was 75% (95% CI 57-89; P=1.6×10-9) in 32 response-evaluable pts. Complete remission with full or partial hematologic recovery occurred in 19% of pts. Median time to response was 2 months; responses deepened over time. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached; estimated 12-month OS was 87%. There were ≥50% reductions from baseline serum tryptase (87%; n=54), marrow mast cell aggregates (71%; n=44), and KIT D816V allele fraction (53%; n=33). Mean TSS at baseline (n=56) was 18.3; fatigue, spots, itching, flushing, and abdominal pain were the most severe symptoms. Mean change in TSS was -7.7 (1-sided P Citation Format: Daniel J. DeAngelo, Andreas Reiter, Deepti Radia, Michael W. Deininger, Tracy I. George, Jens Panse, Alessandro M. Vannucchi, Madlen Jentzsch, Iván Alvarez-Twose, Andrzej Mital, Olivier Hermine, Ingunn Dybedal, Elizabeth O. Hexner, Lisa K. Hicks, Lambert Span, Ruben Mesa, Prithviraj Bose, Kristen M. Pettit, Mark L. Heaney, Stephen Oh, Jayita Sen, Hui-Min Lin, Brenton G. Mar, Jason Gotlib. PATHFINDER: Interim analysis of avapritinib (ava) in patients (pts) with advanced systemic mastocytosis (AdvSM) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr CT023.

Reasons for leukopenia can be numerous. To get close to the diagnosis it’s always useful to check previous blood counts of the patient to get a feeling for the dynamic development of the leukopenia. Furthermore, it’s important to check the red blood cell count and platelet count as well; a bi- or a pancytopenia usually implies an insufficient production in the bone marrow. Nevertheless, a manual counted peripheral blood smear is an essential step towards the right diagnosis in leukopenia: Beside cell counts of the single subgroups of leucocytes it also provides information on potential causes such as dysplasia.Leukopenia can be life-threatening for the patient especially if the patient presents with an agranulocytosis and fever: In this case admission is mandatory and the patient has to be treated immediately with broad-spectrum antibiotics to reduce mortality.

Introduction Recent studies indicate that particularly in a subgroup of younger patients, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) develops due to an inherited genetic predisposition linked to mutations in genes such as ANKRD26, SAMD9, SAMD9-L, GATA-2, genes causing telomere biology disorders or Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. However, the prevalence of so-called "AML predisposition syndromes" (APS) underlying newly diagnosed cases with AML is unknown. Actual screening strategies for APS are based on the family history and clinical/genetic features. There is growing evidence that APS frequently manifest themselves with an oligosymptomatic phenotype or are lacking specific symptoms altogether. Furthermore, molecular analysis of the clonal population without additional analysis of non-clonal cells do not allow the discrimination between inherited and acquired changes. Thus, new approaches to identify the subset of patients with underlying APS in adult newly diagnosed AML patients are needed. One frequent feature observed in APS is younger age at the time of diagnosis and the initial presence of an aberrant karyotype. Along this line, we retrospectively screened the German SAL-AML registry using age and the presence of an aberrant karyotype as pre-defining parameters to analyze the prevalence of APS in this selected cohort. Patients and methods The database of the German SAL-AML registry includes over 5207 patients with AML. We screened for patients below 35 years of age and with any type of numerical or structural chromosomal aberration at first diagnosis. DNA samples of patients achieving cytological remission (CR) and available samples of peripheral blood or bone marrow were selected. CR samples were chosen to reduce potential contamination by malignant AML blasts. Patients were screened for pathogenic variants using a self-designed NGS panel containing the entire coding sequences of ACD, ANKRD26, CTC1, DDX41, DKC1, ERCC6, ETV6, GATA1, GATA2, LIG4, NHP2, NOP10, PARN, POT1, RPA1, RPL11, RPL15, RPL26, RPL35A, RPL5, RPS10, RPS17, RPS19, RPS24, RPS26, RPS7, RTEL1, SAMD9, SAMD9L, SBDS, SRP72, TERC, TERF1, TERF2, TERT, TINF2, TPP1 and WRAP53. An inherited variant was considered in all patients with a variant allele frequency between 40-60% for heterozygous variants and >90% for homozygous ones. To analyze the functional consequence of SAMD9 variants, proliferation assays with HEK293 cells transfected with the respective identified variant was carried out. Results and discussion On the basis of the inclusion criteria mentioned above, we were able to identify 41 patients. All cases except one were considered de novo AML by the treating physicians and received an anthracycline/cytarabine based induction chemotherapy. Mean age of the 41 patients was 26 ± 5 years (mean ± S.D.). Predominant karyotypic aberration were abnormalities of chromosome 8 (18/41) as well as a complex aberrant karyotype (29/41). NGS analysis revealed five different heterozygous mutations in approx. 10% (4/41) of patients: GATA2 c.1009C>T p.(Arg337Ter), SBDS c.183_184delInsCT and c.258+2T>C (both mutations in the same patient), TINF2 c.848C>A p.(Pro283His), SAMD9 c.2854G>C p.(Gly952Arg). The variants in GATA2, SBDS and TINF2 are known to be pathogenic. For SAMD9, in vitro experiments showed increased inhibition of cell growth compared to wild-type supporting the pathogenicity of the mutation. Focusing on the clinical outcome, 50% (2/4) of the identified APS patients received allogeneic transplantation during follow-up compared to 65% (24/37) in the group without detectable mutations. Median survival in the APS group was significantly shorter with 3.2 months compared to 105.3 months in the remaining 37 AML patients (p Conclusions Using age and karyotype as selection criteria, we were able to identify an inherited APS in 10% of newly diagnosed AML patients below 35 years with chromosomal aberrations reaching CR. Obviously, our study is limited by rather stringent inclusion criteria not allowing overall conclusions on the incidence of APS in newly diagnosed AML. However, age and karyotype might provide simple clinical parameters to trigger genetic screening for inherited APS in addition to the actual recommendations. Given the significant difference in survival in patients with and without underlying APS, our study clearly supports inclusion of screening for APS in this cohort pending prospective validation. Figure Disclosures Röllig: Amgen, Astellas, BMS, Daiichi Sankyo, Janssen, Roche: Consultancy; Abbvie, Novartis, Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding. Müller-Tidow:Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen-Cilag GmbH: Speakers Bureau; BiolineRx: Research Funding. Panse:Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Boehringer Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Chugai: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Grunenthal: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apellis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Brümmendorf:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation, Expenses, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: travel, accommodation, expenses, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy. Jost:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Other: travel support; JAZZ: Other: travel support.

Background Inhibition of complement C5 is the current standard of care for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). C5 inhibition reduces transfusion requirements and improves anemia and quality of life by ameliorating intravascular hemolysis. However, current therapies require lifelong intravenous infusions at regular intervals, and breakthrough hemolysis may occur due to inadequate C5 inhibition. Crovalimab is a novel anti-human C5 antibody characterized by pH-dependent target binding, enhanced recycling by the neonatal Fc receptor, and high bioavailability, allowing for small-volume (2 × 2 mL) subcutaneous administration every 4 weeks. Part 3 of the Phase I/II COMPOSER study (Sostelly et al. Blood. 2019; Röth et al. Blood. 2020) demonstrated that in patients switched from eculizumab, enhanced crovalimab clearance occurred during the switching phase due to the formation of drug-target-drug complexes, with a risk of temporary loss of complete complement inhibition. Part 4 of COMPOSER tested a dosing regimen optimized to maintain complete complement inhibition in C5 inhibitor-naive patients and those switched from eculizumab to crovalimab. Objectives To evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic (PK), and pharmacodynamic (PD) effects of an optimized crovalimab regimen. Study Design and Methods Crovalimab is being evaluated in the ongoing Phase I/II COMPOSER study (NCT03157635). Parts 1, 2, and 3 of COMPOSER assessed the PK and safety of crovalimab in healthy volunteers, C5 inhibitor-naive patients, and patients switched from eculizumab, respectively. In Part 4, patients received an intravenous loading series of crovalimab 1000 mg on day 1 followed by 340 mg subcutaneous on days 2, 8, 15, and 22. Maintenance dosing of 680 mg subcutaneous every 4 weeks was started on day 29 (week 5). Plasma concentrations of crovalimab, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and free and total C5, as well as complement activity were determined at follow-up visits. The primary endpoints were PK and PD effects of the dosing strategy. Patients were followed up for safety and efficacy, including transfusion avoidance, breakthrough hemolysis events, and hemoglobin stabilization. Results Data for 15 patients (8 naive, 7 switched) treated with the optimized crovalimab dosing strategy in Part 4 are presented here. The data cutoff was January 29, 2020. The PK profiles showed that crovalimab exposure was maintained above the target concentration (100 µg/mL) for complete complement inhibition in all patients, naive and switched. Complete complement inhibition, as measured by liposome immunoassay < 10 U/mL, was achieved immediately following the initial dose and maintained throughout the study treatment period. Consistent with these results, crovalimab-free C5 levels declined rapidly following the initial dose and remained low throughout the follow-up period. As expected based on the target-disposal properties of crovalimab, limited total C5 accumulation was observed in naive patients and a decline was seen in switched patients. Median LDH rapidly declined to ≤ 1.5-fold the upper limit of normal (ULN) in naive patients, remained ≤ 1.5-fold the ULN in switched patients, and remained below this level throughout the observation period in both patient groups (Figure). Crovalimab was well tolerated, and no serious treatment-related adverse events were observed. Conclusions These data showed that the optimized dosing strategy for crovalimab in PNH did not raise any safety concerns and suggest that the strategy results in sustained complete complement inhibition in patients naive to complement inhibitor therapy and those switched from eculizumab. These data support the continued development of crovalimab. Disclosures Peffault De Latour: Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Apellis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Sica:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland., Research Funding. Ramos:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received editorial support for this abstract, provided by Scott Battle, PhD, of Health Interactions and funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche.; Genentech, Inc: Current Employment, Other: Fellowship support. Hernández-Sánchez:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Kim:Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kiialainen:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received editorial support for this abstract, provided by Scott Battle, PhD, of Health Interactions and funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche.. Yoon:F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland., Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; YuhanPharma: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kyowahako Kirin: Research Funding. Sreckovic:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Soubret:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Ninomiya:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received editorial support for this abstract, provided by Scott Battle, PhD, of Health Interactions and funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche., Research Funding; Alexion: Honoraria; Chugai: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sostelly:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Panse:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Boehringer Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Grunenthal: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apellis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Buatois:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Schrezenmeier:Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding. Paz-Priel:Genentech, Inc: Current Employment; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: All authors received editorial support for this abstract, provided by Scott Battle, PhD, of Health Interactions and funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche.. Nishimura:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Other: All authors received editorial support for this abstract, provided by Scott Battle, PhD, of Health Interactions and funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche.; Alexion: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai: Consultancy. Röth:Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Biocryst: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Apellis: Consultancy, Honoraria. OffLabel Disclosure: Yes. Crovalimab is an anti-C5 monoclonal antibody being evaluated as a therapy for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Introduction Crovalimab is a novel anti-complement component 5 (C5) monoclonal antibody engineered with the Sequential Monoclonal Antibody Recycling Technology (SMART-Ig; Fukuzawa et al, Sci Rep. 2017) to extend half-life and enable infrequent, subcutaneous (SC) self-administration in C5-mediated diseases. Crovalimab is being investigated as a therapy for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a disease for which C5 inhibition is the standard of care. The Phase I/II COMPOSER trial (NCT03157635; Röth, et al. Blood. 2020) is a global, open-label, multicenter study of crovalimab consisting of 4 sequential parts. Parts 1, 2, and 3 assessed the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of crovalimab in healthy volunteers, C5 inhibitor-naive patients, and patients switched from eculizumab, respectively. Part 4 assessed an optimized crovalimab dose and regimen in naive and switched patients with PNH. Because eculizumab and crovalimab bind to different C5 epitopes, drug-target-drug complexes (DTDCs) consisting of eculizumab, C5, and crovalimab motifs can temporarily form in the circulation of patients who switch treatments. DTDCs can form in a range of sizes, from single crovalimab-C5-eculizumab motif to larger complexes with multiple motifs. Larger DTDCs are a concern because they take longer to clear and may be more likely to induce type III hypersensitivity reactions. Objectives Describe the impact of DTDC formation on the safety, PK, and pharmacodynamics of crovalimab in patients with PNH who switched from eculizumab to crovalimab and to describe the effect of crovalimab dose on DTDC size distribution and kinetics. Study Design and Methods Using data from COMPOSER Parts 1-3, a biochemical mathematical model was developed to investigate the kinetics of the formation and dissociation of DTDCs under the assumption that larger complexes are formed by the reversible binding of smaller complexes. The model was calibrated using concentration-time profiles of total C5, total crovalimab, and the concentration of eculizumab at the time of crovalimab initiation. DTDC size distributions were measured using size-exclusion chromatography coupled to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Using model-based simulations, an optimized crovalimab dosing strategy was identified to reduce the formation of large DTDCs while maintaining serum concentration of crovalimab above the target level of ≈ 100 μg/mL. The optimized dose and regimen were a loading series of 1000 mg intravenously on day 1 and 340 mg SC on days 2, 8, 15, and 22, followed by maintenance dosing of 680 mg SC every 4 weeks starting on day 29. The loading dose series increased the total crovalimab dose received during the first month of treatment to reduce the formation of larger DTDCs, in line with the lattice theory of complex formation. This optimized dosing strategy was investigated in Part 4 patients who switched from eculizumab. Results In COMPOSER, 19 patients with PNH were enrolled in Part 3 and switched from eculizumab to crovalimab. DTDCs were observed in all patients from Part 3 (Figure; larger DTDCs are found in fractions 1-4 and smaller crovalimab-containing complexes, such as single motifs and single crovalimab molecules, are found in fractions 5 and 6). Two Part 3 patients experienced clinical manifestations compatible with type III hypersensitivity reactions that were ascribed to DTDCs. The DTDC size distribution in Part 4 patients, who received the optimized dosing strategy, evolved differently than in Part 3 patients, consistent with model predictions. In the switched patients from Part 4, large DTDC levels started to decrease on day 8 and continued to decrease, in contrast to Part 3, in which they started to decrease on day 15. On day 22, the mean percentage of the largest DTDCs was reduced by 56% in patients in Part 4 relative to patients in Part 3. Part 4 patients achieved and maintained serum crovalimab concentrations above ≈ 100 µg/mL throughout follow-up. Despite DTDCs being observed in all Part 4 patients who switched from eculizumab, no adverse events suggestive of a type III hypersensitivity reaction occurred. Conclusions The optimized crovalimab regimen resulted in lower concentrations of large DTDCs than in patients who received the Part 3 regimen and reduced the persistence of DTDCs in patients who switched treatment. This regimen is now being evaluated in the Phase III COMMODORE 1 (NCT04432584) and COMMODORE 2 (NCT04434092) studies. Figure Disclosures Nishimura: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.; Alexion: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai: Consultancy. Soubret:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Buatois:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Charoin:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Sreckovic:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Bucher:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Ended employment in the past 24 months, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.; ANAVEON AG: Current Employment. Hernández-Sánchez:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Jordan:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Ramos:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.; Genentech, Inc: Current Employment, Other: Received fellowship support from Genentech, Inc.. Arase:Osaka University: Current Employment; Chugai: Consultancy; Alexion: Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche. Ltd.: Consultancy, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Hotta:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Isaka:Osaka University: Current Employment; Chugai: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Ito:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Kanakura:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.; Chugai Pharmaceutical: Consultancy. Kim:Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kinoshita:Alexion: Honoraria; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Morii:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Honoraria, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland., Research Funding; Chugai: Honoraria, Research Funding. Panse:Apellis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai: Speakers Bureau; Grunenthal: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Boehringer Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Peffault De Latour:Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Apellis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Research Funding. Röth:Apellis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Biocryst: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria. Schrezenmeier:Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding. Sica:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland., Research Funding. Takamori:Alexion: Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Ueda:Chugai: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria. Yoon:Kyowahako Kirin: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland., Research Funding; YuhanPharma: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Paz-Priel:Genentech, Inc: Current Employment; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.. Sostelly:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Other: All authors received support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Scott Battle, PhD, provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland..

BACKGROUND In paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), intravascular hemolysis (IVH) is mediated by the membrane attack complex, while extravascular hemolysis (EVH) is facilitated by C3 opsonization. Although eculizumab (ECU), a C5 inhibitor, inhibits IVH, ~70% of patients remain anemic and 36% require ≥1 transfusion per year due to C3-mediated EVH. Pegcetacoplan (APL-2), a C3 inhibitor, has the potential to control both IVH and EVH in PNH. AIMS PEGASUS, a phase 3, randomized, open-label, controlled trial (NCT03500549), assessed the efficacy and safety of pegcetacoplan compared to ECU in patients with PNH. METHODS Eighty patients aged ≥18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of PNH, hemoglobin levels 1.0 × ULN, platelets >50 × 109/L and neutrophils >0.5 × 109/L were included. All patients provided written informed consent and completed a run-in period of 4 weeks with pegcetacoplan plus ECU before 1:1 randomization to monotherapy with pegcetacoplan (41 patients, 1080 mg subcutaneously twice a week) or ECU (39 patients, continuing current dosing regimen). The primary endpoint was change in hemoglobin level from baseline (start of run-in period) to week 16. Key secondary and secondary endpoints were hemoglobin normalization (defined as hemoglobin level greater than or equal to lower limit of normal range) in the absence of transfusions, transfusion avoidance, absolute reticulocyte counts, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue score, and adverse events (AEs). Hierarchical significance testing for secondary efficacy endpoints was gated on the success of the primary efficacy endpoint. Post hoc analyses included hemoglobin stabilization (defined as avoidance of a >1 g/dL decrease from baseline) in the absence of transfusions. RESULTS Pegcetacoplan demonstrated superiority to ECU in change in hemoglobin level at week 16, with an adjusted treatment difference of 3.84 g/dL (p CONCLUSIONS In this phase 3 trial in patients with PNH, pegcetacoplan demonstrated superiority to ECU in hemoglobin level, and improved clinical outcomes at week 16 with transfusion avoidance in most patients. The safety profile of pegcetacoplan was comparable to that of ECU. The efficacy of pegcetacoplan validates the prevention of extravascular as well as intravascular hemolysis in PNH, leading to a potential new therapeutic option. Disclosures Hillmen: Acerta: Other: Financial or material support; AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Financial or material support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Other: Financial or material support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Financial or material support, Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Apellis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Other: Financial or material support, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Financial or material support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Szer:Prevail Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apellis: Consultancy; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Weitz:Apellis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Röth:Biocryst: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Apellis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Hoechsmann:Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Apellis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Panse:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Apellis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Grunenthal: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Boehringer Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Usuki:Apellis: Research Funding; Chugai: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Griffin:Biocryst: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Other: Conference Support. Kiladjian:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AOP Orphan: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. de Castro:Biocryst: Honoraria, Other: Data monitoring committee; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Steering committee; Alexion: Honoraria, Research Funding; Apellis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Tan:Apellis: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties. Hamdani:Apellis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Deschatelets:Apellis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties. Francois:Apellis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties. Grossi:Apellis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in private company, Patents & Royalties. Risitano:Jazz: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Samsung: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amyndas: Consultancy; RA pharma: Research Funding; Biocryst: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apellis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Achillion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Alnylam: Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Peffault De Latour:Apellis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. OffLabel Disclosure: Pegcetacoplan is an investigational drug for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Context Anemia persists in up to 72% of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) despite the inhibition of C5 with eculizumab. Pegcetacoplan, a C3 inhibitor, has the potential to control both intravascular (IVH) and extravascular hemolysis (EVH). Objective The phase 3, randomized, open-label, controlled PEGASUS trial ( NCT03500549 ) assessed efficacy and safety of pegcetacoplan compared to eculizumab in patients with PNH. Patients, Interventions, Main Outcome Measures Patients aged ≥18 years with PNH and hemoglobin Results Pegcetacoplan demonstrated superiority to eculizumab in change in hemoglobin at week 16, with an adjusted treatment difference of 3.84 g/dL (p Conclusions In this phase 3 trial in patients with PNH and suboptimal response to eculizumab, pegcetacoplan demonstrated superiority to eculizumab in change in hemoglobin level at week 16 with improved clinical outcomes including transfusion avoidance in most patients. The safety profile of pegcetacoplan was comparable to eculizumab.

Leukemia : normal and malignant hemopoiesis 31(4), 846-852 (2017). doi:10.1038/leu.2016.334, Published by Springer Nature, London

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is frequently associated with eosinophilia. To examine its prevalence and clinical impact in all WHO classification-based subcategories, we analyzed eosinophil counts in 2350 mastocytosis patients using the dataset of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis. Ninety percent of patients had normal eosinophil counts, 6.8% mild eosinophilia (0.5-1.5 × 109/l), and 3.1% hypereosinophilia (HE; >1.5 × 109/l). Eosinophilia/HE were mainly present in patients with advanced SM (17%/19%), and only rarely recorded in patients with indolent and smoldering SM (5%/1%), and some patients with cutaneous mastocytosis. The eosinophil count correlated with organomegaly, dysmyelopoiesis, and the WHO classification, but not with mediator-related symptoms or allergy. Eosinophilia at diagnosis had a strong prognostic impact (p

[Background]: The WHO classification separates mastocytosis into distinct variants, but prognostication remains a clinical challenge. The aim of this study was to improve prognostication for patients with mastocytosis., [Methods]: We analysed data of the registry of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis including 1639 patients (age 17–90 years) diagnosed with mastocytosis according to WHO criteria between Jan 12, 1978, and March 16, 2017. Univariate and multivariate analyses with Cox regression were applied to identify prognostic variables predicting survival outcomes and to establish a prognostic score. We validated this International Prognostic Scoring System in Mastocytosis (IPSM) with data of 462 patients (age 17–79 years) from the Spanish network Red Española de Mastocitosis diagnosed between Jan 22, 1998, and Nov 2, 2017., [Findings]: The prognostic value of the WHO classification was confirmed in our study (p, [Interpretation]: The IPSM scores for patients with non-advanced and advanced mastocytosis can be used to predict survival outcomes and guide treatment decisions. However, the predictive value of the IPSM needs to be confirmed in forthcoming trials., This work was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (SFB grants F4701-B20 and F4704-B20, to PV), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (RA 2838, to AI), Koeln Fortune Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne (216/2016, to AI), Charles and Ann Johnson Foundation (to JG), and Instituto de Salud Carlos III and fondos FEDER (PI16/00642 and CB16/12/00400, to AO). VS is a senior clinical researcher of the Research Foundation Flanders/Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (1804518N). CB is supported by the Clinical Research Fund of the University Hospitals Leuven.

Annals of hematology 98(7), 1547-1559 (2019). doi:10.1007/s00277-019-03681-3, Published by Springer, Berlin

Crovalimab (RO7112689) is a novel anti-human C5 antibody engineered with Sequential Monoclonal Antibody Recycling Technology (SMART Ig)(Fukuzawa et al., Sci Rep. (2017) 7(1):1080), resulting in significant half-life extension and enabling infrequent SC dosing using small volumes (1mL - 4mL) in C5 mediated diseases. We aimed at characterizing the exposure-response relationship of crovalimab used to define the minimum concentration of crovalimab achieving complete terminal inhibition. To establish pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), safety, efficacy, and optimal dose of crovalimab, we conducted a four-part adaptive clinical trial (Figure 1): Part 1: 15 healthy subjects were enrolled. 3 received 75 mg RO7112689 IV, 3 received 125 mg RO7112689 IV, 3 received 100 mg RO7112689 SC, and 6 received placeboPart 2: 10 treatment-naïve PNH patients were enrolled in Part 2 to receive increasing IV doses of 375mg, 500mg, and 1000mg on days 1, 8 and 22, respectively, followed by weekly doses of 170mg SC starting on day 36Part 3: 19 eculizumab pre-treated PNH patients were enrolled in Part 3 to receive 1000mg IV before randomization into 3 different arms: Arm A: 680mg SC Q4W (N=7)Arm B: 340mg SC Q2W (N=6)Arm C: 170mg SC QW (N=6) SC dosing was initiated on day 8 after the IV dose in all the dosing groups. Part 4: 5 eculizumab pre-treated PNH patients and 5 treatment-naïve PNH patients are planned to be enrolled to receive IV dose of 1000mg on Day 1 followed by SC dose of 340mg on Day 2, Day 8, Day 15, Day 22 followed by SC dose of 680mg given Q4W from Day 29 Crovalimab concentrations and free C5 were measured using a validated ELISA. A population PK model was developed using all the available data to describe the crovalimab concentration-time profiles. Crovalimab PD was assessed by evaluating the extent and duration of terminal complement inhibition, quantified using a validated, functional ex vivo liposome immunoassay (LIA) (http://www.wakodiagnostics.com/r_ch50.html). Relationships between crovalimab PK and PD were analyzed using graphical analysis. The PK was best described by a two-compartment open model with first-order elimination and absorption. To describe the PK in eculizumab pre-treated patients, elimination of crovalimab was modeled as a combination of the first-order elimination used for naïve patients and a faster clearance which decreases exponentially over time. Body weight was introduced using allometry on the clearance and volume of the distribution. After SC administration, bioavailability is estimated at 100% and terminal half-life around 30 days. In all PNH patients, complete complement inhibition (defined as LIA By pooling all the PK and PD data from the 3 parts of the COMPOSER study, crovalimab was shown to induce a concentration-dependent inhibition of serum hemolytic activity and of free C5 which closely correlates with terminal complement inhibition. Collectively, these data indicate that approximately 100μg/mL of crovalimab are required to achieve complement inhibition (Figure 3). At the target concentration of crovalimab between 80-100ug/mL, patients achieve complete terminal complement inhibition. Data collected in the ongoing Part 4 of COMPOSER will be used to confirm the target concentration of crovalimab. Exposure-response characterization demonstrated the potential of crovalimab as an infrequent, subcutaneous therapy for PNH. Disclosures Sostelly: F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Employment. Buatois:F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Employment. Soubret:F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Employment, Equity Ownership. Klughammer:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hsu:Roche/Genentech: Employment, Equity Ownership. Jordan:Roche Diagnostics GmbH: Employment; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Equity Ownership. Bucher:F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Employment. Charoin:F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Employment. Gotanda:Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Employment. Shinomiya:Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Employment, Patents & Royalties: (WO2018143266) A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION FOR USE IN THE TREATMENT OR PREVENTION OF A C5-RELATED DISEASE AND A METHOD FOR TREATING OR PREVENTING A C5-RELATED DISEASE. Nagy:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Panse:Blueprint Medicines: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Boehringer Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Yoon:Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; MSD: Consultancy; Kyowa Hako Kirin: Research Funding; Yuhan Pharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy. Peffault de Latour:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Nishimura:Alexion: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Röth:Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apellis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bioverativ: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders 14, 17562864211035543 (2021). doi:10.1177/17562864211035543, Published by Sage, London [u.a.]

Background Central venous catheter (CVC)-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Chlorhexidine containing catheter securement dressings may prevent CRBSI. Patients and methods A multicenter randomized, controlled trial was conducted at 10 German hematology departments. We compared chlorhexidine-containing dressings with non-chlorhexidine control dressings in neutropenic patients. The primary end point was the incidence of definite CRBSI within the first 14 days (dCRBSI14) of CVC placement. Secondary end points included combined incidence of definite or probable CRBSI within 14 days (dpCRBSI14), overall (dpCRBSI), incidence of unscheduled dressing changes and adverse events. Results From February 2012 to September 2014, 613 assessable patients were included in the study. The incidence of dCRBSI14 was 2.6% (8/307) in the chlorhexidine and 3.9% (12/306) in the control group (P = 0.375). Both dpCRBSI14 and dpCRBSI were significantly less frequent in the study group with dpCRBSI14 in 6.5% (20/307) of the chlorhexidine group when compared with 11% (34/306) in the control group (P = 0.047), and dpCRBSI in 10.4% (32/307) versus 17% (52/306), respectively (P = 0.019). The frequency of dressing intolerance with cutaneous and soft tissue abnormalities at the contact area was similar in both groups (12.4% and 11.8%; P = 0.901). Conclusions Although the trial failed its primary end point, the application of chlorhexidine containing catheter securement dressings reduces the incidence of definite or probable CRBSI in neutropenic patients. Clinical trials number NCT01544686 (Clinicaltrials.gov).

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 389(7), 671-694 (2016). doi:10.1007/s00210-016-1247-1, Published by Springer, Berlin

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the epidemiology of advanced systemic mastocytosis (advSM).OBJECTIVES: To investigate epidemiologic features and diagnostic pitfalls of advSM in Germany.METHODS: Therefore, 140 patients from a single German reference center of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis between 2003 and 2018 were analyzed.RESULTS: The patients' median age was 68 years (range, 26-86 years), and male versus female ratio was 2:1. An elevated serum tryptase, a KIT D816 mutation, and additional somatic mutations, for example, in SRSF2, ASXL1, or RUNX1, were identified in 95%, 91%, and 74% of patients, respectively. Median overall survival was 3.5 years (range, 0.03-14.3 years; male vs female 2.6 vs 4.2 years; P = .02). Two categories of misdiagnoses were identified in 51 of 140 (36%) patients: First, systemic mastocytosis (SM) was overlooked in 28 of 140 (20%) patients primarily diagnosed with various subtypes of myeloid neoplasms. Second, 23 of 140 (16%) patients were diagnosed with supposed progression from indolent SM to advSM; however, combination of an elevated KIT D816V variant allele frequency in peripheral blood (n = 22), monocytosis (n [ 9), eosinophilia (n = 6), and/or mutations in SRSF2, ASXL1, or RUNX1 (n = 10) suggest that distinct signs of potential advSM were overlooked in virtually all patients. Based on locally diagnosed patients in an area of 2.5 million inhabitants, but obviously without considering more, yet unrecognized cases, the incidence and prevalence of advSM is at least 0.8 and 5.2, respectively, per 1 million inhabitants.CONCLUSIONS: Adequate analyses of tryptase levels, bone marrow morphology, and genetics in patients with myeloid neoplasms or SM would help to prevent the significant underdiagnosis of advSM. (C) 2020 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is a rare inherited disease of impaired telomere maintenance that progressively leads to multi-organ failure, including the bone marrow. By enhancing telomerase activity, androgen derivatives (ADs) are a potential therapeutic option able to re-elongate previously shortened telomeres. Danazol, oxymetholone, and nandrolone are ADs most frequently used to treat DKC. However, no direct in vitro analyses comparing the efficacy of these ADs have been conducted so far. We therefore treated mononuclear cells derived from peripheral blood and bone marrow of four patients with mutations in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT, n = 1),in the telomerase RNA component (TERC, n = 2) and in dyskerin pseudouridine synthase 1 (DKC1, n = 1) and found no substantial differences in the activity of these three agents in patients with TERC/TERT mutations. All AD studied produced comparable improvements of proliferation rates as well as degrees of telomere elongation. Increased TERT expression levels were shown with danazol and oxymetholone. The beneficial effects of all ADs on proliferation of bone marrow progenitors could be reversed by tamoxifen, an estrogen antagonist abolishing estrogen receptor-mediated TERT expression, thereby underscoring the involvement of TERT in AD mechanism of action. In conclusion, no significant differences in the ability to functionally enhance telomerase activity could be observed for the three AD studied in vitro. Physicians therefore might choose treatment based on patients&rsquo, individual co-morbidities, e.g., pre-existing liver disease and expected side-effects.