Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel in the treatment of patients with parkinson disease: Results of a 12-month open study

© 2017, Media Sphera. All rights reserved.Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of intrajejunal levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion in the treatment of patients with severe stages of Parkinson disease (PD) who did not respond adequately to treatment with oral drugs. Material and methods: A large-scale international prospective open-label 54-week study of LCIG in patients with PD with severe motor fluctuations was carried out. A total of 48 patients were enrolled in Russia, 46 patients (95.8%) had PEG-J inserted, and 43 of them completed the study. The safety, including adverse events (AEs), infusion system and pump failures analysis, number of patients completely terminated the study, and efficacy (duration of “off” periods, “on” periods with or without troublesome dyskinesias, UPDRS scores, Clinical Global Impression, Quality of Life (PDQ-39, EQ-5D и EQ-VAS) dynamics, an analysis of patient’s diaries) were assessed throughout the whole study. Results: The majority of AEs were mild or moderate with most AEs connected with infusion system application (28.3% patients) including procedure pain. Serious AEs were registered in 8 patients (16.7%). 3 patients (6.3%) discontinued their participation in the study due to AEs. Mean duration of “off” periods by the end of the study decreased by 5.35±2.59 hours (p<0.001), duration of “on” periods without troublesome dyskinesia increased by 5.74±3.91 hours (p<0.001), reduction of “on” periods duration with troublesome dyskinesia became statistically significant by week 36 (p=0.020). The statistically significant improvement of UPDRS (generally and in respect to sub-scales), Clinical Global Impression, and Quality of Life scores was observed throughout the study. Levodopa dose remained stable throughout the 54 treatment weeks. Forty-three patients (93.5%) received LCIG monotherapy throughout the whole study. Conclusion: LCIG intrajejunal infusion during 54 weeks showed the favorable safety profile, high tolerability, and efficacy in PD motor symptoms correction

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel in the treatment of patients with parkinson disease: Results of a 12-month open study

© 2017, Media Sphera. All rights reserved.Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of intrajejunal levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion in the treatment of patients with severe stages of Parkinson disease (PD) who did not respond adequately to treatment with oral drugs. Material and methods: A large-scale international prospective open-label 54-week study of LCIG in patients with PD with severe motor fluctuations was carried out. A total of 48 patients were enrolled in Russia, 46 patients (95.8%) had PEG-J inserted, and 43 of them completed the study. The safety, including adverse events (AEs), infusion system and pump failures analysis, number of patients completely terminated the study, and efficacy (duration of “off” periods, “on” periods with or without troublesome dyskinesias, UPDRS scores, Clinical Global Impression, Quality of Life (PDQ-39, EQ-5D и EQ-VAS) dynamics, an analysis of patient’s diaries) were assessed throughout the whole study. Results: The majority of AEs were mild or moderate with most AEs connected with infusion system application (28.3% patients) including procedure pain. Serious AEs were registered in 8 patients (16.7%). 3 patients (6.3%) discontinued their participation in the study due to AEs. Mean duration of “off” periods by the end of the study decreased by 5.35±2.59 hours (p<0.001), duration of “on” periods without troublesome dyskinesia increased by 5.74±3.91 hours (p<0.001), reduction of “on” periods duration with troublesome dyskinesia became statistically significant by week 36 (p=0.020). The statistically significant improvement of UPDRS (generally and in respect to sub-scales), Clinical Global Impression, and Quality of Life scores was observed throughout the study. Levodopa dose remained stable throughout the 54 treatment weeks. Forty-three patients (93.5%) received LCIG monotherapy throughout the whole study. Conclusion: LCIG intrajejunal infusion during 54 weeks showed the favorable safety profile, high tolerability, and efficacy in PD motor symptoms correction

Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel in the treatment of patients with parkinson disease: Results of a 12-month open study

© 2017, Media Sphera. All rights reserved.Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of intrajejunal levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion in the treatment of patients with severe stages of Parkinson disease (PD) who did not respond adequately to treatment with oral drugs. Material and methods: A large-scale international prospective open-label 54-week study of LCIG in patients with PD with severe motor fluctuations was carried out. A total of 48 patients were enrolled in Russia, 46 patients (95.8%) had PEG-J inserted, and 43 of them completed the study. The safety, including adverse events (AEs), infusion system and pump failures analysis, number of patients completely terminated the study, and efficacy (duration of “off” periods, “on” periods with or without troublesome dyskinesias, UPDRS scores, Clinical Global Impression, Quality of Life (PDQ-39, EQ-5D и EQ-VAS) dynamics, an analysis of patient’s diaries) were assessed throughout the whole study. Results: The majority of AEs were mild or moderate with most AEs connected with infusion system application (28.3% patients) including procedure pain. Serious AEs were registered in 8 patients (16.7%). 3 patients (6.3%) discontinued their participation in the study due to AEs. Mean duration of “off” periods by the end of the study decreased by 5.35±2.59 hours (p<0.001), duration of “on” periods without troublesome dyskinesia increased by 5.74±3.91 hours (p<0.001), reduction of “on” periods duration with troublesome dyskinesia became statistically significant by week 36 (p=0.020). The statistically significant improvement of UPDRS (generally and in respect to sub-scales), Clinical Global Impression, and Quality of Life scores was observed throughout the study. Levodopa dose remained stable throughout the 54 treatment weeks. Forty-three patients (93.5%) received LCIG monotherapy throughout the whole study. Conclusion: LCIG intrajejunal infusion during 54 weeks showed the favorable safety profile, high tolerability, and efficacy in PD motor symptoms correction

Cardiovascular Efficacy and Safety of Bococizumab in High-Risk Patients

BACKGROUN

Antiinflammatory therapy with canakinumab for atherosclerotic disease

BACKGROUND: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P=0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P=0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P=0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P=0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P=0.31). CONCLUSIONS: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. Copyright © 2017 Massachusetts Medical Society

Cardiovascular Efficacy and Safety of Bococizumab in High-Risk Patients

Bococizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin- kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and reduces levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of bococizumab in patients at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS In two parallel, multinational trials with different entry criteria for LDL cholesterol levels, we randomly assigned the 27,438 patients in the combined trials to receive bococizumab (at a dose of 150 mg) subcutaneously every 2 weeks or placebo. The primary end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina requiring urgent revascularization, or cardiovascular death; 93% of the patients were receiving statin therapy at baseline. The trials were stopped early after the sponsor elected to discontinue the development of bococizumab owing in part to the development of high rates of antidrug antibodies, as seen in data from other studies in the program. The median follow-up was 10 months. RESULTS At 14 weeks, patients in the combined trials had a mean change from baseline in LDL cholesterol levels of -56.0% in the bococizumab group and +2.9% in the placebo group, for a between-group difference of -59.0 percentage points (P<0.001) and a median reduction from baseline of 64.2% (P<0.001). In the lower-risk, shorter-duration trial (in which the patients had a baseline LDL cholesterol level of ≥70 mg per deciliter [1.8 mmol per liter] and the median follow-up was 7 months), major cardiovascular events occurred in 173 patients each in the bococizumab group and the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.22; P = 0.94). In the higher-risk, longer-duration trial (in which the patients had a baseline LDL cholesterol level of ≥100 mg per deciliter [2.6 mmol per liter] and the median follow-up was 12 months), major cardiovascular events occurred in 179 and 224 patients, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.97; P = 0.02). The hazard ratio for the primary end point in the combined trials was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.76 to 1.02; P = 0.08). Injection-site reactions were more common in the bococizumab group than in the placebo group (10.4% vs. 1.3%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS In two randomized trials comparing the PCSK9 inhibitor bococizumab with placebo, bococizumab had no benefit with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events in the trial involving lower-risk patients but did have a significant benefit in the trial involving higher-risk patients

Effect of a Recombinant Human Soluble Thrombomodulin on Mortality in Patients With Sepsis-Associated Coagulopathy The SCARLET Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance: Previous research suggested that soluble human recombinant thrombomodulin may reduce mortality among patients with sepsis-associated coagulopathy. Objective: To determine the effect of human recombinant thrombomodulin vs placebo on 28-day all-cause mortality among patients with sepsis-associated coagulopathy. Design, Setting, and Participants: The SCARLET trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational, multicenter phase 3 study conducted in intensive care units at 159 sites in 26 countries. All adult patients admitted to one of the participating intensive care units between October 2012 and March 2018 with sepsis-associated coagulopathy and concomitant cardiovascular and/or respiratory failure, defined as an international normalized ratio greater than 1.40 without other known etiology and a platelet count in the range of 30 to 150 × 10 9/L or a greater than 30% decrease in platelet count within 24 hours, were considered for inclusion. The final date of follow-up was February 28, 2019. Interventions: Patients with sepsis-associated coagulopathy were randomized and treated with an intravenous bolus or a 15-minute infusion of thrombomodulin (0.06 mg/kg/d [maximum, 6 mg/d]; n = 395) or matching placebo (n = 405) once daily for 6 days. Main Outcome and Measures: The primary end point was 28-day all-cause mortality. Results: Among 816 randomized patients, 800 (mean age, 60.7 years; 437 [54.6%] men) completed the study and were included in the full analysis set. In these patients, the 28-day all-cause mortality rate was not statistically significantly different between the thrombomodulin group and the placebo group (106 of 395 patients [26.8%] vs 119 of 405 patients [29.4%], respectively; P =.32). The absolute risk difference was 2.55% (95% CI, -3.68% to 8.77%). The incidence of serious major bleeding adverse events (defined as any intracranial hemorrhage; life-threatening bleeding; or bleeding event classified as serious by the investigator, with administration of at least 1440 mL [typically 6 units] of packed red blood cells over 2 consecutive days) was 23 of 396 patients (5.8%) in the thrombomodulin group and 16 of 404 (4.0%) in the placebo group. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with sepsis-associated coagulopathy, administration of a human recombinant thrombomodulin, compared with placebo, did not significantly reduce 28-day all-cause mortality. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01598831