Mechanism of Action
Hunter syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis II, MPS II) is an X-linked recessive
disease caused by insufficient levels of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase.
This enzyme cleaves the terminal 2-O-sulfate moieties from the glycosaminoglycans
(GAG) dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate. Due to the missing or defective
iduronate-2-sulfatase enzyme in patients with Hunter syndrome, GAG progressively
accumulate in the lysosomes of a variety of cells, leading to cellular engorgement,
organomegaly, tissue destruction, and organ system dysfunction.
Treatment of Hunter syndrome patients with ELAPRASE provides exogenous enzyme
for uptake into cellular lysosomes. Mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) residues on the
oligosaccharide chains allow specific binding of the enzyme to the M6P receptors
on the cell surface, leading to cellular internalization of the enzyme, targeting
to intracellular lysosomes and subsequent catabolism of accumulated GAG.
Pharmacokinetics
The pharmacokinetic characteristics of idursulfase were evaluated in several
studies in patients with Hunter syndrome. The serum concentration of idursulfase
was quantified using an antigen-specific ELISA assay. The area under the concentration-time
curve (AUC) increased in a greater than dose proportional manner as the dose
increased from 0.15 mg/kg to 1.5 mg/kg following a single 1-hour infusion of
ELAPRASE. The pharmacokinetic parameters at the recommended dose regimen (0.5
mg/kg ELAPRASE administered weekly as a 3-hour infusion) were determined at
Week 1 and Week 27 in 10 patients ages 7.7 to 27 years (Table 1). There were
no apparent differences in PK parameter values between Week 1 and Week 27.
Table 1 - Pharmacokinetic Parameters (Mean, Standard Deviation)
| Pharmacokinetic Parameter |
Week 1 |
Week 27 |
| Cmax (µg/mL) |
1.5 (0.6) |
1.1 (0.3) |
| AUC (min*µg/mL) |
206 (87) |
169 (55) |
| t1/2 (min) |
44 (19) |
48 (21) |
| Cl (mL/min/kg) |
3.0 (1.2) |
3.4 (1.0) |
| Vss (% BW) |
21 (8) |
25 (9) |
Clinical Studies
The safety and efficacy of ELAPRASE were evaluated in a randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical study of 96 patients with Hunter syndrome. The study
included patients with a documented deficiency in iduronate-2-sulfatase enzyme
activity who had a percent predicted forced vital capacity (%-predicted FVC)
less than 80%. The patients' ages ranged from 5 to 31 years. Patients who were
unable to perform the appropriate pulmonary function testing, or those who could
not follow protocol instructions were excluded from the study. Patients received
ELAPRASE 0.5 mg/kg every week (n=32), ELAPRASE 0.5 mg/kg every other week (n=32),
or placebo (n=32). The study duration was 53 weeks.
The primary efficacy outcome assessment was a two-component composite score
based on the sum of the ranks of the change from baseline to Week 53 in distance
walked during a six-minute walk test (6-MWT) and the ranks of the change in
%-predicted FVC. This two-component composite primary endpoint differed statistically
significantly between the three groups, and the difference was greatest between
the placebo group and the weekly treatment group (weekly ELAPRASE vs. placebo,
p=0.0049).
Examination of the individual components of the composite score showed that,
in the adjusted analysis, the weekly ELAPRASE-treated group experienced a 35
meter greater mean increase in the distance walked in six minutes compared to
placebo. The changes in %-predicted FVC were not statistically significant (Table
2).
Table 2 - Clinical Study Results
| |
ELAPRASE Weekly
n=32a |
Placebo
n=32a |
ELAPRASE
Weekly -
Placebo |
| Baseline |
Week 53 |
Changeb |
Baseline |
Week 53 |
Changeb |
Difference in
Change |
| Results from the 6-Minute Walk Test (Meters) |
| Mean ± SD |
392 ± 108 |
436 ± 138 |
44 ± 70 |
393 ± 106 |
400 ± 106 |
7 ± 54 |
37 ± 16c
35 ± 14d
(p=0.01) |
| Median |
397 |
429 |
31 |
403 |
412 |
-4 |
| Percentiles (25th, 75th) |
316, 488 |
365, 536 |
0, 94 |
341, 469 |
361, 460 |
-30, 31 |
| Results from the Forced Vital Capacity Test (% of Predicted) |
| Mean ± SD |
55.3 ± 15.9 |
58.7 ± 19.3 |
3.4 ± 10.0 |
55.6 ± 12.3 |
56.3 ± 15.7 |
0.8 ± 9.6 |
2.7 ± 2.5c
4.3 ± 2.3d
(p=0.07) |
| Median |
54.9 |
59.2 |
2.1 |
57.4 |
54.6 |
-2.5 |
| Percentiles (25th, 75th) |
43.6, 69.3 |
44.4, 70.7 |
-0.8, 9.5 |
46.9, 64.4 |
43.8, 67.5 |
-5.4, 5.0 |
a One patient in the placebo group and one patient
in the ELAPRASE group died before Week 53; imputation wasby last observation
carried forward in the intent-to-treat analysis
b Change, calculated as Week 53 minus Baseline
c Observed mean ± SE
d ANCOVA model based mean ± SE, adjusted for baseline
disease severity, region, and age. |
Measures of bioactivity were urinary GAG levels and changes in liver and spleen
size. Urinary GAG levels were elevated in all patients at baseline. Following
53 weeks of treatment, mean urinary GAG levels were markedly reduced in the
ELAPRASE weekly group, although GAG levels still remained above the upper limit
of normal in half of the ELAPRASE-treated patients. Urinary GAG levels remained
elevated and essentially unchanged in the placebo group. Sustained reductions
in both liver and spleen volumes were observed in the ELAPRASE weekly group
through Week 53 compared to placebo. There were essentially no changes in liver
and spleen volumes in the placebo group.
Last updated on RxList: 11/28/2007