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Merlini, Giampaolo

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7680-3254

Mayo Clinic

University of Pavia

Citations 82

Results of the Phase 3 VITAL Study of NEOD001 (Birtamimab) Plus Standard of Care in Patients with Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis Suggest Survival Benefit for Mayo Stage IV Patients
Comenzo, Raymond L. , Mond, Charles Du, Kastritis, Eftathios, Landau, Heather , Libby, Edward N., Liedtke, Michaela , Merlini, Giampaolo , Schönland, Stefan , Wechalekar, Ashutosh , Zonder, Jeffrey A. , Kinney, Gene G. , Merlini, Giampaolo , Schönland, Stefan , Gertz, Morie A. , Cohen, Adam D. , Sanchorawala, Vaishali , Wechalekar, Ashutosh D.

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 3166-3166

10.1182/blood-2019-124482 Get It

BACKGROUND: AL amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease caused by both soluble and insoluble (amyloid) forms of misfolded immunoglobulin light chain (LC) proteins, with no approved treatments. Production and tissue deposition of LC aggregates result in various organ system dysfunction (most commonly cardiac and renal), causing significant morbidity and mortality. NEOD001 is an investigational humanized IGg1 designed to directly neutralize soluble toxic aggregates of misfolded LCs and promote phagocytic clearance of amyloid deposits. AIM: To evaluate efficacy and safety of NEOD001 + standard of care (SOC) vs placebo + SOC in patients with AL amyloidosis by assessing time to all-cause mortality (ACM) or cardiac hospitalization (CH). METHODS: This Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomized 260 newly diagnosed, untreated AL amyloidosis patients (stratified by Mayo stage (Kumar et al., 2012), renal stage, & 6MWD) with cardiac involvement. Patients were randomized 1:1 to 24 mg/kg IV NEOD001 + SOC or placebo + SOC every 28 days. SOC was concomitant chemotherapy with a first line bortezomib-containing regimen. Primary endpoint (PE) was time to ACM or time to centrally adjudicated CH (CH: >90 days after first study drug infusion). Futility analysis based on 103 adjudicated events favored NEOD001 but was not statistically significant (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.57-1.204, p=0.386). The study was terminated early and post hoc analyses were performed. To our knowledge, this study was the first randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 study evaluating an amyloid-targeting agent in AL amyloidosis. RESULTS: Study arms were balanced with regard to demographics and baseline clinical characteristics. The final PE results (intent-to-treat, ITT) were consistent with the futility analysis: HR 0.835, 95% CI 0.5799-1.2011, p=0.330. Favorability of HR for NEOD001 was largely attributable to time to all-cause mortality rather than cardiac hospitalization. Study termination was the primary reason for discontinuation (majority occurring after 12 months). The 12-month study period was defined as modified ITT (mITT). Further mITT analyses by prognostic Mayo staging categories suggest benefit favoring NEOD001 for both PE (HR=0.635) and ACM (HR=0.498) in stage IV patients (n=77), who have highest risk of early mortality. Median overall survival in stage IV (mITT) was 8.3 months for placebo + SOC and was not reached (>12 months) for NEOD001 + SOC. One or more treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were experienced by 257 patients. Of the 88 NEOD001-treated patients with a serious adverse event (SAE), the majority of SAEs (95.5%) were considered not related to study drug. The most common TEAEs (fatigue, nausea, peripheral edema, constipation, and diarrhea) were similar in both arms. Overall safety results were similar within and across Mayo stages. CONCLUSION: After study termination, further calculations supported that the VITAL study as designed would not have achieved statistical significance. No statistically significant differences between NEOD001 + SOC vs. placebo + SOC were observed for the PE. Overall, the incidence, severity, and seriousness of AEs were similar in each arm, suggesting that NEOD001 was generally safe and well tolerated. Post hoc analyses suggest a potential survival benefit of NEOD001 for AL amyloidosis patients with the highest risk of early mortality (Mayo stage IV). This population has historically been the most in need of therapy to improve outcomes, therefore additional clinical studies for NEOD001 are warranted. Disclosures Gertz: Ionis/Akcea: Consultancy; Alnylam: Consultancy; Annexon: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Medscape: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Appellis: Consultancy; Prothena Biosciences Inc: Consultancy; Spectrum: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Abbvie: Other: personal fees for Data Safety Monitoring board; Research to Practice: Consultancy; DAVA oncology: Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Proclara: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; i3Health: Other: Development of educational programs and materials; Springer Publishing: Patents & Royalties; Amyloidosis Foundation: Research Funding; International Waldenstrom Foundation: Research Funding; Johnson and Johnson: Speakers Bureau; Teva: Speakers Bureau. Cohen:Poseida Therapeutics, Inc.: Research Funding. Comenzo:Caelum: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Research Funding; Unum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Myself: Patents & Royalties: Patent 9593332, Pending 20170008966; Sanofi-Aventis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Prothena Biosciences: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Du Mond:Inclin, Inc.: Employment; Prothena: Consultancy. Kastritis:Genesis: Honoraria; Prothena: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria. Landau:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding; Caelum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Libby:Alnylam: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics and Janssen: Consultancy; Akcea: Consultancy. Liedtke:Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Research Funding; Amgen/Onyx: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BlueBirdBio: Research Funding; Caelum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celator: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech/Roche: Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; IQVIA/Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Merlini:University of Pavia: Employment. Sanchorawala:Proclara: Consultancy, Honoraria; Caelum: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Prothena: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Schönland:Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Medac: Other: Travel Grant; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Wechalekar:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria; Amgen: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Zonder:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncopeptides: 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; Intellia: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Caelum: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alnylam: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kinney:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties: named inventor on multiple patents and patent applications related to NEOD001.
Outcomes of Patients with t(11;14) Multiple Myeloma: An International Myeloma Working Group Multicenter Study
Kumar, Shaji , Liu, Yang Terry, Bittrich, Max , Goldschmidt, Hartmut , Kyriakou, Charalampia , Reece, Donna , Mateos, María‐Victoria , Chen, Wen-Ming , Merlini, Giampaolo , Mangiacavalli, Silvia , Kastritis, Eftathios, Min, Chang‐Ki , Esteves, Graça , Rosta, Emily, Durie, Brian G.M. , Merlini, Giampaolo , Lu, Jin Ping , Du, Juan , Kım, Kihyun , González‐Calle, Verónica , Ludwig, Heinz , Dimopoulos, Meletios Α. , Yee, Andrew J , Raje, Noopur , Haltner, Anja , Cameron, Chris G

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 3066-3066

10.1182/blood-2019-126867 Get It

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous disease with varying survival outcomes depending on the presence of certain genetic abnormalities. Common abnormalities include trisomies, translocations involving the chromosome 14, and amplifications or deletions of chromosomes 1, 13, and 17. t(11;14), occurring in 15% of patients with myeloma, had been considered a standard risk abnormality, but recent data suggest inferior outcome. This is important as new therapeutic options such as the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax has been shown to be particularly effective in t(11;14) patients. Methods: This was a multicenter study to identify the outcomes of patients with t(11;14), using a retrospectively assembled cohort. Patients with MM diagnosed between 2005 and 2015 with t(11;14) identified on FISH performed within six months of diagnosis, and with treatment details available and if alive, a minimum of 12 months of follow up, were enrolled. Results: The current analysis includes 1216 patients; median age of 62.56 years; 58.7% male. The median follow-up from diagnosis for the entire cohort was 51.9 months; 69.1% of the patients were alive at the last follow up. ISS stage distribution included: Stage I (35.7%), Stage II (34.0%) and Stage III (15.1%), data was missing for the rest. The distribution of concurrent FISH abnormalities included: trisomies (3.5%), del 13q (13.3%), 1q amp (8.8%), and del 17p or monosomy 17 (5.8%). Initial regimen included: 27.2% had an immunomodulatory (IMiD), 45.9% had a proteasome inhibitor (PI), 17.7% had both, and 9.0% had no novel agent. The drug classes by line of therapy are shown in Table 1. An early stem cell transplant (defined as within 12 months of start of first line treatment) was used in 49.4% of patients. The median time to next treatment (TTNT) after starting initial treatment was 26.6 (95% CI: 23.9 to 29.2) months. The median overall survival (OS) from diagnosis for the entire cohort was 95.1 (95% CI: 85.9 to 105.9) months; 4-year estimates for those diagnosed from January 2005 to December 2009, and from January 2010 to December 2014 were 77.5% and 78.6%, respectively. The median OS for those with any one high risk FISH lesion (del 17p/ 1q amp) was 67.5 (55.2, 97.1) versus 101.7 (89.7, 107.3) months. Patients with early SCT (within 12 months of diagnosis) had better OS: 108.3 (103.8, 133.0) vs. 69.8 (61.5, 80.3) months. Conclusion: Patients with t(11;14) without high risk FISH abnormalities have an excellent survival. Patients receiving a PI + IMiD combination and those receiving autologous SCT as part of initial therapy had best survival. Though numbers are limited, patients in the later lines receiving newer drugs such as venetoclax and daratumumab had high response rates and durable responses. Disclosures Kumar: Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Bittrich:Celgene: Other: Travel Funding, Research Funding; Else Kröner Fresenius Foundation: Research Funding; Otsuka Pharmaceuticals Europe: Other: N/A; SANOFI Aventis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, N/A, Research Funding; University Hospital Wuerzburg: Employment; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Pfizer: Other: Travel Funding; AMGEN: Other: Travel Funding; JAZZ Pharmaceuticals: Other: Travel Funding; Wilhelm Sander Foundation: Research Funding; German Research Foundation (DFG): Other: N/A; University of Würzburg: Other: N/A. Goldschmidt:Mundipharma: Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; John-Hopkins University: Research Funding; Dietmar-Hopp-Stiftung: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MSD: Research Funding; Molecular Partners: Research Funding; John-Hopkins University: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Chugai: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Reece:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Otsuka: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding. Mateos:Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmamar: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive: Honoraria; EDO: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ludwig:Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; PharmaMar: Consultancy; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau. Mangiacavalli:celgene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Janssen cilag: Consultancy. Dimopoulos:Sanofi Oncology: Research Funding. Kastritis:Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Prothena: Honoraria; Genesis: Honoraria. Yee:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Adaptive: Consultancy. Raje:Amgen Inc.: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy. Rosta:Cornerstone Research Group: Employment. Haltner:Cornerstone Research Group: Employment. Cameron:Cornerstone Research Group: Employment, Equity Ownership. Durie:Amgen, Celgene, Johnson & Johnson, and Takeda: Consultancy.
Impact of Inotersen on Functioning and Activities of Daily Living for Patients with Hereditary TTR Amyloidosis: Results from a Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial
Merlini, Giampaolo , White, Michelle K. , Lovley, Andrew , Guthrie, Spencer , Pollock, Michael, Merlini, Giampaolo , Yarlas, Aaron , Kessler, Asia Sikora , Gertz, Morie A.

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 4812-4812

10.1182/blood-2018-99-119578 Get It

Abstract Background: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) is a rare, systemic, progressive, and fatal condition in which misfolded proteins, mainly produced in the liver, deposit in muscle and organ tissues leading to symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, and possible cardiomyopathy and autonomic neuropathy. The Norfolk Quality of Life (QOL)-Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) Questionnaire is a patient-reported measure that has been validated for capturing neuropathic-specific QOL in patients with hATTR amyloidosis. Examination of patients' responses to the items of the Norfolk-QOL-DN can provide important insights into the impact of hATTR amyloidosis, and its treatment, on concrete aspects of patients' daily activities and physical functioning. Objective: To provide a descriptive analysis of item-level responses to the Norfolk-QOL-DN by patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy, who participated in the NEURO-TTR trial, in order to identify the impact of treatment with inotersen versus placebo on concrete aspects of patients' functioning and daily activities. Methods: Data come from the NEURO-TTR trial, a multicenter, multinational, double-blind trial (NCT01737398) of 172 adults with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy who received 65 weeks of either treatment with the investigational drug inotersen, an antisense oligonucleotide, or a matching placebo. The Norfolk QOL-DN was administered to patients at baseline, week 35, and week 66. The Norfolk QOL-DN is a 35-item measure which captures neuropathic-related QOL. Nineteen items from the scale were determined to elicit concrete information about functioning and daily activities. Each of these 19 items used five response choices: "no problems", "very mild problems", "mild problems", "moderate problems", and "severe problems". Response options were dichotomized such that the latter two options were coded as indicating substantial impairment in functioning or activities. Descriptive analyses compared, for each item, the proportion of patients in the inotersen and placebo arms at baseline and week 66 (and change from baseline to week 66) who indicated substantial impairment. Results: At baseline, there were no differences for any Norfolk QOL-DN items in the proportions of patients who indicated substantial impairment. However, at week 66, patients receiving inotersen were less likely than those receiving placebo to indicate that they had a substantial impairment on several aspects of functioning and daily activities. Patients in the inotersen arm were half as likely as those receiving placebo to indicate a problem of pain keeping them awake at night (15% vs. 37%) and being moderately or severely bothered by the touch of bedsheets (12% vs. 27%). A noticeably smaller percentage of patients receiving inotersen than placebo reported problems with their symptoms affecting their usual activities (37% vs. 50%); having difficulty moving their fingers (47% vs 64%); feeling unsteady on their feet (49% vs 67%); having difficulty getting out of a chair (51% vs. 62%) or walking down stairs (42% vs. 58%); and having difficulty bathing (24% vs. 35%), dressing (21% vs 35%), walking (41% vs 60%), getting on/off the toilet (22% vs. 37%), and utensil use (19% vs. 31%). Percentages of change in patients from baseline to week 66 show larger increases in having substantial impairment in these functions and activities for patients receiving placebo than inotersen, with those receiving inotersen generally showing small increases, and even decreases in substantial impairment over the course of treatment. Conclusion: Following 66 weeks of treatment, hATTR amyloidosis patients receiving inotersen were less likely than those receiving placebo to report substantial impairment in many aspects of functioning and activities of daily living, including moving fingers, balance while standing, getting out of a chair, walking down stairs, bathing, dressing, walking, getting on/off the toilet, and using utensils. Ability to engage in these functions and activities was better preserved in patients treated with inotersen than placebo. These findings present a context for understanding the concrete impact of inotersen treatment on the day-to-day lives of patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. Disclosures Yarlas: Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Merlini:Millenium: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; Ionis: Consultancy; Akcea: Consultancy. White:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Sikora Kessler:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Lovley:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Guthrie:Akcea: Employment, Other: Stock Ownership. Pollock:Akcea: Employment. Gertz:Apellis: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; janssen: Consultancy; Alnylam: Honoraria; Prothena: Honoraria; annexon: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; spectrum: Consultancy, Honoraria; Teva: Consultancy; Ionis: Honoraria; Medscape: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Research to Practice: Consultancy; celgene: Consultancy.
Long-Term Update from the Open-Label Extension of the NEURO-TTR Study in Patients with Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis
Brannagan, Thomas H., Wang, Annabel K., Coelho, Teresa , Polydefkis, Michael , Dyck, P. James B. , Merlini, Giampaolo , Hughes, Steven G. , Kwoh, Jesse, Jung, Shiangtung W., Guthrie, Spencer , Pollock, Michael, Benson, Merrill D., Merlini, Giampaolo , Waddington‐Cruz, Márcia , Planté‐Bordeneuve, Violaine , Berk, John L. , Barroso, Fábio , Conceição, Isabel , Gertz, Morie A.

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 498-498

10.1182/blood-2018-99-116995 Get It

Abstract Background: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) is a rare, progressive, and fatal disease caused by the buildup of transthyretin-derived amyloid protein in major organs, predominantly affecting the peripheral nerves and heart. Inotersen, a second-generation antisense oligonucleotide targeting TTR mRNA, has shown efficacy and safety in patients with hATTR in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study, NEURO-TTR (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01737398; Benson NEJM 2018). Patients with hATTR amyloidosis who completed the NEURO-TTR study were eligible to receive inotersen for up to 5 years in a phase 3 open-label extension study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02175004). Methods: In NEURO-TTR, patients were randomized 2:1 to receive inotersen (300-mg weekly subcutaneous doses) or placebo. In the open-label extension, patients continued inotersen (inotersen-inotersen) or switched from placebo to inotersen (placebo-inotersen). Evaluations included modified Neuropathy Impairment Score +7 neurophysiologic tests composite score (mNIS+7; higher scores indicate worse neuropathy), Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy questionnaire total score (Norfolk QoL-DN; higher scores indicate worse QoL), and adverse events (AEs). Cardiomyopathy (CM) was defined by a diagnosis of hATTR-CM at trial entry or by an interventricular wall thickness of 13 mm or more on transthoracic echocardiography at baseline, as ascertained by a central reader, or no known history of persistent hypertension (systolic blood pressure, ≥150 mm Hg) within 12 months before screening. Results : In the placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 3 NEURO-TTR study, 112/172 patients were randomized and received inotersen. At baseline, patients were predominantly white (91.9%) males (68.6%) with a mean age of 59.2 years. A total of 67.4% had stage I (ambulatory) and 32.6% had stage II (ambulatory with assistance) disease. Inotersen-treated patients who had stage II disease had a longer duration of disease from diagnosis (40.9 vs 24.8 months, respectively) and from onset (72.6 vs 63.2 months, respectively) of hATTR polyneuropathy symptoms compared with placebo-treated patients who had stage II disease, indicating more advanced disease. A higher proportion of inotersen-treated patients had CM at baseline (67% vs 55%, respectively), and more severe CM, measured by higher NT-proBNP levels and longer duration of disease from hATTR-CM symptom onset, compared with placebo-treated patients. In the phase 3 open-label extension study as of Sept 15, 2017, 134 of 135 patients enrolled received ≥1 dose of inotersen. The mean age was 60.4 years and most patients were male (69.4%). Extended dosing with inotersen up to 27 months continued to improve mNIS+7 and Norfolk QoL-DN in the open-label extension compared to placebo-treated patients at week 66 in the double-blind NEURO-TTR study; mean changes from open-label extension baseline to open-label extension week 52 in the inotersen-inotersen group were 5.1 points for mNIS+7 (vs 25.5 for placebo-treated patients in the double-blind NEURO-TTR study) and 3.9 points for Norfolk QoL-DN (vs 10.7 for placebo-treated patients in the double-blind NEURO-TTR study). Initiation of inotersen in placebo-treated patients (placebo-inotersen) resulted in improvement in mNIS+7 and Norfolk QoL-DN by week 26. Few patients discontinued treatment because of AEs (inotersen-inotersen, 9%; placebo-inotersen, 4%). The rate of treatment-related serious AEs was low in both treatment groups (2% each). There was no evidence of increased risk for grade 4 thrombocytopenia or severe renal events with increased duration of exposure. We will present 2-year follow-up results from the open-label extension study. Conclusions: Results of the open-label extension show continued benefit, measured by mNIS+7 and Norfolk QoL-DN, and confirmed that earlier initiation of treatment is important for optimal clinical outcomes. No new safety concerns were identified. Results from the longer-term follow-up for the open-label extension will further elucidate how inotersen may benefit patients with hATTR amyloidosis. Disclosures Brannagan: Alnylam: Honoraria, Other: Investigator, Speakers Bureau; Ionis: Other: Investigator. Wang:Ionis: Other: Investigator, Speakers Bureau. Coelho:Prothena: Consultancy, Honoraria; Ionis: Consultancy, Other: Investigator; Alnylam: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Investigator; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Investigator. Waddington Cruz:Ionis: Honoraria; Genzyme/Sanofi: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria. Polydefkis:Pfizer: Honoraria; Alnylam: Honoraria. Dyck:Ionis: Consultancy; Alnylam: Consultancy. Plante-Bordeneuve:Alnylam: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy, Other: reimbursement for travel and meeting; Ionis: Other: reimbursement for travel and meeting. Berk:Ionis: Honoraria, Other: Investigator; Alnylam: Honoraria, Other: Investigator; Pfizer: Other: Investigator. Barroso:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Thaos registry, Speakers Bureau; Alnylam: Honoraria, Other: Investigator. Conceição:Alnylam: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Hughes:Ionis: Employment. Kwoh:Ionis: Employment. Jung:Ionis: Employment. Guthrie:Akcea: Employment. Pollock:Akcea: Employment. Benson:Ionis: Other: Investigator, Research Funding. Gertz:janssen: Consultancy; Teva: Consultancy; spectrum: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alnylam: Honoraria; Ionis: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy; annexon: Consultancy; Prothena: Honoraria; Research to Practice: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy; celgene: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Medscape: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy.
Impact of Inotersen on Subgroups of Patients with Hereditary TTR Amyloidosis: Results from a Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial
Merlini, Giampaolo , White, Michelle K. , Lovley, Andrew , Guthrie, Spencer , Pollock, Michael, Merlini, Giampaolo , Yarlas, Aaron , Kessler, Asia Sikora , Gertz, Morie A.

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 4803-4803

10.1182/blood-2018-99-119216 Get It

Abstract Background: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) is a rare, systemic, progressive, and fatal condition in which misfolded proteins, mainly produced in the liver, deposit in muscle and organ tissues leading to symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, and possible cardiomyopathy and autonomic neuropathy. Primary results from the NEUTO-TTR trial indicated that patients with hATTR amyloidosis who received 65 weeks of treatment with inotersen had better preservation of quality of life (QOL), as measured by the Norfolk QOL-Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) Questionnaire total score and the physical component summary score of the SF-36v2® Health Survey (SF-36v2), than did patients who received placebo. Whether the benefits of inotersen on domains of QOL differ across subgroups of patients has not been previously addressed. Objective: To examine the efficacy of inotersen for preserving QOL in subgroups of patients with hATTR amyloidosis, defined by time of disease onset (early or late) and ambulatory stage (Stage 1 or Stage 2). Methods: Data come from the NEURO-TTR trial, a multicenter, multinational, double-blind trial (NCT01737398) of 172 adults with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy who received 65 weeks of treatment with either the investigational drug inotersen, which is an antisense oligonucleotide, or matching placebo. The Norfolk QOL-DN and SF-36v2 were administered to patients at baseline, week 35, and week 66. The Norfolk QOL-DN is a 35-item measure which captures neuropathic-related QOL, representing five domains: activities of daily living, autonomic neuropathy, large fiber neuropathy/physical functioning, small fiber neuropathy, and neuropathic symptoms. The SF-36v2 is a 36-item measure which captures generic health-related QOL, representing eight domains: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health (role-physical), bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional health (role-emotional), and mental health. Patient subgroups were defined by: (1) patients' time of symptom onset: whether symptoms first occurred early (at or before age 50) or late (after age 50) in life; and (2) patients' disease severity, as defined by ambulatory disability - Stage 1 (walking without assistance) or Stage 2 (walking with assistance, such as a cane or walker). Mixed-effects repeated-measures models tested treatment differences (inotersen vs. placebo) in changes of mean Norfolk QOL-DN and SF-36v2 domain scores from baseline to week 66 for each patient subgroup. Results: Inotersen was more effective than placebo for preserving QOL in patients with early onset of symptoms: treatment differences in scores were statistically significant (p<0.05) for four of the five Norfolk QOL-DN domains (all except small fiber neuropathy) and for all eight SF-36v2 domains. In patients with late onset of symptoms: statistically significant treatment differences in scores were observed for no Norfolk QOL-DN domains and only one of eight SF-36v2 domains (physical functioning). Inotersen was more effective than placebo for preserving QOL in patients with Stage 1 severity, treatment differences were statistically significant for three of the five Norfolk QOL-DN domains (all except autonomic neuropathy and small fiber neuropathy) and for five of eight SF-36v2 domains (all except general health, vitality, and mental health). In patients with Stage 2 severity, significant treatment differences in scores were observed for only one Norfolk QOL-DN domain (activities of daily living) and no SF-36v2 domains. Conclusion: Following 66 weeks of treatment, inotersen was more effective than placebo for preserving QOL in patients with hATTR amyloidosis who had early onset of symptoms or who were in Stage 1 of disease severity. Preserving QOL in patients with early onset is critical, as many of these patients are likely to be in the work force, raising children, and leading active lives. The benefits seen for patients in Stage 1 disease severity point to the crucial importance of early diagnosis and treatment, as there may be a window in which treatment can preserve QOL in patients with hATTR amyloidosis prior to the late progressive stages. Disclosures Yarlas: Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Merlini:Pfizer: Consultancy; Millenium: Consultancy; Akcea: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Ionis: Consultancy. White:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Sikora Kessler:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Lovley:Optum: Employment; Akcea: Research Funding. Guthrie:Akcea: Employment, Other: Stock Ownership. Pollock:Akcea: Employment. Gertz:Apellis: Consultancy; Research to Practice: Consultancy; Teva: Consultancy; celgene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Ionis: Honoraria; annexon: Consultancy; Alnylam: Honoraria; Medscape: Consultancy; Prothena: Honoraria; janssen: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; spectrum: Consultancy, Honoraria.
Long-Term Outcome of a Phase 1 Study of the Investigational Oral Proteasome Inhibitor (PI) Ixazomib at the Recommended Phase 3 Dose (RP3D) in Patients (Pts) with Relapsed or Refractory Systemic Light-Chain (AL) Amyloidosis (RRAL)
Merlini, Giampaolo , Jeffrey, Zonder A, Kukreti, Vishal , Schoenland, Stefan, Berg, Deborah, Yuan, Zheng , Hui, Ai‐Min , Comenzo, Raymond L. , Schönland, Stefan , Merlini, Giampaolo , Schönland, Stefan , Sanchorawala, Vaishali , Jaccard, Arnaud , Dispenzieri, Angela , Cohen, Adam D. , Palladini, Giovanni

Blood | October 10, 2019 | Volume: 124 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 3450-3450

10.1182/blood.v124.21.3450.3450 Get It

Abstract Background Systemic AL amyloidosis is a life-threatening disease with limited treatment options. Response criteria have been recently updated and retrospectively validated (Palladini et al, J Clin Oncol 2012). Hematologic response (suppression of FLCs) has been shown to predict for both organ response and survival (ibid). Preliminary results from the present phase 1 study (NCT01318902) regarding the safety, tolerability, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of ixazomib (the first oral PI to be investigated in the clinic) in RRAL were reported previously (Merlini et al, ASH 2012). At that time, 11 pts had received the MTD/RP3D of ixazomib - 4.0 mg. Here we update the safety data (primary objective) and report hematologic and organ responses, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) (secondary objectives) for the extended population of 22 pts receiving the RP3D. Methods Pts with RRAL after ≥1 prior therapy and with measureable heart/kidney involvement and cardiac biomarker stage I/II disease were eligible. Two expansion cohorts (PI-naïve and PI-exposed) were enrolled at the RP3D. Pts received oral ixazomib on days 1, 8, and 15 for up to 12 x 28-day cycles; continuation until disease progression was allowed. Pts with less than partial response (PR) after 3 cycles received added dexamethasone (Dex) 40 mg, days 1–4 from cycle 4 onwards. Adverse events (AEs) were graded by NCI-CTCAE v4.03. Responses were assessed per standard criteria (Palladini et al, J Clin Oncol 2012). Results At data cut-off (Dec 6, 2013), 27 pts had been enrolled, 22 at the RP3D of ixazomib 4.0 mg; the other 5 pts were enrolled at 5.5 mg and are not included in these analyses. In pts who received ixazomib 4.0 mg, median age was 64.5 yrs (range 54–78); 13 were male. Mayo cardiac biomarker risk stage was I/II/III in 11/10/1 pts, respectively. Median baseline FLC differential (dFLC) and NT-proBNP were 146 mg/L (range 40–734) and 849 pg/mL (range 51–5691). Major organ involvement included heart, kidney, or both in 9, 8, and 5 pts, with a median of 2 (range 1–6) organ systems involved. Pts had received a median of 3 prior therapies, including transplantation in 16 pts; 16 pts had received prior bortezomib (PI exposed) and 6 were PI naïve. Other prior therapies included melphalan (n=21), Dex (n=16), IMiDs (n=11), and cyclophosphamide (n=10). Best hematologic response to prior therapy was complete response (CR) in 3 pts, very good PR (VGPR) in 4, PR in 14, and stable disease (SD) in 1 pt; organ response was achieved by 5 pts, with 12 pts having no response. Exposure and outcome data by prior PI exposure are shown in the table. Pts discontinued due to disease progression (n=6), pt withdrawal, symptomatic deterioration (each n=3), or unsatisfactory response (n=2); 5 pts completed 12 cycles; 3 pts are ongoing. Overall hematologic response rate (ORR) was 52%. After a median follow-up of 16.9 mos, the 9 pts who achieved ≥VGPR, had a median PFS of 17.0 mos compared with 10.7 mos in pts who achieved a lesser response (p=0.03). Cardiac/renal response was observed in 50%/18% of pts (all ≥VGPR). The most common drug-related AEs included diarrhea, nausea (each n=7), fatigue, thrombocytopenia (each n=6), peripheral neuropathy, and pyrexia (each n=4). Drug-related grade 3 AEs (>1 pt) were thrombocytopenia (n=3), diarrhea, and maculo-papular rash (each n=2). Table.PI naïven=6PI exposed n=16TotalN=22Cycles received, median (range)12 (1–22)3.5 (1–16)5.5 (1–22)Dex added, n358Hematologic response-evaluable ptsn=5n=16N=21Response, n (%)ORR5 (100)6 (38)11 (52)CR2 (40)02 (10)VGPR3 (60)4 (25)7 (33)PR02 (13)2 (10)SD09 (56)9 (43)Cardiac response/heart evaluable, n/N (%)3/4 (75)3/8 (38)6/12 (50)Renal response/kidney evaluable, n/N (%)1/3 (33)1/8 (13)2/11 (18)1 yr hematologic PFS rate, %8341602 yr OS rate, %835157 Conclusions This is one of the first studies prospectively assessing hematologic and organ response according to the updated consensus criteria. These data suggest weekly oral ixazomib 4.0 mg is feasible and generally well tolerated in RRAL pts with vital organ dysfunction. High quality hematologic responses (≥VGPR) were observed in 43% of pts; these responses were sustained at 1 yr in 60% of this heavily-pretreated population. Achieving ≥VGPR was associated with cardiac response and extended PFS. These results warrant a phase 3 study of ixazomib plus Dex vs physician's choice of treatment, which is ongoing (NCT01659658). Disclosures Merlini: Pfizer: Honoraria; Millennium: the Takeda Oncology Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Off Label Use: Use of the investigational agent ixazomib, an oral proteasome inhibitor, in the treatment of relapsed or refractory light-chain amyloidosis. Sanchorawala:Celgene: Research Funding; Millennium: the Takeda Oncology Company: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding. Jeffrey:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kukreti:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Schoenland:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Jaccard:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria. Dispenzieri:Millennium: the Takeda Oncology Company: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding. Cohen:Onyx Pharmaceuticals: Advisory Board, Advisory Board Other; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Advisory Board, Advisory Board Other, Research Funding; Janssen: Advisory Board, Advisory Board Other; Celgene: Member, Independent Response Adjudication Committee Other. Berg:Takeda Pharmaceutical International Co.: Employment. Yuan:Takeda Pharmaceutical International Co.: Employment. Hui:Takeda Pharmaceutical International Co.: Employment. Comenzo:Millennium:the Takeda Oncology Company: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Teva: Research Funding; Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.
N-Terminal Fragment of the Type-B Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) Is a Prognostic Factor for Overall Survival in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM)
Merlini, Giampaolo , Lacy, Martha Q. , Baudi, Francis K., Kumar, Shaji , Hayman, Suzanne R. , Lust, John A., Kapoor, Prashant , Zeldenrust, Steven R., Hwa, Yi L. , Kyle, Robert A. , Merlini, Giampaolo , Milani, Paolo , Gertz, Morie A. , Palladini, Giovanni , Leung, Nelson , Dingli, David , Lin, Yi , Go, Ronald S. , Rajkumar, S. Vincent , Dispenzieri, Angela

Blood | October 10, 2019 | Volume: 126 | Issue: 23 | Pages: 3292-3292

10.1182/blood.v126.23.3292.3292 Get It

Abstract Background: Both MM specific and patient specific parameters place patients at risk for death. Patient frailty has been delineated primarily by age and ECOG performance score (PS) and secondarily with creatinine, eGFR, and the International Staging System (ISS), which reflect both renal function and disease burden. In an attempt to improve upon these commonly used measures, a frailty score for elderly patients that combines functional status [Activity of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activity of Daily living scores], comorbidities [Charlson comorbidity index (CCI)] and age has been developed by the IMWG. Incorporation of these tools into a busy clinical practice is challenging due to time constraints. Therefore, the identification of frail patients with an easily applicable, rapid and objective tool remains a challenge and an unmet need. A reliable, non-invasively assessable, biochemical marker of frailty would be an ideal tool to identify patients at higher risk of death. It was our goal to determine the role of NT-proBNP, a well-established cardiovascular risk biomarker, as a marker of frailty in patients with MM and in predicting overall survival (OS). Methods: Patients were elegible for this retrospective study if they were seen at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN within 30 days of their myeloma diagnosis during the interval between 1/1/2007 and 12/31/2011. As part of the Mayo Clinic registration, all patients complete forms containing their past medical history, symptoms, and ADLs. Data from that first visit was abstracted and used to calculate a CCI. We excluded all patients with a concomitant diagnosis of light-chain AL amyloidosis. NT-proBNP concentration was measured in frozen sera collected within 30 days of diagnosis. NT-proBNP assay was run on the E170 Modular analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Penzberg, Germany). We evaluated the prognostic role of NT-proBNP and these indices on OS using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Among the 351 consecutive patients satisfying entry criteria, median age was 65 years (range 22-95), 33% were ≥70 years, and 56% were male. Twenty-eight percent were ISS stage III, 13% had a creatinine ≥2 mg/dL, 19% had PS ≥2, and 11% had ADL score ≥2, and 30% CCI ≥2. The median value of NT-proBNP was 109 ng/L (interquartile range: 30-375 ng/L). NT-proBNP concentrations differed in the three ISS stages (median: 122 ng/L stage I, 190 ng/L stage II and 1822 ng/L stage III, P<0.0001). Median OS was 5.6 years. The best cutoff of NT-proBNP predicting OS at one year was 301 ng/L (sensitivity: 57.88%, specificity: 74.29%; AUC=0.668) and distinguished two groups with different OS (median not reached vs. 35 months, P<0.0001). Variables predictive for OS are shown in the Table and included PS, age, CCI, ISS, NT-proBNP. On multivariate analysis, ISS and NT-proBNP were independent of each other as long as age, PS and/or CCI were excluded from the model. NT-proBNP withstood these clinical variables better than did ISS (data not shown). We built two different models (table). In model 1, NT-proBNP >301 ng/L was an independent predictor of survival while age ≥70 and PS ≥2 and CCI were not significant. However, if we considered ISS stage instead of NT-proBNP in the same model, ISS stage was not significant. Conclusions: In this unselected cohort of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, NT-proBNP was a useful predictor of survival independent of age and PS. The threshold of 301 ng/L is remarkably similar to the well-established cutoff for heart failure of 300 ng/L. NT-proBNP outperformed the CCI and the ISS as risk factors. NT-proBNP is a widely available biomarker that could be added to the panel of laboratory tests of newly diagnosed MM patients and serve as a simple means of determining patient frailty in a busy clinical practice. Table. Results of univariate and multivariate analysis of various prognostic factors (NS, not significant; NI, not included). Univariate Multivariate Multivariate RR (95% CI) P Model 1 P Model 2 P PS ≥2 3.4 (2.4-4.8) <0.0001 2.5 (1.7-3.6) <0.0001 2.8 (1.9-4.0) <0.0001 Age ≥70 2.7 (1.9-3.6) <0.0001 2.1 (1.5-2.9) <0.0001 1.9 (1.3-2.7) 0.0003 CCI >=2 1.9 (1.4-2.6) <0.0001 NS NS 1.5 (1.0-2.0) 0.03 ISS stage 1.1 (1.1-1.8) 0.0004 NI NI NS NS NT-proBNP >301 ng/L 2.3 (1.7-3.2) <0.0001 1.6 (1.1-2.2) 0.007 NI NI Disclosures Merlini: Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Prothena: Honoraria; Millennium-Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria. Kumar:Janssen: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Millenium/Takeda: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; Celgene, Millenium, Sanofi, Skyline, BMS, Onyx, Noxxon,: Other: Consultant, no compensation,; Skyline, Noxxon: Honoraria.
MLN9708, a Novel, Investigational Oral Proteasome Inhibitor, in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Light-Chain Amyloidosis (AL): Results of a Phase 1 Study
Merlini, Giampaolo , Zonder, Jeffrey A. , Kukreti, Vishal , Schönland, Stefan , Berg, Deborah, Liu, Guohui , Bacco, Alessandra Di , Hui, Ai‐Min , Comenzo, Raymond L. , Merlini, Giampaolo , Schönland, Stefan , Sanchorawala, Vaishali , Jaccard, Arnaud , Dispenzieri, Angela , Cohen, Adam D. , Gupta, Neeraj , Palladini, Giovanni

Blood | October 10, 2019 | Volume: 120 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 731-731

10.1182/blood.v120.21.731.731 Get It

Abstract Abstract 731 Background: Treatment with bortezomib achieves high hematologic response rates and rapid and durable responses in AL patients (pts), providing the rationale for proteasome inhibition in this population. MLN9708 is an investigational, oral, potent, reversible, and specific 20S proteasome inhibitor (PI). In preclinical studies, MLN9708 has shown improved antitumor activity compared to bortezomib in a range of xenograft models. This phase 1 study (NCT01318902) assessed weekly doses of oral MLN9708 in pts with relapsed or refractory AL. Methods: Pts aged ≥18 years with relapsed or refractory AL after ≥1 prior therapy, cardiac biomarker stage I/II disease, and measurable major organ (heart/kidney) involvement, received increasing doses of oral MLN9708 (standard 3+3 dose escalation fixed doses of 4.0 and 5.5 mg), on days 1, 8, and 15 of 28-day cycles for up to 12 cycles. Pts with no major hematologic response (<PR) after 3 cycles received dexamethasone (dex; 40 mg, days 1–4). Two expansion cohorts of PI-naïve and PI-exposed pts were enrolled at the MTD. The primary objectives were to determine the safety, tolerability, and MTD. Secondary objectives included analysis of plasma pharmacokinetic (PK) and whole blood pharmacodynamic effects of MLN9708, and assessment of overall hematologic response rate, time to and duration of hematologic and organ response. Adverse events (AEs) were graded using NCI-CTCAE version 4.03. Blood samples were collected at multiple timepoints pre- and post-MLN9708 dosing for PK analysis during cycle 1. Hematologic response and amyloid-related organ assessments were performed according to standardized criteria. Results: At data cut-off (June 29, 2012) 16 pts had been enrolled and received ≥1 MLN9708 dose (safety population). The median age was 66.5 years (range 54–78) and 7 were male. Median number of prior therapies was 3 (range 1–7); 10 received prior transplant, 7 received prior bortezomib. Major organ involvement, defined by standard criteria, included heart, kidney, or both in 7/5/4 pts, respectively, with a median of 2 (range 1–5) involved organ systems, and Mayo cardiac biomarker risk stage was I, II, III in 6, 9, 1 pts. Five pts were treated in the 5.5 mg cohort and 11 pts were treated in the 4.0 mg (n=6 dose escalation; n=5 dose expansion) cohorts. Of the 11 pts treated at 4.0 mg, 4 were PI-naïve, 7 were PI-exposed. Pts received a median of 3 cycles (range 1–12); 5 pts received ≥5 cycles, and 8 pts remain on treatment. Dex was added in 4 pts (2 in each MLN9708 dose level). There were no on-study deaths. Pts discontinued due to disease progression (n=5), AE, withdrawal by pt, or unsatisfactory response (each n=1); 2 pts completed planned 1 year of therapy. One pt in the 4.0 mg cohort experienced a DLT of grade 3 thrombocytopenia. Two pts in the 5.5 mg dose cohort experienced DLTs: grade 3 diarrhea in 1 pt, and renal failure, respiratory failure (both grade 2), and cardiac arrest (grade 4) in another pt. The MTD was determined as 4.0 mg. AEs were reported in 14 pts. The most common drug-related AEs included nausea (n=5), diarrhea and thrombocytopenia (each n=4), abdominal pain and fatigue (each n=3). Grade ≥3 AEs (any cause) reported in >1 pt were thrombocytopenia (n=4), dyspnea (n=3), maculo-papular rash, dehydration, and abdominal pain (each n=2); all were grade 3. Preliminary response data are shown in the table. At data cut-off, one responder had progressed, and the median duration of hematologic response was 7.4 months (range 1.3–11.5+); 2 pts had cardiac organ response. Preliminary PK data showed that MLN9708 was rapidly absorbed, with a median Tmax of 1 hr (range 0.5–6). MLN9708 day 15 plasma Cmax was 73.6 ± 40.2 ng/mL (mean ± SD) and AUC0–168was 1250 ±530 ng*hr/mL (n=8 at 4.0 mg dose cohort). MLN9708 PK parameter values in this study appear similar to other MLN9708 studies in myeloma pts. Conclusions: These data suggest weekly oral administration of MLN9708 is feasible in pts with relapsed or refractory AL. The MLN9708 MTD was determined as 4.0 mg. Assessment is ongoing, with preliminary evidence of hematologic responses noted. A phase 3 study of MLN9708 plus dex versus physician's choice of treatment is planned (NCT01659658). Disclosures: Merlini: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy. Off Label Use: Use of the investigational agent MLN9708, an oral proteasome inhibitor, in the treatment of relapsed or refractory light-chain amyloidosis. Sanchorawala:Celgene: Research Funding; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding. Zonder:Celgene: Research Funding; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kukreti:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria. Schonland:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria. Dispenzieri:Janssen Research & Development: Research Funding; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Cohen:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Berg:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Liu:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Di Bacco:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Gupta:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Hui:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Comenzo:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.
Validation of the Criteria of Response to Treatment In AL Amyloidosis.
Wechalekar, Ashutosh , Hawkins, Philip N. , Comenzo, Raymond L. , Palladini, Giovanni , Dispenzieri, Angela , Gertz, Morie A. , Wechalekar, Ashutosh D. , Schönland, Stefan , Hegenbart, Ute , Kastritis, Efstathios , Dimopoulos, Meletios Α. , Jaccard, Arnaud , Klersy, Catherine , Merlini, Giampaolo

Blood | October 9, 2019 | Volume: 116 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 1364-1364

10.1182/blood.v116.21.1364.1364 Get It

Abstract Abstract 1364 In light chain (AL) amyloidosis, as well as in multiple myeloma, response to treatment is increasingly being used as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials. In 2005 a consensus statement of the International Society of Amyloidosis (ISA) established the criteria for hematologic and organ response. Since then, several studies emphasized the prognostic relevance of the measurement of the amyloidogenic precursor, the circulating free light chain (FLC). Moreover, it was reported that patients who with treatment achieved decreases in the cardiac biomarker N terminal natriuretic peptide type B (NT-proBNP) had longer survival, although echocardiographic criteria of response were not attained. The ISA Consensus Panel reconvened in 2010 to update hematologic and organ response criteria. The panel felt that any new criteria should be validated in a large patient population. Thus, we systematically gathered from 7 referral centers in Europe and in the United States a cohort of 649 patients with systemic AL amyloidosis who had been evaluated for hematologic and organ responses at diagnosis and 6 months after treatment initiation, excluding patients who died earlier. At diagnosis, 430 patients (66%) had heart involvement, 377 (58%) had NT-proBNP ≥650 ng/L, 455 (70%) had renal involvement (95, 15%, with glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min) and 100 (15%) had liver involvement. Two-hundred eighty-nine patients (44%) were treated with melphalan and dexamethasone, 118 (18%) received thalidomide based therapy, 73 (11%) underwent autologous stem cell transplant, 35 (5%) were treated with regimens including lenalidomide, 20 (3%) received bortezomib-based therapy, and the rest received other alkylating agents, nucleoside analogues or dexamethasone. The median follow-up of living patients was 24 months, and 233 patients (34%) died. The ability of response criteria to identify patients who died was compared by evaluating the areas under Receiver Operator Characteristic curves based on death at 1 year, and by calculating the Harrell C statistic and the Royston explained variation. Survival was calculated from the time of evaluation of response. We maintained the category of complete response (CR: negative serum and urine immunofixation, normal FLC kappa/lambda ratio and normal marrow studies) and examined candidate criteria for partial (PR) and very good partial responses (VGPR), based on percentage changes or absolute values achieved after treatment of involved (amyloidogenic) FLC (iFLC), and alternatively on the difference between iFLC and uninvolved FLC (dFLC). With respect to cardiac response and progression, NT-proBNP-based criteria were defined as a decrease or an increase of both >30% and >300 ng/L, and a threshold of evaluability based on NT-proBNP baseline level >650 ng/L was chosen. The most powerful criteria for PR were those based on dFLC percent decrease, and a 50% cutoff was preferred because of easier clinical use. Among candidate criteria for VGPR, the best were based on iFLC absolute value achieved after therapy, but the performance of those based on dFLC absolute value was only slightly lower. Therefore, a definition of VGPR based on dFLC (<40 mg/L) was adopted for the sake of harmonization with the dFLC-based definition of PR. The adopted hematologic response criteria and their prognostic significance are reported in Table 1. These criteria identified 4 groups with significantly different survivals (Figure 1). Also the proposed criteria of NT-proBNP response and progression were significantly associated with survival (Figure 2). Our 2010 revised consensus criteria for hematologic response include maintenance of the definition of CR, and with use of dFLC re-casting the definition of PR and introducing a VGPR category, and for cardiac response and progression introducing the use of changes in NT-proBNP levels. In a further analysis we will address the definition of measurable dFLC at baseline and evaluate the applicability of the response criteria to earlier evaluation of response. The revised criteria improve the framework for clinical research in AL. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Thalidomide, lenalidomide, bortezomib for systemic AL amyloidosis. Dispenzieri:The Binding Site: Honoraria. Gertz:Celgene: Honoraria; Millennium: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dimopoulos:Ortho-Biotech: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Millennium: Honoraria. Merlini:Millennium: Honoraria; Ortho-Biotech: Honoraria.
Expert Consensus Recommendations for the Suspicion and Diagnosis of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis
Maurer, Mathew S. , Bokhari, Sabahat , Drachman, Brian, Fontana, Marianna , Grogan, Martha , Kristen, Arnt V. , Lousada, Isabelle , Nativi-Nicolau, José , Ruberg, Frederick L. , Merlini, Giampaolo , Merlini, Giampaolo , Maurer, Mathew S , Damy, Thibaud , Dorbala, Sharmila , Fontana, Marianna , Quarta, Candida Cristina , Rapezzi, Claudio , Witteles, Ronald

Circulation: Heart Failure | September 4, 2019 | Volume: 12 | Issue: 9 | Pages: No page available

10.1161/circheartfailure.119.006075 Get It

Cardiomyopathy is a manifestation of transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), which is an underrecognized systemic disease whereby the transthyretin protein misfolds to form fibrils that deposit in various tissues and organs. ATTR amyloidosis is debilitating and associated with poor life expectancy, especially in those with cardiac dysfunction, but a variety of treatment options have recently become available. Considered a rare disease, ATTR amyloidosis may be more prevalent than thought, particularly in older persons. Diagnosis is often delayed because of a lack of disease awareness and the heterogeneity of symptoms at presentation. Given the recent availability of effective treatments, early recognition and diagnosis are especially critical because treatment is likely more effective earlier in the disease course. The Amyloidosis Research Consortium recently convened a group of experts in ATTR amyloidosis who, through an iterative process, agreed on best practices for suspicion, diagnosis, and characterization of disease. This review describes these consensus recommendations for ATTR associated with cardiomyopathy as a resource to aid cardiologists and others in the recognition and diagnosis of ATTR associated with cardiomyopathy. Included in this review is an overview of red flag signs and symptoms and a recommended diagnostic approach, including testing for monoclonal protein, scintigraphy, or biopsy and, if ATTR associated with cardiomyopathy is identified, TTR genotyping.