Citations

Abstract Background Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) is associated with loss of microbial diversity and microbe-derived secondary bile acids, which inhibit C. difficile germination and growth. SER-109, an investigational microbiome drug of donor-derived, purified spores, reduced recurrence in a dose-ranging, phase (P) 1 study in subjects with multiple rCDIs. Methods In a P2 double-blind trial, subjects with clinical resolution on standard-of-care antibiotics were stratified by age (< or ≥65 years) and randomized 2:1 to single-dose SER-109 or placebo. Subjects were diagnosed at study entry by PCR or toxin testing. Safety, C. difficile–positive diarrhea through week 8, SER-109 engraftment, and bile acid changes were assessed. Results 89 subjects enrolled (67% female; 80.9% diagnosed by PCR). rCDI rates were lower in the SER-109 arm than placebo (44.1% vs 53.3%) but did not meet statistical significance. In a preplanned analysis, rates were reduced among subjects ≥65 years (45.2% vs 80%, respectively; RR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.11–2.81), while the <65 group showed no benefit. Early engraftment of SER-109 was associated with nonrecurrence (P < .05) and increased secondary bile acid concentrations (P < .0001). Whole-metagenomic sequencing from this study and the P1 study revealed previously unappreciated dose-dependent engraftment kinetics and confirmed an association between early engraftment and nonrecurrence. Engraftment kinetics suggest that P2 dosing was suboptimal. Adverse events were generally mild to moderate in severity. Conclusions Early SER-109 engraftment was associated with reduced CDI recurrence and favorable safety was observed. A higher dose of SER-109 and requirements for toxin testing were implemented in the current P3 trial. Clinical Trials Registration NCT02437487, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02437487?term=SER-109&draw= 2&rank=4.

8001 Background: Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is a precursor to myeloma, wherein current standard of care is observation (obs). Data from a randomized Spanish trial (Mateos et al, NEJM 2015) suggest that lenalidomide(len)/dexamethasone improves time to developing myeloma (TTP) and overall survival (OS) for patients (pts) with high risk (HR) SMM over obs. However, pts were not screened with advanced imaging techniques, used a HR definition that is not routinely available, and combination therapy limited the ability to isolate the effect of len, and thus has not become standard of care. Methods: E3A06 is a randomized phase III intergroup trial, testing the effect of single agent len compared with obs for pts with intermediate or high risk SMM. In an initial phase II run in all pts received len to demonstrate safety. Eligibility required ≥10% PCs and abnormal serum FLC ratio (<0.26 or >1.65). The primary endpoint was progression PFS was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the one-sided stratified log-rank test. Results: PII enrolled 44 pts and PIII randomized 182 pts to either len (n=90) or obs (n=92) [stratified on time since SMM diagnosis ≤1y vs >1y]. Baseline characteristics were similar between the arms. 80% (PII) and 51% (PIII) are off len, primarily due to adverse events (AE) or pt withdrawal. Among the len treated pts, G3/4 non-hematologic AE occurred in 28% of PIII pts with fatigue being most common (n=5). G4 hematologic AE rate was 5.7%, primarily neutropenia (n=4). 3-year cumulative incidence of invasive SPMs was 5.2% (len) and 3.5% (obs). Overall response rate was 47.7% for the phase II study, and in phase III, 48.9% for the len arm, and 0% for the obs arm. Median follow up was 71 months (PII), and 28 months (PIII). 3-year PFS was 87% for the PII cohort. One, 2 and 3-year PFS was 98%, 93%, and 91% for len, and 89%, 76%, and 66% for the obs arm (HR 0.28, p=0.0005) favoring the len arm. No difference in QOL score was noted between arms. Conclusions: Overall, this trial represents the largest randomized trial in SMM to date. In conjunction with the Spanish data, this trial may support a change in clinical practice. Clinical trial information: NCT01169337. [Table: see text]

TPS8619 Background: Chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) treatment approaches such as FCR have markedly improved outcomes for CLL pts when administered as initial or second-line therapy. Despite this progress, virtually all pts relapse and effective salvage regimens that induce durable remissions or can be administered safely to elderly pts or those with comorbidities are lacking. BTK, an essential mediator of B-cell receptor signaling, is a novel target in CLL. Ibrutinib, a first-in class inhibitor of BTK, promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation, migration and adhesion in CLL cells. Phase II data of ibrutinib monotherapy in RR CLL demonstrated an estimated PFS and OS of 75% and 83% respectively at 26 months (Byrd Abst #189 ASH 2012). These findings confirmed BTK as an important target in CLL and supported initiation of a pivotal phase III study in pts with RR CLL/SLL. Methods: PCYC-1112-CA is an ongoing international Phase 3 randomized controlled study of ibrutinib versus ofatumumab for treatment of pts with RR CLL/SLL. The study is enrolling 350 planned pts in 9 countries. Pts are randomized 1:1 to receive ibrutinib 420 mg orally once daily or ofatumumab per the package insert at 300 mg for the first dose, then 2000 mg for a total of 12 doses over 24 weeks. Pts are stratified based on del 17p and disease refractory to purine analogs. Key inclusion criteria include RR CLL/SLL with >= 1 prior line of therapy including pts who experienced a short remission duration to purine analog based CIT, pts who are older or have comorbidities, and pts with del 17p. Pts must have active disease meeting criterion for requiring therapy and measurable nodal disease by CT. Key exclusion criteria include Richter’s transformation, stem cell transplantation within 6 months, GVHD or immunosuppression, platelet count <30,000 cells/ul or use of warfarin The primary objective of the study is PFS evaluated by an IRC. Other outcomes include ORR, OS, hematologic improvement, and safety. An independent DMC is monitoring the study. Clinical trial information: NCT01744691.

8032 Background: Btk supports activation, survival, and proliferation of malignant B cells in CLL and B-NHL. AVL-292 is an oral, potent (IC50 < 0.5nM), selective small molecule covalent inhibitor of Btk. Methods: Patients (pts) with previously treated CLL or B-NHL were administered AVL-292 in escalating cohorts of 125, 250, or 400 mg po QD using a 3+3 design in continuous 28 day cycles until progressive disease (PD) or toxicity. Key objectives were safety, DLT, MTD, PK, and Btk occupancy. Plasma AVL-292 levels were assessed by LC-MS-MS. Btk occupancy by AVL-292 was assessed by covalent probe assay in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Results: 12 pts have enrolled (3 each at 125 and 250 mg and 6 at 400 mg: 5M/7F; median age 68 years, range 45-79; median 2.5 prior therapies, range 1-10) including 8 CLL (2 with 17p-, 2 with 11q22-, 2 with both 17p-/11q22-; 2 mutated IGHV, 5 unmutated IGHV, 1 missing) and 4 B-NHL (1 diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL); 1 follicular (FL); 2 marginal zone (MZL)). Median time on treatment is 65 days, range 28-158. Ten of 12 pts continue on treatment: 1 pt (DLBCL) discontinued for PD after 1 cycle and 1 pt (FL) for DLT (Gr 4 plts; 400 mg QD). No other DLTs or grade 4 adverse events (AEs) have occurred and MTD has not been reached. Most frequent AEs reported include transient diarrhea, rash/skin infection, URI, nausea, and fatigue. Gr 3 AEs include 1 atrial fibrillation (not drug related) and 1 ANC low (probably drug related). To date, 8 of 8 CLL patients have stable disease (SD) with median 28% decrease from baseline lymph node measurement (range 3-40% decrease). Six of 8 pts with CLL experienced increased ALC in cycle 1: median increase 89.5% (range 50-212%). Two of 4 NHL pts have SD (both MZL), 1 PD (DLBCL), and 1 not evaluable due to DLT (FL). Full Btk occupancy was achieved with dose levels ≥ 250 mg. Multiple dose PK exposure (AUClast) was linear with no accumulation from Day 1 to 15. Conclusions: AVL-292 was well tolerated from 125-400 mg po QD and early efficacy analysis in CLL and B-NHL shows 10/11 efficacy evaluable pts with SD. Full Btk occupancy was achieved with ≥ 250 mg QD and PK was predictable with no accumulation. Dose escalation is ongoing and MTD cohort expansion is planned.

Background: Uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) is a leading preventable cause of death that remains common in the US population despite the availability of effective medications. New technology and program innovation has high potential to improve BP but may be expensive and burdensome for patients, clinicians, health systems, and payers and may not produce desired results or reduce existing disparities in BP control. Methods and Results: The PCORnet Blood Pressure Control Laboratory is a platform designed to enable national surveillance and facilitate quality improvement and comparative effectiveness research. The platform uses PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, for engagement of health systems and collection of electronic health record data, and the Eureka Research Platform for eConsent and collection of patient-reported outcomes and mHealth data from wearable devices and smartphones. Three demonstration projects are underway: BP track will conduct national surveillance of BP control and related clinical processes by measuring theory-derived pragmatic BP control metrics using electronic health record data, with a focus on tracking disparities over time; BP MAP will conduct a cluster-randomized trial comparing effectiveness of 2 versions of a BP control quality improvement program; BP Home will conduct an individual patient-level randomized trial comparing effectiveness of smartphone-linked versus standard home BP monitoring. Thus far, BP Track has collected electronic health record data from over 826 000 eligible patients with hypertension who completed ≈3.1 million ambulatory visits. Preliminary results demonstrate substantial room for improvement in BP control (<140/90 mm Hg), which was 58% overall, and in the clinical processes relevant for BP control. For example, only 12% of patients with hypertension with a high BP measurement during an ambulatory visit received an order for a new antihypertensive medication. Conclusions: The PCORnet Blood Pressure Control Laboratory is designed to be a reusable platform for efficient surveillance and comparative effectiveness research; results from demonstration projects are forthcoming.

Background: Grand rounds and named lectureships are forums in academic medicine for sharing research, scholarly achievements, and clinical expertise. An invitation to speak at grand rounds is regarded as an honor and is part of the pathway to academic promotion. We describe gender representation relative to the national academic medical workforce among invited speakers at departmental grand rounds and annual named lectures at a large academic medical center. Materials and Methods: Lists of external speakers for grand rounds from 2015 through 2017 were obtained from 18 departments and for annual named lectures from 2007 to 2017 from 7 departments. Results: Of the 783 invited speakers to the 25 speaker series, there were 178 women (22.7%). The proportion of women speakers for departmental grand rounds ranged from 0% to 59.3%; representation of women speakers was lower than representation in their specialty in 14 of the 18 departments and significantly lower in 4 of the 18 departments. In four departments, there was a higher proportion of women than available in the specialty-specific academic medicine workforce. The proportion of women who spoke at annual named lectures was significantly lower in two of seven lecture series and ranged from 0% to 21.2%. Three departments had no women speakers. Conclusions: The underrepresentation of women as speakers is a potential target to improve gender representation and role modeling and provide equitable opportunity for academic advancement. Solutions may include formal diversity and inclusion training, intentional overrepresentation of invited female speakers, and inclusion of women on grand rounds planning committees.