Congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (
TTP) is a very rare but potentially life-threatening disorder. This phase I/II trial compared the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and safety of three different administration modes of the anti-
von Willebrand factor (VWF) aptamer
ARC1779. This was a prospective clinical trial with a partial cross-over design: three periods comprised
subcutaneous injections of 50 mg of
ARC1779 on seven subsequent days, a low-dose infusion of
ARC1779 (0.002 mg/kg/min) for 24-72 hours and a high-dose infusion (0.004-0.006 mg/kg/min) up to 72 hours.
ARC1779 concentrations were determined with high performance liquid chromatography, VWF inhibition was measured with
enzyme immunoassay and platelet function was determined with the platelet function analyser (PFA-100) and impedance aggregometry.
ARC1779 was well tolerated without any
bleeding at concentrations spanning over three orders of magnitude. The daily s.c. injection yielded plasma levels (0.5 μg/ml) of the
drug that were too low to sufficiently suppress VWF. The low-dose i.v. infusion increased platelet counts in one patient, whereas the high i.v. dose increased plasma concentrations up to 69 μg/ml, completely blocked free A1 domains, VWF-dependent platelet plug formation and enhanced platelet counts in 2/3 patients. In conclusion, infusion of
ARC1779 dose-dependently inhibits VWF-dependent platelet function and during infusion
ARC1779 increases or stabilises platelet counts in congenital
TTP. However, the tested doses, particularly the daily s.c.
injections, did not correct all clinical or laboratory features of
TTP.