Abstract |
Human interferon (IFN) β has well established beneficial effects in treating relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, but current first-line treatment requires frequent (from daily to weekly) parenteral administration. A 20-kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated IFN β-1a (PEG-IFN β-1a) is being developed to decrease the frequency of administration and improve patient convenience and compliance. We present pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters, immunogenicity, and safety of PEG-IFN β-1a in Rhesus monkeys in support of a phase 1 clinical trial. Two single-dose PK/PD studies and one 5-week repeat-dose toxicity study compliant with good laboratory practice were conducted. The PK of IFN β-1a and PEG-IFN β-1a were modeled with a two-compartment model, and the link between drug concentration and neopterin response (PD marker) was described with an indirect stimulatory model. PEG-IFN β-1a showed greater exposure, longer half-life, lower clearance, and reduced volume of distribution than unmodified IFN β-1a. Consistent with the pharmacology of type I IFNs, PEG-IFN β-1a resulted in the elevation of neopterin concentration, a transient body temperature increase, and a reversible lymphocyte count decrease. As expected, neutralizing antibodies to PEG-IFN β-1a formed in almost all monkeys after 5 weeks of treatment, which resulted in significantly reduced drug exposure and abrogation of neopterin induction. There were no drug-related adverse effects at doses up to 100 μg/kg (11 MIU/kg) given subcutaneously or intramuscularly once weekly for 5 weeks. The no-observed-adverse-effect level was determined to be 100 μg/kg (11 MIU/kg), the highest dose tested.
|
Authors | Xiao Hu, Kenneth Olivier, Evelyne Polack, Mary Crossman, Katie Zokowski, Robert S Gronke, Suezanne Parker, Zhaoyang Li, Ivan Nestorov, Darren P Baker, Janet Clarke, Meena Subramanyam |
Journal | The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
(J Pharmacol Exp Ther)
Vol. 338
Issue 3
Pg. 984-96
(Sep 2011)
ISSN: 1521-0103 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 21690216
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
Chemical References |
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Polyethylene Glycols
- Neopterin
- Interferon-beta
- Interferons
- peginterferon beta-1a
|
Topics |
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents
(chemistry, pharmacology)
- Area Under Curve
- Body Temperature
(drug effects)
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Feedback, Physiological
- Half-Life
- Humans
- Injections, Intramuscular
- Injections, Subcutaneous
- Interferon-beta
- Interferons
(immunology, pharmacology, toxicity)
- Lymphocyte Count
- Macaca mulatta
- Models, Statistical
- Neopterin
(blood)
- No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level
- Polyethylene Glycols
(pharmacology, toxicity)
|