Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and tolerability of BCD-017, a novel pegylated filgrastim: Results of open-label controlled phase I study with dose escalation in healthy volunteers.
9060 Background: Pegfilgrastim (conjugate of filgrastim and 20 kDa PEG) is approved for treatment of chemotherapy-associated neutropenia. BCD-017 is a covalent conjugate of filgrastim with 30 kDa PEG. Increased molecular weight of PEG molecule may provide additional benefits compared to pegfilgrastim. We have conducted this open-label phase I study to assess the PK, PD and tolerability of BCD-017. Methods: 24 healthy male volunteers signed the informed consent and were sequentially assigned to receive 1, 3 or 9 mg of BCD-017 or 5 mcg/kg/day of filgrastim for 7 days, 6 volunteers per group. Outcome measures included absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and СD34+ cell count, PK parameters and adverse events (AEs). Results: BCD-017 induced a fast and significant increase of ANC. Median maximum ANC (ANCmax) for BCD-017 1, 3, 9 mg and filgrastim was 18.68 (10.62-21.02), 25.92 (15.43-28.07), 32.22 (18.22-45.79), and 28.21 (21-31.95) ×103 cells/mm3, respectively; median time to ANCmax was 24 (12-24); 48 (24-72); 72 (48-72); and 132,5 (12-169) h, respectively; median increase in СD34+ cells number 96 h post dose was 4.7 (1.2-6.5), 6.5 (1.7-12.3), 40.9 (24.5-102), and 17.8 (3.3-35.2) times, respectively. Filgrastim serum concentration was analyzed using ELISA. Median Cmax for BCD-017 3 and 9 mg and filgrastim was 45 (31-65), 446 (191-649), and 40 (20-54) ng/mL, respectively; median Tmax was 48 (24-72), 36 (24-48), and 8 (6-8) h respectively; median T1/2 was 65 (51-70), 46 (41-57), and 6.7 (6.2-7.6) h, respectively. BCD-017 was well tolerated. No dose-limiting AEs were observed. AEs included headache, back pain, myalgia, arthralgia, thrombocytopenia, hyperuricemia, alkaline phosphatase/LDH increased. All AEs were of grade 1-2. Compared to filgrastim, the best tolerability was observed in 3 mg group. Conclusions: BCD-017 is shown to be a potent stimulator of granulopoiesis. BCD-017 3 mg did not differ from filgrastim in terms of ANC increase and its safety was shown in healthy volunteers. Further phase II study of BCD-017 for treatment and prophylaxis of neutropenia in patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy is necessary.