Fedratinib in myelofibrosis

Following the discovery of the JAK2V617F mutation in myeloproliferative neoplasms in 2005, fedratinib was developed as a small molecular inhibitor of JAK2. It was optimized to yield low-nanomolar activity against JAK2 (50% inhibitory concentration = 3 nM) and was identified to be selective for JAK2 relative to other JAK family members (eg, JAK1, JAK3, and TYK2). It quickly moved into clinical development with a phase 1 clinical trial opening in 2008, where a favorable impact on spleen and myelofibrosis (MF) symptom responses was reported. A phase 3 trial in JAK2 inhibitor treatment-naive MF patients followed in 2011 (JAKARTA); a phase 2 trial in MF patients resistant or intolerant to ruxolitinib followed in 2012 (JAKARTA-2). Clinical development suffered a major setback between 2013 and 2017 when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed fedratinib on clinical hold due to the development of symptoms concerning for Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) in 8 of 608 subjects (1.3%) who had received the drug. It was ultimately concluded that there was no evidence that fedratinib directly induces WE, but clear risk factors (eg, poor nutrition, uncontrolled gastrointestinal toxicity) were identified. In August 2019, the FDA approved fedratinib for the treatment of adults with intermediate-2 or high-risk MF. Notably, approval includes a “black box warning” on the risk of serious and fatal encephalopathy, including WE. FDA approval was granted on the basis of the JAKARTA studies in which the primary end points (ie, spleen and MF symptom responses) were met in ∼35% to 40% of patients (JAKARTA) and 25% to 30% of patients (JAKARTA-2), respectively.

Re-Evaluating the Mechanism of Action of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl DUB Inhibitors B-AP15 and VLX1570: A Paradigmatic Example of Unspecific Protein Crosslinking with Michael Acceptor Motif-Containing Drugs

<div>Deubiquitinating enzymes are a growing target class across multiple disease states, with several inhibitors now reported. b-AP15 and VLX1570 are two structurally related USP14/UCH-37 inhibitors with a shared α,β-unsaturated carbonyl substructure motif. Initially taken forward into a phase I/II clinical trial for refractory multiple myeloma, VLX1570 has since been put on full clinical hold due to dose limiting toxicity. Through a proteomic approach, here we demonstrate that these compounds target a diverse range of proteins, resulting in the formation of higher molecular weight complexes. Activity-based proteome profiling identified CIAPIN1 as a sub-micromolar covalent target of VLX1570, and further analysis demonstrated that high molecular weight complex formation leads to aggregation of CIAPIN1 in intact cells. Our results suggest that in addition to DUB inhibition, these compounds induce non-specific protein aggregation through cross-linking, providing a molecular explanation for general cellular toxicity.</div>

Re-Evaluating the Mechanism of Action of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl DUB Inhibitors B-AP15 and VLX1570: A Paradigmatic Example of Unspecific Protein Crosslinking with Michael Acceptor Motif-Containing Drugs

<div>Deubiquitinating enzymes are a growing target class across multiple disease states, with several inhibitors now reported. b-AP15 and VLX1570 are two structurally related USP14/UCH-37 inhibitors with a shared α,β-unsaturated carbonyl substructure motif. Initially taken forward into a phase I/II clinical trial for refractory multiple myeloma, VLX1570 has since been put on full clinical hold due to dose limiting toxicity. Through a proteomic approach, here we demonstrate that these compounds target a diverse range of proteins, resulting in the formation of higher molecular weight complexes. Activity-based proteome profiling identified CIAPIN1 as a sub-micromolar covalent target of VLX1570, and further analysis demonstrated that high molecular weight complex formation leads to aggregation of CIAPIN1 in intact cells. Our results suggest that in addition to DUB inhibition, these compounds induce non-specific protein aggregation through cross-linking, providing a molecular explanation for general cellular toxicity.</div>

The Role of Antithrombin Lowering in Patients with Hemophilia: Hemostatic Control Pre- and Post-Fitusiran Dosing Interruption

Introduction Hemophilia A and hemophilia B are rare bleeding disorders characterized by insufficient thrombin generation due to deficiencies in factors VIII or IX, respectively. Standard treatment for hemophilia is currently based on replacement of the deficient factor with factor concentrate. This, unfortunately, subjects the patient to the risk of developing neutralizing antibodies, or inhibitors, against replacement factor VIII or IX. Individuals with inhibitors become refractory to standard replacement therapy, a serious complication for as many as one-third of patients with severe hemophilia A and a lower proportion of patients with hemophilia B. Fitusiran is a once-monthly subcutaneously administered investigational RNA interference therapeutic that targets antithrombin (AT) to improve thrombin generation (TG) and promote hemostasis in patients with hemophilia A or hemophilia B with or without inhibitors. In September 2017, fitusiran dosing in the Phase 2 open-label extension (OLE) study was temporarily suspended to investigate a case of fatal cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Following this investigation, fitusiran dosing resumed in December 2017 with protocol amendments for bleed management dosing and safety monitoring. During the temporary dosing suspension, AT levels, TG, bleeding events, and frequency of factor replacement and bypassing agents were assessed. Methods Before the dosing suspension, 33 patients (hemophilia A=27, hemophilia B=6) were enrolled, of whom 28 patients continued treatment over 20 months in the Phase 2 OLE study, with a median of 11 months on study. As of June 2018, data collected monthly during the clinical hold included AT levels, TG, and description and management of treated bleeding events before and during the clinical hold, which were used to estimate annualized bleeding rates (ABRs) and bleeding rates per month. Results AT activity in patients previously receiving fitusiran demonstrated a progressive increase during the interruption of fitusiran dosing. Median %AT increased to >60% after a 5-month period compared with the last data point before dosing interruption. These data confirm our previous findings that discontinuation of fitusiran results in gradual recovery of AT activity over time. Subjects also demonstrated a concomitant steady decrease in TG during the interruption of fitusiran dosing, which occurred over a similar time course to that of AT recovery. Consistent with both the increase in AT activity and decrease in TG, preliminary analysis shows the median overall ABR increased from 1.43 events/year before the dosing interruption to 6.07 events/year during the dosing interruption. Conclusions During a period of fitusiran dosing suspension, recovery of AT activity was accompanied by a decrease in TG and an increase in bleeding events. These observations provide support for the therapeutic hypothesis that AT activity lowering by fitusiran leads to an increase in TG and improved hemostasis. Phase 3 studies of fitusiran are ongoing. Disclosures Ragni: Bioverativ: Consultancy, Research Funding; MOGAM: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CSL Behring: Research Funding; SPARK: Consultancy, Research Funding; Shire: Research Funding; Alnylam: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Research Funding; Sangamo: Research Funding; Biomarin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Georgiev:Alnylam: Consultancy. Lissitchkov:Novo Nordisk: Other: Investigator fees as a participant of the clinical trial. Austin:Pfizer: Research Funding. Chowdary:Novo Nordisk: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; CSL Behring: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Freeline: Consultancy; Bayer: Honoraria; Baxalta (Shire): Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi): Honoraria; Biogen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Foster:Sanofi Genzyme: Employment. Yu:Sanofi Genzyme: Employment. Benson:Sanofi Genzyme: Employment. Madigan:Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment. Nguyen:Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employment. Ali:Sanofi Genzyme: Employment. Kadam:Sanofi Genzyme: Employment. Jain:Sanofi Genzyme: Employment. Pasi:Octapharma: Honoraria; Catalyst Bio: Honoraria; Bayer: Speakers Bureau; Shire: Speakers Bureau; NovoNordisk: Speakers Bureau; Sobi: Honoraria; Apcintex: Honoraria; Biomarin: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Alnylam: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bioverativ: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Effects of Monoclonal Antibodies against Nerve Growth Factor on Healthy Bone and Joint Tissues in Mice, Rats, and Monkeys: Histopathologic, Biomarker, and Microcomputed Tomographic Assessments

Tanezumab, an anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) antibody, is in development for management of chronic pain. During clinical trials of anti-NGF antibodies, some patients reported unexpected adverse events requiring total joint replacements, resulting in a partial clinical hold on all NGF inhibitors. Three nonclinical toxicology studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of tanezumab or the murine precursor muMab911 on selected bone and joint endpoints and biomarkers in cynomolgus monkeys, Sprague-Dawley rats, and C57BL/6 mice. Joint and bone endpoints included histology, immunohistochemistry, microcomputed tomography (mCT) imaging, and serum biomarkers of bone physiology. Responses of bone endpoints to tanezumab were evaluated in monkeys at 4 to 30 mg/kg/week for 26 weeks and in rats at 0.2 to 10 mg/kg twice weekly for 28 days. The effects of muMab911 at 10 mg/kg/week for 12 weeks on selected bone endpoints were determined in mice. Tanezumab and muMab911 had no adverse effects on any bone or joint parameter. There were no test article–related effects on bone or joint histology, immunohistochemistry, or structure. Reversible, higher osteocalcin concentrations occurred only in the rat study. No deleterious effects were observed in joints or bones in monkeys, rats, or mice administered high doses of tanezumab or muMab911.