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1139 Safety Profile of Crizanlizumab 5.0 Mg/Kg in Sickle Cell Disease: Pooled Data from Clinical Trials

Program: Oral and Poster Abstracts
Session: 114. Sickle cell Disease, Sickle Cell Trait and Other Hemoglobinopathies, Excluding Thalassemias: Clinical and Epidemiological: Poster I
Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways:
clinical trials, Research, Clinical Research, Adverse Events
Saturday, December 9, 2023, 5:30 PM-7:30 PM

Abdullah Kutlar, MD1, Vikas Joshi2*, Andreas Brueckner3*, Julie Kanter, MD4, Darla K. Liles, MD5, Jeremie Lincy3*, Rahul Manjare, MBBS, MD2*, Yvonne Dei Adomakoh, MBBS, MD6, Matthew M. Heeney, MD7, Mariane de Montalembert, MD, PhD8, Deborah Keefe, MD, MPH9*, Kwaku Marfo, MBA, PharmD, MPH3* and Kenneth I. Ataga, MD10

1Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA
2Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, Hyderabad, India
3Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
4University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
5Brody school of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
6University of Ghana Medical School/Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
7Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA
8Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), University of Paris-Cité, Paris, France
9Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ
10University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, Nashville, TN

Introduction: Crizanlizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to P-selectin and blocks its interaction with its ligands, including P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1. It is approved to reduce the frequency of or prevent recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in patients aged ≥16 years with sickle cell disease (SCD). This pooled analysis assesses the safety of the recommended dosage of crizanlizumab (5.0 mg/kg monthly) in treated patients.

Methods: Safety was assessed based on two clinical program data pools. Pool 1 comprised data from the crizanlizumab-treated groups from 3 Phase 2 studies (SUSTAIN [NCT01895361], SOLACE-adults [NCT03264989], and the pediatric SOLACE-Kids [NCT03474965]) and 1 Phase 3 study (STAND [NCT03814746]) in patients with SCD, with a history of VOCs leading to a healthcare visit. Pool 2 included data from the SUSTAIN and STAND treatment groups and the corresponding placebo group. Adverse events (AEs) were summarized by preferred term /system organ class and seriousness/severity per MedDRA version 23.1, with severity assessed based on CTCAE v5. Based on both its mechanism of action and the fact that crizanlizumab is a mAb, AEs of special interest (AESIs) included infections, infusion-related reactions (IRRs, events typically occurring within 24 hours of the recent crizanlizumab infusion), effects on hemostasis, and immunogenicity (antidrug antibodies [ADAs]). Pooled incidences of treatment-related AEs (TRAEs), suspected to be related to study treatment, were also evaluated.

Results: In Pool 1, 245 patients received crizanlizumab 5.0 mg/kg (median age: 24 years [range,12-65]; 54.3% female), with 66.1% having 1 to 4 VOCs and 33.1% having ≥5 VOCs (VOC data were missing for 0.8% patients) at baseline. Pool 2 had 150 patients in the 5.0 mg/kg treatment group (median age: 27 years [range, 12-64]) and 147 patients in the placebo group (median age: 26 years [range, 12-68]). Median crizanlizumab exposure was 87.4 weeks (range, 2-228) in Pool 1, 54.1 weeks (range, 51.9-93.9) in Pool 2 treatment group and 53.3 weeks (range: 50.3-86.0) in the Pool 2 placebo group. The use of crizanlizumab in combination with hydroxyurea/hydroxycarbamide did not result in meaningful differences in safety profile.

Most frequently reported AE in Pool 1 were headache (25.7%), pyrexia (22.9%), arthralgia (18.4%), nausea (16.7%), and COVID-19 (15.9%). In Pool 2 (treatment group vs. placebo), the most common AEs were headache (21.3% vs. 17.7%), pyrexia (19.3% vs. 17.7%), and nausea (17.3% vs. 10.2%).

Infection events were observed in 62.4% and 56.7% of patients in the Pool 1 and 2 treatment groups, respectively, and in 55.1% in the placebo group (Table 1). The most common infections in Pool 1 were COVID-19 (15.9%), upper respiratory tract infections (12.7%), and urinary tract infections (11.8%). No increased risk or severity of infection was found in patients treated with crizanlizumab.

IRRs occurred in 38.8% of Pool 1, 36.7% of the Pool 2 treatment group, and 27.9% of the placebo group. Most common IRRs were headache and nausea (Table 1). IRRs with grade ≥3 occurred in 3.3% of patients in Pool 1, with no grade 4 or 5 events. Bleeding-related events were observed in 16.7% of Pool 1 patients; epistaxis (3.7%) was the most reported. Treatment-induced ADA were reported in 0.8% (n=2) of patients in Pool 1, confirming the low immunogenic potential of crizanlizumab.

TRAEs were observed in 31.8% patients in Pool 1, 34.7% in the Pool 2 treatment group, and 24.5% in the placebo group. Among the patients in Pool 1, 10 (4.1%) experienced grade 3 or higher TRAEs. The most reported TRAEs are listed in Table 1. Treatment-related serious AEs occurred in 10 patients (4.1%), with 7 (2.9%) experiencing ≥ grade 3 AEs in Pool 1.

Treatment discontinuation due to AEs occurred in 3.3% of patients in Pool 1, 2.7% in the Pool 2 treatment group, and 3.4% in the placebo group. Five on-treatment deaths were reported across the four studies and were considered not related to crizanlizumab by the investigator (myocardial infarction, multiple organ dysfunction, endocarditis, meningitis bacterial, and sepsis [1 patient each]).

Conclusion: This pooled analysis of crizanlizumab 5.0 mg/kg in patients with SCD and a history of VOCs showed that crizanlizumab was well tolerated, with a favorable safety profile. Most AEs were mild to moderate, and the discontinuations due to AEs were infrequent. No new safety concerns were identified.

Disclosures: Kutlar: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; GBT/Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Forma/Novo-Nordisk: Research Funding; Akira Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Joshi: Novartis Healthcare Private Limited: Current Employment. Brueckner: Novartis Pharma AG: Current Employment. Kanter: Bausch: Consultancy; Chiesi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Watkins, Lourie, Roll & Chance: Consultancy; Vertex: Consultancy; Guidepoint Global: Honoraria; ECOR-1: Consultancy; Fulcurm: Consultancy; Glycomimetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Austin Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Research Funding; BEAM: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; HRSA: Research Funding; NHLBI: Research Funding; CDC: Research Funding; National Alliance of Sickle Cell Centers: Other: President. Liles: Annexon Biosciences: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Alpine Immune Sciences: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Abbvie: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Astex Pharmaceuticals: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Baxalta: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); BeiGene: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Bioverativ: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); CSL Behring: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Celgene: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Delta-Fly Pharma: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Exact Sciences: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Forma Therapeutics: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Global Blood Therapeutics: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Immunovant: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Incyte: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); NeoImmuneTech: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Novartis: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Novo Nordisk: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Partner Therapeutics: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Pharm-Olam: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Principia Biopharma: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Salix Pharmaceuticals: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Sanofi-Aventis: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Takeda: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator); Vifor Pharma: Other: Clinical trial activity (Principal investigator or sub-investigator). Lincy: Novartis Pharma AG: Current Employment. Manjare: Novartis Healthcare Private Limited: Current Employment. Heeney: Agios: Other: podcast speaker; Novartis: Research Funding; Novartis, FORMA Therapeutics, Global Blood Therapeutics, Oric Pharma and Bluebird Bio and Pharmacosmos, Weatherden, Blueprint Medicines, Alexion, Bluebird Bio and Pharmacosmos: Consultancy; Vertex/CRISPR: Other: Membership of a data and safety monitoring board. de Montalembert: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Addmedica: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: ASH meeting 2022 support. Keefe: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA: Current Employment, Other: Eligible to receive stocks. Marfo: Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland: Current Employment. Ataga: Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vertex: Other: Data Monitoring Committee; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Biomarin: Consultancy, Honoraria; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; FDA: Research Funding; NHLBI: Research Funding; Fulcrum Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

OffLabel Disclosure: This is an abstract based on the pooled safety analysis including data from 3 Phase 2 studies (SUSTAIN [NCT01895361], SOLACE-adults [NCT03264989], and the pediatric SOLACE-Kids [NCT03474965]) and 1 Phase 3 study (STAND [NCT03814746]). Crizanlizumab is approved to reduce the frequency of or prevent recurrent vaso-occlusive crises in patients aged 16 years and older, with sickle cell disease. STAND and SOLACE-Kids studies include data from patients aged 12 years and older patients with SCD. So, this abstract includes information or discussion of off-label use of crizanlizumab.

*signifies non-member of ASH