Project description:IntroductionAtypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a progressive rare disease that, if untreated, can result in severe organ damage and death. Ravulizumab, a next-generation terminal complement inhibitor, provides immediate, complete, and sustained complement C5 inhibition. Real-world data in patients with aHUS who switched to ravulizumab from eculizumab are lacking.MethodsThe Global aHUS Registry is a multicenter study (NCT01522183) collecting data on adult or pediatric patients with an aHUS diagnosis, regardless of treatment. Patient characteristics, genetic data, hematological and renal parameters, clinical events (e.g., dialysis and kidney transplantation), and adverse events (AEs) were extracted from patients who switched to ravulizumab from eculizumab up to July 3, 2023.ResultsOverall, 60 patients switched to ravulizumab (adult: n = 43; pediatric: n = 17); 11 patients were excluded from effectiveness and genetic analyses (N = 49; adult: n = 40; pediatric: n = 9) because they received <3 months ravulizumab treatment and/or had >1 month between eculizumab discontinuation and ravulizumab initiation. Pathogenic complement variants were identified in 11 of 49 patients (22%); the most common was a complement factor H variant (n = 5/49 [10%]). During ravulizumab treatment, 20 AEs occurred in 13 patients, with no unexpected AEs and only 3 treatment-related AEs (infusion reaction, headaches, and fatigue). No meningococcal infections or deaths were reported. No new events of dialysis, kidney transplantation, or thrombotic microangiopathy were reported. Renal and hematological parameters remained stable after switching to ravulizumab.ConclusionThis is the first real-world cohort analysis of data from patients treated with ravulizumab and reinforces the real-world safety and effectiveness data of ravulizumab in patients with aHUS who switched from eculizumab.
Project description:ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy and safety of eculizumab for patients with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS), compared with current treatment options.DesignA systematic review was performed according to the general principles of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. All study designs were included, except case histories.ParticipantsAll patients diagnosed with aHUS were included; no age restrictions were used.InterventionsEculizumab compared with current treatment options.Identification of studies12 databases were searched. Additional searches were performed through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Electronic Medicines Compendium websites, Google internet searches and contacting clinical experts. Reference lists of relevant articles were checked for additional studies.Results2 small, uncontrolled prospective multinational, multicentre studies and one small uncontrolled multinational, multicentre retrospective study were included. No meta-analyses were performed. Compared with baseline measures, thrombotic microangiopathy event-free status was achieved in 84% of patients in the prospective studies. Adverse events, as documented by enrolling investigators were frequent, with upper-respiratory tract infection affecting a third of patients. No deaths or episodes of meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia occurred in the prospective studies. Results of the study extension phases up to 114 weeks indicate that the benefits of the treatment are sustained.ConclusionsEculizumab is clinically effective for the treatment of aHUS. Further research is needed to evaluate eculizumab, ideally using patient-related clinical outcomes. If randomised studies are not feasible, study investigators should ensure that the threat of bias is minimised in future studies of eculizumab with respect to the reporting of patient recruitment and selection.
Project description:Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a genetic, life-threatening disease characterized by uncontrolled complement activation, systemic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), and vital organ damage. We evaluated the effect of terminal complement blockade with the anti-C5 monoclonal antibody eculizumab on biomarkers of cellular processes involved in TMA in patients with aHUS longitudinally, during up to 1 year of treatment, compared with in healthy volunteers. Biomarker levels were elevated at baseline in most patients, regardless of mutational status, plasma exchange/infusion use, platelet count, or lactate dehydrogenase or haptoglobin levels. Eculizumab reduced terminal complement activation (C5a and sC5b-9) and renal injury markers (clusterin, cystatin-C, β2-microglobulin, and liver fatty acid binding protein-1) to healthy volunteer levels and reduced inflammation (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1), coagulation (prothrombin fragment F1+2 and d-dimer), and endothelial damage (thrombomodulin) markers to near-normal levels. Alternative pathway activation (Ba) and endothelial activation markers (soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) decreased but remained elevated, reflecting ongoing complement activation in aHUS despite complete terminal complement blockade. These results highlight links between terminal complement activation and inflammation, endothelial damage, thrombosis, and renal injury and underscore ongoing risk for systemic TMA and progression to organ damage. Further research regarding underlying complement dysregulation is warranted. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01194973.
Project description:BackgroundGuidelines advise eculizumab prophylaxis for most kidney transplant recipients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). However, recurrence rates may be overestimated, and starting eculizumab at relapse ("rescue therapy") may prevent graft loss. Randomized controlled trials have not compared the efficacy, safety, and costs of different treatment strategies. We performed a comparative study, including a previously described Dutch cohort treated with rescue therapy and a UK cohort using eculizumab prophylaxis.MethodsIn the Netherlands, we selected all adult patients with aHUS who received a kidney transplant between 2010 and 2021 in the Radboud University Medical Center (n = 30) and enriched this cohort with 8 patients who received rescue therapy in other centers. The UK cohort included all adult patients with aHUS at moderate or high risk of recurrence, transplanted between 2013 and 2017 with prophylactic eculizumab.ResultsWe included 38 Dutch patients and 35 UK patients. Characteristics were comparable, although the UK cohort included more patients with a complement factor H SCR20 mutation or hybrid gene (31% versus 5%; P < 0.01), and more Dutch patients received living donor kidneys (66% versus 20%; P < 0.001). Follow-up was comparable (the Dutch patients 70.8 mo, range, 10-134; UK patients 55.4 mo, range, 2-95). Eighteen (47%) Dutch patients received rescue therapy. Death-censored graft survival was not significantly different (the Dutch patients 1 y, 3 y, and 6 y: 97.4%, 91.2%, and 87.1%, respectively; UK patients 1 y, 3 y, and 6 y: 97.1%, 88.2%, and 65.6%, respectively, log-rank P = 0.189).ConclusionsIn a population characterized by low prevalence of "very high risk" genes, who were predominantly transplanted using an endothelial protective regime, death-censored graft survival with eculizumab rescue therapy was not inferior to prophylaxis.
Project description:ABP 959 is being developed as a biosimilar to Soliris® (eculizumab) reference product (RP), which was approved under orphan designation for a group of rare diseases including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Development of biosimilars for therapeutics approved for rare disease indications must provide scientific rationale based on the totality of evidence (TOE). To support the TOE and the scientific justification for extrapolation to all approved indications for eculizumab RP, including but not limited to aHUS and NMOSD, we utilized simulated ex-vivo pharmacodynamic (PD) assessments to compare the complement component 5 (C5) inhibitory activity of ABP 959 and the RP. Hemolysis activity of CH50 and AH50, and Wieslab CP, AP, and LP endpoints represent the three complement activation pathways (classical, alternative, and lectin), all of which share the terminal pathway and require C5 for activity. These endpoints were evaluated in normal serum, simulated aHUS serum, and simulated NMOSD serum to provide a robust comparison. The results support the conclusion that ABP 959 and eculizumab RP exhibit highly similar inhibition of C5 function regardless of the type of serum used. This work presents a full comparison of the effect of C5 inhibition across five complement functional assays. Using this approach to confirm functional similarity of ABP 959 with eculizumab RP contributes to the TOE for biosimilarity and provides support for extrapolation based on inhibition of C5 function to other rare disease indications approved for eculizumab RP.
Project description:To describe how maintenance eculizumab sustains improved renal function in severe atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS).A previously described 50-year-old woman with aHUS had a remarkable recovery with eculizumab, which safely reversed profound neurologic damage and eliminated the need for dialysis. Her recovery has been sustained on long-term eculizumab treatment. She initially received eculizumab 900 mg weekly for four doses. On week 5 she commenced maintenance therapy starting at 1200 mg every 2 weeks. Due to nausea and vomiting at that dose, the maintenance dosing was reduced to 600 mg weekly, beginning on dose seven. After receiving 600 mg weekly for nine doses, eculizumab was then reduced to 600 mg every 2 weeks, with continued improvement in renal function. This dosing is lower than the usual 1200 mg every 2 weeks described in the adult literature and used in current clinical trials of aHUS.Six months after the initial diagnosis, our patient continues to have improved renal function on maintenance doses of eculizumab as low as 600 mg every 2 weeks.
Project description:We present the case of a 18-month-old girl with renal and cardiac manifestations of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS), and a novel complement factor H mutation. Transient haematological remission was achieved with intensive plasmapheresis, but cardiac function deteriorated and renal function was not restored. Initiation of eculizumab after 6 months of dialysis significantly improved organ function. At 43 months after presentation, haematological values had normalised and cardiac function had improved. Dialysis was discontinued after 10 months (the longest reported time in a patient with aHUS) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate had recovered to 70 mL/min/1.73 m(2). In conclusion, treatment of aHUS with eculizumab, even after long-term dialysis, can significantly improve renal function. Discontinuation of dialysis and resolution of cardiac function has implications on the potential recovery and treatment choice of such patients. Earlier initiation of eculizumab, however, might have prevented the irreversible renal sclerosis and cardiac dysfunction.
Project description:BackgroundAtypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease in which uncontrolled terminal complement activation leads to systemic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Pregnancy can trigger aHUS and, without complement inhibition, many women with pregnancy-triggered aHUS (p-aHUS) progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with a high risk of morbidity. Owing to relatively small patient numbers, published characterizations of p-aHUS have been limited, thus the Global aHUS Registry (NCT01522183, April 2012) provides a unique opportunity to analyze data from a large single cohort of women with p-aHUS.MethodsThe demographics and clinical characteristics of women with p-aHUS (n = 51) were compared with those of women of childbearing age with aHUS and no identified trigger (non-p-aHUS, n = 397). Outcome evaluations, including renal survival according to time to ESRD, were compared for patients with and without eculizumab treatment (a complement C5 inhibitor) in both aHUS groups.ResultsBaseline demographics and clinical characteristics were broadly similar in both groups. The proportion of women with p-aHUS and non-p-aHUS with pathogenic variant(s) in complement genes and/or anti-complement factor H antibodies was similar (45% and 43%, respectively), as was the proportion with a family history of aHUS (12% and 13%, respectively). Eculizumab treatment led to significantly improved renal outcomes in women with aHUS, regardless of whether aHUS was triggered by pregnancy or not: adjusted hazard ratio for time to ESRD was 0.06 (p = 0.006) in the p-aHUS group and 0.20 (p < 0.0001) in the non-p-aHUS group.ConclusionFindings from this study support the characterization of p-aHUS as a complement-mediated TMA.
Project description:BackgroundAtypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) involves dysregulation of the complement system, but whether this also occurs in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) remains unclear. Although these conditions are difficult to differentiate clinically, TTP can be distinguished by low (<10%) ADAMTS13 activity. The aim was to identify the differences in complement activation products between TTP and aHUS and investigate ADAMTS13 activity as a prognostic factor in aHUS.MethodsWe analyzed patients with thrombotic microangiopathy diagnosed as TTP (N=48) or aHUS (N=50), selected from a Korean registry (N=551). Complement activation products in the plasma samples collected from the patients prior to treatment and in 40 healthy controls were measured by ELISA.ResultsThe levels of generalized (C3a), alternate (factor Bb), and terminal (C5a and C5b-9) markers were significantly higher (all P<0.01) in the patients than in the healthy controls. Only the factor Bb levels significantly differed (P=0.008) between the two disease groups. In aHUS patients, high normal ADAMTS13 activity (≥77%) was associated with improved treatment response (OR, 6.769; 95% CI, 1.605-28.542; P=0.005), remission (OR, 6.000; 95% CI, 1.693-21.262; P=0.004), exacerbation (OR, 0.242; 95% CI, 0.064-0.916; P=0.031), and disease-associated mortality rates (OR, 0.155; 95% CI, 0.029-0.813; P=0.017).ConclusionThese data suggest that complement biomarkers, except factor Bb, are similarly activated in TTP and aHUS patients, and ADAMTS13 activity can predict the treatment response and outcome in aHUS patients.
Project description:BackgroundAtypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, genetically-mediated systemic disease most often caused by chronic, uncontrolled complement activation that leads to systemic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and renal and other end-organ damage.MethodsThe global aHUS Registry, initiated in April 2012, is an observational, noninterventional, multicenter registry designed to collect demographic characteristics, medical and disease history, treatment effectiveness and safety outcomes data for aHUS patients. The global aHUS Registry will operate for a minimum of 5 years of follow-up. Enrollment is open to all patients with a clinical diagnosis of aHUS, with no requirement for identified complement gene mutations, polymorphisms or autoantibodies or particular type of therapy/management.ResultsAs of September 30, 2014, 516 patients from 16 countries were enrolled. At enrollment, 315 (61.0 %) were adults (≥18 years) and 201 (39.0 %) were <18 years of age. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age at diagnosis was 22.7 (20.5) years. Nineteen percent of patients had a family history of aHUS, 60.3 % had received plasma exchange/plasma infusion, 59.5 % had a history of dialysis, and 19.6 % had received ≥1 kidney transplant. Overall, 305 patients (59.1 %) have received eculizumab.ConclusionsAs enrollment and follow-up proceed, the global aHUS Registry is expected to yield valuable baseline, natural history, medical outcomes, treatment effectiveness and safety data from a diverse population of patients with aHUS.Trial registrationUS National Institutes of Health www.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01522183 . Registered January 18, 2012.