Abstract
Background
Crovalimab is a novel anti-complement C5 antibody currently being studied as a treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a life-threatening disease associated with hemolytic anemia and thrombosis. Treatment with approved C5 inhibitors eculizumab or ravulizumab is effective, but can be limited by breakthrough hemolysis due to unsustained C5 inhibition, inadequate efficacy in patients with C5 mutational variants, and the requirement of regular intravenous infusions. Crovalimab is unique in that its properties allow for subcutaneous injections once every 4 weeks (Q4W) that can be self-administered. Additionally, crovalimab binds to C5 mutational variants. Promising results were obtained in the Phase I/II COMPOSER trial (NCT03157635; Röth et al, Blood. 2020) conducted in patients with PNH, with or without prior anti-C5 treatment. The efficacy and safety of crovalimab vs eculizumab will be evaluated in two Phase III, randomized, open-label trials in patients with PNH, with or without current complement C5 inhibition.
Study Design and Methods
COMMODORE 1 (NCT04432584) will enroll patients who are currently receiving complement C5 inhibitor therapy. This trial is divided into two parts (Figure). Patients aged ≥ 18 years will be randomized 1:1 to receive either crovalimab (Arm A) or eculizumab (Arm B) and will contribute to the primary efficacy analysis. Patients aged < 18 years can be enrolled in an exploratory descriptive arm (Arm C). Arm A and C patients will receive crovalimab loading and subsequent subcutaneous Q4W maintenance dosing from Week 5. Arm B patients will receive eculizumab intravenous maintenance dosing from Day 1, Q2W for a total of 24 weeks. Patients in Arm A and Arm C can continue to receive crovalimab, and patients in Arm B can switch to crovalimab after 24 weeks of treatment, as determined by the treating physician. The primary efficacy objective is to determine the non-inferiority of crovalimab vs eculizumab based on percentage change in lactate dehydrogenase levels from baseline, averaged over weeks 21, 23, and 25. Secondary efficacy objectives are to determine the proportion of patients who experience breakthrough hemolysis, achieve transfusion avoidance or hemoglobin stabilization, as well as determine mean change in fatigue according to the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue questionnaire from baseline to Week 25. Safety and tolerability of crovalimab vs eculizumab will also be evaluated along with pharmacokinetic, immunogenicity, biomarker, and health status utility objectives.
COMMODORE 2 (NCT04434092) will enroll patients not currently treated with C5 complement inhibitors. This trial is also divided into two parts (Figure). Patients aged ≥ 18 years will be randomized 2:1 to receive either crovalimab (Arm A) or eculizumab (Arm B) and will contribute to the primary efficacy analysis. Patients aged < 18 years will be enrolled in an exploratory descriptive arm (Arm C). Arm A and C patients will receive crovalimab loading and subsequent subcutaneous Q4W maintenance dosing from Week 5. Arm B patients will receive induction doses of eculizumab intravenously QW for 4 weeks followed by maintenance dosing Q2W up to 24 weeks. Patients in Arm A and Arm C can continue to receive crovalimab, and patients in Arm B can switch to crovalimab, after 24 weeks of treatment, as determined by the treating physician. The primary efficacy objective is to determine the non-inferiority of crovalimab vs eculizumab, based on the proportion of patients who 1) achieve transfusion avoidance from baseline to Week 25 and 2) with hemolysis control from Week 5-25 (co-primary efficacy endpoints). Safety and tolerability of crovalimab vs eculizumab will also be evaluated along with pharmacokinetic, immunogenicity, biomarker, and health status utility objectives.
Kulasekararaj: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Apellis: Consultancy; Akari: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Biocryst: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Achilleon: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Ra Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support. Risitano: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Lecture fees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Alnylam: Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Lecture fees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Samsung: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amyndas: Consultancy; RA Pharma: Research Funding; Biocryst: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Achillion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Lecture fees; Jazz: Other: Lecture fees, Speakers Bureau; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Other: Lecture fees, Speakers Bureau; Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Lecture fees, Speakers Bureau. Roeth: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bioverativ, a Sanofi company: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kira: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria. He: LongBio Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.: Consultancy. Pu: University of Arizona: Current Employment; Pennsylvania State University: Patents & Royalties; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Wright: Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment. Appius: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Sostelly: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment. Sreckovic: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.: Current Employment. Stanzel: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Munir: F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy; Alexion: Honoraria. Nishimura: Apellis: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Chugai: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Alexion: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Biocryst: Consultancy.
