Drugs in R&D

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). Currently, MS treatment is limited to several Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- and European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved medications that slow disease progression by immunomodulatory action. Fingolimod and siponimod have similar mechanisms of action, and consequently, their therapeutic effects may be comparable. However, while fingolimod is mainly used for relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), siponimod, according to EMA label, is recommended for active secondary progressive MS (SPMS)...

BACKGROUND: Adalimumab-aqvh/CHS-1420 (YUSIMRYTM ) (hereafter referred to as adalimumab-aqvh) was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a biosimilar for adalimumab. OBJECTIVE: The current study was conducted to investigate the analytical similarity of adalimumab-aqvh and the reference product, adalimumab. METHODS: The structural, functional, and stability attributes of adalimumab-aqvh and adalimumab were compared using state-of-the-art assays...

Calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus are immunosuppressant drugs that are known to induce tremors. Non-calcineurin inhibitors such as sirolimus and everolimus have also reportedly been accompanied by tremors, albeit less likely. However, the prevalence rates reported in the literature are notably wide, and the risk profiles for these drug-induced tremors are less understood. We searched PubMed to extract data on the risk of tremors with these drugs when prescribed for various transplant and non-transplant indications...

INTRODUCTION: SB12 is a biosimilar to eculizumab reference product [SolirisTM (Soliris is a trademark of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)] that acts as a C5 complement protein inhibitor. The infusion stability of in-use (diluted) SB12 outside the conditions stated in the reference product's label is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the stability of SB12 after extended storage in conditions not claimed in the originator label. METHODS: Infusion stability was assessed in SB12 samples (diluted in 0...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: At present, the therapies of dilated cardiomyopathy concentrated on the symptoms of heart failure and related complications. The study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a combination of various conventional and adjuvant drugs in treating dilated cardiomyopathy via network meta-analysis. METHODS: The study was reported according to the PRISMA 2020 statement. From inception through 27 June 2022, the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on medicines for treating dilated cardiomyopathy...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tramadol has been reported to cause hyponatremia but the evidence is conflicting. The risk of hyponatremia resulting from combination oral tramadol/acetaminophen (TA) therapy is thus unknown. This study examined whether, compared with acetaminophen (AA), TA use is associated with an increased risk of hyponatremia. METHODS: Hospital data compatible with the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership-Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM; version 5...

BACKGROUND: BAT1706 is a proposed biosimilar of bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)-targeting biologic used to treat several different cancers, including metastatic colorectal cancer. A comprehensive physicochemical and functional similarity assessment is a key component of demonstrating biosimilarity between a reference biologic and a proposed biosimilar. Here we report the physicochemical and functional similarity of BAT1706 and reference bevacizumab sourced from both the United States (US-bevacizumab) and the European Union (EU-bevacizumab)...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Human plasma is used for the generation of several life-saving drugs and contains valuable antibodies from the immunoglobulin classes IgG, IgM and IgA. Purified intravenous IgG solutions (IVIGs) form the majority of plasma-derived medicine to treat patients with various forms of immunodeficiencies. In conventional IVIG manufacturing processes, immunoglobulin classes IgM and IgA are often discarded as contaminants, but these antibody classes have been proven to be effective for the treatment of acute bacterial infections...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Glioblastoma is a cranial malignant tumor with a high recurrence rate after surgery and a poor response to chemoradiotherapy. Bevacizumab has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of glioblastoma by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor, but the efficacy of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors varies in treating glioblastoma. This single-arm prospective study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor apatinib in treating recurrent glioblastoma after chemoradiotherapy...

BACKGROUND: The benefit of exogenous melatonin is based on its bioavailability, which depends on the galenic form, the route of administration, the dosage, and the individual absorption and rate of hepatic metabolism. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the bioavailability of melatonin after administration of an oral prolonged-release tablet (PR form) and an immediate-release sublingual spray (IR form). The main metabolite of melatonin, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SMT), was also measured, which has not been done in previous studies...

INTRODUCTION: BAY1128688 is a selective inhibitor of aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3), an enzyme implicated in the pathology of endometriosis and other disorders. In vivo animal studies suggested a potential therapeutic application of BAY1128688 in treating endometriosis. Early clinical studies in healthy volunteers supported the start of phase IIa. OBJECTIVE: This manuscript reports the results of a clinical trial (AKRENDO1) assessing the effects of BAY1128688 in adult premenopausal women with endometriosis-related pain symptoms over a 12-week treatment period...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Risk assessment related to bioequivalence study outcome is critical for effective planning from the early stage of drug product development. The objective of this research was to evaluate the associations between solubility and acido-basic parameters of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), study conditions and bioequivalence outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 128 bioequivalence studies of immediate-release products with 26 different APIs...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women, and is one of the most common malignant tumors of the reproductive system. However, more effective treatment for cervical cancer is needed. In this study, we aim to investigate whether N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) could inhibit the proliferation of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cells, and reduce cervical carcinogenesis. METHODS: The cervical cancer cell lines SiHa, HeLa, HPV-negative cell line C33A, and the immortalized human cervical keratinocyte cells S12 were used...

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting is a very prevalent condition during pregnancy. Combination of doxylamine and pyridoxine is placed as first-line pharmacological option for its treatment in most clinical guidelines. Among different release forms available, Cariban® is a fixed-dose combination of doxylamine/pyridoxine 10/10 mg, formulated as modified-release capsules. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we aimed to characterize the bioavailability performance of Cariban® in vitro and in vivo...

BACKGROUND: SCT510 is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is intended as a candidate biosimilar of bevacizumab that is approved for various metastatic cancers.Please confirm change in wording to match definition for VEGF belowYes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the pharmacokinetics profiles, safety, and immunogenicity of SCT510 to bevacizumab (Avastin® ) in healthy Chinese males. METHODS: This was a single-center, double-blind, parallel-group phase I study...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: For patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the standard of care for many years has been sorafenib. Preliminary data have suggested that the combination of the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 bioactivatable agent napabucasin plus sorafenib may improve clinical outcomes in patients with HCC. In this phase I, multicenter, uncontrolled, open-label study, we evaluated napabucasin (480 mg/day) plus sorafenib (800 mg/day) in Japanese patients with unresectable HCC...

INTRODUCTION: Despite rasburicase's proven efficiency in Caucasians, Japanese, and Koreans, studies evaluating the safety and effectiveness of rasburicase in Chinese pediatric patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and acute leukemia (AL) in particular are lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of rasburicase in Chinese pediatric patients with NHL and AL. METHODS: In this phase IV, open-label, non-randomized, single-arm, multi-center, interventional study (NCT04349306), children newly diagnosed with NHL or AL who received 0...

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials have established the efficacy of brodalumab in treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Real-world evidence is needed to fully evaluate the drug. OBJECTIVE: Here we investigate drug survival and clinical effectiveness of brodalumab in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in a real-world setting. METHODS: This was a retrospective single-centre study enrolling patients receiving brodalumab for psoriasis at the Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark...

Estetrol (E4) is the most recently described natural estrogen. It is produced by the human fetal liver during pregnancy and its physiological function remains unclear. E4 is the estrogenic component of a recently approved combined oral contraceptive. It is also in development for use as menopausal hormone therapy. In the context of these developments, the pharmacological activity of E4, alone or in combination with a progestin, has been extensively characterized in preclinical models as well as in clinical studies in women of reproductive age and postmenopausal women...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fabry disease (FD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme α-galactosidase A (aGal A). Since 2001, two different enzyme replacement therapies have been authorized, with agalsidase beta being used in most parts of the Western world. Currently, biosimilars of several expensive enzyme therapies are under development to improve their accessibility for patients. We present the preclinical results of the development of a biosimilar to agalsidase beta...