Project description:CONTEXT:TAK-385 is a highly selective, oral, nonpeptide GnRH antagonist being investigated as a possible prostate cancer treatment. OBJECTIVE:The objectives were to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of TAK-385 on LH and testosterone. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:This was a three-part, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 dose-escalation study in 176 healthy male UK volunteers. INTERVENTIONS:Part 1, single doses of TAK-385 (0 [placebo], 80, 120, 180, or 360 mg). Part 2, 14-day TAK-385 (0, 20, 40, 80, or 180 mg) daily. Part 3, 28-day TAK-385 (40 [with loading dose], 60, 80, or 160 mg) or placebo daily. Parts 2 and 3 included men aged 40-75 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Main outcome measures included plasma concentrations of TAK-385, LH, and testosterone. RESULTS:Oral TAK-385 was readily absorbed, and steady state was reached in ≤ 14 days. Food reduced TAK-385 systemic exposure by 47-52%. Mean serum testosterone levels declined ≤ 6 hours after TAK-385 administration. Loading doses up to 360 mg on day 1 or 360 mg on day 1 followed by 240 mg on day 2 reduced the time to achieve castrate testosterone levels from ≥ 7 to <3 days. TAK-385 doses ≥ 80 mg/d achieved sustained medical castration and trough TAK-385 concentrations >4 ng/mL. After discontinuation of TAK-385 on day 28, testosterone levels normalized in most subjects in ≤ 28 days. Common adverse events included bradycardia, headache, and hot flush (all grade ≤ 2). CONCLUSIONS:Oral TAK-385 (40-180 mg/d) was well tolerated and effectively lowered testosterone in healthy men. Planned phase 2 doses in men with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer are 80 and 120 mg/d.
Project description:BackgroundRelugolix is a once-daily, oral, nonpeptide, gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety of relugolix over 24 weeks in women with endometriosis-associated pain.MethodsThis phase 2, randomized, open-label, parallel-group extension study was conducted in 101 clinics in Japan. Patients (premenopausal females ≥ 20 years) who completed the preceding 12-week relugolix phase 2 study continued to receive relugolix (10 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg), placebo, or leuprorelin (3.75 mg) for an additional 12 weeks. Relugolix was administered orally once daily, and leuprorelin subcutaneously once every 4 weeks. The primary outcome was safety, including bone mineral density (BMD) and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Secondary endpoints included visual analog scale (VAS) scores for endometriosis-associated pain. Analysis sets were defined as all patients who were administered the study drug.ResultsOf 487 randomized patients in the preceding study, 397 enrolled in this extension study and continued to receive placebo (n = 77), relugolix 10 mg (n = 84), relugolix 20 mg (n = 78), relugolix 40 mg (n = 89), or leuprorelin (n = 69). Baseline characteristics were similar between extension study patients and patients in the preceding study. Frequency of TEAEs including metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, and hot flush was similar in the relugolix 40-mg and leuprorelin groups. Mean (SD) change in BMD from baseline at Week 24 was - 0.2 (1.99)% for placebo; - 1.6 (2.34)%, - 2.6 (2.94)%, and - 4.9 (2.91)% for the relugolix 10-mg, 20-mg, and 40-mg groups, respectively; and - 4.4 (2.16)% for leuprorelin. Mean ± SD change from baseline in mean VAS score (mm) for pelvic pain at end of treatment was - 3.2 ± 12.16 for placebo; - 6.8 ± 10.56, - 9.0 ± 11.84, and - 11.9 ± 11.26 for the relugolix 10-mg, 20-mg, and 40-mg groups, respectively; and - 12.7 ± 12.57 for leuprorelin. Estradiol levels decreased with increasing relugolix dose and remained below postmenopausal levels throughout the 24-week relugolix 40-mg treatment period.ConclusionsTreatment with relugolix for 24 weeks was generally well tolerated and demonstrated similar pain reduction to leuprorelin in women with endometriosis. The dose-dependent loss in BMD observed with relugolix treatment was expected due to an induced hypoestrogenic state. Relugolix demonstrated a similar benefit/risk profile to injectable therapy in this phase 2 study. Trial registration NCT01452685 (ClinicalTrials.gov, registered 17/10/2011).
Project description:PurposeRelugolix is an oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRHant), which was first introduced in 2019. This study investigated the effects of the conventional injectable GnRHant formulation and this new oral GnRHant formulation on controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycles.MethodsRelugolix was administered in 126 cycles and conventional GnRHant injection was administered in 658 cycles (controls). The follicle stimulation was performed by an antagonist method, and for final oocyte maturation, recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (rHCG), or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), or both (dual trigger) were selected. The number of retrieved oocytes was counted and then they were evaluated for subsequent development up to cleavage stage.ResultsThe number of retrieved oocytes which was the primary outcome of this research was affected by the combination of GnRHant type and the final oocyte maturation agent. The combination of relugolix and a GnRHa trigger showed a significantly lower number of retrieved oocytes (p < 0.001) than the other combinations.ConclusionsRelugolix is a new option for COS cycles, but should be carefully combined with the final maturation agent.Clinical trial approvalThis study was conducted after approval by the Medical Corporation Sankeikai Institutional Ethics Committee (approval number: 2019-34).
Project description:Relugolix (Orgovyx®), an orally active nonpeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist that provides rapid testosterone suppression, is indicated in the USA for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer and in the EU for advanced hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. In the pivotal phase III HERO trial in men with advanced prostate cancer, once-daily oral relugolix (with a loading dose on day 1) led to a sustained castration rate over 48 weeks of treatment of > 90%, a rate that was non-inferior to that provided by intramuscular leuprolide depot every 3 months (with an exploratory analysis further indicating the superiority of relugolix over leuprolide). Relugolix was generally well tolerated, having an adverse event profile that is consistent with testosterone suppression. Furthermore, there is evidence that relugolix may be associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiac events compared with leuprolide. With the ability to provide the rapid testosterone suppression (with no initial surge in testosterone upon treatment initiation) combined with the benefits of oral administration and potentially improved cardiac safety, relugolix presents a valuable treatment option for men with advanced prostate cancer where androgen deprivation therapy is indicated.
Project description:Aberrantly expressed G protein-coupled receptors in tumors are considered as potential therapeutic targets. We analyzed the expressions of receptors of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GNRHR), luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin (LHCGR) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHR) in human adrenocortical carcinomas and assessed their response to GnRH antagonist therapy. We further studied the effects of the GnRH antagonist cetrorelix acetate (CTX) on cultured adrenocortical tumor (ACT) cells (mouse Cα1 and Y-1, and human H295R), and in vivo in transgenic mice (SV40 T-antigen expression under inhibin α promoter) bearing Lhcgr and Gnrhr in ACT. Both models were treated with control (CT), CTX, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or CTX+hCG, and their growth and transcriptional changes were analyzed. In situ hybridization and qPCR analysis of human adrenocortical carcinomas (n = 11-13) showed expression of GNRHR in 54/73%, LHCGR in 77/100% and FSHR in 0%, respectively. CTX treatment in vitro decreased cell viability and proliferation, and increased caspase 3/7 activity in all treated cells. In vivo, CTX and CTX+hCG (but not hCG alone) decreased ACT weights and serum LH and progesterone concentrations. CTX treatment downregulated the tumor markers Lhcgr and Gata4. Upregulated genes included Grb10, Rerg, Nfatc and Gnas, all recently found to be abundantly expressed in healthy adrenal vs ACT. Our data suggest that CTX treatment may improve the therapy of human adrenocortical carcinomas by direct action on GNRHR-positive cancer cells inducing apoptosis and/or reducing gonadotropin release, directing tumor cells towards a healthy adrenal gene expression profile.
Project description:Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the foundation of treatment for patients with locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic prostate cancer, most commonly using luteinizing releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists. More recently, a new approach to ADT has emerged with the development of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists, which aim to overcome some of the potential adverse physiologic effects of LHRH agonists. This article focuses on the newest GnRH antagonist, relugolix - a once-daily treatment and the only oral GnRH antagonist that has now been approved for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. In phase II and III studies, relugolix achieved rapid and sustained castration without the testosterone surge associated with LHRH agonists, thus avoiding the potential clinical consequences of tumor flare and the necessity for concomitant anti-androgen therapy. Relugolix also achieved rapid testosterone recovery, which may potentially reduce ADT-related adverse events and offer opportunities for combination and intermittent therapy strategies. Cardiovascular safety is a particular concern in men with prostate cancer and ADT further increases cardiovascular risk: indeed, LHRH agonists are required to have a drug label warning about an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Data from the phase III HERO study demonstrate an improved cardiac safety profile for the GnRH antagonist relugolix compared with the LHRH agonist leuprolide, including a significantly reduced risk for a major adverse cardiovascular event. Taken together, the data indicate that relugolix may mitigate some of the cardiovascular concerns surrounding ADT and has the potential to become a new standard of care for men with prostate cancer. In summary, relugolix represents a novel and recently available prostate cancer management strategy, incorporating the mechanistic advantages of GnRH antagonists and the potential benefits of oral administration.
Project description:BackgroundAndrogen deprivation therapy is the mainstay of medical treatment for prostate cancer (Pca); however, it is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events and death. To date, CV death has been the leading noncancer cause of death in Pca patients. Both GnRH antagonists (an emerging class of drugs) and GnRH agonists (most frequently prescribed) are efficacious against Pca. However, the adverse effects, especially the adverse CV effect between them remain unclear.MethodsThrough a literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library, all available studies comparing the safety of CV risk between GnRH antagonists and GnRH agonists in Pca patients were extracted. Comparisons of outcomes of interest between these two classes of drugs were calculated using the risk ratio (RR). Subgroup analyses were performed depending on the study design and preexisting CV disease at baseline.ResultsNine randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) and five real-world observational studies comprising 62160 Pca patients were included in our meta-analysis. Patients receiving GnRH antagonists experienced fewer CV events (RR: 0.66, 95% CI:0.53-0.82, P<0.001), CV death (RR:0.4, 95% CI: 0.24-0.67, P<0.001) and myocardial infarctions (RR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52-0.96, P=0.03). No difference was found in the incidence of stroke and heart failure. Moreover, GnRH antagonists were associated with fewer CV events in patients with preexisting CV disease but not in those without preexisting CV disease in the RCT series.ConclusionGnRH antagonists appear to offer favorable safety in terms of adverse CV events and CV death compared with GnRH agonists among men diagnosed with Pca, especially those who had established CV disease at baseline.Systematic review registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-2-0009/, identifier INPLASY202320009.
Project description:ObjectiveDuring androgen ablation in prostate cancer by the standard gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment, only luteinizing hormone (LH) is permanently suppressed while circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) rebounds. We explored direct prostatic effects of add-back FSH, after androgen ablation with GnRH antagonist, permanently suppressing both gonadotropins.MethodsThe effects of recombinant human (rFSH) were examined in mice treated with vehicle (controls), GnRH antagonist degarelix (dgx), dgx + rFSH, dgx + flutamide, or dgx + rFSH + flutamide for 4 weeks. Prostates and testes size and expression of prostate-specific and/or androgen-responsive genes were measured. Additionally, 33 young men underwent dgx-treatment. Seventeen were supplemented with rFSH (weeks 1-5), and all with testosterone (weeks 4-5). Testosterone, gondotropins, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and inhibin B were measured.ResultsIn dgx and dgx + flutamide treated mice, prostate weight/body weight was 91% lower than in controls, but 41 and 11%, respectively, was regained by rFSH treatment (P = 0.02). The levels of seminal vesicle secretion 6, Pbsn, Nkx3.1, beta-microseminoprotein, and inhibin b were elevated in dgx + rFSH-treated animals compared with only dgx treated (all P < 0.05). In men, serum inhibin B rose after dgx treatment but was subsequently suppressed by testosterone. rFSH add-back had no effect on PSA levels.ConclusionsThese data provide novel evidence for the direct effects of FSH on prostate size and gene expression in chemically castrated mice. However, in chemically castrated men, FSH had no effect on PSA production. Whether FSH effects on the prostate in humans also require suppression of the residual adrenal-derived androgens and/or a longer period of rFSH stimulation, remains to be explored.
Project description:IntroductionWe sought to address whether there are clinical responses when patients who are failing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy are switched to degarelix. Androgen-deprivation therapy remains the backbone of treatment for disseminated prostate cancer and may be achieved with orchiectomy, GnRH agonists, or degarelix, a GnRH antagonist.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with a search of the BIOSIS Previews, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases using key terms. Quantitative meta-analysis was performed to provide a pooled estimate of prostate specific antigen (PSA) response at three months.ResultsThirteen studies were identified, eight of which were included in the qualitative and quantitative analyses. Patient characteristics were broadly similar between the studies. Out of 155 patients across all included studies, 20 had stable PSA after the switch (12.9%), 14 had a 10-30% decrease in PSA (9.0%), three had a 30-50% decrease (1.9%), and 13 had a more than 50% decrease (8.4%). Random effects meta-analysis of these data demonstrated a pooled response rate of 27.75% (95% confidence interval 18.9-36.5%; I2=7.9%). Changes in testosterone levels following the switch could not be quantitatively assessed due to lack of sufficient data.ConclusionsOur results suggest that a switch to GnRH antagonist following progression on a GnRH agonist may result in a stable or decreased PSA at three months in about 30% of patients. This information should be considered among the potential options to discuss with patients with a rising PSA on GnRH agonist therapy.
Project description:BackgroundAndrogen deprivation therapy (ADT), a cornerstone of prostate cancer treatment, is commonly co-prescribed as combination therapy.ObjectiveTo better understand the safety and tolerability profile of relugolix, an oral non-peptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist, in combination with abiraterone acetate (abiraterone) and apalutamide, a phase I study was undertaken.Patients and methodsThis is an ongoing, 52-week, open-label, parallel cohort study of relugolix in combination with abiraterone in men with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) or metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) [Part 1] and apalutamide in men with mCSPC or non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) [Part 2]. Eligible patients treated with leuprolide acetate or degarelix with abiraterone or apalutamide prior to baseline, at which time they were transitioned to relugolix. Assessments included reporting of adverse events, clinical laboratory tests, vital sign measurements, electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters, and testosterone serum concentrations. In this interim report, patients completing ≥12 weeks were included.ResultsOverall, 15 men were enrolled in Part 1 and 10 in Part 2. Adverse events were mostly mild-to-moderate in intensity and were consistent with the known safety profiles of the individual medications. No transition (from prior ADT treatment)- or time-related trends in clinical laboratory tests, vital sign measurements, or ECG parameters were observed. Mean testosterone concentrations remained below castration levels.ConclusionsCombination therapy of relugolix and abiraterone or apalutamide was associated with a favorable safety and tolerability profile consistent with the known profiles of the individual medications. Castration levels of testosterone were maintained after transitioning to relugolix from other ADTs.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04666129.