It's time to treat beyond trough levels

Learn why trough levels may not be enough to evaluate treatment success in haemophilia B

Explore the unique distribution of factor IX with

Dr Robert Sidonio, Prof. John Pasi and Dr Davide Matino 

New data presented at American Society of Hematology, 2019

The impact of extravascular distribution on haemostasis is an emerging topic in haemophilia B

Factor VIII (FVIII) and factor IX (FIX) have unique pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles and behave differently in the body. They have differences in half-life, clearance, recovery and volume of distribution1–5

Volume of distribution describes the relationship between the amount of a drug in the body and its plasma concentration6

FVIII and FIX distribute differently—FVIII primarily remains in the plasma (Fig.1), whereas FIX rapidly distributes outside of the plasma and binds to type IV collagen within the extravascular space, reducing its plasma concentration (Fig. 2).1–5,7 

Fig1. Distribution of FVII
Fig2. Distribution of FIX
Trough levels only measure FIX in the plasma and do not account for FIX that distributes into the extravascular space1

Volume of distribution

Volume of distribution (VD) describes the relationship between the amount of drug in the body and the plasma drug concentration (mL/kg). Drugs with a high volume of distribution will have lower trough levels.6

FVIII has a VD close to the normal blood plasma volume (40–41 mL/kg), i.e. it stays primarily in plasma1,8

A factor with a high VD, like FIX, leaves the plasma and distributes to the extravascular space1
vd_graph

Trough levels alone may not predict bleed rates

FIX extravascular distribution and binding to type IV collagen is not quantifiable in clinical practice for patients receiving FIX replacement therapy2,9

Although clinical trials have not directly compared extended half-life factor IX (EHL-FIX) products, the individual trials have shown a broad range of trough levels and a narrow range of bleed rates10-12

broad_range_of_trough_levels
narrow_range_of_bleed_rates
Volume of distribution may provide a new way of thinking about protection in haemophilia B by accounting for FIX distribution outside plasma13

 

FVIII and FIX pharmacokinetics differ due to their paths of distribution 1,4 

PK Graph two compartments
PK graph three compartments

The extravascular compartment may be thought of as a drug reservoir — as long as FIX is located outside the vascular system, it escapes clearance from the plasma1,5

EHL-FIX products with different volumes of distribution may perform differently in clinical practice14

Recent data by Malec et al. characterised the use and performance of EHL-FIX concentrates in clinical practice: rFIX-Fc, rFIX-FP and rFIX-GP.14

Real-world performance was characterised using a survey of patients with severe haemophilia B across six centres in the US and Canada14
 

 

The distribution of FIX in blood circulation and extravascular space, and presence in tissues at time of injury, may predict successful bleed prevention or control in severe haemophilia B14
EHL FIX products duration

The method used to extend half-life may affect the degree of extravascular distribution15-18

A wide range of volumes of distribution are reported among extended half-life EHL-FIX products*16-18

The volume of distribution for some EHL-FIX concentrates is substantially higher than the estimated plasma volume of 40 mL/kg1

A higher volume of distribution suggests that the injected FIX circulates into the extravascular space1

 

*The volume of distribution of rFIXFc is 303 ml/kg.16 Geometric mean, based on single PK dose of 50 IU/kg.16 The volume of distribution of rIX-FP is 102 ml/kg.17 Arithmetic mean, based on single PK dose of 50 IU/kg.17 The volume of distribution of N9-GP is 47 ml/kg.18 Geometric mean, based on single PK dose of 40 IU/kg.18

Volume of distribution

Treating beyond trough levels may help to improve outcomes for your haemophilia B patients

Quote3
Through level
Evaluation of treatment in haemophilia B should encompass the multiple goals of prophylactic therapy19,20

 

Besides bleed protection, many adult patients with haemophilia B report other physical and psychological needs that are not fully managed20

joint_pain
depression
daily_activity

World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) guidelines identify prevention of bleeds, preservation of joint health, prevention of inhibitor development, and improved patient quality of life as key therapeutic goals19

A patient-centered approach to haemophilia B management may provide an improved standard of care20

Contact us

If you have any additional questions please contact Sobi Medical Information: medical.info@sobi.com

References

  1. Iorio A, Fischer K, Blanchette V, et al. Tailoring treatment of haemophilia B: accounting for the distribution and clearance of standard and extended half-life FIX concentrates. Thromb Haemostat 2017;117(6):1023–30.

  2. Gui T, Lin HF, Hoffman M, et al. Circulating and binding characteristics of wild-type factor IX and certain Gla domain mutants in vivo. Blood 2002;100(1):153–8.

  3. Lenting PJ, van Schooten CJ, Denis CV. Clearance mechanisms of von Willebrand factor and factor VIII. J Thromb Haemost 2007;5(7):1353–60.

  4. Morfini M. The History of Clotting Factor Concentrates Pharmacokinetics. J Clin Med 2017;6(3):35.

  5. Feng D, Stafford KA, Broze GJ, Stafford DW. Evidence of clinically significant extravascular stores of factor IX. J Thromb Haemost 2013;11(12):2176–78.

  6. McNamara PJ, Leggas M. Drug distribution. In: Hacker M, Messer W, Bachmann K, eds. Pharmacology: Principles and Practice. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic Press; 2009:113–127.

  7. Nazeef M, JP Sheehan.  New developments in the management of moderate-to-severe haemophilia B. J Blood Med 2016;7:27–38.

  8. Berntorp E, Björkman S. The pharmacokinetics of clotting factor therapy. Haemophilia 2003;9:353–59.

  9. Björkman S, Carlsson M, Berntorp E. Pharmacokinetics of factor IX in patients with haemophilia B. Methodological aspects and physiological interpretation. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1994;46:325–32.

  10. Powell JS, Pasi JK, Ragni MV, et al. Phase 3 Study of Recombinant Factor IX Fc Fusion Protein in Hemophilia B. N Engl J Med 2013; 369:2313–23.

  11. Collins PW, Young G, Karim FA, et al. Recombinant long-acting glycoPEGylated factor IX in hemophilia B: a multinational randomized phase 3 trial. Blood 2014;124(26):3880–86.

  12. Santagostino E, Martinowitz U, Lissitchkov T, et al. Long-acting recombinant coagulation factor IX albumin fusion protein (rIX-FP) in hemophilia B: results of a phase 3 trial. Blood 2016;127(14):1761–69.

  13. Diao L, Li S, Ludden T, et al. Population pharmacokinetic modelling of recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein (rFIXFc) in patients with haemophilia B. Clin Pharmacokinet 2014;53(5):467–77.

  14. Malec LM, Croteau SE, Callaghan M, et al. Spontaneous Bleeding and Poor Bleeding Response with Extended Half-Life Factor IX Products: A Survey of Select US and Canadian Hemophilia Treatment Centers. Presented at ASH Annual Meeting, 8 December 2019, Orlando, Florida. Abstract 2407.

  15. Salas J, van der Flier A, Hong V, et al. Extravascular distribution of conventional and EHL FIX products using in vivo SPECT imaging analysis in hemophilia B mice. Presented at ASH Annual Meeting, 9–12 December 2017, Atlanta, GA, USA. Poster P1061.

  16. ALPROLIX Summary of Product Characteristics. Available from:  https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/alprolix-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Accessed: April 2020.

  17. Idelvion USPI. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/media/96526/download. Accessed February 2020.

  18. Refixia Summary of Product Characteristics. Available from:  https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/refixia-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Accessed: April 2020

  19. Srivastava A, Brewer AK, Mauser-Bunschoten EP, et al. Guidelines for the management of hemophilia. Haemophilia 2013;19: e1–e47.

  20. Yang K, Weston S, Schneider B, et al. “What Matters Most in Hemophilia” – A Quantitative Survey of People Living with or Caring for Someone with Hemophilia. [ISPOR Abstract]. Value in Health 2017; 20:A236.