Prostacyclin analog beraprost sodium efficacy in primary glomerular disease or nephrosclerosis: Analysis of the Japanese subgroup in CASSIOPEIR study.

We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IIb/III study (CASSIOPEIR) using a renal composite endpoint (i.e., doubling of SCr or end-stage renal disease) in seven Asian countries/region. CASSIOPEIR compared TRK-100STP (120 µg and 240 µg) with placebo in patients with non-diabetic CKD patients with primary glomerular disease or nephrosclerosis (n = 892). However, the superiority of TRK-100STP over placebo was not observed. A prior phase II study on which the Phase IIb/III study design was based included only Japanese patients. We therefore evaluated TRK-100STP efficacy and safety in a subgroup of Japanese patients using the CASSIOPEIR dataset. As the timing of treatment initiation is important in CKD, we conducted additional subgroup analyses based on the baseline serum creatinine (SCr) and eGFR. ITT analysis was performed in a Japanese subgroup (n = 339) in which the primary endpoint was the first occurrence of renal composite endpoint. Significant differences were observed for TRK-100STP 240 µg vs. placebo (P = 0.0493; HR 0.69 [95% CI: 0.47, 1.00]), but no significant difference was observed between TRK-100 120 µg and placebo (P = 0.3523; HR 0.85). More prominent improvement was observed with TRK-100STP 240 µg vs. placebo for baseline SCr < 3.0 mg/dL (P = 0.0031; HR 0.43); SCr < 3.5 mg/dL (P = 0.0237, HR 0.59); and eGFR ≥ 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P = 0.0339, HR0.67), respectively. No significant changes in urinary albumin/creatinine ratio and blood pressure were observed. TRK-100STP was generally well tolerated and most adverse drug reactions were mild or moderate in severity. In conclusion, in the Japanese subgroup of CASSIOPEIR, TRK-100STP 240 µg/day significantly improved the renal composite endpoint compared with placebo, with greater efficacy in subjects with SCr < 3.5 or eGFR ≥ 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 .

Effects of Sustained-Release Beraprost in Patients With Primary Glomerular Disease or Nephrosclerosis: CASSIOPEIR Study Results.

TRK-100STP, a sustained-release preparation of the orally active prostacyclin analogue beraprost sodium, targets renal hypoxia. This study aimed to show the superiority of TRK-100STP over placebos in patients with chronic kidney disease (with either primary glomerular disease or nephrosclerosis) to determine the recommended dose. CASSIOPEIR (Chronic Renal Failure Asian Study with Oral PGI2 Derivative for Evaluating Improvement of Renal Function) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted at 160 sites in seven Asia-Pacific countries and regions. Eligible patients (n = 892) were randomized to TRK-100STP 120, 240 µg, or placebo for a treatment period of up to 4 years. The primary efficacy endpoint was time to first occurrence of a renal composite: doubling of serum creatinine or occurrence of end-stage renal disease. No significant differences were observed in composite endpoints between TRK-100STP and placebo (P = 0.5674). Hazard ratios (95% CI) in the TRK-100STP 120 and 240 µg vs. placebo groups were 0.98 (0.78, 1.22) and 0.91 (0.72, 1.14), respectively. The overall incidence of adverse events and adverse drug reactions was comparable between treatment arms.

The Pharmacokinetics of Beraprost Sodium Following Single Oral Administration to Subjects With Impaired Kidney Function.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of beraprost sodium (BPS) and its active enantiomer, BPS-314d, in Japanese subjects with impaired kidney function. The plasma and urine concentrations of BPS and BPS-314d were measured following the single oral administration of 120 µg of BPS as the sustained-release tablet, TRK-100STP, under fasting conditions to 18 subjects with impaired kidney function (stage 2, 3, and 4 chronic kidney disease [CKD] as categorized by the estimated glomerular filtration rate) and to 6 age-, body weight-, and gender-matched subjects with normal kidney function (stage 1 CKD). The Cmax values (mean ± SD) of BPS in stage 1, 2, 3, and 4 CKD, respectively, were 84.9 ± 22.9, 119.8 ± 36.4, 190.6 ± 137.3, and 240.2 ± 110.5 pg/mL; its AUC0-48h were 978 ± 226, 1252 ± 427, 1862 ± 964, and 1766 ± 806 pg·h/mL, respectively, and its cumulative urinary excretion rates were 0.704 ± 0.351%, 0.638 ± 0.292%, 0.485 ± 0.294%, and 0.159 ± 0.136%. The Cmax values of BPS-314d were 22.4 ± 6.4, 30.8 ± 8.5, 46.7 ± 30.6, and 54.4 ± 25.2 pg/mL, its AUC0-48h were 155 ± 56, 226 ± 67, 341 ± 176, and 329 ± 143 pg·h/mL, and its cumulative urinary excretion rates were 0.428 ± 0.242%, 0.349 ± 0.179%, 0.356 ± 0.270%, and 0.096 ± 0.099%, respectively. Adverse events were reported in 2 subjects with stage 2 CKD and 1 subject with stage 4 CKD. The Cmax and AUC0-48h of BPS and BPS-314d were higher based on the severity of impaired kidney function. No relationship was observed between the incidence of adverse events and the severity, and tolerability was confirmed. We consider that dose adjustment is not necessary, but BPS is more carefully treated in patients with impaired kidney function.

Orally active prostacyclin analogue beraprost sodium in patients with chronic kidney disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II dose finding trial.

BACKGROUND: Evidence increasingly points to the importance of chronic hypoxia in the tubulointerstitium as a final common pathway to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Beraprost sodium (BPS) is an orally active prostacyclin (PGI2) analogue demonstrating prevention of the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in various animal models by maintaining renal blood flow and attenuating renal ischemic condition. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial was designed to determine the recommended dose of the sustained-release form of BPS (TRK-100STP 120 µg/day or 240 µg/day) in Japanese patients with CKD. TRK-100STP was administered to a total of 112 patients. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in the slope of the regression line of reciprocal of serum creatinine (1/SCr) over time, obtained by the least-squares method. RESULTS: Regarding the primary endpoint, statistical superiority of TRK-100STP 240 µg over placebo was not confirmed and so a recommended dose was not determined. Compared to placebo, however, the slope of regression line of 1/SCr, elevation of SCr and serum cystatin C during the treatment period revealed greater improvement at 120 µg, at both doses, and at 240 µg, respectively. In terms of safety, both TRK-100STP treatment groups were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study failed to meet the primary endpoint, results indicate that TRK-100STP may potentially prevent the decline in renal function of CKD patients independent of blood pressure or urinary protein levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02480751. June 21, 2015.

A multinational phase IIb/III trial of beraprost sodium, an orally active prostacyclin analogue, in patients with primary glomerular disease or nephrosclerosis (CASSIOPEIR trial), rationale and study design.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is public health concern even in Asian countries. TRK-100STP, a sustained release tablet of an orally-active prostacyclin analogue, beraprost sodium, is suggested to suppress worsening of some parameters of renal filtration function, containing in slope of 1/serum creatinine (1/SCr) vs. time in a phase II clinical trial. METHODS/DESIGN: We describe the design of the phase IIb/III trial of TRK-100STP, CASSIOPEIR (CRF Asian Study with Oral PGI2 derivative for Evaluating Improvement of Renal function) conducted in approximately 160 centers in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. A total of 750 patients (n = 250 per group) with primary glomerular disease or nephrosclerosis were planned to be enrolled. Patients were randomized into one of three treatment groups in a double-bind, placebo-controlled manner: TRK-100STP 60 µg b.i.d.; TRK-100STP 120 µg b.i.d.; or placebo. The treatment period is planned to last 2 to 4 years. The primary efficacy endpoint is the renal composite endpoint including doubling of SCr and ESRD (dialysis induction, renal transplantation, or increase in SCr to ≥ 6.0 mg/dL). DISCUSSION: This trial targeting CKD patients is designed to (a) demonstrate the superiority of TRK-100STP over placebo using renal composite endpoints, (b) determine the recommended clinical dose, and (c) assess the safety of TRK-100STP in this population and setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01090037.