Incorporating ethical principles into clinical research protocols: a tool for protocol writers and ethics committees.

A novel Protocol Ethics Tool Kit ('Ethics Tool Kit') has been developed by a multi-stakeholder group of the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard. The purpose of the Ethics Tool Kit is to facilitate effective recognition, consideration and deliberation of critical ethical issues in clinical trial protocols. The Ethics Tool Kit may be used by investigators and sponsors to develop a dedicated Ethics Section within a protocol to improve the consistency and transparency between clinical trial protocols and research ethics committee reviews. It may also streamline ethics review and may facilitate and expedite the review process by anticipating the concerns of ethics committee reviewers. Specific attention was given to issues arising in multinational settings. With the use of this Tool Kit, researchers have the opportunity to address critical research ethics issues proactively, potentially speeding the time and easing the process to final protocol approval.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling of recombinant human erythropoietin after multiple subcutaneous doses in healthy subjects.

A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model for recombinant human erythropoietin (Epoetin alfa) in healthy subjects was developed to describe the time profiles of changes in serum Epoetin alfa and the pharmacological responses of percent reticulocytes, total red blood cell counts, and hemoglobin after single and multiple subcutaneous administration of Epoetin alfa. Data used in the development of the model were obtained from a clinical study carried out in healthy volunteers in which Epoetin alfa was administered either as 150 IU/kg three-times-a-week (t.i.w.) or fixed 40,000 IU weekly (q.w.) doses for 4 weeks. A dual-absorption rate model (fast zero-order and slow first-order inputs) with linear disposition kinetics was used to characterize the pharmacokinetics of erythropoietin after subcutaneous administration. A new catenary cell production and lifespan loss model was used to fit the pharmacodynamic data yielding estimates of SC50, Smax, and other pharmacodynamic parameters. Flip-flop kinetics was apparent in the pharmacokinetics as the absorption rate was slower (k(a) = 0.7 day(-1)) than the elimination rate (CL/V(d) = 1.2-9.2 day(-1)). In the pharmacodynamics, an SC50 of 58 mIU/mL was estimated indicating that low serum erythropoietin concentrations were sufficient to produce pharmacological effects. The established PK/PD model predicts similar pharmacological responses of hemoglobin and total red blood cell counts for the 150 IU/kg t.i.w. and 40,000 IU q.w. regimens in healthy subjects.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling of recombinant human erythropoietin after single and multiple doses in healthy volunteers.

This study describes a pharmacokinetic (PK) model to account for serum recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) concentrations in healthy volunteers following intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) dosing; it also characterizes the pharmacodynamics (PD) of SC rHuEpo effects on reticulocytes, red blood cells (RBC), and hemoglobin (Hb) in blood. Data were obtained from 4 clinical studies carried out in healthy volunteers. Epoetin alfa (rHuEpo) was administered as 5 single IV doses ranging from 10 to 500 IU/kg, as 8 single SC doses ranging from 300 to 2400 IU/kg, and as 2 multiple SC dosage regimens (150 IU/kg/3 times a week [tiw] and 600 IU/kg/wk). A dual-absorption rate model (fast zero-order and slow first-order inputs) with nonlinear disposition characterized the PK of SC rHuEpo. A high K(m) value was obtained indicating that clearance was mildly nonlinear. Absorption was slow (t(max) approximately 24 hours), and the bioavailability of SC rHuEpo increased with dose (ranging from 46%-100%). A catenary cell production and loss model with a feedback down regulation component was used to fit the reticulocyte data yielding estimates of the stimulatory capacity (S(max)), sensitivity (SC(50)), and life span parameters. These parameters were used for simulations of RBC and Hb profiles. An SC(50) of 27 to 61 IU/L was estimated indicating that low physiological plasma rHuEpo concentrations were sufficient to produce pharmacological effects. No marked sex-dependent differences in clinical responses to rHuEpo therapy were found despite baseline differences. Realistic pharmacokinetic and physiological models accounted for clinical responses from a wide array of dosing conditions with rHuEpo. The rationale for greater efficacy of SC administration of rHuEpo compared to IV was ascertained.