Increasing orphan drug loss in Japan: Trends and R&D strategy for rare diseases.

Rare disease (RD) patients face significant unmet therapeutic needs worldwide. However, orphan drugs approved in the United States, but not approved or developed in Japan, have increased rapidly with recently increasing US approvals, indicating greater RD drug loss in Japan. US/EU-based startups have become key players in RD drug R&D, significantly contributing to this drug loss trend. They successfully develop drugs in the United States by combining in-licensing with in-house drug discovery. Out-licensing to Japanese companies or large pharma is critical for expansion into Japan, with successes attributed to drug innovation, target indications, and transactional capabilities. These findings highlight the need to foster partnerships with startups and cultivate an ecosystem in Japan that nurtures local startups, to address drug loss and ensure access to promising drugs.

Safety and efficacy of azilsartan in paediatric patients with hypertension: a phase 3, single-arm, open-label, prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Azilsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker indicated for the treatment of adult hypertension. A previous single-dose study suggested that azilsartan may also be a promising agent for paediatric hypertension. However, the long-term safety and efficacy of azilsartan in children have not been established. METHODS: We conducted a phase 3, single-arm, open-label, prospective study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of azilsartan in pediatric patients with hypertension. Twenty-seven patients aged 6-15 years were treated with once-daily azilsartan for 52 weeks. The starting dose was 2.5 mg for patients weighing < 50 kg (N = 22) and 5 mg for patients weighing ≥ 50 kg (N = 5), with doses titrated up to a maximum of 20 and 40 mg, respectively. RESULTS: Azilsartan showed acceptable tolerability at doses up to 20 mg in patients weighing < 50 kg and 40 mg in those weighing ≥ 50 kg. Most drug-related adverse events (AEs) were mild, with one patient (3.7%) experiencing a severe and serious drug-related AE (acute kidney injury). One patient (3.7%) had a mild increase in serum creatinine level, which resolved after treatment discontinuation. The blood pressure-lowering effect of azilsartan was observed as early as Week 2. Overall, approximately half of the patients achieved their target blood pressure at the end of azilsartan treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that azilsartan has an acceptable safety profile in hypertensive patients aged 6-15 years. Azilsartan may be a promising agent for treating paediatric hypertension.

Relugolix, a novel oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, in the treatment of pain symptoms associated with uterine fibroids: a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study in Japanese women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist, relugolix, in patients experiencing uterine fibroid-associated pain. DESIGN: Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Medical centers. PATIENT(S): Premenopausal Japanese women (N = 65) experiencing moderate-to-severe uterine fibroid-associated pain with a maximum Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score of ≥4 were randomized and completed the study. INTERVENTION(S): Once-daily 40 mg relugolix (n = 33) or placebo (n = 32) for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Primary end point: proportion of patients with a maximum NRS score of ≤1 during the 28-day period before the final dose of study drug. Secondary end points: proportion of patients with no pain (NRS = 0) and percentage of days without pain during the 28-day period before the final dose of study drug; adverse events. RESULT(S): More patients receiving relugolix versus placebo achieved a maximum NRS score of ≤1 during the 28-day period before the final dose of study drug (57.6% vs. 3.1%). Similarly, more patients receiving relugolix versus placebo achieved a maximum NRS score of 0 (48.5% vs. 3.1%) and experienced more days without pain (96.4% vs. 71.4%). More patients receiving relugolix versus placebo experienced treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs; 87.9% vs. 56.3%); however, the rate of treatment discontinuation was low and not different between groups. Most TEAEs were mild to moderate in intensity. TEAEs (≥10%) included hot flush, metrorrhagia, hyperhidrosis, and menorrhagia, consistent with relugolix's mechanism of action, and viral upper respiratory tract infection. CONCLUSION(S): Relugolix improved uterine fibroid-associated pain and was well tolerated. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: NCT02655224. JAPIC CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION: JapicCTI-163127.

Oral Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Antagonist Relugolix Compared With Leuprorelin Injections for Uterine Leiomyomas: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the noninferiority of relugolix compared with leuprorelin acetate in reducing heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine leiomyomas. METHODS: In a double-blind, double-dummy trial, premenopausal women with uterine leiomyomas and heavy menstrual bleeding defined as a pictorial blood loss assessment chart score of at least 120 were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to relugolix (40 mg, oral, once daily) or leuprorelin acetate (1.88 mg or 3.75 mg, monthly injection) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with a total pictorial blood loss assessment chart score of less than 10 for weeks 6-12. Secondary endpoints included myoma and uterine volumes, and hemoglobin levels. A sample size of 144 patients per group (n=288) was estimated to provide at least 90% power to demonstrate noninferiority (prespecified noninferiority margin -15%; one-sided 0.025 level of significance). RESULTS: From March 2016 to September 2017, 281 patients were randomized (relugolix, n=139, leuprorelin n=142). Demographic and baseline characteristics were well balanced; mean pictorial blood loss assessment chart score was 254.3 in the relugolix group and 263.7 in the leuprorelin group. The proportion of patients with total pictorial blood loss assessment chart score of less than 10 for weeks 6-12 was 82.2% in the relugolix group and 83.1% in the leuprorelin group, demonstrating noninferiority of relugolix compared with leuprorelin (relugolix-leuprorelin difference -0.9%; 95% CI: -10.10 to 8.35; prespecified noninferiority margin -15%; P=.001). Reductions in myoma and uterine volumes and increases in hemoglobin levels were comparable in the two groups. Relugolix was associated with an earlier effect on menstrual bleeding than leuprorelin (pictorial blood loss assessment chart score of less than 10, 64.2% vs 31.7% [relugolix-leuprorelin difference 32.5%; 95% CI: 20.95-44.13%] for weeks 2-6 and pictorial blood loss assessment chart score of 0, 52.6% vs 21.8% [30.7%; 95% CI: 19.45-42.00%] for weeks 2-6) and faster recovery of menses after treatment discontinuation (relugolix median [Q1, Q3], 37 days [32.0, 46.0]; leuprorelin median, 65 days [54.0, 77.0]). Adverse events and bone mineral density loss were similar between relugolix and leuprorelin treatment groups. CONCLUSION: In women with uterine leiomyomas, once-daily treatment with relugolix, an oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, demonstrated noninferiority to monthly leuprorelin for improvement of heavy menstrual bleeding at 6-12 weeks of treatment, had a more rapid effect on menstrual bleeding, and was generally well tolerated. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02655237; JAPIC Clinical Trial Information, JapicCTI-163128. FUNDING SOURCE: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and an affiliate of NovaQuest Capital Management LLC.

Pharmacokinetics of a Single Dose of Azilsartan in Pediatric Patients: A Phase 3, Open-Label, Multicenter Study.

INTRODUCTION: Azilsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker indicated for the treatment of patients with hypertension. The efficacy and safety of azilsartan are established in adults, but have not been evaluated in pediatric patients, nor has its pharmacokinetic profile been determined in pediatric patients. METHODS: In this phase 3, open-label, multicenter study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics and safety of single doses of azilsartan in six Japanese patients with hypertension, aged 9-14 years. The dose of azilsartan was 5 mg for three patients weighing less than 50 kg, with mean body weight at baseline of 27.5 kg, and 10 mg for three patients weighing at least 50 kg, with mean body weight at baseline of 65.9 kg. RESULTS: Mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of azilsartan was 888.3 and 831.3 ng/mL and median time to maximum concentration (Tmax) of unchanged azilsartan was 3.0 and 4.0 h, in the 5-mg and 10-mg groups, respectively. Mean areas under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from 0-24 h post-dose (AUC0-24) and 0 h to infinity (AUC0-inf) were 6350.3 and 6635.7 ng h/mL, respectively, in the 5-mg group, and 6871.7 and 7433.3 ng h/mL, respectively, in the 10-mg group. Both doses were well tolerated; no treatment-emergent adverse events considered to be related to azilsartan occurred during the study. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that pediatric patients weighing less than 50 kg may have approximately 2-fold greater exposure to azilsartan than those weighing at least 50 kg at the same dose. Exposure to azilsartan in children weighing at least 50 kg is comparable to that in healthy adults at the same dose. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02451150. FUNDING: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Combination effects of alogliptin and pioglitazone on steatosis and hepatic fibrosis formation in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of combination therapy with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, alogliptin, and a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist, pioglitazone, in a preclinical model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis using low-density lipoprotein receptor-knockout mice fed a modified choline-deficient l-amino acid-defined diet. Monotherapy with either alogliptin (10-200 mg/kg) or pioglitazone (6-20 mg/kg) significantly decreased hepatic triglyceride content and fibrosis. The concomitant treatment of alogliptin (30 mg/kg), pioglitazone (20 mg/kg) also decreased hepatic triglyceride and hepatic collagen-I mRNA at greater extent compared to monotherapy. Hepatic expression of CD11b mRNA and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were also reduced by the concomitant treatment. These results suggest that via an anti-inflammatory potential in addition to anti-metabolic effects, the combination therapy of alogliptin and pioglitazone may provide therapeutic benefits to type 2 diabetes patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which will be proven in controlled clinical trials.

Evaluation of the long-term durability and glycemic control of fasting plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin for pioglitazone in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: This study applied a pharmacodynamic model-based approach to evaluate the long-term durability and glycemic control of pioglitazone in comparison with other oral glucose-lowering drugs in Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Japanese T2DM patients were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-end point study and received pioglitazone with or without other oral glucose-lowering drugs (excluding another thiazolidinedione [TZD]) (n=293) or oral glucose-lowering drugs excluding TZD (n=294). Treatment was adjusted to achieve glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) <6.9%, and samples for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c were collected over 2.5-4 years. A simultaneous cascading indirect response model structure was applied to describe the time course of FPG and HbA1c. HbA1c levels were described using both an FPG-dependent and an FPG-independent function. To account for titration, drug effects for both treatment groups were implemented using a time-dependent Emax model. RESULTS: Pioglitazone was superior in both time to maximum effect and the magnitude of reduction achieved in FPG and HbA1c. A greater reduction in median FPG (-21 mg/dL vs. -9 mg/dL) was observed with pioglitazone (P<0.05). Maximum drug effect for FPG was predicted to occur earlier (11 months) for pioglitazone than for the control group (14 months). The simulated additional reduction in FPG and HbA1c achieved with pioglitazone was predicted to be maintained beyond the currently observed study duration. CONCLUSIONS: Pioglitazone was found to result in improved glycemic control and durability compared with control treatment. This model-based approach enabled the quantification of differences in FPG and HbA1c for both treatment groups and simulation to evaluate longer-term durability on FPG and HbA1c.

Effect of azilsartan versus candesartan on morning blood pressure surges in Japanese patients with essential hypertension.

Morning blood pressure (BP) surge is reported as a risk factor for cardiovascular events and end-organ damage independent of the 24-h BP level. Controlling morning BP surge is therefore important to help prevent onset of cardiovascular disease. We compared the efficacy of azilsartan and candesartan in controlling morning systolic BP (SBP) surges by analyzing relevant ambulatory BP monitoring data in patients with/without baseline BP surges. As part of a 16-week randomized, double-blind study of azilsartan (20-40 mg once daily) and candesartan (8-12 mg once daily) in Japanese patients with essential hypertension, an exploratory analysis was carried out using ambulatory BP monitoring at baseline and week 14. The effects of study drugs on morning BP surges, including sleep trough surge (early morning SBP minus the lowest night-time SBP) and prewaking surge (early morning SBP minus SBP before awakening), were evaluated. Patients with sleep trough surge of at least 35 mmHg were defined by the presence of a morning BP surge (the 'surge group'). Sleep trough surge and prewaking surge data were available at both baseline and week 14 in 548 patients, 147 of whom (azilsartan 76; candesartan 71) had a baseline morning BP surge. In surge group patients, azilsartan significantly reduced both the sleep trough surge and the prewaking surge at week 14 compared with candesartan (least squares means of the between-group differences -5.8 mmHg, P=0.0395; and -5.7 mmHg, P=0.0228, respectively). Once-daily azilsartan improved sleep trough surge and prewaking surge to a greater extent than candesartan in Japanese patients with grade I-II essential hypertension.

Effect of azilsartan versus candesartan on nocturnal blood pressure variation in Japanese patients with essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal variations in night-time hypertension such as "non-dipping" type (< 10% decrease in nocturnal systolic blood pressure [SBP] from daytime SBP) are a risk factor for cardiovascular events independent of 24-h BP. METHODS: As part of a randomized, double-blind study of azilsartan (20-40 mg once daily) and candesartan (8-12 mg once daily) in Japanese patients with essential hypertension, an exploratory analysis was performed using ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) at baseline and Week 14. Effects of study drugs on nocturnal BP variations according to patients' nocturnal SBP dipping status were evaluated. RESULTS: ABPM data were available for 273 patients treated with azilsartan and 275 with candesartan. In the dipping group (≥ 10% decrease from daytime SBP), azilsartan produced a greater reduction from baseline in daytime than in night-time SBP (- 14.1 and - 10.9 mmHg, respectively), and the change in daytime SBP was significantly greater with azilsartan than with candesartan (p = 0.0077). In the non-dipping group, azilsartan produced a greater reduction from baseline in night-time than in daytime SBP (- 20.2 and - 9.9 mmHg, respectively), and reductions in both night-time SBP (p = 0.02) and daytime SBP (p = 0.0042) were significantly greater with azilsartan than with candesartan. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily azilsartan improved non-dipping night-time SBP to a greater extent than candesartan in Japanese patients with grade I-II essential hypertension.

[Azilsartan: a new angiotensin receptor blocker].

Azilsartan is a new ARB with the specific and potent angiotensin II receptor binding-inhibitory effect and more continuous angiotensin II antagonistic and antihypertensive actions in pre-clinical studies compared with other ARBs. The controlled clinical study in Japanese hypertensive patients indicates that once-daily azilsartan dose provides more potent 24-hour sustained antihypertensive effect than that of candesartan but with equivalent safety. Azilsartan was confirmed to improve more potently the insulin-resistance in SHR and type 2 diabetic mice and suppress more prominently the urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetic fatty rats than other ARBs. Thus, azilsartan is a unique antihypertensive agent with the profile of more beneficial pharmacological activity, and could provide higher rates of hypertension control over 24-hour following once daily administration.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of azilsartan with that of candesartan cilexetil in Japanese patients with grade I-II essential hypertension: a randomized, double-blind clinical study.

Azilsartan is a novel angiotensin receptor blocker being developed for hypertension treatment. This 16-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study compared the efficacy and safety of azilsartan (20-40 mg once daily by forced titration) and its ability to provide 24-h blood pressure (BP) control, with that of candesartan cilexetil (candesartan; 8-12 mg once daily by forced titration) in 622 Japanese patients with grade I-II essential hypertension. Efficacy was evaluated by clinic-measured sitting BP, and by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) at week 14. Participants (mean age: 57 years, 61% males) had a mean baseline sitting BP of 159.8/100.4 mm Hg. The mean change from baseline in sitting diastolic BP at week 16 (primary endpoint) was -12.4 mm Hg in the azilsartan group and -9.8 mm Hg in the candesartan group, demonstrating a statistically significant greater reduction with azilsartan vs. candesartan (difference: -2.6 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval (CI): -4.08 to -1.22 mm Hg, P=0.0003). The week 16 (secondary endpoint) mean change from baseline in sitting systolic BP was -21.8 mm Hg and -17.5 mm Hg, respectively, a significant decrease with azilsartan vs. candesartan (difference: -4.4 mm Hg, 95% CI: -6.53 to -2.20 mm Hg, P<0.0001). On ABPM, the week 14 mean changes from baseline in diastolic and systolic BP were also significantly greater with azilsartan over a 24-h period, and during the daytime, night-time and early morning. Safety and tolerability were similar among the two groups. These data demonstrate that once-daily azilsartan provides a more potent 24-h sustained antihypertensive effect than that of candesartan but with equivalent safety.

Efficacy and safety of combination therapy with candesartan cilexetil and pioglitazone hydrochloride in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with candesartan cilexetil (CC) and pioglitazone hydrochloride (PIO) in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A 12-week, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus was followed by a 40-week, single-blind study. Patients (N = 377) were randomized to treatment with CC 8 mg/PIO 30 mg (n = 62), CC 8 mg/PIO 15 mg (n = 63), CC 4 mg/PIO 30 mg (n = 63), CC 4 mg/PIO 15 mg (n = 63), CC 8 mg/PIO 0 mg (n = 63), or CC 0 mg/PIO 30 mg (n = 63). Primary efficacy measures were changes in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HbA(1C) at Week 12. RESULTS: CC/PIO combination therapy improved blood pressure (BP)/glycemic control for 52 weeks. At the end of 12-week treatment period, DBP decreased to a significantly greater extent in the 8/30 + 8/15 + 8/0 (combined CC 8 mg) group (-10.5 mmHg, p < 0.0001) and the 4/30 + 4/15 (combined CC 4 mg) group (-9.1 mmHg, p = 0.0022) than in the 0/30 (CC 0 mg) group (-5.3 mmHg). HbA(1C) significantly decreased in the 8/30 + 4/30 + 0/30 (combined PIO 30 mg) group (-0.35%, p < 0.0001) and the 8/15 + 4/15 (combined PIO 15 mg) group (-0.15%, p < 0.0001) compared with the 8/0 (PIO 0 mg) group (0.35%). Urinary albumin excretion reduction seen with the 0/30 and the 8/0 groups was significantly enhanced by CC/PIO combination. Clinical significance of this renoprotective effect of CC/PIO combination therapy needs to be studied further. Prolonged combined use of CC/PIO did not increase adverse events. Drug-related adverse events were similar to those during clinical use of CC and PIO. CONCLUSION: CC/PIO combination therapy improved BP/glycemic control and was well tolerated for 52 weeks. Thus, CC/PIO combination therapy is useful in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The interaction with Sp1 and reduction in the activity of histone deacetylase 1 are critical for the constitutive gene expression of IL-1 alpha in human melanoma cells.

A375-6 human melanoma cells are sensitive to the antiproliferative effect of IL-1. After a long period of culturing, we have obtained cells resistant to IL-1. The resistant clone A375-R8 constitutively produced IL-1 alpha. In this study, we identified a sequence, CGCC, located at -48 to -45 upstream of the transcription start site, to be essential for the constitutive IL-1 alpha gene activation. Specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and Sp3 bound to the nucleotide containing the sequence. Although the binding level to the nucleotide and expression level of Sp1 and Sp3 are comparable in A375-R8 and A375-6 cells, transactivation activity of Sp1 is higher in A375-R8 cells as compared with A375-6 cells. Sp3 could not transactivate the IL-1 alpha promoter. These results suggest that Sp1 but not Sp3 is important for IL-1 alpha gene activation. Trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC), greatly augmented the IL-1 alpha promoter activity in A375-6 cells to the level comparable with that in A375-R8 cells. TSA also induced IL-1 alpha mRNA expression in A375-6 cells. Sp1 and Sp3 bound to HDAC1 in A375-R8 and A375-6 cells. The chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed the binding of Sp1 and HDAC1 to the promoter region of the IL-1 alpha gene. The activities of HDAC bound to Sp1 and Sp3, and that of HDAC1 was lower in A375-R8 cells as compared with A375-6 cells. These results indicate that the reduction in the activity and interaction of HDAC1 with Sp1 are critical for the constitutive IL-1 alpha gene expression.