A Phase 3 Open-Label Study of Eculizumab in Pediatric Participants With Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03759366
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: November 30, 2018
• Results First Posted: August 25, 2022
• Last Update Posted: December 18, 2023
• Sponsor: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of eculizumab in the treatment of pediatric refractory gMG based on change from Baseline in the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) score for disease severity.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Myasthenia Gravis; Myasthenia Gravis, Juvenile Form; Myasthenia Gravis, Generalized	Drug: Eculizumab	Phase 3

Detailed Description:

The study will consist of an up to 4-week Screening Period, 26-week Primary Evaluation Treatment Period, an additional (up to) to 208-week Extension Period, and an 8-week Safety Follow-up Period.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 11 participants
• Allocation: N/A
• Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: An Open-Label, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Eculizumab in Pediatric Patients With Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis
• Actual Study Start Date: December 21, 2018
• Actual Primary Completion Date: January 6, 2022
• Actual Study Completion Date: November 6, 2023

Arms and Interventions

Arm

Intervention/treatment

Experimental: Eculizumab Intravenous (IV) Infusion; In the Primary Evaluation Treatment Period (26 weeks), eculizumab will be administered weekly during the initial induction phase and every 2 weeks during the maintenance phase. In the Extension Period (up to 208 weeks), participants will continue to receive eculizumab every 2 weeks. Eculizumab will be administered at doses of 300, 600, 900, or 1200 milligrams (mg), based on the participant's current body weight.

Drug: Eculizumab; Eculizumab will be administered by IV infusion.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Change From Baseline in the QMG Total Score at Week 26 Regardless of Rescue Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 26 ]
   The QMG scoring system consists of 13 items: ocular (2 items), facial (1 item), bulbar (2 items), gross motor (6 items), axial (1 item), and respiratory (1 item). Each item is graded from 0 to 3, (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe). The range of total QMG score is 0 to 39, with higher score indicating more severe disease.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Change From Baseline in the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) Total Score at Week 26 Regardless of Rescue Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 26 ]
   The MG-ADL is an 8-point questionnaire that focuses on relevant symptoms and functional performance of activities of daily living in participants with myasthenia gravis (MG). The 8 items of the MG-ADL are derived from symptom-based components of the original 13-item QMG to assess disability secondary to ocular (2 items), bulbar (3 items), respiratory (1 item), and gross motor or limb (2 items) impairment related to effects from MG. In this functional status instrument, each response is graded from 0 (normal) to 3 (most severe). The range of total MG-ADL score is 0 to 24, with higher score indicating more severe disease.
2. Percentage of Participants With ≥3-Point Reduction in the MG-ADL Total Score With No Rescue Treatment [ Time Frame: Week 26 ]
   The MG-ADL is an 8-point questionnaire that focuses on relevant symptoms and functional performance of activities of daily living in participants with MG. The 8 items of the MG-ADL are derived from symptom-based components of the original 13-item QMG to assess disability secondary to ocular (2 items), bulbar (3 items), respiratory (1 item), and gross motor or limb (2 items) impairment related to effects from MG. In this functional status instrument, each response is graded from 0 (normal) to 3 (most severe). The range of total MG-ADL score is 0 to 24, with higher score indicating more severe disease.
3. Percentage of Participants With ≥3-Point Reduction in the MG-ADL Total Score Regardless of Rescue Treatment [ Time Frame: Week 26 ]
   The MG-ADL is an 8-point questionnaire that focuses on relevant symptoms and functional performance of activities of daily living in participants with MG. The 8 items of the MG-ADL are derived from symptom-based components of the original 13-item QMG to assess disability secondary to ocular (2 items), bulbar (3 items), respiratory (1 item), and gross motor or limb (2 items) impairment related to effects from MG. In this functional status instrument, each response is graded from 0 (normal) to 3 (most severe). The range of total MG-ADL score is 0 to 24, with higher score indicating more severe disease.
4. Percentage of Participants With ≥5-Point Reduction in the QMG Total Score With No Rescue Treatment [ Time Frame: Week 26 ]
   The QMG scoring system consists of 13 items: ocular (2 items), facial (1 item), bulbar (2 items), gross motor (6 items), axial (1 item), and respiratory (1 item). Each item is graded from 0 to 3, (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe). The range of total QMG score is 0 to 39, with higher score indicating more severe disease.
5. Percentage of Participants With ≥5-Point Reduction in the QMG Total Score Regardless of Rescue Treatment [ Time Frame: Week 26 ]
   The QMG scoring system consists of 13 items: ocular (2 items), facial (1 item), bulbar (2 items), gross motor (6 items), axial (1 item), and respiratory (1 item). Each item is graded from 0 to 3, (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe). The range of total QMG score is 0 to 39, with higher score indicating more severe disease.
6. Change From Baseline in the Myasthenia Gravis Composite (MGC) Scale Total Score at Week 26 Regardless of Rescue Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 26 ]
   The MGC is a validated assessment tool for measuring clinical status of participants with MG. The MGC assesses 10 important functional areas most frequently affected by MG: ocular (2 items), facial (1 item), bulbar (3 items), respiratory (1 item), axial (1 item), and gross motor (2 items). The scales are weighted for clinical significance that incorporates patient-reported outcomes. The MGC total score ranges from 0 to 50, with lower scores indicating less functional impairment and higher scores indicating greater functional impairment.
7. Change From Baseline in the European Quality of Life 5-Dimension Youth Version (EQ-5D-Y) Scale Score at Week 26 Regardless of Rescue Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 26 ]
   The EQ-5D-Y is a reliable and validated survey of health status in 5 areas: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, each of which is completed by the participant for participants ≥12 years of age (at time of assessment) and completed by the participant's caregiver or with caregiver assistance for participant <12 years of age. Each area has 3 levels: Level 1 (no problems), Level 2 (some problems), and Level 3 (extreme problems). The EQ visual analogue scale (VAS) records the participant's self-rated health on a vertical, 20 cm VAS where the endpoints are labelled 'Best imaginable health state, marked as 100' and 'Worst imaginable health state, marked as 0'.
8. Change From Baseline in the Neurological Quality of Life-Fatigue Questionnaire (Neuro-QoL Pediatric Fatigue) Total Score at Week 26 Regardless of Rescue Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 26 ]
   The Neuro-QoL Pediatric Fatigue questionnaire is a reliable and validated brief 11-item survey of fatigue, completed by the participant for participants ≥12 years of age (at time of assessment) and completed by the participant's caregiver or with caregiver assistance for participants <12 years of age. Each item was scored on a scale of 1 to 5 (1=Not at all, 2=A little bit, 3=Somewhat, 4=Quite a bit, 5=Very much). Total score is the sum of each item's score and it ranges from 11 to 55. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue and greater impact of MG on activities.
9. Number of Participants in Each Category of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Post-Intervention Status (MGFAPIS) Regardless of Rescue Treatment at Week 26 [ Time Frame: Week 26 ]
   The MG clinical state (improved, unchanged, and worse) was assessed using the MGFAPIS.
10. Percentage of Participants With Clinical Deteriorations, Myasthenic Crises, and Rescue Therapy Use [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 26 ]
    Rescue therapy (for example, high dose corticosteroid, plasma exchange [PE], or intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIg]) was to be allowed when a participant experienced clinical deterioration. Clinical deterioration was defined as follows: Participants who experienced an MG crisis, which was defined as weakness due to MG that was severe enough to necessitate intubation or to delay extubation following surgery; or, Significant symptomatic worsening that required rescue medication in the opinion of the Investigator; or, Participants for whom the Investigator believed that the participants' health was in jeopardy if rescue therapy was not given.
11. Pharmacokinetics (PK): Serum Concentration Of Eculizumab [ Time Frame: 24 hours postdose on Day 1; predose and 60 minutes postdose at Week 12; predose at Week 26 ]
12. Pharmacodynamics (PD): Serum Free Complement Component 5 (C5) Concentrations [ Time Frame: Baseline; 24 hours postdose on Day 1; predose and 60 minutes postdose at Week 12; predose at Week 26 ]
13. PD: Percentage of Hemolysis (In Vitro Assay) [ Time Frame: Baseline; 24 hours postdose on Day 1; predose and 60 minutes postdose at Week 12; predose at Week 26 ]

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 6 Years to 17 Years (Child)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female pediatric participants 6 to <18 years of age at time of assent/consent.
• Vaccinated against Neisseria meningitidis.
• Documented vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections prior to dosing as per local and country specific immunization guidelines for the appropriate age group.
• Diagnosis of MG confirmed by positive serologic test for anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies at Screening, and 1 of the following: (a) history of abnormal neuromuscular transmission test demonstrated by single-fiber electromyography or repetitive nerve stimulation; (b) history of positive anticholinesterase test (for example, edrophonium chloride or neostigmine test); or (c) participant demonstrated improvement in MG signs on oral acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, as assessed by the Investigator.
• Presence of refractory gMG, defined as participants with gMG who have 1 or more of the following: (a) failed treatment ≥1 year with at least 1 immunosuppressive therapies (IST), defined as follows: (1) persistent weakness with impairment of activities of daily living; (2) myasthenia gravis (MG) exacerbation and/or crisis while on treatment; or (3) intolerance to ISTs due to side effect or comorbid condition(s). (b) Require maintenance plasma exchange (PE) or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) to control symptoms; and/or (c) in the opinion of the Investigator, MG poses a significant functional burden despite current MG treatment.
• MGFA Clinical Classification of Class II to IV at Screening.
• In patients aged 12 to 18 years, QMG total score ≥ 12 at Screening; in patients aged 6 to 11 years, no minimum QMG is required for inclusion; however, patients must have documented limb weakness in at least one limb.
• All MG-specific treatment has been administered at a stable dosing regimen of adequate duration prior to Screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Parent or legal guardian is an Alexion employee.
• Any active or untreated thymoma. History of thymic carcinoma or thymic malignancy unless deemed cured by adequate treatment with no evidence of recurrence for ≥5 years before Screening.
• History of thymectomy within 12 months prior to Screening.
• Are pregnant or lactating.
• Any unresolved acute, or chronic, systemic bacterial or other infection, which is clinically significant in the opinion of the Investigator and has not been treated with appropriate antibiotics.
• Use of PE within 4 weeks prior to first dose.
• Use of rituximab within 6 months prior to first dose.
• Patients who are under 15 kg and are receiving maintenance IVIg.
• Participation in another interventional treatment study or use of any experimental therapy within 30 days before initiation of study drug on Day 1 in this study or within 5 half-lives of that investigational product, whichever is greater.
• Have previously received treatment with eculizumab or other complement inhibitors.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, California

Clinical Trial Site

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90027

United States, Florida

Clinical Trial Site

Tampa, Florida, United States, 33612

United States, Illinois

Clinical Trial Site

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611

United States, Missouri

Clinical Trial Site

Columbia, Missouri, United States, 65211

Clinical Trial Site

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63104

United States, North Carolina

Clinical Trial Site

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599-1651

United States, Ohio

Clinical Trial Site

Akron, Ohio, United States, 44308

United States, Pennsylvania

Clinical Trial Site

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

United States, South Carolina

Clinical Trial Site

Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425-8572

Japan

Clinical Trial Site

Chiba-shi, Chiba-Ken, Japan, 260-8677

Clinical Trial Site

Saitama, Iruma-gun, Japan, 350-0495

Clinical Trial Site

Tokyo, Itabasha-ku, Japan, 173-0003

Clinical Trial Site

Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Japan, 162-8666

Clinical Trial Site

Mibu, Tochigi, Japan, 3210293

Netherlands

Clinical Trial Site

Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1105

Clinical Trial Site

Leiden, Netherlands, 2333

Sponsors and Collaborators

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  Study Documents (Full-Text)

Documents provided by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

Study Protocol  [PDF] September 28, 2020

Statistical Analysis Plan  [PDF] October 30, 2019

More Information

• Responsible Party: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03759366
• Other Study ID Numbers: ECU-MG-303
• First Posted: November 30, 2018
• Results First Posted: August 25, 2022
• Last Update Posted: December 18, 2023
• Last Verified: November 2023

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Keywords provided by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

Myasthenia Gravis; Myasthenia Gravis, Generalized

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Myasthenia Gravis; Muscle Weakness; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System; Nervous System Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Paraneoplastic Syndromes; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neuromuscular Junction Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Eculizumab; Complement Inactivating Agents; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Physiological Effects of Drugs