Results from a Joined Prospective Study to Evaluate the Sensitivity of the In Vivo Dog QT Assay in Line with the ICH E14/S7B Q&A Best Practices

Abstract

The ICH E14/S7B Q&As highlighted the need for best practices concerning the design, execution, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of the in vivo non‐rodent QT assay as a component of the integrated risk assessment to potentially support a TQT waiver or substitute. We conducted a dog telemetry study to assess the effects on QTc of six reference compounds (five positive and one negative) previously evaluated by Darpo et al. (2015) in humans. The sensitivity of the assay to detect QTc increases was determined, and exposure–response analysis was performed, as done in clinical practice. By‐timepoint analysis showed QTc prolongation induced by moxifloxacin, dofetilide, dolasetron, ondansetron, and quinine within human relevant plasma exposures ranges. Moreover, a hysteresis was observed for quinine. As expected, levocetirizine showed no statistically significant effect on QTc across a range of exposure, well exceeding the therapeutic Cmax. Power analyses confirmed the study ability to detect statistically significant QTc changes of less than 10 milliseconds with 80% probability, even with a sample size as low as n = 4 animals. Finally, concentration‐QTc modeling enabled to predict the minimal plasma concentration needed to detect a 10 milliseconds QTc prolongation, including for quinine. The comparison with clinical available data supported the relevance of dogs under these experimental conditions as a robust translational predictor of drug‐induced QTc prolongation in humans as a key pillar of the integrated risk assessment.