Mitigating Drug–Target–Drug Complexes in Patients With Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Who Switch C5 Inhibitors

Abstract

Drug–target–drug complexes (DTDCs) are phenomena newly observed in patients who switch from the complement component 5 (C5) inhibitor eculizumab to crovalimab, a novel, anti‐C5 antibody in development for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), because these agents bind to different C5 epitopes. In Part 3 of the four‐part, phase I/II COMPOSER study, 19 patients with PNH switching from eculizumab received 1,000‐mg crovalimab intravenously, then subcutaneous maintenance doses from Day 8 (680 mg every 4 weeks (q4w), 340 mg every 2 weeks, or 170 mg every week). Crovalimab exposure was transiently reduced, and size‐exclusion chromatography and crovalimab‐specific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays revealed DTDCs in all 19 patients' sera. Additionally, self‐limiting mild to moderate symptoms suggestive of type III hypersensitivity reactions occurred in two patients. Mathematical modeling simulations of DTDC kinetics and effects of dosing on DTDC size distribution using Part 3 data predicted that increased crovalimab concentrations could reduce the proportion of large, slow‐clearing DTDCs in the blood. A simulation‐guided, optimized crovalimab regimen (1,000 mg intravenously; four weekly, subcutaneous 340‐mg doses; then 680 mg q4w from Day 29) was evaluated in Part 4. Confirming the model's predictions, mean proportions of large DTDCs in patients who switched from eculizumab to this optimized regimen decreased by > 50% by Day 22, and target crovalimab concentrations were maintained. No type III hypersensitivity reactions occurred in Part 4. Optimizing crovalimab dosing thus reduced the proportion of large DTDCs, ensured adequate complement inhibition, and may improve safety. Model‐based dosing optimization to mitigate DTDC formation offers a useful strategy for patients switching to novel antibody treatments targeting soluble epitopes.