A phase 1/2 clinical trial of enzyme replacement in Fabry disease: Pharmacokinetic, substrate clearance, and safety studies

C. M. Eng, M. Banikazemi, R. E. Gordon, M. Goldman, R. Phelps, L. Kim, A. Gass, J. Winston, S. Dikman, J. T. Fallon, S. Brodie, C. B. Stacy, D. Mehta, R. Parsons, K. Norton, M. O'Callaghan, R. J. Desnick

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370 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fabry disease results from deficient α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) activity and the pathologic accumulation of the globotriaosylceramide (GL-3) and related glycosphingolipids, primarily in vascular endothelial lysosomes. Treatment is currently palliative, and affected patients generally die in their 40s or 50s. Preclinical studies of recombinant human α-Gal A (r-hαGalA) infusions in knockout mice demonstrated reduction of GL-3 in tissues and plasma, providing rationale for a phase 1/2 clinical trial. Here, we report a single-center, open-label, dose-ranging study of r-hαGalA treatment in 15 patients, each of whom received five infusions at one of five dose regimens. Intravenously administered r-hαGalA was cleared from the circulation in a dose-dependent manner, via both saturable and non-saturable pathways. Rapid and marked reductions in plasma and tissue GL-3 were observed biochemically, histologically, and/or ultrastructurally. Clearance of plasma GL-3 was dose-dependent. In patients with pre- and posttreatment biopsies, mean GL-3 content decreased 84% in liver (n = 13), was markedly reduced in kidney in four of five patients, and after five doses was modestly lowered in the endomyocardium of four of seven patients. GL-3 deposits were cleared to near normal or were markedly reduced in the vascular endothelium of liver, skin, heart, and kidney, on the basis of light- and electron-microscopic evaluation. In addition, patients reported less pain, increased ability to sweat, and improved quality-of-life measures. Infusions were well tolerated; four patients experienced mild-to-moderate reactions, suggestive of hypersensitivity, that were managed conservatively. Of 15 patients, 8 (53%) developed IgG antibodies to r-hαGalA; however, the antibodies were not neutralizing, as indicated by unchanged pharmacokinetic values for infusions 1 and 5. This study provides the basis for a phase 3 trial of enzyme-replacement therapy for Fabry disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)711-722
Number of pages12
JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics
Volume68
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

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