Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Alirocumab in Healthy Chinese Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Ascending Single-Dose Study

Abstract

Background: The addition of alirocumab (a fully human monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 [PCSK9]) to background statin therapy provides significant incremental low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering and cardiovascular event risk reduction. Objectives: Our objectives were to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of single ascending doses of alirocumab in healthy Chinese subjects. Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase I study, 35 Chinese subjects (aged 21–45 years) with baseline LDL-C > 100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) were randomized to receive a single 1 mL subcutaneous injection of alirocumab 75, 150, or 300 mg, or placebo, and followed up for ~ 12 weeks. Results: Treatment-emergent adverse events, most frequently nasal congestion and dry throat, were reported in three of seven or eight subjects in each alirocumab dose group (two of seven in the placebo group). One patient receiving alirocumab 300 mg had a mild local injection-site reaction. No alirocumab recipients demonstrated antidrug antibodies. Maximum alirocumab serum concentrations (6–34 mg/dL) occurred at a median of 3–7 days across the dose groups. Maximum mean LDL-C reductions from baseline were observed on days 8, 15, and 22 with alirocumab 75 (55.3%), 150 (63.7%), and 300 mg (73.7%), respectively. Mean free PCSK9 levels were reduced to below the lower limit of quantification within 4 h of dosing. Total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B were reduced with alirocumab. Conclusions: In Chinese subjects, alirocumab 75, 150, and 300 mg was safe and well-tolerated. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters, including clinically meaningful reductions in LDL-C and other lipids/lipoproteins, were consistent with data from Japanese and Western populations. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02979015.