A Programme for Risk Assessment and Minimisation of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Developed for Vedolizumab Clinical Trials

• Published in: Drug safety Vol. 41; no. 8; pp. 807 - 816
• Main Authors: Parikh, Asit, Stephens, Kristin, Major, Eugene, Fox, Irving, Milch, Catherine, Sankoh, Serap, Lev, Michael H., Provenzale, James M., Shick, Jesse, Patti, Mark, McAuliffe, Megan, Berger, Joseph R., Clifford, David B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.08.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adjudication; Algorithms; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - adverse effects; Biopharmaceuticals; Cell adhesion & migration; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic - methods; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic - methods; Crohn's disease; Diagnostic systems; Drug development; Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance; Encephalitis; Evaluation; Gastrointestinal Agents - adverse effects; Health risks; Humans; Immunomodulation; Infections; Inflammatory bowel disease; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - drug therapy; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - epidemiology; Intestine; Leukoencephalopathy; Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal - chemically induced; Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal - diagnosis; Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal - epidemiology; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Monoclonal antibodies; Multicenter Studies as Topic - methods; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Optimization; Original; Original Research Article; Patients; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - methods; Risk assessment; Risk Assessment - methods; Screening; Viral infections
• ISSN: 0114-5916; 1179-1942
• DOI: 10.1007/s40264-018-0669-8

Introduction Over the past decade, the potential for drug-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has become an increasingly important consideration in certain drug development programmes, particularly those of immunomodulatory biologics. Whether the risk of PML with an investigational agent is proven (e.g. extrapolated from relevant experience, such as a class effect) or merely theoretical, the serious consequences of acquiring PML require careful risk minimisation and assessment. No single standard for such risk minimisation exists. Vedolizumab is a recently developed monoclonal antibody to α4β7 integrin. Its clinical development necessitated a dedicated PML risk minimisation assessment as part of a global preapproval regulatory requirement. Objective The aim of this study was to describe the multiple risk minimisation elements that were incorporated in vedolizumab clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease patients as part of the risk assessment and minimisation of PML programme for vedolizumab. Methods A case evaluation algorithm was developed for sequential screening and diagnostic evaluation of subjects who met criteria that indicated a clinical suspicion of PML. An Independent Adjudication Committee provided an independent, unbiased opinion regarding the likelihood of PML. Results Although no cases were detected, all suspected PML events were thoroughly reviewed and successfully adjudicated, making it unlikely that cases were missed. Conclusion We suggest that this programme could serve as a model for pragmatic screening for PML during the clinical development of new drugs.