Drugs

Current Treatments and New Developments in the Management of Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis Abstract Glucocorticoids (GCs) are often used for improvement of quality of life, particularly in the elderly, but long-term GC use may cause harm; bone loss and fractures are among the most devastating side effects. Fracture risk is particularly high in patients with a severe underlying disease with an urgent need for treatment with high-dose GCs. Moreover, it is important to realize that these patients suffer from an augmented background fracture risk as these patients have a high presence of traditional risk factors for osteoporosis, such as high age, low body mass index (BMI), smoking and relatives with osteoporosis or hip fractures. It is thus crucial for prevention of osteoporotic fractures to use the lowest dose of GC for a short period of time to prevent fractures. Another important task is optimal treatment of the underlying disease; for instance, fracture risk is higher in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis than in patients in whom rheumatoid arthritis is in remission. Thus, fracture risk is generally highest in the early phase, when GC dosage and the disease activity of the underlying disease are high. Finally, some of the traditional risk factors can be modulated, e.g., smoking and low BMI. Life-style measures, such as adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D and exercise therapy are also crucial. In some patients, anti-osteoporotic drugs are also indicated. In general, oral bisphosphonates (BPs) are the first choice, because of their efficacy and safety combined with the low cost of the drug. However, for those patients who do not tolerate oral BPs, alternatives (“second-line therapies”) are available: BP intravenously (zoledronic acid), denosumab (Dmab), and teriparatide. Both zoledronic acid and Dmab have been proven to be superior to oral bisphosphonates like risedronate in improvement of bone mineral density. For teriparatide, vertebral fracture reduction has been shown in comparison with alendronate. Thus, to reduce the global burden of GC use and fracture risk, fracture risk management in GC users should involve at least involve life-style measures and the use of the lowest possible dose of GC. In high-risk patients, anti-osteoporotic drugs should be initiated. First choice drugs are oral BPs; however, in those with contraindications and those who do not tolerate oral BPs, second-line therapies should be started. Although this is a reasonable treatment algorithm, an unmet need is that the most pivotal (second-line) drugs are not used in daily clinical practice at the initial phase, usually characterized by high-dose GC and active underlying disease, when they are most needed. In some patients second-line drugs are started later in the disease course, with lower GC dosages and higher disease activity. As this is a paradox, we think it is a challenge for physicians and expert committees to develop an algorithm with clear indications in which specific patient groups second-line anti-osteoporotic drugs should or could be initiated as first-choice treatment.

Remogliflozin Etabonate: First Global Approval Abstract Remogliflozin, a selective sodium-glucose co-transporter subtype 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, which is to be administered as remogliflozin etabonate (Remo™, Remozen™), the prodrug for remogliflozin, recently received its first approval as a treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in India. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of remogliflozin etabonate leading to this first approval for T2DM.

Artificial Pancreas: Current Progress and Future Outlook in the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Abstract Type 1 diabetes is characterised by insulin deficiency caused by autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. The treatment of type 1 diabetes is exogenous insulin in the form of multiple daily injections or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Advances in diabetes technology have been exponential in the past few decades, culminating in studies to develop an automated artificial pancreas, also known as the closed-loop system. This has recently led to a commercially available, hybrid artificial pancreas in the USA and Europe. This review article aims to provide an overview of the rationale for an artificial pancreas system and an update of the current state of artificial pancreas development. We explore the different types of artificial pancreas systems being studied, including the use of adjunctive therapy, and the use of these systems in different groups of users. In addition, we discuss the potential psychosocial impact and the challenges and limitations of implementing artificial pancreas use into clinical practice.

A Pharmacological Approach to Managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Conception, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Biologic and Oral Small Molecule Therapy Abstract The inflammatory bowel diseases commonly affect individuals during their peak reproductive years. Patients are often concerned about the impact of medical therapies on their ability to conceive, effect on the fetus, as well as the ability to breastfeed, which has led to poor medical adherence during pregnancy. However, most medications are safe, and discontinuation may lead to active disease, which is associated with adverse materno-fetal outcomes. The anti-TNF biologic therapies, infliximab and adalimumab have been extensively studied in the context of pregnancy. They are actively transferred to the placenta during the second and third trimesters; these have not been associated with an increased rate of congenital abnormalities or fetal death. The minimal amounts of drug that are transferred to breast milk are proteolyzed by the infant’s digestive system with no reported short- or long-term adverse effects. There is a paucity of clinical data for the other approved anti-TNF agents or newer anti-integrin (vedolizumab) and anti-interleukin (ustekinumab) therapies used in the management of inflammatory bowel disease; however, no significant safety signals have been documented thus far. The new oral small molecule therapy, tofacitinib is teratogenic in animal models and is contra-indicated in patients attempting pregnancy. It is important that patients, as well as physicians managing patients with these conditions, be aware of the impact of these medical therapies during pregnancy.

Recent Developments in LRRK2-Targeted Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease Abstract Kinase activating missense mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are pathogenically linked to neurodegenerative Parkinson’s disease (PD). Over the past decade, substantial effort has been devoted to the development of potent and selective small molecule inhibitors of LRRK2, as well as their preclinical testing across different Parkinson’s disease models. This review outlines the genetic and biochemical evidence that pathogenic missense mutations increase LRRK2 kinase activity, which in turn provides the rationale for the development of small molecule inhibitors as potential PD therapeutics. An overview of progress in the development of LRRK2 inhibitors is provided, which in particular indicates that highly selective and potent compounds capable of clinical utility have been developed. We outline evidence from rodent- and human-induced pluripotent stem cell models that support a pathogenic role for LRRK2 kinase activity, and review the substantial experiments aimed at evaluating the safety of LRRK2 inhibitors. We address challenges still to overcome in the translational therapeutic pipeline, including biomarker development and clinical trial strategies, and finally outline the potential utility of LRRK2 inhibitors for other genetic forms of PD and ultimately sporadic PD. Collective evidence supports the ongoing clinical translation of LRRK2 inhibitors as a therapeutic intervention for PD is greatly needed.

Correction to: Pegaspargase: A Review in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia The original article has been corrected.

Siponimod: First Global Approval Abstract Siponimod (Mayzent®) is an oral selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor subtypes 1 and 5 (S1PR1,5) modulator being developed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and intracerebral haemorrhage. In March 2019, siponimod received its first global approval in the USA, for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of MS, including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease. Siponimod is under regulatory review in the EU and Japan for secondary progressive MS. This article summarizes the milestone in the development of siponimod leading to this first global approval for MS in the USA.

Fibrosis in Chronic Liver Disease: An Update on Diagnostic and Treatment Modalities Abstract Fibrosis is a common outcome of most chronic inflammatory diseases, characterized by the accumulation of excessive extracellular matrix components. Individuals with progressive liver fibrosis develop cirrhosis, are at risk of developing liver cancer, and may succumb to liver failure. Although a number of specific therapies for different diseases have been developed and successfully used, for example, direct antiviral agents in treatment for hepatitis C, effective and specific antifibrotic therapies are still not available. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard of staging liver fibrosis. However, transient elastography is increasingly being used in clinical trials and in hepatology clinics as part of standard-of-care evaluation because it is easy to use. Magnetic resonance (MR)-elastography is most accurate in evaluating fibrosis stage but is costly and time consuming and thus not readily available. Recent advances, however, have been made in areas of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, with an increasing number of potential drugs currently in phase II and III trials, particularly in the field of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-related liver fibrosis. These new drugs target multiple pathways involved in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease, and we anticipate that some of them may soon be approved for use in patients.

Tafamidis: A Review in Transthyretin Amyloidosis with Polyneuropathy Abstract Transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTR-PN), a rare and progressive hereditary disorder, results from mutations in the gene coding for the transthyretin (TTR) protein that destabilize the protein’s tetrameric structure. In over 40 countries worldwide, tafamidis (Vyndaqel®) is approved for the treatment of TTR amyloidosis in adults with stage 1 symptomatic polyneuropathy, to delay peripheral neurological impairment. Tafamidis is administered orally once daily, as a soft capsule. Evidence from clinical studies, including an 18-month placebo-controlled trial and subsequent long-term, open-label extension studies (providing data from ≤ 6 years of treatment), indicate that tafamidis slowed deterioration of neurological function and maintained health-related quality of life in patients with early-stage ATTR-PN and the Val30Met mutation. TTR tetramers were stabilized in nearly all patients, and nutritional status was generally maintained or improved. Similar benefit was seen with tafamidis over 12 months in a noncomparative trial in patients with non-Val30Met ATTR-PN, although disease progression in this population (which was older and had had ATTR-PN for longer than Val30Met patients) became more notable with continued therapy in an extension study. Data for up to 10 years from large registry and referral centre studies support the long-term effectiveness and safety of tafamidis in delaying disease progression and conferring survival benefits in patients with stage 1 ATTR-PN. Tafamidis was generally well tolerated, with no new safety signals detected during the long-term trial or real-world experience. Thus, based on up to 10 years’ experience, tafamidis continues to be a valuable option in the treatment of early-stage ATTR-PN.

Peficitinib: First Global Approval Abstract Peficitinib [Smyraf® (Astellas Pharma)] is a Janus kinase (JAK)1, JAK2, JAK3 and tyrosine kinase (Tyk)2 (pan-JAK) inhibitor recently approved in Japan for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Inhibition of JAK suppresses the activation of cytokine signalling pathways involved in inflammation and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. Peficitinib has been shown to significantly improve ACR20 and other measures of disease severity and to reduce the mean modified total Sharp score change from baseline in clinical trials. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of peficitinib leading to this first approval as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have an inadequate response to conventional therapies.