Guselkumab is a human IgG1λ monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds selectively to the interleukin 23 (IL-23) protein with high specificity and affinity. IL-23 is a cytokine that is involved in inflammatory and immune responses. By blocking IL-23 from binding to its receptor, guselkumab inhibits IL-23-dependent cell signalling and release of proinflammatory cytokines.
Levels of IL-23 are elevated in the skin of patients with plaque psoriasis. In in vitro models, guselkumab was shown to inhibit the bioactivity of IL-23 by blocking its interaction with cell surface IL-23 receptor, disrupting IL-23-mediated signaling, activation and cytokine cascades. Guselkumab exerts clinical effects in plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis through blockade of the IL-23 cytokine pathway.
In a Phase I study, treatment with guselkumab resulted in reduced expression of IL-23/Th17 pathway genes and psoriasis-associated gene expression profiles, as shown by analyses of mRNA obtained from lesional skin biopsies of patients with plaque psoriasis at Week 12 compared to baseline. In the same Phase I study, treatment with guselkumab resulted in improvement of histological measures of psoriasis at Week 12, including reductions in epidermal thickness and T-cell density. In addition, reduced serum IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22 levels compared to placebo were observed in guselkumab treated patients in Phase II and Phase III plaque psoriasis studies. These results are consistent with the clinical benefit observed with guselkumab treatment in plaque psoriasis.
In psoriatic arthritis patients in Phase III studies, serum levels of acute phase proteins C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, and IL-6, and Th17 effector cytokines IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22 were elevated at baseline. Guselkumab decreased the levels of these proteins within 4 weeks of initiation of treatment. Guselkumab further reduced the levels of these proteins by Week 24 compared to baseline and also to placebo.
Following a single 100 mg subcutaneous injection in healthy subjects, guselkumab reached a mean (± SD) maximum serum concentration (Cmax) of 8.09 ± 3.68 mcg/mL by approximately 5.5 days post dose.
Steady-state serum guselkumab concentrations were achieved by Week 20 following subcutaneous administrations of 100 mg guselkumab at Weeks 0 and 4, and every 8 weeks thereafter. The mean (± SD) steady-state trough serum guselkumab concentrations in two phase III studies were 1.15 ± 0.73 mcg/mL and 1.23 ± 0.84 mcg/mL.
The absolute bioavailability of guselkumab following a single 100 mg subcutaneous injection was estimated to be approximately 49% in healthy subjects.
Mean volume of distribution during the terminal phase (Vz) following a single intravenous administration to healthy subjects ranged from approximately 7 to 10 L across studies.
The exact pathway through which guselkumab is metabolized has not been characterized. As a human IgG mAb, guselkumab is expected to be degraded into small peptides and amino acids via catabolic pathways in the same manner as endogenous IgG.
Mean systemic clearance (CL) following a single intravenous administration to healthy subjects ranged from 0.288 to 0.479 L/day across studies. Mean half-life (T½) of guselkumab was approximately 17 days in healthy subjects and approximately 15 to 18 days in patients with plaque psoriasis across studies.
The systemic exposure of guselkumab (Cmax and AUC) increased in an approximately dose-proportional manner following a single subcutaneous injection at doses ranging from 10 mg to 300 mg in healthy subjects or patients with plaque psoriasis.
No specific studies have been conducted in elderly patients. Of the 1384 plaque psoriasis patients exposed to guselkumab and included in the population pharmacokinetic analysis, 70 patients were 65 years of age or older, including 4 patients who were 75 years of age or older. Population pharmacokinetic analyses indicated there were no apparent changes in CL/F estimate in patients ≥65 years of age compared to patients <65 years of age, suggesting no dose adjustment is needed for elderly patients.
No specific study has been conducted to determine the effect of renal or hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of guselkumab. Renal elimination of intact guselkumab, an IgG mAb, is expected to be low and of minor importance; similarly, hepatic impairment is not expected to influence clearance of guselkumab as IgG mAbs are mainly eliminated via intracellular catabolism.
Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeat-dose toxicity, toxicity to reproduction and pre- and post-natal development.
In repeat-dose toxicity studies in cynomolgus monkeys, guselkumab was well tolerated via intravenous and subcutaneous routes of administration. A weekly subcutaneous dose of 50 mg/kg to monkeys resulted in exposure (AUC) and Cmax values that were at least 49-fold and >200-fold higher, respectively, than those measured in the human clinical PK study. Additionally, there were no adverse immunotoxicity or cardiovascular safety pharmacology effects noted during the conduct of the repeat-dose toxicity studies or in a targeted cardiovascular safety pharmacology study in cynomolgus monkeys.
There were no preneoplastic changes observed in histopathology evaluations of animals treated up to 24-weeks, or following the 12-week recovery period during which drug was detectable in the serum.
No mutagenicity or carcinogenicity studies were conducted with guselkumab.
Guselkumab could not be detected in breast milk from cynomolgus monkeys as measured at post-natal day 28.
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