The objective of this work was to establish the quantitative relationship between Lanreotide Autogel® (LAN) on serum chromogranin A (CgA) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with nonfunctioning gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) through an integrated pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model. In CLARINET, a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 204 patients received deep subcutaneous injections of LAN 120 mg (n = 101) or placebo (n = 103) every 4 weeks for 96 weeks. Data for 810 LAN and 1298 CgA serum samples (n = 632 placebo and n = 666 LAN) were used to develop a parametric time-to-event model to relate CgA levels and PFS (76 patients experienced disease progression: n = 49 placebo and n = 27 LAN). LAN serum profiles were described by a one-compartment disposition model. Absorption was characterized by two parallel pathways following first- and zero-order kinetics. As PFS data were considered informative dropouts, CgA and PFS responses were modeled jointly. The LAN-induced decrease in CgA levels was described by an inhibitory E MAX model. Patient age and target lesions at baseline were associated with an increment in baseline CgA. Weibull model distribution showed that decreases in CgA from baseline reduced the hazard of disease progression significantly (P < 0.001). Covariates of tumor location in the pancreas and tumor hepatic tumor load were associated with worse prognosis (P < 0.001). We established a semimechanistic PK/PD model to better understand the effect of LAN on a surrogate endpoint (serum CgA) and ultimately the clinical endpoint (PFS) in treatment-naive patients with nonfunctioning GEP-NETs.

PurposePeptide drugs for antineoplastic therapies usually have low oral bioavailability and short in vivo half-lives, requiring less preferred delivery methods. Lanreotide depot is a sustained-release somatostatin analog (SSA) formulation produced via an innovative peptide self-assembly method. Lanreotide is approved in the USA and Europe to improve progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with unresectable gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) and also approved in Europe for symptom control in carcinoid syndrome associated with GEP-NETs. This review discusses how the distinct molecule and formulation of lanreotide depot provide advantages to patients and health care providers, as well as the most recent clinical evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of lanreotide depot in inhibiting tumor growth and controlling hormonal symptoms in GEP-NETs.Methodology and ResultsThe lanreotide depot formulation confers a remarkable pharmacokinetic profile with no excipients, comprised only of lanreotide acetate and water. Of note, lanreotide depot constitutes an example for peptide self-assembly based formulations, providing insights that could help future development of sustained-release formulations of other antineoplastic peptides. Most patients with GEP-NETs will present with inoperable or incurable disease; thus, medical management for symptoms and tumor control plays a crucial role. Recent long-term clinical studies have demonstrated that lanreotide depot is well tolerated, prolongs PFS in GEP-NET patients, and significantly reduces symptoms related to carcinoid syndrome.ConclusionsThe unique depot formulation and delivery method of lanreotide confer advantages in the treatment of metastatic GEP-NETs, contributing to improvements in NET-related symptoms and PFS without reducing quality of life in this patient population.

Using two mechanisms of absorption, the pharmacokinetics of lanreotide Autogel were well-described in patients with GEP-NET. None of the patient characteristics tested were of clinical relevance to potential dose adjustment in clinical practice.

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397 Background: Lanreotide Autogel (Depot in US) has been shown in clinical trials to have antitumor effects and control symptoms associated with hormone hypersecretion in GEP NET patients. Objectives: To describe the PK of Lanreotide 60, 90, or 120 mg SC injections every 4 weeks in GEP NET patients, to quantify inter-patient variability (IPV) and to identify PK impacting patient characteristics. Methods: 1,541 serum concentrations were obtained from 290 patients and analysed simultaneously using the population approach with the software NONMEM version 7.2. The covariates evaluated included demographics, renal and hepatic function markers, and disease related information. Results: Serum profiles were described with a one-compartment disposition model and with an absorption process characterized by two parallel absorption pathways following first and zero order kinetics. The estimated apparent volume of distribution was 18.3 L. The estimated apparent total serum clearance for a typical 74 kg patient was 513 L/day. No covariate tested showed a statistically significant effect on the PK profile except body weight, which showed a moderate effect on clearance (clearance increased by 25% as weight increased by 30%). However, when comparing a subject with low weight (51 kg) to a subject with high weight (104 kg), their PK profiles were similar with a great degree of overlapping. Therefore, this weight effect on clearance was not considered clinically relevant. The magnitude of IPV was low for clearance (27%) and moderate for absorption constant (61%). However due to the lack of PK timepoints around the Cmax, a higher IPV was observed for volume of distribution (150%). Mean (SD) derived parameters AUC and Cmaxat steady-state were respectively 239 (64.8) ng.day/mL and 13.9 (7.44) ng/mL, showing moderate IPV in the PK profile. Conclusions: The PK of lanreotide Autogel/Depot was well characterized in GEP NET patients using two mechanisms of absorption. The IPVof the PK of lanreotide was moderate. Among all the patients characteristics tested, none were found clinically relevant to a potential dose adjustment in clinical practice.