Purpose: YM155, a novel molecular targeted agent, suppresses survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family that is overexpressed in many tumor types. The aim of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of YM155 in patients with advanced refractory solid tumors. Experimental Design: Patients with advanced refractory solid tumors were treated with escalating doses of YM155 administered by continuous i.v. infusion for 168 hours in 21-day cycles. Results: Of the 34 patients enrolled, 33 (median age, 59 years) received at least 1 dose of YM155 (range, 1-19 cycles). The dose levels studied were 1.8, 3.6, 4.8, 6.0, 8.0, and 10.6 mg/m 2 /d. The MTD was determined to be 8.0 mg/m 2 /d, based on a dose-limiting toxicity of increased blood creatinine observed in 2 patients receiving 10.6 mg/m 2 /d. The most common adverse reactions judged to be related to YM155 were urine microalbumin present; fever; injection-site phlebitis; fatigue; and decreased hemoglobin/ anemia, blood albumin, and lymphocyte count. The pharmacokinetic profile was almost linear over the dosing range and was similar between cycles 1 and 2. Urinary excretion of YM155 showed no definite difference among doses. Stable disease was achieved in nine patients. Conclusions: YM155 was safely administered to patients with advanced refractory solid tumors by 168-hour continuous i.v. infusion in 21-day cycles. The MTD was determined to be 8.0 mg/m 2 /d. The safety profile, plasma concentrations achieved, and antitumor activity observed merit further studies with this survivin suppressant, alone and in combination regimens.

SummaryPurpose Population pharmacokinetics (PK) of sepantronium bromide (YM155) was characterized in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, hormone refractory prostate cancer, or unresectable stage III or IV melanoma and enrolled in one of three phase 2 studies conducted in Europe or the U.S. Method Sepantronium was administered as a continuous intravenous infusion (CIVI) at 4.8 mg/m2/day over 7 days every 21 days. Population PK analysis was performed using a linear one-compartment model involving total body clearance (CL) and volume of distribution with an inter-individual random effect on CL and a proportional residual errors to describe 578 plasma sepantronium concentrations obtained from a total of 96 patients by NONMEM Version VI. The first-order conditional estimation method with interaction was applied. Results The one-compartment model with one random effect on CL and two different proportional error models provided an adequate description of the data. Creatinine clearance (CLCR), cancer type, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were recognized as significant covariates of CL. CLCR was the most influential covariate on sepantronium exposure and predicted to contribute to a 25 % decrease in CL for patients with moderately impaired renal function (CLCR = 40 mL/min) compared to patients with normal CLCR. Cancer type and ALT had a smaller but nonetheless significant contribution. Other patient characteristics such as age, gender, and race were not considered as significant covariates of CL. Conclusions The results provide the important information for optimizing the therapeutic efficacy and minimizing the toxicity for sepantronium in cancer therapy.

This article provides Section 2 of the 2017 Edition 2 Medical Writing Competency Model that describes the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that professional medical writers need in order to perform effectively within the life sciences industry. What a medical writer should know, what they should be able to do, and how they should use this knowledge and these skills to facilitate their primary work function is a focus. Regulatory, publication, and other scientific writing as well as management of writing activities are covered. The full Model also includes Section 1, which covers the core work functions and associated tasks and activities related to professional medical writing within the life sciences industry; Section 1 is included in a companion article. The Model was developed to aid medical writers and managers within the life sciences industry regarding medical writing hiring, training, expectation and goal setting, performance evaluation, career development, retention, and role value sharing to cross-functional partners.

This article provides Section 1 of the 2017 Edition 2 Medical Writing Competency Model that describes the core work functions and associated tasks and activities related to professional medical writing within the life sciences industry. The functions in the Model are scientific communication strategy; document preparation, development, and finalization; document project management; document template, standard, format, and style development and maintenance; outsourcing, alliance partner, and client management; knowledge, skill, ability, and behavior development and sharing; and process improvement. The full Model also includes Section 2, which covers the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors needed for medical writers to be effective in their roles; Section 2 is presented in a companion article. Regulatory, publication, and other scientific writing as well as management of writing activities are covered. The Model was developed to aid medical writers and managers within the life sciences industry regarding medical writing hiring, training, expectation and goal setting, performance evaluation, career development, retention, and role value sharing to cross-functional partners.

Purpose The purpose of this analysis was to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of sepantronium (YM155), a small-molecule suppressor of the expression of the antiapoptosis protein survivin, in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors and to evaluate the effect of renal impairment on the PK profile of sepantronium. Methods Sepantronium was administered as a continuous intravenous infusion of 1.8–10.6 mg/m 2 /day for 168 h (7 days) to 33 patients. PK parameters were estimated via non-compartmental method. Renal function was categorized for the analysis based on the chronic kidney disease guidance using eGFR values at pre-dose. Results The PK of sepantronium was dose proportional in the dose range of 1.8–10.6 mg/m 2 /day. Age and sex did not significantly affect the PK of sepantronium. Results suggested that total clearance and renal clearance in patients with moderate renal impairment were 0.7-fold lower than those in patients with normal renal function, resulting in 1.3-fold higher steady-state concentration and area under the curve values. The PK parameters of sepantronium in patients with mild renal impairment were comparable to those in the patients with normal renal function. Conclusions While age and sex did not significantly affect the PK of sepantronium, moderate renal impairment increased exposure of sepantronium by about 30 %. The results suggest that no dose adjustment is required for patients with mild renal impairment.