Aims: Tremelimumab, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 human monoclonal antibody of the immunoglobulin G2 κ isotype, has been studied in oncology clinical trials as both monotherapy and in combination with durvalumab. This study characterized the pharmacokinetics of tremelimumab as monotherapy and in combination with durvalumab and evaluated the impact of patient covariates on pharmacokinetics.
Methods: A pooled-analysis population pharmacokinetics model was built using NONMEM methodology. Pharmacokinetic data from 5 studies spanning different tumour types and therapy regimens were pooled for model development (956 patients). A dataset pooled from 4 additional studies was used for external validation (554 patients). Demographic and relevant clinical covariates were explored during model development.
Results: Tremelimumab exhibited linear pharmacokinetics, well described by a 2-compartment model, with time-varying clearance (0.276 L/day at baseline) associated primarily with therapy regimen and linked with changes in disease status. As monotherapy and combination therapy, tremelimumab clearance over 1 year increased by ~16% and decreased by ~17%, respectively. Pharmacokinetic behaviour was consistent across patient demographics and cancer subtypes. Patients with higher bodyweight and lower albumin levels at baseline had significantly higher clearance; however, no dosage adjustments are warranted. A flat dose (75 mg) was projected to provide comparable exposure to weight-based dosing (1 mg/kg) in adults.
Conclusion: Tremelimumab exhibited linear pharmacokinetics but consistently opposite trends of time-varying clearance as monotherapy and in combination with durvalumab. Baseline bodyweight and albumin were significant covariates, but conversion from weight-based dosing at 1 mg/kg to flat dosing at 75 mg had no clinically relevant impact.
Keywords: anticancer drugs; oncology; pharmacokinetics.
© 2022 British Pharmacological Society.