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Pharmacokinetics and Safety of a Fully Human Hepatocyte Growth Factor Antibody, AMG 102, in Cynomolgus Monkeys

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Abstract

Purpose

AMG 102, a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), is a potential cancer therapeutic agent because of its ability to disrupt HGF/c-Met signaling pathways which have been implicated in most tumor types. To support a phase 1 study, the pharmacokinetic and safety profile of AMG 102 was assessed in cynomolgus monkeys.

Materials and Methods

Serum concentration-time data from single-(IV and SC) and repeated-dose (IV) studies of up to 13 weeks were used for pharmacokinetic analysis. Safety was assessed in a single-dose safety pharmacology study with IV doses of 0 (vehicle), 25, 100, or 300 mg/kg and a 4-week toxicity study with once weekly IV doses of 0 (vehicle), 5, 25, or 100 mg/kg.

Results

AMG 102 exhibited linear pharmacokinetics over a 600-fold dose range (0.5 to 300 mg/kg) with a mean terminal half-life of 5.6 days after IV dosing. Clearance and volume of distribution at steady state were 1.22 ml/h and 198.3 ml, respectively. Estimated bioavailability was 72% for SC administration. Antibody response to AMG 102 was observed in a small percentage of monkeys. No treatment-related cardiovascular, respiratory, or CNS changes were observed. Administration of AMG 102 for 4 weeks was well tolerated at doses up to 100 mg/kg. Potential treatment-related effects were limited to minimal/moderate gastric mucosa hemorrhage in the mid- and high-dose groups.

Conclusions

The nonclinical pharmacokinetic and safety profile of AMG 102 effectively supports clinical investigation.

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Abbreviations

AUC:

Area under the concentration-time curve

CL:

Systemic clearance

CL12:

Intercompartmental clearance

C max, :

Observed maximum concentration

cMet:

Tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor

CNS:

Central nervous system

ECG:

Electrocardiogram

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

F:

Apparent bioavailability

FOCE:

First order conditional estimation

IgG2 :

Immunoglobulin of subclass 2

IV:

Intravenous

HGF:

Hepatocyte growth factor

Ka:

First-order absorption rate

OD:

Optical density

PK:

Pharmacokinetics

rhHGF:

Recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor

SC:

Subcutaneous

T max :

Time of observed maximum concentration

t 1/2 :

Half-life

V ss :

Volume at steady-state

V1:

Volume of central compartment

V2:

Volume of peripheral compartment

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Parnian Zia-Amirhosseini for reviewing this manuscript and providing helpful comments and Dr. Laura Healy for performing a peer review of the microscopic findings in the 4-week toxicity study. Ms. Tsui-Chern Cheah contributed to the technical preparation of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Tarundeep Kakkar.

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Kakkar, T., Ma, M., Zhuang, Y. et al. Pharmacokinetics and Safety of a Fully Human Hepatocyte Growth Factor Antibody, AMG 102, in Cynomolgus Monkeys. Pharm Res 24, 1910–1918 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-007-9316-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-007-9316-2

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