The challenge of achieving target drug concentrations in clinical trials: experience from the Symphony study.
BACKGROUND
The Symphony study compared four immunosuppressant regimens, defined by protocol-specified target drug concentrations. This subanalysis examines actual drug levels and the implications on the interpretation of results.


METHODS
De novo renal transplant patients (n=1645) were randomized to receive mycophenolate mofetil (2 g/day) and corticosteroids in combination with standard-dose cyclosporine A (CsA; 150-300 ng/mL for 3 months then 100-200 ng/mL), or daclizumab induction and low-dose CsA (50-100 ng/mL), low-dose tacrolimus (Tac; 3-7 ng/mL), or low-dose sirolimus (SRL; 4-8 ng/mL).


RESULTS
Low-dose Tac was significantly superior for renal function, acute rejection, and graft survival at 12 months. Median trough levels of CsA, Tac, or SRL were toward the high end of target ranges in all groups, and 50% to 60% were within target. During weeks 1 to 8, only 6.5% to 11.0% of patients were consistently within target. At week 8, the range of concentrations encompassing 75% of patients on standard-dose CsA was 141 to 321 ng/mL; for low-dose CsA, 62 to 159 ng/mL; for low-dose Tac, 4.3 to 10.0 ng/mL, and for low-dose SRL, 4.4 to 11.2 ng/mL. The protocol-defined target levels were approximately, but not fully achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
To replicate the Symphony study results in clinical practice, the protocol-defined drug concentration targets should be aimed for, but the concentrations actually achieved may be regarded as acceptable. Future clinical studies should include measures of how well target drug levels were achieved to better guide further attempts to develop new regimens designed to reduce or eliminate calcineurin inhibitors.
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. henrik.ekberg@med.lu.se
Henrik
H
Ekberg
Richard D
RD
Mamelok
Thomas C
TC
Pearson
Flavio
F
Vincenti
Hélio
H
Tedesco-Silva
Pierre
P
Daloze
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D002102:Cadaver; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077561:Daclizumab; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D019520:Living Donors; D012107:Research Design; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014019:Tissue Donors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D000077561:Daclizumab; D020123:Sirolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus