Powerful and Compassionate Nephrotoxicity Prevention Protocol
Introduction
This innovative protocol is designed to mitigate the nephrotoxic effects associated with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), which are commonly used in organ transplantation and autoimmune disease treatments. By targeting specific pathways and implementing dosing strategies that minimize kidney damage, this protocol provides a safer approach to using CNIs, enhancing patient outcomes and extending the effective use of these critical drugs. For pharmaceutical companies, transplant centers, and healthcare providers, this protocol offers a much-needed solution to address a known risk associated with CNIs, allowing patients to receive the benefits of these drugs without compromising renal health.
The Challenge: Managing CNI-Induced Kidney Damage
Calcineurin inhibitors, while essential in preventing organ rejection and managing autoimmune diseases, pose a significant risk of nephrotoxicity, leading to compromised renal function over time. For patients on long-term CNI therapy, the risk of kidney damage presents a major treatment dilemma, as there are limited options for effectively preventing nephrotoxicity without reducing the therapeutic benefits of CNIs. Physicians and healthcare providers need solutions that can protect kidney function while maintaining the immunosuppressive effects needed for successful transplants and autoimmune disease management.
A Protocol Designed to Preserve Renal Health
This nephrotoxicity prevention protocol offers a structured and effective approach to using CNIs while protecting kidney function. The protocol includes specific dosing guidelines, monitoring criteria, and adjunctive treatments that work together to reduce the toxic impact of CNIs on the kidneys. Patients following this protocol experience a reduced risk of kidney damage, allowing them to benefit from CNIs’ therapeutic effects with less concern for long-term renal health issues. For healthcare providers, this protocol is a valuable tool for balancing treatment efficacy with patient safety, improving quality of life and long-term outcomes for those on CNI therapy.
Key Benefits for Pharmaceuticals and Transplant Centers
Pharmaceutical companies can leverage this protocol to create products or guidelines that support safer CNI use, positioning their offerings as patient-focused solutions in nephrology and transplantation care. Transplant centers and healthcare providers can integrate this protocol into their treatment plans to better support patients, reducing the likelihood of nephrotoxicity-related complications. This protocol’s focus on renal protection aligns with the increasing emphasis on patient safety and long-term health, offering a proactive solution to a critical issue in transplant and autoimmune care.
Invest in Safer Long-Term Therapies
Licensing this nephrotoxicity prevention protocol positions your company as a leader in safe, effective treatment strategies for CNI-dependent patients. By providing a structured approach to reducing kidney damage, your business can address a key need in nephrology, transplant medicine, and autoimmune therapy, supporting improved patient outcomes and extending treatment success. This protocol is a valuable investment for companies focused on enhancing safety and quality of life in long-term healthcare solutions.
Provided herein are methods of employing pharmacodynamics regimens to maximize effectiveness of voclosporin in treatment of proteinuric kidney diseases while minimizing undesirable side effects, such as but not limited to calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity. Also provided are methods of assessments of renal functions and/or conditions, and corresponding protocols to modify, stop, restore and/or re-initiate voclosporin dosing and administrations to maximize effectiveness of voclosporin in treatment of proteinuric kidney diseases while minimizing undesirable side effects.
1. A method to reduce chronic calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity in treatment of a proteinuric kidney disease or associated with a transplant, which method comprises administering to a subject diagnosed with said disease or a subject that is receiving or is a candidate for receiving a transplant, a predetermined daily dosage of effective amounts of voclosporin over a projected treatment period of at least 55 weeks, said method further comprising:
(a) assessing the estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) of said subject at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period; and
(b) (i) if the eGFR of said subject decreases by more than a target % to below a predetermined value, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the eGFR of said subject decreases by less than said target %, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time point is immediately preceding initiating said protocol.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined value is in the range of 50-90 ml/min/1.73 m2.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined value is approximately 60 ml/min/1.73 m2.
5. The method of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the target % is in the range of 20-45%.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the target % is approximately 30%.
7. The method of any one of claims 1-6, further comprising identifying said subject as appropriate for said method prior to conducting said method on said subject by:
(a) determining that the urine protein creatinine ratio (UPCR) of said subject is >1 mg/mg as measured by first morning void or 24 hour urine; and
(b) determining said subject has an eGFR as measured by Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation (CKD-EP1) of >45 ml/min/1.73 m2,
wherein if the conditions of (a) and (b) are met, said subject is identified as appropriate for said method.
8. A method to reduce chronic calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity in treatment of a proteinuric kidney disease or associated with a transplant, which method comprises administering to a subject diagnosed with said disease, a subject that is receiving or is a candidate for receiving a transplant, predetermined daily dosages of effective amounts of voclosporin over a projected treatment period to an end point, further comprising:
(a) measuring urinary protein creatinine ratio (UPCR) of said subject at a first time point prior to said treatment period and a second time point occurring prior to the end point but after the start of the treatment period and determining any reduction of said UPCR, between said first and second time points, and
(b) if the UPCR of said subject fails to show a reduction of at least a predetermined amount at said second time point, discontinuing administering voclosporin to the subject and continuing said administering if said predetermined amount of reduction is shown.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising measuring the concentration of C3/C4 in the blood of said subject at said first and second time points and determining whether the concentration of C3/C4 is normalized at said second time point and if said normalization is found, reinstating or continuing administering voclosporin to the subject and if normalization has not occurred maintaining said discontinuing.
10. A method to treat a proteinuric kidney disease, which method comprises administering to a subject diagnosed with the proteinuric kidney disease, a predetermined daily dosage of effective amounts of voclosporin over a projected treatment period of at least 8 weeks, wherein said effective amount is 15.8 mg BID or 7.9 mg voclosporin BID.
11. A method to reduce chronic calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity associated with a transplant, which method comprises administering to a subject that is receiving or is a candidate for receiving a transplant, a predetermined daily dosage of effective amounts of voclosporin over a projected treatment period of at least 8 weeks, wherein said effective amount is 15.8 mg BID or 7.9 mg voclosporin BID.
12. A method to reduce transplant rejection, which method comprises administering to a subject that is receiving or is a candidate for receiving a transplant, a predetermined daily dosage of effective amounts of voclosporin over a projected treatment period of at least 8 weeks, wherein said effective amount is 15.8 mg BID or 7.9 mg voclosporin BID.
13. The method of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the proteinuric kidney disease is lupus nephritis.
14. The method of any one of claims 1-9, 11 and 12, wherein the transplant is an organ transplant or a tissue transplant.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the organ transplant is a kidney (renal) transplant, a liver transplant, or a heart transplant.
16. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein the organ transplant is a kidney (renal) transplant.
17. The method of any one of claims 1-16, wherein said subject has increased susceptibility to chronic calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity.
18. The method of any one of claims 1-17, wherein said subject exhibits glomerulonephropathy.
19. The method of any one of claims 1-18, wherein said subject exhibits one or more of:
(a) variability in P-glycoprotein expression and/or activity;
(b) variability in CYP3A4/5 expression and/or activity;
(c) older kidney age;
(d) salt depletion;
(e) the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
(f) genetic polymorphisms in TGF-β and/or ACE; and/or
(g) glomerulonephropathy.
20. The method of any one of claims 1-19, further comprising:
(a) assessing the interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy of said subject by renal biopsies at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period; and
(b) (i) if interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy is observed in >5% in cortical area, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy is observed in <5% in cortical area, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
21. The method of any one of claims 1-20, further comprising:
(a) assessing the presence of medial arteriolar hyalinosis of said subject by renal biopsies at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period; and
(b) (i) if medial arteriolar hyalinosis is present, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if medial arteriolar hyalinosis is not present, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein medial arteriolar hyalinosis is identified by the replacement of necrotic smooth muscle cells with focal, circular lumpy protein (hyaline) deposits at the periphery of the wall of afferent arterioles, and/or the narrowing of the vascular lumen.
23. The method of any one of claims 1-22, further comprising:
(a) assessing the presence of glomerular injury of said subject by renal biopsies at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if glomerular injury is present, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if glomerular injury is not present, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein glomerular injury comprises global and segmental glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and/or arteriosclerosis.
25. The method of claim 23 or 24, wherein glomerular injury is present when total renal chronicity score is >1.
26. The method of any one of claims 1-25, further comprising:
(a) assessing the presence of juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) hyperplasia of said subject by renal biopsies at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if JGA hyperplasia is present, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if JGA hyperplasia is not present, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein JGA hyperplasia comprises:
(a) enlargements of juxtaglomerular apparatus components comprising one or more of: the vascular components, the mesangial cell components, the tubular components (the macula densa); and/or
(b) the presence of intracellular renin granules.
28. The method of any one of claims 1-27, further comprising:
(a) assessing the presence of tubular microcalcifications of said subject by renal biopsies at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if tubular microcalcifications are present, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if tubular microcalcifications are not present, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
29. The method of any one of claims 1-28, further comprising:
(a) assessing the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression of said subject by renal biopsies at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if loss of expression of P-gp is more than a predetermined value, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if loss of expression of P-gp is less than the predetermined value, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined value for loss of expression of P-gp is 10% loss of P-gp expression in tubules in the cortical area.
31. The method of any one of claims 1-30, further comprising:
(a) assessing the Calcineurin Inhibitor (CNI) Nephrotoxicity and/or Banff Scores of said subject by renal biopsies at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if the CNI Nephrotoxicity and/or Banff Scores are outside of predetermined ranges, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the CNI Nephrotoxicity and/or Banff Scores are within predetermined ranges, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein:
(a) the predetermined range of CNI Nephrotoxicity Score is 0-3; and/or
(b) the predetermined range of Banff Score is 0-3.
33. The method of any one of claims 1-32, further comprising:
(a) assessing one or more of the National Institutes of Health Activity Index (NIH-AI), the National Institutes of Health Chronicity Index (NIH-CI), and the Tubulointerstitial Activity Index (TIAI) of said subject by renal biopsies at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if the NIH-AI, NIH-CI, and/or TIAI are outside of predetermined ranges, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the NIH-AI, NIH-CI, and/or TIAI are within predetermined ranges, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein:
(a) the predetermined range of NIH-AI is 0-6; and/or
(b) the predetermined range of NIH-CI is 0-3; and/or
(c) the predetermined range of TIAI is 0-5.
35. The method of any one of claims 1-34, further comprising:
(a) assessing urine anion gap (UAG) in urinary specimens of said subject at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if the UAG is outside of a predetermined range, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the UAG is within the predetermined range, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the predetermined range of UAG is between 20-90 mEq/L.
37. The method of any one of claims 1-36, further comprising:
(a) assessing hyperkalemia, hypomagnesemia, magnesium wasting and/or hyperuricemia in serum and urine samples of said subject at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if hyperkalemia, hypomagnesemia, magnesium wasting and/or hyperuricemia are detected, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if hyperkalemia, hypomagnesemia, magnesium wasting and hyperuricemia are not detected, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein:
(a) hyperkalemia is determined by a serum potassium level of >5 mmol/L;
(b) hypomagnesemia is determined by a serum magnesium level less than 1.4 mg/dL;
(c) magnesium wasting is determined by a urine magnesium level of more than 2 mEq;
(d) hyperuricemia is determined by a serum uric acid level of >7.0 mg/dL.
39. The method of any one of claims 1-38, further comprising:
(a) assessing serum creatinine (SCr) and/or serum cystatin C (SCysC) in serum samples of said subject at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if the SCr and/or SCysC levels are elevated above predetermined ranges, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the SCr and/or SCysC levels are within predetermined ranges, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein:
(a) the predetermined range of SCr level is 0.84-1.21 mg/dL; and/or
(b) the predetermined range of SCysC level is below 1 mg/L.
41. The method of any one of claims 1-40, further comprising:
(a) assessing creatinine clearance (CrCl) and/or blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum samples of said subject at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if the CrCl level is decreased below a first predetermined range and/or if BUN level is elevated above a second predetermined range, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the CrCl and/or BUN levels are within predetermined ranges, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein:
(a) the first predetermined range of CrCl level is 137-150 mL/min in males and 128-130 m/min in females;
(b) the second predetermined range of BUN level is 7 to 20 mg/dL.
43. The method of any one of claims 1-42, further comprising:
(a) assessing renal vascular resistance and/or renal plasma flow (RPF) of said subject at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if the renal vascular resistance and/or RPF are altered outside of predetermined values, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the renal vascular resistance and/or RPF remain within predetermined values, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the predetermined value of RPF is 600 mL/min.
45. The method of any one of claims 1-44, further comprising:
(a) assessing albuminuria in morning/random urinary specimens of said subject at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if the albuminuria is detected, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the albuminuria is not detected, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein albuminuria is determined by the presence of albumin/creatinine ratios of >30 mg/g.
47. The method of any one of claims 1-46, wherein the method does not result in a substantial increase or decrease of the level of one or more urinary electrolytes, or the level of one or more urinary electrolytes is decreased or increased by less than the predetermined value, between said first and second time points.
48. The method of any one of claims 1-47, further comprising:
(a) assessing the level of one or more urinary electrolytes of said subject at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if the level of the one or more urinary electrolyte is decreased or increased by more than a predetermined value, between said first and second time points, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the level of the one or more urinary electrolyte is decreased or increased by less than the predetermined value, between said first and second time points, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
49. The method of claim 47 or 48, wherein the urinary electrolyte is selected from one or more of magnesium, sodium and potassium.
50. The method of claim 47 or 48, wherein the urinary electrolyte is magnesium, and the predetermined value is about 20 mg/dL.
51. The method of claim 47 or 48, wherein the urinary electrolyte is sodium, and the predetermined value is about 50 mmol/L.
52. The method of claim 47 or 48, wherein the urinary electrolyte is potassium, and the predetermined value is about 10 mmol/L.
53. The method of any one of claims 1-52, wherein the method does not result in a substantial dyslipidemia, or the level of one or more lipids is within a predetermined range, at said second time point.
54. The method of any one of claims 1-53, further comprising:
(a) assessing the level of one or more lipids of said subject at at least a first time point and a second time point on different days of said treatment period, and
(b) (i) if the level of the one or more lipid is outside of a predetermined range, at said second time point, reducing the daily dosage by increment(s) of 7.9 mg BID or stopping the administering of voclosporin to said subject;
(ii) if the level of the one or more lipid is within a predetermined range, at said second time point, continuing administering the same predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin to said subject.
55. The method of claim 53 or 54, wherein the one or more lipid is selected from one or more of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride.
56. The method of claim 53 or 54, wherein the lipid is total cholesterol, and the predetermined range is 100-200 mg/dL.
57. The method of claim 53 or 54, wherein the lipid is triglycerides, and the predetermined range is 50-150 mg/dL.
58. The method of claim 53 or 54, wherein the lipid is LDL, and the predetermined range is 50-130 mg/dL.
59. The method of any one of claims 1-9 and 13-58, wherein the first time point is immediately preceding initiating said protocol.
60. The method of any one of claims 1-9 and 13-59, wherein the second time point is after the first time point and initiating said protocol.
61. The method of any one of claims 1-9 and 13-59, wherein the second time point is after the mid-point of the projected treatment period.
62. The method of any one of claims 1-9 and 13-59, wherein the second time point is after the end of the projected treatment period.
63. The method of any one of claims 1-62, wherein said predetermined daily dosage is 39.5 mg voclosporin BID or 31.6 mg voclosporin BID or 23.7 mg voclosporin BID or 15.8 mg voclosporin BID or 7.9 mg voclosporin BID.
64. The method of any one of claims 1-63, further comprising evaluating said subject for renal function at a time point after the end of said treatment period by assessing eGFR.
65. The method of claim 64, further comprising evaluating said subject for efficacy by assessing protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) at a time point after the end of said treatment period.
66. The method of any one of claims 1-65, further comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).
67. The method of any one of claims 1-66, further comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a corticosteroid.
68. The method of any one of claims 1-67, wherein said treatment period is at least 100 weeks.
69. The method of any one of claims 1-68, wherein said treatment period is at least 150 weeks.
70. The method of any one of claims 1-9 and 13-69, further comprising determining the eGFR of said subject at a third time point and if the eGFR is determined at said third time point to differ from the eGFR determined at said first time point by less than said target %, resuming administering said predetermined daily dosage of voclosporin.
71. The method of claim 70, wherein the target % is 20-45%.
72. The method of claim 70, wherein the target % is approximately 30%.
Share
Title
Protocol to minimize calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity
Inventor(s)
Michael Martin, Robert B. HUIZINGA, Neil SOLOMONS
Assignee(s)
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc
Patent #
20240077469
Patent Date
March 7, 2024