Luveris® (Lutropin Alfa for Injection) in Women With Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (Luteinizing Hormone [LH] Less Than [<] 1.2 International Unit Per Liter [IU/L])

A Phase IV, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blinded, Clinical Trial to Confirm the Efficacy of the 75 IU Dose of Luveris® vs. Placebo When Administered With Follitropin Alfa for Induction of Follicular Development and Pregnancy in Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadal Women With Profound LH Deficiency, as Defined by a Baseline LH Level <1.2 IU/L

Sponsor has decided to discontinue Luveris® in the United States (US) due to level of customer demand for this product, and not due to any efficacy or safety concerns.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Luveris® 75 IU; Drug: Recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH); Drug: Recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG); Drug: Luveris® 25 IU; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

To confirm the efficacy of the 75 IU dose of Luveris® compared to placebo when administered concomitantly with follitropin alfa for induction of clinical pregnancy in women with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and profound LH deficiency (LH <1.2 IU/L), and to study the efficacy of a lower dose (25 IU) of Luveris® compared to placebo when administered concomitantly with follitropin alfa for induction of follicular development in women with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and profound LH deficiency (LH <1.2 IU/L).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 11
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Rockland, Massachusetts, United States, 02370
      • U.S. Medical Information, 1-888-275-7376

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be premenopausal, between 18 and 40 years of age inclusive on the day of consent
• Have a clinical history of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (World health organization [WHO] Group I type of anovulation) on the basis of congenital or acquired hypothalamic or pituitary endocrine dysfunction in the presence of qualifying screening laboratories
• Have no prior treatment cycles with gonadotropins or gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) (gonadotropin naïve)
• Have discontinued estrogen-progesterone replacement therapy at least one month before the screening procedure
• Have primary or secondary amenorrhea
• Have a negative progestin challenge test performed during Screening

• Have the following hormonal values in a centrally analyzed fasting blood sample, drawn within 6 weeks before initiation of treatment:

  • Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): less than (<)5 international unit per liter (IU/L)
  • Leutinizing hormone (LH): <1.2 IU/L (a second Baseline serum LH level will be repeated two weeks after the initial LH draw)
  • Prolactin: < 43.3 nanogram per milliliter (ng/mL) (<1040 milli-international unit per liter [mIU/L])
  • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): <6.5 micro-international units per milliliter (mcIU/mL)
  • Free Thyroxin (T4): 0.8-1.8 nanogram per deciliter (ng/dL) (11-24 picomole per liter [pmol/L])
  • Testosterone: <1.0 ng/mL (<3.5 nanomole per liter [nmol/L])
• Have an endovaginal pelvic ultrasound scan showing (i) no clinically significant uterine abnormality, (ii) no ovarian tumor or cyst, and (iii) less than or equal to (=<)13 small follicles (mean diameter =<10 milliliter [mm]) on the largest section through each ovary
• Have a normal cervical pap smear within 6 months of the initial visit
• Where indicated, have a normal or unchanged computed tomography (CT) scan or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) scan of the hypothalamic pituitary region on file
• Have a body mass index (BMI) between 18.4 and 31.4 kilogram per square meter (kg/m^2)
• Be willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study
• Have given written informed consent prior to any study related procedure not part of normal medical care, with the understanding that consent may be withdrawn by the subject at any time without prejudice to her future medical care

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any medical condition which in the judgment of the investigator may interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the drug
• Any pre-existing medical condition which would compromise the subject's ability to conceive in vivo or to successfully complete a pregnancy
• Ongoing pregnancy
• Clinically important systemic disease (example: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, serious migraine, intermittent purpura, hepatic, renal or cardiovascular disease, serious corticoid-dependent asthma)
• Known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B or C
• Ovarian enlargement or cyst of unknown etiology
• Abnormal gynecological bleeding of undetermined origin
• Previous or current hormone dependent tumor
• Known active substance abuse or eating disorder
• Known central nervous system (CNS) Lesions: In cases where hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is secondary to a CNS lesion or its treatment
• Exercise program exceeding 10 hours per week
• Is planning to undergo in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection or another assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure, other than intrauterine insemination, in the course of a study treatment cycle
• Currently undergoing treatment with psychotropic medication or with any other medication known to interfere with normal reproductive function (example: neuroleptics, dopamine antagonists)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo	Drug: Recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH); Fixed dose of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH, follitropin alfa) 75 to 150 IU will be administered subcutaneously for 7 days. After 7 days of treatment, if the subject response will suboptimal, based on follicular growth and serum E2 levels, follitropin alfa dose adjusted to maximal dose of 225 IU. Duration of treatment cycle will be up to 14 days, or maximum of 21 days (if follicular maturation is imminent, based upon follicular growth and E2 levels). Total duration will be of 3 treatment cycles.; Other Names: Follitropin alfa; Drug: Recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG); When the follicular response will adequate, ovulation will be triggered by a single 250 microgram subcutaneous injection of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG, choriogonadotropin alfa). Duration of treatment cycle will be up to 14 days, or maximum of 21 days (if follicular maturation is imminent, based upon follicular growth and E2 levels). Total duration will be of 3 treatment cycles.; Other Names: Choriogonadotropin alfa; Drug: Placebo; Placebo will be administered subcutaneously once daily. Duration of treatment cycle will be up to 14 days, or maximum of 21 days (if follicular maturation is imminent, based upon follicular growth and E2 levels). Total duration will be of 3 treatment cycles.
Active Comparator: Luveris® 75 IU	Drug: Luveris® 75 IU; Recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH, lutropin alfa, Luveris®), 75 IU will be administered subcutaneously once daily. Duration of treatment cycle will be up to 14 days, or maximum of 21 days (if follicular maturation is imminent, based upon follicular growth and estradiol [E2] levels). Total duration will be of 3 treatment cycles.; Other Names: Lutropin alfa; Recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH); Drug: Recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH); Fixed dose of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH, follitropin alfa) 75 to 150 IU will be administered subcutaneously for 7 days. After 7 days of treatment, if the subject response will suboptimal, based on follicular growth and serum E2 levels, follitropin alfa dose adjusted to maximal dose of 225 IU. Duration of treatment cycle will be up to 14 days, or maximum of 21 days (if follicular maturation is imminent, based upon follicular growth and E2 levels). Total duration will be of 3 treatment cycles.; Other Names: Follitropin alfa; Drug: Recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG); When the follicular response will adequate, ovulation will be triggered by a single 250 microgram subcutaneous injection of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG, choriogonadotropin alfa). Duration of treatment cycle will be up to 14 days, or maximum of 21 days (if follicular maturation is imminent, based upon follicular growth and E2 levels). Total duration will be of 3 treatment cycles.; Other Names: Choriogonadotropin alfa
Active Comparator: Luveris® 25 IU	Drug: Recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH); Fixed dose of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH, follitropin alfa) 75 to 150 IU will be administered subcutaneously for 7 days. After 7 days of treatment, if the subject response will suboptimal, based on follicular growth and serum E2 levels, follitropin alfa dose adjusted to maximal dose of 225 IU. Duration of treatment cycle will be up to 14 days, or maximum of 21 days (if follicular maturation is imminent, based upon follicular growth and E2 levels). Total duration will be of 3 treatment cycles.; Other Names: Follitropin alfa; Drug: Recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG); When the follicular response will adequate, ovulation will be triggered by a single 250 microgram subcutaneous injection of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG, choriogonadotropin alfa). Duration of treatment cycle will be up to 14 days, or maximum of 21 days (if follicular maturation is imminent, based upon follicular growth and E2 levels). Total duration will be of 3 treatment cycles.; Other Names: Choriogonadotropin alfa; Drug: Luveris® 25 IU; Recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH, lutropin alfa, Luveris®), 25 IU will be administered subcutaneously once daily. Duration of treatment cycle will be up to 14 days, or maximum of 21 days (if follicular maturation is imminent, based upon follicular growth and E2 levels). Total duration will be of 3 treatment cycles.; Other Names: Lutropin alfa; Recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to Clinical Pregnancy	Clinical pregnancy was defined as the presence of one or more fetal sac with fetal heart activity on the Day 35-42 post r-hCG ultrasound examination.	Stimulation Day 1 up to clinical pregnancy (Day 35-42 post r-hCG administration day [end of stimulation cycle {approximately 21 days}])

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Participants With Cumulative Clinical Pregnancy	Clinical pregnancy was defined as the presence of one or more fetal sac with fetal heart activity on the Day 35-42 post r-hCG ultrasound examination. Cumulative clinical pregnancy referred to all clinical pregnancy that occurred during all the 3 treatment cycles.	Day 35-42 post r-hCG administration day (end of stimulation cycle [approximately 21 days])
Percentage of Participants With Cumulative Ovulation	Ovulation was defined as a mid-luteal phase progesterone (P4) level greater than or equal to (>=) 10 nanogram per milliliter (ng/mL). Cumulative ovulation referred to all ovulations that occurred during all the 3 treatment cycles.	Recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG) administration day (end of stimulation cycle [approximately 21 days])

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: EMD Serono
• Investigators: Study Director: Medical Responsible, Merck Serono S.A., Geneva

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Full FDA approved prescribing information can be found here

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 20, 2006
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 22, 2006
• First Posted (Estimate): May 24, 2006

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 7, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 4, 2013
• Last Verified: August 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Placebo; Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (LH <1.2 IU/L); Luveris® 75 IU; Luveris® 25 IU; Recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG)
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; Hypogonadism; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Reproductive Control Agents; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Hormones; Chorionic Gonadotropin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 26109