Romiplostim Treatment of Thrombocytopenia in Subjects With Low or Intermediate-1 Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Romiplostim Treatment of Thrombocytopenia in Subjects With Low or Intermediate-1 Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

The Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) for study 20060198 recommended that all subjects discontinue treatment of study drug and continue to be followed for long term follow-up. Amgen adopted the DMC recommendation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Thrombocytopenia; MDS
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: Romiplostim; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

This is a Phase 2, multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of romiplostim (formerly, AMG 531) treatment in thrombocytopenic MDS patients. The study is composed of a 26-week placebo controlled test treatment period (romiplostim versus Placebo), a 4 week interim wash-out period, a 24-week placebo controlled extended treatment period, and a 4-week follow-up period followed by an End of Study (EOS) visit. During the interim wash-out period, a bone marrow biopsy will be performed in the absence of growth factor to assess changes in the marrow. In the extended treatment period, safety assessments will continue and participants will be allowed to receive any standard of care treatments for MDS. Patients will be followed for survival for an additional 60 months following the End of Study (EOS) visit.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 250
• Phase: Phase 2

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria: • Diagnosis of MDS using the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for myeloid neoplasms as assessed during the screening period. • Per MDS International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS), low or intermediate-1 risk MDS as assessed during the screening period. • Mean of the 2 platelet counts taken within 4 weeks prior to randomization must be: - ≤ 20 x 10^9/L, (with no individual count >30 x 10^9/L during the screening period), with or without history of bleeding associated with diagnosis of MDS, OR - ≤ 50 x 10^9/L, (with no individual count >60 x 10^9/L during the screening period) with a history of bleeding associated with the diagnosis of MDS. • Patients must be ≥18 and ≤ 90 years of age at time of informed consent. Patients between 85 and 90 years of age must have been diagnosed with MDS ≤ 5 years from study start. • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2. • Adequate liver function, as evidenced by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 times laboratory normal range, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3 times laboratory normal range and total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 times laboratory normal range. (Adequate liver function for patients with confirmed diagnosis of Gilbert's Disease evidenced by ALT ≤ 3 times laboratory normal range, and AST ≤ 3 times laboratory normal range.) • Serum creatinine concentration ≤ 2 mg/dl (≤176.8 μmol/L). • Bone marrow biopsy and aspirate with cytogenetics within 3 months of starting first dose of investigational product. • Written Informed Consent. Exclusion Criteria: • Have ever received any disease-modifying treatment for MDS. • Previously diagnosed with intermediate-2 or high risk MDS using the IPSS. • Prior history of leukemia, aplastic anemia, or other non-MDS related bone marrow stem cell disorder. • Prior history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. • Persistent peripheral blood monocytosis (≥ 3 months with an absolute monocyte count >1,000/μL) or known diagnosis of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia per French-American-British Classification System for MDS (FAB) criteria. • Prior malignancy (other than in situ cervical cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer, or in situ carcinoma) unless treated with curative intent and without evidence of disease for ≥ 3 years before randomization. • Active or uncontrolled infections. • Unstable angina, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] > class II), uncontrolled hypertension (diastolic >100 mmHg), uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, or recent (within 1 year) myocardial infarction. • History of arterial thrombosis (eg, stroke or transient ischemic attack) within the past year. • History of venous thrombosis that currently requires anti-coagulation therapy. • Received Interleukin (IL)-11 within 4 weeks of first dose of investigational product. • Have previously received any thrombopoietic growth factor. • Receipt of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, (G-CSF), pegylated-G-CSF, or granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) within 4 weeks of first dose of investigational product. • Planned receipt of peg-G-CSF or GM-CSF after first dose of investigational product. • Pregnant or breast feeding. • Patients of reproductive potential who are not using adequate contraceptive precautions, in the judgment of the investigator. Amgen recommends double barrier contraception is used for all applicable patients enrolled on this study. A double barrier method is defined as two methods of contraception, for example 2 actual barrier methods, or one actual barrier method and one hormonal method. • Patient has known sensitivity to any recombinant E coli-derived product (eg, Infergen®, Neupogen®, Somatropin, and Actimmune). • Previously enrolled into the 20060198 study or another romiplostim study. • Inability to comply with study procedures. • Patient currently is enrolled in or has not yet completed at least 30 days since ending other investigational device or drug study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Romiplostim; Weekly subcutaneous dosing based on platelet count for 26 weeks during the Test Treatment Period and for 24 weeks during the Extended Treatment Period, separated by a 4-week interim washout period. Starting dose is at 750 μg, up to a maximum dose of 1000 μg, or reduced to a minimum of 250 μg.	Biological: Romiplostim; Romiplostim is supplied in a 5 mL single use glass vial as a sterile, white, preservative-free, lyophilized powder.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Weekly subcutaneous dosing with blinded matching placebo dose level for 26 weeks during the Test Treatment Period and for 24 weeks during the Extended Treatment Period, separated by a 4-week interim washout period.	Drug: Placebo; Placebo is supplied in a 5 mL single use glass vial as a sterile, white, preservative-free, lyophilized powder.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Clinically Significant Bleeding Events	A clinically significant bleeding event is defined as any bleeding event of grade ≥ 2 per the modified World Health Organization (WHO) bleeding scale: • Grade 0 = no bleeding • Grade 1 = petechia or mucosal or retinal bleeding not requiring intervention • Grade 2 = melena, hematemesis, hematuria, hemoptysis • Grade 3 = bleeding required red cell transfusion • Grade 4 = retinal bleeding with visual impairment • Grade 5 = non-fatal cerebral bleeding • Grade 6 = fatal cerebral bleeding • Grade 7 = fatal non-cerebral bleeding. Bleeding events that continue for more than 7 days were counted as separate events every eighth day. Multiple events that arose from one organ system on one day were collapsed into one single event. Bleeding events with a start date between the first dose date and the last dose date of the test treatment period+7 days are included.	Test Treatment Period (Weeks 1-26)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Annualized Rate of Platelet Transfusion Events	A discrete platelet transfusion is any number of platelet transfusion administered within a 3-day period. Transfusions administered more than 3 days apart are counted as separate events. Transfusion given in the absence of any bleeding, when platelet count is >10x10^9/L, is not counted as a platelet transfusion event. Events with start date between the first dose date and the last dose date of the test treatment period +7 days are included. Exposure adjusted event rate per 100 patient-years = (events / patient-years * 100). Patient Year = total patient years of exposure to investigational product during 26 weeks test treatment period.	Test Treatment Period (Weeks 1-26)
Annualized Rate of Overall Bleeding Events	The time from first dose of study drug to the last dose of 26-week test treatment period. A bleeding event is defined as any bleeding event reported during the test treatment period. Bleeding events that continue for more than 7 days are counted as separate events every eighth day. Multiple events that arose from one organ system on one day are collapsed into one single event. Exposure adjusted event rate per 100 patient-years = events / patient-year * 100).	Test Treatment Period (Weeks 1-26)
Annualized Rate of Total Platelet Transfusion Units	The time from first dose of study drug to the last dose of 26-week test treatment period. A unit of platelets is defined as a single pack of pooled platelet-rich plasma comprised of 6 to 8 individual platelet concentrate packs (200 to 400 mL), a single pack of pooled buffy-coat concentrate, or 1 apheresis (single donor) concentrate. Exposure adjusted event rate per 100 patient-years = events / patient-years * 100.	Test Treatment Period (Weeks 1-26)
Number of Participants With Platelet Hematologic Improvement (HI-P)	Platelet Hematologic Improvemen defined by the international working group (IWG) as: an absolute increase in platelet count of ≥ 30 x 10^9/L for a patient starting with a platelet count of ≥ 20 x 10^9/L or an increase in platelet count from < 20 x 10^9/L to ≥ 20 x 10^9/L and by at least 100% in a patient that started with a platelet count < 20 x 10^9/L. To account for any possible contribution from platelet transfusions, platelet counts within 3 days following administration of platelet transfusion is not counted towards the platelet hematologic improvement endpoint. If no platelet measurements are available on the weekly scheduled dose day, then that week is not counted towards the platelet hematologic improvement endpoint.	Test Treatment Period (Weeks 1-26)
Exposure-adjusted Total Duration of Platelet Hematologic Improvement (HI-P) in the Absence of Platelet Transfusions	Duration for participants who did not report HI-P during the period is 0. A platelet hematologic improvement (HI-P) is defined by an MDS International Working criteria as patients with a baseline platelet count of ≥ 20 x 10^9/L achieving an absolute increase of ≥ 30 x 10^9/L or increasing the platelet count to above 20 x 10^9/L and by at least 100% in patients with a baseline of < 20 x 10^9/L for at least 8 consecutive weeks. To account for any possible contribution from platelet transfusions, platelet counts within 3 days following administration of platelet transfusion is not counted towards the platelet hematologic improvement endpoint. If no platelet measurements are available on the weekly scheduled dose day, then that week is not counted towards the platelet hematologic improvement endpoint. The durations of HI-P are cumulative if more than one incidence occurred. Exposure adjusted event rate per 100 patient-weeks = total number of weeks / patient-weeks * 100.	Test Treatment Period (Weeks 1-26)
Number of Participants Who Died		From randomization to 58 weeks, the end of study visit or the closest available follow-up information up to 58 weeks from the long term follow-up for those who discontinued the study early, with a data cut-off date of 20 July 2012.
Time to Death	Overall survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods. For patients who discontinued early, additional information from the long term follow-up are added (closest available follow-up information up to 58 weeks).	From randomization to 58 weeks, the end of study visit or the closest available follow-up information up to 58 weeks from the long term follow-up for those who discontinued the study early, with a data cut-off date of 20 July 2012.
Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Survival at Month 12	Overall survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods.	Month 12, with a data cut-off date of 20 July 2012.
Annualized Rate of Patient-reported Bleeding Events	The number of bleeding events was obtained from the thrombocytopenia symptoms (Th-symptoms) survey. Patients reported spontaneous bleeding to have occurred 0, 1 or 2, 3 or 4, 5 or 6, or 7 or more times in the past week. The lower threshold of bleeding counts is used for conservative purposes (i.e., the "3" is used for the response option of "3 or 4 times"). Exposure adjusted event rate per 100 patient-years = number of events / patient-year * 100.	Test Treatment Period (Weeks 1-26)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Amgen

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Diao G, Zeng D, Hu K, Ibrahim JG. Modeling event count data in the presence of informative dropout with application to bleeding and transfusion events in myelodysplastic syndrome. Stat Med. 2017 Sep 30;36(22):3475-3494. doi: 10.1002/sim.7351. Epub 2017 May 30.
• Kantarjian HM, Fenaux P, Sekeres MA, Szer J, Platzbecker U, Kuendgen A, Gaidano G, Wiktor-Jedrzejczak W, Carpenter N, Mehta B, Franklin J, Giagounidis A. Long-term follow-up for up to 5 years on the risk of leukaemic progression in thrombocytopenic patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes treated with romiplostim or placebo in a randomised double-blind trial. Lancet Haematol. 2018 Mar;5(3):e117-e126. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(18)30016-4. Epub 2018 Jan 26.
• Giagounidis A, Mufti GJ, Fenaux P, Sekeres MA, Szer J, Platzbecker U, Kuendgen A, Gaidano G, Wiktor-Jedrzejczak W, Hu K, Woodard P, Yang AS, Kantarjian HM. Results of a randomized, double-blind study of romiplostim versus placebo in patients with low/intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and thrombocytopenia. Cancer. 2014 Jun 15;120(12):1838-46. doi: 10.1002/cncr.28663. Epub 2014 Apr 4.
• Platzbecker U, Sekeres MA, Kantarjian H, Giagounidis A, Mufti GJ, Jia C, Yang AS, Fenaux P. Relationship of different platelet response criteria and patient outcomes in a romiplostim myelodysplastic syndromes trial. Leukemia. 2014 Dec;28(12):2418-21. doi: 10.1038/leu.2014.253. Epub 2014 Sep 2. No abstract available.
• Sekeres MA, Giagounidis A, Kantarjian H, Mufti GJ, Fenaux P, Jia C, Yang AS, Platzbecker U. Development and validation of a model to predict platelet response to romiplostim in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 2014 Nov;167(3):337-45. doi: 10.1111/bjh.13037. Epub 2014 Jul 14.
• Diao G, Zeng D, Hu K, Ibrahim JG. Semiparametric frailty models for zero-inflated event count data in the presence of informative dropout. Biometrics. 2019 Dec;75(4):1168-1178. doi: 10.1111/biom.13085. Epub 2019 Sep 2.

Helpful Links

• AmgenTrials clinical trials website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 21, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 31, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): November 30, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 31, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 31, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): February 13, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 7, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 4, 2022
• Last Verified: November 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: MDS; Low Risk MDS; Thrombocytopenia; Intermediate-1 Risk MDS
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Neoplasms; Disease; Bone Marrow Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Blood Platelet Disorders; Precancerous Conditions; Syndrome; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Preleukemia; Thrombocytopenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 20060198