The Clinical Pharmacology of Elotuzumab

Clin Pharmacokinet. 2018 Mar;57(3):297-313. doi: 10.1007/s40262-017-0585-6.

Abstract

Novel treatment options are needed to improve long-term outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). In this article, we comprehensively review the clinical pharmacology of elotuzumab, a first-in-class monoclonal anti-SLAMF7 antibody approved in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (ELd) for the treatment of patients with MM and one to three prior therapies. Elotuzumab has a dual mechanism of action to specifically kill myeloma cells: binding SLAMF7 on myeloma cells facilitates natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and direct engagement of SLAMF7 on NK cells further enhances NK cell activity. Elotuzumab administration causes transient elevations of selected cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ-induced protein-10 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1). The temporary nature of these elevations (greatest after the first dose, with a trend to return to baseline by day 7) suggests a low likelihood of facilitating clinically meaningful drug-drug interactions. Elotuzumab exposure increases more than proportionally to dose and >80% SLAMF7 receptor occupancy is achieved with the approved elotuzumab 10 mg/kg regimen. Population pharmacokinetic data from 375 patients demonstrated weight-based dosing is appropriate for elotuzumab, and that ethnicity and hepatic/renal function have minimal effects on exposure. Exposure-response analysis of patients treated with ELd demonstrated that increased elotuzumab exposure does not elevate the risk of grade 3+ adverse events (AEs) or AEs leading to discontinuation/death. Elotuzumab antidrug antibodies occurred in 18.5% of patients treated with ELd or elotuzumab plus bortezomib and dexamethasone, but were generally transient and did not affect elotuzumab efficacy or safety. A monotherapy study indicated elotuzumab does not have clinically relevant effects on QT intervals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacokinetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Drug Interactions
  • Humans
  • Lenalidomide / administration & dosage
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Cytokines
  • elotuzumab
  • Dexamethasone
  • Lenalidomide