Exploring the Feasibility of a Bracketing Approach Utilizing Modeling for Development of Long-Acting Injectables for Regulatory Approval—A Case Study Using Levonorgestrel

Background: The development of long-acting products of a characterized drug substance is of great interest. It is possible to support the development of these products with available clinical data by matching the exposure to a predefined bracket of a minimal concentration for efficacy and a maximal...

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Main Authors: Susan Cole, Henry Pertinez, Andrew S. Butler, Essam Kerwash, Swati Bhat, Eman El-Khateeb, Andrew Owen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/12/1640
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author Susan Cole
Henry Pertinez
Andrew S. Butler
Essam Kerwash
Swati Bhat
Eman El-Khateeb
Andrew Owen
author_facet Susan Cole
Henry Pertinez
Andrew S. Butler
Essam Kerwash
Swati Bhat
Eman El-Khateeb
Andrew Owen
author_sort Susan Cole
collection DOAJ
description Background: The development of long-acting products of a characterized drug substance is of great interest. It is possible to support the development of these products with available clinical data by matching the exposure to a predefined bracket of a minimal concentration for efficacy and a maximal concentration for safety. This bracketing approach would cut down on the time and cost of new long-acting contraceptive products progressing to market. The current study describes the assessment of the data available to support a bracketing approach to conclude comparable levels of efficacy and safety for a postulated novel long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) product of levonorgestrel. Methods: Literature evidence of levonorgestrel efficacy, as quantified by the Pearl Index, was utilized and modeled by incorporating three LARC products for the estimation of a minimal concentration required for efficacy. Further literature was reviewed to quantify the maximal concentration required to ensure product safety. Additionally, a review of the regulatory precedence for the approach was conducted using European and UK databases. Results: There was a reasonable definition of the minimal concentrations for efficacy where the target concentrations of levonorgestrel were in the range of 200–400 pg/mL. Maximum concentrations for safety were less well defined. Although regulatory guidance supports the bracketing approach, there is little precedence for licensing new products based on pharmacokinetic data only, despite much reduced clinical and non-clinical packages being evidenced. Conclusions: Understanding of the exposure response is not currently considered sufficient to support a bracketing approach for a new levonorgestrel product. If additional safety data are established, current regulations may allow for a reduced application package. Additional work is needed to support the approach, and this could utilize the wealth of information in real-world datasets combined with systems models.
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spelling doaj-art-d2ef2e06fba1404488a9bd22c42737122025-08-20T02:01:13ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472024-12-011712164010.3390/ph17121640Exploring the Feasibility of a Bracketing Approach Utilizing Modeling for Development of Long-Acting Injectables for Regulatory Approval—A Case Study Using LevonorgestrelSusan Cole0Henry Pertinez1Andrew S. Butler2Essam Kerwash3Swati Bhat4Eman El-Khateeb5Andrew Owen6Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU, UKCentre of Excellence for Long-Acting Therapeutics University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKMedicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU, UKMedicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU, UKMedicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU, UKCentre of Excellence for Long-Acting Therapeutics University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKCentre of Excellence for Long-Acting Therapeutics University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKBackground: The development of long-acting products of a characterized drug substance is of great interest. It is possible to support the development of these products with available clinical data by matching the exposure to a predefined bracket of a minimal concentration for efficacy and a maximal concentration for safety. This bracketing approach would cut down on the time and cost of new long-acting contraceptive products progressing to market. The current study describes the assessment of the data available to support a bracketing approach to conclude comparable levels of efficacy and safety for a postulated novel long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) product of levonorgestrel. Methods: Literature evidence of levonorgestrel efficacy, as quantified by the Pearl Index, was utilized and modeled by incorporating three LARC products for the estimation of a minimal concentration required for efficacy. Further literature was reviewed to quantify the maximal concentration required to ensure product safety. Additionally, a review of the regulatory precedence for the approach was conducted using European and UK databases. Results: There was a reasonable definition of the minimal concentrations for efficacy where the target concentrations of levonorgestrel were in the range of 200–400 pg/mL. Maximum concentrations for safety were less well defined. Although regulatory guidance supports the bracketing approach, there is little precedence for licensing new products based on pharmacokinetic data only, despite much reduced clinical and non-clinical packages being evidenced. Conclusions: Understanding of the exposure response is not currently considered sufficient to support a bracketing approach for a new levonorgestrel product. If additional safety data are established, current regulations may allow for a reduced application package. Additional work is needed to support the approach, and this could utilize the wealth of information in real-world datasets combined with systems models.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/12/1640contraceptiveslong-actingexposure responsePBPK
spellingShingle Susan Cole
Henry Pertinez
Andrew S. Butler
Essam Kerwash
Swati Bhat
Eman El-Khateeb
Andrew Owen
Exploring the Feasibility of a Bracketing Approach Utilizing Modeling for Development of Long-Acting Injectables for Regulatory Approval—A Case Study Using Levonorgestrel
Pharmaceuticals
contraceptives
long-acting
exposure response
PBPK
title Exploring the Feasibility of a Bracketing Approach Utilizing Modeling for Development of Long-Acting Injectables for Regulatory Approval—A Case Study Using Levonorgestrel
title_full Exploring the Feasibility of a Bracketing Approach Utilizing Modeling for Development of Long-Acting Injectables for Regulatory Approval—A Case Study Using Levonorgestrel
title_fullStr Exploring the Feasibility of a Bracketing Approach Utilizing Modeling for Development of Long-Acting Injectables for Regulatory Approval—A Case Study Using Levonorgestrel
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Feasibility of a Bracketing Approach Utilizing Modeling for Development of Long-Acting Injectables for Regulatory Approval—A Case Study Using Levonorgestrel
title_short Exploring the Feasibility of a Bracketing Approach Utilizing Modeling for Development of Long-Acting Injectables for Regulatory Approval—A Case Study Using Levonorgestrel
title_sort exploring the feasibility of a bracketing approach utilizing modeling for development of long acting injectables for regulatory approval a case study using levonorgestrel
topic contraceptives
long-acting
exposure response
PBPK
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/12/1640
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