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Head-to-head trial of pegunigalsidase alfa versus agalsidase beta in patients with Fabry disease and deteriorating renal function: results from the 2-year randomised phase III BALANCE study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Head-to-head trial of pegunigalsidase alfa versus agalsidase beta in patients with Fabry disease and deteriorating renal function: results from the 2-year randomised phase III BALANCE study

Eric Wallace, Ozlem Goker-Alpan, William Wilcox, Myrl Holida, John Bernat, Nicola Longo, Aleš Linhart, Derralynn Hughes, Robert Hopkin, Camilla Tøndel, …
Journal of Medical Genetics, Vol.61(6), pp.520-530
05/21/2024
DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2023-109445
PMCID: PMC11137442
PMID: 37940383
url
https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg-2023-109445View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pegunigalsidase alfa is a PEGylated α-galactosidase A enzyme replacement therapy. BALANCE (NCT02795676) assessed non-inferiority of pegunigalsidase alfa versus agalsidase beta in adults with Fabry disease with an annualised estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope more negative than -2 mL/min/1.73 m2/year who had received agalsidase beta for ≥1 year. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive 1 mg/kg pegunigalsidase alfa or agalsidase beta every 2 weeks for 2 years. The primary efficacy analysis assessed non-inferiority based on median annualised eGFR slope differences between treatment arms. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients received either pegunigalsidase alfa (n=52) or agalsidase beta (n=25). At baseline, mean (range) age was 44 (18-60) years, 47 (61%) patients were male, median eGFR was 74.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 and median (range) eGFR slope was -7.3 (-30.5, 6.3) mL/min/1.73 m2/year. At 2 years, the difference between median eGFR slopes was -0.36 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, meeting the prespecified non-inferiority margin. Minimal changes were observed in lyso-Gb3 concentrations in both treatment arms at 2 years. Proportions of patients experiencing treatment-related adverse events and mild or moderate infusion-related reactions were similar in both groups, yet exposure-adjusted rates were 3.6-fold and 7.8-fold higher, respectively, with agalsidase beta than pegunigalsidase alfa. At the end of the study, neutralising antibodies were detected in 7 out of 47 (15%) pegunigalsidase alfa-treated patients and 6 out of 23 (26%) agalsidase beta-treated patients. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Based on rate of eGFR decline over 2 years, pegunigalsidase alfa was non-inferior to agalsidase beta. Pegunigalsidase alfa had lower rates of treatment-emergent adverse events and mild or moderate infusion-related reactions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02795676.
Adolescent Adult alpha-Galactosidase Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions Enzyme Replacement Therapy Fabry Disease Female Genetic Diseases Glomerular Filtration Rate Humans Inborn Isoenzymes Male Middle Aged Recombinant Proteins Treatment Outcome X-Linked Young Adult

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