EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY______________________________________________________ 2
I. Background____________________________________________________________ 2
II. Brief Description of Clinical Trials and
Patient Exposure________________________ 2
III. Efficacy Conclusions______________________________________________________ 2
IV. Safety Conclusions_______________________________________________________ 3
V. Growth Hormone for Non-growth Hormone
Deficient Short Stature – Further Considerations 4
SUMMARY OF CLINICAL
FINDINGS___________________________________________ 5
1. INTRODUCTION_________________________________________________________ 5
2. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE CLINICAL PROGRAM____________________________ 5
3. CLINICAL TRIAL
DESCRIPTION___________________________________________ 6
3.1 Pivotal Clinical Study GDCH__________________________________________________________ 6
3.2 Supportive Clinical Study E001_______________________________________________________ 10
4. EFFICACY______________________________________________________________ 14
4.1 Pivotal Study GDCH________________________________________________________________ 14
4.2 Supportive Study E001______________________________________________________________ 16
4.3 Supportive Studies from
Peer-reviewed Medical Literature__________________________________ 19
5. SAFETY________________________________________________________________ 20
6. DOSING________________________________________________________________ 22
7. General Comments on
NGHDSS as a New Indication_____________________________ 23
APPENDIX 1______________________________________________________________ 25
A. Efficacy Analyses_________________________________________________________ 25
A.1 Trial GDCH______________________________________________________________________ 25
A.2 Trial E001_______________________________________________________________________ 29
B. Safety analyses___________________________________________________________ 34
B1.Deaths__________________________________________________________________________ 34
B.2. Serious Adverse Events____________________________________________________________ 35
B.3. Patient Discontinuations Due to Adverse Events__________________________________________ 38
B.4. Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events__________________________________________________ 40
B.5. Clinically Significant Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events_________________________________ 44
B.6. Clinical Laboratory Data___________________________________________________________ 47
B.6.1. Carbohydrate
Metabolism________________________________________________________ 48
B.6. 2. Thyroid Function______________________________________________________________ 55
B.6.3 Insulin-Like
Growth Factor-I______________________________________________________ 57
APPENDIX 2______________________________________________________________ 60
Bibliography________________________________________________________________________ 60
Eli Lilly and Company (the applicant) submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (the agency) a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Humatrope (somatropin) in support of a new pediatric indication: non-growth hormone deficient short stature (NGHDSS).
The applicant presented clinical efficacy and safety data
from several sources. Among these, are two Phase 3 clinical trials conducted in
patients with NGHDSS: trial B9R-MC-GDCH
(GDCH) and trial B9R-EW-E001 (E001).
Trial GDCH is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, trial in
71 patients; it enrolled patients on the basis of short stature or short
predicted adult stature. Trial E001 is a randomized, open-label, dose-response,
trial in 239 patients conducted in Europe; it enrolled patients on the basis of
short stature and reduced height velocity.
More than 300 patients
with NGHDSS have been studied in these two clinical trials for a mean duration
of 3.5 years in trial GDCH and 4.5 years in trial E001. In both trials a
proportion of patients has been followed to final height and received Humatrope
for longer duration (mean of 4.43 years in trial GDCH and 6.47 years in trial
E001). The overall exposure for this new indication (approximately 1200 patient
years) is similar to the exposure for two approved pediatric Humatrope
indications (growth hormone deficiency and Turner syndrome associated with
short stature).
This application provides evidence that Humatrope treatment is efficacious in increasing final height in patients with NGHDSS. Trials GDCH and E001 have different designs, use different dose regimens, and have different the effect on final height.
Trial GDCH demonstrates that Humatrope is superior to placebo in increasing final height. This NIH conducted clinical trial shows that patients who received 0.222 mg/kg/wk of Humatrope in three equally divided doses for a mean duration of 4.62 years achieved greater mean final height than those who received placebo for a similar period of time (4.06 years). The magnitude of the Humatrope effect was 0.51 ±0.20 standard deviation score (SDS) (p=0.017) in the primary efficacy analysis of 33 patients who contributed final height data. The primary analysis is supported by an intent-to-treat analysis of height SDS that shows a similar magnitude of treatment effect (0.52 ± 0.15; p=0.001). Additional analyses support the primary and the intent-to-treat analyses. These efficacy observations are made in the context of a clinical trial with multiple dropouts. However, it does not appear that the patients who discontinued the trial had different initial responses to treatment when compared to patients who remained on trial.
Trial E001 establishes that a Humatrope regimen of 0.37 mg/kg/week given in six daily injections (high-dose regimen) was superior to a Humatrope regimen of 0.24 mg/kg/week administered in the same fashion (low-dose regimen). This was observed during short-term Humatrope use (effect on two-year height velocity) and during long-term Humatrope treatment (effect on final height on a subgroup of patients with available final height data). The high-dose Humatrope regimen resulted in a final height that exceeded baseline predicted adult height by an average of 7.2 cm (7.21 ±5.97 cm or 1.9 height SDS; p=0.001), whereas the low-dose Humatrope regimen had a smaller treatment effect of 5.4 cm (5.36 ±3.20 or 1.6 SDS; p<0.001) for the same endpoint. Intent-to-treat analyses and several other analyses confirm a dose-related treatment effect on final height.
Of note is that the mean difference between final height and baseline predicted adult height for the low-dose regimen noted in trial E001 (5.4 cm) is higher than that observed in trial GDCH (2.2 cm) for an almost identical Humatrope dose (0.24 mg/kg/week in trial E001 vs. 0.22 mg/kg/week in GDCH). Differences in trial duration (patients were treated longer in trial E001), as well as differences in Humatrope regimen (daily vs. three times a week) likely account for a larger magnitude of treatment effect in trial E001. The combined data from studies GDCH and E001 suggest that a larger treatment effect can be achieved if a larger dose is used (0.37 mg/kg/week) and if Humatrope is given daily.
Both trial GDCH and E001 enrolled a few patients who were small for gestational age (SGA). At the time of initiation of both trials (1988) use of GH in this condition was not FDA approved.
Additional evidence of favorable effect of growth hormone (GH) therapy on final height in patients with NGHDSS is provided from published literature. A recent meta-analysis of 38 clinical trials (10 controlled and 28 uncontrolled) estimates a benefit on adult height of 4-6 cm (range of 2.3 to 8.7 cm) (Finkelstein B S et al., 2002).
The safety profile of Humatrope in patients with NGHDSS appears to be similar to the safety profile of Humatrope in other pediatric indications in which its use is indicated.
There were no deaths recorded during the clinical trials. Two Humatrope-receiving patients, however, were diagnosed with malignancies during follow up. One patient in study E001 had an abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor diagnosed during the clinical trial, discontinued the trial and died four years later. One patient in trial GDCH was diagnosed with stage 3B Hodgkin disease approximately 4-5 months on treatment.
There were few patient discontinuations due to adverse events in patients receiving Humatrope In addition to the two patients who developed malignancies, two patients discontinued treatment in trial E001 due to slipped capital femoral epiphysis and glucose intolerance/elevated HbA1c, respectively. There were no distinct or new patterns of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) associated with Humatrope use in patients with NGHDSS. Small imbalances in TEAEs between the Humatrope treated group and the placebo treated group were observed for adverse events related to the musculoskeletal system such as bone disorder, arthrosis, arthralgia, back pain, neck pain, myalgia (see Table 24 in Appendix 1). Evaluation of carbohydrate metabolism in patients with NGHDSS treated with Humatrope during trial GDCH showed findings consistent with the observed effects of GH therapy in previous trials for other pediatric indications (i.e. an increase in mean serum fasting insulin levels in the presence of normal mean fasting serum glucose levels and mean HbA1c levels). In trial E001, there was no distinct, dose-related pattern of abnormalities related to carbohydrate metabolism in the two variables assessed (fasting serum glucose and HbA1c). Data on serum insulin concentration was not available for this trial.
At the request of the agency the applicant submitted a comprehensive safety comparison of Humatrope use across patients with NGHDSS, GHD and Turner syndrome. No major differences in safety profile were noted across the three patient populations.
While NGHDSS is not the first indication for a treatment regimen that uses pharmacological doses of GH in patients without growth hormone deficiency, it is different from previously approved pediatric GH indications in several respects:
(1) NGHDSS is not a single medical condition but rather a heterogeneous group of entities linked together by a common clinical sign: short stature. This contrasts with the currently approved GH indications which represent clinical conditions identifiable on the basis of defined clinical and pathological criteria other than short stature.
(2) NGHDSS will expand appreciably the number of candidates to GH therapy at a significant financial cost. While previous indications for GH use are orphan indications and the number of candidate patients is limited by the prevalence of the underlying disorders, the NGHDSS indication has the potential to expand GH use up to an additional 1-1.7 million candidates who meet the statistical definition of short stature.
3) Ethical concerns over the use of GH in patients with NGHDSS have been raised due to the difficulty of differentiating between GH-deficient and GH-sufficient states.
Insofar as NGHDSS is a departure from previous approvals of GH use in children, the agency is seeking advice from this Advisory Committee. Specific questions formulated by the agency are attached.
Humatrope (somatropin) is recombinant human growth hormone (GH). Humatrope treatment is currently approved for two pediatric indications [growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and Turner syndrome associated with short stature] and for one adult indication (growth hormone deficiency of adult or childhood onset). The approved pediatric Humatrope dose for GHD is 0.18 mg/kg/week to 0.3 mg/kg/week. The approved pediatric Humatrope dose for children with Turner syndrome and short stature is 0.375 mg/kg/week. Humatrope is approved as an injectable form given subcutaneously either three times per week or daily.
Eli Lilly and Company (the applicant) submitted to the Food
and Drug Administration (the agency) a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA)
for Humatrope (somatropin) in support of a new pediatric indication. The new
proposed indication is “long-term treatment of non-growth hormone
deficient short stature, defined by height SDS[1]
Ł-2.25, in pediatric patients whose epiphyses are
not closed and in whom diagnostic evaluation excludes causes of short stature
that should be treated by other means.” The proposed weekly Humatrope dose for patients with NGHDSS is “up to
0.37 mg/kg”, divided equally and given 3 to 7 times per week.
In support of this new
indication the applicant presents efficacy and safety data in patients with
NGHDSS from the following sources:
·
a double-blind,
randomized, placebo-controlled, long-term Humatrope clinical trial in 71
patients (study GDCH)
·
a randomized,
open-label, dose-response, long-term clinical trial of Humatrope in 239
patients (study E001)
·
two short-term,
open-label Humatrope studies previously presented to the agency (48 patients),
·
a post marketing,
observational research program supporting Humatrope safety (23 patients)
·
a published
meta-analysis of 38 GH clinical trials (10 controlled and 28 uncontrolled)
This review will focus on data from clinical trials GDCH and E001 because these two studies are the basis for the efficacy conclusions and the selected dose regimen. In addition, they provide the largest and longest patient exposure to support safety conclusions. Some of the features of these two clinical trials are summarized in Table 1 and described further in the next section.
Table 1: Summary of Lilly
Efficacy Studies of Humatrope in Patients with Non-Growth Hormone Deficient
Short Stature
|
Study Name |
Clinical
study characteristics |
|||||
|
Design |
No. and
age of patients |
Main
inclusion criteria |
Duration
of treatment |
Regimen |
Criteria
for evaluation |
|
|
GDCH (USA) |
Two-center, double-blind,
randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled |
Enrolled:
71 patients (55 males 16 females) Ages:
9.2-
15. 2 y (mean age: 12.4 y) |
Pubertal
stage I or II males and females with NGHDSS and height SDS or
predicted height SDS Ł -2.5 ( Ł-2.25 amended) |
Until
HV fell below 0. 5 cm/ y, or 1.5 cm/ y (amended) Mean
duration: 3.5
±1.8 y |
Humatrope
0.074 mg/ kg, given TIW by sc injection (0.222 mg/ kg/ wk) Placebo
given TIW by sc injection |
Final
height SDS for the Final Height Population* |
|
E001 (Europe) |
Open-
label, randomized, parallel, dose- response |
Enrolled:
239 patients (158 males 81 females) Ages:
5.1-
15. 2 y (mean age: 9.8 y) |
Prepubertal
males and females with NGHDSS and height SDS Ł -2. 0 and HV <25th
percentile |
Initial
2- y dose-response and extension until HV fell below 2. 0 cm/ y Mean
duration: 4.5 ±2.4 y |
Humatrope D1=0.24
mg/ kg/ wk, D2=0.24
mg/ kg/ wk for 1 y, and then 0.37 mg/ kg/ wk thereafter, D3=0.37
mg/ kg/ wk, given 6 times/ wk by sc injection |
Change
in HV from pre-treatment to two-year endpoint. * Final
height SDS
for the Final Height Population |
Source:
Table 3. H. 1. HV = height velocity; y = year; D =dose.
*Primary
efficacy analysis.
The primary objective of
this study was to test the hypothesis that Humatrope treatment would improve
final height when compared to placebo in pediatric patients with NGHDSS. Final height was defined as the height following
a measured height velocity < 0.5 cm/y (later amended to < 1.5 cm/y)
3.1.2 Study Design
This clinical trial is a
two-center, double-blind, randomized, parallel group, placebo-controlled study
conducted between January 1988 and February 2001 in U.S.A. Figure 1 presents the study design. The
study included of a screening period and a blinded treatment period. During the
screening period each patient underwent an inpatient screening visit. The
patients who met inclusion/exclusion criteria were randomized 1:1 to Humatrope:Placebo.
In addition, patients were stratified according to baseline predicted adult
height. During the blinded period,
patients received injections of placebo or Humatrope (0.222 mg/kg/wk). Patients
were evaluated every 6 months until they reached final height. Patients who
completed the study were asked to return for a final height measurement 1 year
after protocol completion. Patients who discontinued the study prior to
protocol completion were asked to return for a final height measurement after height
velocity, measured locally, had fallen below 1.5 cm/y. Humatrope was
administered subcutaneously in divided doses given 3 days per week)
Figure 1: Study design of trial B9R-MC-GDCH

*Source: Figure GDCH.9.1.
3.1.3 Main Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
The main inclusion criteria are listed in Table 2.
Table 2: Inclusion Criteria – Trial GDCH
|
Height |
Height or predicted adult height (Bayley-Pinneau) had to be Ł-2.5 (amended to Ł-2.25 then back to Ł-2.5) standard deviations (SD)
below the mean within the 12 months prior to treatment initiation. |
|
Chronological age |
9 to 15 years (females) and
10 to 16 years (males). |
|
Bone age |
Ł11 years in females and Ł13 years in males |
|
Tanner stage |
Ł II |
|
Growth hormone diagnostic sufficiency criteria |
Peak
GH response >7 ng/mL to arginine-insulin or levo-dopa, and/or other
accepted GH–stimulation tests. |
|
Thyroid function |
Normal or stable on
replacement therapy. |
|
Karyotype |
Normal for all females and
in selected males where indicated |
Height velocity was not
an inclusion criterion. Exclusion criteria were: prior growth hormone therapy,
chronic illnesses, malignancies, CNS trauma, psychiatric risk, unbalanced home
environment, prior hormone therapy (GH, estrogens, androgens, glucocorticoids),
or therapy with drugs that may interfere with GH secretion or action.
3.1.4 Baseline Patient Characteristics
The main growth-related parameters recorded at baseline are presented in Table 3. The mean height SDS was -2.78 ±0.48. The mean predicted adult height SDS at the initiation of treatment was higher (-2.09 ±0.79). The mean bone age was delayed (bone age/chronological age ratio was 0.84 ±0.12). The target height SDS (-1.08 ±0.88) was below the population mean. Patients were predominantly Tanner stage I (47.4% Humatrope vs. 42.4% placebo) or Tanner 2 stage of sexual development (47.4 % Humatrope vs. 45.5% placebo,). A few patients were Tanner stage III (5.3% Humatrope and 12.1% placebo).
Table 3: Growth Characteristics at Baseline-All
Randomized Patients
|
Variable |
Humatrope (N=38) Mean (SD) |
Placebo (N=33) Mean (SD) |
Total (N=71) Mean (SD) |
|
Weight (kg) |
30.33 (5.12) |
30.24 (6.03) |
30.29 (5.52) |
|
BMI (kg/m2) |
17.09 (1.70) |
17.53 (2.64) |
17.29 (2.18) |
|
Height
(cm) |
132.84 (8.19) |
131.00 (7.74) |
131.98 (7.98) |
|
Height SDS |
-2.75 (0.49) |
-2.81 (0.49) |
-2.78 (0.48) |
|
Height Velocity (cm) |
4.81 (1.80) |
4.77 (2.07) |
4.79 (1.92) |
|
Height Velocity (SDS) |
-0.6 (1.1) |
-0.8 (1.2) |
-0.7 (1.2) |
|
Chronological Age (CA) |
12.50 (1.61) |
12.25 (1.40) |
12.38 (1.51) |
|
Bone Age (yrs)* |
10.45 (1.86) |
10.36 (1.72) |
10.41 (1.79) |
|
BA/CA Ratio* |
0.84 (0.12) |
0.84 (0.11) |
0.84 (0.12) |
|
Predicted Height (cm)** |
159.34 (8.25) |
156.90 (8.12) |
158.26 (8.22) |
|
Predicted Height (SDS)** |
-1.96 (0.75) |
-2.26 (0.83) |
-2.09 (0.79) |
|
Target Height (cm)*** |
165.94 (8.40) |
165.13 (8.34) |
165.59 (8.32) |
|
Target Height (SDS)*** |
-1.00 (0.97) |
-1.19 (0.74) |
-1.08 (0.88) |
|
IFG-I (ng/ml)**** |
189.57 (74.11) |
225.58 (100.3) |
N/A |
|
IFG-I SDS**** |
-1.93(1.11) |
-1.39 (1.56) |
N/A |
*Calculated
from 36 patients in Humatrope Group and 28 patients in placebo group.
**
Calculated from 35 patients in Humatrope Group and 28 patients in placebo
group.
BPH was assessed for only those patients who were in the study for >6
months. Some baseline bone age assessments from the
central reader were missing, for unknown reasons.
***
Calculated from 38 patients in Humatrope Group and 29 patients in placebo
group.
****Includes
baseline data for the 68 patients that constitute the safety population instead
of the 71 all randomized patients. N/A = not available
Source:
Table GDH.11.2. and Table A4
The information on patient disposition is summarized in
Table 4. A total of 71 patients were
randomized (38 to Humatrope and 33 to placebo). Of the 71 randomized
patients, 68 patients received study drug and were included in the Safety
Population (3 patients
discontinued the study prior to receiving any study drug; two in the placebo
group because they did not meet protocol entry criteria, and one in the
Humatrope treatment group due to physician decision).
The intent-to-treat
population was defined as any patient who received study drug and had height
velocity recorded at 6 months. The
applicant called this population the “Efficacy Evaluable Population.” It
included 64 patients. Three patients
discontinued without a height measurement at 6 months, one in the placebo group
and two in the Humatrope group (all three discontinuations were due,
reportedly, to patient decisions). One additional placebo patient (008/1201)
was excluded from the Efficacy Evaluable Population because he/she
received GH outside the study.
The 25 patients who
completed the protocol were the Protocol Complete Population. These 25
patients along with 8 patients from the Efficacy Evaluable
Population who had discontinued
the study prior to protocol completion but returned for a final height
measurement while still blinded to treatment assignment were included in the Final
Height Population. Therefore, there were 33 patients in the Final Height
Population (placebo, n = 11;
Humatrope, n = 22).
Table 4: Patient Disposition
|
Population |
Humatrope N (%) |
Placebo N (%) |
Total N (%) |
|
All randomized |
38 (100%) |
33 (100%) |
71 (100%) |
|
Safety |
37 (97%) |
31 (94 %) |
68 (96%) |
|
Efficacy Evaluable |
35 (92%) |
29 (88%) |
64 (90%) |
|
Protocol complete |
16 (42%) |
9 (27%) |
25 (35%) |
|
Final Height* |
22 (58%) |
11 (33%) |
33 (46%) |
N=number
of patients. % is percentage of
patients within each group (colum).
*Includes
protocol completers and 8 additional patients who returned for final height
measurements.
Source:
Table GDCH.11.1
Figure 2 displays the number of patients in each treatment arm who remained in the trial as a function of time. A steady decline of patients in the trial occurred over time. Although a larger proportion of patients discontinued in the placebo group, overall, the number of patients per treatment group was comparable for most of the trial duration. Most discontinuations were due to patients’ decision: 17 patients (44.7%) in the Humatrope group and 12 patients (36.4%) in the placebo group. Four patients (12.1%) were lost to follow-up (all in the placebo group). One patient in each treatment group discontinued due to an adverse event (for the patient in the placebo group the adverse event occurred after trial discontinuation).

Source: Table GDCH.10.5.
Visit 1 is the time of randomization; all subsequent visits are 6 months apart.
The primary objective of
this study was to assess whether a higher dose
of Humatrope (0.37 mg/kg/week) would result in a greater increase in height
velocity over pre-treatment height velocity at the end of 2 years of treatment,
when compared to a lower Humatrope dose of 0.24 mg/kg/week. The secondary
objectives relevant to final height were:
(1) to determine whether the higher dose of Humatrope (0.37 mg/kg/wk)
would result in a greater final height compared to the lower dose (0.24
mg/kg/wk) and (2) to determine any difference in the rate of adverse events
among the different dosing regimens.
This clinical trial was
a multinational, multicenter (28 study centers), randomized, open-label,
three-arm, parallel, dose-response study conducted in Europe. The study
consisted of a screening phase, during which patients were assessed for study
eligibility, followed by a three-arm, randomized, open-label, 2-year “core
dose-response phase”. Patients were randomly assigned (without stratification)
to one of three Humatrope treatment groups:
·
Dose 1: 0.24
mg/kg/wk
·
Dose 2: 0.24
mg/kg/wk for 1 year, followed by 0.37 mg/kg/wk
·
Dose 3: 0.37
mg/kg/wk
Humatrope was
administered subcutaneously in divided doses given 6 days per week in
the evening.
After completion of the
2-year “core dose-response phase” of the study, patients were to be followed to
final height in a long-term extension phase, with the intent of determining the
impact of GH dose on final height. Patients were to remain on the same dose of
Humatrope as that received during the last year of the core dose-response
phase. In 1996 the multinational E001 extension phase was stopped. Thereafter,
four Lilly affiliates (France, Germany, Spain, and Netherlands) elected to
continue the study under local extensions, with the aim of obtaining as much
final height data as possible during an “affiliate-specific extension phase”.
Figure 3 presents the study design for clinical trial E001.
Figurer 3: Study Design for
Trial E001

Source:
FigureE001.9.1. FH = final height.
3.2.3
Main Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
A total of 239 patients with
NGHDSS were randomized. The main inclusion criteria are listed in Table 5:
Table 5: Inclusion Criteria – Study E001
|
Height |
Height
< 2.0 standard deviation (SD) below the mean for age for British standards |
|
Height velocity |
below the 25th percentile for age before the age of 10 years
for girls and 12 years for boys; above these age limits, the height velocity
was required to be below the 25th percentile for bone age. |
|
Chronological age |
5 years of age or older |
|
Bone age |
less
than 10 years in girls and less than 12 years in boys (TW2-RUS method) |
|
Tanner stage |
Stage I |
|
Growth hormone diagnostic sufficiency criteria |
Peak
GH response of greater than 20 mU/L (approximately 10 ng/mL) in one standard stimulation test. |
|
Thyroid function |
Normal or stable on
replacement therapy. |
Exclusion criteria were:
previous GH treatment, endocrine or metabolic disorders, chronic or nutritional
diseases, any sign of puberty, genetic syndromes except Russell-Silver
syndrome, drug treatment that could interfere with response to GH,
psychosomatic problems, family circumstances that could negatively influence
the outcome of the patient’s participation in the study.
3.2.4 Baseline Patient Characteristics
The main growth-related parameters recorded at baseline are presented in Table 6. The mean height SDS of -3.21±0.70 was lower than the mean height SDS recorded at baseline in trial GDCH (-2.78 ±0.48). The mean predicted adult height SDS of -2.63± 1.08 was also lower (-2.09 ±0.79 in trial GDCH). The degree of delay in bone age was almost identical (bone age/chronological age ratio was 0.82±0.15 vs. 0.84 ±0.12 in trial GDCH). Similar to trial GDCH, the target height SDS (-1.23±0.90) was below the population mean. Most patients were Tanner stage I ( 98% in each arm); only one patient in each treatment group was Tanner stage II and none was Tanner stage III.
Table 6: Growth Characteristics at Baseline-All
Randomized Patients
|
Variable |
Dose 1 (N=78) Mean (SD) |
Dose 2 (N=78) Mean (SD) |
Dose 3 (N=83) Mean (SD) |
Total (N=239) Mean (SD) |
|
Weight (kg) |
21.33(5.86) |
22.40(5.27) |
22.78(5.37) |
22.18(5.51) |
|
BMI (kg/m2) |
15.30(1.77) |
15.43(1.61) |
15.40(1.68) |
15.38(1.68) |
|
Height
(cm) |
116.83(12.79) |
119.47(11.25) |
120.70(10.70) |
119.03(11.66) |
|
Height SDS |
-3.37(0.81) |
-3.21(0.69) |
-3.04(0.54) |
-3.21(0.70) |
|
Height Velocity (cm/y)** |
4.29(1.08) |
4.39(1.26) |
4.31(1.12) |
4.33(1.15) |
|
Height Velocity (SDS) |
-1.19
(1.14) |
-0.97
(1.17) |
-1.11
(1.13) |
-1.09
(1.15) |
|
Chronological age (CA) |
9.43
(2.40) |
9.88
(2.16) |
9.95(2.25) |
9.76
(2.28) |
|
Bone Age (yrs)* |
7.40(2.56) |
8.09(2.28) |
8.01(2.06) |
7.84(2.31) |
|
BA/CA Ratio* |
0.80(0.15) |
0.83(0.15) |
0.83(0.14) |
0.82(0.15) |
|
Predicted Height (cm)*** |
156.40(9.02) |
155.08(10.18) |
158.72(9.49) |
156.70(9.70) |
|
Predicted Height (SDS)*** |
-2.69(1.00) |
-2.84(1.05) |
-2.36(1.13) |
-2.63(1.08) |
|
Target Height (cm)**** |
163.71(8.08) |
165.05(8.75) |
165.86(8.02) |
164.90(8.29) |
|
Target Height (SDS)**** |
-1.34(0.88) |
-1.17(0.95) |
-1.17(0.86) |
-1.23(0.90) |
|
IFG-I (ng/ml) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
IFG-I SDS |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Source:
Table E001.14.12 and B1
*One
patient in “Dose 1” and “Dose 3” arm, respectively did not have a specified bone
age at baseline.
**Two
patients in the “Dose 1” and “Dose 2”arms, and one patient in the “Dose 3 “arm
did not have height velocity data.
***
Only 44 patients in “Dose 1” arm, 60 patients in ‘Dose 2” arm, 55 patients in
“Dose 3 arms”, and 159 patients overall had predicted height calculated.
****Two
patients in the “Dose 1”arm, four
patients in the “Dose 2” arm, one patient in the “Dose3” arm, and seven
patients overall had unspecified target heights.
Two hundred sixty-one patients
were screened for entry into this study. Twenty-two of the 261 patients either
failed inclusion/exclusion criteria, decided not to participate in the study,
or were lost to follow-up. The remaining 239 patients qualified for the study
and were randomized into one of three treatment groups (Dose 1, n = 78; Dose 2,
n = 78; Dose 3, n = 83). All 239 patients were included in the All
Randomized Patients dataset.
Of the 239 patients in
the All Randomized Patient Population, 30 patients discontinued between
baseline and end of the 2-year core study. The remaining 209 patients (Dose 1,
n = 70; Dose 2, n = 67; Dose 3, n = 72) were included in the Two-Year Height
Velocity Population (efficacy dataset for height velocity endpoint).
Fifty of the 239
patients randomized to therapy had final height measurements available
and were included in the
Final Height Population (Dose 1, n = 17; Dose
2, n = 16; Dose 3, n = 17). Some
reached final height on trial, some post-study. Of the 50 patients who reached final
height, almost half (22 patients) were from one center in the Netherlands.
Figure 4 shows the patient retention during trial E001 as a function of time. The pattern is similar for all three treatment groups and resembles that seen in trial GDCH: a steady decline of patients remaining in the trial was noticed over time. There were similar numbers and percentages of patients who discontinued due to adverse events, protocol entry criteria violations, sponsor’s decision, physician’s decision or were lost to follow-up, in all three treatment arms. More patients in the high dose arm discontinued due to patient decision then in the low dose arm (38 patients or 45.8% vs. 22 patients or 28.2 %).
Figure 4: Patient Retention
In Trial E001

Source: Figure
E001.10.2.
This application provides evidence that Humatrope treatment
is efficacious in increasing final height in patients with NGHDSS. The evidence of efficacy comes from three
sources: (1) a placebo-controlled clinical
trial in peripubertal patients (study GDCH), (2) a dose-response supportive
study in prepubertal patients (Study E001), and (3) a recently published
meta-analysis of 38 clinical trials of GH conducted in patients with NGHDSS.
Trial GDCH demonstrates
that Humatrope is superior to placebo in increasing final height. This clinical trial is unique in that it is
the only double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to final height
conducted in patients with NGHDSS. This NIH conducted clinical trial shows that
patients who received 0.222 mg/kg/wk of Humatrope in three equally divided
doses for a mean duration of 4.62 years achieved greater mean final height than
those who received placebo for a similar period of time (4.06 years). The
magnitude of the Humatrope effect was 0.51 ± 0.20 standard deviation score
(SDS) (p=0.017) in the primary efficacy analysis which compared final height
between the Humatrope and the placebo treatment arms. This treatment effect is equivalent to 3.7 cm[2] (1.44
inches).
Additional analyses support the primary analysis. They are:
· an analysis of final height SDS for the 25 patients who completed the protocol; it showed a similar magnitude of treatment effect (height SDS of 0.46 ± 0.23) and a trend towards statistical significance (p=0.061).
· an intent-to-treat analysis of height SDS on patients with at least 6-months of height measurements on trial; it recorded a similar magnitude of treatment effect (height SDS of 0.52 ± 0.15; p=0.001).
·
a Humatrope to placebo comparison of the height gained from the beginning of the treatment to final height in cm (treatment
effect of 5.71 cm ±2.67, p=0.040).
·
a Humatrope to
placebo comparison of the height
gained from the start of the treatment to final height in SDS (treatment
effect of 0.51 ±0.23, p=0.034).
·
a Humatrope to
placebo comparison of the difference between final height SDS and the
baseline predicted height SDS (treatment effect of 0.46 ±0.21, p=0.043).
·
a repeated measures analysis (treatment effect
of 5 cm or 0.69±0.13
height SDS)
·
a larger proportion
of patients in the Humatrope group achieved height threshold values considered
important in clinical practice; among the patients followed to final height, 9
(41%) of the Humatrope-treated patients achieved final heights that were
greater than the 5th percentile compared to none in the placebo group
(p=0.015).
The primary efficacy
analysis was prespecified in the protocol.
The secondary analyses were a mixture of prespecified and
non-prespecified analyses. Individual
analyses are presented in Appendix 1.
Table 7 highlights
efficacy data that describes the magnitude of the Humatrope treatment effect.
In addition to data presented in the sNDA it incorporates additional data
provided in the applicant’s briefing document.
Table 7: Treatment Effect – Trial GDCH
(updated from the applicant’s
draft Briefing Document)
|
Analysis and Population |
Treatment
group |
Treatment
effect |
P-value |
||
|
Humatrope |
Placebo |
SDS |
cm |
||
|
Final height SDS (ANCOVA
using BPH SDS as covariate)-Primary analysis - FH* |
-1.81 ± 0.11 |
-2.32 ± 0.17 |
0.51 ± 0.20 (CI:0.10-0.92) |
3.7 |
0.017 |
|
Final height SDS (ANCOVA using BPH SDS as
covariate using imputed data for missing BPH in 1 ptatient -FH * |
NA |
NA |
0.48 ± 0.19 (CI: 0.09-0.88) |
NA |
0.017 |
|
Final height SDS (ANCOVA
using BPH SDS as covariate) - PC** |
- 1.86 ± 0.14 |
-2.32 ± 0.18 |
0.46 ±0.23 |
3.3 |
0.06 |
|
Last observed height SDS (ANCOVA using BPH SDS as covariate)- EE*** |
-1.89 ±0.10 |
-2.40 ± 0.11 |
0.52 ± 0.15 (CI: 0.22-0.82) |
NA |
0.001 |
|
Last observed height SDS (ANCOVA using BPH SDS as
covariate)- AR**** |
- 1.96 ±0.10 |
- 2.36 ± 0.11 |
0.40 ± 0.15 |
NA |
0.011 |
|
Last observed height SDS (ANOVA no covariate)- AR**** |
-1.90 ± 0.11 |
-2.42 ± 0.12 |
0.52 ± 0.17 |
NA |
0.003 |
|
Repeated measures analysis
(Height SDS at age 18) - EE*** |
-1.52 ± 0.11 |
-2.20 ± 0.12 |
0.69 ±0.13 (CI: 0.43-0.94) |
5 |
<0.001 |
|
Final height
minus BPH (cm) (t-test)- FH* |
2.2 ± 0.8 |
-0.7 ± 1.3 cm |
NA |
2.8 ± 1.3 |
0.07 |
Highlighted areas = protocol
specified analyses
*FH = final height population
** PC = protocol complete
population
***EE = efficacy evaluable population
****AR = all randomized
population
CI =confidence interval. NA not available. BPH = baseline predicted height. Prespecified analyses are grayed
out.
This treatment effect was established in a trial with multiple dropouts (only 42% of Humatrope-treated patients and 27% of placebo-treated patients completed the trial). However, it does not appear that the patients who discontinued the trial had different initial responses to treatment when compared to the patients who remained on trial (see the statistical review for additional efficacy analyses comparing patients with final height and patients without final height data).
This magnitude of therapeutic effect has been achieved without evidence of undue acceleration of bone age and without change in the time of attainment of pubertal stages. It should be also noted that this treatment effect was established with a Humatrope regimen of three injections per week. This is no longer the standard of care since daily GH regimens replaced three times a week regimens.
This European, 28-center, open-label, randomized, dose-response clinical trial in 239 patients with NGHDSS provides evidence of efficacy for a higher weekly dose of Humatrope than the one studied in the pivotal trial GDCH. Of the 239 patients enrolled, 50 patients had final height data. Among these, a Humatrope dose regimen of 0.37 mg/kg/week given in six daily injections (high-dose regimen) was superior to a Humatrope dose regimen of 0.24 mg/kg/week administered in the same fashion (low-dose regimen). Final height was a secondary endpoint. Final height analyses are listed below:
(1) Over a mean duration of treatment of 6.47 years, the high-dose Humatrope regimen resulted in a mean final height that exceeded the mean baseline predicted height by an average of 7.2 cm (7.21 ±5.97 cm or 1.9 height SDS; p=0.001), whereas the low-dose Humatrope regimen had a smaller treatment effect of 5.4 cm (5.36 ±3.20 or 1.6 SDS; p<0.001) for the same endpoint.
(2) On-treatment height SDS
gain for patients with final height data
was 1.85 ± 0.82 SDS
(p<0.001) for the high-dose Humatrope regimen and 1.55 ±0.58 SDS for the low-dose Humatrope regimen (p<0.001).
(3) The mean final height measured in the high-dose group was 1.33 (± 5.01) cm or 0.1 SDS below the target height. The low-dose treatment group recorded a final height that was 3.78 (± 7.34) cm below the target height.
(4) An intent-to-treat analysis of height SDS for the 209
patients with efficacy data at the end of the two-year “core” part of the study
showed that patients in the high-dose group had a higher endpoint height SDS
than the patients who received low-dose regimen. The treatment effect was 0.51 ±
0.18 SDS (p<0.006).
(5) A high-dose and low-dose regimen comparison using a repeated measures analysis of height SDS at age 18 for the patients in the intent-to-treat population shows a treatment effect of 0.44 ±0.17 (p= 0.012).
(6) Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) of final height SDS for patients with final height using baseline predicted final height SDS as a covariate records a higher mean final height SDS for the high-dose group when compared to low-dose group and a trend toward statistical significance (p=0.086).
(7) Almost twice as many
patients who received the high-dose Humatrope regimen achieved final heights
greater than the 5th percentile when compared to low-dose Humatrope receiving
patients.
None of the final
height analyses were prespecified in the protocol. Patients with final height data in the high
dose group were treated longer (mean = 7 years) than patients in the low dose
treatment group (mean = 6.1 years). Compliance was not assessed in trial E001.
Individual analyses are presented in Appendix 1.
Table 8 lists efficacy
data that describes the dose-effect for the Humatrope treatment. In addition to
data presented in the sNDA it incorporates data provided in the applicant’s
briefing document.
Table 8: Dose-Effect – Trial E001
(updated from the applicant’s
draft Briefing Document)
|
Analysis and Population |
Treatment
group |
Dose
effect (Dose 3 vs. Dose 1) |
P-value |
|||
|
Dose 1 |
Dose 2 |
Dose 3 |
SDS |
cm |
||
|
Final height SDS (ANCOVA using BPH SDS as
covariate)- FH* |
-1.63±0.18 |
-1.38±0.18 |
-1.19±0.26 |
0.45±0.26 |
3.1 |
0.086 |
|
Last observed height SDS (ANCOVA using BPH SDS as
covariate)- HV** |
-1.95±0.13 |
-1.87±0.12 |
-1.45±0.12 |
0.51±0.18 (CI: 0.15-0.87) |
3.6 |
0.006 |
|
Repeated measures analysis
(Height SDS at age 18) - HV** |
-1.26±0.16 |
-1.56±0.15 |
-0.82±0.14 |
0.44±0.17 (CI: 0.10-0.78) |
3.1 |
0.012 |
|
Height velocity changes from pretreatment to 2-year in
cm/y (ANOVA) |
3.27±0.18 |
3.16±(0.19) |
4.04±(0.18) |
NA |
0.78±0.26 (CI: 0.3-1.3)# |
0.003 |
Highlighted areas = protocol
specified analyses
*FH = final height population
** HV = 2-year height
velocity population
# Dose 3 minus Dose 1 (difference of least square
means).
CI = confidence
interval. BPH = baseline predicted
height. Grayed out areas are pre-specified analyses.
In an attempt to integrate some of the efficacy data from trial E001 with those from trial GDCH, Table 9 summarizes the efficacy analyses reported for final height minus baseline predicted height (FH-BPH) and target height minus final height (TH-FH) from both clinical trials. Patients in the Humatrope treatment arm of trial GDCH and patients in the Dose 1 arm of trial E001 received similar weekly doses of GH (0.22 mg/kg TIW vs. 0.24 mg/kg daily). Important differences between the trials should be noted: patients in trial E001 were enrolled at an earlier age, were shorter at baseline and were treated longer.
Table 9: Efficacy comparisons across trials
(updated from the applicant’s
draft Briefing Document)
|
Analysis and Population |
Study GDCH |
Study E001 |
|||
|
Placebo |
Humatrope |
Dose 1 |
Dose 2 |
Dose 3 |
|
|
Final height minus BPH (cm) |
-0.7 ± 1.3 (p=0.62) |
2.2 ± 0.8 (p=0.02) |
5.4 ± 0.9 (p<0.001) |
6.66 ± 1.14 (<0.001) |
7.2 ± 1.7 (p= 0.001) |
|
Final height minus BPH (SDS) |
-0.14 ± 019 |
0.32 ±0.12 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
Target height minus final
height (cm) |
7.10 ±1.81 |
4.71 ±1.37 |
3.78±1.78 (p=0.050) |
5.31±2.42 (p=0.045) |
1.33±1.21 (p=0.228) |
|
Target height minus final
height (SDS) |
1.02 ± 0.25 |
0.66 ±0.19 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
P =
within group p-value, where available.
BPH = baseline predicted height.
4.2.1 Individual Efficacy Trends

Figure 5 presents a descriptive comparison of individual height SDS values at
the beginning and the end of the treatment for patients with final data in each
treatment arm in trials GDCH and E001.
“Placebo” and “Humatrope” are the respective treatment arms in trial
GDCH. “Dose 1”, “Dose 2”, and “Dose 3” are the respective treatment arms in
trial E001. “Dose 1” is the low-dose regimen and “Dose 3” is the high-dose
regimen.
The magnitude of Humatrope treatment effect on final height observed in trials GDCH and E001 is consistent with the results of a recent meta-analysis of 38 clinical trials (10 controlled and 28 uncontrolled) of GH in patients with NGHDSS (Finkelstein B S et al, 2002).. This meta-analysis estimates a benefit on adult height of 4-6 cm (range of 2.3 to 8.7 cm).
The largest single clinical study in children with NGHDSS published to date records a magnitude of treatment effect that is consistent with the treatment effect noted in trials CDGH and E001 (Hintz RL et al., 1999). This trial was conducted in 121 patients and records a mean difference between achieved adult height and predicted adult height at treatment initiation of 5±5.1 cm for boys and 5.9 ±5.2 cm for girls. It was conducted in a group of patients whose baseline growth characteristics were similar to those of the patients enrolled in studies GDCH and E001 and used a comparable GH dose (0.3 mg/kg/week). The efficacy information recorded in this trial was also included in the above-mentioned meta-analysis.
The safety profile of Humatrope in patients with NGHDSS appears to be similar to the safety profile of Humatrope in two other approved pediatric indications (growth hormone deficiency and Turner syndrome associated with short stature). This observation is based on a relatively small number of patients with NGHDSS (> 300). Most patients, however, were exposed to Humatrope for long periods of time (mean time on study was 3-4 years depending on the trial, and as long as 9-11 years in a few patients).
Safety analyses come from three main sources: (1) clinical trial GDCH, (2) clinical trial E001, and (3) a comparison of safety data accumulated during the NGHDSS drug development program with the safety data accumulated for the GHD and Turner syndrome drug development programs.
The safety data accumulated during the pivotal trial GDCH was extensive in scope and covered, in addition to adverse events, a broad range of analytes. Some of the analytes evaluated known metabolic effects of GH (e.g. effects on carbohydrate metabolism and thyroid function), while others were standard safety analytes (e.g. hematology, urinalysis). The safety data accumulated in trial E001 was smaller in scope (for instance, the only analytes presented are those related to carbohydrate metabolism), but larger in total number of patients studied (239 patients). Ascertainment of adverse events was different between the two trials. To this end, it is noted that the 239 patients exposed to Humatrope in trial E001 reported a total of 766 adverse events, while the 37 patients who received Humatrope during trial GDCH reported 1748 adverse events.
The level of patient exposure in the NGHDSS trials (1212 patient-years) is almost the same as the patient exposure recorded for the two currently approved pediatric indications for Humatrope (GHD and Turner syndrome). However, the target population is appreciably larger.
This review will summarize the safety analyses for the following categories: deaths, serious adverse events (SAEs), trial dropouts, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), and laboratory results. The data will be presented for trials GDCH and E001 first and comparisons with the data recorded during the GHD and Turner syndrome Humatrope clinical trials will follow. More extensive analyses are presented in Appendix 1.
There were no deaths recorded during any of the NGHDSS clinical trials. Two patients, however, were diagnosed with malignancies. A 12-year-old male enrolled in study E001 had an abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor diagnosed during the clinical trial, discontinued the trial and died four years later; the patient received 0.24 mg/kg/wk of Humatrope for approximately 6.4 years prior to study discontinuation. In addition, an 11-year-old patient in trial GDCH has been diagnosed with stage 3B Hodgkin disease after receiving 0.22 mg/kg/week of Humatrope for 19 weeks.
Most serious adverse events (SAEs) recorded during the NGHDSS clinical trials were due to conditions commonly occurring in pediatric patients (e.g. accidental trauma). In trial GDCH, SAEs occurred twice more often in the Humatrope treatment group (7 patients or 13.5%) than in the placebo group (2 patients or 6.5%), but most SAEs were accidental injuries. The most remarkable SAE in this trial occurred in the Humatrope treatment group. It is the case of malignancy (Hodgkin lymphoma) previously mentioned.
Clinical trial E001 recorded a total of 38 SAEs in 31
patients. There was a higher incidence of SAEs in patients receiving the
high-dose regimen (16 patients or 19.3%) compared to the low-dose regimen group
(11 patients or 14.1%). However, no single adverse event showed a
dose-dependent pattern of incidence and most SAEs represented either
interventions for common childhood conditions (tonsillectomies, appendectomies,
etc.) or accidental injuries. One
remarkable SAE is the previously mentioned malignancy (abdominal desmoplastic
small round cell tumor). In addition, there were two SAEs that represent
conditions known to be associated with GH treatment. They were arthralgia and slipped capital femoral epiphysis. One
patient (high-dose group) developed
arthralgia of left 2nd metatarsus-1st phalanx which
required 2 corticosteroid infiltrations and surgery. Another patient (also
high-dose group) was diagnosed with slipped capital femoral epiphysis and
posttraumatic fracture of the caput femoris immediately following a seizure
(this patient also discontinued the study).
There were few patient discontinuations due to adverse events among the patients who received Humatrope. One patient discontinued in trial GDCH due to a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma. Three patients discontinued in trial E001 due to desmoplastic abdominal tumor (low-dose), slipped capital femoral epiphysis (high-dose), and glucose intolerance/elevated HbA1c (low-dose), respectively.
There were no distinct patterns of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) associated with Humatrope use in patients with NGHDSS. Study GDCH identified several TEAEs that occurred with higher frequency over placebo but the small number of affected patients limits the ability to draw firm conclusions. TEAEs related to the musculoskeletal system (back pain, bone disorder, myalgia, neck pain, arthrosis, arthralgia) occurred more frequently in the Humatrope treatment group despite a similar frequency of accidental injuries in the two treatment groups. Another Humatrope-to-placebo imbalance is recorded for events under the “cardiovascular disorder” term; in this group, four patients with the AE of mitral valve prolapse or possible MVP were in the Humatrope group and none in the placebo arm. A comparison of the TEAE incidence between trials GDCH and E001 was not informative since background rates of AEs reported in trial E001 were lower.
Evaluation of carbohydrate metabolism in patients with NGHDSS treated with Humatrope during trial GDCH showed findings consistent with the observed effects of GH therapy in previous trials for other pediatric indications (i.e. an increase in mean serum fasting insulin levels in the presence of normal mean fasting serum glucose levels and mean HbA1c levels). In trial E001, there was no distinct, dose-related pattern of abnormalities related to carbohydrate metabolism in the two variables assessed (fasting serum glucose and HbA1c). Data on serum insulin concentration was not available for this trial. In this trial, one patient discontinued due to glucose intolerance/elevated HbA1c. One additional patient had elevated HbA1c during the second year of treatment (no additional data are available).
No clinically relevant
differences in clinical laboratory measures between Humatrope-treated
patients and placebo-treated patients were observed in Study GDCH for thyroid
analytes, lipids, standard hematology assessments, urinalysis, gonadotropins,
sex steroids (testosterone, or dehydroepiandrosterone), and IGF-I serum
concentrations.
In addition to safety
analyses for the data collected during trials GDCH and E001, the applicant
submitted a comparison of the safety profile of Humatrope among patients with
GHD, Turner syndrome, and NGHDSS. The results of this analysis, requested by
the agency, are more difficult to interpret since the safety information was
ascertained and collected in different ways in various trials. In addition, trials had different designs
and duration. Other confounding factors are the different background rates of
disease-specific adverse events and the variations in Humatrope dose regimens
between studies. With these limitations in mind, several observations can be
made:
·
there were no
meaningful differences in number of deaths recorded during and after the trials
·
two de novo
malignancies were recorded in patients with NGHDSS (demoplastic abdominal tumor
and Hodgkin lymphoma); a secondary tumor (papillary carcinoma of the thyroid)
and a possibly undiagnosed craniopharyngioma were recorded in GHD patients
during similar exposure to Humatrope; no de novo malignancies were diagnosed in
the Turner patients trials.
·
overall, SAEs
occurred somewhat less frequently in patients with NGHDSS when compared to patients
with GHD (13% vs. 27%) or patients with Turner syndrome (13 % vs. 17.8%)
· the rates of patient withdrawals were low and similar among all trials (generally less than 2.7%)
·
among adverse
events known to be associated with GH treatment, scoliosis was identified more
commonly in the NGHDSS patients in one study (study GDCH); in this study
scoliosis was a protocol specified measure of safety
·
the changes in carbohydrate metabolism-related analytes
for patients with NGHDSS were similar to those observed in Turner syndrome
patients (normal mean serum glucose levels, elevated mean serum insulin
concentrations), albeit less pronounced.
·
hypothyroidism occurred less frequently in patients
with NGHDSS
·
changes in mean serum IGF-I concentrations were similar
in patients with NGHDSS and patients with Turner syndrome
In general, there are no
major differences between the applicant’s interpretation of the safety data and
this reviewer’s analysis.
Clinical trial GDCH establishes an effective dose regimen of Humatrope in patients with NGHDSS. This dose regimen is 0.22 mg/kg/week of Humatrope given three times a week (TIW) in equally divided doses. This dose regimen has been demonstrated to be superior to placebo in enhancing final height and was not associated with unexpected safety signals.
Clinical trial E001 provides evidence that a weekly dose of 0.37 mg/kg given in equally divided daily injections is more effective than a similar regimen of 0.24 mg/kg/week. The 0.37 mg/kg/week regimen is superior both as short-term treatment (as judged by superior height velocity over a 2-year period), as well as long-term treatment (as judged by greater final height than predicted adult height and greater height gain on treatment among a subgroup of patients with final height).
The daily Humatrope regimen in trial E001 (0.24 mg/kg/week) resulted in a larger magnitude of treatment effect than a TIW regimen of almost identical dose in trial GDCH (0.22 mg/kg/week). The two regimens were not compared side by side in the same trial and the two trials differed in duration (trial E001 was longer). However, superiority of daily regimens over TIW regimens is well established.
The dosage and the regimen established in this application for patients with NGHDSS is within the range of GH dose regimens approved for other pediatric indications and is consistent with GH regimens currently used in clinical practice (Tanaka et al., 2002). The approved range of GH doses varies between 0.16 mg/kg/week (GH deficiency) and 0.48 mg/kg/week (SGA patients). For patients with GH deficiency entering puberty, a regimen as high as 0.7 mg/kg/week is currently labeled.
The dose-related Humatrope effect on efficacy was not clearly associated with a dose-dependent pattern of adverse events. Such a statement is limited by the relatively small database (300 patients). Data on IGF-I serum concentrations was presented only for the 0.22 mg/kg/week regimen in study GDCH and were mostly within 3 SD from the population mean. Whether IGF-I serum concentrations are further elevated with the 0.37 mg/kg/week is not known since this information has not been presented in the sNDA.
The FDA approved
pediatric indications for GH treatment are:
·
growth hormone
deficiency
·
chronic renal
failure with short stature
·
Turner syndrome
·
Prader-Willi
syndrome
·
small for
gestational age children without catch up growth by age 2 years
All the previous
approvals for GH treatment in pediatric patients have been based primarily on
improvement in linear growth. GH therapy has been approved as replacement
therapy in patients with deficient or absent endogenous GH secretion
(growth hormone deficiency), or as pharmacological treatment in patients
with Turner syndrome, chronic renal failure prior to renal transplantation,
Prader-Willi syndrome, and in SGA patients. For some indications (e.g.
Prader-Willi) the metabolic benefit of GH on body composition complemented the
linear growth benefit.
The currently approved
GH pediatric indications target patients with defined clinical/pathological
entities associated with short stature.
By contrast, NGHDSS is not a single clinical entity with a known “cause”
but rather a group of pathologic and non-pathologic entities or conditions
producing a common clinical outcome: short stature. Indeed, under the NGHDSS term one includes: (1) some forms of GH
deficiency or GH secretory dysfunction not captured by the current GH
diagnostic standards for GH deficiency; (2) growth retardation due to mutations
of other growth promoting genes (e.g. partial GH receptor defects, SHOX gene
mutations); (3) normal variations in linear growth patterns such as
familial/genetic short stature or constitutional delay of growth and puberty
(Godard AD et al, 1995; Rosenfeld RG, 2001, Rappold GA et al., 2002). In
this respect the NGHDSS indication contrasts with prior GH approvals.
Ethical concerns have
been raised over the use of GH in patients with NGHDSS by those who hold the
view that these are normal, albeit short, children (AAP, 1997; Brook CG,
1997). These concerns include, among
others:
·
social justice
considerations (the cost of the treatment is prohibitive and patients from
well-off sectors of society will benefit from the treatment preferentially)
·
resource allocation
concerns (the shift of financial resources away from other unmet medical needs)
·
the relationship
between the size of the treatment effect, the cost of treatment and the
discomfort associated with daily injection for prolonged periods of time
·
the difficulty in
accurately differentiating between “normality” and “abnormality” when such
definitions are not strictly medical but incorporate sociocultural variables
and have statistically defined boundaries
·
the difficult task
of balancing the potential stigmatization of normal children with the
unhappiness, loss of quality of life, and educational/social disadvantages of
short children
·
avoiding
unnecessary GH augmentation therapy
In the face of such a
complex decision, anywhere from < 18% up to 64% of pediatric
endocrinologists would treat children with NGHDSS and clinical characteristics
similar to those of the subjects enrolled in NGHDSS clinical trials. (Cuttler L
et al., 1996).
Approval of GH use in
patients with NGHDSS will have important public health implications. Currently,
GH use is restricted to a limited number of orphan indications. The
overall pediatric GH experience accumulated over the last four decades is
limited to approximately 100,000 patients (GH Research Society Consensus statement,
2001). In contrast, GH treatment for
patients with NGHDSS could add between 1 million and 1.7 million children in
the US at an estimated cost of $18-22 billion (Cuttler L. et al., 1996,
Finkelstein BS et al., 1998). This cost
estimate is based upon a presumed treatment of non-GHD children with heights
below the third percentile (approximately 2 SD below the population mean). It
contrasts sharply with the estimated annual cost of $182 million for the US patients with classical GH deficiency. Even
if the restrictive criterion proposed by the applicant (height SDS Ł
-2.25) were to be applied, resulting in the exclusion of up to 46% of patients
with non-GHD short stature, the potential number of candidates for GH therapy
is many multiples of the number of patients currently treated.
A.1.2 Primary
Analysis-Final Height
The primary efficacy
variable was final height SDS. The primary efficacy analysis was a
Humatrope-to-placebo comparison of final height SDS for the patients with final
height data. Between-group comparisons were performed using analysis of
covariance (ANCOVA), with baseline predicted height SDS as the covariate. The
two-sided significance level for this analysis was set at a=0.05. The results of this analysis are presented
in Table 10. The Humatrope effect of 0.51 SDS corresponds to a mean 3.7 cm
difference between groups. The mean age at assessment of final height for the Final Height Population was 18.6 years for Humatrope-treated
patients and 19.1 years for placebo-treated patients.
Table 10: Final Height SDS
(Analysis of Covariance-Final Height Population)

Source: Table GDCH.11.9.
A.1.3 Secondary and Other Analyses
Endpoint Height SDS for the Efficacy Evaluable
Population and Final Height for the Protocol Complete Population
Table 11 presents 1) the
ANCOVA of height SDS at endpoint (last observation carried forward) for
the Efficacy Evaluable Population and
2) the ANCOVA of final height SDS for the Protocol Complete
Population. Both analyses were prespecified in the protocol. Both use the
baseline predicted height SDS as covariate.
Table 11: Analysis of Covariance
of Endpoint Height SDS for the Efficacy Evaluable Population and Final Height
for the Protocol Complete Population

Source: Table 3.H.6.
Height SDS by Year on Study (Efficacy Evaluable
Population)
The height SDS changes
by years on the study for the Efficacy Evaluable Population are
presented in Figure 6. Although the
baseline height SDS was similar between the two treatment groups, the
Humatrope-treated patients experienced a larger height SDS increase. The difference between the two treatments
reaches statistical significance by the end of the first year of treatment
(p=0.02). It augments and persists in
subsequent years. Error bars represent 1 SD.
Figure 6: Height SDS by Year on Study-Efficacy Evaluable Population

Source:
Figure 3.H.3. This population includes all
patients who received =6 months study drug, whether or not they achieved final
height. Data are cross-sectional.
Additional Final Height Analyses for the Patients with Final Height Data
Additional efficacy
analyses for patients with final height data are presented in Table 12.
Compared with placebo-treated patients, Humatrope-treated patients had a
significantly greater difference in final height SDS minus baseline predicted
height SDS (prespecified), final height SDS, and gain in height (both SDS and
cm).
Table 12:Final Height
Characteristics Final Height Population

Source: Table 3. H. 8.
Twelve-month Velocity
for the Efficacy Evaluable Population
The 12-month height
velocity by years on study for the Efficacy Evaluable Population is
presented in Figure 7. Both treatment
groups had similar baseline mean height velocities. Humatrope-treated patients
had significantly greater mean height velocity than placebo-treated patients at
Year 1 and Year 2 of the study. Error bars represent 1 SD.
Figure 7: Twelve-month Height
Velocity by Year on Study

Source: Figure GDCH.11.4.
Bone Age by Year on Study
The changes in height
velocity were not associated with a statistically significant difference in
bone age between treatments (Figure 8).

Figure 8: Greulich-Pyle Bone Age (Years) by Year on
Study
Source: Figure GDCH.11.5.
Repeated Measures Analysis
This analysis was not prespecified. It was performed by the applicant with the
purpose of “addressing the potential bias that may have resulted from missing
final data.” This analysis shows a mean
treatment effect of Humatrope on height SDS at age 18 years of 0.69 ±0.13
(p<0.0001), which corresponds to 5.0
cm (Table13).

Table13: Repeated Measures Analysis: Height SDS at Age
18 Years in Efficacy Evaluable Population
Source: Table 3.H.7.
Proportion of Patients who Achieved 5th
and 10th Percentiles for Height
Table 14
shows the proportion of patients with final height data whose height exceeded the 5th or 10th percentile of the standard
growth curve at baseline and at final height. Nine
(41%) of the Humatrope-treated
patients achieved a final height above the 5th percentile. In contrast, none of the placebo-treated
patients achieved final heights above this threshold (p=0.015). Additionally, 27% of Humatrope-treated
patients had final height above the 10th percentile compared with none of the
placebo-treated patients. This difference did not reach statistical
significance. These analyses where not specified in
the protocol.
Table 14: Patients with
Final Height Above 5th or 10th Percentile -Final Height Population

Source: Table 3.H.9.
A.2.1 Primary
Analysis
The predefined primary
efficacy variable was height velocity. The primary efficacy
analysis was the change
in height velocity (cm/y) from pretreatment to the two-year endpoint.
The primary comparison
was between Dose 1 (0.24 mg/kg/wk) and Dose 3 (0.37 mg/kg/wk) treatment
arms. Table 15 presents the effect of
Humatrope on height velocity from pretreatment two-year endpoint.
Table 15: Height Velocity
Changes from Pretreatment to Two-Year Endpoint (Two- Year Height Velocity
Population)

Source: Table E001.11.6. Dose 1
= 0.24 mg/ kg/ wk, Dose 2 = 0.24- 0.37 mg/ kg/ wk, Dose 3 = 0.37 mg/ kg/ wk.
By analysis of variance
(ANOVA), the patients who received 0.37 mg/kg/wk Humatrope (Dose 3) achieved a
significantly greater pretreatment to two-year endpoint change in height
velocity than the patients who received 0.24 mg/kg/wk Humatrope (Dose 1,
p=0.003) or 0.24 mg/kg/wk Humatrope for the first year and 0.37 mg/kg/wk
Humatrope thereafter (Dose 2, p=0.001). There was no statistically significant
difference in height velocity change between Dose 1 and Dose 2 regimens
(p=0.672).
A.2.2 Other Analyses
With the exception of the primary
analysis, none of the other analyses were prespecified. Figure 9 summarizes the
height velocity changes on study for all three treatment groups. It includes only patients with height
velocity determinations at one year and two years of study.

Figure 9: Height Velocity by Time on Study
in the Two-year Height Velocity Population.Source: Figure E001.11.1. Dose 1 = 0.24 mg/ kg/ wk, Dose 2 = 0. 24- 0.37
mg/ kg/ wk, Dose 3 = 0. 37 mg/ kg/ wk.
First-year height
velocity was significantly
greater in Dose 3 arm when compared to Dose 1 arm (p<0.001) or in Dose 2 arm
(p<0.001), and was similar between Dose 1 and Dose 2 arms (p=0.631). Height
velocity in the second year in Dose 3 arm was still significantly higher
than Dose 1 arm (p=0.001), but no longer significantly greater than Dose 2 arm
(p=0.138). In Dose 2 arm , height velocity in the second year was higher than
in Dose 1arm, but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.076).
Bone Age to Chronological Age by Time on Study
The ratio of bone age to
chronological age by time on study in the Two-Year Height Velocity
Population is presented in Figure 10.
No statistically significant differences between treatment groups at
baseline, 1 year, or 2 years are reported. Overall, the mean value of bone age
over chronological age stayed below 1. Error bars represent 1 SD.
Figure 10: Bone Age/ Chronological
Age by Time on Study in the Two-year Height Velocity Population

Source: Figure E001.11.2.
Final Height-related Efficacy Analyses
The Final Height
Population comprises patients on whom a final height measurement was
obtained after height velocity had fallen below 2 cm/year either at protocol
completion (28 patients) or after the discontinuation from the study (22
patients from the Netherlands). A
summary of several final height analyses for the Final Height Population
is provided in Table 16. The mean duration of treatment was 6.1, 6.3, and 7.0
years for the Dose 1, Dose 2, and Dose 3 groups, respectively. The treatment
effect [as measured within-treatment group by mean final height minus mean
baseline predicted height, ranged from approximately 5.4 cm (Dose 1) to 7.2 cm
(Dose 3)]. The treatment effect as
measured by mean final height SDS minus baseline height SDS (height SDS gain)
ranged from 1.55 SDS (Dose 1) to 1.85 SDS (Dose 3). Patients who received the highest Humatrope dosage (0.37 mg/kg/wk,
Dose 3) reached a final height that was not significantly below target height
(gender-adjusted midparental height), suggesting that they came closer than the
other two regimens in achieving the predicted target height. Dose-response was noted across all above
mentioned analyses when Dose 1 and Dose 3 regimens were compared.
Table 16: Final Height Analyses
- Final Height Population

Source: Table 3.H.12.
Intent-to-treat Analysis of Height for the Two-Year
Height Velocity Population and Repeated Measures Analysis
Table 17 presents an
intent-to-treat analysis (endpoint height SDS) for the Two-Year Height
Velocity Population and a repeated measures analysis of height SDS at age
18. Patients who received 0.37 mg/kg/wk
of Humatrope (Dose 3) had a higher endpoint height SDS than those who received
0.24 mg/kg/wk (Dose 1) (p=0.006). Similarly, patients in the Dose 3 treatment
group had a higher height SDS at age 18 than the patients in the Dose 1
treatment group (repeated measures analysis). The Humatrope dose effect (Dose 1
versus Dose 3) for these analyses was similar (0.51 versus 0.45 SDS,
respectively).
Table 17: Endpoint Height SDS and Height SDS at Age 18 Years

Source: Table 3.H.13.
ANCOVA of Final Height SDS
Analysis of covariance
(ANCOVA) of final height SDS for the Final Height Population (using baseline predicted final height
[BPH] SDS as the covariate is provided. Although Dose 3 had a higher least
squares mean (LSM) final height SDS than Dose 1, this difference did not reach
statistical significance (p=0.086).
Proportion of Patients who aAhieved 5th
and 10th Percentiles for Height
Table 18 shows the proportion of patients in the Final Height Population whose final height exceeded the 5th or
10th percentile on standard growth curves. Although the difference between
treatment groups did not reach statistical significance, a trend favoring the
Dose 3 treatment group is noticeable.
Overall, a considerable percentage of patients attained heights within
the normal range following Humatrope treatment.
Table 18: Patients With
Final Height Above 5th or 10th Percentile (Final Height Population)

Source: Table E001.11.12.
This review will summarize the safety analyses for the following categories: deaths, serious adverse events (SAEs), trial dropouts, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), and laboratory results. The data will be presented for trials GDCH and E001 first and comparisons with the data recorded during several GHD and Turner syndrome Humatrope clinical trials (previously presented to the agency) will follow. Although a comparison of Humatrope safety profile across indications is important, several limitations need to be highlighted:
· different dictionaries, be they similar, were used to code adverse events during different studies (e.g. ELECT for studies GDAB and E001, COSTART for studies GDCT, GDCI, and GDCH)
· patients with GHD, Turner syndrome have different incidences of disease-specific associated illnesses, congenital malformations, surgical procedures
· trial designs were different in dose, duration, patient age ranges, presence or absence of a control group
B.1.1 Deaths in study
GDCH
There were no patient deaths reported during this study.
B.1.2 Deaths in study E001
There were no patient deaths reported during this study. However, a 12-year-old male who had received 0.24 mg/kg/wk Humatrope for approximately 6.4 years died approximately 4 years after discontinuing the study due to a malignant tumor (a desmoplastic small round cell tumor). The tumor was diagnosed while the patient was on study medication (Humatrope).
B.1.3 Deaths:
Comparison Across Studies for Different
Indications
Table 19 summarizes the patient deaths recorded during and after clinical studies.
Table 19: Patient Deaths During and After Study

Source: Table # 3.H.20. GHD = growth hormone deficiency; N =
number of patients in safety analysis; NA = not applicable; NGHDSS = non-growth
hormone deficient short stature; TS = Turner syndrome.
a One patient
death (due to aspiration) occurred during the study. Two additional deaths (one due to apnea and one due to surgical
complications) were reported after patients discontinued from the study.
b Death due to
ruptured aortic aneurysm.
c This patient, who had been diagnosed with a
desmoplastic small round cell tumor and died approximately 4 years after
discontinuation from the study.
In Study GDAB, a
6-year-old male who had GHD and cerebral palsy died due to
aspiration during an
afternoon nap. Two additional deaths were reported after patients discontinued
from the study: (1) the first patient, a 5-year-old male, was hospitalized for
flu symptoms, hypoglycemia, severe dehydration, and respiratory arrest
approximately 4.5 months after discontinuation from study; (2) the second patient,
a 20-year-old male who had a history of craniopharyngioma had been hospitalized
for surgery to remove a suprasellar cyst and died following vascular
complications during surgery.
In Study GDCT, a
13-year-old with Turner syndrome died due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm during
hospitalization for chest pain. She was
in the control group receiving ethinyl estradiol but no growth hormone.
In Study E001, as
mentioned above, a 12-year-old male with NGHDSS who had received 0.24 mg/kg/wk
Humatrope for approximately 6.4 years died due to desmoplastic small round cell
tumor approximately 4 years after discontinuing from the study. The applicant
states that this tumor has not been previously identified in GH-treated
patients. This reviewer has not found any published literature association
between this tumor and GH treatment.
B.2.1 Serious Adverse Events in study GDCH
A total of seven serious
adverse events (SAEs) were reported for seven patients: five (13.5%) in the
Humatrope treated group and two (6.5%) in the placebo-treated group.
Of particular interest
is patient 008/1001, an 11-year-old male who was diagnosed with Stage 3B
Hodgkin disease after 4 months of Humatrope treatment. The applicant states
that “ the short duration of Humatrope treatment prior to the diagnosis of
lymphoma” makes causality unlikely. Hodgkin lymphoma is not a common neoplasm
noted to be associated with GH therapy.
In the KIGS pharmacoepidemiological survey there is a single case of de
novo Hodgkin lymphoma recorded in a patient with idiopathic growth hormone
deficiency (a 9-year-old treated for 3.2 years with GH) (Wilton P et al.,
1999).
All four remaining SAEs
in the Humatrope group involved trauma and resulted in hospitalization. They
were: (1) alcohol ingestion and a dislocated fourth left finger in a
15-year-old male (patient 008/1071);
(2) skull fracture, right crushed orbit, eye hemorrhage, intracerebral
hemorrhage, increased right eye pressure, and broken left femur and wrist, all
resulting from a fall from a tree (patient 008/1070, an 18-year old male); (3)
left leg fracture in a sports-related accident in a 16-year-old male (patient
008/1076); (4) right tibia and fibula fracture in a sports-related accident in
a 15-year-old male (patient 008 1103).
The two SAEs in the
placebo control group were: (1) motor vehicle accident in a 17-year-old male
(patient 008/1073); (2) black widow spider bite in a 14-year-old male (patient
008/1075).
B.2.2 Serious Adverse Events in study E001
Overall, 31 patients
(13%) experienced at least one SAEs and a total of 38 SAEs. The Dose 1
treatment arm had 11 (14.1%) patients with SAEs, the Dose 2 treatment arm
had 4 (5.1%) patients with SAEs, and
the Dose 3 treatment arm experienced the highest number and percentage of
patients with SAEs: 16 (19.3%). These
data are summarized in Table 20:

Table 20: Serious Adverse Events (Study E001-All
Randomized Patients)
Source: Table E001.12.6.
The following SAEs are
reported once: cancer (intra-abdominal desmoplastic tumor),
appendicitis, bronchitis, convulsion, dehydration, delayed puberty, epilepsy,
enuresis, epiphysiolysis and surgical correction, hematuria, hematemesis,
polymyositis, cosmetic surgery, cyst removal, dental avulsion, insertion of
transtympanic drain, nasal septum correction, surgery NOS (toe arthalgia),
surgery NOS (aortic valve stenosis), surgery NOS, esophageal atresia,
tularemia, and accidental overdose (non-therapeutic agent). The following SAEs
are reported more then once: abdominal pain (2 patients), fractures (3
patients), appendectomy (2 patients), tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy (5 patients),
and convulsions NOS (4 patients). Due to the small number of individual SAEs
encountered, no dose-dependent relationship can be gleaned, with the exemption
of fractures, all three of which occurred in the Dose 3 treatment arm.
Of interest are the
following patients:
·
Patient 302-3012, a
15-year-old female who received high-dose (Dose 3) Humatrope and developed 4 years later arthralgia of left 2nd
metatarsus-1st phalanx which required 2 corticosteroid infiltrations
and surgery.
·
Patient 305-3044, a
12-year 9-month-old male who had received low-dose Humatrope (Dose 1) and four
years later was hospitalized because of isolated abdominal pain; an abdominal
mass was diagnosed and identified as a desmoplastic
tumor with small cell and triple differentiation (muscular, epithelial, and
neuroendocrine). The tumor was subsequently ablated and the patient was
discontinued from the Humatrope therapy. He died four years later.
·
Patient 601-6027, a
15 years 7 months male with a history of epilepsy who was diagnosed with
slipped capital femoral epiphysis after receiving Humatrope for more than 5
years. During an epileptic seizure, the patient fell and broke the head of his
right femur. A hospital examination detected slipped capital femoral
epiphysis. The patient was discontinued
from the study.
B.2.3 Serious Adverse
Events: Comparison across Studies for Different Indications
Table 21 provides a
summary of SAE incidence across studies and indications. SAEs were reported
with similar frequency in patients with NGHDSS irrespective of the study: 13.5%
in study GDCH vs. 13% across all treatment arms in study E001. The percentage of patients with SAEs was
lower for patients with NGHDSS when compared to patients with either GHD
(approximately 13% vs. 27%) and Turner syndrome (13 % vs. 27% in trial GDCT;
and 13% vs. 17.8% in trial GDCI for
the whole duration of the trial).

Table 21: Serious Adverse Events
Source: Table 3. H. 21. GH = growth hormone; N = number
of patients in safety analysis; n = number of patients; SAE = serious adverse
event.
For study GDCI the comparison between treatment groups
is presented for the first 1.5 years,
the period during which the study was placebo controlled. For the total period
of Humatrope treatment (mean exposure to Humatrope was approximately 4.0
years), 51 SAEs
were reported for 41 (17. 8%) patients (for 1 patient an SAE was reported
during placebo treatment and during Humatrope treatment).
A qualitative
description of the 175 SAEs reported for 90 (27%) patients with GHD contains the following observations:
·
The majority of
these events were hospitalizations, with surgical procedure being the most
common reason for hospitalization.
·
There were four
cases of CNS tumor recurrence or progression (three craniopharyngiomas and one
germinoma).
·
One patient was
diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma during the study (no information regarding
prestudy CNS imaging is available for this patient).
·
A papillary carcinoma
of the thyroid was reported in a patient who had a history of acute
lymphoblastic leukemia.
·
One patient with a
ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and history of nasopharyngeal lymphoma was
hospitalized because of an enlarged thymus (no malignancy at biopsy).
·
SAEs associated
with neurological disorders included hospitalizations for concussion (1),
cerebral vascular accident (1), seizures (seven events in 5 patients), and
dysfunction or replacement of ventriculo-peritoneal shunts (six events in 3
patients). One patient was monitored for intracranial hypertension after
complaints of headaches and vomiting (no increased intracranial pressure was
observed).
·
SAEs related to ear
disorders were reported for 3 patients (two hospitalization for myringotomy and
one surgery for replacement myringotomy tubes).
·
One patient, an
18-year-old male was hospitalized for hip repair due to a slipped capital
femoral epiphysis.
A qualitative
description of the SAEs recorded during studies GDCT and GDCI (both in patients
with Turner syndrome) contains the following observations:
·
In Study GDCT, the majority of SAEs were hospitalizations,
most often for surgical procedures such as ear disorders (including ear surgery
not otherwise specified, chronic mastoiditis, removal of a cholesteatoma,
combined mastoidectomy/nasoplasty/tympanoplasty, and tympanoplasty). One
patient had intracranial hypertension due to shunt malfunction and required two
separate surgeries.
·
In study GDCI the
most frequent SAE was hospitalization for surgical procedure. There were no
neoplasms or neurological disorders reported during this study. As in study
GDCT, there were numerous events related to ear disorders (including ear
surgery NOS, surgery for chronic mastoiditis, mastoidectomy, and eardrum
repair).
In summary, this
across-trial comparison indicates a higher overall proportion of patients with
SAEs in patients with GHD or Turner syndrome when compared to patients with
NGHDSS. Disease-specific patterns of SAEs were noted (e.g. SAEs associated with
neurological disorders in GHD and SAEs associated with ear disorders in Turner
syndrome). Two new malignancies were recorded in patients with GHD (papillary
carcinoma of the thyroid as a secondary malignancy and a possibly undiagnosed
craniopharyngioma) and none in patients with Turner syndrome. By comparison, two neoplasms (Hodgkin
disease and desmoplastic small round cell tumor) were reported in the NGHDSS
patient population over a similar period of time, in similar numbers of
patients.
B.3.1 Patient Discontinuations Due to Adverse Events in study GDCH
One Humatrope patient discontinued from the study due to an adverse event (AE). It was patient 008/1001 who discontinued the Humatrope treatment when he received a diagnosis of Hodgkin disease. One placebo patient (008/1068) was listed as discontinuation due to an AE (bike/motor vehicle accident). The event, however, occurred after the patient, reportedly, completed the study.
B.3.2 Patient Discontinuations Due to Adverse Events in study E001
Three patients
discontinued due to adverse events.
They were:
·
Patient 305-3044, a
12-year 9-month old, male patient who had been on Humatrope treatment (Dose 1)
for over 6 years when he was diagnosed with a large intraabdominal desmoplastic
tumor.
·
Patient 601-6027, a
16-years 2-month male with known history of epilepsy and psychomotor
retardation, treated with Humatrope (Dose 3) for over 5 years, who, during an
epileptic seizure sustained a fracture of the right femoral head; at the same
time a diagnosis of slipped
epiphysial femoral head was made.
·
Patient 406-4052, a
13-years 11-months female who, after over 8-years of Humatrope treatment (Dose
1) was noted to have decreased glucose tolerance as determined by elevated
HbA1c concentration and an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (plasma glucose
concentration = 11.1 mmol/L, 2 hours after a glucose load). Throughout the
entire trial, reported fasting blood glucose was between 3.66 mmol/L and 4.61
mmol/L. Follow up information
revealed a normal HbA1c test (5.3%). The patient was not diagnosed with
diabetes mellitus. The family medical history was negative for diabetes
mellitus and impaired glucose intolerance.
B.3.3 Patient Discontinuations Due to Adverse Events - Comparison Across Studies for Different Indications
Table 22 provides a
summary of the number and percent of patients who discontinued study
participation due to AEs (comparison across studies and indications). Overall, there were few discontinuations due
to adverse events in patients treated with Humatrope. They were between 2.7 % (study GDCH) and 1.3% (study E001) in
NGHDSS patients, between 2.7% (study GDCT) and 1.7% (study GDCI) in Turner
syndrome patients, and 2.1% in GHD patients.

Table 22:
Patient Discontinuations Due to Adverse Events
Source: Table 3. H. 22. For study GDCI the comparison
between Humatrope- treated patients and control patients, data are presented
for the first 1. 5 years, the period during which the study was placebo controlled.
During the total period of Humatrope treatment (mean exposure for Humatrope was
approximately 4.0 years. Four (1. 7%)
patients discontinued due to an AE.
Table 23 lists the individual patients who discontinued Humatrope treatment due to adverse events in individual trials. Patients’ ages at the time of discontinuation and the duration of Humatrope treatment are also presented. Newly diagnosed malignancies are highlighted (grayed out).
Table 23:Patient Discontinuation Due to Adverse Events
– Individual Patient Listing
|
Trial |
Treatment |
Reason for Discontinuation |
Age (y) |
Treatment Duration (y) |
|
GDAB (GHD) |
Humatrope |
Accidental
injury |
12 |
5.7 |
|
Humatrope |
Anxiety
regarding injections |
8 |
1.0 |
|
|
Humatrope |
Craniopharyngioma |
14 |
2.8 |
|
|
Humatrope |
Personality
disorder (pre-existing) |
17 |
1.1 |
|
|
Humatrope |
Preexisting
germinoma |
10 |
0.4 |
|
|
Humatrope |
Recurrent
craniopharyngioma |
6 |
0.7 |
|
|
Humatrope |
Recurrent
craniopharyngioma |
19 |
1.9 |
|
|
Study GDCT (Turner**) |
Humatrope |
SGOT
increased |
14 |
1.6 |
|
Humatrope |
Intracranial
hypertension (VP shunt malfunction) |
7 |
1.4 |
|
|
Study GDCI (Turner**) |
Humatrope |
Bone
disorder (scoliosis) |
16 |
1.7 |
|
Humatrope |
Gastrointestinal
disorder |
9 |
0.2 |
|
|
Humatrope |
Migraine |
14 |
2.7 |
|
|
Humatrope |
Vascular
disorder (aortic aneurism) |
15 |
5.0 |
|
|
Study GDCH (NGHDSS) |
Humatrope |
Hodgkin disease |
11 |
0.4 |
|
Placebo* |
Motor
vehicle accident |
16 |
2.3 |
|
|
Study E001 (NGHDSS) |
Humatrope |
Desmoplastic small round cell
tumor |
12.8 |
6.4 |
|
Humatrope |
Decreased
glucose tolerance |
13.9 |
8.4 |
|
|
Humatrope |
Accidental
injury/slipped capital femoral epiphysis |
16.2 |
5.3 |
*Occurred after the patient completed the study.
**Turner = Turner syndrome.
Abbreviations: GHD = growth hormone deficiency. NGHDSS =
non=growth hormone deficiency short stature
Source: AS.6.1., AS.6.2, AS.6.3, and AS.6.4.
B.4.1 Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events in Trial GDCH
Similar proportions of
patients in each treatment group developed a treatment-emergent adverse event
(TEAE) in trial GDCH ( 97.3% in the Humatrope group and 96.8% in the placebo
group). The body systems for which TEAEs were most frequently reported were the
respiratory system (84% of patients) and the digestive system (66% of
patients).
Table 24 presents individual TEAEs which occurred with higher frequency in the Humatrope group (selected are only TEAEs which occurred in at least 2 patients in the Humatrope group). For most adverse events, the difference in incidence between the Humatrope and placebo group was minimal. AEs with incidence ł 2 in the Humatrope group are: back pain (2.7X), tooth disorder (2.6X), otitis media (2.5X), cardiovascular disorder (2X), migraine (2X), gastrointestinal disorder (4.2X), surgical procedure (4.2X), arthralgia (3.3X), fungal dermatitis (3.3X), dysmenorrhea (2.5X), eye disorder (2.5X), hyperlipidemia (2.5X), abnormal liver function tests (2.5X), nausea and vomiting (2.5X), and benign skin neoplasm (2.5X).
Table 24: Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events in Trial
GDCH*
|
Adverse
Event |
Humatrope (N=37) n (%) |
Placebo (N=31) n (%) |
Ratio** |
|
Flu
syndrome |
20 (54.1) |
11 (35.5) |
1.5X |
|
Pain |
17 (45.9) |
12 (38.7) |
1.2X |
|
Infection |
18 (48.6) |
9 (29.0) |
1.7X |
|
Abdominal
pain |
13 (35.1) |
10 (32.3) |
1.1X |
|
Injection
site pain |
12 (32.4) |
7 (22.6) |
1.4X |
|
Ear
pain |
10 (27.0) |
5 (16.1) |
1.7X |
|
Lab
test abnormal |
9 (24.3) |
5 (16.1) |
1.5X |
|
Acne |
9 (24.3) |
4 (12.9) |
1.9X |
|
Back
Pain |
10 (27.0) |
3 (9.7) |
2.7X |
|
Bone
disorder |
9 (24.3) |
4 (12.9) |
1.9X |
|
Lymphadenopathy
|
9 (24.3) |
4 (12.9) |
1.9X |
|
Myalgia
|
9 (24.3) |
4 (12.9) |
1.9X |
|
Albuminuria
|
6 (16.2) |
4 (12.9) |
1.2X |
|
Allergic
reaction |
5 (13.5) |
4 (12.9) |
1X |
|
Nausea
|
5 (13.5) |
4 (12.9) |
1X |
|
Neck
pain |
6 (16.2) |
3 (9.7) |
1.7X |
|
Tooth
disorder |
7 (18.9) |
2 (6.5) |
2.9X |
|
Otitis
media |
6 (16.2) |
2 (6.5) |
2.5X |
|
Cardiovascular
disorder |
5 (13.5) |
2 (6.5) |
2X |
|
Migraine
|
5 (13.5) |
2 (6.5) |
2X |
|
Arthrosis
|
4 (10.8) |
2 (6.5) |
1.7X |
|
Gastrointestinal
disorder |
5 (13.5) |
1 (3.2) |
4.2X |
|
Surgical
procedure |
5 (13.5) |
1 (3.2) |
4.2X |
|
Anorexia
|
3 (8.1) |
2 (6.5) |
1.2X |
|
Arthralgia
|
4 (10.8) |
1 (3.2) |
3.3X |
|
Asthenia
|
3 (8.1) |
2 (6.5) |
1.2X |
|
Bilirubinemia
|
3 (8.1) |
2 (6.5) |
1.2X |
|
Bronchitis
|
3 (8.1) |
2 (6.5) |
1.2X |
|
Fungal
dermatitis |
4 (10.8) |
1 (3.2) |
3.3X |
|
Pustular
rash |
3 (8.1) |
2 (6.5) |
1.2X |
|
Dysmenorrhea
|
3 (8.1) |
1 (3.2) |
2.5X |
|
Ear
disorder |
4 (10.8) |
0 |
- |
|
Eye
disorder |
3 (8.1) |
1 (3.2) |
2.5X |
|
Hyperlipemia |
3 (8.1) |
1 (3.2) |
2.5X |
|
Abn.
liver function tests |
3 (8.1) |
1 (3.2) |
2.5X |
|
Nausea
and vomiting |
3 (8.1) |
1 (3.2) |
2.5X |
|
Skin
benign neoplasm |
3 (8.1) |
1 (3.2) |
2.5X |
|
Urine
abnormality |
4 (10.8) |
0 |
- |
|
Amblyopia
|
2 (5.4) |
1 (3.2) |
1.7X |
|
Constipation
|
2 (5.4) |
1 (3.2) |
1.7X |
|
Gynecomastia
|
2 (5.4) |
1 (3.2) |
1.7X |
|
Thinking
abnormal |
2 (5.4) |
1 (3.2) |
1.7X |
|
Anxiety
|
2 (5.4) |
0 |
- |
|
Breast
pain |
2 (5.4) |
0 |
- |
|
Conjunctivitis
|
2 (5.4) |
0 |
- |
|
Convulsion |
2 (5.4) |
0 |
- |
|
Depression
|
2 (5.4) |
0 |
- |
|
Nail
disorder |
2 (5.4) |
0 |
- |
*Included
are only adverse events which occurred more frequently in the Humatrope
treatment group in ł 2 patients.
**Ratio
= Humatrope AE incidence/Placebo AE
incidence.
Source:
Table GDCH.12.4.
Several TEAEs related to the musculoskeletal system occurred more frequently in the Humatrope treatment group (back pain, bone disorder, myalgia, neck pain, arthrosis, arthralgia). In addition, most of the actual terms covered under the umbrella term of “pain” are musculoskeletal complaints. Some of these distinct AEs occurred in the same patients but some did not. This Humatrope to placebo imbalance occurred in the context of a frequency of accidental injuries which was slightly higher in the placebo treatment group (51.4% Humatrope vs. 61.3% placebo).
Another Humatrope-to-placebo imbalance is recorded for events captured by the “cardiovascular disorder” term which included the following actual terms: mitral valve prolapse, posible mitral valve prolapse, heart murmur, systolic click, mild PR and cardiovascular disorder. The applicant reports the “cardiovascular disorder” to occur in 5 ( 13.3%) of Humatrope patients and in 2 (6.5%) of placebo-treated patients (this reviewer identified 3 additional patients in the Humatrope group in the dataset). The actual term for the two placebo patients is heart murmur. All four mitral valve prolapse-related actual terms (including a possible and a rule out MVP) are in the treatment group. Heart murmurs in general and mitral valve prolapse are not known to be AEs related to GH treatment. Both are relatively common in pediatric patients.
Several other Humatrope-to-placebo imbalances in TEAE incidence were analyzed at the level of individual patient by this reviewer. The following observations were made:
· all of the “laboratory tests abnormal” AEs are related to abnormalities of the carbohydrate metabolism and/or to thyroid function (they are reviewed in detail in the laboratory results section of the review)
· “surgical procedures” AEs represent routine pediatric surgeries
· “abnormal liver function test” AEs were associated with a diagnosis of Gilbert syndrome in 3 Humatrope patients
B.4.2 Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events in Trial
E001
Table 25 summarizes the most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events for All Randomized Patients. Included are only those TEAEs which occurred with a frequency ł5% in any treatment arm. The majority of these events represent common childhood illnesses. Similar incidence of patients with TEAEs is noted in all three treatment groups. No TEAE displays a dose-dependent increase in incidence. There were no statistically significant differences between treatment arms. TEAEs which occurred more frequently in the Humatrope group in trial GDCH had a lower overall incidence recorded in trial E001 and, therefore, no dose-dependent trend could be analyzed or identified. It should be noted that the 239 patients exposed to Humatrope in trial E001 reported overall fewer adverse events (644) than the 37 patients who received Humatrope during trial GDCH (1482 AEs reported).
Table 25: Treatment- Emergent
Adverse Events (All Randomized Patients)*
|
Event |
Dose 1 N=78 n (%) |
Dose 2 N=78 n (%) |
Dose 3 N=83 n (%) |
Total N=239 n (%) |
|
Patients
with ł 1 TEAE |
47 (60.3) |
57 (73.1) |
58 (69.9) |
162 (67.8) |
|
Infection |
16 (20.5) |
12 (15.4) |
15 (18.1) |
43 (18.0) |
|
Pharyngitis |
14 (17.9) |
8 (10.3) |
12 (14.5) |
34 (14.2) |
|
Flu
syndrome |
8 (10.3) |
9 (11.5) |
8 (9.6) |
25 (10.5) |
|
Rhinitis |
6 (7.7) |
10 (12.8) |
6 (7.2) |
22 (9.2) |
|
Bronchitis |
11 (14.1) |
7 (9.0) |
2 (2.4) |
20 (8.4) |
|
Accidental
Injury |
4 (5.1) |
2 (2.6) |
8 (9.6) |
14 (5.9) |
|
Gastroenteritis |
5 (6.4) |
4 (5.1) |
5 (6.0) |
14 (5.9) |
|
Surgical
procedure |
4 (5.1) |
3 (3.8) |
7 (8.4) |
14 (5.9) |
|
Otitis
media |
4 (5.1) |
4 (5.1) |
4 (4.8) |
12 (5.0) |
|
Abdominal
pain |
4 (5.1) |
4 (5.1) |
0 |
8 (3.3) |
|
Fever |
4 (5.1) |
3 (3.8) |
1 (1.2) |
8 (3.3) |
|
Pain |
0 |
4 (5.1) |
3 (3.6) |
7 (2.9) |
|
Diarrhea |
1 (1.3) |
5 (6.4) |
0 |
6 (2.5) |
|
Anemia |
1 (1.3) |
4 (5.1) |
0 |
5 (2.1) |
Source: Table E001.12. 4.
*Data are presented as number and (%) of patients with
event. Included are TEAEs which
occurred with a frequency ł5% in
any treatment arm.
B.4.3 Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events - Comparison Across Studies for Different Indications
A comparison of TEAEs between the GHD, Turner syndrome, and
NGHDSS trials is difficult because of different background rates of disease
specific adverse events and because of methodological differences in data
collection among trials. TEAEs were
reported in a majority of patients receiving Humatrope. Their frequency ranged from 67.8% in
patients with NGHDSS (trial E001) to 100% in patients with Turner syndrome
(trial GDCT). Placebo-receiving
patients had TEAEs in the 93-97% range.
The most frequent TEAEs represented common childhood illnesses. The five most frequently reported events reported
in the GHD trial were rhinitis (57.4%), pharyngitis (45.3%), fever (38.4%),
headache (38.1%), and infection (33.3%). In both Turner syndrome studies
otitis media was reported more frequently
for patients receiving Humatrope than for patients in the control group (43%
vs. 26% in study GDCT, and 29% vs. 13% in study GDCI).
The following TEAEs were
reported at a higher frequency in the NGHDSS patient population of study GDCH
than in the GHD or Turner syndrome patient populations: accidental injury,
pain, injection site pain, myalgia, migraine, and arthralgia. Several TEAEs were reported in the NGHDSS
patient population of study GDCH but not in the GHD and Turner syndrome patient
populations; they were albuminuria, arthrosis, and urine abnormality. Further
inferences are limited by the methodological limitations of this analysis
(different coding dictionaries, different methods of ascertainment of adverse
events, absence of similar control groups, etc.).
B.5.1 Clinically Significant Treatment-Emergent
Adverse Events in Trial GDCH
The applicant provides
additional information about the incidence of specific TEAE that have been
associated with growth hormone treatment. Some of these events were
prospectively identified in the protocol and some were identified posthoc.
They are presented in Table 26.
Highlighted are the AE with higher incidence in the Humatrope
group. They include scoliosis
(reportedly mild in general), otitis media, hyperlipidemia, gynecomastia, hip
pain and hypertension. Overall, the Humatrope group had a slightly higher incidence
of AEs (40.5% vs. 32.3% in the placebo group). It should be noted that the
conclusions of this analysis with respect to osteoarticular findings is not
consistent with the observation that musculoskeletal TEAEs occur more
frequently in the Humatrope treatment group than in the placebo group.
Table 26: Clinically Significant
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events Safety Population-Study GDCH
|
Adverse
Event |
Humatrope N=37 n (%) |
Placebo N=31 n (%) |
|
Patients with TEAEs |
15 (40.5) |
10 (32.3) |
|
Scoliosis |
7 (18.9) |
4 (12.9) |
|
Otitis Media |
6 (16.2) |
2 (6.5) |
|
Hyperlipidemia |
3 (8.1) |
1 (3.2) |
|
Gynecomastia |
2 (5.4) |
1 (3.2) |
|
Hypothyroidism |
0 |
2 (6.5) |
|
Aching
joints |
0 |
1 (3.2) |
|
Hip pain |
1 (2.7) |
0 |
|
Hypertension |
1 (2.7) |
0 |
Source: Table GDCH.12.7.
The same information is also presented for the Final
height population which, although smaller in number of patients, includes
the longest exposure per patient (Table 27). Highlighted are the AE with higher incidence in the Humatrope group. They include otitis media, scoliosis,
gynecomastia, and hip pain.
Table 27: Clinically Significant
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events Final Height
Population-Study GDCH
|
Adverse
Event |
Humatrope (N=22) n (%) |
Placebo (N=11) n (%) |
|
Patients with TEAEs |
11 (50.0) |
5 (45.5) |
|
Otitis Media |
6 (27.3) |
1 (9.1) |
|
Scoliosis |
5 (22.7) |
2 (18.2) |
|
Gynecomastia |
2 (9.1) |
0 |
|
Hyperlipidemia |
1 (4.5) |
1 (9.1) |
|
Hip pain |
1 (4.5) |
0 |
|
Hypothyroidism |
0 |
1 (9.1) |
Source: Table GDCH.12.8.
B.5.2 Clinically Significant Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events in Trial E001
As in trial GDCH, the
applicant provides additional information about the frequency of several TEAEs
that have the potential to develop or worsen during growth hormone treatment
(Table 28). Several TEAEs occurred more frequently in the higher dose arms
(Dose 2 and Dose 3) but the number of patients was too small to draw any firm
conclusions. They were arthralgia, hyperlipidemia, myalgia, hypothyroidism, and
joint disorder.
Table 28: Clinically Significant
Treatment- Emergent Adverse Events (All Randomized Patients)*
|
Event |
Dose 1 N=78 n (%) |
Dose 2 N=78 n (%) |
Dose 3 N=83 n (%) |
Total N=239 n (%) |
|
Patients
with ł 1 TEAE |
8 (10.3) |
14 (17.9) |
14 (16.9) |
36 (15.1) |
|
Otitis
media |
6 (7.7) |
5 (6.4) |
5 (6.0) |
16 (6.7) |
|
Arthralgia |
0 |
3 (3.8) |
3 (3.6) |
6 (2.5) |
|
Hyperlipidemia |
1 (1.3) |
2 (2.6) |
3 (3.6) |
6 (2.5) |
|
Myalgia |
0 |
2 (2.6) |
1 (1.2) |
3 (1.3) |
|
Hypothyroidism |
0 |
1 (1.3) |
1 (1.2) |
2 (0.8) |
|
Joint
disorder |
0 |
1 (1.3) |
1 (1.2) |
2 (0.8) |
|
Glucose
tolerance decreased |
1 (1.3) |
0 |
0 |
1 (0.4) |
|
Hyperglycemia |
0 |
0 |
1 (1.2) |
1 (0.4) |
|
Scoliosis |
0 |
1 (1.3) |
0 |
1 (0.4) |
Source:
Table E001.12. 7.
*Data are presented as number and (%) of patients with
event.
B.5.3 Clinically Significant Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events - Comparison Across Studies for Different Indications
Clinically significant
TEAEs that have been associated with GH treatment, were analyzed and compared
between patient populations treated with Humatrope (GHD, Turner syndrome, and
NGHDSS). These events include edema, benign intracranial hypertension,
prepubertal gynecomastia, scoliosis, slipped capital femoral epiphysis,
neoplasm, hypertension, abnormal carbohydrate metabolism (including insulin
resistance, glucose intolerance, hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus),
hypothyroidism, and otitis media.
Edema
The applicant does not
report any events of edema in any of the NGHDSS trials. In the GHD patient population,
events relating to edema included face edema (8 events), edema (5 events), and
peripheral edema (3 events). In the combined Turner syndrome patient
population, events included peripheral edema (16 events), edema (6 events),
face edema (4), generalized edema (1), and lung edema (1).
Benign Intracranial Hypertension
There were no reports
of intracranial hypertension in the NGHDSS patient population. In the GHD
patient population, 1 patient developed intracranial hypertension due to
ventriculo-peritoneal shunt malfunction. In addition, 1 patient was
hospitalized for intracranial pressure monitoring during an evaluation of
headaches and vomiting (no increase in intracranial pressure was detected). In
the Turner syndrome patient population, there was one event of intracranial
hypertension, due to a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt malfunction.
Prepubertal and Pubertal Gynecomastia
There were no reports
of prepubertal gynecomastia in the NGHDSS and GHD patient populations
(patients in study GDCH were mostly pubertal at the beginning of Humatrope
therapy). Pubertal gynecomastia was reported in two Tanner stage II
males with GHD, and in two Humatrope-treated patients in the NGHDSS patient
population (Tanner stage III Tanner stage V, respectively).
Scoliosis
In the NGHDSS patient
population, scoliosis was reported for 19% of patients in Study GDCH (7 patients or 18.9% in Humatrope arm and 4 patients or 12.9% in the placebo arm) and
for 1 patient (0.4%) in Study E001. In Study GDCH, scoliosis had been
identified in the protocol as an event to be monitored prospectively (all
events of scoliosis were, reportedly, mild). In the GHD patient population,
scoliosis was reported for 5 of 333 (2%) patients (reportedly of mild
severity). In the Turner syndrome
patient population, there was one report of scoliosis, which resulted in
patient discontinuation from the study.
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
One case of slipped
capital femoral epiphysis
occurred in each of the GHD and NGHDSS
patient populations.
Neoplasm
As neoplasms were
considered SAEs, they are discussed in the serious adverse event section. No neoplasm were reported in the Turner
syndrome patient population.
Hypertension
Elevated blood pressure
was reported for 1 patient with NGHDSS in study GDCH. The
event, recorded as mild,
began 1 week after initiation of Humatrope treatment and resolved after
approximately 5.5 months. No treatment for the hypertension was reported. One event of hypertension was reported in the
GHD patient population. There were 15 reports of hypertension in patients with
Turner syndrome (two events were considered serious and required hospital
evaluation).
Abnormal Carbohydrate Metabolism
In the NGHDSS patient population, there was one report of decreased glucose tolerance which resulted in study discontinuation. In addition, one patient had increased insulin secretion during a glucose tolerance test (however, this was not reported as a TEAE). Carbohydrate metabolism changes in studies GDCH and E001 are detailed in a different section of this review. In the GHD patient population, there were no reports of impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus. In the Turner syndrome patient population, there was one report of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia was reported in 3 patients (one in each of the three patient populations).
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism was
reported in 2 (0.7%) patients with NGHDSS (study E001). Hypothyroidism was reported in 23% of patients
with GHD and in 16% of patients with Turner syndrome.
Otitis Media
In the NGHDSS patient
population, otitis media was reported for 16% of the
Humatrope-treated
patients in Study GDCH, compared
with 7% of the placebo-treated
patients. In Study
E001, 7% of patients were reported to have otitis media or related events.
There were no distinct dose-related differences in the frequency of otitis
media in Study E001. Otitis media was reported in 29% of patients with GHD and
in more than 40% of patients with Turner syndrome receiving Humatrope
treatment. In both Turner syndrome studies, there was a higher frequency of
otitis media and other ear disorders in the Humatrope-treated patients compared
to control patients.
A direct and detailed
comparison among studies was hampered by the fact that different studies used
different laboratory methodologies, with different reference ranges, and, in
some cases, measured different analytes (for example, glycosylated hemoglobin
versus HbA1c ). The applicant places
special emphasis on laboratory data related to carbohydrate metabolism, thyroid
function, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I).
In Study GDCH,
additional clinical laboratory measures, such as clinical chemistry, lipids,
hematology, urinalysis, gonadotropins, sex steroids, anti-GH binding capacity,
and anti-Escherichia coli popypeptide
antibodies (anti-ECP antibodies), were measured. Analysis of anti-ECP
antibodies was discontinued subsequently [amendment GDCH(e)], since data from
other GH-treated populations and data from other Lilly studies had demonstrated
no clinically significant development of anti-ECP antibodies.
In Study E001,
laboratory measures included clinical chemistry, fasting glucose, glycosylated
hemoglobin, hematology, urinalysis, and thyroid function tests. Because these measurements
were performed in 39 local laboratories, which employed diverse methodologies,
the applicant presented only the laboratory data related to carbohydrate
metabolism.
B.6.1.1 Carbohydrate Metabolism Data in study
GDCH
Assessment of
carbohydrate metabolism variables (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and
glycosylated hemoglobin/hemoglobin A1c) was done at the beginning of the trial
and every 6-months thereafter. Glycosylated
hemoglobin was assayed for the first decade of the study (1988 to 1998)
followed by hemoglobin A1c ( HbA1c) after 1998. Because of varying reference ranges across the duration of the
study, this analyte is reported as “adjusted HbA1c ” relative to the
appropriate reference range (in this form, normal values fall between 0 and
1.0).
Table 29
presents baseline values and changes
from baseline to endpoint in the Safety Population for fasting glucose (mmol/L), fasting insulin (pmol/L),
insulin/glucose ratio, the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index
(QUICKI), and HbA1c. Mean baseline
values for carbohydrate metabolism analytes were both normal and similar for
both treatment groups. There were no statistically significant differences
between treatment groups for change from baseline to endpoint. There was a
11.7% increase in mean fasting insulin at the end of treatment for the
Humatrope group. In contrast, the
placebo group experienced a 2.2% reduction in mean fasting insulin.
Consequently, insulin/glucose ratio increased minimally in the Humatrope group.
QUICKI diminished insignificantly in both treatment groups.
Table 29: Carbohydrate
Metabolism Changes from Baseline to Endpoint-Safety Population
|
Lab Test |
Treatment
Group |
N |
Baseline Mean (SD) |
Change Mean (SD) |
|
Fasting glucose (mmol/L) |
Humatrope |
36 |
4.907(0.346) |
0.065(0.494) |
|
Placebo |
29 |
4.748(0.357) |
0.234(0.452) |
|
|
Fasting insulin (pmol/L) |
Humatrope |
33 |
84.774(64.800) |
9.945(63.909) |
|
Placebo |
28 |
90.969(48.461) |
-2.027(60.878) |
|
|
Insulin/glucose ratio |
Humatrope |
33 |
2.391(1.798) |
0.250(1.752) |
|
Placebo |
28 |
2.652(1.319) |
-0.135(1.723) |
|
|
Adjusted hemoglobin A1c |
Humatrope |
35 |
0.374(0.300) |
-0.056(0.409) |
|
Placebo |
29 |
0.296(0.279) |
-0.042(0.393) |
|
|
QUICKI* |
Humatrope |
33 |
0.346(0.035) |
-0.011(0.038) |
|
Placebo |
28 |
0.338(0.028) |
-0.002(0.035) |
Source:
Table GDCH.12.13.
*QUICKI = 1/(log(fasting plasma insulin (uU/ml)) +
log(fasting glucose(mg/dl).
P-value tests between-group difference for change from
baseline to endpoint.
n=Total number of patients in each treatment group
having the variable in both baseline and postbaseline visits.
Table 30 presents the
incidence of values outside the reference range for carbohydrate metabolism
analytes at any time in the study. The number and proportion of patients
with high carbohydrate analytes were similar between the two treatment groups
and there were no statistically significant differences between treatment
groups.
One patient in the
Humatrope group had an abnormal and high fasting glucose level at Visit 14 with
accompanying normal serum insulin and HbA1c values. Similar number of patients
had abnormal and high serum insulin and HgA1c levels.
Table 30: Incidence of High or
Low Carbohydrate Analytes after Baseline-Safety Population
|
Lab test |
Humatrope (N=36) |
Placebo (N=30) |
||||
|
Normal n (%) |
Low n (%) |
High n (%) |
Normal n (%) |
Low n (%) |
High n (%) |
|
|
Fasting glucose |
33
(91.7) |
2
(5.6) |
1
(2.8) |
28
(96.6) |
1
(3.4) |
0 |
|
Fasting insulin |
20
(58.8) |
11
(32.4) |
4
(11.8) |
17
(60.7) |
7
(25.0) |
4
(14.3) |
|
Adjusted HbA1c |
22
(61.1) |
13
(36.1) |
2
(5.6) |
16
(55.2) |
13
(44.8) |
2
(6.9) |
Source:
Table GDCH.12.14. N=Total number of patients in the treatment group
within the requested time interval. The time interval includes visit 2 (Month
1) through the visit prior to visit 99 (i.e. penultimate visit). A total of 66
patients had values in this interval.
Scatterplots of fasting
plasma glucose levels, fasting insulin levels and HbA1c show similar global
patterns of distribution for both treatment arms.
Carbohydrate metabolism
was also evaluated by analyzing between-group differences in mean values at each year on study. Such an
analysis for fasting serum glucose is presented in Figure 11. There were no
statistically significant between-group differences for this variable.
Figure 11 : Mean Fasting Serum Glucose by Year on
Study (Safety population)

Source: Figure GDCH.12.4.
Similarly, there were no statistically significant between-group differences for mean fasting insulin at each year on study (Figure 12).
Figure 12 : Mean Fasting Serum Insulin by Year on Study (Safety Population)

Source: Table GDCH.12.5.
In addition, the absence of between-group differences for mean HbA1c is noted (Figure 13).
Figure 13 : Fasting HbA1C by Year on Study (Safety Population)

Source: Figure GDCH.12.6
B.6.1.2 Carbohydrate Metabolism Data in Study
E001
Carbohydrate metabolism
was assessed by measuring fasting glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin at each
visit during the “core phase” and “extension phases” of study E001 (fasting
serum insulin concentrations are not presented). Table 31 presents baseline
values and changes from baseline to the wo-year endpoint for all the randomized
patients for fasting glucose (mmol/L), and glycosylated hemoglobin. There were no statistically significant
differences between the mean fasting glucose and the mean glycosylated
hemoglobin measurements at baseline and at the end of the two-year study. The
mean change in fasting glucose showed a discrete dose-dependent trend. This was not mirrored by the glycosylated
hemoglobin changes.
Table 31: Carbohydrate
Metabolism Changes from Baseline to Two-Year Endpoint - All Randomized Patients
|
Lab Test |
Treatment
Group |
N |
Baseline Mean (SD) |
Change Mean (SD) |
|
Fasting glucose (mmol/L) |
Dose 1 |
59 |
4.545(0.725) |
0.004(0.830) |
|
Dose 2 |
61 |
4.457(0.825) |
0.157(0.947) |
|
|
Dose 3 |
58 |
4.510(0.698) |
0.204(0.809) |
|
|
Glycosylated
hemoglobin (%) |
Dose 1 |
62 |
5.314(1.076) |
-0.217(1.247) |
|
Dose 2 |
64 |
5.420(0.926) |
-0.029(1.024) |
|
|
Dose 3 |
67 |
5.396(1.027) |
-0.049(0.924) |
Source: Table E001. 12. 8. N = Total number of patients in each
treatment group having the variable in both baseline and postbaseline visits.
Table 32 summarizes the
incidence of high (>7.0 mmol/L) or low (<2.0 mmol/L) fasting blood
glucose values after baseline for All Randomized Patients. No statistically significant differences
among groups in the incidence of high fasting blood glucose values were
reported. Nine patients had fasting blood glucose concentrations above the
upper limit of the reference range (7 mmol/L) on a single occasion after
baseline. All had subsequent
measurements below the defined upper limit. In all cases, reportedly, the
glycosylated hemoglobin was normal.
There was a discrete dose-dependent upward trend for the incidence of
patients with high glucose levels.
Table 32: Incidence of High or
Low Fasting Blood Glucose After Baseline (All Randomized Patients)
|
Variable |
Dose 1 (N=75) |
Dose 2 (N=78) |
Dose 3 (N=80) |
|||
|
No |
n (%) |
No |
n (%) |
No |
n (%) |
|
|
Low
glucose |
72 |
1 (1.4) |
76 |
0 |
77 |
2 (2.6) |
|
High
glucose |
72 |
2 (2.8) |
76 |
3 (3.9) |
77 |
4 (5.2) |
|
All
normal |
72 |
69 (95.8) |
76 |
73 (96.1) |
77 |
71 (92.2) |
Source: Table E001. 12. 9. N= number of patients in the treatment group. No=number of patients with measures fasting
plasma glucose in each treatment group. n(%) = number and % of patient within the
specified range (high, low, or normal)
Figure 14 presents the
overall pattern of fasting glucose values for all three treatment groups
throughout the study. This pattern was, generally, similar among treatment
groups.
Figure 14: Fasting Glucose by Number of Days on
Treatment

Source:
Figure E001. 12. 1.
Figure 15 illustrates the
average fasting glucose concentrations by year on study for the first two years
of study (“core response phase”). The average fasting glucose concentrations
remained normal at these time intervals and there were no statistically
significant differences among dose groups.
Figure 15: Fasting Glucose at Baseline, One-year,
and Two-year for all Randomized Patients

Source:
Figure E001. 12. 3.
Glycosylated hemoglobin
was measured locally at baseline and at subsequent visits during the “core
phase” of the trial. Different methodologies were utilized (either glycosylated
hemoglobin or HbA1c was analyzed). If
the glycosylated hemoglobin was elevated, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
was to be performed. Patients were to be discontinued from the clinical trial
if OGTT was abnormal (plasma glucose concentration > 11 mmol/L, 2 hours after
a glucose load).
In addition, during the
extension phase, some investigators performed OGTTs to obtain baseline
(control) values as part of their routine care. One patient (406-4052, Dose 1)
was noted to have an elevated HbA1c (6.1%, reference range 2.0-6.0%) at one
visit; a subsequent OGTT indicated decreased glucose tolerance and the patient
was discontinued from the trial. Interestingly, this patient’s weight at birth
was -2.63 SD for gestational age.
Figure 16 presents a
scatterplot of glycosylated hemoglobin values for all three treatment groups
throughout the study. This pattern was, generally, similar among treatment
groups. However, in the upper range of
the distributions there are a number of values in each treatment arm that are
elevated (the range of the local lab was not available, though). The applicant plotted the pattern of
glycosylated hemoglobin during the study for each patient and concluded that,
with exemption of patient 304-3038,
”glycosylated hemoglobin levels were relatively stable for all patients”. This
patient had increased glycosylated
hemoglobin during the second year of therapy with fasting blood glucose within
range; no OGTT was performed. No
additional information is available.
Figure 16: Glycosylated Hemoglobin by Number of
Days on Treatment

Source:
Figure E001. 12. 2.
Figure 17 illustrates
the average glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations for the “core-response”
phase of the trial. They did not increase significantly in the first 2 years of
the study. There were no statistically
significant differences among dose groups for glycosylated hemoglobin during
the study. Although the HgA1c in
low-dose regimen (Dose 1), was visually lower than the higher dose regimens
(Dose 1, and Dose 2), the general trend for the latter was horizontal.
Figure 17: Glycosylated Hemoglobin at Baseline, One-year, and
Two-year for All Randomized Patients

Source:
Figure E001. 12. 4.
B.6.1.3 Carbohydrate Metabolism Data - Comparison Across Studies for Different Indications
A comparison of
carbohydrate metabolism data collected during trials for GHD, Turner syndrome,
and NGHDSS allows for the following observations:
1) Baseline mean fasting
blood glucose values were similar among the three patient populations
and changed minimally
with Humatrope treatment.
2) Mean glycosylated hemoglobin or HgA1c
(available only for Turner syndrome and NGHDSS patients) did not change
significantly from baseline to endpoint.
Mean fasting insulin
concentrations were available for Turner syndrome patients in only one study
(GDCI) and for NGHDSS patients in study GDCH.
In patients with Turner syndrome, mean fasting insulin concentrations approximately
doubled between baseline and endpoint but remained within the normal laboratory
reference range. In patients with NGHDSS there was a 11.7% increase in mean
fasting insulin at the end of treatment for the Humatrope group, while the
placebo group experienced a 2.2 reduction in mean fasting insulin). These comparative findings are presented in
table 33.
Table 33: Fasting insulin
changes from baseline to endpoint*
|
Fasting insulin (pmol/L) |
Study GDCI (Turner syndrome) N=230 |
Study GDCH (NGHDSS) N=68 |
||
|
Humatrope a N=80 |
Humatrope b N=117 |
Humatrope c N=33 |
Placebo N=28 |
|
|
Baseline |
37.3±49.3 |
29.9±59.8 |
84.8±64.8 |
91.0±48.5 |
|
Change
to endpoint |
36.4±121.1 |
39.5±96.9 |
10.0±63.9 |
-2.0±60.9 |
Source: Table 3. H. 24.
*Included are only patients with Turner syndrome and
NGHDSS for which these data were available.
a Dose = 0. 27 mg/ kg/ wk.
bDose
= 0. 36 mg/ kg/ wk. This column includes placebo- treated patients who were
transitioned to Humatrope treatment after 1. 5 years.
c Dose = 0. 222 mg/ kg/ wk.
B.6. 2.1 Thyroid Function in Trial GDCH
Thyroid function
assessments were performed at baseline and every 6 months thereafter until the
end of the study. The data are
presented as mean changes from baseline and as incidence of values outside the
reference range. Table 34 provides mean baseline values and changes from
baseline to endpoint for thyroid function tests for the following: total
thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (free T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH). Mean
baseline values were similar for both treatment groups. There were minimal
on-study changes and no statistically significant differences between treatment
groups.
Table 34: Thyroid Function
Changes from Baseline to Endpoint-Safety Population
|
Lab Test |
Treatment Group |
N |
Baseline Mean (SD) |
Change Mean (SD) |
|
T4-RIA (nmol/L) |
Humatrope |
36 |
103.747(19.774) |
-4.505(21.985) |
|
Placebo |
29 |
103.226(13.952) |
-6.036(13.870) |
|
|
Free T4 (pmol/L) |
Humatrope |
36 |
17.053(2.892) |
-0.858(3.653) |
|
Placebo |
29 |
16.864(2.694) |
0.754(4.967) |
|
|
Total T3 (nmol/L) |
Humatrope |
36 |
2.586(0.339) |
-0.451(0.411) |
|
Placebo |
29 |
2.743(0.368) |
-0.556 (0.366) |
|
|
TSH (mU/L) |
Humatrope |
36 |
2.330(1.308) |
-0.384(1.037) |
|
Placebo |
29 |
2.187(0.989) |
-0.069(1.241) |
Source:
Table GDCH.12.7.
n=Total number of patients in each treatment group
having the variable in both baseline and postbaseline visits.
Table 35 presents the
incidence of abnormal (low or high) values for thyroid analytes at any
postbaseline timepoint in the study for both treatment groups.
Table 35: Incidence of High or
Low Thyroid function Tests after Baseline-Safety Population
|
Lab test |
Humatrope (N=36) |
Placebo (N=30) |
||||
|
Normal n (%) |
Low n (%) |
High n (%) |
Normal n (%) |
Low n (%) |
High n (%) |
|
|
T4-RIA |
22
(61.1) |
11
(30.6) |
3
(8.3) |
22
(75.9) |
6
(20.7) |
1
(3.4) |
|
Free T4 |
32
(88.9) |
4
(11.1) |
0 |
28
(96.6) |
0 |
1
(3.4) |
|
Total T3 |
30
(83.3) |
2
(5.6) |
4
(11.1) |
25
(86.2) |
0 |
4
(13.8) |
|
TSH |
28
(77.8) |
3
(8.3) |
6
(16.7) |
23
(79.3) |
2
(6.9) |
4
(13.8) |
Source:
Table GDCH.12.16. N=Total number of patients with the lab test
within the requested time interval. The time interval includes visit 2 (Month
0) through the visit prior to visit 99 (i.e. penultimate visit). A total of 66
patients had values in this interval.
A number of patients in
each group had out-of-reference range values for thyroid analytes. The great
majority of these values were, reportedly, only slightly above or below the
reference range. The majority of patients had only a single out-of-range
thyroid parameter at one or two visits across the duration of the study,
accompanied by normal values for the remaining analytes at the given visit.
There were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups in
incidence of out-of-reference values.
A single patient
developed hypothyroidism while on study (patient 1108 in the placebo group).
Four patients in the Humatrope group (and none in the placebo group) had a low
postbaseline free T4 value. Three of
them had minimally depressed free T4 values on a single occasion, in the
presence of normal TSH values. The fourth patient (008/1059) had a very low
free T4 at one visit, which was subsequently determined to be due to laboratory
error and was normal upon repeat analysis.
Six patients were
reported to have hypothyroidism as a preexisting condition in the Safety Population at baseline (three in each treatment group).
Five of these patients were
receiving thyroid
hormone replacement from Visit 1 (randomization). All patients appeared to have
been controlled with replacement thyroxine therapy during the study.
A scatterplot of free T4
serum levels shows similar global patterns of distribution in the normal and
abnormal range for patients in both treatment groups throughout the study. This
is illustrated in Figure 18:

Figure
18: Free Thyroxine by Number of Days on Treatment
Source:
Figure GDCH. 12. 7.
B.6. 2.2 Thyroid Function in Trial E001
In this study, laboratory
measurements were performed in 39 local laboratories, which employed different
methodologies, thus limiting the robustness of this analysis. Two patients reported hypothyroidism: they
were patient 401-4005 (Dose 3
treatment group) and patient 401-4006 (Dose 2 treatment group). Both were diagnosed with hypothyroidism at
Visit 3 (Month 3 of Humatrope treatment) and began replacement therapy.
B.6. 2.3 Thyroid Function - Comparison Across Studies for Different Indications
Mean baseline values and
changes from baseline to endpoint for thyroid function tests are presented in
Table 36. Criteria for data collection was different in different
studies. Overall, baseline and
change-to-endpoint values for thyroid function tests appeared similar among the
three patient populations. Hypothyroidism was reported as a TEAE in 23% of
patients with GHD. In patients with
Turner syndrome, hypothyroidism was reported as a TEAE for 15% of patients (if
data across studies are combined). In patients with NGHDSS, hypothyroidism was
diagnosed in two Humatrope-receiving patients study E001 (< 1%) and in one
placebo patient in study GDCH.
Table 36: Thyroid Function Changes from Baseline
to Endpoint

Source:
Table 3. H. 25.
B.6.3.1 Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in Study
CDGH
Table 37 provides mean
baseline values and changes from baseline to endpoint for insulin-like growth
factor-I (IGF-I) for the Safety Population. At baseline, the mean serum IGF-I concentration was low for age
and gender in both treatment groups (below the 10th percentile of IGF-I values
for the age- and gender-matched general population). The Humatrope group had a
significantly greater increase in mean serum IGF-I from baseline to endpoint
(p=0.007); this difference was not statistically significant when expressed as
the change in IGF-I standard deviation score (p=0.273). At the end of treatment the IGF-I values
remained below the mean value for the general population at endpoint (mean
IGF-I SDS <-1.0).
Table 37: Insulin-Like Growth
Factor-I Changes from Baseline to Endpoint-All Males Safety Population
|
Lab Test |
Treatment
Group |
N |
Baseline Mean (SD) |
Change Mean (SD) |
|
IGF-I
(ng/ml) |
Humatrope |
33 |
189.568(74.111) |
186.553(123.479) |
|
Placebo |
27 |
225.579(100.295) |
102.791(105.205) |
|
|
IGF-I
SDS |
Humatrope |
33 |
-1.933(1.111) |
0.710(2.251) |
|
Placebo |
27 |
-1.391(1.557) |
0.170(1.281) |
Source:
Table GDCH.12.24.
n=Total number of patients in each treatment group
having the variable in both baseline and postbaseline visits.
The endpoint is the last visit prior to visit 99.
The incidence of low or
high IGF-I SDS (defined as less than or greater than 3 SD from the mean for age
and gender at any time in the study) is presented in Table 38. The
majority of patients in both treatment groups had serum IGF-I values within 3.0
SDS of the mean throughout the study. There was no statistically significant
difference between treatment groups in incidence of high IGF-I values. Twice as
many patients in the Humatrope group had serum IGF-I concentrations that
exceeded 3 (SD) above the mean for age and gender at some postbaseline time
point, when compared to the placebo group.
Most of these patients, had high IGF-I SDS at only a single visit. Only
four patients (three in the Humatrope group and one in the placebo group) had
high IGF-I concentrations at 2 or 3 visits. All patients, reportedly, had
normal values at conclusion of their study participation.
Table 38: Incidence of High or
Low Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I SDS after
Baseline-Safety Population
|
Lab test |
Humatrope (N=36) |
Placebo (N=30) |
||||
|
Normal n (%) |
Low n (%) |
High n (%) |
Normal n (%) |
Low n (%) |
High n (%) |
|
|
IGF-I
SDS |
21
(60.0) |
7
(20.0) |
7
(20.0) |
18
(64.3) |
7
(25.0) |
3
(10.7) |
Source:
Table GDCH.12.25. N=Total number of patients with the lab test
within the requested time interval. The time interval includes visit 2 (Month
1) through the visit prior to visit 99 (i.e. penultimate visit). A total of 66
patients had values in this interval.
B.6.3.3 Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in Study
E001
IGF-I level changes recorded
during this trial were not presented separately.
B.6.3.4 Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I -
Comparison Across Studies for Different
Indications
IGF-I values were
available only for two studies: study GDCI (Turner syndrome) and study GDCH
(NGHDSS). Table 39 summarizes the mean baseline values and the changes from
baseline-to-endpoint for serum IGF-I concentrations in these two studies. In patients with Turner syndrome, the change
in mean IGF-I concentration from baseline to endpoint was greater for the 0.36
mg/kg/wk dosage group than for the 0.27 mg/kg/wk dosage group. In the study GDCH, the Humatrope group mean
had a higher baseline mean serum IGF-I, when compared to the Turner syndrome
patients from study GDCI, but the change to endpoint was similar between the
two patients populations for similar dose regimen (0.22 mg/kg/wk in NGHDSS
patients and 0.27 mg/kg/wk in Turner syndrome patients)
Table 39: Insulin- Like Growth
Factor- I Changes from Baseline to Endpoint

Source: Table 3. H. 26.
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