Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling-based optimisation of administration schedule for the histone deacetylase inhibitor abexinostat (S78454/PCI-24781) in phase i

Abexinostat, an oral pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), was evaluated in patients with advanced solid tumours in two single agent phase I studies (PCYC-402 and CL1-78454-002). In PCYC-402 study testing four different administration schedules, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was established at 75 mg/m² BID (twice daily) and the recommended dose at 60 mg/m ² BID regardless of the schedule tested. The dose limiting toxicity (DLT), consistently observed across all these schedules, was reversible thrombocytopenia. The CL1-78454-002 study was initially investigating an additional schedule of 14 days on/7 days off. While testing two first cohorts, thrombocytopenia was observed without reaching DLT. To address this issue, a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was used to predict the optimal schedule allowing higher doses with minimal thrombocytopenia. Several administration schedules were simulated using this model. A 4 days on/3 days off schedule was associated with the smallest platelet decrease. Accordingly, the CL1-78454-002 study was amended. After reaching MTD1 (75 mg/m² BID) with the initial schedule, subsequent cohorts received abexinostat on a revised schedule of 4 days on/3 days off, starting at one dose level below MTD1 (60 mg/m² BID). As expected, the dose-escalation continued for two more dose levels beyond MTD1. The MTD2 reached for this optimised schedule was 105 mg/m² BID and the recommended dose 90 mg/m² BID. In conclusion, early understanding of toxicities and PK determination allowed us to build a PK/PD model of thrombocytopenia, which predicted the optimal administration schedule. This optimised schedule is currently used in the trials in solid tumours with abexinostat.