Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Thrombosis Journal 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Exploratory evaluation of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and safety of rivaroxaban in children and adolescents: an EINSTEIN-Jr phase I study

Authors: Dagmar Kubitza, Stefan Willmann, Michael Becka, Kirstin Thelen, Guy Young, Leonardo R. Brandão, Paul Monagle, Christoph Male, Anthony Chan, Gili Kennet, Ida Martinelli, Paola Saracco, Anthonie W. A. Lensing

Published in: Thrombosis Journal | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The EINSTEIN-Jr program will evaluate rivaroxaban for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in children, targeting exposures similar to the 20 mg once-daily dose for adults.

Methods

This was a multinational, single-dose, open-label, phase I study to describe the pharmacodynamics (PD), pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of a single bodyweight-adjusted rivaroxaban dose in children aged 0.5–18 years. Children who had completed treatment for a venous thromboembolic event were enrolled into four age groups (0.5–2 years, 2–6 years, 6–12 years and 12–18 years) receiving rivaroxaban doses equivalent to 10 mg or 20 mg (either as a tablet or oral suspension). Blood samples for PK and PD analyses were collected within specified time windows.

Results

Fifty-nine children were evaluated. In all age groups, PD parameters (prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and anti-Factor Xa activity) showed a linear relationship versus rivaroxaban plasma concentrations and were in line with previously acquired adult data, as well as in vitro spiking experiments. The rivaroxaban pediatric physiologically based pharmacokinetic model, used to predict the doses for the individual body weight groups, was confirmed. No episodes of bleeding were reported, and treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in four children and all resolved during the study.

Conclusions

Bodyweight-adjusted, single-dose rivaroxaban had predictable PK/PD profiles in children across all age groups from 0.5 to 18 years. The PD assessments based on prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time demonstrated that the anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban was not affected by developmental hemostasis in children.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01145859.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Prins MH, Lensing AWA, Bauersachs R, van Bellen B, Bounameaux H, Brighton TA, et al. Oral rivaroxaban versus standard therapy for the treatment of symptomatic venous thromboembolism: a pooled analysis of the EINSTEIN-DVT and PE randomized studies. Thromb J. 2013;11:21.CrossRef Prins MH, Lensing AWA, Bauersachs R, van Bellen B, Bounameaux H, Brighton TA, et al. Oral rivaroxaban versus standard therapy for the treatment of symptomatic venous thromboembolism: a pooled analysis of the EINSTEIN-DVT and PE randomized studies. Thromb J. 2013;11:21.CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Monagle P, Ignjatovic V, Savoia H. Hemostasis in neonates and children: pitfalls and dilemmas. Blood Rev. 2010;24:63–8.CrossRef Monagle P, Ignjatovic V, Savoia H. Hemostasis in neonates and children: pitfalls and dilemmas. Blood Rev. 2010;24:63–8.CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Attard C, Monagle P, Kubitza D, Ignjatovic V. The in vitro anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban in children. Thromb Res. 2012;130:804–7.CrossRef Attard C, Monagle P, Kubitza D, Ignjatovic V. The in vitro anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban in children. Thromb Res. 2012;130:804–7.CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Attard C, Monagle P, Kubitza D, Ignjatovic V. The in-vitro anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban in neonates. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2014;25:237–40.CrossRef Attard C, Monagle P, Kubitza D, Ignjatovic V. The in-vitro anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban in neonates. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2014;25:237–40.CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Kearns GL, Abdel-Rahman SM, Alander SW, Blowey DL, Leeder JS, Kauffman RE. Developmental pharmacology-drug disposition, action, and therapy in infants and children. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:1157–67.CrossRef Kearns GL, Abdel-Rahman SM, Alander SW, Blowey DL, Leeder JS, Kauffman RE. Developmental pharmacology-drug disposition, action, and therapy in infants and children. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:1157–67.CrossRef
6.
go back to reference Willmann S, Becker C, Burghaus R, Coboeken K, Edginton A, Lippert J, et al. Development of a paediatric population-based model of the pharmacokinetics of rivaroxaban. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2014;53:89–102.CrossRef Willmann S, Becker C, Burghaus R, Coboeken K, Edginton A, Lippert J, et al. Development of a paediatric population-based model of the pharmacokinetics of rivaroxaban. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2014;53:89–102.CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Rohde G. Determination of rivaroxaban – a novel, oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor – in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2008;872:43–50.CrossRef Rohde G. Determination of rivaroxaban – a novel, oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor – in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2008;872:43–50.CrossRef
9.
go back to reference Willmann S, Thelen K, Kubitza D, Lensing AWA, Frede M, Coboeken K, et al. Pharmacokinetics of rivaroxaban in children using physiologically based and population pharmacokinetic modelling – an EINSTEIN JUNIOR phase I study. Thrombosis J. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-018-0185-1. Willmann S, Thelen K, Kubitza D, Lensing AWA, Frede M, Coboeken K, et al. Pharmacokinetics of rivaroxaban in children using physiologically based and population pharmacokinetic modelling – an EINSTEIN JUNIOR phase I study. Thrombosis J. 2018. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​s12959-018-0185-1.
10.
go back to reference Yee DL, O'Brien SH, Young G. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anticoagulants in paediatric patients. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2013;52:967–80.CrossRef Yee DL, O'Brien SH, Young G. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anticoagulants in paediatric patients. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2013;52:967–80.CrossRef
11.
go back to reference Corbella E, Miragliotta G, Masperi R, Villa S, Bini A, de Gaetano G, et al. Platelet aggregation and antithrombin III levels in diabetic children. Haemostasis. 1979;8:30–7.PubMed Corbella E, Miragliotta G, Masperi R, Villa S, Bini A, de Gaetano G, et al. Platelet aggregation and antithrombin III levels in diabetic children. Haemostasis. 1979;8:30–7.PubMed
12.
go back to reference Fukui H, Taniguchi A, Sakamoto S, Kawahara S, Matsunaga T, Taira K, et al. Antithrombin III in children with various renal diseases. Pediatr Nephrol. 1989;3:144–8.CrossRef Fukui H, Taniguchi A, Sakamoto S, Kawahara S, Matsunaga T, Taira K, et al. Antithrombin III in children with various renal diseases. Pediatr Nephrol. 1989;3:144–8.CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Singh RR, Gupte-Singh KR, Wilson JP, Moffett BS. Adherence to anticoagulant therapy in pediatric patients hospitalized with pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis: a retrospective cohort study. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2016;22:260–4.CrossRef Singh RR, Gupte-Singh KR, Wilson JP, Moffett BS. Adherence to anticoagulant therapy in pediatric patients hospitalized with pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis: a retrospective cohort study. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2016;22:260–4.CrossRef
14.
go back to reference Halton JM, Lehr T, Cronin L, Lobmeyer MT, Haertter S, Belletrutti M, et al. Safety, tolerability and clinical pharmacology of dabigatran etexilate in adolescents. An open-label phase IIa study. Thromb Haemost. 2016;116:461–71.CrossRef Halton JM, Lehr T, Cronin L, Lobmeyer MT, Haertter S, Belletrutti M, et al. Safety, tolerability and clinical pharmacology of dabigatran etexilate in adolescents. An open-label phase IIa study. Thromb Haemost. 2016;116:461–71.CrossRef
15.
go back to reference Halton JML, Albisetti M, Biss B, Bomgaars L, Brueckmann M, Gropper S, et al. Phase IIa study of dabigatran etexilate in children with venous thrombosis: pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability. J Thromb Haemost. 2017;15:2147–57.CrossRef Halton JML, Albisetti M, Biss B, Bomgaars L, Brueckmann M, Gropper S, et al. Phase IIa study of dabigatran etexilate in children with venous thrombosis: pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability. J Thromb Haemost. 2017;15:2147–57.CrossRef
16.
go back to reference Halton JML, Picard AC, Harper R, Huang F, Brueckmann M, Gropper S, et al. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and tolerability of dabigatran etexilate oral liquid formulation in infants with venous thromboembolism. Thromb Haemost. 2017;117:2168–75.CrossRef Halton JML, Picard AC, Harper R, Huang F, Brueckmann M, Gropper S, et al. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and tolerability of dabigatran etexilate oral liquid formulation in infants with venous thromboembolism. Thromb Haemost. 2017;117:2168–75.CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Young G, Yee DL, O'Brien SH, Khanna R, Barbour A, Nugent DJ. FondaKIDS: a prospective pharmacokinetic and safety study of fondaparinux in children between 1 and 18 years of age. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011;57:1049–54.CrossRef Young G, Yee DL, O'Brien SH, Khanna R, Barbour A, Nugent DJ. FondaKIDS: a prospective pharmacokinetic and safety study of fondaparinux in children between 1 and 18 years of age. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011;57:1049–54.CrossRef
18.
go back to reference Young G, Tarantino MD, Wohrley J, Weber LC, Belvedere M, Nugent DJ. Pilot dose-finding and safety study of bivalirudin in infants <6 months of age with thrombosis. J Thromb Haemost. 2007;5:1654–9.CrossRef Young G, Tarantino MD, Wohrley J, Weber LC, Belvedere M, Nugent DJ. Pilot dose-finding and safety study of bivalirudin in infants <6 months of age with thrombosis. J Thromb Haemost. 2007;5:1654–9.CrossRef
19.
go back to reference O'Brien SH, Yee DL, Lira J, Goldenberg NA, Young G. UNBLOCK: an open-label, dose-finding, pharmacokinetic and safety study of bivalirudin in children with deep vein thrombosis. J Thromb Haemost. 2015;13:1615–22.CrossRef O'Brien SH, Yee DL, Lira J, Goldenberg NA, Young G. UNBLOCK: an open-label, dose-finding, pharmacokinetic and safety study of bivalirudin in children with deep vein thrombosis. J Thromb Haemost. 2015;13:1615–22.CrossRef
20.
go back to reference Forbes TJ, Hijazi ZM, Young G, Ringewald JM, Aquino PM, Vincent RN, et al. Pediatric catheterization laboratory anticoagulation with bivalirudin. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2011;77:671–9.CrossRef Forbes TJ, Hijazi ZM, Young G, Ringewald JM, Aquino PM, Vincent RN, et al. Pediatric catheterization laboratory anticoagulation with bivalirudin. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2011;77:671–9.CrossRef
21.
go back to reference Young G, Boshkov LK, Sullivan JE, Raffini LJ, Cox DS, Boyle DA, et al. Argatroban therapy in pediatric patients requiring nonheparin anticoagulation: an open-label, safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic study. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011;56:1103–9.CrossRef Young G, Boshkov LK, Sullivan JE, Raffini LJ, Cox DS, Boyle DA, et al. Argatroban therapy in pediatric patients requiring nonheparin anticoagulation: an open-label, safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic study. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011;56:1103–9.CrossRef
22.
go back to reference Howie SRC. Blood sample volumes in child health research: review of safe limits. Bull World Health Organ. 2011;89:46–53.CrossRef Howie SRC. Blood sample volumes in child health research: review of safe limits. Bull World Health Organ. 2011;89:46–53.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Exploratory evaluation of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and safety of rivaroxaban in children and adolescents: an EINSTEIN-Jr phase I study
Authors
Dagmar Kubitza
Stefan Willmann
Michael Becka
Kirstin Thelen
Guy Young
Leonardo R. Brandão
Paul Monagle
Christoph Male
Anthony Chan
Gili Kennet
Ida Martinelli
Paola Saracco
Anthonie W. A. Lensing
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Thrombosis Journal / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1477-9560
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-018-0186-0

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

Thrombosis Journal 1/2018 Go to the issue