No complement activation or systemic inflammation in IT monkey studies; proinflammatory effects in mice
“In the 14- and 53-week juvenile monkey studies, no drug-related mortality or effects on body weight, ECG, CSF chemistry/cell counts, clinical pathology, or complement activation (as measured by concentrations of Bb split product) were observed”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 7Source ↗
Biodistribution & persistence
Substantial CSF-to-systemic transfer; liver/kidney levels similar to spinal cord; CSF t1/2 ~102-111 days
“Concentrations in systemic tissues like liver and kidney following IT administration were similar to those seen in the spinal cord indicating that a substantial proportion of the administered dose was transferred from CSF to the systemic circulation.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 71Source ↗
Modality-specific risk
CNS neurotoxicity (hippocampal vacuolation, possible learning deficit) after IT ASO; renal/macrophage PS-oligo accumulation
“Taken together, these considerations as well as the data suggesting a neurobehavioral deficit indicate that the hippocampal vacuolation observed in monkeys following IT administration of ISIS 396443 should be considered an adverse neurotoxic effect.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 75Source ↗
Main pharmacology-related risk is increased susceptibility to infections (C5 inhibition); no complement activation by the aptamer in monkeys; panuveitis with Lucentis combination