Sequence 1
12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY 12.1 Mechanism of Action Telotristat, the active metabolite of telotristat ethyl, is an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, which mediates the rate limiting step in serotonin biosynthesis. The in vitro inhibitory potency of telotristat towards tryptophan hydroxylase is 29 times higher than that of telotristat ethyl. Serotonin plays a role in mediating secretion, motility, inflammation, and sensation of the gastrointestinal tract, and is over-produced in patients with carcinoid syndrome. Through inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylase, telotristat and telotristat ethyl reduce the production of peripheral serotonin, and the frequency of carcinoid syndrome diarrhea. 12.2 Pharmacodynamics In healthy subjects, telotristat ethyl 500 mg three times daily (twice the recommended dosage) for 14 days decreased whole blood serotonin and 24-hour urinary 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (u5-HIAA) from baseline. A decrease in 24-hour u5-HIAA was observed as early as after 5 days of treatment. In patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors and carcinoid syndrome diarrhea, 24-hour u5-HIAA decreased from baseline following 6 and 12 weeks of treatment with Xermelo 250 mg three times a day, whereas placebo did not decrease u5-HIAA. Cardiac Electrophysiology At a dose 6 times the recommended dose of 250 mg, Xermelo does not prolong the QT interval to any clinically relevant extent. 12.3 Pharmacokinetics Absorption After a single oral dose of telotristat ethyl to healthy subjects, telotristat ethyl was absorbed and metabolized to its active metabolite, telotristat. Peak plasma concentrations of telotristat ethyl were achieved within 0.5 to 2 hours, and those of telotristat within 1 to 3 hours. Plasma concentrations thereafter declined in a biphasic manner. Following administration of a single 500 mg dose of telotristat ethyl (twice the recommended dosage) under fasted conditions in healthy subjects, the mean C max and AUC 0-inf were 4.4 ng/mL and 6.23 ng•hr/mL, respectively for telotristat ethyl. The mean C max and AUC 0-inf were 610 ng/mL and 2320 ng•hr/mL, respectively for telotristat. Peak plasma concentrations and AUC of telotristat ethyl and telotristat appeared to be dose proportional following administration of a single dose of telotristat ethyl in the range of 100 mg (0.4 times the lowest recommended dose to 1000 mg [4 times the highest recommended dose]) under fasted conditions. Following multiple-dose administration of telotristat ethyl 500 mg three times daily, there was negligible accumulation at steady state for both telotristat ethyl and telotristat. In patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors and carcinoid syndrome diarrhea treated with SSA therapy, the median T max for telotristat ethyl and telotristat was approximately 1 and 2 hours, respectively. Following administration of 500 mg telotristat ethyl three times daily, with meals in patients, the mean C max and AUC 0-6hr were approximately 7 ng/mL and 22 ng•hr/mL, respectively, for telotristat ethyl. The mean C max and AUC 0-6hr were approximately 900 ng/mL and 3000 ng•hr/mL, respectively for telotristat. The pharmacokinetic parameters for both telotristat ethyl and telotristat were highly variable with about 55% coefficient of variation. Food Effect Administration of a single 500 mg dose of Xermelo (twice the recommended dose) with food resulted in higher exposure to both telotristat ethyl and telotristat. The systemic exposure to telotristat ethyl, was significantly increased following administration with a high-fat meal, with C max , and AUC 0-inf being 112%, and 264% higher, respectively compared to the fasted state. Following administration of a single 500 mg dose of telotristat ethyl under the fed conditions in healthy subjects, the mean C max and AUC 0-inf were 10.5 ng/mL and 21.6 ng•hr/mL, respectively for telotristat ethyl. The C max and AUC 0-inf values for telotristat were also increased by 47% and 33%, respectively, with a high-fat meal compared to the fasted state. The mean C max and AUC 0-inf were 908 ng/mL and 2980 ng•hr/mL, respectively for telotristat under the fed condition. [see Dosage and Administration ( 2 )] . Distribution Both telotristat ethyl and telotristat are greater than 99% bound to human plasma proteins. In vitro data suggests that telotristat is a substrate of P-glycoprotein. Elimination Following a single 500 mg oral dose of telotristat ethyl in healthy subjects, the apparent half-life was approximately 0.6 hours for telotristat ethyl and 5 hours for telotristat. The apparent total clearance at steady state (CL/F ss ) following oral dosing with telotristat ethyl 500 mg three times daily for 14 days (twice the recommended dosage) in healthy subjects was 2.7 and 152 L/hr for telotristat ethyl and telotristat, respectively. Metabolism After oral administration, telotristat ethyl undergoes hydrolysis via carboxylesterases to telotristat, its active metabolite. Telotristat is further metabolized. Among the metabolites of telotristat, the systemic exposure to an acid metabolite of oxidative deaminated decarboxylated telotristat was about 35% of that of telotristat. In vitro data suggest that telotristat ethyl and telotristat are not substrates for CYP enzymes. Excretion Following a single 500 mg oral dose of 14 C-telotristat ethyl, 93.2% of the dose was recovered over 240 hours: 92.8% was recovered in the feces, with less than 0.4% being recovered in the urine. Specific Populations Age and Sex Population pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that age (18 to 83 years) and sex do not affect the pharmacokinetics of telotristat. Renal Impairment Population pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that creatinine clearance (20 to 89 mL/min) does not affect the pharmacokinetics of telotristat. Xermelo was not studied in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who require dialysis. Hepatic Impairment Population pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that mild hepatic impairment (defined as total bilirubin greater than 1 to 1.5 times the upper limit of normal [ULN] or AST greater than the ULN) does not affect the pharmacokinetics of telotristat. The effect of moderate or severe hepatic impairment (defined as total bilirubin greater than 1.5 times the ULN and any value for AST) is unknown. Drug Interaction Studies Effect of Telotristat Ethyl on Other Drugs In vitro studies The potential for telotristat ethyl and telotristat to induce CYP enzymes (1A2 and 2B6) or inhibit CYP enzymes (2B6, 2C8, and 2C9) has not been adequately studied in vitro . In vitro telotristat ethyl inhibited P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), but telotristat did not inhibit P-gp and BCRP at the clinically relevant concentrations. However, in vivo drug interaction potential via inhibition of BCRP is low based on in vitro studies and in vivo findings. Based on in vitro studies, in vivo drug interaction potential via inhibition of organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1), OCT2, organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), OAT3, organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1), OATP1B3, or bile salt export pump (BSEP) transporters by telotristat ethyl and telotristat is low at the recommended dosage. Midazolam (sensitive CYP3A4 substrate) Following administration of multiple doses of telotristat ethyl, the systemic exposure to concomitant midazolam was significantly decreased. When 3 mg midazolam was co-administered orally after 5 day treatment with telotristat ethyl 500 mg three times daily (twice the recommended dosage), the mean C max , and AUC 0-inf for midazolam were decreased by 25%, and 48%, respectively, compared to administration of midazolam alone. The mean C max , and AUC 0-inf for the active metabolite, 1'-hydroxymidazolam, were also decreased by 34%, and 48%, respectively. The reduction in the systemic exposure to both midazolam and its active metabolite suggests that the glucuronidation of 1'-hydroxymidazolam may have been increased by telotristat ethyl [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 )] . Fexofenadine (sensitive P-gp substrate) The C max and AUC of fexofenadine increased by 16% when a single 180 mg dose of fexofenadine was co-administered orally with the final dose of telotristat ethyl 500 mg administered three times daily (twice the recommended dosage) for 5 days. Clinically meaningful interactions with P-gp substrates are unlikely. Effect of Other Drugs on Telotristat Ethyl Short-Acting Octreotide The mean C max and AUC 0-last of telotristat ethyl were decreased by 86% and 81%, respectively, following administration of a single 500 mg dose of Xermelo (twice the recommended dose), co-administered with short-acting octreotide 200 mcg injected subcutaneously in healthy subjects. The mean C max and AUC 0-last of telotristat were decreased by 79% and 68%, respectively [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] .