eprintid: 20925 rev_number: 11 eprint_status: archive userid: 1589 dir: disk0/00/02/09/25 datestamp: 2016-06-17 09:04:28 lastmod: 2024-03-26 09:53:17 status_changed: 2016-06-17 09:04:28 type: article metadata_visibility: show creators_name: Strowitzki, Thomas creators_name: Kuczynski, Waldemar creators_name: Müller, Arnd creators_name: Bias, Peter title: Safety and efficacy of Ovaleap® (recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone) for up to 3 cycles in infertile women using assisted reproductive technology: a phase 3 open-label follow-up to Main Study subjects: ddc-610 divisions: i-910400 abstract: Background: Ovaleap® (follitropin alfa), a recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone intended for use in controlled ovarian stimulation in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART), showed therapeutic equivalence to Gonal-f® in a multinational, multicenter, randomized, controlled, assessor-blind phase 3 Main Study. The current study examined safety, including immunogenicity, and efficacy of Ovaleap® in an open-label, uncontrolled, follow-up treatment period of up to 2 additional treatment cycles in patients who did not become pregnant in the phase 3 Main Study. Methods: Patients with negative biochemical or clinical pregnancy in the phase 3 Main Study, regardless of treatment group (ie, Ovaleap® or Gonal-f®), were eligible to participate. Patients received Ovaleap® (Merckle Biotec GmbH, Ulm, Germany) for up to 2 additional cycles, administered using a reusable semi-automated pen device. The primary objective was the assessment of safety, including adverse events (AEs), ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and anti-drug antibodies. Tolerability, patient satisfaction with the Ovaleap® pen device, and efficacy outcomes (as evaluated in the Main Study) were also assessed. Results: One hundred forty-seven patients were included in cycle 2, and 61 patients were included in cycle 3. In cycles 2 and 3, 10.9% (16/147) and 6.6% (4/61) of patients experienced treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs), respectively. Three serious TEAEs (ie, appendicitis, OHSS, and borderline ovarian tumor) were reported and successfully resolved. The OHSS TEAE was the only OHSS reported in the study (0.7% [1/147]). Positive findings on anti-drug antibody assays in 6 serum samples did not show neutralizing activity or clinical relevance in biochemical pregnancy rate. No hypersensitivity reaction occurred. Most patients reported “very good”/“good” local tolerability. All patients were “very confident”/“confident” about dose accuracy and correctness of the injection. They all found use of the pen “very convenient”/“convenient” and were all “very satisfied”/“satisfied” with the pen device. Efficacy outcomes were consistent with the phase 3 Main Study. Conclusions: These findings further support the safety, including immunogenicity, and efficacy of Ovaleap® for stimulation of follicular development in infertile women undergoing ART. The findings support continued use of Ovaleap® for multiple cycles or a switch to Ovaleap® if pregnancy is initially not achieved with Gonal-f®. Trial registration: EudraCT number: 2009-017674-20. Current controlled trials register number: ISRCTN74772901. date: 2016 publisher: BioMed Central id_scheme: DOI ppn_swb: 1653753803 own_urn: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-heidok-209255 language: eng bibsort: STROWITZKISAFETYANDE2016 full_text_status: public publication: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology volume: 14 number: 31 place_of_pub: London pagerange: 1-14 issn: 1477-7827 citation: Strowitzki, Thomas ; Kuczynski, Waldemar ; Müller, Arnd ; Bias, Peter (2016) Safety and efficacy of Ovaleap® (recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone) for up to 3 cycles in infertile women using assisted reproductive technology: a phase 3 open-label follow-up to Main Study. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 14 (31). pp. 1-14. ISSN 1477-7827 document_url: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/20925/1/12958_2016_Article_164.pdf