- First demonstration of relevant hydroxyprogesterone caproate levels following oral administration in pregnant women
- Projected dose between 400 and 800 mg twice a day is expected to be comparable to marketed 250 mg weekly IM product
- Relative bioavailabilities similar between pregnant and non-pregnant women
SALT LAKE CITY, UT; USA I January 12, 2015 I Lipocine Inc. (LPCN), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced successful top-line results of a Phase 1b study of LPCN 1107, the company’s oral hydroxyprogesterone caproate (“HPC”) product candidate. The primary objectives of the study were to determine the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of LPCN 1107 relative to an intramuscular (“IM”) HPC, as well as safety and tolerability in pregnant women.
“With positive pharmacokinetic data and the ability to achieve meaningful drug levels shown in pregnant women, we continue to believe that LPCN 1107 has the potential to become the first oral product for prevention of preterm birth,” said Dr. Mahesh Patel, Chairman, President and CEO of Lipocine Inc. “Given the known progestogenic activity of HPC and results from this study, we believe that LPCN 1107 may have market opportunities beyond prevention of preterm birth.”
This Phase 1b open-label study enrolled eight healthy, pregnant women at 16 to 18 weeks gestation. All subjects received three treatments in sequence. In period one, subjects received two doses of 400 mg oral LPCN 1107, administered 12 hours apart. In period two, subjects received two doses of 800 mg oral LPCN 1107, administered 12 hours apart. In period three, subjects were given 250 mg of HPC via intramuscular injection (marketed product Makena(R)). Blood samples were collected periodically over 24 hours following oral dosing and over 28 days following the IM dose.
The maximum concentration (“Cmax”) and the area under the curve (“AUC”) for the oral treatments with LPCN 1107 are shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Single Dose Pharmacokinetic Parameters
| Dosing Regimen (BID) (N=7*) |
Cmax (ng/ml) [range] |
AUC 0-24 (ng.h/ml) [range] |
| 400mg | 21.3 | 156 |
| [11.5 — 36.2] | [81 — 234] | |
| 800 mg | 63.2 | 577 |
| [37.8 – 144] | [323 — 1365] |
* one subject data analysis pending
Results from this study demonstrate significant HPC absorption following oral administration in healthy pregnant women. Additionally, there was a more than dose proportional increase in exposure with the 800 mg dose.
Steady state pharmacokinetic parameters for oral and IM dosing regimens were simulated based on single dose data and the Cmax and AUC values are shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Simulated Steady State Pharmacokinetic Parameters
| Products / Dosing Regimen (N=7*) |
C ss,max (ng/ml) [range] |
AUC SS (ng.h/ml)# [range] |
| LPCN 1107 / 400mg BID | 21.6 | 1074 |
| [12.1 — 36.2] | [82 — 229] | |
| LPCN 1107 / 800mg BID | 71.1 | 4058 |
| [43.8 — 144.1] | [311 — 1100] | |
| Intramuscular injection / 250mg weekly | 13.0 | 1817 |
| [6.5 — 29.4] | [805 – 3904] |
* one subject data analysis pending
# AUCss calculated for post steady state 1 week duration
Based on the results shown in Table 2, LPCN 1107 dosing between 400 and 800 mg twice a day is expected to be comparable to the marketed 250 mg weekly IM product.
The simulated steady state PK parameters for oral and IM dosing from this study (LPCN 1107-14-003) were compared to simulated steady state data from previously reported results from Phase 1a study (LPCN 1107-14-001) in non-pregnant women (see Table 3).
Table 3: Bioavailability in pregnant and non-pregnant women
| AUC SS (ng.h/ml)# | Relative bioavailability | ||
| Study population (N) | LPCN 1107/ 400 mg BID Oral |
Intramuscular Injection / 250 mg weekly |
[oral / IM] |
| Pregnant women (7*) | 1074 | 1817 | 59 % |
| Non-pregnant women (10) | 1348 | 2468 | 55 % |
* one subject data analysis pending
# AUCss calculated for post steady state 1 week duration
Based on the results shown in Table 3, relative bioavailability of oral to IM dosing was similar between pregnant and non-pregnant women.
In this study, LPCN 1107 was well tolerated with no serious adverse events observed. Lipocine plans to review the development plan with FDA before deciding next steps in the program.
About LPCN 1107
LPCN 1107 has the potential to become the first oral HPC product for the prevention of preterm birth in women with a prior history of at least one preterm birth. Potential benefits of our oral product candidate relative to current injectable products include the elimination of pain and site reactions associated with weekly injections, elimination of weekly doctor visits or visits from the nurse, and elimination of interference/disruption of personal, family or professional activities associated with weekly visits.
About Lipocine
Lipocine Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing innovative pharmaceutical products for use in men’s and women’s health using its proprietary drug delivery technologies. Lipocine’s lead product candidate, LPCN 1021, demonstrated positive top-line efficacy results in Phase 3 testing and is targeted for testosterone replacement therapy. Additional pipeline candidates include LPCN 1111, a next generation oral testosterone therapy product with once daily dosing, that is currently in Phase 2 testing, and LPCN 1107, which has the potential to become the first oral hydroxyprogesterone caproate product indicated for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth, and is currently in Phase 1 testing.
SOURCE: Lipocine
