Organon's Sugammadex Demonstrated A 9-12 Times Faster Recovery In Phase III Pivotal Trial Compared To Neostigmine

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 23 Jul 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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The Aurora trial compared the efficacy of sugammadex and neostigmine for the reversal of shallow neuromuscular blockade induced by single or multiple doses of either rocuronium (Esmeron®/Zemuron®) or vecuronium (Norcuron®).

"Sugammadex has shown a rapid and complete reversal in this pivotal trial without evidence of PORC or re-occurrence of neuromuscular blockade. Effective reversal is critically important to ensure that patients recover quickly and completely, without the risk of breathing difficulties," commented one of the lead investigators involved in the Aurora trial, Professor M. Blobner from the Klinik für Anästhesiologie der Technischen Universität München, Germany.

Reversal agents are used during general anesthesia to reverse the effects of muscle relaxants, also called neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs). Reversal of neuromuscular blockade is used to reduce the risk of PORC or re-occurrence of muscle relaxation.

Phase III Trial Overview

The international, randomised, multicenter, parallel-group Aurora trial was conducted at 13 European centers and enrolled 198 patients. In the trial sugammadex was administered at reappearance of T2 and achieved significantly faster recovery of the T4/T1 ratio to 0.9 compared with neostigmine. Median time to recovery was 1.4 minutes (0.9-5.4; p<0.0001) for sugammadex versus 17.6 minutes (3.7-106.9; p<0.0001) for neostigmine following rocuronium administration; and 2.1 minutes (1.2-64.2; p<0.0001) versus 18.9 minutes (2.9-76.2); p<0.0001) respectively following vecuronium administration. There were no clinical events due to PORC or re-curarization reported for either group.1, 2

In total 34 patients from this trial experienced one or more adverse events (AE) that were considered at least possibly related to the study drugs: 14 in the sugammadex group and 20 in the neostigmine group. Most drug-related AEs were mild or moderate. The most commonly reported AEs (>4%) with sugammadex included dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, chills and procedural hypertension. Neostigmine was most commonly associated (>4%) with prolonged neuromuscular blockade, dry mouth, nausea, procedural complication and albumin present in urine.[1, 2]

During the congress, results from three additional Phase III trials - Libra, Spring and Crystal trials - were presented. These trials demonstrated that sugammadex was effective and well tolerated in pediatric patients, in patients with mild or moderate impaired renal function and in comparison with neostigmine-glycopyrrolate after cisatracurium. Most common AEs (>4%) considered at least possibly related to sugammadex in these studies were diarrhoea, anesthetic complication and increased D-glucosaminidase.[3, 4, 5]

In the clinical trials conducted to date, sugammadex has generally demonstrated the ability to reverse shallow and profound depths of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade within 3 minutes, thereby enabling unprecedented control of the onset and offset of skeletal muscle relaxation through the use of both drugs. Sugammadex's global Phase III development program consisting of 5 US trials and 5 European trials - completed recruitment in late 2006. The submission of the registration files for the USA, Europe and Japan are on schedule.

About Organon

Organon creates, manufactures and markets innovative prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of innovation and business partnerships, Organon seeks to leverage its position as a leading biopharmaceutical company in each of its core therapeutic fields: fertility, gynecology and selected areas of anesthesia. It has extensive expertise in neuroscience and a rich and focused R&D program. Research areas also include immunology and specific areas of oncology. Organon products are distributed in over 100 countries worldwide, of which more than 50 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human healthcare business unit of Akzo Nobel.

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