A Study Using Recombinant Human Luteinizing Hormone (r-hLH, Luveris®) in the Treatment of Chinese Women With Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism

Phase 3

Completed

Conditions: Hypogonadism

Registration Number: NCT01084265

Lead Sponsor: Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Brief Summary: This was a prospective, open, non-comparative study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of recombinant human luteinizing hormone (rhLH, Luveris) administered subcutaneously (s.c.) in follicular development during ovulation induction in 31 Chinese female subjects with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Detailed Description: The objective of this prospective, open, non-comparative study was to assess the safety and efficacy of rhLH (Luveris) administered subcutaneously in follicular development during ovulation induction in Chinese female subjects with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The study was organized on an outpatient basis involving a single cycle of treatment. Prior to entry into the study, the diagnosis of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was confirmed by history, by the presence or absence of specific clinical features and by measuring serum gonadotropin levels. Once a subject has signed the informed consent form and after satisfying all eligibility criteria, the subject received a combination of daily injection of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH) 150 international units (IU) plus rhLH 75 IU. After adequate follicular response, ovulation induction was triggered by an injection of 10,000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Luteal phase function was assessed by serum progesterone level determination.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: Female

Target Recruitment: 31

Inclusion Criteria

Be premenopausal, between 18 and 39 years of age
Have a clinical history of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and laboratory test result comply with diagnosis of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism during screening procedure
Have discontinued gonadotropins, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (gonadotropin naïve), or estrogen progesterone replacement therapy at least one month before the screening procedure
Have a negative progestin challenge test performed during screening
Have the following hormonal values in a centrally analyzed fasting blood sample, drawn within 6 months before initiation of treatment:
Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH): < 5 international units/liter (IU/L)
Luteinizing hormone (LH): < 1.2 IU/L
Oestradiol (E2): < 60 picogram/milliliter (pg/mL) (<220 picomolar/liter [pmol/L])
Prolactin (PRL): < 44.3 nanogram/milliliter (ng/mL) (< 1040 milli-international units/liter [mIU/L])
Thyrotrophin-stimulating hormone (TSH): < 6.5 micro-international units (uIU/mL)
Free Thyroxine (T4): 0.8-1.8 nanogram/deciliter (ng/dL) (11-24 pmol/L)
Triiodothyronine (T3): < 1.0 ng/mL (< 3.5 nanomolar/liter [nmol/L])
Have an endovaginal pelvic ultrasound scan showing (i) no ovarian tumor and cyst < 2 centimeters (cm); (ii) no clinically significant uterine abnormality, and (iii) < 13 mm small follicles (mean diameter < 10 mm) on the largest section through each ovary
Have a normal cervical pap smear within 6 months of the initial visit
Have a body mass index (BMI) between 18.4 and 31.4 kilogram/meter square (kg/m^2)
Be willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study
Have given written informed consent prior to any study related procedure

Exclusion Criteria

Ongoing pregnancy
Any chronic systemic disease
Hypersensitive to study drug and control drug
History of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Abnormal gynecological bleeding of undetermined origin
Previous or current hormone dependent tumor
Known active substance abuse or eating disorder
Known central nervous system (CNS) lesions: In cases where hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is secondary to a CNS lesion or its treatment, the subject will not be eligible without consulting Serono's Medical Director
Exercise program exceeding 10 hours per week
Currently undergoing treatment with psychotropic medication or with any other medication known to interfere with normal reproductive function (for example, neuroleptics, dopamine antagonists)
There is any abnormality, decided by investigators, which might produce effect on the absorption, distribution and excretion of investigational drug

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants Who Had at Least One Follicle Greater Than 17mm in Diameter	Day 14
Number of Participants With E2 Level in Blood Serum Above 109 pg/mL on the Day of hCG Injection	Day 14
Number of Participants Who Met Both Index 1 and Index 2	Day 14	The three indices were defined as; Index 1: diameter of at least one follicle is greater than 17 mm; Index 2: serum oestradiol (E2) level in blood serum above 109 picogram/ milliliter (pg/mL) on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection day; Index 3: participant refuses to take hCG injection for the concern of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) or participant is pregnant. A subset of these participants met Index 3.
Number of Participants Who Refused to Take hCG Injection	Day 14	Participant refused to take hCG injection for the concern of OHSS or the participant was pregnant.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mean Number of Follicles With Diameter in the Range of 10-17 mm on the Day of hCG Injection in Treatment Cycle	Day 14
Mean Number of Follicles With the Diameter Above 17 mm on the Day of hCG Injection in Treatment Cycle	Day 14
Average Change of E2 Level in Participants Per Day up to Day 14	up to Day 14	The average change was calculated by assessing the E2 levels on 4 timepoints until day 14 (day 1, day 5, day 10, day 14 \[hCG administration day\]).
Number of Participants With Confirmed Pregnancies: Biochemical Pregnancies and Clinical Pregnancies	Day 14	Biochemical pregnancy was defined as a pregnancy diagnosed only by the detection of hCG in serum or urine and that does not develop into a clinical pregnancy. Clinical pregnancy was defined as a pregnancy diagnosed by ultrasonographic visualization of one or more gestational sacs or definitive clinical signs of pregnancy. It includes ectopic pregnancy.
Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)	Day 14	AE: any new untoward medical occurrence/worsening of pre-existing medical condition, whether or not related to study drug. SAE: any AE that resulted in death; was life threatening; resulted in persistent/significant disability/incapacity; resulted in/prolonged an existing in-patient hospitalization; was a congenital anomaly/birth defect; or was a medically important condition.