Study of Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 in Japanese Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction

Phase 3

Completed

Conditions: Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (HF-rEF)

Interventions: Drug: LCZ696
Drug: Enalapril
Drug: Placebo to Enalapril
Drug: Placebo to LCZ696

Registration Number: NCT02468232

Lead Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of LCZ696 at a target dose of 200 mg b.i.d. compared to enalapril 10 mg b.i.d., in addition to the background heart failure (HF) treatment, on delaying time to first occurrence of either cardiovascular (CV) death or HF hospitalization events in Japanese patients with stable chronic heart failure (CHF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes II-IV and reduced ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35%).

Detailed Description: The study consisted of two parts: the core part and the Open label extension (OLE) epoch.

The core part of this study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, active-controlled study to assess the effect of LCZ696 at a target dose of 200 mg b.i.d. and enalapril 10 mg b.i.d. on CV mortality and morbidity reduction in Japanese HF patients with reduced ejection fraction. Patients who met the eligibility criteria at screening entered a 2 week, single-blind, active treatment run-in epoch in which they received LCZ696 50 mg b.i.d. Patients who tolerated LCZ696 50 mg b.i.d. for 2 weeks were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive LCZ696 100 mg b.i.d. or enalapril 5 mg b.i.d. for 4 weeks during the double-blind treatment epoch. The patient randomization was stratified by using NT-proBNP measured at the screening visit as a stratification factor. The patients were then titrated up to the target dose of LCZ696 200 mg b.i.d. or enalapril 10 mg b.i.d. if they tolerated 4 weeks treatment of LCZ696 100 mg b.i.d. or enalapril 5 mg b.i.d. Dose adjustment (LCZ696 50-100 mg b.i.d. \& enalapril 2.5-5 mg b.i.d.) was permitted if not tolerated at the target dose of study drugs during the double-blind treatment epoch.

This was an event-driven study in which subjects remained on the study (regardless of whether receiving investigational medications) until the projected number of patients with primary events (approximately 57 events) had been reached.

The Open label extension (OLE) epoch was conducted following the completion of the core part, with the aim to provide access to LCZ696 for eligible subjects until the marketed product was available in Japan or 2 years from the date of the first subject enrolled in the OLE epoch, whichever occurred first, and also to obtain the safety and tolerability data of long-term treatment with LCZ696.

Upon completion of the core part, the eligibility of the subjects to enter the OLE epoch was assessed by the investigator at OLE baseline (Visit 301), which occurred on the same day as the end of study (EOS) visit of the core part (Visit 299). At this visit, subjects were switched to open-label LCZ696.

At Visit 302 (2 to 4 weeks after Visit 301), subjects who tolerated the open-label LCZ696 and met the safety monitoring criteria were up-titrated to the next higher level of daily dose. Thereafter, subject visits occurred at 8 weeks, and then every 4 months until EOS visit for OLE epoch.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 225

Inclusion Criteria

Written informed consent must be obtained before any assessment is performed.
Outpatients with a diagnosis of CHF NYHA class II-IV and reduced ejection fraction:
LVEF ≤ 35% at Visit 1 (any local measurement, made within the past 6 months using echocardiography, MUGA, CT scanning, MRI or ventricular angiography is also acceptable, provided no subsequent measurement above 35%)
NT-proBNP ≥ 600 pg/ml at Visit 1 OR NT-proBNP ≥ 400 pg/ml at Visit 1 and a hospitalization for HF within the last 12 months (according to central laboratory measurements)
Patients must be on an ACEI or an ARB at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks before Visit 1.
Patients must be treated with a β-blocker, unless contraindicated or not tolerated, at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 (reason should be documented if patients reported contraindications or intolerance).
An aldosterone antagonist should also be considered in all patients, taking account of renal function, serum potassium and tolerability. If given, the dose of aldosterone antagonist should be optimized according to guideline recommendations and patient tolerability, and should be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1. Other evidence-based therapy for HF should also be considered e.g. cardiac resynchronization therapy and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in selected patients, as recommended by guidelines.

Exclusion Criteria

History of hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or to drugs of similar chemical classes, ACEIs, ARBs, NEP inhibitors as well as known or suspected contraindications to the study drugs.
Previous documented history of intolerance to ACEIs or ARBs.
Known history of angioedema.
Requirement of treatment with both ACEIs and ARBs.
Current acute decompensated HF (exacerbation of chronic HF manifested by signs and symptoms that may require intravenous therapy).
Symptomatic hypotension and/or a SBP < 100 mmHg at screening or < 95 mmHg at the end of run-in.
Estimated GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 as measured by the Japanese formula at screening, or the end of run-in or > 35% decline in eGFR between screening and end of run-in (according to local measurements).
Serum potassium > 5.2 mmol/L (mEq/L) at screening or > 5.4 mmol/L (mEq/L) at the end of run-in (according to local measurements).
Acute coronary syndrome, stroke, transient ischemic attack, cardiac, carotid or other major CV surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or carotid angioplasty within the 3 months prior to Visit 1.
Documented untreated ventricular arrhythmia with syncopal episodes within the 3 months prior to Visit 1.
Symptomatic bradycardia or second (except asymptomatic Wenckebach block) or third degree heart block without a pacemaker.
Presence of hemodynamically significant mitral and/or aortic valve disease, except mitral regurgitation secondary to left ventricular dilatation.
Presence of other hemodynamically significant obstructive lesions of left ventricular outflow tract, including aortic and sub-aortic stenosis.
Presence of bilateral renal artery stenosis.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
LCZ696	LCZ696	Before randomization, all patients received 2 week LCZ696 50 mg twice daily (b.i.d) as single blind run-in active treatment epoch. In double blind epoch, randomized patients in this arm started with 100 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) for 4 weeks. Patients were then up-titrated to 200 mg b.i.d. at week 4 if they were tolerant to 100 mg b.i.d. Total duration of treatment was up to approximately 40 months.
LCZ696	Placebo to Enalapril	Before randomization, all patients received 2 week LCZ696 50 mg twice daily (b.i.d) as single blind run-in active treatment epoch. In double blind epoch, randomized patients in this arm started with 100 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) for 4 weeks. Patients were then up-titrated to 200 mg b.i.d. at week 4 if they were tolerant to 100 mg b.i.d. Total duration of treatment was up to approximately 40 months.
Enalapril	Placebo to LCZ696	Before randomization, all patients received 2 week LCZ696 50 mg twice daily (b.i.d) as single blind run-in active treatment epoch. In double blind period, all randomized patients in this arm received enalapril 5mg twice daily (b.i.d.) for 4 weeks. Patients were then up-titrated to 10 mg b.i.d. at week 4 if they were tolerant to 5 mg b.i.d. Total duration of treatment was up to approximately 40 months.
Enalapril	Enalapril	Before randomization, all patients received 2 week LCZ696 50 mg twice daily (b.i.d) as single blind run-in active treatment epoch. In double blind period, all randomized patients in this arm received enalapril 5mg twice daily (b.i.d.) for 4 weeks. Patients were then up-titrated to 10 mg b.i.d. at week 4 if they were tolerant to 5 mg b.i.d. Total duration of treatment was up to approximately 40 months.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants Who Had CEC (Clinical Endpoint Committee) Confirmed Composite Endpoints	up to 40 months	Composite endpoint is defined as either cardiovascular (CV) death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization in Japanese patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduced ejection fraction. The composite endpoint events occurred on and after End-of-study (EOS) declaration were reported by investigators but those events were not required to be adjudicated by Clinical Endpoint Committee (CEC) and not included in the efficacy analysis.
Exposure-adjusted Incident Rate (EAIR) of CEC Confirmed Composite Endpoints	up to 40 months	Composite endpoint is defined as either cardiovascular (CV) death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization in Japanese patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduced ejection fraction. EAIR = n/T where n = Total number of events included in the analysis. T (100 patient years) = total up-to-event/censoring duration-time summarized over participants in the respective treatment group. The composite endpoint events occurred on and after EOS declaration were reported by investigators but those events were not required to be adjudicated by CEC and not included in the efficacy analysis.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in N-terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) From OLE Baseline to Predefined Timepoints (OLE)	Baseline, Weeks 2-4, Week 8, Months 4 and 12 (OLE)	NT-proBNP is small protein produced in large amounts when the heart senses it needs to work harder, such as in heart failure. Mean change from baseline (post-baseline value - OLE baseline value) in plasma NT-proBNP was calculated.
Association Between Change in NT-proBNP Concentration and Change in Echocardiographic Parameters From OLE Baseline at Month 12 (OLE)	Month 12	Association (using the Pearson correlation coefficient) between change from OLE baseline in log-transformed NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters (LAVi, LVEDVi, LVESVi \& LVEF)
Key Secondary: Change From Baseline in Clinical Summary Score for Heart Failure Symptoms and Physical Limitations Assessed by Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ).	Baseline, Week 8 and Month 6	The KCCQ is a self-administered questionnaire and requires, on average, 4-6 minutes to complete. It contains 23 items, covering physical function, clinical symptoms, social function, self-efficacy and knowledge, and Quality of Life (QoL), each with different Likert scaling wording, including limitations, frequency, bother, change in condition, understanding, etc. The clinical summary score is a mean of the physical limitation and total symptom scores. The total symptom score is the mean of the symptom frequency and symptom burden scores. Each scale score (the physical limitation, symptom frequency or symptom burden) is calculated as the mean of its item scores and transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher score indicating higher level of functioning. A score of 100 represents perfect health whereas a score of 0 represents dead. A change of 5 points on the scale scores, either as a group mean difference or an intra-individual change appears to be clinically significant.
EAIR of All-cause Mortality	up to 40 months	EAIR (Exposure-adjusted incidence rate per 100 patient years)= n/T: n: Total number of events included in the analysis. T(100 patient years): total up-to-event/censoring duration-time summarized over patients in the respective treatment group. Deaths occurred on and after EOS declaration were reported by investigators but those events were not required to be adjudicated by CEC and not included in the efficacy analysis.
Percentage of Participants Hospitalized	up to 40 months	Percentage of participants with hospitalized admissions
Changes in Urine Cyclic Guanosine 3',5'-Monophosphate (cGMP) From Baseline	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8 and Month 6	Urinary Cyclic GMP (cGMP) is a biomarker measured in the urine that reflects the activity of biomarkers such as BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide). First morning void (FMV) urine samples were collected. Mean change from baseline (post-baseline value - baseline value) in urine cGMP was calculated.
Change in Urine cGMP From OLE Baseline to Predefined Timepoints (OLE)	Weeks 2-4, Week 8, Months 4 and 12 (OLE)	Urinary Cyclic GMP (cGMP) is a biomarker measured in the urine that reflects the activity of biomarkers such as BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide). Spot urine samples were collected. Mean change from baseline (post-baseline value - OLE baseline value) in urine cGMP was calculated.
Key Secondary: Number of Participants With CEC-confirmed First Triple Composite Endpoint (Cardiovascular (CV) Death, Heart Failure (HF) Hospitalization, or Worsening of HF in Outpatients)	up to 40 months	Composite endpoint is defined as either cardiovascular (CV) death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization in Japanese patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduced ejection fraction. Worsening HF defined as: worsening signs and symptoms of HF requiring addition of a new drug for HF treatment, initiation of IV treatment, increase of diuretic dose for persistent use for ≥4 consecutive weeks, or institution of mechanical or circulatory support such as mechanical ventilation, ultrafiltration, hemodialysis, intra-aortic balloon pump or ventricular assist device. The composite endpoint events occurred on and after EOS declaration were reported by investigators but those events were not required to be adjudicated by CEC and not included in the efficacy analysis.
Key Secondary: Number of Participants by Changes in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification From Baseline at Predefined Timepoints	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8 and Month 6	NYHA classification is a subjective physician's assessment of heart failure patient's functional capacity and symptomatic status. Class I - No limitation of physical activity. Class II - Slight limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest. Ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea (shortness of breath). Class III - Marked limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest. Less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, palpitation, or dyspnea. Class IV - Unable to carry on any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms of heart failure at rest. If any physical activity is undertaken, discomfort increases. The NYHA class change was analyzed as a three category ordinal variable with levels: "improved", "unchanged", and "worsened", defined by at least one class improvement, no change, at least one class worsening, in NYHA class, respectively. NYHA class after patients who died was categorized into "worsened".
Total Number of CEC Confirmed Composite of CV Death and Total (First and Recurrent) HF Hospitalizations for Heart Failure	up tp 40 months	Total number of CEC-confirmed CV death and total (first and recurrent) HF hospitalizations per patient was analyzed using the negative binomial regression model. CV deaths and HF hospitalizations occurred on and after EOS declaration were reported by investigators but those events were not required to be adjudicated by CEC and not included in the efficacy analysis.
Key Secondary: EAIR of CEC-confirmed First Triple Composite Endpoint (Cardiovascular (CV) Death, Heart Failure (HF) Hospitalization, or Worsening of HF in Outpatients)	up to 40 months	Worsening HF defined as: worsening signs and symptoms of HF requiring addition of a new drug for HF treatment, initiation of IV treatment, increase of diuretic dose for persistent use for ≥4 consecutive weeks, or institution of mechanical or circulatory support such as mechanical ventilation, ultrafiltration, hemodialysis, intra-aortic balloon pump or ventricular assist device. EAIR(Exposure-adjusted incidence rate per 100 patient years)= n/T: n: Total number of events included in the analysis. T(100 patient years): total up-to-event/censoring duration-time summarized over patients in the respective treatment group. The composite endpoint events occurred on and after EOS declaration were reported by investigators but those events were not required to be adjudicated by CEC and not included in the efficacy analysis.
Key Secondary: Change From Baseline to the Pre-defined Time-points in Log-transformed Concentration of N-terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP)	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8 and Month 6	NT-proBNP is small protein produced in large amounts when the heart senses it needs to work harder, such as in heart failure. Change from baseline to the pre-defined time-points in logarithmic scale were analyzed using a repeated measures ANCOVA model with treatment, the stratification factor screening NT-proBNP classification recorded in the Interactive Web Response System (IWRS), visit and treatment-by-visit interaction as fixed effect factors and the logarithmic baseline biomarker value as a covariate, with a common unstructured covariance matrix among visits for each treatment. The analysis is using all available data up to month 6 based on likelihood method with an assumption of missing at random (MAR) for missing data. This record summarizes the estimates of ratio Post-baseline /Baseline NT-proBNP.
Number of Participants by Changes in Clinical Composite Score (as Assessed by NYHA Classification and Patient Global Assessment) at Predefined Timepoints	Baseline, Month 6	The global assessment was derived from the 7-category classification of the global assessment of disease activity to a three-category classification: Improved (Markedly improved; moderately improved), Unchanged (Slightly improved, unchanged, slightly worsened), and Worsened (Moderately worsened, markedly worsened). The clinical composite assessment was defined as follows: * Improved: 1) If NYHA class decreased at least one level and Global Assessment was not worse at the selected visit and there was no major AE up to the selected visit; or 2) Global assessment was improved and NYHA class did not increase at the selected visit, and there was no major AE up to the selected visit. * Worsened: 1) If NYHA class increased at the selected visit; or 2) Global Assessment was worse at the selected visit; or 3) experienced a major AE up to the selected visit. * Unchanged: If neither "Improved" nor "Worsened".
Number of Participants With All-cause Mortality	up to 40 months	The number of participants who died due to any cause. Deaths occurred on and after EOS declaration were reported by investigators but those events were not required to be adjudicated by CEC and not included in the efficacy analysis.
Change in Blood NT-proBNP From Baseline	Baseline, Weeks 2, 4, 8 and Month 6	NT-proBNP is small protein produced in large amounts when the heart senses it needs to work harder, such as in heart failure. Mean change from baseline (post-baseline value - baseline value) in plasma NT-proBNP was caluculated.
Hospitalization Admissions Events Per-participant Per Year	up to 40 months	The number of hospital admission events per-participant per year was calculated as total number of hospital admission divided by total up-to-event/censoring duration-time summarized over patients.
Days in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Per Participant Per Year	up to 40 months	The number of days in ICU per participant per year was calculated as total number of days in ICU divided by total up-to-event/censoring duration-time summarized over patients.
Percentage of Re-hospitalizations	up to 40 months	The percentage of participants who had re-hospitalizations.
Emergency Department/Urgent Care Facility Visits for HF Per Patient Per Year	up to 40 months	The number of emergency department/urgent care facility visits for HF per patient per year was calculated as total number of emergency department/urgent care facility visits for HF divided by total up-to-event/censoring duration-time summarized over patients.
Change in Procollagen Type III N-Terminal Propeptide From Baseline	Baseline and Month 18	Procollagen Type III N-Terminal Propeptide (PIIINP) is a serum marker of collagen turnover, generated during the synthesis of type III collagen. Increased circulating PIIINP is a marker not only of muscle growth, but also of muscle repair and fibrosis. Mean change from baseline (post-baseline value - baseline value) in serum PIIINP was calculated.
Change in NYHA Classification From OLE Baseline (OLE)	OLE Baseline, Month 12 (OLE)	NYHA classification is a subjective physician's assessment of heart failure patient's functional capacity and symptomatic status. Class I - No limitation of physical activity. Class II - Slight limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest. Ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea (shortness of breath). Class III - Marked limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest. Less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, palpitation, or dyspnea. Class IV - Unable to carry on any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms of heart failure at rest. If any physical activity is undertaken, discomfort increases. The NYHA class change was analyzed as a three category ordinal variable with levels: "improved", "unchanged", and "worsened", defined by at least one class improvement, no change, at least one class worsening, in NYHA class, respectively. NYHA class after patients who died was categorized into "worsened".
Change in Key Echocardiographic Parameters From OLE Baseline at Month 12 (OLE)	Baseline, Month 12 (OLE)	Key echocardiographic parameters: LAVi- left atrial volume index, LVEDVi- left ventricular end diastolic volume index, LVESVi- left ventricular end systolic volume index. A two-dimensional and doppler echo examination was done to assess echo parameters. Mean changes from baseline (post-baseline value - baseline value) in each parameter were calculated. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Percentage of Participants Reaching Target Dose Level 3 at Week 8 and Maintained at Month 4 (Open Label Extension (OLE))	Month 4 of OLE	The percentage of participants who reached target dose level (200 mg b.i.d.) at Week 8 and maintained at Month 4(OLE). This indicates how tolerabile to LCZ696 at target dose.
Change in Cardiac Measurements by Key Echocardiographic Parameter LVEF, From OLE Baseline at Month 12 (OLE)	Baseline, Month 12 (OLE)	Key echocardiographic parameter: LVEF- left ventricular ejection fraction. LVEF is a measurement expressed as a percentage of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. Mean changes from baseline (post-baseline value - baseline value) in LVEF were calculated.
Change in B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) From OLE Baseline to Predefined Timepoints (OLE)	Baseline, Weeks 2-4, Week 8, Months 4 and 12 (OLE)	BNP is small protein produced in large amounts when the heart senses it needs to work harder, such as in heart failure. Mean change from baseline (post-baseline value - OLE baseline value) in plasma BNP was calculated.