Effect of Aspirin Pretreatment or Slow Dose Titration on Flushing and Gastrointestinal Events in Healthy Volunteers Receiving Delayed-release Dimethyl Fumarate

Phase 3

Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Interventions: Drug: BG00012 (dimethyl fumarate)
Drug: BG00012 placebo
Drug: ASA placebo
Drug: ASA

Registration Number: NCT01568112

Lead Sponsor: Biogen

Brief Summary: The primary objective of the study is to evaluate whether premedication with 325 mg microcoated aspirin (ASA) tablet or a slow-titration dosing schedule of BG00012 reduces the incidence and severity of flushing and GI events following oral administration of BG00012 dosed at 240 mg twice a day (BID) in healthy volunteers. The secondary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of BG00012 when administered orally as a 240 mg BID dose regimen with and without 325 mg ASA premedication or following a slow-titration dosing schedule in healthy volunteers.

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 173

Inclusion Criteria

Must give written informed consent and any authorizations required by local law
Must have a body mass index (BMI) of between 18.0 to 34.0 kg/m^2,inclusive.
Ability to complete the tolerability scales by accurately using the hand-held subject reporting device
Subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to practice effective contraception

Key

Exclusion Criteria

History of clinically significant diseases
History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions
Intolerance to aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, flushing or nausea within 28 days prior to Day 1

NOTE: Other protocol defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria may apply.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
BG00012 Slow Titration	ASA placebo	Participants received BG00012 for 8 weeks (120 mg once daily \[QD\] during Week 1, 120 mg BID during Week 2, 240 mg AM/120mg PM during Week 3, and 240 mg BID during Week 4, and 240 mg BID during Weeks 5 to 8) and premedication with ASA placebo during the first 4 weeks.
Placebo	ASA placebo	Participants received BG00012 placebo for 8 weeks and premedication with ASA placebo during the first 4 weeks.
BG00012	BG00012 (dimethyl fumarate)	Participants received BG00012 for 8 weeks (120 mg BID during the first week and 240 mg BID during the subsequent 7 weeks) and premedication with ASA placebo during the first 4 weeks.
BG00012	ASA placebo	Participants received BG00012 for 8 weeks (120 mg BID during the first week and 240 mg BID during the subsequent 7 weeks) and premedication with ASA placebo during the first 4 weeks.
BG00012 + ASA	BG00012 placebo	Participants received BG00012 for 8 weeks (120 mg BID during the first week and 240 mg BID during the subsequent 7 weeks) and premedication with ASA during the first 4 weeks.
Placebo	BG00012 placebo	Participants received BG00012 placebo for 8 weeks and premedication with ASA placebo during the first 4 weeks.
BG00012 + ASA	BG00012 (dimethyl fumarate)	Participants received BG00012 for 8 weeks (120 mg BID during the first week and 240 mg BID during the subsequent 7 weeks) and premedication with ASA during the first 4 weeks.
BG00012 Slow Titration	BG00012 (dimethyl fumarate)	Participants received BG00012 for 8 weeks (120 mg once daily \[QD\] during Week 1, 120 mg BID during Week 2, 240 mg AM/120mg PM during Week 3, and 240 mg BID during Week 4, and 240 mg BID during Weeks 5 to 8) and premedication with ASA placebo during the first 4 weeks.
BG00012	BG00012 placebo	Participants received BG00012 for 8 weeks (120 mg BID during the first week and 240 mg BID during the subsequent 7 weeks) and premedication with ASA placebo during the first 4 weeks.
BG00012 Slow Titration	BG00012 placebo	Participants received BG00012 for 8 weeks (120 mg once daily \[QD\] during Week 1, 120 mg BID during Week 2, 240 mg AM/120mg PM during Week 3, and 240 mg BID during Week 4, and 240 mg BID during Weeks 5 to 8) and premedication with ASA placebo during the first 4 weeks.
BG00012 + ASA	ASA	Participants received BG00012 for 8 weeks (120 mg BID during the first week and 240 mg BID during the subsequent 7 weeks) and premedication with ASA during the first 4 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of Participants Reporting Gastrointestinal (GI) Events During the Overall Treatment Period, as Assessed by the Modified Acute Gastrointestinal Scale (MAGISS)	Day 1 to Week 8	The MAGISS is a participant-reported questionnaire about side effects of the gastrointestinal system following drug administration, and is based on a 0- to 10-point scale, with 0 representing absence of symptoms and 10 representing the most severe symptoms. A participant was considered having overall GI side effect if he/she had a score of \>=1 for at least one of the GI side effects including nausea, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, bloating and flatulence.
Percentage of Participants Reporting Overall Flushing Events During the Overall Treatment Period, as Assessed by the Modified Flushing Severity Scale (MFSS)	Day 1 to Week 8	Participant-reported flushing side effect events during the treatment period recorded on the eDiary as assessed by MFSS. MFSS questionnaire measures the side effects related to flushing following drug administration. Flushing means redness, warmth, tingling or itching of the skin. This questionnaire relates only to the period of time since the investigational drug was administered and was to be completed within 10 hours of taking the study drug (2 times/day). Each question is rated on a scale from 0 (no flushing side effects) to 10 (extreme flushing side effects).
Percentage of Participants Reporting Overall Flushing Events During Weeks 1 to 4 (Combined), as Assessed by MFSS	Week 1 to Week 4	Participant-reported flushing side effect events during Weeks 1 to 4 recorded on the eDiary as assessed by MFSS. MFSS questionnaire measures the side effects related to flushing following drug administration. Flushing means redness, warmth, tingling or itching of the skin. This questionnaire relates only to the period of time since the investigational drug was administered and was to be completed within 10 hours of taking the study drug (2 times/day). Each question is rated on a scale from 0 (no flushing side effects) to 10 (extreme flushing side effects).
Percentage of Participants Reporting Overall Flushing Events During Weeks 5 to 8 (Combined), as Assessed by MFSS	Week 5 to Week 8	Participant-reported flushing side effect events during Weeks 1 to 4 recorded on the eDiary as assessed by MFSS. MFSS questionnaire measures the side effects related to flushing following drug administration. Flushing means redness, warmth, tingling or itching of the skin. This questionnaire relates only to the period of time since the investigational drug was administered and was to be completed within 10 hours of taking the study drug (2 times/day). Each question is rated on a scale from 0 (no flushing side effects) to 10 (extreme flushing side effects).
Worst Severity Scores of Overall Flushing During Weeks 1 to 4 of Treatment (Combined), as Assessed by MFSS	Day 1 to Week 4	Worst severity of participant-reported flushing events during Weeks 1-4 of treatment combined, recorded on the eDiary as assessed by MFSS. MFSS questionnaire measures the side effects related to flushing following drug administration. Flushing means redness, warmth, tingling or itching of the skin. This questionnaire relates only to the period of time since the investigational drug was administered and was to be completed within 10 hours of taking the study drug (2 times/day). Each question is rated on a scale from 0 (no flushing side effects) to 10 (extreme flushing side effects).
Worst Severity Scores of Overall Flushing During Weeks 5 to 8 of Treatment (Combined), as Assessed by MFSS	Week 5 to Week 8	Worst severity of participant-reported flushing events during Weeks 1-4 of treatment combined, recorded on the eDiary as assessed by MFSS. MFSS questionnaire measures the side effects related to flushing following drug administration. Flushing means redness, warmth, tingling or itching of the skin.This questionnaire relates only to the period of time since the investigational drug was administered and was to be completed within 10 hours of taking the study drug (2 times/day). Each question is rated on a scale from 0 (no flushing side effects) to 10 (extreme flushing side effects).
Percentage of Participants Reporting Overall Flushing Events During the Overall Treatment Period, as Assessed by the Modified Global Flushing Severity Scale (MGFSS)	Day 2 to Week 8	Participant-reported flushing events during the overall treatment period, recorded on the hand-held participant reporting device (eDiary) as assessed by MGFSS. The MGFSS measures the side effects related to flushing during the past 24 hours. Flushing means redness, warmth, tingling or itching of the skin. Each question is rated on a scale from 0 (no flushing side effects) to 10 (extreme flushing side effects). Day 1 data are not included in the analysis because MGFSS question refers to events reported in the 24 hours after the first dose on Day 1.
Percentage of Participants Reporting Overall Flushing Events During Weeks 1 to 4 of Treatment (Combined), as Assessed by MGFSS	Day 2 to Week 4	Participant-reported flushing events during Weeks 1 to 4 of treatment (combined), recorded on the hand-held participant reporting device (eDiary) as assessed by MGFSS. The MGFSS measures the side effects related to flushing during the past 24 hours. Flushing means redness, warmth, tingling or itching of the skin. Each question is rated on a scale from 0 (no flushing side effects) to 10 (extreme flushing side effects). Day 1 data are not included in the analysis because MGFSS question refers to events reported in the 24 hours after the first dose on Day 1.
Percentage of Participants Reporting Overall Flushing Events During Weeks 5 to 8 of Treatment (Combined), as Assessed by MGFSS	Week 5 to Week 8	Participant-reported flushing events during Weeks 5 to 8 of treatment (combined), recorded on the hand-held participant reporting device (eDiary) as assessed by MGFSS. The MGFSS measures the side effects related to flushing during the past 24 hours. Flushing means redness, warmth, tingling or itching of the skin. Each question is rated on a scale from 0 (no flushing side effects) to 10 (extreme flushing side effects). Day 1 data are not included in the analysis because MGFSS question refers to last 24 hours flushing score.
Percentage of Participants Reporting GI Events During Weeks 1 to 4 of Treatment (Combined), as Assessed by MAGISS	Day 1 to Week 4	The MAGISS is a participant-reported questionnaire about side effects of the gastrointestinal system following drug administration, and is based on a 0- to 10-point scale, with 0 representing absence of symptoms and 10 representing the most severe symptoms. A participant was considered having overall GI side effect if he/she had a score of \>=1 for at least one of the GI side effects including nausea, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, bloating and flatulence.
Percentage of Participants Reporting GI Events During Weeks 5 to 8 of Treatment (Combined), as Assessed by MAGISS	Week 5 to Week 8	The MAGISS is a participant-reported questionnaire about side effects of the gastrointestinal system following drug administration, and is based on a 0- to 10-point scale, with 0 representing absence of symptoms and 10 representing the most severe symptoms. A participant was considered having overall GI side effect if he/she had a score of \>=1 for at least one of the GI side effects including nausea, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, bloating and flatulence.
Worst Severity Scores of Acute GI Events During Weeks 1 to 4 of Treatment (Combined), as Assessed by MAGISS	Day 1 to Week 4	Severity of GI-related events using the MAGISS to measure GI symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, bloating, flatulence), based on a 0- to 10-point scale, with 0 representing absence of symptoms and 10 representing the most severe symptoms.
Worst Severity Scores of Acute GI Events During Weeks 5 to 8 of Treatment (Combined), as Assessed by MAGISS	Week 5 to Week 8	Severity of GI-related events using the MAGISS to measure GI symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, bloating, flatulence), based on a 0- to 10-point scale, with 0 representing absence of symptoms and 10 representing the most severe symptoms.
Percentage of Participants Reporting GI Events During the Overall Treatment Period, as Assessed by the Modified Overall Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale (MOGISS)	Day 1 to Week 8	The MOGISS is a questionnaire about overall side effects related to the gastrointestinal system (including nausea, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, bloating, and flatulence) during the 24 hours prior to each AM dose. Participants were to answer the questions at the same time each day, before the morning drug administration.
Percentage of Participants Reporting GI Events During Weeks 1 to 4 (Combined), as Assessed by the Modified Overall Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale (MOGISS)	Week 1 to Week 4	The MOGISS is a questionnaire about overall side effects related to the gastrointestinal system (including nausea, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, bloating, and flatulence) during the 24 hours prior to each AM dose. Participants were to answer the questions at the same time each day, before the morning drug administration.
Percentage of Participants Reporting GI Events During Weeks 5 to 8 (Combined), as Assessed by the Modified Overall Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale (MOGISS)	Week 5 to Week 8	The MOGISS is a questionnaire about overall side effects related to the gastrointestinal system (including nausea, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, bloating, and flatulence) during the 24 hours prior to each AM dose. Participants were to answer the questions at the same time each day, before the morning drug administration.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants With Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (AEs) or Serious AEs (SAEs)	Day 1 up to end of Safety Follow-up (9 weeks)	AE: any untoward medical occurrence that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with treatment. SAE: any untoward medical occurrence that at any dose: results in death; in the view of the Investigator, places the subject at immediate risk of death; requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization; results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity; results in a congenital anomaly/birth defect; any other medically important event that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may jeopardize the subject or may require intervention to prevent one of the other outcomes. An AE was considered treatment-emergent if it occurred after the start of study treatment or was present prior to the start of study treatment but subsequently worsened.
Clinical Laboratory Shifts From Baseline in Reported Values: Hematology	Day 1 to Week 8	Number of participants with clinical laboratory shifts from baseline in hematology values. Shift to low includes normal to low, high to low, and unknown to low. Shift to high includes normal to high, low to high, and unknown to high. abs=absolute
Clinical Laboratory Shifts From Baseline in Reported Values: Blood Chemistry	Day 1 to Week 8	Number of participants with clinical laboratory shifts from baseline in blood chemistry values. Shift to low includes normal to low, high to low, and unknown to low. Shift to high includes normal to high, low to high, and unknown to high. ALP=alkaline phosphatase, ALT=alanine aminotransferase, AST=aspartate aminotransferase, GGT=gamma-glutamyl transferase, LDH=lactate dehydrogenase, BUN=blood urea nitrogen.
Clinical Laboratory Shifts From Baseline in Reported Values: Urinalysis	Day 1 to Week 8	Number of participants with clinical laboratory shifts from baseline in urinalysis values.Shift to low includes normal to low, high to low, and unknown to low. Shift to high includes normal to high, low to high, and unknown to high. Shift to positive includes negative to positive and unknown to positive. RBC=red blood cells, WBC=white blood cells.
Number of Participants With Abnormalities in Vital Signs	Day 1 to Week 8	↑=increase; ↓=decrease; BL=baseline; bpm=beats per minute; SBP=systolic blood pressure; DBP=diastolic blood pressure; b/m=breaths per minute
Number of Participants With Shifts From Baseline in Electrocardiogram (ECG) Results	Day 1 to Week 8	Shift to 'abnormal, not adverse event' includes unknown or normal to 'abnormal, not adverse event.' Shift to 'abnormal, adverse event' includes unknown or normal to 'abnormal, adverse event.'
Duration of Flushing Events During the Overall Treatment Period, Based on MFSS	Day 1 to Week 8	For participants with more than 1 flushing episode during a visit interval, the average duration for the visit interval was used. The average duration is calculated as: the total duration of all flushing episodes / the total number of flushing episodes.
Duration of Flushing Events During the Weeks 1 to 4 (Combined), Based on MFSS	Week 1 to Week 4	For participants with more than 1 flushing episode during a visit interval, the average duration for the visit interval was used. The average duration is calculated as: the total duration of all flushing episodes / the total number of flushing episodes.
Duration of Flushing Events During the Weeks 5 to 8 (Combined), Based on MFSS	Week 5 to Week 8	For participants with more than 1 flushing episode during a visit interval, the average duration for the visit interval was used. The average duration is calculated as: the total duration of all flushing episodes / the total number of flushing episodes.
Duration of Acute GI Episodes During the Overall Treatment Period, Based on MAGISS	Day 1 to Week 8	Duration is calculated as follows: \[(GI side effect) end date/time - (GI side effect) start date/time\]/3600. For GI side effects with no end date, the end date is imputed using the last diary date/time. For subjects with more than 1 GI episode during a visit interval, the average duration for the study visit interval is used. The average duration is calculated as the total duration of the GI side effect / the total number of GI side effects.
Duration of Acute GI Episodes During Weeks 1 to 4 (Combined), Based on MAGISS	Week 1 to Week 4	Duration is calculated as follows: \[(GI side effect) end date/time - (GI side effect) start date/time\]/3600. For GI side effects with no end date, the end date is imputed using the last diary date/time. For subjects with more than 1 GI episode during a visit interval, the average duration for the study visit interval is used. The average duration is calculated as the total duration of the GI side effect / the total number of GI side effects.
Duration of Acute GI Episodes During Weeks 5 to 8 (Combined), Based on MAGISS	Week 5 to Week 8	Duration is calculated as follows: \[(GI side effect) end date/time - (GI side effect) start date/time\]/3600. For GI side effects with no end date, the end date is imputed using the last diary date/time. For subjects with more than 1 GI episode during a visit interval, the average duration for the study visit interval is used. The average duration is calculated as the total duration of the GI side effect / the total number of GI side effects.