Pharmacogenetics and Model-Informed Optimisation of Hydroxyurea Therapy in Sickle Cell Disease Patients of Nigerian Descent

The wide interindividual variability in clinical response to hydroxyurea therapy in the management of sickle cell disease has limited its use. These variabilities have been linked to differences in pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenetics. This study, therefore, aims to enhance understanding of these factors as they relate to hydroxyurea therapy, with the overall goal of developing a precision medicine algorithm.

The study will be a prospective cohort pharmacokinetic study of 100 Nigerian patients with sickle cell disease, including current hydroxyurea users and naive patients. Pharmacodynamic markers will be collected to evaluate response. PopPK and PK-PD models will be developed in Monolix, exposure-response relationships will be analysed in R, and pregnancy, lactation, and paediatrics PBPK models will be developed in Simcyp or PK-SIM to inform dose optimisation.

This study aims to build a pharmacometric model by integrating differences in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics of hydroxyurea, which could aid the optimisation of hydroxyurea for sickle cell patients in Nigeria.

The objectives of the study are i. To determine the prevalence of genetic polymorphisms in metabolic enzymes and transporters relevant to the disposition of hydroxyurea in the Nigerian sickle cell disease population, ii. To develop and validate an analytical method for the quantification of hydroxyurea using high-performance liquid chromatography.

iii. To evaluate the influence of genetic and other covariates on hydroxyurea disposition in the Nigerian sickle cell disease population using population pharmacokinetic modelling, iv. To investigate the relationship between hydroxyurea exposure and clinical outcomes (foetal haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, reduction in vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), and improved blood count) using pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling, v. To develop physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models that could predict hydroxyurea concentrations in special populations of sickle cell disease patients in Nigeria i.e. pregnant women, lactating mothers, breastfed infants, and paediatrics.

vi. To develop a dosing guideline for hydroxyurea therapy in Nigerian sickle cell patients.

Overall, this study will provide scientific knowledge that can enhance clinical decision-making in sickle cell management within the Nigerian population, and the models could serve as a template to optimize hydroxyurea use in this population.