Efficacy and Safety of Biosimilar FYB201 Compared with Ranibizumab in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

NCT02611778  |  COLUMBUS-AMD  |  Holz FG et al. (2022)

Holz, F. G., Oleksy, P., Ricci, F., Kaiser, P. K., Kiefer, J., Schmitz-Valckenberg, S. for the COLUMBUS-AMD Study Group. Efficacy and Safety of Biosimilar FYB201 Compared with Ranibizumab in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmology, 2022; 129(1):54-63.

Locations

Locations

12 countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom)

Study Period

Study Period

Not reported

Study Design

Study Design

Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, evaluation-masked, parallel-group trial

Study Population

Study Population

Characteristic:
Type of AMD:
2 (Wet AMD)
AMD Stage:
3 (Late)
Total Sample Size:
477 randomized (FYB201: 238, Ranibizumab: 239)
Age:
Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, evaluation-masked, parallel-group trial
Sex (Male) n%:
208 (43.6%)

Experimental Group

Intervention Therapy:
FYB201 (Ranibizumab biosimilar) 0.5 mg
Dose & Frequency:
Intravitreal injection every 4 weeks for 48 weeks
Age (Years):
76 (50 to 91)
Number of Patients:
238
Male N %:
103 (43.3%)
Patients Followed Up:
234 for 8 weeks; 230 for 24 weeks; 226 for 48 weeks

Control Group

Intervention Therapy:
Reference Ranibizumab 0.5 mg
Dose & Frequency:
Intravitreal injection every 4 weeks for 48 weeks
Age (Years):
77 (50 to 94)
Number of Patients:
239
Male N %:
105 (43.9%)
Patients Followed Up:
238 at 8 weeks; 233 for 24 weeks; 226 for 48 weeks

Follow-up Time:  48 Weeks

Outcomes

Outcomes

Durability

Not reported

Vision

Best-Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA)
The change from baseline to 8 weeks (Primary Outcome):
• FYB201 = +5.1 ETDRS letters
• Ranibizumab = +5.6 letters
• ANCOVA least squares mean difference = -0.4 (90% CI: -1.6 to 0.9)
The change from baseline to week 24:
• FYB201 = 6.9 ± 10.1 letters
• Ranibizumab = +7.1 ±10.4 letters
• ANCOVA least squares mean difference = -0.0 (90% CI: -1.6 to 1.5).
The change from baseline to week 48:
• FYB201 = +7.8±11.7 letters
• Ranibizumab = +8.0 ±11.7 letters
• ANCOVA least squares mean difference = -0.1 (90% CI: -1.8 to 1.7)

Other

N/A

Immunognicity

Positive for anti-drug antibodies (ADA) up to week 48:
• FYB201: 5.9%
• Ranibizumab: 5.9%

Pharmokinetics

Geometric mean concentration (geometric coefficient of variation) concentrations after the first injection:
• 2330.91 pg/ml (61.36%) in the FYB201
• 2551.51 pg/ml (61.16 %) in the reference ranibizumab group
Geometric mean concentration (geometric coefficient of variation) concentrations after the six injections:
• 2333.15 pg/ml (67.69%) in the FYB201
• 2792.75 pg/ml (58.38 %) in the reference ranibizumab group

Anatomic

Change in Foveal Center Point (FCP) Thickness
The reduction from baseline to week 24:
• FYB201 = 203.9 µm
• Ranibizumab = 205.5 µm
• ANCOVA least squares mean difference = 0.69 (90% CI: -18.22 to 19.60)µm
The reduction from baseline to week 48:
• FYB201 = 213.3 µm
• Ranibizumab = 211.0 µm
• ANCOVA least squares mean difference = 2.68 (90% CI: -16.5 to 21.9)µm

Foveal Central Subfield (FCS) Thickness
The reduction from baseline to week 24:
• YB201 = 180.4 µm
• Ranibizumab = 181.6 µm
• ANCOVA least squares mean difference = -5.91 (90% CI: -22.62 to 10.80) µm
The reduction from baseline to week 48:
• YB201 = 182.9 µm
• Ranibizumab = 190.8 µm
• ANCOVA least squares mean difference = 3.68 (90% CI: -13.3 to 20.6) µm

Fluid-free macula
Increase in the proportion of patients with fluid-free macula from baseline to week 48:
• FYB201 = 37.9%
• Ranibizumab = 43.3%
Increase in the proportion of patients with fluid-free macula from baseline to week 48:
• FYB201 = 46.7%
• Ranibizumab = 48.9%

Total lesion area
Mean (SD) total lesion area decreased from baseline to week 24:
• YB201 = -0.57 (4.79) mm2
• Ranibizumab = -0.7113 (5.36) mm2
Mean total lesion area decreased from baseline to week 48:
• YB201 = -0.64 (4.8) mm2
• Ranibizumab = -1.18 (5.43) mm2

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage
Reduction in the proportion of patients with CNV leakage from baseline to week 48:
• FYB201 = 52.0%
• Ranibizumab = 50.7%
Reduction in the proportion of patients with CNV leakage from baseline to week 48:
• FYB201 = 56.4%
• Ranibizumab = 58.7%

Safety

Treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs)
Total patients with TEAEs up to week 48:
• FYB201: 154/238, 64.7%
• Ranibizumab: 167/239, 69.9%
The number of patients with TEAEs in study eyes up to week 48:
• FYB201: 86/238, 36.1%
• Ranibizumab: 97/239, 40.6%
The number of patients with systematic TEAEs up to week 48:
• FYB201: 123/238, 51.7%
• Ranibizumab: 147/239, 61.5%
Serious TEAEs Total patients with TEAEs up to week 48:
• FYB201: 19/238, 8.0%
• Ranibizumab: 32/239, 13.4%
The number of patients with serious TEAEs in study eyes up to week 48:
• FYB201: 2/238, 0.8%
• Ranibizumab: 3/239, 1.3%
The number of patients with serious systematic TEAEs up to week 48:
• FYB201: 17/238, 7.1%
• Ranibizumab: 29/239, 12.1%

Patients with eye disorders in ≥2%
nAMD:
• FYB201: 19/238, 8.0%
• Ranibizumab: 22/239, 9.2%
Conjunctival hemorrhage:
• FYB201: 14/238, 5.9%
• Ranibizumab: 19/239, 7.9%
Punctate keratitis:
• FYB201: 8/238, 3.4%
• Ranibizumab: 12/239, 5.0%
Visual acuity reduced:
• FYB201: 6/238, 2.5%
• Ranibizumab: 11/239, 4.6%
Eye pain:
• FYB201: 9/238, 3.8%
• Ranibizumab: 6/239, 2.5%
Cataract:
• FYB201: 1/238, 0.4%
• Ranibizumab: 11/239, 4.6%
Lacrimation increased:
• FYB201: 9/238, 3.8%
• Ranibizumab: 2/239, 0.8%
CNV:
• FYB201: 6/238, 2.5%
• Ranibizumab: 4/239, 1.7%
Conjunctival hyperemia:
• FYB201: 4/238, 1.7%
• Ranibizumab: 6/239, 2.5%
Retinal hemorrhage:
• FYB201: 7/238, 2.9%
• Ranibizumab: 3/239, 1.3%
Vitreous detachment:
• FYB201: 6/238, 2.5%
• Ranibizumab: 4/239, 1.7%

Patients with systemic AEs in ≥2%
Nasopharyngitis:
• FYB201: 12/238, 5.0%
• Ranibizumab: 16/239, 6.7%
Bronchitis:
• FYB201: 9/238, 3.8%
• Ranibizumab: 5/239, 2.1%
Upper respiratory tract infection:
• FYB201: 8/238, 3.4%
• Ranibizumab: 6/239, 2.5%
Conjunctivitis:
• FYB201: 9/238, 3.8%
• Ranibizumab: 2/239, 0.8%
Intraocular pressure increased:
• FYB201: 11/238, 4.6%
• Ranibizumab: 12/239, 5.0%
C-reactive protein increased:
• FYB201: 10/238, 4.2%
• Ranibizumab: 5/239, 2.1%
Back pain:
• FYB201: 5/238, 2.1%
• Ranibizumab: 8/239, 3.3%
Headache:
• FYB201: 4/238, 1.7%
• Ranibizumab: 9/239, 3.8%
Hypertension:
• FYB201: 3/238, 1.3%
• Ranibizumab: 14/239, 5.9%
Cough:
• FYB201: 5/238, 2.1%
• Ranibizumab: 5/239, 2.1%
Fatal TEAEs
• FYB201: 2/238, 0.8%
• Ranibizumab: 1/239, 0.4%.

TEAEs leading to withdrawal of study drug
• FYB201: 6/238, 2.5%
• Ranibizumab: 6/239, 2.5%.

Outcomes

Conclusion

FYB201 demonstrated clinical equivalence to reference ranibizumab regarding efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity, supporting its use as a biosimilar for nAMD treatment.

Risk of Bias Assessment for Primary Outcome

Randomization Process
Low Risk

Low risk

Note: “Randomization was performed using an interactive voice or web response system…” “Patient characteristics were well balanced between study arms.”

Missing Outcome Data
Low Risk

Low risk

Note: The evidence that the result was not biased by missing outcome data: “…a sensitivity analysis on the corresponding per-protocol sets…”

Selection of the Reported Results
Low Risk

Low risk Note: Registration with the protocol

Deviations from Intended Observations
Low Risk

Low risk Note: “…the study was evaluation-masked, with both patient and other study staff (including the investigator who performed evaluations) being masked to treatment assignment.” “The primary endpoint analysis was performed on both the US- and EU-relevant patient populations…” (ITT)

Measurement of the Outcome
Concern Alert

Some concerns Note: “…the study was evaluation-masked…” “Measurements of BCVA were performed by certified visual acuity examiners masked to treatment and previous BCVA results.” However, this is a multiple–site clinical trial and measurement diversity may exist among various sites.

Overall
Concern Alert

Some concerns

Categories: Wet AMD