Body of evidence and approaches applied in the clinical development programme of fixed-dose combinations in the European Union from 2010 to 2016

Asbjørn Nøhr-Nielsen, Marie Louise De Bruin, Mikael Thomsen, Christian Bressen Pipper, Theis Lange, Ole Jannik Bjerrum, Trine Meldgaard Lund*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: To provide insights into the clinical development pathway for fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), to consider strategies, and to elucidate the path to approval by assessing the body of evidence, as summarized in the European Public Assessment Reports. Methods: The main resource was the European Public Assessment Reports for 36 FDCs, which included 239 clinical trials with 157 514 patients. The analyses focused on how prior knowledge of the active substances or combination, use of pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic modelling, and clinical trial design choice impact the size and strategy of the clinical development programme. Results: FDC products primarily comprised 2 previously approved components (21/36, 71%) and had only 1 approved combination (21/36, 71%). Utilizing previously approved active substances resulted in fewer clinical trials, arms and patients, but FDC doses studied in the clinical development programme. Furthermore, dose-finding trials were performed for less than half of FDCs consisting of 2 previously approved active substances. The standard approach to demonstrate contribution of active substances was through a factorial or single combination study. Finally, the use of pharmacokinetic modelling showed a significant decrease in the number of FDC doses studied. Conclusions: The field of FDCs seems to be on the rise, utilizing new molecular entities, prior knowledge and re-profiling drugs. However, a way to move FDC development forward might be through new regulatory and scientific paradigms, in which it is encouraged to utilize model-based approaches to develop FDCs with multiple dose levels and dose ratios for exposure-based treatment that will enable personalization.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Volume85
Issue number8
Pages (from-to)1829-1840
Number of pages12
ISSN0306-5251
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • clinical development, fixed-dose combination, market authorization, PK-PD modelling, regulatory science

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