Similar Pharmacokinetics of the Adalimumab (Humira(®)) Biosimilar BI 695501 Whether Administered via Subcutaneous Autoinjector or Prefilled Syringe (VOLTAIRE(®)-AI and VOLTAIRE(®)-TAI): Phase 1, Randomized, Open-Label, Parallel-Group Trials

INTRODUCTION: BI 695501 has shown similar efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity to the adalimumab reference product, Humira(®). We present two phase 1 studies comparing the pharmacokinetics, safety, and immunogenicity of BI 695501 delivered via autoinjector (AI) vs. prefilled syringe (PFS). METHODS: Both trials were randomized, open-label, parallel-group studies undertaken in subjects aged ≥ 18–65 years. VOLTAIRE(®)-AI (NCT02606903) recruited healthy, Caucasian, male, non-athletic volunteers with BMI ≥ 18 to ≤ 30 kg/m(2). VOLTAIRE(®)-TAI (NCT02899338) recruited healthy men and women with BMI > 17.5 to < 35 kg/m(2). In both studies, a single dose of BI 695501 40 mg was administered via AI or PFS to the abdomen (VOLTAIRE(®)-AI) or thigh (VOLTAIRE(®)-TAI). The observation period was 43/57 days and the safety follow-up was 70 days. Co-primary endpoints were AUC(0–1032) or AUC(0–1368), C(max), and AUC(0–∞). Safety and immunogenicity were assessed. RESULTS: Subjects (VOLTAIRE(®)-AI: N = 71; VOLTAIRE(®)-TAI: N = 162) were randomized to AI (n = 35; n = 81) or PFS (n = 36; n = 81). Baseline characteristics were balanced between treatment groups in each study. Total exposure of BI 695501 was similar for both groups; adjusted geometric mean ratios for AUC(0–∞), AUC(0–1032), and C(max) were 106.17, 104.09, and 114.83%, respectively, for VOLTAIRE(®)-AI; 103.19, 101.71 (AUC(0–1368)), and 100.11% for VOLTAIRE(®)-TAI. In both studies, similar immunogenicity was observed between groups in terms of frequency of binding and neutralizing anti-drug antibody-positive subjects. Incidence of adverse events was similar for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of BI 695501 delivered via AI were similar to administration using a PFS, independent of injection site. No differences are expected between AI and PFS use in clinical practice. FUNDING: Boehringer Ingelheim. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s40744-018-0119-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.