Comparison of Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic and Tolerability Profiles of CKD-11101, Darbepoetin Alfa (NESP(®)) Biosimilar, to Those of NESP(®) After a Single Subcutaneous or Intravenous Administration to Healthy Subjects

INTRODUCTION: Darbepoetin alfa (NESP(®) and ARANESP(®)) has a sustained erythropoietic activity with a longer half-life than conventional recombinant human erythropoietin. CKD-11101 is under clinical development as a biosimilar of darbepoetin alfa. The purpose of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), and tolerability profiles of CKD-11101 with those of reference drug in healthy subjects. METHODS: This study was performed in two parts for healthy subjects. In each period, CKD-11101 and reference, both at 60 μg, were administered via intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) route of administration. RESULTS: After both IV or SC dose, the geometric mean ratio (GMR) of CKD-11101 to reference drug and its 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for C(max), AUC(0–last) and AUC(0–∞) were all within 0.8–1.25. No statistically significant differences were noted in the maximum baseline adjusted reticulocyte count or the area under the baseline adjusted reticulocyte count-time between the CKD-11101 and reference drug after IV or SC dose (all p-value>0.05). Both CKD-11101 and reference drug were generally well tolerated. DISCUSSION: After a single IV or SC dose, the CKD-11101 was well tolerated and showed comparable PK and PD characteristics with reference drug.