Alpha-Galactosidase A Replacement Therapy for Fabry Disease

Summary

This study will determine the safety of the drug Replagal or treating patients with Fabry disease, an inherited metabolic disorder. In this disease, an enzyme called Alpha-galactosidase A, which normally breaks down a fatty substance called globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), is missing or does not function properly. The resulting accumulation of Gb3 causes problems with the kidneys, heart, nerves, and blood vessels. Replagal is a genetically engineered form of Alpha-galactosidase A. Previous studies have shown that patients with Fabry disease who had not progressed to end-stage kidney failure tolerated Replagal replacement therapy well. This study will examine the effects of the drug in patients with kidney problems associated with Fabry disease. Patients with Fabry disease who are on kidney dialysis, or have had a kidney transplant, may be eligible for this study. During this 6 to 12-month study, participants will receive a 40-minute intravenous (IV) infusion of Replagal every other week, with close monitoring during and after the infusions. Before the first infusion, patients will be evaluated with a medical history, physical and neurological examinations, electrocardiogram (ECG), routine blood and urine tests, kidney test, and measurements of height, weight, and vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, temperature). In addition, they will have pharmacokinetic studies immediately before and following the first infusion of Replagal. For these studies, blood samples of less than a teaspoon each will be drawn to measure the level of Replagal enzyme activity. The samples will be collected at the following time points: immediately before the infusion; 20 minutes into the infusion; at the end of the infusion; after the infusion at 50, 60, and 90 minutes, and 2, 3, 4, and 8 hours. Safety evaluations will be done once a week for the first month and then once a month for the rest of the study period. These evaluations include a physical examination, measurement of vital signs, electrocardiogram, routine blood and urine tests, and kidney testing.

Timeline

Start

2002-11

Primary completion

—

Completion

2003-11

Publications

• Background Brady RO, Gal AE, Bradley RM, Martensson E, Warshaw AL, Laster L. Enzymatic defect in Fabry's disease. Ceramidetrihexosidase deficiency. N Engl J Med. 1967 May 25;276(21):1163-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196705252762101. No abstract available.
• Background Kahn P. Anderson-Fabry disease: a histopathological study of three cases with observations on the mechanism of production of pain. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1973 Dec;36(6):1053-62. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.36.6.1053.
• Background Kaye EM, Kolodny EH, Logigian EL, Ullman MD. Nervous system involvement in Fabry's disease: clinicopathological and biochemical correlation. Ann Neurol. 1988 May;23(5):505-9. doi: 10.1002/ana.410230513.

Drugs

Indications