Evaluation of Gabapentin Enacarbil on Cardiac Repolarization: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo- and Active-controlled, Crossover Thorough QT/QTc Study in Healthy Adults

Background: Gabapentin enacarbil, a transported prodrug of gabapentin, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate to severe restless legs syndrome.

Objective: As part of the overall safety evaluation of gabapentin enacarbil, the present definitive QT/QTc study was conducted to assess the effects of gabapentin enacarbil on cardiac repolarization in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization E14 guidance.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, crossover study enrolled 54 healthy adults. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive a single oral dose of gabapentin enacarbil 1200, 6000 mg, moxifloxacin 400 mg (active control), and placebo in a randomized sequence, with treatment periods separated by a 7-day washout. Blood samples were collected for pharmacokinetic analysis, and continuous ECG measurements were recorded using a Holter monitor. The primary end point was the time-matched difference in individualized baseline-adjusted QTc (ddQTcIb) between gabapentin enacarbil and placebo. General tolerability was also monitored.

Results: Of the 54 subjects enrolled in the study (mean [SD] age, 29.2 [10.1]; 42.6% female; mean body mass index, 25.8 [3.0]), 48 (88.9%) completed the study, and 6 were discontinued prematurely after having received ≥ 1 dose of study medication. Thus, the numbers of patients in the safety population were: gabapentin enacarbil 1200 mg, 50; gabapentin enacarbil 6000 mg, 50; moxifloxacin, 50; and placebo, 51. The maximum ddQTcIb values were 0.7 msec (upper 95% confidence limit [CL], 3.0) with gabapentin enacarbil 1200 mg; 1.3 msec (upper CL, 3.6) with gabapentin enacarbil 6000 mg; and 7.4 msec (lower CL, 5.1) with moxifloxacin. A QT-concentration relationship was reported with moxifloxacin. Gabapentin exposures were dose-proportional with gabapentin enacarbil doses of 1200 and 6000 mg. The most commonly reported adverse events with gabapentin enacarbil 6000 mg were dizziness and somnolence (60.0% and 54.0%, respectively).

Conclusion: In this population of healthy adults, gabapentin enacarbil at doses of 1200 and 6000 mg was not associated with QT prolongation and was generally well-tolerated.