RESTORE Analysis Shows Significant Patient Preference to Once-Nightly Sodium Oxybate Over Twice-Nightly
Patients on twice-nightly oxybate reported more issues with inconvenience, anxiety, and feeling somewhat, quite a bit, or extremely groggy/unsteady the next morning.
John Harsh, PhD
Interim results from the RESTORE clinical trial (NCT04451668) revealed that adults with narcolepsy prefer once-nightly sodium oxybate (Lumyrz; Avadel Pharmaceuticals) over twice-nightly, with increased treatment burden associated with twice-nightly oxybate. Overall, 93.6% (73 of 78) of participants preferred the once-nightly dosing regimen.
Presented at the 2023 SLEEP Annual Meeting, held June 3-7, in Indianapolis, Indiana, adherence was an issue with twice-nightly immediate release (IR) oxybate, as 65.4% (85 of 130) of switch patients unintentionally missed the second dose in the previous 3 months. Led by a group of investigators that included John Harsh, PhD, clinical research director, Colorado Sleep Institute, 80.2% (73 of 78)
Although he expected more patients to prefer once-nightly, Harsh was shocked to see more than 94% of the cohort favor the therapy. "I expected some preference based upon context, but 94%, that’s just about everybody.” He added, "We have good reason to believe effectiveness is about the same, side effect profile is the same. Overall, in terms of clinical outcomes, as long as you have compliant patients, it’s about the same. That’s my impression."
RESTORE, an open-label switch study, includes participants with narcolepsy type 1 or 2 who completed the phase 3 REST-ON study (NCT02720744), the supportive trial that led to the approval of Lumyrz in March of this year. Specifically, the patients were on stable dose of immediate-release (IR) oxybate, or were oxybate-naive for at least 1 month. Data from the analysis included those who completed the preference questionnaires (n = 78) and nocturnal adverse event (AE) questionnaires (n = 130) as of July 1, 2022, the cutoff date.
Initial doses for participants switching from IR oxybate were equivalent/closest to the previous total dose/night, with incremental adjustments of 1.5 g/week with a maximum of 9 g/night allowed throughout. After 3 months of treatment, results showed that 39.2% (51 of 130) of those who took their second nightly IR oxybate dose at least 4 hours after the first felt somewhat, quite a bit, or extremely groggy/unsteady the next morning (26 of 51; 51%). In addition, 70.8% of those on twice-nightly treatment felt the second dose was inconvenient.
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Other issues related to the second dose were anxiety (29.2%), and the need to be woken up by someone else (23.1%). Additionally, patients were more susceptible to falls (n = 5) and injuries (n = 9) by waking up to take their second nightly dose.
Once-nightly sodium oxybate received FDA approval in May 2023, with data from REST-ON as the basis for the decision.2 Held under a special protocol assessment agreement with the FDA, the study featured 222 patients with narcolepsy type 1 or 2, all aged 16 years or older, who received uptitration doses of 4.5 g, 6 g, 7.5 g, and 9 g of Lumryz or placebo over the course of a 3-week screening period, 13-week treatment period, and 1-week follow-up period. All told, the study met all 3 of its primary end points of change from baseline in mean sleep latency on the Maintenance of Wakefulness test, Clinical Global Impression Improvement, and weekly cataplexy attacks within the 6-, 7.5-, and 9-g groups.3
Once-nightly sodium oxybate comes with a boxed warning as a central nervous system depressant, and for its potential abuse and misuse. In early June, Avadel announced the US commercial launch for the drug, indicated for the treatment of cataplexy or daytime sleepiness in adults with narcolepsy.4
"By and large, I think most patients would prefer and benefit from once-nightly dosing," Harsh added.
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