Safety and pharmacokinetics of multiple doses of recombinant human CuZn superoxide dismutase administered intratracheally to premature neonates with respiratory distress syndrome

Objectives. To examine the safety and pharmacokinetics of multiple intratracheal (IT) doses of recombinant human CuZn superoxide dismutase (rhSOD) in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome who are at risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Methods. Thirty-three infants (700 to 1300 g) were randomized and blindly received saline, 2.5 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg rhSOD IT within 2 hours of surfactant administration. Infants were treated every 48 hours (as long as endotracheal intubation was required) up to 7 doses. Serial blood and urine studies, chest radiographs, neurosonograms, SOD concentration and activity measurements, and tracheal aspirate (TA) inflammatory markers were assessed throughout the 28-day study. Results. SOD concentrations in serum (0.1 [0.05/0.15] mu g/mL-geometric mean with lower/upper confidence intervals), tracheal aspirates (TA) (0.2 [0.1/0.3] mu g/mL) and urine (0.3 [0.2/0.4] mu g/mL) were similar at baseline in all 3 groups and did not change significantly in the placebo group. In the rhSOD treatment groups, SOD concentrations were increased on day 3 and did not change significantly thereafter over the 14-day dosing period (also measured on days 5, 7, and 13). SOD concentrations averaged 0.4 [0.3/0.5] mu g/mL in serum, 0.8 [0.6/1.2] mu g/mL in TA and 1.1 [1.0/1.3] mu g/mL in urine for the low-dose group and 0.6 [0.5/0.7] mu g/mL in serum, 1.1 [0.9/1.5] mu g/mL in TA, and 2.2 [1.6/2.9] mu g/mL in urine for the high-dose group over the 14-day dosing period. Enzyme activity directly correlated with SOD concentration and rhSOD was active even when excreted in urine. TA markers of acute lung injury (neutrophil chemotactic activity, albumin concentration) were lower in the rhSOD agroups compared with placebo. No significant differences in any clinical outcome variable were noted between groups. Conclusions. These data indicate that multiple IT doses of rhSOD increase the concentration and activity of the enzyme in serum, TA and urine, reduce TA lung injury markers and are well-tolerated. Further clinical trials examining the efficacy of rhSOD in the prevention of BPD are warranted.