Clinical studies (described below) examined the efficacy of droxidopa capsules in the short-term (1 to 2 weeks) and over longer-term periods (8 weeks; 3 months). Studies 301 and 306B showed a treatment effect of droxidopa capsules at Week 1, but none of the studies demonstrated continued efficacy beyond 2 weeks of treatment.
Study 306B was a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in patients with symptomatic nOH and Parkinson’s disease. Patients entering the study were required to have a decrease of at least 20 mm Hg or 10 mm Hg, respectively, in systolic or diastolic blood pressure, within 3 minutes after standing, as well as symptoms associated with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. The study had an initial dose titration period that lasted up to 2 weeks in which patients received placebo or 100 to 600 mg of droxidopa capsules three times daily, followed by an 8-week treatment period.
Efficacy was measured using the OHSA Item #1 score (“dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling faint, and feeling like you might black out”) at Week 1, in patients who had completed titration and 1 week of maintenance therapy.
A total of 171 patients were enrolled, and 147 patients were included in the efficacy analysis. The mean age was 72 years, and patients were mostly Caucasian. During the study, 94% of placebo-treated patients and 88% on droxidopa capsules were taking dopa-decarboxylase inhibitors; 17% of placebo-treated patients and 26% on droxidopa capsules were taking fludrocortisone. There were more premature discontinuations in the droxidopa capsules group (28%) than in the placebo group (20%).
In both groups, the mean baseline dizziness score was 5.1 on an 11-point scale. At Week 1, patients showed a statistically significant mean 0.9 unit decrease in dizziness with droxidopa capsules versus placebo (P=0.028), but the effect did not persist beyond Week 1. The data at all time points are shown in Figure 1.
Patients receiving droxidopa capsules also had a greater increase, compared to placebo, in the Week 1 lowest standing systolic blood pressure within 3 minutes after standing (5.6 mm Hg; P=0.032).
Figure 1. Mean Change in OHSA Item 1 Score by Week in Study 306B
Note: The graph is based on observed data only. The error bars are the 95% confidence interval of the mean change from baseline in OHSA Item 1 scores.
Figure 2. Distribution of Patients by Change in OHSA Item 1, Baseline to Week 1, in Study 306B
Figure 2 shows the distribution of changes from Baseline to Week 1 in the OHSA Item #1 score. Overall, the figure shows that patients treated with droxidopa capsules improved more than those treated with placebo.
Study 301 was a multicenter, multinational, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in patients with symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. The study included an initial open-label dose titration period, a 7-day washout period, and a randomized double-blind 7-day treatment period. To be eligible for enrollment, patients were required to have a decrease in systolic or diastolic blood pressure of at least 20 or 10 mm Hg, respectively, within 3 minutes after standing. The study was enriched, such that only patients who had been identified as “responders” during the titration period were randomized to droxidopa capsules or placebo. To be considered a responder, a patient had to demonstrate improvement on the OHSA Item #1 score by at least 1 point, as well as an increase in systolic blood pressure of at least 10 mm Hg post-standing, during the open-label dose titration period.
Patients who dropped out during the titration period because of side effects or other reasons were also not included in the double-blind portion of the study.
Patients had a primary diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (n=60), pure autonomic failure (n=36), or multiple system atrophy (n=26). The mean age was 60 years, and most were Caucasian. 45% of patients were taking dopa decarboxylase inhibitors, and 29% were taking fludrocortisone.
Efficacy was measured using the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ), a patient-reported outcome that measures symptoms of nOH and their impact on the patient’s ability to perform daily activities that require standing and walking. The OHQ includes OHSA Item #1 as one of several components. A statistically significant treatment effect was not demonstrated on OHQ (treatment effect of 0.4 unit, P=0.19).
The mean baseline dizziness score on OHSA Item #1 (“dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling faint, and feeling like you might black out”) was 5.2 units on an 11-point scale. At Week 1 of treatment, patients showed a mean 0.7 unit decrease in dizziness with droxidopa capsules versus placebo (P=0.06).
Study 302 (n=101) was a placebo-controlled, 2-week randomized withdrawal study of droxidopa capsules in patients with symptomatic nOH. Study 303 (n=75) was an extension of Studies 301 and 302, where patients received their titrated dose of droxidopa capsules for 3 months and then entered a 2-week randomized withdrawal phase. Neither study showed a statistically significant difference between treatment arms on its primary endpoint. Considering these data, the effectiveness of droxidopa capsules beyond 2 weeks is uncertain, and patients should be evaluated periodically to determine whether droxidopa capsules is continuing to provide a benefit.