Acalabrutinib CYP3A‐mediated drug–drug interactions: Clinical evaluations and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling to inform dose adjustment strategy

Aims Clinical drug interaction studies with itraconazole and rifampicin have demonstrated that acalabrutinib is a sensitive substrate of CYP3A. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed based on the data of these studies. One of the active CYP3A metabolites, ACP‐5862, was identified but never studied in a drug interaction scenario. This study aims to evaluate both parent and metabolite exposure change with coadministration of moderate CYP3A inhibitors and its impact on safety and efficacy. Methods In an open label, randomized, 2‐period study, we investigated the effect of coadministration of fluconazole or isavuconazole on the pharmacokinetics of acalabrutinib. Bruton tyrosine kinase receptor occupancy and safety were compared between different treatments. Experimental data were compared to PBPK simulation results. Results Least square means of acalabrutinib maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve increased 1.37 (1.14–1.64) and 1.60 (1.45–1.77)‐fold in the presence of isavuconazole and 1.48 (1.10–1.98) and 2.16 (1.94–2.40)‐fold in the presence of fluconazole, respectively. For ACP‐5862, these values are 0.72 (0.63–0.82) and 0.91 (0.86–0.97) fold for isavuconazole and 0.65 (0.49–0.87) and 0.95 (0.91–0.99) fold for fluconazole coadministration. The PBPK model was able to recover acalabrutinib and ACP‐5862 PK profiles in the study. Bruton tyrosine kinase receptor occupancy change was minimal in the presence of isavuconazole. There were no deaths, serious adverse events (AEs), or subject discontinuation due to AEs in this study. Only mild (Grade 1) AEs were reported during the study, by 17% of the study population. Conclusion Our results demonstrate the impact of fluconazole and isavuconazole on the pharmacokinetics of acalabrutinib and ACP‐5862, and suggest that no dose adjustment is needed for concomitant administration with moderate CYP3A inhibitors. the current PBPK model can be used to propose dose adjustment for drug interactions via CYP3A.