FDA Places Hold on Recruitment in the U.S. for Phase 3 Studies of Experimental Tolebrutinib

Enrollment in the United States of people with MS in phase 3 studies of experimental tolebrutinib has been placed on hold by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration due to some cases of liver injury that occurred in people enrolled in these trials. The studies - called HERCULES and PERSEUS - are sponsored by Sanofi. In the affected people, discontinuing tolebrutinib reversed the elevated laboratory values used for monitoring liver injury, according to the sponsor's press release dated June 30, 2022.

Background: Tolebrutinib inhibits an enzyme called "Bruton's tyrosine kinase," reducing the activation of B cells, which are immune cells that play a role in the response that affects the brain and spinal cord in MS. Tolebrutinib also penetrates the brain and spinal cord and inhibits immune cells in the brain called microglia, which have been linked to MS progression. Tolebrutinib is one of several "BTK" inhibitors being tested in the MS pipeline.

Pause of Enrollment: According to the press release, new enrollment in the U.S. is paused, and treatment is being discontinued in participants in the U.S. who have been in the trial for less than 60 days. U.S. participants who have completed at least 60 days in the trial can continue to receive treatment and remain in the trial.

Study protocols were revised in May 2022 to increase monitoring for indications of liver injury and enrollment criteria were revised to exclude people who had preexisting risk factors for liver dysfunction. The study is continuing to enroll with these revisions outside of the United States.

Next Steps: If you are a participant in this study, you are asked to please reach out to the site at which you enrolled in the study. Or, for further information, please contact Sanofi via email, [email protected], or phone (US & Canada), 800-633-1610, option 6.

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