Levoketoconazole in the treatment of patients with Cushing’s syndrome and diabetes mellitus: Results From the SONICS phase 3 study Journal Article


Authors: Pivonello, R.; Elenkova, A.; Fleseriu, M.; Feelders, R. A.; Witek, P.; Greenman, Y.; Geer, E. B.; Perotti, P.; Saiegh, L.; Cohen, F.; Arnaldi, G.
Article Title: Levoketoconazole in the treatment of patients with Cushing’s syndrome and diabetes mellitus: Results From the SONICS phase 3 study
Abstract: Background: Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is associated with numerous comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus (DM). Levoketoconazole, an orally administered ketoconazole stereoisomer, is in clinical trials for the treatment of CS. Methods: SONICS, a prospective, open-label, phase 3 study in adults with confirmed CS and mean 24-h urinary free cortisol (mUFC) ≥1.5× ULN, included dose-titration, 6-month maintenance, and 6-month extension phases. This subanalysis evaluated the efficacy of levoketoconazole in patients with DM (n = 28) or without DM (n = 49) who entered the maintenance phase. Safety was evaluated in the overall population (N = 94) during the dose-titration and maintenance phases. Results: Normalization of mUFC at the end of maintenance phase (EoM), without a dose increase during maintenance (SONICS primary endpoint) was observed in 46% of patients with DM (95% CI, 28 to 66%; P = 0.0006 vs null hypothesis of ≤20%) and 33% of patients without DM (95% CI, 20 to 48%; P = 0.0209). At EoM, mean HbA1c decreased from 6.9% at baseline to 6.2% in patients with DM and from 5.5 to 5.3% in patients without DM. Mean fasting blood glucose decreased from 6.85 mmol/L (123.4 mg/dl) to 5.82 mmol/L (104.9 mg/dl) and from 5.11 mmol/L (92.1 mg/dl) to 4.66 mmol/L (84.0 mg/dl) in patients with and without DM, respectively. Adverse events that were more common in patients with DM included nausea (58.3%), vomiting (19.4%), and urinary tract infection (16.7%); none prompted study drug withdrawal. Conclusions: Treatment with levoketoconazole led to sustained normalization of mUFC and improvement in glycemic control that was more pronounced in patients with DM. Clinical Trial Registration: (ClinicalTrials.gov), NCT01838551. © Copyright © 2021 Pivonello, Elenkova, Fleseriu, Feelders, Witek, Greenman, Geer, Perotti, Saiegh, Cohen and Arnaldi.
Keywords: diabetes mellitus; hypercortisolism; cushing’s disease; cushing’s syndrome; levoketoconazole
Journal Title: Frontiers in Endocrinology
Volume: 12
ISSN: 1664-2392
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.  
Date Published: 2021-04-01
Start Page: 595894
Language: English
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.595894
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8059833
PUBMED: 33897615
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 June 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Eliza Brevoort Geer
    49 Geer