Berotralstat and Health‐Related Quality of Life in Hereditary Angioedema: Pooled Analysis of the <scp>APeX</scp> ‐2 and <scp>APeX</scp> ‐J Trials

BACKGROUND: In the phase 3 APeX-2 and APeX-J trials, improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were reported for berotralstat, the only oral, once-daily, long-term prophylaxis for hereditary angioedema (HAE). We conducted a post hoc trial analysis to evaluate the impact of berotralstat on HRQoL versus placebo through 24 weeks, and the long-term effects of treatment up to 96 weeks, using pooled APeX-2 and APeX-J patient data. METHODS: Patients receiving berotralstat 150 mg or placebo using the Angioedema QoL (AE-QoL) questionnaire; total and domain scores were analysed. Changes from baseline through Week 24 were compared using mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM) to estimate least squares mean differences (LSMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and nominal p-values. After Week 24, in the absence of a placebo comparator, long-term changes from baseline were evaluated using within-subject effect sizes (Cohen's d) through Week 96 in patients receiving berotralstat. Clinical meaningful improvements in AE-QoL total and domain scores were assessed by minimal clinically important difference (6-point reduction in AE-QoL total score) and distributional criterion methods, respectively. The manufacturer of berotralstat (BioCryst Pharmaceuticals) funded this study. RESULTS: Overall, 47 and 45 patients received berotralstat and placebo, respectively. At Week 24, berotralstat showed significantly greater improvement in AE-QoL total (LSMD: -7.4; 95% CI: -14.3, -0.6; p < 0.05), functioning domain (LSMD: -10.9; 95% CI: -19.6, -2.3; p = 0.013) and fears/shame domain (LSMD: -8.7; 95% CI: -17.2, -0.2; p = 0.046) scores compared with placebo. Among patients receiving berotralstat, consistent sustained improvements were observed across all AE-QoL domains up to Week 96. Analyses of meaningful improvement in total score and domains showed an increase over time in the proportion of patients achieving meaningful change. CONCLUSION: Berotralstat significantly improved HRQoL versus placebo through 24 weeks and showed long-term beneficial effects through 96 weeks.