Allopurinol Versus Febuxostat in Subjects Completing the Phase 3 Trials C02-009 or C02-010

Uric acid is the end product of purine degradation in humans. Hyperuricemia, a urate concentration in serum exceeding the limit of urate solubility (approximately 7.0 mg/dL), is a common biochemical abnormality. Aberrations in any of the multiple mechanisms involved in the production and/or excretion of uric acid may increase serum urate concentrations, with persistent hyperuricemia as a marker for extracellular fluid monosodium urate supersaturation. As such, hyperuricemia is a necessary (but often insufficient) risk factor for monosodium urate crystal deposition in tissues and is the fundamental pathophysiological process underlying the clinical manifestations of gout, which is a chronic disease characterized by urate crystal formation and deposition in joints and bones. Gout may progress from episodic attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis to a disabling chronic disorder characterized by deforming arthropathy; destructive deposits of urate crystals (tophi) in bones, joints, and other organs; structural and functional renal impairment due to interstitial urate crystal deposition; and urinary tract stones composed entirely or partially of uric acid crystals. Management of gout requires chronic treatment aimed at lowering serum urate levels into a subsaturating range (usually <6.0 mg/dL) in which crystal formation and deposition are prevented or reversed.

Febuxostat (TMX-67) is a non-purine selective xanthine oxidase inhibitor being developed as an orally administered agent for the management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout.

This study was originally designed and initiated having all subjects initially assigned to 80 mg febuxostat provided as an 80 mg tablet, to be administered orally. Subjects could be titrated to 120 mg, provided as one 40 and 80 mg tablet, between Months 2 and 6, if their serum uric acid rose > 6.0 mg/dL; the dose could be down-titrated to 80 mg if the serum uric acid decreased to < 3.0 mg/dL.

The protocol was amended to add a comparator arm, and to have subjects randomized to 80 or 120 mg febuxostat or allopurinol (100 or 300 mg, dependent on renal function). The information below reflects the treatments following the implementation of the revised protocol.

Inclusion criteria

• Is receiving thiazide diuretic therapy (only to subjects randomized to or receiving febuxostat).
• Has a serum urate level less than 8.0 mg/dL and is not taking uric acid-lowering therapy (other than allopurinol or febuxostat).
• Has participated in a clinical study in which febuxostat was administered.
• Is completing Phase 3 Studies C02-009 or C02-010.
• Must not have experienced any serious study drug-related adverse events in the previous study.
• Females of childbearing potential who are sexually active must agree to use adequate contraception, and can neither be pregnant nor lactating from Screening throughout the duration of the study

Exclusion criteria

• Has had any other significant medical condition as defined by the investigator that would interfere with the treatment, safety, or compliance with the protocol.
• Is intolerant of allopurinol.