Maribavir Versus Oral Ganciclovir For The Prevention of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Disease in Liver Transplant Recipients

All investigator-determined (protocol-defined) cases of CMV disease (i.e., symptomatic CMV infection or CMV organ disease), were adjudicated by an independent, blinded EC. Symptomatic CMV infection was defined as: CMV infection detected by a positive result from a CMV laboratory assay from at least one central laboratory assay (pp65 antigenemia or CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay in plasma) and fever >/=38 °C on >/=2 occasions >/=24 hours apart within a 7-day period and at least one of the following: new or increased malaise, two successive measurements of leucopenia (white blood cell [WBC] count <3500/mm3 or a WBC count decrease of 20% if the cell count prior to onset of clinical symptoms was >4000/mm3) >/=24 hours apart, atypical lymphocytosis >/=5%, and thrombocytopenia. CMV organ disease was defined as described by Ljungman et al., 2002.

Incidence of CMV infection or EC-confirmed CMV disease within the 6-month post-transplant period included in this section were defined (1) with infection assessed by pp65 antigenemia assay; (2) with infection assessed by CMV DNA PCR; (3) with infection assessed by either assay (pp65 antigenemia or CMV DNA PCR); and (4) with infection assessed by initiation of anti-CMV therapy.

All investigator-determined (protocol-defined) cases of CMV disease (i.e., symptomatic CMV infection or CMV organ disease) were adjudicated by an independent, blinded EC. CMV infection was assessed by pp65 Antigenemia or CMV DNA PCR from a central or local lab. CMV organ disease was defined as described by Ljungman et al., 2002.

Symptomatic CMV infection was defined as: CMV infection detected by a positive result from a CMV laboratory assay from at least one central laboratory assay (pp65 antigenemia or CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay in plasma) and fever >/=38 °C on >/=2 occasions >/=24 hours apart within a 7-day period and at least one of the following: new or increased malaise, two successive measurements of leucopenia (white blood cell [WBC] count <3500/mm3 or a WBC count decrease of 20% if the cell count prior to onset of clinical symptoms was >4000/mm3) >/=24 hours apart, atypical lymphocytosis >/=5%, and thrombocytopenia. CMV organ disease was defined as described by Ljungman et al., 2002.

All investigator-determined (protocol-defined) cases of CMV disease (i.e., symptomatic CMV infection or CMV organ disease), were adjudicated by an independent, blinded EC. Symptomatic CMV infection was defined as: CMV infection detected by a positive result from a CMV laboratory assay from at least one central laboratory assay (pp65 antigenemia or CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay in plasma) and fever >/=38 °C on >/=2 occasions >/=24 hours apart within a 7-day period and at least one of the following: new or increased malaise, two successive measurements of leucopenia (white blood cell [WBC] count <3500/mm3 or a WBC count decrease of 20% if the cell count prior to onset of clinical symptoms was >4000/mm3) >/=24 hours apart, atypical lymphocytosis >/=5%, and thrombocytopenia. CMV organ disease was defined as described by Ljungman et al., 2002.

Incidence of CMV infection or EC-confirmed CMV disease within the 6-month post-transplant period included in this section were defined (1) with infection assessed by pp65 antigenemia assay; (2) with infection assessed by CMV DNA PCR; (3) with infection assessed by either assay (pp65 antigenemia or CMV DNA PCR); and (4) with infection assessed by initiation of anti-CMV therapy.

Rejection was assessed by examining a liver biopsy sample. Diagnosis of graft rejection included a global assessment grade and a rejection activity index score.

Bone marrow suppression was assessed by the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) of investigator-reported leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia; absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <1000/mm3; white blood cell (WBC) count toxicity grade shifts from 0-2 at baseline to a maximum of 3-4 post-baseline; and use of hematopoietic growth factors during the 6 month post-transplant period.

For the first 16 subjects to have PK profiling performed, PK sampling was collected at Weeks 2, 6 and 10. For subsequent subjects that have PK profiling performed, PK sampling was collected at Weeks 2 and 6. Samples were collected 12 hours after the morning dose of maribavir. Permissible assessment windows for pharmacokinetic profile sampling purposes were +/- 5 days for each sampling day. Samples for determination of maribavir concentration were analyzed by a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method. For plasma, the minimum detectable concentration for maribavir was 0.2 μg/mL.

For the first 16 subjects to have PK profiling performed, PK sampling was collected at Weeks 2, 6 and 10. For subsequent subjects that have PK profiling performed, PK sampling was collected at Weeks 2 and 6. Samples were collected 12 hours after the morning dose of maribavir. Permissible assessment windows for pharmacokinetic profile sampling purposes were +/- 5 days for each sampling day. Samples for determination of VP 44469 (a metabolite of maribavir) concentration were analyzed by a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method. For plasma, the minimum detectable concentration for VP 44469 was 0.2 μg/mL.