Overview

This is a Phase 1 single-arm open-label study of letermovir in neonates with symptomatic congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. There will be two groups enrolled. Group 1 will be comprised of 4 subjects. Following documentation study inclusion and signing of informed consent, Group 1 subjects will receive one dose of oral letermovir (Study Day 0), using the dose bands. A full pharmacokinetics (PK) profile will then be obtained over the next 24 hours, and blood specimens will be shipped immediately to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Pharmacokinetic Lab and processed in real time. Within = 7 days, pharmacokinetics (PK) results will be conveyed to the study site. If the Area Under the Curve (AUC24) is =100,000 ngxhr/mL (see footnote a in Table 1), the subject will initiate a 14-day course of once-daily oral letermovir at the same dose as utilized on Dose Finding Day. This duration of letermovir therapy was selected based upon our earlier observation in this population that patients with symptomatic congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease who achieve viral suppression to =2.5 log by day 14 of valganciclovir therapy and then maintain it over the next 4 months are statistically more likely to have improved hearing across the first two years of life (22). If the observed letermovir exposure of the subject is > 100,000 ngxhr/mL, the once-daily oral letermovir dose that will be used will be adjusted down in 2.5 mg increments. Oral valganciclovir (16 mg/kg/dose BID) will begin within the first month of life, as standard of care; initiation of valganciclovir can be concomitant with or prior to initiation of the 14-day course of letermovir (but will not start before obtaining the pharmacokinetics (PK) specimens following the single dose of letermovir on the Dose Finding Day). This is similar to the intensification approach that has been evaluated in the management of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (23-25). The day that the 14-day course of letermovir begins for Group 1 subjects will be known as Study Day 1. Serial blood samples will be obtained on Study Days 1, 5, 10, and 14 for safety chemistry and hematology labs and for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral loads. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral load will be followed as well on Study Days 21 and 42 to assess for rebound in Cytomegalovirus (CMV) following cessation of letermovir treatment on Study Day 14. Saliva and urine viral loads will be followed at these timepoint as well. Full pharmacokinetics (PK) profiles for both letermovir and ganciclovir will be obtained on Study Day 10. In addition, sparse pharmacokinetics (PK) sampling will be obtained on Study Days 1, 5, and 14. Adverse events will be assessed at each study visit during treatment, and at Study Days 21 and 42 (4 weeks after the last study drug dose). Subjects then will continue on oral valganciclovir as routine clinical care to complete an anticipated 6 month duration of total therapy. The primary Objective is to determine the systemic exposure (AUC24) of letermovir following administration of oral letermovir granules in infants with symptomatic congenital CMV disease.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signed informed consent from parent(s) or legal guardian(s)
2. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) confirmation by culture, shell vial, or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests from a specimen obtained at </= 30 days of life from saliva, blood, or urine
3. Symptomatic congenital CMV disease*
4. Age at study enrollment:
   1. </= 83 days for Group 1 subjects**
   2. </= 90 days for Group 2 subjects
5. Weight at study enrollment 2.6 kg to < 8.0 kg
6. Gestational age >/= 32 weeks at birth
7. Intention by patient's physician to clinically treat infant with oral valganciclovir for 6 months for symptomatic congenital CMV disease
   • Manifested by one or more of the following: thrombocytopenia; petechiae; hepatomegaly; splenomegaly; intrauterine growth restriction; hepatitis; or Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement such as microcephaly, radiographic abnormalities indicative of CMV CNS disease, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) indices for age, chorioretinitis, hearing deficits as detected by formal brainstem evoked response, and/or positive CMV Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) from CSF **Group 1 subjects must enroll and receive the Dose Finding Day dose of letermovir on or before 83 days of life so that oral valganciclovir can be started prior to 12 weeks 6 days (which is 90 days) of life, as is standard of care. For this study, the date of birth is counted as day of life 0

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Imminent demise
2. Infants known to be born to women who are HIV positive (but HIV testing is not required for study entry)
3. Current receipt of other investigational drugs
4. Grade 3 or 4 alanine aminotransferase (ALT) utilizing Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Toxicity Table
5. Grade 3 or 4 total bilirubin utilizing DAIDS Toxicity Table
6. Gastrointestinal abnormality which might preclude absorption of an oral medication (e.g., a history of necrotizing enterocolitis)
7. Anticipated concomitant administration of carbamazepine (Tegretol), nafcillin, phenobarbital, or phenytoin (Dilantin) during the period of study drug administration