Eliglustat Therapy and Genotype

Eliglustat (brand name CERDELGA) is a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor used in the treatment of Gaucher disease (GD). Eliglustat is indicated for the long-term treatment of adult individuals with Gaucher disease type 1 (GD1) who are CYP2D6 normal metabolizers, intermediate metabolizers, or poor metabolizers as detected by an FDA-cleared test (1). Gaucher disease is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by accumulation of glucosylceramide (a sphingolipid also known as glucocerebroside) within lysosomes. This is caused by a malfunction of the enzyme acid beta-glucosidase, encoded by the gene GBA. Type 1 GD may present in childhood or adulthood with symptoms including bone disease, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, anemia and lung disease and –– unlike Gaucher types 2 and 3 –– does not directly affect the central nervous system primarily (2). Eliglustat, a ceramide mimic, inhibits the enzyme that synthesizes glucosylceramides (UDP-Glucose Ceramide Glucosyltransferase), thereby reducing the accumulation of these lipids in the lysosome (3). Eliglustat is broken down to inactive metabolites by CYP2D6 and, to a lesser extent, CYP3A (3). The dosage of eliglustat is based on the individual’s CYP2D6 metabolizer status. Individuals with normal CYP2D6 activity are termed normal metabolizers (NM), those with reduced activity are termed intermediate metabolizers (IM), and if activity is absent, poor metabolizers (PM). The FDA-approved drug label for eliglustat provides specific dosage guidelines based on their CYP2D6 status and concomitant usage of CYP2D6 or CYP3A inhibitors, and states that hepatic and renal function should also be considered when determining the appropriate dosage (Table 1). The label also states that CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizers (UM) may not achieve adequate concentrations of eliglustat for a therapeutic effect, and that for individuals for whom a CYP2D6 genotype cannot be determined, a specific dosage cannot be recommended (1). Dosing recommendations for eliglustat have also been published by the Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) based on CYP2D6 metabolizer type (Table 2) and include dose adjustments for dosing eliglustat with medications that alter CYP2D6 and or CYP3A function (Table 3).