A Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of ASP6294 Administered Intravenously or Subcutaneously in Healthy Young Male and Female Subjects

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single ascending intravenous doses and single subcutaneous (sc) doses of ASP6294 in healthy young male and female subjects.

This study will also evaluate the pharmacokinetics (pk) of single ascending intravenous doses and single ascending sc doses of ASP6294; determine the effect of ASP6294 administered intravenously and sc on the serum levels of circulating total Nerve Growth Factor (NGF); explore a potential gender difference in safety, tolerability and pk of single intravenous dose and single sc doses administrations of ASP6294 as well as determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of single intravenous doses and single sc doses of ASP6294.

Part 2 will also evaluate the relative bioavailability of ASP6294 when administered sc.

The study consists of two parts: Part 1 (ascending intravenous dose) and Part 2 (ascending subcutaneous dose). Subjects will participate in either Part 1 or Part 2. Subjects in Part 1 and Part 2 will have a residential period of 6 days followed by outpatient visits.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subject has a body mass index range of 18.5 - 30.0 kg/m2, inclusive, and the subject weighs at least 50 kg (at screening).
* Female subject must either:

  * Be of non-childbearing potential: Post-menopausal (defined as at least 1 year without any menses) prior to screening, or Documented surgically sterile
  * Or, if of childbearing potential: Agree not to try to become pregnant during the study and for 120 days after final study drug administration; Must have a negative pregnancy test at screening and day -1; And, if heterosexually active, agree to consistently use 2 forms of birth control starting at screening and throughout the clinical study period and for 120 days after final study drug administration.
* Female subject must agree not to breastfeed starting at screening and throughout the clinical study period, and for 120 days after final study drug administration.
* Female subject must not donate ova starting at screening and throughout the clinical study period, and for 120 days after final study drug administration.
* Male subject and their female spouse/partner who are of childbearing potential must be using a highly effective form of birth control† in combination with a barrier method starting at screening and throughout the clinical study period and for 120 days after final study drug administration.
* Male subject must not donate sperm starting at screening and throughout the clinical study period and for 120 days after final study drug administration.
* Subject agrees not to participate in another interventional study during participation in the present study, defined as signing the informed consent form until completion of the last study visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Female subject who has been pregnant within 6 months prior to screening assessment or breast feeding within 3 months prior to screening.
* Subject has a known or suspected hypersensitivity to ASP6294 or any components of the formulation used.
* Subject has been exposed to a biological drug within the last 6 months prior to screening.
* Subject has a history of allergic or anaphylactic reaction to a biological drug.
* Subject has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) or has a history of rapidly progressive OA.
* Subject has any of the liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\], alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\], alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin \[TBL\]) above the upper limit of normal (ULN) at day-1. In such a case, the assessment may be repeated once.
* Subject has any clinically significant history of allergic conditions (including drug allergies, asthma, eczema, or anaphylactic reactions, but excluding untreated, asymptomatic, seasonal allergies at time of dosing).
* Subject has any history or evidence of any clinically significant cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrinologic, hematologic, hepatic, immunologic, metabolic, urologic, pulmonary, neurologic (including orthostatic hypotension and autonomic neuropathy), dermatologic, psychiatric, renal and/or other major disease or malignancy, as judged by the investigator.
* Subject has/had febrile illness or symptomatic, viral, bacterial (including upper respiratory infection), or fungal (noncutaneous) infection within 1 week prior to day -1 (admission day).
* Subject has any clinically significant abnormality following the investigator's review of the physical examination, ECG and protocol-defined clinical laboratory tests at screening or day -1.
* Subject has a mean pulse \< 40 or \> 90 beats per minute; mean systolic blood pressure \> 140 mmHg; mean diastolic blood pressure \> 90 mmHg (vital sign measurements taken in triplicate after subject has been resting in supine position for 5 minutes; pulse will be measured automatically) at screening and day -1. If the mean blood pressure exceeds the limits above, 1 additional triplicate measurement can be taken.
* Subject has a mean corrected QT interval using Fridericia's formula (QTcF) of \> 430 ms for males and \> 450 ms for females at screening and day -1. If the mean QTcF exceeds the limits above, 1 additional triplicate ECG can be taken (admission day).
* Subject uses any prescribed or nonprescribed drugs (including vitamins, natural and herbal remedies, e.g. St. John's Wort) in the 2 weeks prior to study drug administration, except for occasional use of paracetamol (up to 2 g/day) or the use of contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.
* Subject has a history of smoking more than 10 cigarettes (or equivalent amount of tobacco) per day within 3 months prior to admission to the clinical unit.
* Subject has a history of drinking more than 21 units (male subjects) or 14 units (female subjects) of alcohol per week (1 unit = 10 g pure alcohol = 250 mL of beer \[5%\] or 35 mL of spirits \[35%\] or 100 mL of wine \[12%\]) within 3 months prior to admission to the clinical unit or the subject tests positive for alcohol or drugs of abuse at screening or day-1 (amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, tetrahydrocannabinoids, cocaine, and opiates).
* Subject uses any drugs of abuse within 3 months prior to admission to the clinical unit.
* Subject uses any inducer of metabolism (e.g., barbiturates, rifampin) in the 3 months prior to admission to the clinical unit regularly.
* Subject has experienced significant blood loss, donated 1 unit (450 mL) of blood or more, or received a transfusion of any blood or blood products within 60 days or donated plasma within 7 days prior to clinic admission to the clinical unit.
* Subject has a positive serology test for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis A virus antibodies (immunoglobulin M), hepatitis C virus antibodies, hepatitis B core antibodies, or antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2.
* Subject participated in any clinical study or has been treated with any investigational drugs within 3 months prior to screening.
* Subject has any condition which, in the investigator's opinion, makes the subject unsuitable for study participation, such as phobias for intravenous or subcutaneous needles/injections.
* Subject is an employee of the Astellas Group or a contract research organization.