Pegcetacoplan

For many people, the end of the year is a mad rush to wrap things up before the holidays, and so it was for the FDA. Notable regulatory decisions include the first drug approval for a prevalent chronic condition and a novel regenerative medicine approach to help trauma patients. In one case, a new drug approval comes as its developer takes on a new identity in the new year. Here’s a look back at some highlights from a busy regulatory month: presented by Health IT Transforming Patient Care: The Role of AI-Powered Assistants The progress in artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping patient care, across various dimensions, from facilitating faster discharge to curating treatment plans and suggesting lifestyle changes. By IT Medical Notable Firsts —The prevalent sleeping disorder obstructive sleep apnea has historically been managed with a medical device that helps breathing. Eli Lilly’s Zepbound is now the first FDA-approved drug treatment for the chronic condition. Obesity is a risk factor for sleep apnea and clinical trial results showed that weight reductions from treatment with Zepbound were accompanied by breathing improvement. Approval in obstructive sleep apnea adds another potential blockbuster indication for a metabolic medication that has fast become one of Lilly’s top-selling products. —Patients who have the rare inherited metabolic disorder familial chylomicronemia syndrome lack the ability to break down triglycerides, a type of fat from food. The only way to avoid potentially fatal complications to the pancreas is by maintaining an extremely restrictive diet. Approval of Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ olezarsen gives patients a therapeutic option. The once-monthly injected genetic medicine, which is designed to block the body’s production of a liver protein that regulates triglyceride metabolism, will be marketed under the brand name Tryngolza. Ionis previously brought drugs through late-stage development and commercialization under partnerships with larger companies. Tryngolza will be the first product Ionis commercializes on its own. —When trauma to an arm or leg requires replacement of a blood vessel, the standard treatment is grafting a vein from the patient or implanting a synthetic vein. Now there’s a new regenerative medicine option. Humacyte won FDA approval for Symvess, a bioengineered blood vessel for restoring blood flow to avoid the loss of a limb when grafting a vein from the patient is not feasible. Here’s more about the biotech’s regenerative technology. Sponsored Post The Funding Model for Cancer Innovation is Broken — We Can Fix It Closing cancer health equity gaps require medical breakthroughs made possible by new funding approaches. By Eve McDavid - CEO of Mission-Driven Tech —Mesoblast’s regulatory approval was a long time coming. In 2020 and 2023, the FDA turned down the Australian company’s application for remestemcel, an allogeneic cell therapy for graft versus host disease, an immune response that develops when donor T cells attack the recipient’s cells following a transplant procedure. Remestemcel, brand name Ryoncil, is a made from mesenchymal stromal cells sourced from the bone marrow of healthy donors. The product’s approval covers acute graft versus host disease that is refractory to treatment with steroids in patients age 2 months and older. It’s the first affirmative regulatory decision for a cell therapy made from mesenchymal stromal cells. Approvals in Immunology —Vtama, an Organon drug acquired from Roivant Sciences earlier this year, received FDA approval as a treatment for atopic dermatitis in adults and children age 2 and older. The drug is topical cream that was initially approved in 2022 as a treatment for plaque psoriasis. Approval in atopic dermatitis brings the product to a much larger dermatologic indication, albeit one served my many branded and generic medications. —In other atopic dermatitis news, Galderma landed FDA approval for nemolizumab, brand name Nemluvio. The drug is an antibody designed to block IL-31, a signaling protein associated with the itch and inflammation of the chronic skin disorder. FDA approval of Nemluvio covers use of the drug in patients age 12 and older who have moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. It’s the second approval in the past year for Nemluvio, which was first approved over the summer as a treatment for prurigo nodularis. Rare Disease Regulatory Decisions —Neurocrine Biosciences received approval for Crenessity, a treatment for the rare inherited hormone disorder congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The small molecule helps bring the hormone imbalance back to more normal levels. The FDA approved a pill formulation for adults and an oral solution for pediatric patients. Analysts project Crenessity could achieve blockbuster sales, pending regulatory approvals in other countries. —Novo Nordisk is best known for metabolic medicines, but its rare disease portfolio is getting a boost with FDA approval of Alhemo, a drug that reduces bleeding episodes in patients with either hemophilia A or B. Alhemo, known in development as concizumab, is an antibody designed to bind to TFPI, preventing that protein from blocking factor Xa, a different protein that plays a role in blood clotting. That’s the same mechanism of action as Pfizer’s Hympavzi, which won its FDA approval in October. Both drugs are subcutaneous injections that provide alternatives to intravenously infused hemophilia therapies. But Pfizer’s once-weekly Hmypavzi has a dosing edge over Alhemo, which must be injected once daily. —Vertex Pharmaceuticals is adding a new cystic fibrosis (CF) drug to its portfolio with FDA approval of Alyftrek, which combines three compounds in a single therapy. Like Vertex’s other CF therapies, Alyftrek is a modulator of the CFTR a protein that regulates the movement of chloride ions into and out of cells. Alyftrek’s approval is based on clinical data comparing the once-daily therapy to Trikafta, a Vertex triple combination drug initially approved in 2019 as a twice-daily CF treatment. Results showed Alyftrek was non-inferior to Trikafta on a key measure of lung function and was superior in reducing sweat chloride levels, which is a surrogate indicator of the function of CFTR proteins. Besides the dosing advantage, Alyftrek addresses 31 additional mutations that are not addressable by other CFTR modulators. The Dec. 20 approval of Alyftrek came nearly two weeks ahead of the Jan. 2 target date for a regulatory decision. Developments in Cancer Drugs —The FDA awarded accelerated approval to Merus Therapeutics drug zenacutuzumab as a treatment for advanced cases of two types of cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. It’s the first approval for a drug that addresses a genetic signature called an NRG1 gene fusion. Netherlands-based Merus will market the bispecific antibody under the brand name Bizengri. In a deal struck days prior to the approval announcement, Partner Therapeutics licensed U.S. commercialization rights to Bizengri. —The blockbuster AstraZeneca drug Imfinzi expanded its FDA-approved uses to include limited-stage small cell lung cancer that has not progressed following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The checkpoint inhibitor was first approved in 2017 for bladder cancer and added extensive-stage lung cancer as a new indication in 2020. The drug’s latest approval is based on Phase 3 results showing a 27% reduction in the risk of death compared to a placebo. AstraZeneca said the FDA decision makes Imfinzi the first immunotherapy approved for limited-stage small cell lung cancer. —Xcovery Holdings drug ensartinib, brand name Ensacove, was approved to treat adults with advanced cases of non-small cell lung cancer that is positive for ALK mutations. Patients prescribed the once-daily pill must not have previously received an ALK inhibitor. —Pfizer cancer drug Braftovi landed accelerated approval as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer driven by the BRAF V600E mutation. The approval covers use of the drug in combination with Eli Lilly’s Erbitux and the chemotherapy regimen referred to as FOLFOX, both standard colorectal cancer therapies. Braftovi, a small molecule inhibitor of BRAF V600E, was initially approved in 2018 for advanced cases of melanoma. The drug came from Pfizer’s 2019 acquisition of Array Biopharma. —Tevimbra, a cancer immunotherapy developed by BeiGene, received FDA approval as a first-line treatment for gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers when used in combination with chemotherapy. It’s the second FDA approval for the checkpoint inhibitor, which was approved last March for treating advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after prior treatment with chemotherapy. The new year means a new identity for BeiGene. The cancer drug developer is changing its name to BeOne Medicines. Starting Jan. 2, the company’s stock symbol on the Nasdaq will be “ONC.” Rejections, Warnings & More Bad News in Biotech —Astellas Pharma’s bid to bring patients less-frequent eye injections of its drug Izervay was rejected by the FDA. Izervay, approved for treating geographic atrophy in 2023, is administered monthly to slow progression of the vision-loss disorder. Astellas sought approval for every-other-month dosing based on two-year Phase 3 data. According to Astellas, no safety benefit/risk issues were cited but the FDA took issue with a statistical matter related to labelling language proposed by the company. The rejection will limit Izervay’s ability to compete against Apellis Pharmaceuticals’ geographic atrophy drug Syfovre, which is approved for both monthly and every-other-month dosing. —In other Astellas news, the label for menopause drug Veozah now sports a black box warning for the risk of serious liver injury. The warning follows a FDA safety communication issued in September after a postmarketing report of a patient who developed signs and symptoms of liver injury after taking the once-daily pill for about 40 days. Veozah won FDA approval in 2023 as the first in a new class of therapies for menopause. —Applied Therapeutics received a double dose of bad regulatory news. First the FDA rejected the biotech’s application for govorestat, a drug developed as a treatment for the rare metabolic disease galactosemia. According to Applied, the agency cited “deficiencies in the clinical application.” Days after the FDA complete response letter, the FDA sent Applied a warning letter. The trial and the drug are redacted in the public version of the letter, but in a regulatory filing, Applied acknowledged the FDA’s concerns are about the govorestat galactosemia trial. Applied said the warning letter identified issues with electronic data capture and a dosing error in the dose-escalation portion of the study — both of which the company believed it had already addressed with the agency. Applied said it would respond to the FDA warning letter. —Bad news keeps stacking up for Intercept Pharmaceuticals and its drug, Ocaliva, a treatment for the rare liver disease primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). On Dec. 12, the FDA issued a safety alert, warning of the risk of serious liver injury in patients without advanced liver cirrhosis. The alert came one month after the FDA turned down Intercept’s application seeking full approval for Ocaliva, which won its accelerated approval in PBC in 2016. The FDA’s rejection letter for the drug cited safety concerns. When Ocaliva first reached the market, it was the only FDA-approved second-line treatment for PBC. In the past year, drugs from Ipsen and Gilead Sciences have each won accelerated approvals as new second-line therapies for the rare disease. Two weeks after the FDA turned down full approval of Ocaliva, the European Commission revoked the conditional marketing authorization for the drug. Advanz Pharma holds rights to Ocaliva in Europe. The company said the commission decision is subject to an ongoing annulment procedure in the EU’s General Court and a ruling is expected in 2025. —The FDA turned down Zealand Pharma’s glepaglutide as a treatment for short bowel syndrome, a rare disorder that develops when the small intestine is damaged or shortened, making it difficult for the organ to absorb nutrients. The drug is a long-acting GLP-2 analog intended to enhance the intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients, reducing patients’ dependence on intravenous feeding. According to Zealand, the FDA said the application needed more evidence of efficacy and safety. The company said it would discuss the letter with the FDA and proceed with plans to seek European approval in 2025. —Lexicon Pharmaceuticals came up short in its bid to expand approval of its drug, sotagliflozin (brand name Zynquista), to include the treatment of adults with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The FDA’s Dec. 20 rejection of the drug followed a negative FDA advisory committee vote in October. The FDA approved sotagliflozin last year as a treatment for heart failure; it’s marketed in this indication under the brand name Inpefa. —Johnson & Johnson received a complete response letter for its injectable version of Rybrevant, a drug that treats cancer driven by EGFR mutations. Intravenously infused Rybrevant was approved in 2021 as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. The injectable version is made with technology from Halozyme. J&J said the FDA letter flagged manufacturing issues and did not cite any concerns about the new formulation or its safety and efficacy.

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New data from Sobi® and partners will be presented at the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in San Diego, CA (USA) from the 7th - 10th of December 2024. During the meeting several analyses will be presented on haemophilia A, haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), myelofibrosis, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH), and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). "Haemophilia A has a lasting impact on joint health and quality of life. At ASH 2024, three oral presentations will reveal important new data about long-term outcomes with ALTUVOCT® prophylaxis," said Lydia Abad-Franch, MD, MBA, Head of Research, Development, and Medical Affairs (RDMA), and Chief Medical Officer at Sobi. "We will also present new data spanning different severe and debilitating rare diseases, including an oral presentation on the real-world effectiveness of Doptelet® in treating people with ITP, demonstrating our broader commitment to advancing innovative treatments for people with rare haematological diseases. We look forward to sharing these findings in San Diego." Key data to be presented at ASH 2024 About ALTUVOCT® ALTUVOCT® (efanesoctocog alfa) [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc-VWF-XTEN Fusion Protein] (formerly BIVV001) is the first high-sustained FVIII replacement therapy with the potential to deliver near-normal factor activity levels for a significant part of the week, improving bleed protection in a once-weekly dose for people with haemophilia A. ALTUVOCT builds on the established Fc fusion technology by innovatively adding a region of von Willebrand factor and XTEN® polypeptides to extend its time in circulation. It is the only therapy that has been shown to break through the von Willebrand factor ceiling, which imposes a half-life limitation on current factor VIII therapies. The European Commission granted Orphan Drug designation in June 2019. It is approved and marketed as ALTUVOCT by Sobi in Europe. It is approved and marketed as ALTUVIIIO™ [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc-VWF-XTEN Fusion Protein-ehtl] by Sanofi in the United States, Japan, and Taiwan. About the Sanofi and Sobi collaboration Sobi and Sanofi collaborate on the development and commercialisation of Alprolix® and Elocta®/Eloctate®. The companies also collaborate on the development and commercialisation of ALTUVOCT® (efanesoctocog alfa), or ALTUVIIIO™ in the US. Sobi has final development and commercialisation rights in the Sobi territory (essentially Europe, North Africa, Russia, and most Middle Eastern markets). Sanofi has final development and commercialisation rights in North America and all other regions in the world excluding the Sobi territory. About Gamifant® Gamifant (emapalumab) is an anti-interferon gamma (IFNγ) monoclonal antibody that binds to and neutralises IFNγ. In the USA, Gamifant is indicated for the treatment of adult and paediatric (newborn and older) patients with primary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) with refractory, recurrent or progressive disease or intolerance with conventional HLH therapy. Primary HLH is a rare syndrome of hyperinflammation that usually occurs within the first year of life and can rapidly become fatal unless diagnosed and treated. The FDA approval is based on data from the phase 2/3 studies (NCT01818492 and NCT02069899). Gamifant is indicated for administration through intravenous infusion over one hour twice per week until haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). About Vonjo® Vonjo (pacritinib), a JAK-1 sparing JAK2/IRAK1/ACVR1 inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of adults with intermediate- or high-risk primary or secondary (post-polycythemia vera or post-essential thrombocythemia) myelofibrosis with a platelet count below 50 × 109/L in the United States. This indication is approved under FDA accelerated approval based on spleen volume reduction. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s). Currently, a Phase 3 study (PACIFICA) is being conducted to assess pacritinib in patients with myelofibrosis and severe thrombocytopenia as a post-marketing requirement. About Aspaveli®/ Empaveli® Aspaveli/Empaveli (pegcetacoplan) is a targeted C3 and C3b inhibitor designed to regulate excessive activation of the complement cascade, part of the body's immune system, which can lead to the onset and progression of many serious diseases. Pegcetacoplan is approved for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) as Aspaveli/Empaveli in the United States, European Union, and other countries globally. Currently, a Phase 3 trial (VALIANT) is being conduted to assess the efficacy and safety of pegcetacoplan in patients with C3G and primary IC-MPGN. Aspaveli/Empaveli is also under investigation for several other rare diseases across haematology and nephrology. About the Sobi and Apellis collaboration Sobi and Apellis have global co-development rights for systemic pegcetacoplan. Sobi has exclusive ex-U.S. commercialisation rights for systemic pegcetacoplan, and Apellis has exclusive U.S. commercialisation rights for systemic pegcetacoplan and worldwide commercial rights for ophthalmological pegcetacoplan, including for geographic atrophy. About Doptelet® Doptelet (avatrombopag) is an orally administered thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that mimics the biologic effects of TPO in stimulating the development and maturation of megakaryocytes, resulting in increased platelet count. It is approved in over 30 countries worldwide, including the EU and the US, for the treatment of severe thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic liver disease who are scheduled to undergo an invasive procedure, and for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with primary chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment. Chronic ITP is a rare autoimmune bleeding disorder characterised by low number of platelets. The incidence of primary ITP in adults is 3.3/100,000 adults per year with a prevalence of 9.5 per 100,000 adults. About Sobi® Sobi® is a specialised international biopharmaceutical company transforming the lives of people with rare and debilitating diseases. Providing reliable access to innovative medicines in the areas of haematology, immunology, and specialty care, Sobi has approximately 1,800 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. In 2023, revenue amounted to SEK 22.1 billion. Sobi's share (STO:SOBI) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More about Sobi at sobi.com and LinkedIn. Contacts For details on how to contact the Sobi Investor Relations Team, please click here. For Sobi Media contacts, click here. This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED