Immune globulin (Evolve Biologics)

Tiragolumab's esophageal cancer readout, the latest episode in Daiichi Sankyo and Seagen's patent fight, and an antibody-drug conjugate specialist's fundraising effort made our news this week. Roche's TIGIT antibody has posted a positive phase 3 result that probably won't lead anywhere. In a win for Daiichi Sankyo, a U.S. agency has invalidated a Seagen patent. LegoChem has sold a large stake, worth $411 million, to fuel antibody-drug conjugate R&D. And more. 1. Roche racks up phase 3 TIGIT win, but trial design leaves doubts Roche’s TIGIT drug tiragolumab delivered positive data in a phase 3 esophageal cancer trial in Asia. But the trial design means the results probably won’t lead to any approvals. The SKYSCAPER-08 trial showed that combining tiragolumab and Roche's Tecentriq with chemotherapy helped patients live longer than chemo alone did. But there’s no data supporting the contribution of the TIGIT component. 2. US agency nixes Seagen patent, handing Daiichi Sankyo a win in long-running Enhertu entanglement The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has invalidated Seagen’s so-called '039 patent at the center of a yearslong legal battle with Daiichi Sankyo. The patent covers certain peptides conjugated to an antibody through various linkers; Seagen had argued that Daiichi’s AstraZeneca-partnered Enhertu is associated with the technology. The two companies are simultaneously fighting in court. 3. LegoChem, riding ADC sugar rush, raises $411M from confectionery company The booming antibody-drug conjugate field has attracted Korea’s confectionery giant Orion to take stake in local firm LegoChem Bioscience. Orion has become LegoChem’s largest shareholder after spending 548.5 billion South Korean won ($411 million) for a 25% stake. The investment supports LegoChem’s plan to invest 1 trillion won in R&D over the next five years. 4. J&J, AZ/Daiichi Sankyo cancer therapies lead Clarivate's annual rundown of notable new meds In its annual drugs to watch list, Clarivate expects AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s TROP2 antibody-drug conjugate datopotamab deruxtecan will reach $2.7 billion in sales in 2029. Astellas’ CLDN18.2 agent zolbetuximab, which was recently rejected by the FDA because of third-party manufacturing issues, is projected to reach $1.1 billion by 2029. 5. After 17-year courtship, Sun and Taro finally agree on $348M buyout Sun Pharma is finally able to bring Taro into its fold in its entirety. The Indian drugmaker agreed to pay $43 per share, or $348 million in total, for the remaining stake it didn’t already own in the Israeli manufacturer. Sun’s first attempt to acquire Taro came back in 2007, and the company had to sweeten its latest offer to win over Taro. 6. AstraZeneca to drop $26.5M in China for new production line for diabetes drugs: report AstraZeneca will invest $26.5 million to build a new production line at its manufacturing facility in China’s Taizhou. The line will be used to make the company’s Xigduo, which is a combination of dapagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride. The British pharma’s Taizhou base was launched in 2014 and is expected to have an annual output value of $1.4 billion, according to local reports. Other News of Note: 7. Takeda picks up 2nd FDA-approved indication for immune globulin treatment HyQvia 8. Bora plants its flag in the US with $210M acquisition of generics manufacturer Upsher-Smith 9. Windtree blows towards Lee's Pharma once again, signing new deal 10. Asia-based financial group launches $50M US biotech fund

OSAKA, Japan & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Takeda ( TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK ) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HYQVIA ® [Immune Globulin Infusion 10% (Human) with Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase] for the treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) as maintenance therapy to prevent the relapse of neuromuscular disability and impairment in adults. HYQVIA first received approval in the U.S. in 2014 for the treatment of primary immunodeficiency (PI) in adults, which has since been expanded to include children 2-16 years old. 1 HYQVIA is the only FDA-approved combination of immunoglobulin (IG) and hyaluronidase, which makes it a facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) infusion. For adults with CIDP, HYQVIA can be infused up to once monthly (every two, three or four weeks) due to the hyaluronidase component, which facilitates the dispersion and absorption of large IG volumes in the subcutaneous space between the skin and the muscle. Because it is delivered subcutaneously, HYQVIA can be administered by a healthcare professional in a medical office, infusion center or at a patient’s home. In addition, it can be self-administered after appropriate patient or caregiver training. 1 “ With the FDA approval of HYQVIA for CIDP, which builds on our expertise in rare neuroimmunological and neuromuscular disorders, we can now offer a personalized maintenance treatment option for adults with this debilitating disease,” said Giles Platford, president of Takeda’s Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit. “ Research and clinical experience have shown that IG therapy is effective as maintenance treatment in adults with CIDP, and we hope that this approval for HYQVIA is the first of several around the world as we strive to deliver our broad and diverse IG portfolio to more people with complex neuroimmunological diseases.” This approval is based on results from a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study (ADVANCE-CIDP 1) and a single-arm, open-label, extension study (ADVANCE-CIDP 3) that evaluated the efficacy and safety of HYQVIA as a maintenance therapy in adults with CIDP. The efficacy evaluation included 122 adults from ADVANCE-CIDP 1 with a confirmed diagnosis of CIDP and who had remained on a stable dosing regimen of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy for at least three months prior to screening. The analysis of the primary endpoint demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the relapse rates in the HYQVIA group (N=57, 14.0%) compared to the placebo group (N=65, 32.3%) (p=0.0314). The treatment difference of -18.3% (two-sided 95% CI: -32.1%, -3.1%) indicated that HYQVIA demonstrated superiority over placebo in preventing relapse of CIDP. 1 The safety of HYQVIA in adults with CIDP was evaluated across ADVANCE-CIDP 1 (N=62) and ADVANCE-CIDP 3 (N=79). The most common adverse reactions observed in >5% of study subjects in clinical studies of HYQVIA for CIDP were local reactions, headache, pyrexia, nausea, fatigue, erythema, pruritus, increased lipase, abdominal pain, back pain, and pain in extremity. 1 CIDP is a rare, acquired, immune-mediated neuromuscular disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. 2,3 It is typically characterized by progressive, symmetric symptoms such as weakness, tingling or loss of feeling in distal and proximal limbs, loss of reflexes and difficulty walking. 3 Because its symptoms may overlap with other rare, neuromuscular conditions, CIDP is often misdiagnosed. 4 The mechanism of action of IG in the treatment of CIDP in adults has not been fully elucidated but may include immunomodulatory effects. 1 The role of IG therapy as maintenance treatment in CIDP has been well-established and is the guidelines-based standard of care for this complex and heterogeneous condition. 5 However, there are aspects of IVIG treatment that can be challenging for patients such as long treatment duration associated with high IG volumes, potential for venous access challenges, and infusion setting limitations. 5 “ While it is considered the standard-of-care for maintenance treatment of adults with CIDP, IVIG infusions may be challenging for some patients and their caregivers,” said Lisa Butler, executive director, GBS-CIDP Foundation International. “ We’re excited that this therapy could offer some adults with CIDP an alternative subcutaneous option that may address some of these challenges and help personalize treatment.” HYQVIA is now available as a maintenance therapy for adult patients with CIDP in the U.S. In December 2023, Takeda announced that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the approval of HYQVIA as maintenance therapy in patients with CIDP after stabilization with IVIG. The European Commission (EC) will consider the CHMP positive opinion when determining the potential marketing authorization for HYQVIA for CIDP throughout the European Union. 6 About HYQVIA HYQVIA ® [Immune Globulin Infusion 10% (Human) with Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase] is a liquid medicine containing Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase and immunoglobulin (IG) and is approved in the U.S. to treat adults and children two years of age and older with primary immunodeficiency (PI), and as maintenance therapy to prevent relapse of neuromuscular disability and impairment in adult patients with CIDP. It is also approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as a replacement therapy in adults, children and adolescents with PI and with secondary immunodeficiency (SID) who suffer from severe or recurrent infections, ineffective antimicrobial treatment, and either proven specific antibody failure (PSAF) or serum IgG level of <4 g/L. HYQVIA is infused under the skin into the fatty subcutaneous tissue. HYQVIA contains IG collected from human plasma. IG are antibodies that maintain the body’s immune system. The hyaluronidase part of HYQVIA facilitates the dispersion and absorption of IG in the subcutaneous space between the skin and the muscle. HYQVIA is infused up to once a month (every two, three or four weeks for CIDP; every three or four weeks for PI). About ADVANCE-CIDP 1 and ADVANCE-CIDP 3 ADVANCE-CIDP 1 was a Phase 3, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study evaluating the safety, efficacy and tolerability of HYQVIA. The primary endpoint of the ADVANCE-CIDP 1 clinical trial was the proportion of subjects who experienced a relapse, defined as an increase of ≥1 point relative to the pre-subcutaneous (SC) treatment baseline score in two consecutive adjusted Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) disability scores obtained less than seven days apart. Patients were randomized to receive either HYQVIA or placebo at the same dose and infusion frequency as their prior IVIG treatment (every two, three or four weeks) for six months or until withdrawal or relapse. Those who remained relapse free were offered HYQVIA treatment as part of ADVANCE-CIDP 3, which was an open-label extension clinical trial to assess the long-term safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of HYQVIA in participants with CIDP who completed ADVANCE-CIDP 1. Further information about the ADVANCE-CIDP 1 and ADVANCE-CIDP 3 clinical trials is available at ClinicalTrials.gov under study identifiers NCT02549170 and NCT02955355 , respectively. HYQVIA U.S. Indication HYQVIA is indicated for the treatment of primary immunodeficiency (PI) in adults and pediatric patients two years of age and older and for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) as maintenance therapy to prevent relapse of neuromuscular disability and impairment in adults. HYQVIA is for subcutaneous use only. HYQVIA U.S. Important Safety Information WARNING: THROMBOSIS Thrombosis may occur with immune globulin (IG) products, including HYQVIA. Risk factors may include advanced age, prolonged immobilization, hypercoagulable conditions, history of venous or arterial thrombosis, use of estrogens, indwelling vascular catheters, hyperviscosity, and cardiovascular risk factors. Thrombosis may occur in the absence of known risk factors. For patients at risk of thrombosis, administer HYQVIA at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable. Ensure adequate hydration in patients before administration. Monitor for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and assess blood viscosity in patients at risk of hyperviscosity. Contraindications History of anaphylactic or severe systemic hypersensitivity reactions to human IG IgA-deficient patients with antibodies to IgA and a history of hypersensitivity to human IG Known systemic hypersensitivity to hyaluronidase including Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase of HYQVIA Known systemic hypersensitivity to human albumin (in the hyaluronidase solution) Warnings and Precautions Hypersensitivity: Severe hypersensitivity reactions may occur, even in patients who have tolerated previous treatment with human IG. If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue infusion immediately and institute appropriate treatment. IgA-deficient patients with antibodies to IgA are at greater risk of developing potentially severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. Thrombosis: Has been reported to occur following treatment with IG products, including HYQVIA and in the absence of known risk factors. In patients at risk, administer at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable. Ensure adequate hydration before administration. Monitor for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and assess blood viscosity in patients at risk for hyperviscosity. Immunogenicity of Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase (rHuPH20): Non-neutralizing antibodies to the Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase component can develop. The clinical significance of these antibodies or whether they interfere with fertilization in humans is unknown. Aseptic Meningitis Syndrome: Has been reported with use of IG, including HYQVIA and may occur more frequently in females. The syndrome usually begins within several hours to two days following IG treatment. Conduct a thorough neurological exam on patients exhibiting signs and symptoms, to rule out other causes of meningitis. Discontinuing IG treatment has resulted in remission within several days without sequelae. Hemolysis: HYQVIA contains blood group antibodies which may cause a positive direct antiglobulin reaction and hemolysis. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hemolysis and delayed hemolytic anemia and, if present, perform appropriate confirmatory lab testing. Renal Dysfunction/Failure: Acute renal dysfunction/failure, acute tubular necrosis, proximal tubular nephropathy, osmotic nephrosis, and death may occur with intravenous (IV) use of IG products, especially those containing sucrose. Ensure patients are not volume depleted prior to infusion. In patients at risk due to pre-existing renal insufficiency or predisposition to acute renal failure, assess renal function before initiation and throughout treatment, and consider lower, more frequent dosing. If renal function deteriorates, consider discontinuation. Spread of Localized Infection: Do not infuse HYQVIA into or around an infected area due to potential risk of spreading a localized infection. Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury: Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema may occur with IV administered IG. Monitor patients for pulmonary adverse reactions. If suspected, perform appropriate tests for presence of anti-neutrophil and anti-HLA antibodies in both product and patient serum. May be managed using oxygen therapy with adequate ventilatory support. Transmittable Infectious Agents: Because HYQVIA is made from human plasma, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents (e.g. viruses, other pathogens). No cases of transmission of viral diseases or variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) have been associated with HYQVIA. Interference with Lab Tests: False positive serological test results and certain assay readings, with the potential for misleading interpretation, may occur as the result of passively transferred antibodies. Adverse Reactions The most common adverse reactions observed in >5% of patients in the clinical trials were: Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) : local adverse reactions including pain, erythema, edema, and pruritus, and systemic adverse reactions including, headache, antibody formation against Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase (rHuPH20), fatigue, nausea, pyrexia, and vomiting. Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) : local reactions, headache, pyrexia, nausea, fatigue, erythema, pruritus, increased lipase, abdominal pain, back pain, and pain in extremity. Drug Interactions Passive transfer of antibodies may transiently interfere with the immune responses to live attenuated virus vaccines (e.g., measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella). Use In Specific Populations Pregnancy : Limited human data are available on the use of HYQVIA during pregnancy. The effects of antibodies to the Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase on the human embryo or fetal development are unknown. It is not known whether HYQVIA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or if it can affect reproductive capacity. HYQVIA should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed. For Full U.S. Prescribing Information, please visit: https://www.shirecontent.com/PI/PDFs/HYQVIA_USA_ENG.pdf For European Union Summary of Product Characteristics, please visit: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/hyqvia About Takeda Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. 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Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development. _______________________ 1 HYQVIA ® [Immune Globulin Infusion 10% (Human) with Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase] U.S. Prescribing Information. 2 GBS CIDP Foundation International. Voice of the Patient Report. August 26, 2022. www.gbs-cidp.org . Accessed August 2022. 3 Dalakas MC. Nat Rev Neurol . 2011;7(9):507–17. 4 Broers MC, Bunschoten C, Nieboer D, Lingsma HF, Jacobs BC. Eur J Neurol . 2021;28(6):2065–2073. 5 Van den Bergh P, Van Doorn PA, Hadden RD, et al. Eur J Neurol . 2021;28(11):3556–3583. 6 European Medicines Agency. HyQvia 100 mg/mL solution for infusion for subcutaneous use Summary of Product Characteristics. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/hyqvia-epar-product-information_en.pdf .