AbbVie Announces FDA Acceptance of New Drug Application for a Once-Daily Formulation of VIEKIRA PAK® (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets) to Treat Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Dec. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced its New Drug Application (NDA) has been accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a once-daily, fixed-dose formulation of the components of VIEKIRA PAK^® (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets). VIEKIRA PAK is an all-oral, interferon-free treatment approved with or without ribavirin (RBV) in the United States for patients with genotype 1 (GT1) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including those with compensated cirrhosis. VIEKIRA PAK is not for people with decompensated cirrhosis.

The proposed dosing for the fixed-dose formulation (dasabuvir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir tablets) is three oral tablets once daily with a meal, with or without twice-daily RBV, potentially offering another important treatment option for people living with GT1 HCV. The NDA filing is supported by data from two bioavailability studies. Currently, VIEKIRA PAK is taken twice daily as three tablets in the morning and one tablet in the evening, taken with a meal.

"Nearly one year after the launch of VIEKIRA PAK, AbbVie is pleased to announce the acceptance of a New Drug Application for a once-daily formulation for the treatment of patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C," said Michael Severino, M.D., executive vice president, research and development and chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "This milestone further underscores AbbVie's commitment to offer people living with hepatitis C optimized treatment options."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States, approximately 2.7 million people are chronically infected with HCV.ⁱ Genotype 1 is the most prevalent form of HCV in the U.S., accounting for approximately 74 percent of all cases.ⁱⁱ Hepatitis C is inflammation of the liver caused by an infection with HCV. It is transmitted when an infected person's blood enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person. There are six major HCV genotypes (GT1-6). Presently, there is no vaccine for HCV infection.

About VIEKIRA PAK

USE

VIEKIRA PAK^® (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets) is a prescription medicine used with or without ribavirin to treat adults with genotype 1 chronic (lasting a long time) hepatitis C (hep C) virus infection, including people who have a certain type of cirrhosis (compensated).

VIEKIRA PAK is not for people with advanced cirrhosis (decompensated). If people have cirrhosis, they should talk to a doctor before taking VIEKIRA PAK.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

When taking VIEKIRA PAK in combination with ribavirin, people should read the Medication Guide that comes with ribavirin, especially the important pregnancy information.

What is the most important information to know about VIEKIRA PAK?

• VIEKIRA PAK may cause severe liver problems, especially in people with certain types of cirrhosis. These severe liver problems can lead to the need for a liver transplant, or can lead to death.
• VIEKIRA PAK can cause increases in liver function blood test results, especially if people use ethinyl estradiol-containing medicines (such as some birth control products).
  • Ethinyl estradiol-containing medicines (combination birth control pills or patches, such as Lo Loestrin^® FE, Norinyl^®, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo^®, Ortho Evra^®; hormonal vaginal rings such as NuvaRing^®; and the hormone replacement therapy medicine, Fem HRT^®) must be stopped before starting treatment with VIEKIRA PAK. If these medicines are used as a method of birth control, another method must be used during treatment with VIEKIRA PAK, and for about 2 weeks after treatment with VIEKIRA PAK ends. A doctor can provide instruction on when to begin taking ethinyl estradiol-containing medicines.
• A doctor should do blood tests to check liver function during the first 4 weeks of treatment and then as needed.
• A doctor may tell people to stop taking VIEKIRA PAK if signs or symptoms of liver problems develop. A doctor must be notified right away if any of the following symptoms develop or if they worsen during treatment with VIEKIRA PAK: tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, color changes in stools, confusion, or swelling of the stomach area.

VIEKIRA PAK must not be taken if people:

• have certain liver problems
• take any of the following medicines: alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral^®) • carbamazepine (Carbatrol^®, Epitol^®, Equetro^®, Tegretol^®) • colchicine (Colcrys^®) • efavirenz (Sustiva^®, Atripla^®) • ergot containing medicines, including ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot^®, Migergot^®, Ergomar^®, Ergostat^®, Medihaler^®, Wigraine^®, Wigrettes^®), dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E. 45^®, Migranal^®), methylergonovine (Ergotrate^®, Methergine^®) • ethinyl estradiol-containing medicines • gemfibrozil (Lopid^®) • lovastatin (Advicor^®, Altoprev^®, Mevacor^®) • midazolam (when taken by mouth) • phenytoin (Dilantin^®, Phenytek^®) • phenobarbital (Luminal^®) • pimozide (Orap^®) • rifampin (Rifadin^®, Rifamate^®, Rifater^®, Rimactane^®) • sildenafil citrate (Revatio^®), when taken for pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) • simvastatin (Zocor^®, Vytorin^®, Simcor^®) • St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) or a product that contains St. John's wort • triazolam (Halcion^®)
• have had a severe skin rash after taking ritonavir (Norvir^®)

What should people tell a doctor before taking VIEKIRA PAK?

• If they have: liver problems other than hep C infection, HIV infection, or any other medical conditions.
• If they have had a liver transplant. If they take the medicines tacrolimus (Prograf^®) or cyclosporine (Gengraf^®, Neoral^®, Sandimmune^®), a doctor should check blood levels and, if needed, may change the dose of these medicines or how often they are taken, both during and after treatment with VIEKIRA PAK.
• If they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or if they are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VIEKIRA PAK will harm a person's unborn baby or pass into breast milk. A doctor should be consulted about the best way to feed a baby if taking VIEKIRA PAK. Pregnant females who have both hep C and HIV infection should talk with a doctor about enrolling in the antiretroviral pregnancy registry.
• About all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines interact with VIEKIRA PAK.
  • A new medicine must not be started without telling a doctor. A doctor will provide instruction on whether it is safe to take VIEKIRA PAK with other medicines.
  • When VIEKIRA PAK is finished, a doctor should be consulted on what to do if one of the usual medicines taken was stopped or if the dose changed during VIEKIRA PAK treatment.

What are the common side effects of VIEKIRA PAK?

• For VIEKIRA PAK used with ribavirin, side effects include tiredness, nausea, itching, skin reactions such as redness or rash, sleep problems, and feeling weak.
• For VIEKIRA PAK used without ribavirin, side effects include nausea, itching, and sleep problems.

These are not all of the possible side effects of VIEKIRA PAK. A doctor should be notified if there is any side effect that is bothersome or that does not go away.

This is the most important information to know about VIEKIRA PAK. For more information, talk with a doctor.

People are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Click here for full Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide.

If people cannot afford their medication, they should contact www.pparx.org for assistance.

Additional Information about VIEKIRA PAK^®

VIEKIRA PAK^® has been studied in a broad range of genotype 1 (GT1) patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, ranging from treatment-naive to difficult to treat patients, such as those with compensated (mild, Child-Pugh A) cirrhosis of the liver, HCV/HIV-1 co-infection, liver transplant recipients with normal hepatic function and mild fibrosis, and those who have failed previous treatment with pegylated interferon (pegIFN) and ribavirin (RBV). VIEKIRA PAK is contraindicated in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B and C) due to risk of potential toxicity. VIEKIRA PAK consists of the fixed-dose combination of ombitasvir 25mg (an NS5A inhibitor), paritaprevir 150mg (an NS3/4A protease inhibitor), and ritonavir 100mg (an HIV-1 protease inhibitor), dosed once daily with a meal, and dasabuvir 250mg (a non-nucleoside NS5B palm polymerase inhibitor), dosed twice daily with a meal. VIEKIRA PAK is taken for 12 weeks, except in GT1a patients with cirrhosis, who should take it for 24 weeks. Ribavirin should be co-administered in GT1a patients, and in all patients who have cirrhosis or who have received a liver transplant.

Paritaprevir was discovered during the ongoing collaboration between AbbVie and Enanta Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ENTA) for HCV protease inhibitors and regimens that include protease inhibitors.

About AbbVie's HCV Clinical Development Program 
AbbVie's HCV clinical development program is intended to advance scientific knowledge and clinical care by investigating interferon-free, all-oral treatments with and without ribavirin with the goal of achieving high sustained virologic response rates in as many patients as possible.

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

Forward-Looking Statements
Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, challenges to intellectual property, competition from other products, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, and changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in AbbVie's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

ⁱ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis C FAQs for Health Professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm. Accessed November 30, 2015.
ⁱⁱ Wedemeyer H. Hepatitis C. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 10th ed, Vol 2. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier. 2016:1332-1351

SOURCE AbbVie

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