Amgen Announces Positive Top-Line Results From Phase 3 Study Evaluating The Efficacy And Safety Of Biosimilar Candidate ABP 501 Compared With Adalimumab In Patients With Moderate-To-Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

Primary Efficacy Analysis Demonstrates Clinical Equivalence

Second Positive Phase 3 Study for Amgen's ABP 501

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Feb 03, 2015, 04:01 ET

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) today announced a Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of biosimilar candidate ABP 501 compared with Humira^® (adalimumab) in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis met its primary and key secondary endpoints. The primary endpoint compared the ACR20 measurements (20 percent or greater improvement in ACR assessment) at week 24. The ACR20 was within the prespecified margin for ABP 501 compared to adalimumab, showing clinical equivalence. Safety and immunogenicity of ABP 501 were comparable to adalimumab. Key secondary endpoints included ACR50, ACR70 and DAS 28-CRP.

ABP 501 is being developed as a biosimilar candidate to adalimumab, an anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody, which is approved in many countries for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

"The positive results from Amgen's biosimilar Phase 3 rheumatoid arthritis study showed clinical equivalence in efficacy, and comparable safety and immunogenicity, to adalimumab. Amgen's success on both our ABP 501 psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis studies underscores our expertise in the research and development of high-quality biologic therapies," said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "Inflammation remains a core therapeutic area for Amgen, and we are committed to leveraging our long-term heritage in the space to deliver a portfolio of biosimilar and novel compounds that benefit patients worldwide."

Amgen has nine biosimilar molecules in development and expects to launch five of these biosimilars between 2017 and 2019.

Study Design
This randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study (study number 20120262) evaluated safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of ABP 501 compared to adalimumab in adult patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis who have an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX). The study consisted of a screening period of four weeks and a treatment period of 22 weeks, followed by a safety follow-up period through to week 26. There were 526 patients enrolled. Among them, there were 264 patients randomized to receive ABP 501 40 mg subcutaneous (SC) every two weeks and 262 patients randomized to receive adalimumab 40 mg SC every two weeks. The primary endpoint was assessment of ACR20 at week 24.

About Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology in which patients exhibit sytemic features such as fatigue, low grade fever, weight loss, anemia and increased systemic levels of acute phase reactants (e.g., erythrocyte sedimentation rates [ESR] and C-reactive protein [CRP]).¹

About ABP 501
ABP 501 is being developed as a biosimilar candidate for adalimumab, an anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody, which is approved in many regions for the treatment of several inflammatory diseases. The active ingredient of ABP 501 is an anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody that has the same amino acid sequence as adalimumab. ABP 501 has the same pharmaceutical dosage form and strength as adalimumab (U.S.) and adalimumab (EU).

About Amgen Biosimilars
Amgen Biosimilars is committed to building upon Amgen's experience in the development and manufacturing of innovative human therapeutics to expand Amgen's reach to patients suffering from serious illnesses. Biosimilars offer the potential to increase patient access to vital medicines, and Amgen is well positioned to leverage its 35 years of experience in biotechnology to create high-quality biosimilars and reliably supply them to patients worldwide.

For more information, visit www.amgenbiosimilars.com.

About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen Inc. and its subsidiaries (Amgen, we or us) and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports filed by Amgen Inc., including Amgen Inc.'s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Please refer to Amgen Inc.'s most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K for additional information on the uncertainties and risk factors related to our business. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of Feb. 3, 2015, and expressly disclaims any duty to update information contained in this news release.

No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, preclinical results do not guarantee safe and effective performance of product candidates in humans. The complexity of the human body cannot be perfectly, or sometimes, even adequately modeled by computer or cell culture systems or animal models. The length of time that it takes for us and our partners to complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval for product marketing has in the past varied and we expect similar variability in the future. We develop product candidates internally and through licensing collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures. Product candidates that are derived from relationships may be subject to disputes between the parties or may prove to be not as effective or as safe as we may have believed at the time of entering into such relationship. Also, we or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. We depend on third parties for a significant portion of our manufacturing capacity for the supply of certain of our current and future products and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development.

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The scientific information discussed in this news release related to our product candidates is preliminary and investigative. Such product candidates are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of the product candidates.

CONTACT: Amgen
Kelley Davenport, 202-585-9637 (media)
Kristen Davis, 805-447-3008 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)

References:

1. Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, Funovits J, Felson DT, Bingham CO III, et al. 2010 rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheum. 2010;62: 2569-81.

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SOURCE Amgen