Amgen's Repatha® (Evolocumab) Approved As First PCSK9 Inhibitor In Japan For The Treatment Of High Cholesterol
Important Milestone for Certain Japanese Patients With Uncontrolled LDL Cholesterol
First Approval for Amgen and Astellas Joint Venture
Important Milestone for Certain Japanese Patients With Uncontrolled LDL Cholesterol
First Approval for Amgen and Astellas Joint Venture
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Jan. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved the cholesterol-lowering medication Repatha® (evolocumab) Injection, the first proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor to be approved in Japan. Repatha is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits PCSK9, a protein that reduces the liver's ability to remove low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or "bad" cholesterol, from the blood.1 Repatha was developed in Japan by Amgen Astellas BioPharma K.K. (AABP), a joint venture between Amgen and Astellas Pharma Inc., a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tokyo.
In Japan, Repatha is indicated for the treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) or hypercholesterolemia who have high risk of cardiovascular events and do not adequately respond to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins).
"Today's approval of Repatha, the first PCSK9 inhibitor approved in Japan, is an important milestone for patients and physicians who need additional treatment options to lower LDL cholesterol," said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "High LDL cholesterol is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and many patients are unable to appropriately control their LDL cholesterol with statin therapy alone. We are excited to bring Repatha to patients in Japan and will continue to work with regulatory authorities to make this innovative medicine available to patients worldwide."
"This approval is significant for patients and physicians in Japan and is a testament to the ongoing collaboration between Amgen and Astellas," said Eiichi Takahashi, general manager, AABP. "We are proud of the progress we are making toward our common goal of addressing the critical needs of Japanese patients with high LDL cholesterol who struggle to control their condition."
Results from Phase 3 studies showed that adding Repatha to background lipid-lowering therapy that included statins resulted in intensive reductions in LDL-C. YUKAWA-2, a pivotal Phase 3 study in Japanese patients with high cardiovascular risk and high cholesterol, demonstrated that subcutaneous Repatha 140 mg every two weeks or 420 mg every four weeks, compared to placebo, in combination with daily doses of atorvastatin, reduced LDL-C by 67 to 76 percent from baseline at week 12 and at the mean of weeks 10 and 12.2 The adverse events that occurred in greater than 2 percent of the Repatha group were nasopharyngitis (16.8 percent Repatha; 17.8 percent placebo), gastroenteritis (3.0 percent Repatha; 1.0 percent placebo) and pharyngitis (2.5 percent Repatha; 2.5 percent placebo).3 Results from TAUSSIG, a global, open-label, single-arm study in patients with homozygous FH, including patients in Japan, showed Repatha reduced LDL-C by approximately 23 percent.4 The adverse events that occurred in greater than 5 percent of patients were nasopharyngitis (9.0 percent) and influenza (7.0 percent).4
"In Japan, LDL cholesterol levels are not adequately controlled for many patients who are at high risk of cardiovascular events and taking statins, nearly half of whom have not reached their desired LDL cholesterol goal," said Tamio Teramoto, M.D., Ph.D., director of Teikyo Academic Research Center and investigator for the Phase 2 YUKAWA-1 trial. "As the first in a new class of medicines in Japan, Repatha offers physicians an important treatment option for patients who require additional LDL cholesterol reduction."
Elevated LDL-C is an abnormality of cholesterol and/or fats in the blood.5,6 Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited condition caused by genetic mutations which lead to high levels of LDL-C at an early age, and it is estimated that less than 1 percent of people with FH in Japan are diagnosed.7,8 Patients can have either one of two types of FH.7 Heterozygous FH is the more common type of FH and in Japan, occurs in approximately one in 500 individuals.8,9 It can cause LDL-C levels twice as high as normal (e.g., >180 mg/dL).9,10 Individuals with heterozygous FH have one altered copy of a cholesterol-regulating gene.7 Homozygous FH is a rare, more severe form.7 It can cause LDL-C levels more than six times as high as normal (e.g., 500-1,000 mg/dL).7,10 Individuals with homozygous FH have two altered copies of cholesterol-regulating genes (one from each parent).7
Repatha is also approved in the European Union, United States and Canada.
About Repatha® (evolocumab)
Repatha® (evolocumab) is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9).1 Repatha binds to PCSK9 and inhibits circulating PCSK9 from binding to the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR), preventing PCSK9-mediated LDLR degradation and permitting LDLR to recycle back to the liver cell surface. By inhibiting the binding of PCSK9 to LDLR, Repatha increases the number of LDLRs available to clear LDL from the blood, thereby lowering LDL-C levels.2
GLAGOV, the intravascular ultrasound study, is underway to determine the effect of Repatha on coronary atherosclerosis in approximately 950 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization to test the hypothesis of robust LDL-C reduction leading to a reduction or a change in the build-up of plaque in the arteries. Results from the GLAGOV study are expected in the second half of 2016.
The FOURIER outcomes trial is designed to evaluate whether treatment with Repatha in combination with statin therapy, compared to placebo plus statin therapy, reduces the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with high cholesterol and clinically evident cardiovascular disease, and completed patient enrollment in June 2015. Top-line results from the approximately 27,500-patient event-driven FOURIER study are anticipated in the second half of 2016.
Important Japan Product Information
Repatha is indicated for the treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) or hypercholesterolemia who have high risk of cardiovascular events and do not adequately respond to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Precautions Related to Indications in Japan
(1) Prior to Repatha therapy, patients should have a confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia or hypercholesterolemia by going through assessment.
(2) When administering Repatha to patients with non-familial hypercholesterolemia, it should be considered for patients who have high risk of cardiovascular events based on risk factors (e.g., comorbid conditions including coronary artery heart disease, non-cardiogenic stroke, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes and chronic renal disease or medical history). See 'clinical study' section.
Dosage and Administration in Japan
Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Hypercholesterolemia:
For adults, recommend Repatha (genetical recombination) of 140 mg is administrated every 2 weeks or Repatha of 420 mg is administrated every 4 weeks subcutaneously
Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia:
For adults, recommend Repatha (genetical recombination) of 420 mg is administrated every 4 weeks subcutaneously. Repatha of 420 mg every 2 weeks can be administered when the efficacy is not adequate. If Repatha is administered as adjunctive therapy for patients with LDL apheresis, as starting dose, Repatha of 420 mg every 2 weeks can be administered subcutaneously
Precautions Related to Dosage and Administration in Japan
Repatha should be administered as an adjunct to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor therapy [Efficacy and safety of Repatha monotherapy in Japanese patients not confirmed].
For more information, please see the latest Japan Prescribing Information.
Important U.S. Product Information
Repatha® is indicated as an adjunct to diet and:
The effect of Repatha® on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined.
The safety and effectiveness of Repatha® have not been established in pediatric patients with HoFH who are younger than 13 years old.
The safety and effectiveness of Repatha® have not been established in pediatric patients with primary hyperlipidemia or HeFH.
Important U.S. Safety Information
Contraindication: Repatha® is contraindicated in patients with a history of a serious hypersensitivity reaction to Repatha®.
Allergic reactions: Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. rash, urticaria) have been reported in patients treated with Repatha®, including some that led to discontinuation of therapy. If signs or symptoms of serious allergic reactions occur, discontinue treatment with Repatha®, treat according to the standard of care, and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve.
Adverse reactions: The most common adverse reactions (> 5% of Repatha®-treated patients and more common than placebo) were: nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, influenza, back pain, and injection site reactions.
In a 52-week trial, adverse reactions led to discontinuation of treatment in 2.2% of Repatha®-treated patients and 1% of placebo-treated patients. The most common adverse reaction that led to Repatha® treatment discontinuation and occurred at a rate greater than placebo was myalgia (0.3% versus 0% for Repatha® and placebo, respectively).
Adverse reactions from a pool of the 52-week trial and seven 12-week trials:
Local injection site reactions occurred in 3.2% and 3.0% of Repatha®-treated and placebo-treated patients, respectively. The most common injection site reactions were erythema, pain, and bruising. The proportions of patients who discontinued treatment due to local injection site reactions in Repatha®-treated patients and placebo-treated patients were 0.1% and 0%, respectively.
Allergic reactions occurred in 5.1% and 4.7% of Repatha®-treated and placebo-treated patients, respectively. The most common allergic reactions were rash (1.0% versus 0.5% for Repatha® and placebo, respectively), eczema (0.4% versus 0.2%), erythema (0.4% versus 0.2%), and urticaria (0.4% versus 0.1%).
Neurocognitive events were reported in less than or equal to 0.2% in Repatha®-treated and placebo-treated patients.
In a pool of placebo- and active-controlled trials, as well as open-label extension studies that followed them, a total of 1,988 patients treated with Repatha® had at least one LDL-C value < 25 mg/dL. Changes to background lipid-altering therapy were not made in response to low LDL-C values, and Repatha® dosing was not modified or interrupted on this basis. Although adverse consequences of very low LDL-C were not identified in these trials, the long-term effects of very low levels of LDL-C induced by Repatha® are unknown.
Musculoskeletal adverse reactions were reported in 14.3% of Repatha®-treated patients and 12.8% of placebo-treated patients. The most common adverse reactions that occurred at a rate greater than placebo were back pain (3.2% versus 2.9% for Repatha® and placebo, respectively), arthralgia (2.3% versus 2.2%), and myalgia (2.0% versus 1.8%).
Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoFH): In 49 patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia studied in a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 33 patients received 420 mg of Repatha® subcutaneously once monthly. The adverse reactions that occurred in at least 2 (6.1%) Repatha®-treated patients and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients, included upper respiratory tract infection (9.1% versus 6.3%), influenza (9.1% versus 0%), gastroenteritis (6.1% versus 0%), and nasopharyngitis (6.1% versus 0%).
Immunogenicity: Repatha® is a human monoclonal antibody. As with all therapeutic proteins, there is a potential for immunogenicity with Repatha®.
Please contact Amgen Medinfo at 800-77-AMGEN (800-772-6436) or 844-REPATHA (844-737-2842) regarding Repatha® availability or find more information, including full Prescribing Information, at www.amgen.com and www.Repatha.com.
About Amgen Cardiovascular
Building on more than three decades of experience in developing biotechnology medicines for patients with serious illnesses, Amgen is dedicated to addressing important scientific questions to advance care and improve the lives of patients with cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.11 Amgen's research into cardiovascular disease, and potential treatment options, is part of a growing competency at Amgen that utilizes human genetics to identify and validate certain drug targets. Through its own research and development efforts, as well as partnerships, Amgen is building a robust cardiovascular portfolio consisting of several approved and investigational molecules in an effort to address a number of today's important unmet patient needs, such as high cholesterol and heart failure.
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.
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CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Kristen Davis: 805-447-3008 (media)
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References
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