Novartis presents pivotal Phase III APPLY-PNH data at ASH demonstrating investigational oral monotherapy iptacopan superiority over anti-C5

• Trial met both primary and most secondary endpoints, showing iptacopan provided transfusion-free hemoglobin-level increases in vast majority of adult paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patients with residual anemia despite prior anti-C5 therapy¹
• Iptacopan demonstrated an 80% difference to anti-C5 in the estimated proportion of patients* achieving 2 g/dL or more hemoglobin-level increases from baseline without the need for red blood cell transfusions¹
• Iptacopan demonstrated a 67% difference to anti-C5 in the estimated proportion of patients* achieving 12 g/dL or more hemoglobin levels without the need for red blood cell transfusions¹
• Iptacopan also provided blood-transfusion independence for almost all patients with no serious cases of breakthrough hemolysis (BTH) and clinically meaningful patient-reported-fatigue improvements¹
• Recently announced positive APPOINT-PNH Phase III study in complement-inhibitor-naïve patients adds to growing body of evidence for iptacopan in PNH²

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Dec. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis today announced detailed results from the pivotal Phase III APPLY-PNH trial¹. The results showed a vast majority of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) who received the investigational oral monotherapy iptacopan achieved clinically meaningful increases in hemoglobin levels compared to anti-C5 therapy¹. The study met both primary endpoints and most secondary endpoints, with iptacopan demonstrating superiority over anti-C5 therapy in adult patients with PNH experiencing residual anemia despite prior treatment with anti-C5 therapy¹.

In the study, the safety profile of iptacopan monotherapy was consistent with previously reported data, with no serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria^1,3,4. The results, from the APPLY-PNH 24-week randomized treatment period, were featured as an oral presentation during the late-breaking abstract session and in a press briefing at the 64^th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition (ASH).

"More than half of patients with PNH experience residual anemia despite treatment with anti-C5 therapy and many remain dependent on blood transfusions during treatment, largely due to unaddressed destruction of red blood cells in the spleen and the liver – called extravascular hemolysis," said study principal co-investigator Prof Régis Peffault de Latour, MD, PhD of Saint-Louis Hospital, Greater Paris University Hospital. "The Phase III APPLY-PNH results show oral iptacopan was superior in resolving extravascular hemolysis and maintaining intravascular hemolysis control compared to intravenous anti-C5 therapies – a potentially groundbreaking benefit for those living with this chronic blood disorder."

The study met both primary endpoints, showing superiority for iptacopan vs. anti-C5¹. For the first, an estimated 82.3%* (95% CI: 73.4, 90.2) of iptacopan-treated patients achieved hemoglobin-level increases of 2 g/dL or more from baseline without the need for red blood cell transfusions, compared to an estimated 2.0%* (95% CI: 1.1, 4.1) of anti-C5-treated patients: an estimated 80.3%* (95% CI: 71.3, 87.6; P<0.0001) difference in favor of iptacopan¹. The observed number of patients achieving this primary endpoint was 51/60^# for iptacopan vs. 0/35 for anti-C5¹.

For the second primary endpoint, an estimated 68.8%* (95% CI: 58.3, 78.9) of iptacopan-treated patients achieved hemoglobin levels of 12 g/dL or more without the need for blood transfusions, compared to an estimated 1.8%* (95% CI: 0.9, 4.0) of anti-C5-treated patients: an estimated 67.0%* (95% CI: 56.3, 76.9; P<0.0001) difference in favor of iptacopan¹. The observed number of patients achieving this primary endpoint was 42/60^# for iptacopan vs. 0/35 for anti-C5¹.

"Nearly every patient treated with iptacopan – 60 out of 62 – remained blood-transfusion free after six months of treatment, compared to only 14 out of 35 anti-C5-treated patients – a potentially practice-changing outcome for people with PNH," stated study principal co-investigator Antonio Risitano, M.D., Ph.D., President of the International PNH Interest Group and Head of the Hematology and Hematopoietic Transplant Unit, Reference Center for Aplastic Anemia and Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria at the AORN San Giuseppe Moscati, Avellino, Italy. "This outcome, along with the exceptional hemoglobin-level increases of at least 2 g/dL in 51 out of 60 patients, suggests that, if approved, iptacopan could transform treatment and outcomes for patients with PNH."

"With combined Phase III APPLY-PNH and recently announced positive Phase III APPOINT-PNH results, Novartis has a comprehensive data package to support a 2023 regulatory submission, with the possibility of iptacopan becoming the first oral monotherapy for patients with PNH," said David Soergel, M.D., Global Head, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism Development Unit, Novartis.

Iptacopan also showed superiority over anti-C5 therapy across most secondary endpoints, including change from baseline in hemoglobin levels, blood-transfusion independence, patient-reported fatigue (as measured by Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue [FACIT-F] scores), absolute reticulocyte (immature red blood cells) counts (ARC), and rate of clinical BTH¹.

Iptacopan-treated patients achieved a 3.59 (95% CI: 3.32, 3.86) g/dL adjusted average increase in hemoglobin levels from baseline, compared to a 0.04 (95% CI: -0.42, 0.35) g/dL decrease for anti-C5-treated patients: a 3.63 (95% CI: 3.18, 4.08; P<0.0001) g/dL difference in favor of iptacopan¹. Average hemoglobin levels irrespective of blood transfusions for iptacopan-treated patients were 12.6 (standard deviation [SD]: 1.4) g/dL, compared to 9.2 (SD: 1.4) g/dL for anti-C5-treated patients¹.

In the six months prior to randomization, 57.7% of patients had received blood transfusions¹. After 24 weeks of treatment, an estimated 96.4%* (95% CI: 90.7, 100.0) of iptacopan-treated patients remained blood-transfusion free, compared to an estimated 26.1%* (95% CI: 12.4, 42.7) of anti-C5-treated patients: an estimated 70.3%* (95% CI: 52.6, 76.9; P<0.0001) difference in favor of iptacopan¹. The observed number of patients achieving this endpoint was 60/62 for iptacopan vs. 14/35 for anti-C5¹. Iptacopan-treated patients achieved an 8.59 (95% CI: 6.72, 10.47) point adjusted average increase in FACIT-F score from baseline, compared to a 0.31 (95% CI: -2.20, 2.81) point increase for anti-C5-treated patients: an 8.29 (95% CI: 5.28, 11.29; P<0.0001) point difference in favor of iptacopan¹.

There was no significant difference between iptacopan monotherapy and anti-C5 for rate of major adverse vascular events or change from baseline in lactate dehydrogenase levels – with the latter showing maintenance of intravascular hemolysis control¹.

The most commonly reported adverse events (AEs) with iptacopan were headache (iptacopan: 16.1%; anti-C5: 2.9%) and diarrhea (iptacopan: 14.5%; anti-C5: 5.7%), while the most commonly reported AEs with anti-C5s were COVID-19 (anti-C5: 25.7%; iptacopan: 8.1%) and clinical BTH events (anti-C5: 17.1%; iptacopan: 3.2%)¹. Two anti-C5-treated patients had serious AEs of hemolysis, compared with no iptacopan-treated patients¹. No patients discontinued iptacopan or anti-C5s because of AEs¹.

Separately, Novartis recently announced the Phase III APPOINT-PNH trial was positive, with iptacopan providing clinically meaningful increases in hemoglobin levels in complement-inhibitor-naïve patients with PNH^2,5. Data from APPLY-PNH and APPOINT-PNH will be included as part of global regulatory submissions in 2023.

Following presentation of the APPLY-PNH data at ASH, Novartis will host an investor conference call on December 13, 2022 at 18:30 CET / 12:30 ET. A simultaneous webcast may be accessed by visiting the Novartis website at https://www.novartis.com/investors/event-calendar, and a replay will be available after the call.

*These estimated proportions of patients are marginal proportions, calculated using a pre-specified logistic regression model (this also applies for the differences in marginal proportions and 95% CIs)¹. Marginal proportions reflect the population average probability of a patient meeting the endpoint criteria¹. The values are adjusted for baseline covariates and missing data have been imputed¹.  
^#Evaluable/non-missing data was available for 60 iptacopan-treated patients (out of the total 62 iptacopan-treated patients in the trial)¹.

About the study
APPLY-PNH (NCT04558918) is a Phase III, randomized, multinational, multicenter, active-comparator controlled, open-label trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of twice-daily, oral iptacopan monotherapy (200 mg) for the treatment of PNH by demonstrating the superiority of iptacopan compared to anti-C5 therapies (eculizumab or ravulizumab) in adult patients presenting with residual anemia (Hb <10 g/dl) despite a stable regimen of anti-C5 treatment in the last six months prior to randomization^1,6.

About paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) 
PNH is a rare, chronic, and serious complement-mediated blood disorder⁷. People with PNH have an acquired mutation in some of their hematopoietic stem cells (which are located in the bone marrow and can grow and develop into red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells and platelets) that causes them to produce RBCs that are susceptible to premature destruction by the complement system^7,8. This leads to intravascular hemolysis (destruction of RBCs within blood vessels) and extravascular hemolysis (destruction of RBCs mostly in the spleen and liver), which cause anemia (low levels of circulating RBCs), thrombosis (formation of blood clots), fatigue, and other debilitating symptoms that can impact people's quality of life^7,8.

It is estimated that approx. 10-20 people per million worldwide live with PNH⁷. Although PNH can develop at any age, it is often diagnosed in people between 30-40 years old^9,10.

PNH has a significant unmet need not addressed by anti-C5 therapies (eculizumab or ravulizumab): despite treatment with anti-C5s, a large proportion of people with PNH remain anemic, fatigued, and dependent on blood transfusions^7,8,11,12.

About iptacopan
Iptacopan is an investigational first-in-class, orally administered targeted factor B inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway^1,3,4,13. It acts upstream of the C5 terminal pathway, preventing not only intravascular but also extravascular hemolysis in PNH^1,3,4,13. In doing so, iptacopan targets a key part of the biology responsible for PNH while offering an oral monotherapy option^1,3,4,13.

Discovered at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, iptacopan is currently in development for a number of other complement-mediated diseases (CMDs) where significant unmet needs exist, including kidney diseases C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), membranous nephropathy (MN), lupus nephritis (LN), and blood disorders immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and cold agglutinin disease (CAD). First results for Phase III trials in C3G (APPEAR-C3G) and IgAN (APPLAUSE-IgAN) are expected in 2023^14,15.

Based on disease prevalence, unmet needs and data from Phase II studies, iptacopan has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation in PNH, orphan drug designations from the FDA and EMA in PNH and C3G, EMA PRIME designation for C3G, and EMA orphan drug designation in IgAN^16-19.

Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "may," "could," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "seek," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis
Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. We deliver high-value medicines that alleviate society's greatest disease burdens through technology leadership in R&D and novel access approaches. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. About 108,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work together to bring Novartis products to nearly 800 million people around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com

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References

1. Peffault de Latour R, Röth A, Kulasekararaj A, et al. Oral Monotherapy with Iptacopan, a Proximal Complement Inhibitor of Factor B, Has Superior Efficacy to Intravenous Terminal Complement Inhibition with Standard of Care Eculizumab or Ravulizumab and Favorable Safety in Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria and Residual Anemia: Results from the Randomized, Active-Comparator-Controlled, Open-Label, Multicenter, Phase III APPLY-PNH Study. Presented at: 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition (ASH); December 10-13, 2022; New Orleans, LA
2. Novartis investigational iptacopan provides clinically meaningful increases in hemoglobin levels in complement-inhibitor-naïve patients with PNH. Novartis. Accessed December 08, 2022. https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-investigational-iptacopan-provides-clinically-meaningful-increases-hemoglobin-levels-complement-inhibitor-naive-patients-pnh
3. Risitano AM, Röth A, Soret J, et al. Addition of iptacopan, an oral factor B inhibitor, to eculizumab in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and active haemolysis: an open-label, single-arm, phase 2, proof-of-concept trial. Lancet Haematol. 2021;8(5):e344-e354. doi:10.1016/S2352-3026(21)00028-4
4. Jang JH, Wong L, Ko BS, et al. Iptacopan monotherapy in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a 2-cohort open-label proof-of-concept study. Blood Adv. 2022;6(15):4450-4460. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2022006960
5. Novartis Pharmaceuticals. A Multicenter, Single-Arm, Open-Label Trial to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Oral, Twice Daily Iptacopan in Adult PNH Patients Who Are Naive to Complement Inhibitor Therapy. clinicaltrials.gov; 2022. Accessed September 21, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04820530
6. Novartis Pharmaceuticals. A Randomized, Multicenter, Active-Comparator Controlled, Open-Label Trial to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Oral, Twice Daily LNP023 in Adult Patients With PNH and Residual Anemia, Despite Treatment With an Intravenous Anti-C5 Antibody. clinicaltrials.gov; 2022. Accessed September 21, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04558918
7. Cançado RD, Araújo A da S, Sandes AF, et al. Consensus statement for diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther. 2021;43(3):341-348. doi:10.1016/j.htct.2020.06.006
8. Dingli D, Matos JE, Lehrhaupt K, et al. The burden of illness in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria receiving treatment with the C5-inhibitors eculizumab or ravulizumab: results from a US patient survey. Ann Hematol. 2022;101(2):251-263. doi:10.1007/s00277-021-04715-5
9. Hill A, DeZern AE, Kinoshita T, Brodsky RA. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Nat Rev Dis Primer. 2017;3(1):17028. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.28
10. Schrezenmeier H, Röth A, Araten DJ, et al. Baseline clinical characteristics and disease burden in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH): updated analysis from the International PNH Registry. Ann Hematol. 2020;99(7):1505-1514. doi:10.1007/s00277-020-04052-z
11. Debureaux PE, Kulasekararaj AG, Cacace F, et al. Categorizing hematological response to eculizumab in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a multicenter real-life study. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2021;56(10):2600-2602. doi:10.1038/s41409-021-01372-0
12. Debureaux PE, Cacace F, Silva BGP, et al. Hematological Response to Eculizumab in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: Application of a Novel Classification to Identify Unmet Clinical Needs and Future Clinical Goals. Blood. 2019;134(Supplement_1):3517-3517. doi:10.1182/blood-2019-125917
13. Schubart A, Anderson K, Mainolfi N, et al. Small-molecule factor B inhibitor for the treatment of complement-mediated diseases. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2019;116(16):7926-7931. doi:10.1073/pnas.1820892116
14. Novartis Pharmaceuticals. A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Iptacopan (LNP023) in Complement 3 Glomerulopathy. clinicaltrials.gov; 2022. Accessed September 20, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04817618
15. Novartis Pharmaceuticals. A Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group, Phase III Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of LNP023 in Primary IgA Nephropathy Patients. clinicaltrials.gov; 2022. Accessed September 21, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04578834  
16. Novartis investigational oral therapy iptacopan (LNP023) receives FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for PNH and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for C3G. Novartis. Accessed September 22, 2022. https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-investigational-oral-therapy-iptacopan-lnp023-receives-fda-breakthrough-therapy-designation-pnh-and-rare-pediatric-disease-designation-c3g  
17. Novartis data on file.
18. Novartis announces European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted orphan drug designation for iptacopan (LNP023) in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Novartis. Accessed September 22, 2022. https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-announces-european-medicines-agency-ema-has-granted-orphan-drug-designation-iptacopan-lnp023-iga-nephropathy-igan
19. Novartis received European Medicines Agency (EMA) PRIME designation for iptacopan (LNP) in C3 glomerulopathy (C3G). Novartis. Accessed September 22, 2022. https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-received-european-medicines-agency-ema-prime-designation-iptacopan-lnp-c3-glomerulopathy-c3g

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SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation