FDA Approves Ultomiris

FDA Approves Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz) for Adults with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- December 21, 2018 -- Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz), the first and only long-acting C5 complement inhibitor administered every eight weeks, for the treatment of adult patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a debilitating ultra-rare blood disorder characterized by complement-mediated destruction of the red blood cells (hemolysis). PNH can cause a wide range of debilitating symptoms and complications, including thrombosis, which can occur throughout the body, and result in organ damage and premature death.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

“We are proud to bring Ultomiris to patients suffering from this devastating disease less than a year after reporting our positive Phase 3 data,” said John Orloff, M.D., Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development at Alexion. “Immediate and complete C5 inhibition with Ultomiris, sustained for eight weeks, can provide meaningful benefits for patients and their families. Based on the totality of our compelling data from the largest Phase 3 program ever conducted in PNH, we believe Ultomiris has the potential to become the new standard of care for patients with PNH.”

The approval of Ultomiris comes ahead of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of February 18, 2019, set by the FDA as part of an expedited eight month review following Alexion’s use of a rare disease priority review voucher.

“We applaud the FDA’s approval of Ultomiris. It is important news for patients with PNH and their families,” said Neil Horikoshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (AAMDS) International Foundation. “The introduction of Soliris (eculizumab) eleven years ago transformed the lives of patients with PNH. But the management of this debilitating disease still requires strength and sacrifice from patients and their families. With Ultomiris, patients no longer have to plan their lives around bi-weekly infusions and can look forward to just six or seven infusions a year.”

“Ultomiris is a compelling new therapy for patients with PNH. It has met the high bar for efficacy and safety established by Soliris and has a four times longer dosing interval,” said Ilene Weitz, M.D., Associate Professor at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. “I am particularly pleased by the positive data in patients transitioning from Soliris to Ultomiris without interruption, which is critical when you treat a devastating disease like PNH. This gives me confidence in recommending that patients switch therapy.”

This approval is based on comprehensive results from two Phase 3 studies, which were recently published in Blood.9,10 In these studies, which included 441 patients who had either never been treated with a complement inhibitor before, or who had been stable on Soliris, the efficacy of Ultomiris administered every eight weeks was non-inferior to the efficacy of Soliris administered every two weeks on all 11 endpoints. The safety profile of Ultomiris was similar to that of Soliris. Recently presented additional data showed that Ultomiris provided immediate and complete C5 inhibition that was sustained for eight weeks,11 and that Ultomiris eliminated breakthrough hemolysis associated with incomplete C5 inhibition.12 The entire clinical development program for Ultomiris to date represents more than 600 patient years of experience.

Regulatory authorities in the European Union (EU) and Japan have accepted and are reviewing applications for the approval of Ultomiris as a treatment for adults with PNH. Alexion continues to work with the authorities to enable timely reviews.

Indication

Ultomiris is a prescription medicine called a monoclonal antibody. Ultomiris is used to treat adult patients with a disease called Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH).

Access to Ultomiris

Alexion works with private healthcare organizations, policymakers and governments so that patients with rare diseases have access to the therapies they need. As part of our commitment to patients with PNH in the U.S., Alexion offers OneSource™, a personalized program that provides education, assistance with access and treatment support for patients and their caregivers. We recognize, however, that access to medicines can be challenging and are committed to supporting programs that enable eligible patients to receive our therapies.

About Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a chronic, progressive, debilitating and life-threatening ultra-rare blood disorder characterized by hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) that is mediated by an uncontrolled activation of the complement system, a component of the body’s immune system.1,2,13PNH can strike men and women of all races, backgrounds and ages without warning, with an average age of onset in the early 30s.1,14 PNH often goes unrecognized, with delays in diagnosis ranging from one to more than five years.15 Patients with PNH may experience a wide range of signs and symptoms, such as fatigue, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, erectile dysfunction, dark-colored urine and anemia.3,4,5,6,7,8,13 The most devastating consequence of chronic hemolysis is thrombosis, which can occur in blood vessels throughout the body, damage vital organs and cause premature death.16 The first thrombotic event can be fatal.1,14,17 Despite historical supportive care, including transfusion and anticoagulation management, 20 to 35 percent of patients with PNH die within five to 10 years of diagnosis.18,19 Patients with certain types of hemolytic anemia, bone marrow disorders and unexplained venous or arterial thrombosis are at increased risk of PNH.13,20,21,22,23,24

About Ultomiris™

Ultomiris™ (ravulizumab-cwvz) is the first and only long-acting C5 inhibitor administered every eight weeks that works by inhibiting the C5 protein in the terminal complement cascade, a part of the body’s immune system that, when activated in an uncontrolled manner, plays a role in severe ultra-rare disorders like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), and anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MG). Ultomiris is approved in the U.S. as a treatment for adults with PNH. Regulatory authorities in the European Union (EU) and Japan have accepted and are reviewing applications for the approval of Ultomiris as a treatment for adults with PNH. In Phase 3 clinical studies in complement inhibitor-naïve patients with PNH,9 and patients with PNH who had been stable on Soliris (eculizumab),10 intravenous treatment with Ultomiris every eight weeks demonstrated non-inferiority to intravenous treatment with Soliris every two weeks on all 11 endpoints. Ultomiris is also currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical study in complement inhibitor-naïve patients with aHUS, administered intravenously every eight weeks. In addition, Alexion plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical study of Ultomiris delivered subcutaneously once per week as a potential treatment for patients with PNH and aHUS. Alexion is also planning to initiate the development of Ultomiris, intravenously administered every eight weeks, as a potential treatment for patients with generalized MG (gMG).

Ultomiris has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the treatment of patients with PNH in the U.S. and EU, and for the subcutaneous treatment of patients with aHUS in the U.S.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Ultomiris, including Boxed WARNING regarding serious and life-threatening meningococcal infections/sepsis.

Important Ultomiris Safety Information

Ultomiris is a prescription medicine called a monoclonal antibody. Ultomiris is used to treat adults with a disease called Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH). It is not known if Ultomiris is safe and effective in children.

Ultomiris is a medicine that affects the immune system. Ultomiris can lower the ability of the immune system to fight infections. Ultomiris increases the chance of getting serious and life-threatening meningococcal infections. Meningococcal infections may quickly become life-threatening and cause death if not recognized and treated early.

Meningococcal vaccines must be received at least 2 weeks before the first dose of Ultomiris if one has not already had this vaccine. If one’s doctor decided that urgent treatment with Ultomiris is needed, meningococcal vaccination should be administered as soon as possible. If one has not been vaccinated and Ultomiris therapy must be initiated immediately, 2 weeks of antibiotics should also be administered with the vaccinations. If one had a meningococcal vaccine in the past, additional vaccination might be needed before starting Ultomiris. Call one’s doctor or get emergency medical care right away if any of these signs and symptoms of a meningococcal infection occur: headache with nausea or vomiting, headache with a stiff neck or stiff back, fever and a rash, muscle aches with flu-like symptoms, headache and fever, fever, confusion, and eyes sensitive to light.

Ultomiris is only available through a program called the Ultomiris REMS.

Ultomiris may also increase the risk of other types of serious infections. People who take Ultomiris may have an increased risk of getting infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Certain people may also have an increased risk of gonorrhea infection. To find out if one is at risk for gonorrhea infection, about gonorrhea prevention, and regular testing, talk to the healthcare provider. Call the healthcare provider right away if one has any new signs or symptoms of infection.

Before one receives Ultomiris, tell the doctor about all of the medical conditions, including if one: has an infection or fever, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, and are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Ultomiris will harm an unborn baby. It is not known if Ultomiris passes into the breast milk. One should not breast feed during treatment and for 8 months after one’s final dose of Ultomiris.

Tell the doctor about all the medicines one takes, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Ultomiris and other medicines can affect each other causing side effects. Know the medications one takes and the vaccines one receives. Keep a list of them to show the doctor and pharmacist when one gets a new medicine.

If one stops receiving Ultomiris, the doctor will need to monitor closely for at least 16 weeks after one stops Ultomiris. Stopping Ultomiris may cause breakdown of the red blood cells due to PNH. Symptoms or problems that can happen due to red blood cell breakdown include: drop in the number of the red blood cell count, tiredness, blood in the urine, stomach-area (abdomen) pain, blood clots, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, and erectile dysfunction (ED) in males.

Ultomiris can cause serious side effects including infusion reactions. Infusion reactions may happen during one’s Ultomiris infusion. Symptoms of an infusion reaction with Ultomiris may include lower back pain, pain with the infusion, or feeling faint. Tell the doctor or nurse right away if these symptoms develop, or any other symptoms during the Ultomiris infusion that may mean one is having a serious infusion reaction, including: chest pain, trouble breathing or shortness of breath, swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, and feel faint or pass out. One’s doctor will treat the symptoms as needed. The most common side effects of Ultomiris are upper respiratory infection and headache.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Ultomiris, including Boxed WARNING regarding serious and life-threatening meningococcal infections/sepsis.