Novartis drug Jakavi(TM) recommended by CHMP for EU approval to treat patients with the life-threatening blood cancer myelofibrosis
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Novartis International AG /
Novartis drug Jakavi(TM) recommended by CHMP for EU approval to treat patients
with the life-threatening blood cancer myelofibrosis
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* Upon approval, Jakavi(TM) (INC424, ruxolitinib) will be the first EU
approved JAK inhibitor developed to treat patients with myelofibrosis, a
rare blood cancer
* Patients with myelofibrosis experience severe symptoms due to overactive
signaling in the JAK pathway, resulting in reduced quality of life and
survival
* Phase III trials show Jakavi produces a rapid, durable and significant
clinical benefit by alleviating the progressive, debilitating disease burden
of myelofibrosis
Basel, April 20, 2012 - The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
(CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion for
Jakavi(TM) (INC424, ruxolitinib) for the treatment of disease-related
splenomegaly or symptoms in adult patients with primary myelofibrosis (also
known as chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis), post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis
or post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis. Globally, there are few
available treatments for myelofibrosis, an uncommon, life-threatening blood
cancer characterized by multiple severe complications such as bone marrow
failure, enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) and shortened survival[1].
"The Committee's positive opinion today validates the strong data in support of
Jakavi and the very high unmet need in treating myelofibrosis," said Hervé
Hoppenot, President, Novartis Oncology. "The recommendation for European
Commission approval of Jakavi also marks a significant step forward in bringing
the first and only JAK 1 and JAK 2 inhibitor to patients with very limited
options. Novartis is committed to advancing novel, targeted treatments for rare
diseases, and we are invested in continuing research to determine other
hematological diseases where Jakavi may address unmet patient needs."
In the European Union (EU), the European Commission generally follows the
recommendations of the CHMP and usually delivers its final decision within three
months of the CHMP recommendation. The decision will be applicable to all 27 EU
member states. The European Commission granted Jakavi orphan drug designation
for myelofibrosis.
The CHMP opinion was based on positive findings from the COMFORT (COntrolled
MyeloFibrosis Study with ORal JAK Inhibitor Therapy) program, which represents
the largest myelofibrosis clinical development program to date. Jakavi directly
targets the underlying mechanism of disease, significantly reducing splenomegaly
and improving symptoms regardless of JAK mutational status, disease subtype or
any prior treatment, including hydroxyurea[2],[3].
In the COMFORT-I trial, 41.9% of Jakavi treated patients achieved at least a
35% reduction in spleen volume at 24 weeks from baseline compared to 0.7% of
patients in the placebo group (p<0.001). An early analysis of COMFORT-I shows
Jakavi treatment resulted in an overall survival benefit as compared to placebo
(hazard ratio=0.50 [95% confidence interval: 0.25, 0.98]). The most frequently
reported grade 3 or higher adverse events were hematologic. One patient in each
group discontinued treatment for thrombocytopenia or for anemia, respectively.
The most common non-hematologic adverse events of any grade reported for
patients receiving Jakavi or placebo respectively were fatigue (25% vs 34%),
diarrhea (23% vs 21%), peripheral edema (19% vs 22%) and ecchymosis (19% vs
9%)(3). COMFORT-I was conducted in the US by Incyte under the worldwide
collaboration and license agreement for INC424 (ruxolitinib).
In COMFORT-II, Jakavi produced a volumetric spleen size reduction of 35% or
greater (roughly equivalent to a reduction in palpable spleen size by 50%) in
28.5% of patients compared to 0% of patients in the best available therapy (BAT)
group at 48 weeks (p<0.001). The BAT is any commercially available agent (such
as monotherapy or in combination) or no therapy at all. At week 24, 32% of
Jakavi patients demonstrated a 35% or greater volumetric spleen size reduction
compared to 0% of patients treated with the BAT (p<0.001) for the key secondary
endpoint. Jakavi was associated with improvements in myelofibrosis symptoms at
each evaluation as compared to the BAT[2].
Continuous Jakavi therapy also provided a marked and durable improvement in
overall quality of life measures, functioning and symptoms, including loss of
appetite, dyspnea (shortness of breath), fatigue, insomnia and pain, at week 48
compared to a worsening of symptoms in BAT-treated patients. For Jakavi, the
most frequently reported adverse event was increased frequency of anemia and
thrombocytopenia. The most frequently reported serious adverse event for Jakavi
was anemia (5%). Pneumonia was reported in 1% of patients taking Jakavi[2].
About Myelofibrosis
In the EU, the disease affects about 0.75 out of every 100,000 people
annually[5],[6]. Myelofibrosis has a poor prognosis and limited treatment
options. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, fever, night sweats, itchy skin, bone
or muscle pain, abdominal pain or discomfort and weight loss[1],[4].
Studies show that patients with myelofibrosis have a decreased life expectancy,
with a median survival of 5.7 years[7]. Although allogeneic stem cell
transplantation may cure myelofibrosis, the procedure is associated with
significant morbidity and transplant-related mortality and is available to less
than 5% of patients who are young and fit enough to undergo the procedure[8].
About Jakavi
Jakavi(TM) (INC424, ruxolitinib) is an oral inhibitor of the JAK 1 and JAK 2
tyrosine kinases[4]. As part of the Novartis clinical development program,
Jakavi is being investigated in primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera
myelofibrosis and post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis. Jakavi is also
being investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of polycythemia vera[9].
Novartis licensed INC424 (ruxolitinib) from Incyte for development and potential
commercialization outside the US. Incyte has retained rights for the development
and commercialization of INC424 (ruxolitinib) in the US. Both the European
Commission and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted INC424
(ruxolitinib) orphan drug status for myelofibrosis. Incyte received FDA approval
for INC424 (ruxolitinib) in November 2011 under the name Jakafi(TM) for the
treatment of patients with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis.
Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified
by terminology such as "recommended," "will," "recommendation," "committed,"
"invested in continuing research," "generally follows," "being investigated,"
"potential," or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions
regarding potential marketing approvals for Jakavi and the timing of any such
approvals, or regarding potential future revenues from Jakavi. You should not
place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements
reflect the current views of management regarding future events, and involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual
results with Jakavi to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can
be no guarantee that Jakavi will be approved for sale in any market, or at any
particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that Jakavi will achieve any
particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's
expectations regarding Jakavi could be affected by, among other things,
unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally;
unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and
unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; government, industry
and general public pricing pressures; unexpected manufacturing issues;
competition in general; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or
other proprietary intellectual property protection; the impact that the
foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group's
assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group's consolidated balance sheet,
and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on
file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these
risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed,
estimated or expected. 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 provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving
needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis
offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines,
eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and
diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the
only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2011, the Group's
continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 58.6 billion, while
approximately USD 9.6 billion (USD 9.2 billion excluding impairment and
amortization charges) was invested in R&D throughout the Group. Novartis Group
companies employ approximately 124,000 full-time-equivalent associates and
operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information,
please visit http://www.novartis.com.
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References
[1] Mesa RA, Schwagera S, Radia D, et al. The Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment
Form (MFSAF): an evidence-based brief inventory to measure quality of life
and symptomatic response to treatment in myelofibrosis. Leuk Res.
2009;33:1199-1203.
[2] Harrison C, Kiladjian JJ, Al-Ali HK, et al. JAK Inhibition with
Ruxolitinib versus Best Available Therapy for Myelofibrosis. New Eng J
Med. 2012: March 1;366:787-98.
[3] Verstovsek S, Mesa RA, Gotlib J, et al. A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled
Trial of Ruxolitinib for Myelofibrosis. New Eng J Med. 2012: March
1;366:799-807.
[4] Verstovsek S, Kantarjian H, Mesa RA, et al. Safety and Efficacy of JAK1 &
JAK2 Inhibitor, INCB018424, in Myelofibrosis. New Eng J Med. 2010
September 16;363:1117-1127.
[5] Girodon F, Bonicelli G, Schaeffer C, et al. Significant increase in the
apparent incidence of essential thrombocythemia related to new WHO
diagnostic criteria: a population-based study. Haematologica.
2009; 94(6):865-869.
[6] McNally RJQ, Rowland D, Roman E, Cartwright RA. Age and sex distributions
of hematological malignancies in the U.K. Hematol Oncol. 1997;15:173-189.
[7] Cervantes F, Dupriez B, Pereira A, et al. New prognostic scoring system
for primary myelofibrosis based on a study of the International Working
Group for Myelofibrosis Research and Treatment. Blood. 2009;113:2895-2901.
[8] Patriarca F, Bacigalupo A, Sperotto A, et al. Allogeneic hematopoietic
stem cell transplantation in myelofibrosis: the 20-year experience of the
Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Midollo Osseo (GITMO). Haematologica.
2008;93(10):1514-1522.
[9] National Institutes of Health. Study of Efficacy and Safety in
Polycythemia Vera Subjects Who Are Resistant to or Intolerant of
Hydroxyurea: JAK Inhibitor INC424 (INCB018424) Tablets Versus Best
Available Care: The RESPONSE Trial. Available at
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01243944?term=ruxolitinib&rank=1
4. Accessed January 31, 2012.
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