All about Drugs, live, by DR ANTHONY MELVIN CRASTO, Worlddrugtracker, OPEN SUPERSTAR Helping millions, 10 million hits on google, pushing boundaries,2.5 lakh plus connections worldwide, 32 lakh plus VIEWS on this blog in 224 countries, 7 CONTINENTS The views expressed are my personal and in no-way suggest the views of the professional body or the company that I represent, USE CTRL AND+ KEY TO ENLARGE BLOG VIEW……………………A 90 % paralysed man in action for you, I am suffering from transverse mylitis and bound to a wheel chair, With death on the horizon, I have lot to acheive
DR ANTHONY MELVIN CRASTO, Born in Mumbai in 1964 and graduated from Mumbai University, Completed his Ph.D from ICT, 1991,Matunga, Mumbai, India, in Organic Chemistry, The thesis topic was Synthesis of Novel Pyrethroid Analogues, Currently he is working with GLENMARK LIFE SCIENCES LTD, Research Centre as Principal Scientist, Process Research (bulk actives) at Mahape, Navi Mumbai, India. Total Industry exp 30 plus yrs, Prior to joining Glenmark, he has worked with major multinationals like Hoechst Marion Roussel, now Sanofi, Searle India Ltd, now RPG lifesciences, etc. He has worked with notable scientists like Dr K Nagarajan, Dr Ralph Stapel, Prof S Seshadri, Dr T.V. Radhakrishnan and Dr B. K. Kulkarni, etc, He did custom synthesis for major multinationals in his career like BASF, Novartis, Sanofi, etc., He has worked in Discovery, Natural products, Bulk drugs, Generics, Intermediates, Fine chemicals, Neutraceuticals, GMP, Scaleups, etc, he is now helping millions, has 9 million plus hits on Google on all Organic chemistry websites. His friends call him Open superstar worlddrugtracker. His New Drug Approvals, Green Chemistry International, All about drugs, Eurekamoments, Organic spectroscopy international,
etc in organic chemistry are some most read blogs He has hands on experience in initiation and developing novel routes for drug molecules
and implementation them on commercial scale over a 30 PLUS year tenure till date June 2021, Around 35 plus products in his career. He has good knowledge of IPM, GMP, Regulatory aspects, he has several International patents published worldwide . He has good proficiency in Technology transfer, Spectroscopy, Stereochemistry, Synthesis, Polymorphism etc., He suffered a paralytic stroke/ Acute Transverse mylitis in Dec 2007 and is 90 %Paralysed, He is bound to a wheelchair, this seems to have injected feul in him to help chemists all around the world, he is more active than before and is pushing boundaries, He has 9 million plus hits on Google, 2.5 lakh plus connections on all networking sites, 90 Lakh plus views on dozen plus blogs, 233 countries, 7 continents, He makes himself available to all, contact him on +91 9323115463, email amcrasto@gmail.com, Twitter, @amcrasto , He lives and will die for his family, 90% paralysis cannot kill his soul., Notably he has 33 lakh plus views on New Drug Approvals Blog in 233 countries......https://newdrugapprovals.wordpress.com/ , He appreciates the help he gets from one and all, Friends, Family, Glenmark, Readers, Wellwishers, Doctors, Drug authorities, His Contacts, Physiotherapist, etc
Tralokinumab is a human monoclonal antibody which targets the cytokine interleukin 13,[1] and is designed for the treatment of asthma and other inflammatory diseases.[2] Tralokinumab was discovered by Cambridge Antibody Technology scientists, using Ribosome Display, as CAT-354[3] and taken through pre-clinical and early clinical development.[4] After 2007 it has been developed by MedImmune, a member of the AstraZeneca group, where it is currently in Ph3 testing for asthma and Ph2b testing for atopic dermatitis.[5][6] This makes it one of the few fully internally discovered and developed drug candidates in AstraZeneca’s late stage development pipeline.
Discovery and development
Tralokinumab (CAT-354) was discovered by Cambridge Antibody Technology scientists[7] using protein optimization based on Ribosome Display.[8] They used the extensive data sets from ribosome display to patent protect CAT-354 in a world-first of sequence-activity-relationship claims.[7] In 2004, clinical development of CAT-354 was initiated with this first study completing in 2005.[9] On 21 July 2011, MedImmune LLC initiated a Ph2b, randomized, double-blind study to evaluate the efficacy of tralokinumab in adults with asthma.[10]
In 2016, MedImmune and AstraZeneca were developing tralokinumab for asthma (Ph3) and atopic dermatitis (Ph2b) while clinical development for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have been discontinued.[9] In July of that year AstraZeneca licensed Tralokinumab to LEO Pharma for skin diseases.[11]
A phase IIb study of Tralokinumab found that treatment was associated with early and sustained improvements in atopic dermatitis symptoms and tralokinumab had an acceptable safety and tolerability profile, thereby providing evidence for targeting IL-13 in patients with atopic dermatitis.[12]
On 15 June 2017, Leo Pharma announced that they were starting phase III clinical trials with tralokinumab in atopic dermatitis.[13]
Society and culture
Legal status
On 22 April 2021, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for the medicinal product Adtralza, intended for the treatment of moderate‑to‑severe atopic dermatitis.[14]
The applicant for this medicinal product is LEO Pharma A/S.
References
^ Kopf M, Bachmann MF, Marsland BJ (September 2010). “Averting inflammation by targeting the cytokine environment”. Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery. 9 (9): 703–18. doi:10.1038/nrd2805. PMID20811382. S2CID23769909.
^ Clinical trial number NCT01402986 for “A Phase 2b, Randomized, Double-blind Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Tralokinumab in Adults With Asthma” at ClinicalTrials.gov
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for casirivimab and imdevimab to be administered together for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older weighing at least 40 kilograms [about 88 pounds]) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing and who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19. This includes those who are 65 years of age or older or who have certain chronic medical conditions.
In a clinical trial of patients with COVID-19, casirivimab and imdevimab, administered together, were shown to reduce COVID-19-related hospitalization or emergency room visits in patients at high risk for disease progression within 28 days after treatment when compared to placebo. The safety and effectiveness of this investigational therapy for use in the treatment of COVID-19 continues to be evaluated.
Casirivimab and imdevimab must be administered together by intravenous (IV) infusion.
Casirivimab and imdevimab are not authorized for patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 or require oxygen therapy due to COVID-19. A benefit of casirivimab and imdevimab treatment has not been shown in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies, such as casirivimab and imdevimab, may be associated with worse clinical outcomes when administered to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 requiring high flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation.
“The FDA remains committed to advancing the nation’s public health during this unprecedented pandemic. Authorizing these monoclonal antibody therapies may help outpatients avoid hospitalization and alleviate the burden on our health care system,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “As part of our Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program, the FDA uses every possible pathway to make new treatments available to patients as quickly as possible while continuing to study the safety and effectiveness of these treatments.”
Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses. Casirivimab and imdevimab are monoclonal antibodies that are specifically directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, designed to block the virus’ attachment and entry into human cells.
“The emergency authorization of these monoclonal antibodies administered together offers health care providers another tool in combating the pandemic,” said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We will continue to facilitate the development, evaluation and availability of COVID-19 therapies.”
The issuance of an EUA is different than an FDA approval. In determining whether to issue an EUA, the FDA evaluates the totality of available scientific evidence and carefully balances any known or potential risks with any known or potential benefits of the product for use during an emergency. Based on the FDA’s review of the totality of the scientific evidence available, the agency has determined that it is reasonable to believe that casirivimab and imdevimab administered together may be effective in treating patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. When used to treat COVID-19 for the authorized population, the known and potential benefits of these antibodies outweigh the known and potential risks. There are no adequate, approved and available alternative treatments to casirivimab and imdevimab administered together for the authorized population.
The data supporting this EUA for casirivimab and imdevimab are based on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 799 non-hospitalized adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Of these patients, 266 received a single intravenous infusion of 2,400 milligrams casirivimab and imdevimab (1,200 mg of each), 267 received 8,000 mg casirivimab and imdevimab (4,000 mg of each), and 266 received a placebo, within three days of obtaining a positive SARS-CoV-2 viral test.
The prespecified primary endpoint for the trial was time-weighted average change in viral load from baseline. Viral load reduction in patients treated with casirivimab and imdevimab was larger than in patients treated with placebo at day seven. However, the most important evidence that casirivimab and imdevimab administered together may be effective came from the predefined secondary endpoint of medically attended visits related to COVID-19, particularly hospitalizations and emergency room visits within 28 days after treatment. For patients at high risk for disease progression, hospitalizations and emergency room visits occurred in 3% of casirivimab and imdevimab-treated patients on average compared to 9% in placebo-treated patients. The effects on viral load, reduction in hospitalizations and ER visits were similar in patients receiving either of the two casirivimab and imdevimab doses.
Under the EUA, fact sheets that provide important information about using casirivimab and imdevimab administered together in treating COVID-19 as authorized must be made available to health care providers and to patients and caregivers. These fact sheets include dosing instructions, potential side effects and drug interactions. Possible side effects of casirivimab and imdevimab include: anaphylaxis and infusion-related reactions, fever, chills, hives, itching and flushing.
The EUA was issued to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
In a clinical trial of people with COVID-19, casirivimab and imdevimab, administered together, were shown to reduce COVID-19-related hospitalization or emergency room visits in people at high risk for disease progression within 28 days after treatment when compared to placebo.[2] The safety and effectiveness of this investigational therapy for use in the treatment of COVID-19 continues to be evaluated.[2]
The data supporting the emergency use authorization (EUA) for casirivimab and imdevimab are based on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 799 non-hospitalized adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.[2] Of these participants, 266 received a single intravenous infusion of 2,400 milligrams casirivimab and imdevimab (1,200 mg of each), 267 received 8,000 mg casirivimab and imdevimab (4,000 mg of each), and 266 received a placebo, within three days of obtaining a positive SARS-CoV-2 viral test.[2]
The prespecified primary endpoint for the trial was time-weighted average change in viral load from baseline.[2] Viral load reduction in participants treated with casirivimab and imdevimab was larger than in participants treated with placebo at day seven.[2] However, the most important evidence that casirivimab and imdevimab administered together may be effective came from the predefined secondary endpoint of medically attended visits related to COVID-19, particularly hospitalizations and emergency room visits within 28 days after treatment.[2] For participants at high risk for disease progression, hospitalizations and emergency room visits occurred in 3% of casirivimab and imdevimab-treated participants on average compared to 9% in placebo-treated participants.[2] The effects on viral load, reduction in hospitalizations and ER visits were similar in participants receiving either of the two casirivimab and imdevimab doses.[2]
As of September 2020, REGEN-COV is being evaluated as part of the RECOVERY Trial.[8]
On 12 April 2021, Roche and Regeneron announced that the Phase III clinical trial REGN-COV 2069 met both primary and secondary endpoints, reducing risk of infection by 81% for the non-infected patients, and reducing time-to-resolution of symptoms for symptomatic patients to one week vs. three weeks in the placebo group.[9]
Authorization
On 21 November 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for casirivimab and imdevimab to be administered together for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in people twelve years of age or older weighing at least 40 kilograms (88 lb) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing and who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19.[2][10][11] This includes those who are 65 years of age or older or who have certain chronic medical conditions.[2] Casirivimab and imdevimab must be administered together by intravenous (IV) infusion.[2]
Casirivimab and imdevimab are not authorized for people who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 or require oxygen therapy due to COVID-19.[2] A benefit of casirivimab and imdevimab treatment has not been shown in people hospitalized due to COVID-19.[2] Monoclonal antibodies, such as casirivimab and imdevimab, may be associated with worse clinical outcomes when administered to hospitalized people with COVID-19 requiring high flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation.[2]
The EUA was issued to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.[2][10][12]
On 1 February 2021, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) started a rolling review of data on the REGN‑COV2 antibody combination (casirivimab/imdevimab), which is being co-developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and F. Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd (Roche) for the treatment and prevention of COVID‑19.[13][14] In February 2021, the CHMP concluded that the combination, also known as REGN-COV2, can be used for the treatment of confirmed COVID-19 in people who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19.[15]
The Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) in India, on 5 May 2021, granted an Emergency Use Authorisation to Roche (Genentech)[16] and Regeneron[17] for use of the casirivimab/imdevimab cocktail in the country. The announcement came in light of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Roche India maintains partnership with Cipla, thereby permitting the latter to market the drug in the country.[18]
Deployment
Although Regeneron is headquartered in Tarrytown, New York (near New York City), REGEN-COV is manufactured at the company’s primary U.S. manufacturing facility in Rensselaer, New York (near the state capital at Albany).[19] In September 2020, to free up manufacturing capacity for REGEN-COV, Regeneron began to shift production of its existing products from Rensselaer to the Irish city of Limerick.[20]
Regeneron has a deal in place with Roche (Genentech)[21]to manufacture and market REGEN-COV outside the United States.[10][22]
On 2 October 2020, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced that US President Donald Trump had received “a single 8 gram dose of REGN-COV2” after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.[23][24] The drug was provided by the company in response to a “compassionate use” (temporary authorization for use) request from the president’s physicians.[23]
Sacituzumab Govitecan is an antibody drug conjugate containing the humanized monoclonal antibody, hRS7, against tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TACSTD2 or TROP2) and linked to the active metabolite of irinotecan, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38), with potential antineoplastic activity. The antibody moiety of sacituzumab govitecan selectively binds to TROP2. After internalization and proteolytic cleavage, SN-38 selectively stabilizes topoisomerase I-DNA covalent complexes, resulting in DNA breaks that inhibit DNA replication and trigger apoptosis. TROP2, also known as epithelial glycoprotein-1 (EGP-1), is a transmembrane calcium signal transducer that is overexpressed by a variety of human epithelial carcinomas; this antigen is involved in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion and its expression is associated with increased cancer growth, aggressiveness and metastasis.
FDA Approves Trodelvy®, the First Treatment for Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Shown to Improve Progression-Free Survival and Overall Survival
– Trodelvy Significantly Reduced the Risk of Death by 49% Compared with Single-Agent Chemotherapy in the Phase 3 ASCENT Study –
– Trodelvy is Under Regulatory Review in the EU and in the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and Australia as Part of Project Orbis–April 07, 2021 07:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time
FOSTER CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) for adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease. The approval is supported by data from the Phase 3 ASCENT study, in which Trodelvy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 57% reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival (PFS)), extending median PFS to 4.8 months from 1.7 months with chemotherapy (HR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.35-0.54; p<0.0001). Trodelvy also extended median overall survival (OS) to 11.8 months vs. 6.9 months (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.41-0.62; p<0.0001), representing a 49% reduction in the risk of death.
Trodelvy is directed to the Trop-2 receptor, a protein frequently expressed in multiple types of epithelial tumors, including TNBC, where high expression is associated with poor survival and relapse. Prior to the FDA approval of Trodelvy, patients with previously treated metastatic TNBC had few treatment options in this high unmet-need setting. The FDA granted accelerated approval to Trodelvy in April 2020 based on objective response rate and duration of response results in a Phase 1/2 study. Today’s approval expands the previous Trodelvy indication to include treatment in adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease.
“Women with triple-negative breast cancer have historically had very few effective treatment options and faced a poor prognosis,” said Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, Director of Breast Cancer Research Program, Mass General Cancer Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and global principal investigator of the ASCENT study. “Today’s FDA approval reflects the statistically significant survival benefit seen in the landmark ASCENT study and positions sacituzumab govitecan-hziy as a potential standard of care for pre-treated TNBC.”
“A metastatic TNBC diagnosis is frightening. As an aggressive and difficult-to-treat disease, it’s a significant advance to have an FDA-approved treatment option with a proven survival benefit for patients with metastatic disease that continues to progress,” said Ricki Fairley, Founder and CEO of Touch, the Black Breast Cancer Alliance. “For far too long, people with metastatic TNBC had very few treatment options. Today’s news continues the progress of bringing more options to treat this devastating disease.”
Among all patients evaluable for safety in the ASCENT study (n=482), Trodelvy had a safety profile consistent with the previously approved FDA label. The most frequent Grade ≥3 adverse reactions for Trodelvy compared to single-agent chemotherapy were neutropenia (52% vs. 34%), diarrhea (11% vs. 1%), leukopenia (11% vs. 6%) and anemia (9% vs. 6%). Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 5% of patients receiving Trodelvy.
“Today’s approval is the culmination of a multi-year development program and validates the clinical benefit of this important treatment in metastatic TNBC,” said Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences. “Building upon this milestone, we are committed to advancing Trodelvy with worldwide regulatory authorities so that, pending their decision, Trodelvy may become available to many more people around the world who are facing this difficult-to-treat cancer.”
Regulatory submissions for Trodelvy in metastatic TNBC have been filed in the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and Australia as part of Project Orbis, an initiative of the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) that provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology products among international partners, as well as in Singapore through our partner Everest Medicines.The European Medicines Agency has also validated a Marketing Authorization Application for Trodelvy in the European Union. All filings are based on data from the Phase 3 ASCENT study.
Trodelvy Boxed Warning
The Trodelvy U.S. Prescribing Information has a BOXED WARNING for severe or life-threatening neutropenia and severe diarrhea; see below for Important Safety Information.
About Trodelvy
Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a first-in-class antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate directed to the Trop-2 receptor, a protein frequently expressed in multiple types of epithelial tumors, including metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where high expression is associated with poor survival and relapse.
Trodelvy is also being developed as an investigational treatment for metastatic urothelial cancer, hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER 2-) metastatic breast cancer and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Additional evaluation across multiple solid tumors is also underway.
About Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)
TNBC is an aggressive type of breast cancer, accounting for approximately 15% of all breast cancers. The disease is diagnosed more frequently in younger and premenopausal women and is more prevalent in African American and Hispanic women. TNBC cells do not have estrogen and progesterone receptors and have limited HER 2. Medicines targeting these receptors therefore are not typically effective in treating TNBC.
About the ASCENT Study
The Phase 3 ASCENT study, an open-label, active-controlled, randomized confirmatory trial, enrolled more than 500 patients with relapsed/refractory metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who had received two or more prior systemic therapies (including a taxane), at least one of them for metastatic disease. Patients were randomized to receive either Trodelvy or a chemotherapy chosen by the patients’ treating physicians. The primary efficacy outcome was progression-free survival (PFS) in patients without brain metastases at baseline, as measured by a blinded, independent, centralized review using RECIST v1.1 criteria. Additional efficacy measures included PFS for the full population (all patients with and without brain metastases) and overall survival (OS). More information about ASCENT is available at http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02574455.
Important Safety Information for Trodelvy
BOXED WARNING: NEUTROPENIA AND DIARRHEA
Severe, life-threatening, or fatal neutropenia may occur. Withhold TRODELVY for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm3 or neutropenic fever. Monitor blood cell counts periodically during treatment. Consider G-CSF for secondary prophylaxis. Initiate anti-infective treatment in patient with febrile neutropenia without delay.
Severe diarrhea may occur. Monitor patients with diarrhea and give fluid and electrolytes as needed. Administer atropine, if not contraindicated, for early diarrhea of any severity. At the onset of late diarrhea, evaluate for infectious causes and, if negative, promptly initiate loperamide. If severe diarrhea occurs, withhold TRODELVY until resolved to ≤ Grade 1 and reduce subsequent doses.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Severe hypersensitivity to TRODELVY
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Neutropenia: Dose modifications may be required due to neutropenia. Neutropenia occurred in 62% of patients treated with TRODELVY, leading to permanent discontinuation in 0.5% of patients. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 47% of patients. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 6%.
Diarrhea: Diarrhea occurred in 64% of all patients treated with TRODELVY. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 12% of patients. Neutropenic colitis occurred in 0.5% of patients. Withhold TRODELVY for Grade 3-4 diarrhea and resume when resolved to ≤ Grade 1. At onset, evaluate for infectious causes and if negative, promptly initiate loperamide, 4 mg initially followed by 2 mg with every episode of diarrhea for a maximum of 16 mg daily. Discontinue loperamide 12 hours after diarrhea resolves. Additional supportive measures (e.g., fluid and electrolyte substitution) may also be employed as clinically indicated. Patients who exhibit an excessive cholinergic response to treatment can receive appropriate premedication (e.g., atropine) for subsequent treatments.
Hypersensitivity and Infusion-Related Reactions: TRODELVY can cause severe and life-threatening hypersensitivity and infusion-related reactions, including anaphylactic reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions within 24 hours of dosing occurred in 37% of patients. Grade 3-4 hypersensitivity occurred in 1% of patients. The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of TRODELVY was 0.4%. Pre-infusion medication is recommended. Observe patients closely for hypersensitivity and infusion-related reactions during each infusion and for at least 30 minutes after completion of each infusion. Medication to treat such reactions, as well as emergency equipment, should be available for immediate use.
Nausea and Vomiting: Nausea occurred in 67% of all patients treated with TRODELVY. Grade 3-4 nausea occurred in 5% of patients. Vomiting occurred in 40% of patients and Grade 3-4 vomiting occurred in 3% of these patients. Premedicate with a two or three drug combination regimen (e.g., dexamethasone with either a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist or an NK-1 receptor antagonist as well as other drugs as indicated) for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Withhold TRODELVY doses for Grade 3 nausea or Grade 3-4 vomiting and resume with additional supportive measures when resolved to Grade ≤ 1. Additional antiemetics and other supportive measures may also be employed as clinically indicated. All patients should be given take-home medications with clear instructions for prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting.
Increased Risk of Adverse Reactions in Patients with Reduced UGT1A1 Activity: Individuals who are homozygous for the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)*28 allele are at increased risk for neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and anemia and may be at increased risk for other adverse reactions with TRODELVY. The incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia in genotyped patients was 69% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28, 48% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele and 46% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. The incidence of Grade 3-4 anemia in genotyped patients was 24% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, 8% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, and 10% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. Closely monitor patients with known reduced UGT1A1 activity for adverse reactions. Withhold or permanently discontinue TRODELVY based on severity of the observed adverse reactions in patients with evidence of acute early-onset or unusually severe adverse reactions, which may indicate reduced UGT1A1 function.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, TRODELVY can cause teratogenicity and/or embryo-fetal lethality when administered to a pregnant woman. TRODELVY contains a genotoxic component, SN-38, and targets rapidly dividing cells. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TRODELVY and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TRODELVY and for 3 months after the last dose.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
In the ASCENT study (IMMU-132-05), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were nausea, neutropenia, diarrhea, fatigue, alopecia, anemia, vomiting, constipation, rash, decreased appetite, and abdominal pain. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (SAR) (>1%) were neutropenia (7%), diarrhea (4%), and pneumonia (3%). SAR were reported in 27% of patients, and 5% discontinued therapy due to adverse reactions. The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) in the ASCENT study were reduced hemoglobin, lymphocytes, leukocytes, and neutrophils.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
UGT1A1 Inhibitors: Concomitant administration of TRODELVY with inhibitors of UGT1A1 may increase the incidence of adverse reactions due to potential increase in systemic exposure to SN-38. Avoid administering UGT1A1 inhibitors with TRODELVY.
UGT1A1Inducers: Exposure to SN-38 may be substantially reduced in patients concomitantly receiving UGT1A1 enzyme inducers. Avoid administering UGT1A1 inducers with TRODELVY
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis and cancer. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.
The most common side effects are nausea, neutropenia, diarrhea, fatigue, anemia, vomiting, alopecia (hair loss), constipation, decreased appetite, rash and abdominal pain.[1][2] Sacituzumab govitecan has a boxed warning about the risk of severe neutropenia (abnormally low levels of white blood cells) and severe diarrhea.[1][2] Sacituzumab govitecan may cause harm to a developing fetus or newborn baby.[1] Women are advised not to breastfeed while on sacituzumab govitecan and 1 month after the last dose is administered.[3]
Sacituzumab govitecan is a conjugate of the humanized anti-Trop-2monoclonal antibody linked with SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan.[5] Each antibody having on average 7.6 molecules of SN-38 attached.[6] SN-38 is too toxic to administer directly to patients, but linkage to an antibody allows the drug to specifically target cells containing Trop-2.
Sacituzumab govitecan is a Trop-2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor drug conjugate, meaning that the drug targets the Trop-2 receptor that helps the cancer grow, divide and spread, and is linked to topoisomerase inhibitor, which is a chemical compound that is toxic to cancer cells.[1] Approximately two of every ten breast cancer diagnoses worldwide are triple-negative.[1] Triple-negative breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein.[1] Therefore, triple-negative breast cancer does not respond to hormonal therapy medicines or medicines that target HER2.[1]
Development
Immunomedics announced in 2013, that it had received fast track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the compound as a potential treatment for non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Orphan drug status was granted for small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.[7][8] In February 2016, Immunomedics announced that sacituzumab govitecan had received an FDA breakthrough therapy designation (a classification designed to expedite the development and review of drugs that are intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition) for the treatment of patients with triple-negative breast cancer who have failed at least two other prior therapies for metastatic disease.[9][10]
History
Sacituzumab govitecan was added to the proposed INN list in 2015,[11] and to the recommended list in 2016.[12]
Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy was approved for use in the United States in April 2020.[1][13][14][2]
Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy was approved based on the results of IMMU-132-01, a multicenter, single-arm clinical trial (NCT01631552) of 108 subjects with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who had received at least two prior treatments for metastatic disease.[1][14][2] Of the 108 patients involved within the study, 107 were female and 1 was male.[15] Subjects received sacituzumab govitecan-hziy at a dose of 10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight intravenously on days one and eight every 21 days.[14][15] Treatment with sacituzumab govitecan-hziy was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.[15] Tumor imaging was obtained every eight weeks.[14][2] The efficacy of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy was based on the overall response rate (ORR) – which reflects the percentage of subjects that had a certain amount of tumor shrinkage.[1][14] The ORR was 33.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.6 to 43.1). [1][14][15] Additionally, with the 33.3% of study participants who achieved a response, 2.8% of patients experienced complete responses.[15] The median time to response in patients was 2.0 months (range, 1.6 to 13.5), the median duration of response was 7.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9 to 10.8), the median progression free survival was 5.5 months, and the median overall survival was 13.0 months.[15] Of the subjects that achieved an objective response to sacituzumab govitecan-hziy, 55.6% maintained their response for six or more months and 16.7% maintained their response for twelve or more months.[1][14]
^ World Health Organization (2015). “International nonproprietary names for pharmaceutical substances (INN): proposed INN: list 113”. WHO Drug Information. 29 (2): 260–1. hdl:10665/331080.
^ World Health Organization (2016). “International nonproprietary names for pharmaceutical substances (INN): recommended INN: list 75”. WHO Drug Information. 30 (1): 151–3. hdl:10665/331046.
Immunoglobulin G4, anti-(human protein ANGPTL3 (angiopoietin-like 3)) (human monoclonal REGN1500 heavy chain), disulfide with human monoclonal REGN1500 light chain, dimer
Evinacumab is a recombinant human IgG4 monoclonal antibody targeted against angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) and the first drug of its kind. The ANGPTL family of proteins serve a number of physiologic functions – including involvement in the regulation of lipid metabolism – which have made them desirable therapeutic targets in recent years.2 Loss-of-function mutations in ANGPTL3 have been noted to result in hypolipidemia and subsequent reductions in cardiovascular risk, whereas increases in function appear to be associated with cardiovascular risk, and it was these observations that provided a rationale for the development of a therapy targeted against ANGPTL3.3
In February 2021, evinacumab became the first-and-only inhibitor of ANGPTL3 to receive FDA approval after it was granted approval for the adjunctive treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) under the brand name “Evkeeza”.8 Evinacumab is novel in its mechanism of action compared with other lipid-lowering therapies and therefore provides a unique and synergistic therapeutic option in the treatment of HoFH.
Common side effects include nasopharyngitis (cold), influenza-like illness, dizziness, rhinorrhea (runny nose), and nausea. Serious hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions have occurred in the Evkeeza clinical trials.[2]
Evinacumab binds to the angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3).[2] ANGPTL3 slows the function of certain enzymes that break down fats in the body.[2] Evinacumab blocks ANGPTL3, allowing faster break down of fats that lead to high cholesterol.[2] Evinacumab was approved for medical use in the United States in February 2021.[2][3]
NAME
DOSAGE
STRENGTH
ROUTE
LABELLER
MARKETING START
MARKETING END
Evkeeza
Injection, solution, concentrate
150 mg/1mL
Intravenous
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
2021-02-11
Not applicable
Evkeeza
Injection, solution, concentrate
150 mg/1mL
Intravenous
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
2021-02-11
Not applicable
History
The effectiveness and safety of evinacumab were evaluated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 24-week trial enrolling 65 participants with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH).[2] In the trial, 43 participants received 15 mg/kg of evinacumab every four weeks and 22 participants received the placebo.[2] Participants were taking other lipid-lowering therapies as well.[2]
The primary measure of effectiveness was the percent change in low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) from the beginning of treatment to week 24.[2] At week 24, participants receiving evinacumab had an average 47% decrease in LDL-C while participants on the placebo had an average 2% increase.[2]
On November 25, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to naxitamab (DANYELZA, Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc.) in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for pediatric patients one year of age and older and adult patients with relapsed or refractory high-risk neuroblastoma in the bone or bone marrow demonstrating a partial response, minor response, or stable disease to prior therapy.
Efficacy was evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma in the bone or bone marrow enrolled in two single-arm, open-label trials: Study 201 (NCT 03363373) and Study 12-230 (NCT 01757626). Patients with progressive disease following their most recent therapy were excluded. Patients received 3 mg/kg naxitamab administered as an intravenous infusion on days 1, 3, and 5 of each 4-week cycle in combination with GM-CSF subcutaneously at 250 µg/m2/day on days -4 to 0 and at 500 µg/m2/day on days 1 to 5. At the investigator’s discretion, patients were permitted to receive pre-planned radiation to the primary disease site in Study 201 and radiation therapy to non-target bony lesions or soft tissue disease in Study 12-230.
The main efficacy outcome measures were confirmed overall response rate (ORR) per the revised International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria (INRC) and duration of response (DOR). Among 22 patients treated in the multicenter Study 201, the ORR was 45% (95% CI: 24%, 68%) and 30% of responders had a DOR greater or equal to 6 months. Among 38 patients treated in the single-center Study 12-230, the ORR was 34% (95% CI: 20%, 51%) with 23% of patients having a DOR greater or equal to 6 months. For both trials, responses were observed in either the bone, bone marrow or both.
The prescribing information contains a Boxed Warning stating that naxitamab can cause serious infusion-related reactions and neurotoxicity, including severe neuropathic pain, transverse myelitis and reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). To mitigate these risks, patients should receive premedication prior to each naxitamab infusion and be closely monitored during and for at least two hours following completion of each infusion.
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25% in either trial) in patients receiving naxitamab were infusion-related reactions, pain, tachycardia, vomiting, cough, nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, hypertension, fatigue, erythema multiforme, peripheral neuropathy, urticaria, pyrexia, headache, injection site reaction, edema, anxiety, localized edema, and irritability. The most common Grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities (≥5% in either trial) were decreased lymphocytes, decreased neutrophils, decreased hemoglobin, decreased platelet count, decreased potassium, increased alanine aminotransferase, decreased glucose, decreased calcium, decreased albumin, decreased sodium and decreased phosphate.
The recommended naxitamab dose is 3 mg/kg/day (up to 150 mg/day) on days 1, 3, and 5 of each treatment cycle, administered after dilution as an intravenous infusion in combination with GM-CSF, subcutaneously at 250 µg/m2/day on days -4 to 0 and at 500 µg/m2/day on days 1 to 5. Treatment cycles are repeated every 4 to 8 weeks.
This review used the Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) pilot program and the Assessment Aid, a voluntary submission from the applicant to facilitate the FDA’s assessment.
This application was granted accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ebanga (Ansuvimab-zykl), a human monoclonal antibody, for the treatment for Zaire ebolavirus (Ebolavirus) infection in adults and children. Ebanga blocks binding of the virus to the cell receptor, preventing its entry into the cell.
Zaire ebolavirus is one of four Ebolavirus species that can cause a potentially fatal human disease. It is transmitted through blood, body fluids, and tissues of infected people or wild animals, and through surfaces and materials, such as bedding and clothing, contaminated with these fluids. Individuals who care for people with the disease, including health care workers who do not use correct infection control precautions, are at the highest risk for infection.
During an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2018-2019, Ebanga was evaluated in a clinical trial (the PALM trial). The PALM trial was led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the DRC’s Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale with contributions from several other international organizations and agencies.
In the PALM trial, the safety and efficacy of Ebanga was evaluated in a multi-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial. 174 participants (120 adults and 54 pediatric patients) with confirmed Ebolavirus infection received Ebanga intravenously as a single 50 mg/kg infusion and 168 participants (135 adults and 33 pediatric patients) received an investigational control. The primary efficacy endpoint was 28-day mortality. The primary analysis population was all patients who were randomized and concurrently eligible to receive either Ebanga or the investigational control during the same time period of the trial. Of the 174 patients who received Ebanga, 35.1% died after 28 days, compared to 49.4% of the 168 patients who received a control.
The most common symptoms experienced while receiving Ebanga include: fever, tachycardia (fast heart rate), diarrhea, vomiting, hypotension (low blood pressure), tachypnea (fast breathing) and chills; however, these are also common symptoms of Ebolavirus infection. Hypersensitivity, including infusion-related events, can occur in patients taking Ebanga, and treatment should be discontinued in the event of a hypersensitivity reaction.
Patients who receive Ebanga should avoid the concurrent administration of a live virus vaccine against Ebolavirus. There is the potential for Ebanga to inhibit replication of a live vaccine virus and possibly reduce the efficacy of this vaccine.
FDA granted the approval to Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, LP.
Ansuvimab, sold under the brand name Ebanga, is a monoclonal antibody medication for the treatment of Zaire ebolavirus (Ebolavirus) infection.[1][2]
The most common symptoms include fever, tachycardia (fast heart rate), diarrhea, vomiting, hypotension (low blood pressure), tachypnea (fast breathing) and chills; however, these are also common symptoms of Ebolavirus infection.[1]
Ansuvimab was approved for medical use in the United States in December 2020.[1][2]
Ansuvimab is a monoclonal antibody therapy that is infused intravenously into patients with Ebola virus disease. Ansuvimab is a neutralizing antibody,[3] meaning it binds to a protein on the surface of Ebola virus that is required to infect cells. Specifically, ansuvimab neutralizes infection by binding to a region of the Ebola virus envelope glycoprotein that, in the absence of ansuvimab, would interact with virus’s cell receptor protein, Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1).[6][7][8] This “competition” by ansuvimab prevents Ebola virus from binding to NPC1 and “neutralizes” the virus’s ability to infect the targeted cell.[6]
Effector function
Antibodies have antigen-binding fragment (Fab) regions and constant fragment (Fc) regions. The Neutralization of virus infection occurs when the Fab regions of antibodies binds to virus antigen(s) in a manner that blocks infection. Antibodies are also able to “kill” virus particles directly and/or kill infected cells using antibody-mediated “effector functions” such as opsonization, complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent phagocytosis. These effector functions are contained in the Fc region of antibodies, but is also dependent on binding of the Fab region to antigen. Effector functions also require the use of complement proteins in serum or Fc-receptor on cell membranes. Ansuvimab has been found to be capable of killing cells by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.[3] Other functional killing tests have not been performed.
Ansuvimab has also shown success with lowering the mortality rate from ~70% to about 34%. In August 2019, Congolese health authorities, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health promoted the use of ansuvimab, alongside REGN-EB3, a similar Regeneron-produced monoclonal antibody treatment, over other treatments yielding higher mortality rates, after ending clinical trials during the outbreak.[13][14]
In an experiment described in the 2016 paper, rhesus macaques were infected with Ebola virus and treated with a combination of ansuvimab and another antibody isolated from the same subject, mAb100. Three doses of the combination were given once a day starting 1 day after the animals were infected. The control animal died and the treated animals all survived.[3]
Ansuvimab monotherapy
In a second experiment described in the 2016 paper, rhesus macaques were infected with Ebola virus and only treated with ansuvimab. Three doses of ansuvimab were given once a day starting 1 day or 5 days after the animals were infected. The control animals died and the treated animals all survived.[3] Unpublished data referred to in a publication of the 2018 Phase I clinical trial results of ansuvimab, reported that a single infusion of ansuvimab provided full protection of rhesus macaques and was the basis of the dosing used for human studies.[5][4]
Experimental use in the Democratic Republic of Congo
During the 2018 Équateur province Ebola outbreak, ansuvimab was requested by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Ministry of Public Health. Ansuvimab was approved for compassionate use by the World Health OrganizationMEURI ethical protocol and at DRC ethics board. Ansuvimab was sent along with other therapeutic agents to the outbreak sites.[19][20][11] However, the outbreak came to a conclusion before any therapeutic agents were given to patients.[11]
Approximately one month following the conclusion of the Équateur province outbreak, a distinct outbreak was noted in Kivu in the DRC (2018–20 Kivu Ebola outbreak). Once again, ansuvimab received approval for compassionate use by WHO MEURI and DRC ethic boards and has been given to many patients under these protocols.[11] In November 2018, the Pamoja Tulinde Maisha (PALM [together save lives]) open-label randomized clinical control trial was begun at multiple treatment units testing ansuvimab, REGN-EB3 and remdesivir to ZMapp. Despite the difficulty of running a clinical trial in a conflict zone, investigators have enrolled 681 patients towards their goal of 725. An interim analysis by the Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB) of the first 499 patient found that ansuvimab and REGN-EB3 were superior to the comparator ZMapp. Overall mortality of patients in the ZMapp and remdesivir groups were 49% and 53% compared to 34% and 29% for ansuvimab and REGN-EB3. When looking at patients who arrived early after disease symptoms appeared, survival was 89% for ansuvimab and 94% for REGN-EB3. While the study was not powered to determine whether there is any difference between REGN-EB3 and ansuvimab, the survival difference between those two therapies and ZMapp was significant. This led to the DSMB halting the study and PALM investigators dropping the remdesivir and ZMapp arms from the clinical trial. All patients in the outbreak who elect to participate in the trial will now be given either ansuvimab or REGN-EB3.[21][22][13][12]
On December 21, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Ebanga (ansuvimab-zykl) for the treatment for Zaire ebolavirus (Ebolavirus) infection in adults and children. Ebanga had been granted US Orphan Drug designation and Breakthrough Therapy designations. Ansuvimab is a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds and neutralizes the virus.
The safety and efficacy of Ebanga were evaluated in the multi-center, open-label, randomized controlled PALM trial. In this study, 174 participants (120 adults and 54 pediatric patients) with confirmed Ebolavirus infection received Ebanga intravenously as a single 50 mg/kg infusion and 168 participants (135 adults and 33 pediatric patients) received an investigational control. The primary efficacy endpoint was 28-day mortality. Of the 174 patients who received Ebanga, 35.1% died after 28 days, compared to 49.4% of the 168 patients who received a control.
Ebanga is the 12th antibody therapeutic to be granted a first approval in the US or EU during 2020.
^ Jump up to:abcdef Clinical trial number NCT03478891 for “Safety and Pharmacokinetics of a Human Monoclonal Antibody, VRC-EBOMAB092-00-AB (MAb114), Administered Intravenously to Healthy Adults” at ClinicalTrials.gov
Immunoglobulin G1, anti-(calcitonin gene-related peptide) (human-oryctolagus cuniculus monoclonal ALD403 heavy chain), disulfide with human-oryctolagus cuniculus monoclonal ALD403 kappa-chain, dimer
Approved 2020 fda
ALD403, UNII-8202AY8I7H
Humanized anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) IgG1 antibody for the treatment of migraine.
Eptinezumab, sold under the brand name Vyepti, is a medication for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.[2] It is a monoclonal antibody that targets calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) alpha and beta.[3][4] It is administered by intravenous infusion every three months.[2]
Eeptinezumab-jjmr was approved for use in the United States in February 2020.[5]
^Dodick DW, Goadsby PJ, Silberstein SD, Lipton RB, Olesen J, Ashina M, et al. (November 2014). “Safety and efficacy of ALD403, an antibody to calcitonin gene-related peptide, for the prevention of frequent episodic migraine: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory phase 2 trial”. The Lancet. Neurology. 13 (11): 1100–1107. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70209-1. PMID25297013.
Alder BioPharmaceuticals has submitted a biologics license application (BLA) for eptinezumab, a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that targets calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), for migraine prevention. If the US Food and Drug Administration grants approval, Alder will be on track to launch the drug in Q1 2020. The BLA included data from the PROMISE 1 and PROMISE 2 studies, which evaluated the effects of eptinezumab in episodic migraine patients (n=888) or chronic migraine patients (n=1,072), respectively. In PROMISE 1, the primary and key secondary endpoints were met, and the safety and tolerability were similar to placebo, while in PROMISE 2, the primary and all key secondary endpoints were met, and the safety and tolerability was consistent with earlier eptinezumab studies.
Alder announced one-year results from the PROMISE 1 studyin June 2018, which indicated that, following the first quarterly infusion, episodic migraine patients treated with 300 mg eptinezumab experienced 4.3 fewer monthly migraine days (MMDs) from a baseline of 8 MMDs, compared to 3.2 fewer MMDs for placebo from baseline (p= 0.0001). At one year after the third and fourth quarterly infusions, patients treated with 300 mg eptinezumab experienced further gains in efficacy, with a reduction of 5.2 fewer MMDs compared to 4.0 fewer MMDs for placebo-treated patients. In addition, ~31% of episodic migraine patients achieved, on average per month, 100% reduction of migraine days from baseline compared to ~ 21% for placebo. New 6-month results from the PROMISE 2 study were also released in June 2018. These results indicated that, after the first quarterly infusion, chronic migraine patients dosed with 300 mg of eptinezumab experienced 8.2 fewer MMDs, from a baseline of 16 MMDs, compared to 5.6 fewer MMDs for placebo from baseline (p <.0001). A further reduction in MMDs was seen following a second infusion; 8.8 fewer MMDs for patients dosed with 300 mg compared to 6.2 fewer MMDs for those with placebo. In addition, ~ 21% of chronic migraine patients achieved, on average, 100% reduction of MMDs from baseline compared to 9% for placebo after two quarterly infusions of 300 mg of eptinezumab.
Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw) is a fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) and a targeted inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) for the treatment of active thyroid eye disease (TED).
FDA Approves Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw) for the Treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) – January 21, 2020
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw) for the treatment of adults with thyroid eye disease, a rare condition where the muscles and fatty tissues behind the eye become inflamed, causing the eyes to be pushed forward and bulge outwards (proptosis). Today’s approval represents the first drug approved for the treatment of thyroid eye disease.
“Today’s approval marks an important milestone for the treatment of thyroid eye disease. Currently, there are very limited treatment options for this potentially debilitating disease. This treatment has the potential to alter the course of the disease, potentially sparing patients from needing multiple invasive surgeries by providing an alternative, non surgical treatment option,” said Wiley Chambers, M.D., deputy director of the Division of Transplant and Ophthalmology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Additionally, thyroid eye disease is a rare disease that impacts a small percentage of the population, and for a variety of reasons, treatments for rare diseases are often unavailable. This approval represents important progress in the approval of effective treatments for rare diseases, such as thyroid eye disease.”
Thyroid eye disease is associated with the outward bulging of the eye that can cause a variety of symptoms such as eye pain, double vision, light sensitivity or difficulty closing the eye. This disease impacts a relatively small number of Americans, with more women than men affected. Although this condition impacts relatively few individuals, thyroid eye disease can be incapacitating. For example, the troubling ocular symptoms can lead to the progressive inability of people with thyroid eye disease to perform important daily activities, such as driving or working.
Tepezza was approved based on the results of two studies (Study 1 and 2) consisting of a total of 170 patients with active thyroid eye disease who were randomized to either receive Tepezza or a placebo. Of the patients who were administered Tepezza, 71% in Study 1 and 83% in Study 2 demonstrated a greater than 2 millimeter reduction in proptosis (eye protrusion) as compared to 20% and 10% of subjects who received placebo, respectively.
The most common adverse reactions observed in patients treated with Tepezza are muscle spasm, nausea, alopecia (hair loss), diarrhea, fatigue, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hearing loss, dry skin, dysgeusia (altered sense of taste) and headache. Tepezza should not be used if pregnant, and women of child-bearing potential should have their pregnancy status verified prior to beginning treatment and should be counseled on pregnancy prevention during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose of Tepezza.
The FDA granted this application Priority Review, in addition to Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy Designation. Additionally, Tepezza received Orphan Drug designation, which provides incentives to assist and encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases or conditions. Development of this product was also in part supported by the FDA Orphan Products Grants Program, which provides grants for clinical studies on safety and efficacy of products for use in rare diseases or conditions.
The FDA granted the approval of Tepezza to Horizon Therapeutics Ireland DAC.
Teprotumumab (RG-1507), sold under the brand name Tepezza, is a medication used for the treatment of adults with thyroid eye disease, a rare condition where the muscles and fatty tissues behind the eye become inflamed, causing the eyes to be pushed forward and bulge outwards (proptosis).[1]
The most common adverse reactions observed in people treated with teprotumumab-trbw are muscle spasm, nausea, alopecia (hair loss), diarrhea, fatigue, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hearing loss, dry skin, dysgeusia (altered sense of taste) and headache.[1] Teprotumumab-trbw should not be used if pregnant, and women of child-bearing potential should have their pregnancy status verified prior to beginning treatment and should be counseled on pregnancy prevention during treatment and for six months following the last dose of teprotumumab-trbw.[1]
It is a human monoclonal antibody developed by Genmab and Roche. It binds to IGF-1R.
Teprotumumab was first investigated for the treatment of solid and hematologic tumors, including breast cancer, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer and sarcoma.[2][3] Although results of phase I and early phase II trials showed promise, research for these indications were discontinued in 2009 by Roche. Phase II trials still in progress were allowed to complete, as the development was halted due to business prioritization rather than safety concerns.
Teprotumumab was subsequently licensed to River Vision Development Corporation in 2012 for research in the treatment of ophthalmic conditions. Horizon Pharma (now Horizon Therapeutics, from hereon Horizon) acquired RVDC in 2017, and will continue clinical trials.[4] It is in phase III trials for Graves’ ophthalmopathy (also known as thyroid eye disease (TED)) and phase I for diabetic macular edema.[5] It was granted Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan Drug Status and Fast Track designations by the FDA for Graves’ ophthalmopathy.[6]
In a multicenter randomized trial in patients with active Graves’ ophthalmopathy Teprotumumab was more effective than placebo in reducing the clinical activity score and proptosis.[7] In February 2019 Horizon announced results from a phase 3 confirmatory trial evaluating teprotumumab for the treatment of active thyroid eye disease (TED). The study met its primary endpoint, showing more patients treated with teprotumumab compared with placebo had a meaningful improvement in proptosis, or bulging of the eye: 82.9 percent of teprotumumab patients compared to 9.5 percent of placebo patients achieved the primary endpoint of a 2 mm or more reduction in proptosis (p<0.001). Proptosis is the main cause of morbidity in TED. All secondary endpoints were also met and the safety profile was consistent with the phase 2 study of teprotumumab in TED.[8] On 10th of July 2019 Horizon submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA for teprotumumab for the Treatment of Active Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). Horizon requested priority review for the application – if so granted (FDA has a 60-day review period to decide) it would result in a max. 6 month review process.[9]
Teprotumumab-trbw was approved for use in the United States in January 2020, for the treatment of adults with thyroid eye disease.[1]
Teprotumumab-trbw was approved based on the results of two studies (Study 1 and 2) consisting of a total of 170 patients with active thyroid eye disease who were randomized to either receive teprotumumab-trbw or a placebo.[1] Of the subjects who were administered Tepezza, 71% in Study 1 and 83% in Study 2 demonstrated a greater than two millimeter reduction in proptosis (eye protrusion) as compared to 20% and 10% of subjects who received placebo, respectively.[1]
Enfortumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate used in the treatment of patients with advanced, treatment-resistant urothelial cancers.3 It is comprised of a fully human monoclonal antibody targeted against Nectin-4 and a microtubule-disrupting chemotherapeutic agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), joined by a protease-cleavable link.3 It is similar to brentuximab vedotin, another antibody conjugated with MMAE that targets CD-30 instead of Nectin-4.
The clinical development of enfortumab vedotin was the result of a collaboration between Astellas Pharma and Seattle Genetics2 and it was first approved for use in the United States in December 2019 under the brand name PadcevTM.3
The most common side effects for patients taking enfortumab vedotin were fatigue, peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage resulting in tingling or numbness), decreased appetite, rash, alopecia (hair loss), nausea, altered taste, diarrhea, dry eye, pruritis (itching) and dry skin. [4]Enfortumab vedotin[1] (AGS-22M6E) is an antibody-drug conjugate[2] designed for the treatment of cancer expressing Nectin-4.[3]Enfortumab refers to the monoclonal antibody part, and vedotin refers to the payload drug (MMAE) and the linker.
The fully humanized antibody was created by scientists at Agensys (part of Astellas) using Xenomice from Amgen; the linker technology holding the antibody and the toxin together was provided by and licensed from Seattle Genetics.[5]
Results of a phase I clinical trial were reported in 2016.[2]
In December 2019, enfortumab vedotin-ejfv was approved in the United States for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have previously received a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor and a platinum-containing chemotherapy.[4]
Enfortumab vedotin was approved based on the results of a clinical trial that enrolled 125 patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who received prior treatment with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor and platinum-based chemotherapy.[4] The overall response rate, reflecting the percentage of patients who had a certain amount of tumor shrinkage, was 44%, with 12% having a complete response and 32% having a partial response.[4] The median duration of response was 7.6 months.[4]
Enfortumab vedotin is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have previously received a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor, and a platinum-containing chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant/adjuvant, locally advanced, or metastatic setting.3
Enfortumab vedotin is an anti-cancer agent that destroys tumor cells by inhibiting their ability to replicate.3 Patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment should not use enfortumab vedotin – though it has not been studied in this population, other MMAE-containing antibody-drug conjugates have demonstrated increased rates of adverse effects in patients with moderate-severe hepatic impairment.3 Enfortumab vedotin may also cause significant hyperglycemia leading, in some cases, to diabetic ketoacidosis, and should not be administered to patients with a blood glucose level >250 mg/dl.3
Mechanism of action
Enfortumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate comprised of multiple components.3 It contains a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against Nectin-4, an extracellular adhesion protein which is highly expressed in urothelial cancers,1 attached to a chemotherapeutic microtubule-disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). These two components are joined via a protease-cleavable linker. Enfortumab vedotin binds to cells expressing Nectin-4 and the resulting enfortumab-Nectin-4 complex is internalized into the cell. Once inside the cell, MMAE is released from enfortumab vedotin via proteolytic cleavage and goes on to disrupt the microtubule network within the cell, arresting the cell cycle and ultimately inducing apoptosis.3
PATENT
WO 2016176089
WO 2016138034
WO 2017186928
WO 2017180587
WO 2017200492
US 20170056504
PAPER
Cancer Research (2016), 76(10), 3003-3013.
General References
Hanna KS: Clinical Overview of Enfortumab Vedotin in the Management of Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma. Drugs. 2019 Dec 10. pii: 10.1007/s40265-019-01241-7. doi: 10.1007/s40265-019-01241-7. [PubMed:31823332]
McGregor BA, Sonpavde G: Enfortumab Vedotin, a fully human monoclonal antibody against Nectin 4 conjugated to monomethyl auristatin E for metastatic urothelial Carcinoma. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2019 Oct;28(10):821-826. doi: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1667332. Epub 2019 Sep 17. [PubMed:31526130]
FDA Approved Drug Products: Padcev (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) for IV injection [Link]
PADCEV™
(enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) for Injection, for Intravenous Use
DESCRIPTION
Enfortumab vedotin-ejfv is a Nectin-4 directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of a fully human anti-Nectin-4 IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody (AGS-22C3) conjugated to the small molecule microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a protease-cleavable maleimidocaproyl valine-citrulline (vc) linker (SGD-1006). Conjugation takes place on cysteine residues that comprise the interchain disulfide bonds of the antibody to yield a product with a drug-to-antibody ratio of approximately 3.8:1. The molecular weight is approximately 152 kDa.
Figure 1: Structural Formula
Approximately 4 molecules of MMAE are attached to each antibody molecule. Enfortumab vedotin-ejfv is produced by chemical conjugation of the antibody and small molecule components. The antibody is produced by mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary) cells and the small molecule components are produced by chemical synthesis.
PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) for injection is provided as a sterile, preservative-free, white to off-white lyophilized powder in single-dose vials for intravenous use. PADCEV is supplied as a 20 mg per vial and a 30 mg per vial and requires reconstitution with Sterile Water for Injection, USP, (2.3 mL and 3.3 mL, respectively) resulting in a clear to slightly opalescent, colorless to slightly yellow solution with a final concentration of 10 mg/mL [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. After reconstitution, each vial allows the withdrawal of 2 mL (20 mg) and 3 mL (30 mg). Each mL of reconstituted solution contains 10 mg of enfortumab vedotin-ejfv, histidine (1.4 mg), histidine hydrochloride monohydrate (2.31 mg), polysorbate 20 (0.2 mg) and trehalose dihydrate (55 mg) with a pH of 6.0.
///////////////Enfortumab vedotin, AGS-22M6E, エンホルツマブベドチン (遺伝子組換え) , protein Based Therapies, Monoclonal antibody, mAb, FDA 2019
Romosozumab was originally discovered by Chiroscience,[2] which was acquired by Celltech (now owned by UCB).[3] Celltech entered in a partnership with Amgen in 2002 for the product’s development.[4]
In 2016 results from 12 months of a clinical study were reported.[5]
Some results from the FRAME[6] and ARCH clinical studies were reported on in 2017.[7]
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has granted a marketing authorization for romosozumab (EVENITY)for the treatment of osteoporosis in patients at high risk of fracture. Developed by Amgen and UCB, romosozumab is a humanized IgG2 monoclonal antibody that targets sclerostin. The approval in Japan is based on results from the Phase 3 FRAME and BRIDGE studies, which included 7,180 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and 245 men with osteoporosis, respectively.
A biologics license application (BLA) for romosozumab as a treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2016, but additional safety and efficacy data was requested in the FDA’s complete response letter, as announced by Amgen and UCB in July 2017. In July 2018, Amgen and UCB announced that the BLA had been resubmitted. In addition to data from early-stage clinical studies, the original BLA included data from the Phase 3 FRAME study. The resubmitted BLA includes results from the more recent Phase 3 ARCH study, an alendronate-active comparator trial including 4,093 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who experienced a fracture, and the Phase 3 BRIDGE study. The FDA’s Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee is scheduled to review data supporting the BLA for romosozumab at a meeting on January 16, 2019.
The European Medicines Agency is also currently reviewing a marketing application for romosozumab.
Commercial production of cell culture-derived products (for example, protein-based products, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)), requires optimization of cell culture parameters in order for the cells to produce enough product to meet clinical and commercial demands. However, when cell culture parameters are optimized for improving productivity of a protein product, it is also necessary to maintain desired quality specifications of the product such as glycosylation profile, aggregate levels, charge heterogeneity, and amino acid sequence integrity (Li, et al., 2010 , mAbs., 2(5):466-477).
For instance, an increase of over 20% volumetric titer results in a significant improvement in large-scale monoclonal antibody production economics. Additionally, the ability to control the glycan forms of proteins produced in cell culture is important. Glycan species have been shown to significantly influence pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of therapeutic proteins such as mAbs. Moreover, the ability to modulate the relative percentage of various glycan species can have drastic results over the behavior of a protein in vivo. For example, increased mannose-5-N-acetylglycosamine-2 (“Man5”) and other high-mannose glycan species have been shown to decrease mAb in vivo half-life (Liu, 2015 , J Pharm Sci., 104(6):1866-84; Goetze et al., 2011 , Glycobiology, 21(7):949-59; and Kanda et al. 2007 , Glycobiology, 17(1):104-18). On the other hand, glycosylated mAbs with mannose-3-N-acetylglycosamine-4 (“G0”) glycan species have been shown to impact antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).
Bioreactors have been successfully utilized for the cell-based production of therapeutic proteins using fed-batch, immobilized, perfusion and continuous modes. Strategies, such as the use of temperature, media formulation, including the addition of growth inhibitors, autocrine factors or cyclic mononucleotides, and hyperstimulation by osmolarity stress, have been used to enhance protein production by cells in culture. To the extent that they have worked at all, these approaches have shown only marginal success.
As such, there is a particular need for improved compositions for use in cell culture for the production of medically or industrially useful products, such as antibodies. Ideally, such compositions and methods for utilizing the same would result in higher titers, modulated (e.g. decreased) high and low molecular weight species, as well as a more favorable glycosylation profile of the derived products in cell culture.
Throughout this specification, various patents, patent applications and other types of publications (e.g., journal articles, electronic database entries, etc.) are referenced. The disclosure of all patents, patent applications, and other publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
DRUG APPROVALS BY DR ANTHONY MELVIN CRASTO
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Alder BioPharmaceuticals has submitted a biologics license application (BLA) for eptinezumab, a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that targets calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), for migraine prevention. If the US Food and Drug Administration grants approval, Alder will be on track to launch the drug in Q1 2020. The BLA included data from the PROMISE 1 and PROMISE 2 studies, which evaluated the effects of eptinezumab in episodic migraine patients (n=888) or chronic migraine patients (n=1,072), respectively. In PROMISE 1, the primary and key secondary endpoints were met, and the safety and tolerability were similar to placebo, while in PROMISE 2, the primary and all key secondary endpoints were met, and the safety and tolerability was consistent with earlier eptinezumab studies.
