ENVISAGE-TAVI AF is the first study to evaluate the effects of a novel oral anticoagulant on clinical outcomesexclusively in atrial fibrillation patients following successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Study adds to the growing Edoxaban Clinical Research Program (ECRP) evaluating its use in a broad range of cardiovascular conditions, patient types and clinical settings

TOKYO, Japan I May 8, 2017 I Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, “Daiichi Sankyo”) today announced that the first patient has been enrolled into the ENVISAGE-TAVI AF study. The multinational, randomized phase 3b study will evaluate a treatment regimen based on the company’s oral, once-daily direct factor Xa-inhibitor edoxaban (known by the brand name LIXIANA® outside the US and SAVAYSA® in the US) against a vitamin K antagonist based regimen, with or without antiplatelet therapy, in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) following successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The study will investigate the incidence of net adverse clinical events (NACE), including the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke, systemic thromboembolism (SEE), valve thrombosis, and major bleeding (International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis [ISTH] definition). Approximately 1,400 patients will be enrolled in ENVISAGE-TAVI AF from 200 clinical sites across Europe, the United States and Canada.1

“ENVISAGE-TAVI AF is an important study because it will provide the first clinical evidence comparing the safety and efficacy of an edoxaban-based versus a VKA-based regimen in non-valvular AF patients with indication for chronic oral anticoagulation after successful TAVI in a sufficiently powered study. In this study, edoxaban will be used with the approved dosage regimenfor stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.” said George Dangas, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and co-principal study investigator.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an increasingly frequent procedure to treat aortic stenosis.2 Aortic stenosis is a progressing disease, and may turn into a life threatening condition.3 In patients undergoing a TAVI procedure, AF is a frequent comorbidity which requires chronic oral anticoagulation therapy.4,5

“At present, ENVISAGE-TAVI AF is the only study of patients undergoing TAVI designed to compare exclusively non-valvular AF patients on a novel oral anticoagulant regimen against a VKA-based regimen,” said Nicolas M. van Mieghem, MD, PhD, Erasmus University of Rotterdam and co-principal investigator.

“ENVISAGE-TAVI AF will add to the growing body of evidence in the Edoxaban Clinical Research Program, providing unique insights into the potential benefit of edoxaban in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing TAVI procedures, a high-risk population,” said Hans J. Lanz, MD, Executive Director, Global Medical Affairs, Daiichi Sankyo.

About ENVISAGE-TAVI AF

EdoxabaN Versus standard of care and theIr effectS on clinical outcomes in pAtients havinG undergonE Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation –Atrial Fibrillation (ENVISAGE-TAVI AF) is a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint evaluation, parallel-group phase 3b study, evaluating the efficacy and safety of once-daily edoxaban against a regimen of a vitamin K antagonist, with or without antiplatelet therapy, in AF patients following successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The primary efficacy endpoint is incidence of net adverse clinical events (NACE), i.e., the composite of all-cause death, MI, ischemic stroke, SEE, valve thrombosis, and major bleeding (International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis [ISTH] definition). The primary safety endpoint is major bleeding (ISTH definition). Approximately 1,400 patients will be enrolled in ENVISAGE-TAVI AF from 200 clinical sites across Europe, the United States and Canada. Edoxaban will be used with the approved dosage regimen for stroke prevention in AF in each country.1

For more information, please visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02943785

About Atrial Fibrillation

AF is a condition where the heart beats irregularly and rapidly. When this happens, blood can pool and thicken in the chambers of the heart causing an increased risk of blood clots. These blood clots can break off and travel through the blood stream to the brain (or sometimes to another part of the body), where they have the potential to cause a stroke.6

AF is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder, and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality.7 More than six million Europeans are diagnosed with AF, and this figure is expected to at least double over the next 50 years.8,9 Compared to those without AF, people with the arrhythmia have a 3-5 times higher risk of stroke.10 One in five of all strokes are as a result of AF.8

About Edoxaban

Edoxaban is an oral, once-daily, direct factor Xa (pronounced “Ten A”) inhibitor. Factor Xa is one of the key components responsible for blood clotting, so inhibiting this makes the blood thin and less prone to clotting. Edoxaban is currently marketed in Japan, the U.S., South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Switzerland, the U.K., Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, and other European countries.

About Edoxaban Clinical Research Program (ECRP)

Daiichi Sankyo is committed to expanding scientific knowledge about edoxaban, as demonstrated through our research programs evaluating its use in a broad range of cardiovascular conditions, patient types and clinical settings in atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE). The edoxaban clinical research program includes multiple RCTs (randomized, controlled trials), registries and non-interventional studies, with the goal of generating new clinical and real-world-data regarding its use in AF and VTE populations. Daiichi Sankyo expects that more than 100,000 patients will participate in the edoxaban clinical research program, including completed, ongoing and future research.

The RCTs include:

−        ENSURE-AF (EdoxabaN vs. warfarin in subjectS UndeRgoing cardiovErsion of Atrial Fibrillation), in AF patients undergoing electrical cardioversion

−        ENTRUST-AF PCI (EdoxabaN TReatment versUS VKA in paTients with AF undergoing PCI), in AF patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

−        Hokusai-VTE Cancer (Edoxaban in Venous Thromboembolism Associated with Cancer), in patients with cancer and an acute VTE event

−        ELDERCARE-AF (Edoxaban Low-Dose for EldeR CARE AF patients), in elderly AF patients in Japan

−        ELIMINATE-AF (EvaLuatIon of edoxaban coMpared with VKA IN subjects undergoing cAThEter ablation of non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation)

−        ENVISAGE-TAVI AF (EdoxabaN Versus standard of care and theIr effectS on clinical outcomes in pAtients havinG undergonE Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) – Atrial Fibrillation)

In addition, global and regional registry studies will provide important real-world data about the use of edoxaban and other oral anticoagulants in everyday practice, and include:

−        ETNA-AF (Edoxaban Treatment in routiNe clinical prActice in patients with non valvular Atrial Fibrillation)

−        ETNA-VTE (Edoxaban Treatment in routiNe clinical prActice in patients with Venous ThromboEmbolism)

−        EMIT-AF/VTE (Edoxaban Management In diagnostic and Therapeutic procedures-AF/VTE);

−        Prolongation PREFER in AF (PREvention oF thromboembolic events – European Registry) in patients with AF

−        ANAFIE (All Nippon AF In Elderly) Registry in Japan

−        Cancer-VTE Registry in Japan

We are committed to adding to the scientific body of knowledge around edoxaban in a variety of AF and VTE patients, including those who are vulnerable.

About Daiichi Sankyo

Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. With over 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 16,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to a strong portfolio of medicines for hypertension and thrombotic disorders, under the Group’s 2025 Vision to become a “Global Pharma Innovator with Competitive Advantage in Oncology,” Daiichi Sankyo research and development is primarily focused on bringing forth novel therapies in oncology, including immuno-oncology, with additional focus on new horizon areas, such as pain management, neurodegenerative diseases, heart and kidney diseases, and other rare diseases. For more information, please visit: www.daiichisankyo.com.

References

1. Clinicaltrials.gov. Edoxaban Compared to Standard Care After Heart Valve Replacement Using a Catheter in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (ENVISAGE-TAVI AF). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02943785.. [Last accessed: March 2017].

2. Webb J, Cribier A. Percutaneous transarterial aortic valve implantation: what do we know? Eur Heart J. 2011;32(2):140-7.

3. Otto CM, Prendergast B. Aortic-valve stenosis- from patients at risk to severe valve ablation. N Engl J Med. 2104;371(8):744-56.

4. Biviano AB, et al. Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: insights from the placement of aortic transcatheter valve (PARTNER) trial. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2016;9(1):e002766. doi:10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS. 115.002766.

5. Kirchhof P, et al. 2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS. Eur Heart J. 2016;37(38):2893-2962.

6. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute – What is Atrial Fibrillation. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/af/af_diagnosis.html. [Last accessed: March 2017].

7. Iqbal MB, et al. Recent developments in atrial fibrillation. BMJ. 2005;330(7485):238–43.

8. Camm A, et al. Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation: the Task Force for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Eur Heart J.2010;31(19):2369–2429.

9. Krijthe BP, et al. Projections on the number of individuals with atrial fibrillation in the European Union, from 2000 to 2060. Eur Heart J. 2013;34(35):2746-2751.

10. Ball J, et al. Atrial fibrillation: Profile and burden of an evolving epidemic in the 21st century. Int J Card. 2013;167:1807-1824.

SOURCE: Daiichi Sankyo