• Phase I study demonstrates matching pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), safety and immunogenicity profiles of Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim and reference medicine
  • Pegfilgrastim is a long-acting version of the oncology supportive care medicine filgrastim

HOLZKIRCHEN, Germany I December 08, 2017 I Sandoz, a division of Novartis  and the global leader in biosimilars, today announced data demonstrating the pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), safety and immunogenicity of proposed biosimilar pegfilgrastim as compared to the reference biologic, Neulasta®*[1]. The Phase I study, conducted in healthy volunteers, confirmed that Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim matches the reference biologic in terms of PK, PD, safety and immunogenicity profiles[1]. The data were presented during the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

“At Sandoz, we are committed to developing high-quality biosimilar and generic medicines that provide the oncology community with treatment options to help manage their patients,” said Mark Levick, MD PhD, Global Head of Development, Biopharmaceuticals, Sandoz, “And it starts with following the science. These findings add to the totality of evidence supporting our proposed biosimilar pegfilgrastim.”

Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim is currently under review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in the same indication as the reference biologic. Pegfilgrastim is a long-acting formulation of filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF])[2].

About the study

Study participants were randomized to receive a single 6 mg subcutaneous injection of biosimilar pegfilgrastim or reference medicine on Day 0[1]. After dosing, study participants underwent a 4-week assessment period followed by a 8-week washout period before crossing over to receive the other medicine, and were assessed for a further 4-weeks[1].

The results demonstrated that Sandoz proposed biosimilar pegfilgrastim matched the reference medicine in the  PK and PD comparisons as primary endpoints, in terms of absolute neutrophil count (maximum effect attributed to study medication) (95% CI: [0.97, 1.02]) and maximum serum concentration of study medication after administration (90% CI: [1.03, 1.19])[1]. Secondary endpoints of safety and immunogenicity were comparable between both groups[1].

About Sandoz

Sandoz is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. As a division of the Novartis Group, our purpose is to discover new ways to improve and extend people’s lives. We contribute to society’s ability to support growing healthcare needs by pioneering novel approaches to help people around the world access high-quality medicine. Our portfolio of approximately 1000 molecules, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2016 sales of USD 10.1 billion. In 2016, our products reached well over 500 million patients and we aspire to reach one billion. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany’s Greater Munich area.

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*Neulasta® is a registered trademark of Amgen Inc.

References

  1. Nakov, R. et al. Proposed biosimilar pegfilgrastim LA-EP2006 shows similarity in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to reference pegfilgrastim in healthy subjects. Poster session 3. 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
  2. European Medicines Agency. Neulasta: EPAR – Product Information. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-
    _Product_Information/human/000420/WC500025945.pdf
    , Last Accessed: November 2017.

 SOURCE: Sandoz