- Launch has Begun in Germany
- Broad Label for All Fabry Patients with an Amenable Genetic Mutation
- First Precision Medicine Approved for Fabry Disease
CRANBURY, NJ, USA I May 31, 2016 I Amicus Therapeutics (FOLD), a biotechnology company at the forefront of rare and orphan diseases, today announced that the European Commission has granted full approval for the oral small molecule pharmacological chaperone Galafold™ (migalastat) as a first line therapy for long-term treatment of adults and adolescents aged 16 years and older with a confirmed diagnosis of Fabry disease (alpha-galactosidase A deficiency) and who have an amenable mutation. Amicus began supplying the market in Germany on Monday, May 30, 2016 and will commence the reimbursement processes with healthcare authorities in each of the major European countries.
Galafold is the first oral treatment as well as the first precision medicine for Fabry disease. The broad label includes 269 Fabry-causing mutations which represent 35 percent to 50 percent of all patients with Fabry disease. The label also references a website www.galafoldamenabilitytable.com where EU healthcare providers can quickly and accurately determine which mutations are amenable to Galafold.
“This EU approval for Galafold is a significant advancement in the field of precision genetic medicine and a tremendous milestone for the Fabry community,” said John F. Crowley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. “This approval also completes our transformation to a global, fully-integrated, commercial biotechnology company focused on rare and devastating diseases. Our world-class commercial and business leadership team has done an outstanding job preparing for this day. We have begun the launch of Galafold in Germany and will commence the country-by-country reimbursement processes throughout the EU. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our Amicus employees and the Fabry community, in particular those physicians and patients who participated in the clinical studies of Galafold and their families who made this approval possible. As we move forward with the commercial launch of Galafold, we will continue to invest in the innovation of our pipeline. Our vision today is more focused than ever – to build on our strong science and clinical experience to bring forward the highest quality therapies for Fabry, Pompe, EB and other rare and devastating diseases.”
The EC approval was based on clinical data from two Phase 3 pivotal studies in both treatment naïve (Study 011, or FACETS) and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) switch patients (Study 012, or ATTRACT), as well as ongoing long-term extension studies. Fabry disease is a rare genetic disease and potentially life-threatening condition caused by the accumulation of disease substrate (globotriaosylceramide, GL-3) in the lysosome due to a dysfunctional or deficient enzyme. Galafold works by stabilizing the body’s own dysfunctional enzyme, so it can clear the accumulation of disease substrate in patients who have amenable mutations. An amenable mutation is one that is responsive to therapy with Galafold based on predefined criteria.
“As principal investigator in both Galafold pivotal studies, I have experience treating both naïve and treatment-experienced Fabry patients with Galafold,” said Derralynn Hughes MA DPhil FRCP FRCPath, Senior Lecturer in Haematology at University College London, UK with clinical responsibilities in haematology and lysosomal storage disorders. “I am pleased that the European Commission has approved this new treatment option and I believe it has the potential to address unmet needs among Fabry patients who have amenable mutations.”
“The EU approval of the first oral precision medicine for Fabry disease is a major step forward for patients in Europe,” said Christine Lavery, President of the Fabry International Network (FIN). “We appreciate Amicus’ commitment to the Fabry community and its dedication to develop high quality therapies for Fabry disease. For the first time in more than a decade, patients with Fabry disease who have amenable mutations now have a choice for an innovative new treatment option.”
François Eyskens, MD, PhD, Department of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, stated, “During my 20 years in treating Fabry disease, I am convinced that it is underdiagnosed and that significant unmet need remains among these patients. Galafold is an innovative oral precision medicine with a unique mechanism of action that has demonstrated compelling results in naïve and treatment-experienced Fabry patients who have amenable mutations. I am looking forward to offering a differentiated treatment option for the many Fabry patients who have an amenable mutation.”
The EC approval of Galafold follows the unanimous April 2016 positive opinion granted by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and applies to all 28-member states of the EU and Liechtenstein, with final authorization pending in Iceland and Norway. The EC approval provides a platform to begin accessing the more than 70 percent of the Fabry global market, including the EU member states as well as several international territories that accept the EC approval as the basis for marketing submissions. The Company is also pursuing independent regulatory processes in several international territories outside of Europe, including Japan, Australia and Canada. Amicus also expects to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the middle of 2016 to clarify a potential U.S. regulatory pathway for Galafold.
About Galafold™ and Amenable Mutations
Galafold is a first-in-class chaperone therapy approved in the EU as a monotherapy for Fabry disease in patients with amenable mutations. Galafold works by stabilizing the body’s own dysfunctional enzyme, so it can clear the accumulation of disease substrate in patients who have amenable mutations. A proprietary in vitro assay (Galafold Amenability Assay) was used to classify more than 800 known GLA mutations as “amenable” or “not amenable” to treatment with Galafold. The current label includes all 269 GLA mutations that have been identified and determined to be amenable based on the Galafold Amenability Assay, which represent between 35% and 50% of the currently diagnosed Fabry population.
Healthcare providers in the EU may access the website [www.galafoldamenabilitytable.com] to quickly and accurately identify which mutations are categorized as “amenable” or “not amenable” to Galafold. Amicus expects to submit updates to the label as additional GLA mutations are identified and tested in the Galafold Amenability Assay.
Important Safety Information
Treatment with GALAFOLD should be initiated and supervised by specialists experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of Fabry disease. GALAFOLD is not recommended for use in patients with a nonamenable mutation.
- GALAFOLD is not intended for concomitant use with enzyme replacement therapy.
- GALAFOLD is not recommended for use in patients with Fabry disease who have severe renal impairment (<30 mL/min/1.73 m2). The safety and efficacy of GALAFOLD in children 0–15 years of age have not yet been established.
- No dosage adjustments are required in patients with hepatic impairment or in the elderly population.
- There is very limited experience with the use of this medicine in pregnant women. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, do not take this medicine until you have checked with your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
- While taking GALAFOLD, you should use effective birth control should be used. It is not known whether GALAFOLD is excreted in human milk.
- Contraindications to GALAFOLD include hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in the PRESCRIBING INFORMATION.
- It is advised to periodically monitor renal function, echocardiographic parameters and biochemical markers (every 6 months) in patients initiated on GALAFOLD or switched to GALAFOLD.
- OVERDOSE: General medical care is recommended in the case of GALAFOLD overdose.
- The most common adverse reaction reported was headache, which was experienced by approximately 10% of patients who received GALAFOLD. For a complete list of adverse reactions, please review the SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS.
- Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
About Fabry Disease
Fabry disease is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of an enzyme called alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A), which are the result of mutations in the GLA gene. The primary biological function of alpha-Gal A is to degrade specific lipids in lysosomes, including globotriaosylceramide (referred to here as GL-3 and also known as Gb3). Lipids that can be degraded by the action of alpha-Gal A are called “substrates” of the enzyme. Reduced or absent levels of alpha-Gal A activity lead to the accumulation of GL-3 in the affected tissues, including the central nervous system, heart, kidneys, and skin. Progressive accumulation of GL-3 is believed to lead to the morbidity and mortality of Fabry disease, including pain, kidney failure, heart disease, and stroke. The symptoms can be severe, differ from patient to patient, and begin at an early age. All Fabry disease is progressive and leads to organ damage regardless of the time of symptom onset.
About Amicus Therapeutics
Amicus Therapeutics (FOLD) is a biotechnology company at the forefront of therapies for rare and orphan diseases. The Company has a robust pipeline of advanced therapies for a broad range of human genetic diseases. Amicus’ lead programs in development include the small molecule pharmacological chaperone migalastat as a monotherapy for Fabry disease, SD-101 for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), as well as novel enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) products for Fabry disease, Pompe disease, and other lysosomal storage disorders.
SOURCE: Amicus Therapeutics
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- Launch has Begun in Germany
- Broad Label for All Fabry Patients with an Amenable Genetic Mutation
- First Precision Medicine Approved for Fabry Disease
CRANBURY, NJ, USA I May 31, 2016 I Amicus Therapeutics (FOLD), a biotechnology company at the forefront of rare and orphan diseases, today announced that the European Commission has granted full approval for the oral small molecule pharmacological chaperone Galafold™ (migalastat) as a first line therapy for long-term treatment of adults and adolescents aged 16 years and older with a confirmed diagnosis of Fabry disease (alpha-galactosidase A deficiency) and who have an amenable mutation. Amicus began supplying the market in Germany on Monday, May 30, 2016 and will commence the reimbursement processes with healthcare authorities in each of the major European countries.
Galafold is the first oral treatment as well as the first precision medicine for Fabry disease. The broad label includes 269 Fabry-causing mutations which represent 35 percent to 50 percent of all patients with Fabry disease. The label also references a website www.galafoldamenabilitytable.com where EU healthcare providers can quickly and accurately determine which mutations are amenable to Galafold.
“This EU approval for Galafold is a significant advancement in the field of precision genetic medicine and a tremendous milestone for the Fabry community,” said John F. Crowley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. “This approval also completes our transformation to a global, fully-integrated, commercial biotechnology company focused on rare and devastating diseases. Our world-class commercial and business leadership team has done an outstanding job preparing for this day. We have begun the launch of Galafold in Germany and will commence the country-by-country reimbursement processes throughout the EU. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our Amicus employees and the Fabry community, in particular those physicians and patients who participated in the clinical studies of Galafold and their families who made this approval possible. As we move forward with the commercial launch of Galafold, we will continue to invest in the innovation of our pipeline. Our vision today is more focused than ever – to build on our strong science and clinical experience to bring forward the highest quality therapies for Fabry, Pompe, EB and other rare and devastating diseases.”
The EC approval was based on clinical data from two Phase 3 pivotal studies in both treatment naïve (Study 011, or FACETS) and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) switch patients (Study 012, or ATTRACT), as well as ongoing long-term extension studies. Fabry disease is a rare genetic disease and potentially life-threatening condition caused by the accumulation of disease substrate (globotriaosylceramide, GL-3) in the lysosome due to a dysfunctional or deficient enzyme. Galafold works by stabilizing the body’s own dysfunctional enzyme, so it can clear the accumulation of disease substrate in patients who have amenable mutations. An amenable mutation is one that is responsive to therapy with Galafold based on predefined criteria.
“As principal investigator in both Galafold pivotal studies, I have experience treating both naïve and treatment-experienced Fabry patients with Galafold,” said Derralynn Hughes MA DPhil FRCP FRCPath, Senior Lecturer in Haematology at University College London, UK with clinical responsibilities in haematology and lysosomal storage disorders. “I am pleased that the European Commission has approved this new treatment option and I believe it has the potential to address unmet needs among Fabry patients who have amenable mutations.”
“The EU approval of the first oral precision medicine for Fabry disease is a major step forward for patients in Europe,” said Christine Lavery, President of the Fabry International Network (FIN). “We appreciate Amicus’ commitment to the Fabry community and its dedication to develop high quality therapies for Fabry disease. For the first time in more than a decade, patients with Fabry disease who have amenable mutations now have a choice for an innovative new treatment option.”
François Eyskens, MD, PhD, Department of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, stated, “During my 20 years in treating Fabry disease, I am convinced that it is underdiagnosed and that significant unmet need remains among these patients. Galafold is an innovative oral precision medicine with a unique mechanism of action that has demonstrated compelling results in naïve and treatment-experienced Fabry patients who have amenable mutations. I am looking forward to offering a differentiated treatment option for the many Fabry patients who have an amenable mutation.”
The EC approval of Galafold follows the unanimous April 2016 positive opinion granted by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and applies to all 28-member states of the EU and Liechtenstein, with final authorization pending in Iceland and Norway. The EC approval provides a platform to begin accessing the more than 70 percent of the Fabry global market, including the EU member states as well as several international territories that accept the EC approval as the basis for marketing submissions. The Company is also pursuing independent regulatory processes in several international territories outside of Europe, including Japan, Australia and Canada. Amicus also expects to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the middle of 2016 to clarify a potential U.S. regulatory pathway for Galafold.
About Galafold™ and Amenable Mutations
Galafold is a first-in-class chaperone therapy approved in the EU as a monotherapy for Fabry disease in patients with amenable mutations. Galafold works by stabilizing the body’s own dysfunctional enzyme, so it can clear the accumulation of disease substrate in patients who have amenable mutations. A proprietary in vitro assay (Galafold Amenability Assay) was used to classify more than 800 known GLA mutations as “amenable” or “not amenable” to treatment with Galafold. The current label includes all 269 GLA mutations that have been identified and determined to be amenable based on the Galafold Amenability Assay, which represent between 35% and 50% of the currently diagnosed Fabry population.
Healthcare providers in the EU may access the website [www.galafoldamenabilitytable.com] to quickly and accurately identify which mutations are categorized as “amenable” or “not amenable” to Galafold. Amicus expects to submit updates to the label as additional GLA mutations are identified and tested in the Galafold Amenability Assay.
Important Safety Information
Treatment with GALAFOLD should be initiated and supervised by specialists experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of Fabry disease. GALAFOLD is not recommended for use in patients with a nonamenable mutation.
- GALAFOLD is not intended for concomitant use with enzyme replacement therapy.
- GALAFOLD is not recommended for use in patients with Fabry disease who have severe renal impairment (<30 mL/min/1.73 m2). The safety and efficacy of GALAFOLD in children 0–15 years of age have not yet been established.
- No dosage adjustments are required in patients with hepatic impairment or in the elderly population.
- There is very limited experience with the use of this medicine in pregnant women. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, do not take this medicine until you have checked with your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
- While taking GALAFOLD, you should use effective birth control should be used. It is not known whether GALAFOLD is excreted in human milk.
- Contraindications to GALAFOLD include hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in the PRESCRIBING INFORMATION.
- It is advised to periodically monitor renal function, echocardiographic parameters and biochemical markers (every 6 months) in patients initiated on GALAFOLD or switched to GALAFOLD.
- OVERDOSE: General medical care is recommended in the case of GALAFOLD overdose.
- The most common adverse reaction reported was headache, which was experienced by approximately 10% of patients who received GALAFOLD. For a complete list of adverse reactions, please review the SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS.
- Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
About Fabry Disease
Fabry disease is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of an enzyme called alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A), which are the result of mutations in the GLA gene. The primary biological function of alpha-Gal A is to degrade specific lipids in lysosomes, including globotriaosylceramide (referred to here as GL-3 and also known as Gb3). Lipids that can be degraded by the action of alpha-Gal A are called “substrates” of the enzyme. Reduced or absent levels of alpha-Gal A activity lead to the accumulation of GL-3 in the affected tissues, including the central nervous system, heart, kidneys, and skin. Progressive accumulation of GL-3 is believed to lead to the morbidity and mortality of Fabry disease, including pain, kidney failure, heart disease, and stroke. The symptoms can be severe, differ from patient to patient, and begin at an early age. All Fabry disease is progressive and leads to organ damage regardless of the time of symptom onset.
About Amicus Therapeutics
Amicus Therapeutics (FOLD) is a biotechnology company at the forefront of therapies for rare and orphan diseases. The Company has a robust pipeline of advanced therapies for a broad range of human genetic diseases. Amicus’ lead programs in development include the small molecule pharmacological chaperone migalastat as a monotherapy for Fabry disease, SD-101 for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), as well as novel enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) products for Fabry disease, Pompe disease, and other lysosomal storage disorders.
SOURCE: Amicus Therapeutics
Post Views: 70
