Fifth disease in which Dupixent has demonstrated positive pivotal results
Phase 3 trial met primary and all key secondary endpoints at 24 weeks, showing Dupixent nearly doubled reduction in itch and urticaria activity scores
CSU results further demonstrate the potential of targeting IL-4 and IL-13 via IL-4Ra blockade to improve diseases with components of type 2 inflammation
Approximately 300,000 people in the U.S. have moderate-to-severe CSU that does not respond adequately to antihistamines alone
Data continue to support well-established safety profile of Dupixent
TARRYTOWN, NY, USA and PARIS, France I July 29, 2021 I Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi today announced a pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating Dupixent® (dupilumab) in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) met its primary and all key secondary endpoints at 24 weeks. Adding Dupixent to standard-of-care antihistamines significantly reduced itch and hives for biologic-naïve patients, compared to antihistamines alone in Study A, the first of two trials of the LIBERTY-CUPID clinical program.
“This is the first Phase 3 trial to show that by targeting IL-4 and IL-13, Dupixent can address the debilitating symptoms of chronic spontaneous urticaria like persistent itch and hives when standard-of-care antihistamines cannot sufficiently control the disease,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer at Regeneron. “These data add to the increasing body of evidence that Dupixent can reduce the disease burden of a diverse range of dermatologic, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. By early 2022, we look forward to reporting results from a second trial in patients who were unable to control their chronic spontaneous urticaria with another biologic medicine, as well as other trial results in additional dermatologic diseases.”
CSU is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by the sudden onset of hives on the skin and/or swelling deep under the skin. Despite standard-of-care treatment, people with CSU often experience symptoms including a persistent itch or burning sensation, which can be debilitating and significantly impact quality of life. Swelling often occurs on the face, hands and feet, and can also affect the throat and upper airways. CSU is typically treated with antihistamines but the disease remains uncontrolled for up to 50% of patients who have limited available treatment options. CSU is the fifth disease for which Dupixent has positive Phase 3 data including atopic dermatitis, asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE, investigational).
“The chronic nature of CSU, coupled with intense itch, causes both a physical and emotional burden on people who have not found an effective treatment,” said John Reed, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head of Research and Development at Sanofi. “This is the fifth inflammatory disease in which Dupixent has demonstrated a significant improvement in symptoms and disease manifestations in Phase 3 pivotal studies. The success of this trial underscores the agility of our clinical operations team considering the pandemic conditions and underscores our ability to deliver on an aggressive timeline for addressing a significant unmet need for this patient population.”
In the trial (n=138), adding Dupixent to standard-of-care antihistamines nearly doubled the reduction in itch and urticaria activity compared to standard-of-care alone (placebo) with continuous improvement out to 24 weeks. Patients experienced a:
- 63% reduction in itch severity with Dupixent versus 35% with placebo, as measured by a 0-21 point itch severity scale (10.24 point reduction with Dupixent versus 6.01 point reduction with placebo, p<0.001), the primary endpoint in the U.S. (secondary endpoint in the EU).
- 65% reduction in urticaria activity (itch and hive) severity with Dupixent versus 37% with placebo, as measured by a 0-42 point urticaria activity scale (20.53 point reduction with Dupixent versus 12.00 point reduction with placebo, p<0.001), the primary endpoint in EU (secondary endpoint in the U.S.).
The trial demonstrated safety results similar to the known safety profile of Dupixent in its approved indications. For the 24-week treatment period, the occurrence of treatment emergent adverse events were generally similar between the Dupixent and placebo groups (50% Dupixent, 59% placebo). The most common adverse events were injection site reactions (11% Dupixent, 13% placebo).
The potential use of Dupixent in CSU and EoE is currently under clinical development, and the safety and efficacy have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority.
About the Trial
Study A of the Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled LIBERTY-CUPID clinical program evaluated the efficacy and safety of Dupixent as an add-on therapy to standard-of-care antihistamines compared to antihistamines alone in 138 patients aged 6 years and older with CSU who remained symptomatic despite antihistamine use and were not previously treated with omalizumab.
The primary endpoints assessed the change from baseline in itch (measured by the weekly itch severity score [ISS7]) and the change from baseline in itch and hives (measured by the weekly urticaria activity score [UAS7]) at 24 weeks.
Study B of this clinical program is ongoing to evaluate Dupixent in adults and adolescents who remain symptomatic despite standard-of-care treatment and are intolerant or incomplete responders to omalizumab. The trial is expected to read out in the first half of 2022. Sanofi and Regeneron plan to begin regulatory submissions in 2022. In addition to CSU, Regeneron and Sanofi are also studying Dupixent in chronic inducible urticaria triggered by cold (LIBERTY-CINDU CUrIADS program) in an ongoing Phase 3 trial.
About Dupixent
Dupixent is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the signaling of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) pathways and is not an immunosuppressant. It was invented using Regeneron’s proprietary VelocImmune® technology. IL-4 and IL-13 are key and central drivers of the type 2 inflammation that plays a major role in asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), atopic dermatitis and eosinophilic esophagitis and may contribute to CSU.
In the U.S. and Europe, Dupixent is approved for patients 6 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, patients 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe asthma, and in adults with uncontrolled CRSwNP. Dupixent is also approved in one or more of these indications in more than 60 countries around the world and more than 300,000 patients have been treated globally.
About Regeneron’s VelocImmune® Technology
Regeneron’s VelocImmune technology utilizes a proprietary genetically engineered mouse platform endowed with a genetically humanized immune system to produce optimized fully human antibodies. When Regeneron’s President and Chief Scientific Officer George D. Yancopoulos was a graduate student with his mentor Frederick W. Alt in 1985, they were the first to envision making such a genetically humanized mouse, and Regeneron has spent decades inventing and developing VelocImmune and related VelociSuite® technologies. Dr. Yancopoulos and his team have used VelocImmune technology to create multiple antibodies including Dupixent, Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc), Praluent® (alirocumab), Kevzara® (sarilumab), Evkeeza® (evinacumab-dgnb) and InmazebTM (atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab-ebgn).
Dupilumab Development Program
To date, Dupixent has been studied across 50 clinical trials involving more than 10,000 patients with various chronic diseases driven by type 2 inflammation.
Regeneron and Sanofi are studying dupilumab in a broad range of diseases driven by type 2 inflammation or other allergic processes, including pediatric asthma (6 to 11 years of age, Phase 3), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with evidence of type 2 inflammation (Phase 3), pediatric atopic dermatitis (6 months to 5 years of age, Phase 3), eosinophilic esophagitis (Phase 3), bullous pemphigoid (Phase 3), prurigo nodularis (Phase 3), chronic spontaneous urticaria (Phase 3), chronic inducible urticaria-cold (Phase 3), chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyposis (Phase 3), allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (Phase 3), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (Phase 3) and peanut allergy (Phase 2). These potential uses of dupilumab are currently under clinical investigation, and the safety and efficacy in these conditions have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority. Dupilumab is being jointly developed by Regeneron and Sanofi under a global collaboration agreement.
U.S. Indications
DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used:
- to treat people aged 6 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin (topical), or who cannot use topical therapies. DUPIXENT can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with atopic dermatitis under 6 years of age.
- with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral steroid dependent asthma in people aged 12 years and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. DUPIXENT helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and can improve your breathing. DUPIXENT may also help reduce the amount of oral corticosteroids you need while preventing severe asthma attacks and improving your breathing. DUPIXENT is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with asthma under 12 years of age.
- with other medicines for the maintenance treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) in adults whose disease is not controlled. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis under 18 years of age.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Information.
About Regeneron
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for over 30 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to nine FDA-approved treatments and numerous product candidates in development, almost all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, pain, infectious diseases and rare diseases.
Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug development process through our proprietary VelociSuite® technologies, such as VelocImmune, which uses unique genetically humanized mice to produce optimized fully human antibodies and bispecific antibodies, and through ambitious research initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center, which is conducting one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the world.
For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter.
About Sanofi
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions.
With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe.
SOURCE: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals