Novartis drug Exjade® first treatment approved by FDA for chronic iron overload in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia

Novartis International AG / Novartis drug Exjade® first treatment approved by FDA for chronic iron overload in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia . Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters ONE. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. * Pivotal placebo-controlled study data show Exjade significantly decreases iron burden in NTDT patients versus placebo, with similar overall adverse event rate[1] * Patients with NTDT accumulate excess iron increasing their risk of complications, including liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, blood clots, and bone and vascular disease[2] * At least three quarters of a million people worldwide have NTDT[3]-[5] and many patients are undiagnosed until serious symptoms arise[6] Basel, January 23, 2013 - Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Exjade(®) (deferasirox) for the treatment of chronic iron overload in patients 10 years of age and older with non- transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) syndromes and with a liver iron concentration of at least 5 mg of iron per gram dry weight and a serum ferritin measurement greater than 300 micrograms per liter. Exjade is the first treatment indicated for patients with these types of thalassemia in the United States. The approval is based on results from the first prospective placebo-controlled study of iron chelation in NTDT patients, THALASSA, which showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in iron burden compared to placebo (p<0.001)[1]. In this pivotal study, Exjade significantly reduced the concentration of iron in the liver, known as liver iron concentration (LIC), as well as the amount of iron anywhere in the body, measured by serum ferritin[1]. The overall adverse event rate for Exjade was similar to the placebo arm[1]. "Patients with NTDT can suffer severe and life-changing complications from chronic iron overload," said Elliott Vichinsky, MD, Medical Director, Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California. "In these thalassemia patients, excess iron starts to accumulate at birth yet is often undetected until serious symptoms appear in early adulthood. With this approval of Exjade, physicians will be able to offer NTDT patients a treatment option, helping fulfill a critical unmet need." Thalassemia refers to a diverse group of genetic disorders that affect red blood cell production, causing anemia. Unlike patients with other types of thalassemia, those with NTDT syndromes don't require regular transfusions, a significant cause of chronic iron overload. However, even without transfusions, NTDT patients still accumulate excess iron through intestinal absorption, leading to debilitating health complications like liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, blood clots, bone disease, pulmonary hypertension, and vascular and endocrine diseases[2],[7]. "For years, Exjade has effectively treated chronic iron overload in transfused thalassemia patients," said Alessandro Riva, Global Head, Oncology Development and Medical Affairs, Novartis Oncology. "Now, for the first time, thalassemia patients who do not receive regular transfusions but suffer the same debilitating effects from chronic iron overload, have an approved treatment option." According to published studies, at least three quarters of a million people worldwide have NTDT syndromes, although as understanding of the disease increases it is probable the number will grow[3]-[5]. Because NTDT patients are not symptomatic at birth, when most thalassemias are diagnosed, they are often underdiagnosed and undertreated[6]. Many complications associated with chronic iron overload begin to appear as early as age 10 and become increasingly common as patients reach their 20s or 30s[8]. Most NTDT patients are of South and Southeast Asian, Mediterranean or Middle Eastern origin, with immigration broadening the global prevalence[6],[9]. About the THALASSA Study The THALASSA trial showed that Exjade at a 10 mg/kg per day starting dose significantly reduced LIC from baseline by 3.8 mg of iron per gram of liver dry weight (Fe/g dw) compared to an increase of 0.38 mg Fe/g dw in patients receiving placebo after 52 weeks of treatment (p<0.001)[1]. The study also determined that a 10 mg/kg per day dose was superior to a 5 mg/kg per day dose (p=0.009)[1]. Additional research has also demonstrated Exjade continues to provide benefit over the longer term, with LIC levels reduced by 7.14 mg Fe/g dw from baseline after 24 months of treatment[10]. The most common reported adverse events (at least 5% in any Exjade or placebo group) were nausea, skin rash, diarrhea and headache[1]. About Exjade In the US, Exjade is now indicated for the treatment of chronic iron overload in patients 10 years of age and older with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) syndromes and with a liver iron concentration (LIC) of at least 5 mg of iron per gram dry weight (mg Fe/g dw) and a serum ferritin measurement greater than 300 micrograms per liter. The basis of this indication is data showing achievement of an LIC less than 5 mg Fe/g dw after treatment with Exjade. An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms has not been established. Since 2005, Exjade has been approved in the US for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions in adult and pediatric patients (aged 2 years and over). In the European Union (EU), Exjade is an oral iron chelation therapy indicated for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to frequent blood transfusions (>=7 ml/kg/month of packed red blood cells) in patients with beta-thalassemia aged 6 years and older. It is also indicated for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions when deferoxamine therapy is contraindicated or inadequate in the following patient groups: patients with beta-thalassemia major with iron overload due to frequent blood transfusions (>=7 ml/kg/month of packed red blood cells) aged 2 to 5 years; patients with beta-thalassemia major with iron overload due to infrequent blood transfusions (<7 ml/kg/month of packed red blood cells) aged 2 years and older; and patients with other anemias aged 2 years and older. Exjade is also indicated for the treatment of chronic iron overload requiring chelation therapy when deferoxamine therapy is contraindicated or inadequate in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia syndromes aged 10 years and older. Exjade is approved in over 100 countries including the US, Switzerland, Japan and countries comprising the EU. The approved indication may vary depending upon the individual country. Exjade Important Safety Information Exjade is contraindicated in patients with an estimated creatinine clearance <60 mL/min, with hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients, or in combination with other iron chelator therapies. Exjade is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment. There have been postmarketing reports of acute renal failure, hepatic failure and cytopenias. Renal failure requiring temporary or permanent dialysis, renal tubulopathy and interstitial nephritis have been reported. Upper gastrointestinal ulceration and hemorrhage, sometimes fatal, have been reported. Caution should be used in elderly patients due to a higher frequency of adverse reactions. Exjade is not recommended in patients with a short life expectancy (e.g., high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes), especially when co-morbidities could increase the risk of adverse events. Skin rashes, serious hypersensitivity reactions, decreased hearing and lens opacities have been reported. The most common adverse reactions are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, non-progressive increases in serum creatinine, increased transaminases, abdominal distension, constipation, dyspepsia, proteinuria and headache.  Please visit www.exjade.com for more information. Disclaimer The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "will," or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential future revenues from Exjade. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results with Exjade to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Exjade will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding Exjade could be affected by, among other things, unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; unexpected manufacturing issues; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group's assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group's consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Novartis Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2011, the Group achieved net sales of USD 58.6 billion, while approximately USD 9.6 billion (USD 9.2 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges) was invested in R&D throughout the Group. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 127,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com. Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis. References 1. Taher A, Porter J, Viprakasit V, et al. Deferasirox significantly reduces iron overload in non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia: 1-year results from a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Blood. 2012. Published online before print May 15, 2012. 2. Musallam KM, Cappellini MD, Wood JC, et al. Iron overload in non- transfusion-dependent thalassemia: a clinical perspective. Blood Reviews. 2012:26S:S16-S19. 3. Vichinsky E. Hemoglobin E syndromes. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2007;79-83. 4. Weatherall DJ. The definition and epidemiology of non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia. Blood Reviews. 2012:26S:S3-S6. 5. Vichinsky EP. Changing patterns of thalassemia worldwide. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2005;1054:18-24. 6. Thalassaemia International Federation. The Thalassaemia International Federation's New Focus: Addressing the Management of Non-Transfusion- Dependent Thalassaemias (NTDT). Position Paper 5.2. March 20, 2012. Accessed at: http://www.thalassaemia.org.cy/pdf/NTDT_Position_Paper_Final.pdf. 7. Musallam KM, Cappellini MD, Wood JC, Motta I, Graziadei G, Tamin H, Taher AT. Elevated liver iron concentration is a marker of increased morbidity in patients with B thalassemia intermedia. Haematologica. 2011 Nov;96(11):1605-12. 8. Taher AT. Age-related complications in treatment-naïve patients with thalassemia intermedia. Brit J Haematol. 2010;150:486-489. 9. Taher A, Cappellini MD, Musallam KM. Recent advances and treatment challenges in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia. Blood. 2012;26S:S1-2. 10. Taher AT, Porter JB, Viprakasit V et al. Deferasirox continues to reduce iron overload in non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia: a one-year, open- label extension to a one-year, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study (THALASSA). Poster presented at the 54(th) American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, GA (8-11 December 2012). 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