275 Likes UCB and Amgen Receive Positive Vote From FDA Advisory Committee In Favor of Approval For EVENITY™ (Romosozumab)
275 Likes UCB and Amgen Receive Positive Vote From FDA Advisory Committee In Favor of Approval For EVENITY™ (Romosozumab) Potential New Treatment Option for the Treatment of Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis at High Risk for FractureBrussels, Belgium and Thousand Oaks, Calif. (January 16, 2019) - UCB (Euronext Brussels: UCB) and Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced strong support from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee (BRUDAC) for the approval of EVENITY™* (romosozumab) for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture after reviewing safety and efficacy data from the pivotal Phase 3 studies. Eighteen of nineteen members voted yes for approval. In their discussion, the Committee emphasized the need for post-marketing follow-up. “Evidence suggests that many women who sustain a fragility fracture are not appropriately treated for osteoporosis.1 This is why new treatment options are so important,” said Dr. Pascale Richetta, head of bone and executive vice president, UCB. “The Committee’s recommendation represents a step forward for patients and we look forward to working with our partner Amgen in the coming months to bring romosozumab to the patients that need it most.” The romosozumab development program includes 19 clinical studies that enrolled approximately 14,000 patients.2 Notable Phase 3 studies include: FRAME,3 a placebo-controlled study with 7,180 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at risk for fracture; ARCH,4 an active comparator-controlled study with 4,093 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and with prior history of fracture; and STRUCTURE, an active-comparator-controlled study with 436 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.5 The BRUDAC evaluated the FRAME and ARCH studies in its review of the clinical benefit:risk profile of romosozumab, including the cardiovascular safety finding seen in the ARCH study, for the potential to reduce the risk of fractures and increase bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. “We are pleased with the Committee’s recommendation to approve romosozumab for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture,” said David M. Reese, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Amgen. “A fracture due to osteoporosis can be devastating to the lives of patients. After an osteoporotic fracture, a woman is five times more likely to suffer another fracture within the first year, and her risk remains elevated over time if untreated.6 Despite available therapies, these women who are at high risk for fracture could benefit from an additional treatment option that has the potential to build new bone and slow existing bone loss. We are committed to working with the FDA to help make romosozumab available to appropriate patients.” While the FDA is not bound by the Advisory Committee's recommendations, it takes the advice into consideration when making its decision.In the U.S., one in two women over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture.7 Unfortunately, only 20 percent of women who have experienced a fracture receive any type of osteoporosis treatment during the first year post-fracture.1 Romosozumab was granted marketing authorization – its first approval anywhere in the world - by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on January 8, 2019 for the treatment of osteoporosis in patients at high risk of fracture.8 The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently reviewing a marketing application for romosozumab and interactions with the agency are ongoing. References International Osteoporosis Foundation. Facts and Statistics. https://www.iofbonehealth.org/facts-statistics. Accessed January 1, 2019.Amgen Briefing Information for the January 16, 2019 Meeting of the Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/Drugs/ReproductiveHealthDrugsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM629458.pdf. Accessed January 15, 2019Efficacy and Safety of Romosozumab Treatment in Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis (FRAME). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01575834?term=NCT01575834&rank=1. Accessed January 1, 2019.Study to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of Romosozumab in the Treatment of Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis (ARCH). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01631214?term=NCT01631214&rank=1. Accessed November 27, 2018.An Open-label Study to Evaluate the Effect of Treatment With Romosozumab or Teriparatide in Postmenopausal Women (STRUCTURE). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01796301?term=STRUCTURE+ROMOSOZUMAB&rank=1.Lindsay R, Silverman SL, Cooper C, et al. Risk of new vertebral fracture in the year following fracture. JAMA. 2001;285(3):320-323. Accessed January 1, 2019.National Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis Fast Facts. https://cdn.nof.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Osteoporosis-Fast-Facts.pdf. Accessed January 1, 2019.Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Prescription Drug Database http://www.info.pmda.go.jp/go/pack/39994C7G1022_1_02/ About EVENITY (romosozumab)Romosozumab is a bone-forming monoclonal antibody approved in Japan. It is designed to work by inhibiting the activity of sclerostin, which enables romosozumab to increase bone formation and reduce bone resorption. Romosozumab has been studied for its potential to reduce the risk of fractures in an extensive global Phase 3 program. This program included two large fracture trials comparing romosozumab to either placebo or active comparator in more than 10,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Amgen and UCB are co-developing romosozumab. About the Amgen and UCB CollaborationSince 2004, Amgen and UCB have been working together under a collaboration and license agreement to research, develop and market antibody products targeting the protein sclerostin. As part of this agreement, the two companies continue to collaborate on the development of romosozumab for the treatment of osteoporosis. This gene-to-drug project demonstrates how Amgen and UCB are joining forces to translate a genetic discovery into a new medicine, turning conceptual science into a reality. About UCBUCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases in immunology and neurology. With more than 7,500 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of € 4.5 billion in 2017. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news. UCB Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial information, expected legal, political, regulatory or clinical results and other such estimates and results. By their nature, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those that may be implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to obtain them on acceptable terms, costs associated with research and development, changes in the prospects for products in the pipeline or under development by UCB, effects of future judicial decisions or governmental investigations, product liability claims, challenges to patent protection for products or product candidates, changes in laws or regulations, exchange rate fluctuations, changes or uncertainties in tax laws or the administration of such laws and hiring and retention of its employees. UCB is providing this information as of the date of this press release and expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report a change in its expectations.There is no guarantee that new product candidates in the pipeline will progress to product approval or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to differences between the partners. Also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products after they are marketed.Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement. About AmgenAmgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology. Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people’s lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be the world’s largest independent biotechnology company, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential. For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen. 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Further, while Amgen routinely obtains patents for its products and technology, the protection offered by its patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, or Amgen may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. Amgen performs a substantial amount of its commercial manufacturing activities at a few key manufacturing facilities and also depends on third parties for a portion of its manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of its current products and product candidate development. In addition, Amgen competes with other companies with respect to many of its marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for Amgen's products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. 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Amgen's business performance could affect or limit the ability of the Amgen Board of Directors to declare a dividend or its ability to pay a dividend or repurchase its common stock.The scientific information discussed in this news release related to Amgen's product candidates is preliminary and investigative. Such product candidates are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of the product candidates. CONTACT: UCB, Brussels France Nivelle, Global Communications, UCB, T +32.2.559.9178, france.nivelle@ucb.com Laurent Schots, Media Relations, UCB, T+32.2.559.92.64, laurent.schots@ucb.comAntje Witte, Investor Relations, UCB, T +32.2.559.94.14, antje.witte@ucb.comIsabelle Ghellynck, Investor Relations, UCB, T+32.2.559.9588, isabelle.ghellynck@ucb.com CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand OaksKristen Davis, 805-447-3008 (media) Kristen Neese, 805-313-8267 (media) Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors) Asset Download FDA Adcom Vote January 16, 2019 ENG 275 Likes
