Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) today
announced that a Phase III registration study evaluating subcutaneously
administered reslizumab (110 mg) in a pre-filled syringe did not meet
its primary endpoint of significantly reducing the frequency of clinical
asthma exacerbations (CAEs) in patients with uncontrolled asthma and
elevated blood eosinophils >300/mcL. A Phase III claim-support study
evaluating subcutaneously administered reslizumab in patients with oral
corticosteroid (OCS)-dependent asthma did not meet its primary endpoint
of reduction in daily OCS dose.
“We are disappointed that these trials of the reslizumab formulation
administered subcutaneously at a fixed-dose of 110 mg did not meet their
primary endpoints. However, these results reinforce the role of
eosinophils in severe asthma disease biology and the importance of
defining the right blood eosinophil cutoff point for patient selection.
We continue to see the positive impact of the intravenous formulation as
a clinically effective 3mg/kg weight-based dosing option in patients
with asthma and elevated blood eosinophils who are inadequately
controlled on standard-of-care therapy,” said Tushar Shah, MD, Senior
Vice President, Specialty Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at
Teva.
In the registration study, a pre-specified a priori-powered subgroup
analysis of 80% of the total randomized severe asthma patient population
with baseline blood eosinophil count of ≥ 400/mcL showed significant
reduction in CAE risk (p <0.025). this patient population is similar to those studied in the phase iii clinical trials for cinqair>®/CINQAERO®
(reslizumab) injection, the currently approved intravenous formulation,
which also used a blood eosinophil count of ≥ 400/mcL.
0.025).>
Teva will review the full data to determine next steps.
No new safety concerns to the known safety profile of reslizumab were
identified in review of the data from these studies and no cases of
anaphylaxis related to reslizumab were reported.
About the Studies
Study NCT02452190 was a registration Phase III, 52-week,
double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy
and safety of reslizumab administered subcutaneously in 468 patients
with uncontrolled asthma and elevated blood eosinophils. Its primary
objective was to demonstrate the efficacy of reslizumab (110 mg) fixed,
subcutaneous dosing every 4 weeks, as assessed by the reduction in
frequency of clinical asthma exacerbations (CAEs). For further details
on the study, please visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02452190?term=NCT02452190&cntry1=NA%3AUS&rank=1
Study NCT02501629 was a claim-support Phase III, 24-week,
double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the
efficacy and safety of reslizumab administered subcutaneously in 177
patients with oral corticosteroid (OCS) dependent asthma and elevated
blood eosinophils. Its primary objective was to demonstrate the efficacy
of reslizumab (110 mg) fixed, subcutaneous dosing every 4 weeks, as
assessed by reduction in daily OCS dose compared with baseline. For
further details on the study, please visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02501629?term=reslizumab&cntry1=NA%3AUS&draw=2&rank=10
About CINQAIR®/CINQAERO®
(reslizumab) injection for intravenous use
CINQAIR (reslizumab) Injection is an interleukin-5 antagonist monoclonal
antibody (IgG4 kappa) indicated for add-on maintenance treatment of
patients with severe asthma aged 18 years and older, and with an
eosinophilic phenotype.
Limitations of Use: CINQAIR is not
indicated for:
-
treatment of other eosinophilic conditions
-
relief of acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: ANAPHYLAXIS
-
Anaphylaxis has been observed with CINQAIR infusion in 0.3% of
patients in placebo-controlled clinical studies. Anaphylaxis was
reported as early as the second dose of CINQAIR.
-
Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening. Patients should be observed
for an appropriate period of time after CINQAIR administration by a
healthcare professional prepared to manage anaphylaxis. Discontinue
CINQAIR immediately if the patient experiences signs or symptoms of
anaphylaxis.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
-
CINQAIR is contraindicated in patients who have known hypersensitivity
to reslizumab or any of its excipients.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
-
Acute Asthma Symptoms or Deteriorating Disease: CINQAIR should
not be used to treat acute asthma symptoms or acute exacerbations. Do
not use CINQAIR to treat acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus.
Patients should seek medical advice if their asthma remains
uncontrolled or worsens after initiation of treatment with CINQAIR.
-
Malignancy: In placebo-controlled clinical studies, 6/1028
(0.6%) patients receiving 3 mg/kg CINQAIR had at least 1 malignant
neoplasm reported compared to 2/730 (0.3%) patients in the placebo
group. The observed malignancies in CINQAIR-treated patients were
diverse in nature and without clustering of any particular tissue
type. The majority of malignancies were diagnosed within less than six
months of exposure to CINQAIR.
-
Reduction of Corticosteroid Dosage: No clinical studies have
been conducted to assess reduction of maintenance corticosteroid
dosages following administration of CINQAIR. Do not discontinue
systemic or inhaled corticosteroids abruptly upon initiation of
therapy with CINQAIR. Reductions in corticosteroid dose, if
appropriate, should be gradual and performed under the supervision of
a physician. Reduction in corticosteroid dose may be associated with
systemic withdrawal symptoms and/or unmask conditions previously
suppressed by systemic corticosteroid therapy.
-
Parasitic (Helminth) Infection: Eosinophils may be involved in
the immunological response to some helminth infections. Treat patients
with pre-existing helminth infections before initiating CINQAIR. If
patients become infected while receiving treatment with CINQAIR and do
not respond to anti-helminth treatment, discontinue treatment with
CINQAIR until infection resolves.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
-
Adverse reactions that occurred at ≥2% incidence and more commonly
than in the placebo group included 1 event: oropharyngeal pain (2.6%
vs. 2.2%).
-
Elevated baseline creatine phosphokinase (CPK) was more frequent in
patients randomized to CINQAIR (14%) versus placebo (9%). Transient
CPK elevations in patients with normal baseline CPK values were
observed more frequently with CINQAIR (20%) versus placebo (18%)
during routine laboratory assessments.
-
Myalgia was reported in 1% (10/1028) of patients in the CINQAIR 3
mg/kg group compared to 0.5% (4/730) of patients in the placebo group.
-
Immunogenicity: In placebo-controlled studies, a treatment-emergent
anti-reslizumab antibody response developed in 53/983 (5.4%) of
CINQAIR-treated patients (3 mg/kg). The antibody responses were of low
titer and often transient. There was no detectable impact of the
antibodies on the clinical pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics,
clinical efficacy, and safety of CINQAIR.
Please
click here for Full Prescribing Information
About Teva
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) is a leading
global pharmaceutical company that delivers high-quality,
patient-centric healthcare solutions used by approximately 200 million
patients in over 60 markets every day. Headquartered in Israel, Teva is
the world’s largest generic medicines producer, leveraging its portfolio
of more than 1,800 molecules to produce a wide range of generic products
in nearly every therapeutic area. In specialty medicines, Teva has the
world-leading innovative treatment for multiple sclerosis as well as
late-stage development programs for other disorders of the central
nervous system, including movement disorders, migraine, pain and
neurodegenerative conditions, as well as a broad portfolio of
respiratory products. Teva is leveraging its generics and specialty
capabilities in order to seek new ways of addressing unmet patient needs
by combining drug development with devices, services and technologies.
Teva's net revenues in 2016 were $21.9 billion. For more information,
visit www.tevapharm.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
regarding Subcutaneously Administered Reslizumab, which are based on
management’s current beliefs and expectations and are subject to
substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could
cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ
significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such
differences include risks relating to:
-
the uncertainty of commercial success of reslizumab;
-
our specialty medicines business, including: competition for our
specialty products, especially Copaxone®, our
leading medicine, which faces competition from existing and potential
additional generic versions and orally-administered alternatives; our
ability to achieve expected results from investments in our product
pipeline; competition from companies with greater resources and
capabilities; and the effectiveness of our patents and other measures
to protect our intellectual property rights;
-
our business and operations in general, including: uncertainties
relating to the potential success and our ability to effectively
execute a restructuring plan; uncertainties relating to the potential
benefits and success of our new organizational structure and recent
senior management changes; our ability to develop and commercialize
additional pharmaceutical products; manufacturing or quality control
problems, which may damage our reputation for quality production and
require costly remediation; interruptions in our supply chain;
disruptions of our or third party information technology systems or
breaches of our data security; the restructuring of our manufacturing
network, including potential related labor unrest; the impact of
continuing consolidation of our distributors and customers; and
variations in patent laws that may adversely affect our ability to
manufacture our products; our ability to consummate
dispositions on terms acceptable to us; adverse effects of political
or economic instability, major hostilities or terrorism on our
significant worldwide operations; and our ability to successfully bid
for suitable acquisition targets or licensing opportunities, or to
consummate and integrate acquisitions;
-
compliance, regulatory and litigation matters, including: costs and
delays resulting from the extensive governmental regulation to which
we are subject; the effects of reforms in healthcare regulation and
reductions in pharmaceutical pricing, reimbursement and coverage;
potential additional adverse consequences following our resolution
with the U.S. government of our FCPA investigation; governmental
investigations into sales and marketing practices; potential liability
for sales of generic products prior to a final resolution of
outstanding patent litigation; product liability claims; increased
government scrutiny of our patent settlement agreements; failure to
comply with complex Medicare and Medicaid reporting and payment
obligations; and environmental risks; and other factors
discussed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year
ended December 31, 2016 (“Annual Report”), including in the section
captioned “Risk Factors,” and in our other filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov
and www.tevapharm.com.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are
made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements or other information contained herein,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements.
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