PARIS, France, 30 November 2020 — Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) today announced the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company Fast Track designation for irinotecan liposome injection (ONIVYDE®) in study patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who progressed following a first-line platinum-based regimen, reflecting the unmet medical need.
ONIVYDE® is currently approved in the United States and in Europe in combination with fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) for the treatment of patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas after disease progression following gemcitabine-based therapy. ONIVYDE® is not indicated as a single agent for the treatment of patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
An ongoing Phase III randomized study (RESILIENT; NCT03088813) trial is being conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of investigational irinotecan liposome injection (ONIVYDE®) as a monotherapy for SCLC study patients who have progressed on or after a first-line platinum-based regimen.
“The Fast Track designation of ONIVYDE® as a potential treatment for people living with small cell lung cancer is an extension of Ipsen’s focus and contribution to the treatment landscape in oncology,” said Howard Mayer, M.D., Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development at Ipsen. “With this aggressive and often late-stage diagnosed form of lung cancer, we are proud to be one step closer to making another treatment option available to patients.”
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States. In 2020, the American Cancer Society estimates there to be about 228,280 new cases of lung cancer in the US (116,300 in men and 112,520 in women).1 SCLC comprises 10% to 15% of all lung cancers and is a very aggressive form of cancer with about 70% of people having metastatic disease when they are diagnosed.2
ONIVYDE® also received Fast Track designation in June 2020 for first-line irinotecan liposome injection (ONIVYDE®) in combination with 5- fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) and oxaliplatin (OX) together, known as NALIRIFOX for study patients with previously untreated, unresectable, locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). An ongoing Phase 3 randomized study (NAPOLI-3; NCT04083235) is being conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of NALIRIFOX in study patients who are not previously treated for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Programs with Fast Track designation may benefit from early and frequent interactions with the FDA over the course of drug development. In addition, the Fast Track designation program allows for the eligibility for accelerated approval and priority review if relevant study criteria are met and enables a company to submit individual sections of a New Drug Application (NDA) for review on a rolling-submission basis.
ABOUT ONIVYDE® (irinotecan liposome injection)
Ipsen has exclusive commercialization rights for the current and potential future indications for ONIVYDE® in the U.S. Servier, an independent international pharmaceutical company with a strong international presence in 150 countries, is responsible for the commercialization of ONIVYDE® outside of the United States and Taiwan. PharmaEngine is a commercial stage oncology company headquartered in Taipei and is responsible for the commercialization of ONIVYDE® in Taiwan.
INDICATION – UNITED STATES
ONIVYDE® is approved by the U.S. FDA in combination with fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) for the treatment of patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas after disease progression following gemcitabine-based therapy. Limitation of Use: ONIVYDE® is not indicated as a single agent for the treatment of patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION – UNITED STATES
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BOXED WARNINGS: SEVERE NEUTROPENIA and SEVERE DIARRHEA Fatal neutropenic sepsis occurred in 0.8% of patients receiving ONIVYDE®. Severe or life-threatening neutropenic fever or sepsis occurred in 3% and severe or life-threatening neutropenia occurred in 20% of patients receiving ONIVYDE® in combination with 5-FU and LV. Withhold ONIVYDE® for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm3 or neutropenic fever. Monitor blood cell counts periodically during treatment. Severe diarrhea occurred in 13% of patients receiving ONIVYDE® in combination with 5-FU/LV. Do not administer ONIVYDE® to patients with bowel obstruction. Withhold ONIVYDE® for diarrhea of Grade 2–4 severity. Administer loperamide for late diarrhea of any severity. Administer atropine, if not contraindicated, for early diarrhea of any severity. |
CONTRAINDICATION
ONIVYDE® is contraindicated in patients who have experienced a severe hypersensitivity reaction to ONIVYDE® or irinotecan HCl
Warnings and Precautions
Severe Neutropenia: See Boxed WARNING. In patients receiving ONIVYDE®/5-FU/LV, the incidence of Grade 3/4 neutropenia was higher among Asian (18/33 [55%]) vs White patients (13/73 [18%]). Neutropenic fever/neutropenic sepsis was reported in 6% of Asian vs 1% of White patients
Severe Diarrhea: See Boxed WARNING. Severe and life-threatening late-onset (onset >24 hours after chemotherapy [9%]) and early-onset diarrhea (onset ≤24 hours after chemotherapy [3%], sometimes with other symptoms of cholinergic reaction) were observed
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Irinotecan HCl can cause severe and fatal ILD. Withhold ONIVYDE® I patients with new or progressive dyspnea, cough, and fever, pending diagnostic evaluation. Discontinue ONIVYDE® in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ILD
Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions: Irinotecan HCl can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic reactions. Permanently discontinue ONIVYDE® in patients who experience a severe hypersensitivity reaction
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: ONIVYDE® can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during and for 1 month after ONIVYDE® treatment
Adverse Reactions
- The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) were diarrhea (59%), fatigue/asthenia (56%), vomiting (52%), nausea (51%), decreased appetite (44%), stomatitis (32%), and pyrexia (23%)
- The most common Grade 3/4 adverse reactions (≥10%) were diarrhea (13%), fatigue/asthenia (21%), and vomiting (11%)
- Adverse reactions led to permanent discontinuation of ONIVYDE® in 11% of patients receiving ONIVYDE®/5- FU/LV; The most frequent adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of ONIVYDE® were diarrhea, vomiting, and sepsis
- Dose reductions of ONIVYDE® for adverse reactions occurred in 33% of patients receiving ONIVYDE®/5 FU/LV; the most frequent adverse reactions requiring dose reductions were neutropenia, diarrhea, nausea, and anemia
- ONIVYDE® was withheld or delayed for adverse reactions in 62% of patients receiving ONIVYDE®/5-FU/LV; the most frequent adverse reactions requiring interruption or delays were neutropenia, diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, and thrombocytopenia
- The most common laboratory abnormalities (≥20%) were anemia (97%), lymphopenia (81%), neutropenia (52%), increased ALT (51%), hypoalbuminemia (43%), thrombocytopenia (41%), hypomagnesemia (35%), hypokalemia (32%), hypocalcemia (32%), hypophosphatemia (29%), and hyponatremia (27%)
Drug Interactions
- Avoid the use of strong CYP3A4 inducers, if possible, and substitute non-enzyme inducing therapies ≥2 weeks prior to initiation of ONIVYDE®
- Avoid the use of strong CYP3A4 or UGT1A1 inhibitors, if possible, and discontinue strong CYP3A4 inhibitors ≥1 week prior to starting therapy
Special Populations
- Pregnancy and Reproductive Potential: See WARNINGS & PRECAUTIONS. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use condoms during and for 4 months after ONIVYDE® treatment
- Lactation: Advise nursing women not to breastfeed during and for 1 month after ONIVYDE® treatment
Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information including Boxed WARNING for ONIVYDE®.
About
About Ipsen Ipsen is a global specialty-driven biopharmaceutical group focused on innovation and Specialty Care. The Group develops and commercializes innovative medicines in three key therapeutic areas – Oncology, Neuroscience, and Rare Diseases. Ipsen also has a well-established Consumer Healthcare business. With total sales over €2.5 billion in 2019, Ipsen sells more than 20 drugs in over 115 countries, with a direct commercial presence in more than 30 countries. Ipsen’s R&D is focused on its innovative and differentiated technological platforms located in the heart of the leading biotechnological and life sciences hubs (Paris-Saclay, France; Oxford, UK; Cambridge, US). The Group has about 5,700 employees worldwide. Ipsen is listed in Paris (Euronext: IPN) and in the United States through a Sponsored Level I American Depositary Receipt program (ADR: IPSEY). For more information on Ipsen, visit dotm8q9wub2y8.cloudfront.net
Ipsen’s Forward Looking Statement
The forward-looking statements, objectives and targets contained herein are based on the Group’s management strategy, current views and assumptions. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. All of the above risks could affect the Group’s future ability to achieve its financial targets, which were set assuming reasonable macroeconomic conditions based on the information available today. Use of the words “believes”, “anticipates” and “expects” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, including the Group’s expectations regarding future events, including regulatory filings and determinations, and the outcome of this study or other studies. Moreover, the targets described in this document were prepared without taking into account external growth assumptions and potential future acquisitions, which may alter these parameters. These objectives are based on data and assumptions regarded as reasonable by the Group. These targets depend on conditions or facts likely to happen in the future, and not exclusively on historical data. Actual results may depart significantly from these targets given the occurrence of certain risks and uncertainties, notably the fact that a promising product in early development phase or clinical trial may end up never being launched on the market or reaching its commercial targets, notably for regulatory or competition reasons. The Group must face or might face competition from generic products that might translate into a loss of market share. Furthermore, the Research and Development process involves several stages each of which involves the substantial risk that the Group may fail to achieve its objectives and be forced to abandon its efforts with regards to a product in which it has invested significant sums. Therefore, the Group cannot be certain that favorable results obtained during preclinical trials will be confirmed subsequently during clinical trials, or that the results of clinical trials will be sufficient to demonstrate the safe and effective nature of the product concerned. There can be no guarantees a product will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that the product will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of 6 pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the Group’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the Group’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The Group also depends on third parties to develop and market some of its products which could potentially generate substantial royalties; these partners could behave in such ways which could cause damage to the Group’s activities and financial results. The Group cannot be certain that its partners will fulfill their obligations. It might be unable to obtain any benefit from those agreements. A default by any of the Group’s partners could generate lower revenues than expected. Such situations could have a negative impact on the Group’s business, financial position or performance. The Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements, targets or estimates contained in this press release to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. The Group’s business is subject to the risk factors outlined in its registration documents filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The risks and uncertainties set out are not exhaustive and the reader is advised to refer to the Group’s 2019 Universal Registration Document available on its website (dotm8q9wub2y8.cloudfront.net).
For further information:
| Media Jess Smith Global Corporate Communications +44 (0) 7557 267634 jess.smith@ipsen.com |
Maryann Quinn North America Product Communications 1-857-529-1151 Maryann.quinn@ipsen.com |
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Financial Community Eugenia Litz Vice President, Investor Relations +44 (0) 1753 627721 eugenia.litz@ipsen.com |
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ONIVYDE® is a registered trademark of Ipsen Biopharm Limited. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2020 Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved. November 2020, ONV-US-002857
References
- Key Statistics for Lung Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Published January 8, 2020. Accessed November 20, 2020.
- What is Lung Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html. Published October 1, 2019. Accessed November 25, 2020.
