– Pending approval, guselkumabwill be the first biologic that selectively blocks interleukin (IL)-23
FOR MEDICAL AND TRADE MEDIA ONLY
Janssen-Cilag International NV announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion recommending marketing authorisation in the European Union for the use of guselkumab in the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy.[1] Psoriasis is a chronic, painful, disfiguring and disabling disease for which there is no cure.[2] It is also the most common immune system related skin disorder, affecting approximately 14 million people across Europe.[3]
“People living with plaque psoriasis bear a tremendous physical and emotional burden due to the painful and visible nature of the disease, and there is a real need to improve upon current treatment options,” said Jose’ Antonio Burόn Vidal, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “We are pleased guselkumab may soon be available to adults living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in Europe, because the evidence shows this novel therapeutic offers significant and lasting efficacy for patients in need of alternative treatment options.”
The EU filing is based primarily on data from three Phase III clinical studies:
Guselkumab is the first treatment to selectively target IL-23, a key driver of the immune inflammatory response in psoriasis.[4],[5],[6],[7] Additional findings from the guselkumab Phase III clinical development programme are currently being presented at the 26th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) congress (13-17 September, Geneva, Switzerland). This includes late breaking two-year efficacy and safety data from the VOYAGE 1 trial.
During the clinical development programme for guselkumab in psoriasis, there were no clear signals of increased risk of malignancy, major cardiovascular events or serious infections, including tuberculosis and re-activation of latent tuberculosis.[4],[5],[6] Adverse events reported in at least 1% of guselkumab-treated patients during the first 16 weeks in the VOYAGE 1 and 2 trials included: nasopharyngitis (common cold symptoms), upper respiratory tract infections, headache, arthralgia (joint pain), injection site reactions, hypertension, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, fatigue, back pain and cough. The type of adverse events reported, remained consistent through 48 weeks of treatment.[4],[5]
Following this positive opinion, a final decision from the European Commission (EC) is expected later this year. If approved by the EC, guselkumab will have the trade name TREMFYAR.
Janssen received US FDA approval of guselkumab for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy in July 2017.[8]
Information for Editors
About guselkumab
VOYAGE 1, VOYAGE 2 and NAVIGATE studies
Treatment regimen
The self-injectable (following training) treatment requires two starter doses, one at the beginning of treatment and the other four weeks later, followed by one dose once every eight weeks thereafter. [4],[5],[6]
Additional efficacy
VOYAGE 2 demonstrated that patients had a significantly better chance of achieving PASI 90 with guselkumab treatment compared with adalimumab. Of those unable to achieve this response with adalimumab (n=112), 66.1% did so after switching to guselkumab.
In addition to the current guselkumab clinical programme, the ECLIPSE study will be evaluating the efficacy and safety of guselkumab in comparison with the IL-17A inhibitor, COSENTYXR (secukinumab).[9]
Future indications
Phase III studies are also being undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of guselkumab for patients with psoriatic arthritis, and a Phase 3 programme in Crohn’s disease is planned.[10]
About Psoriasis
What it is
The most common form of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis, usually resulting in areas of thick, red or inflamed skin covered with silvery scales which are known as plaques.[11] The inconsistent nature of psoriasis means that even when plaques appear to subside, many patients still live in fear of their return.[11]
Impact
Psoriasis can cause great physical and psychological burden. A study comparing psoriasis to other prominent conditions, found its mental and physical impact comparable to that seen in cancer, heart disease and depression.[12]
Psoriasis is also associated with several comorbidities including psoriatic arthritis; cardiovascular diseases; metabolic syndrome; chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD); and osteoporosis.[13],[14] In addition, many individuals are faced with social exclusion, discrimination, and stigma because of their disease.[2]
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, we are working to create a world without disease. Transforming lives by finding new and better ways to prevent, intercept, treat and cure disease inspires us. We bring together the best minds and pursue the most promising science. We are Janssen. We collaborate with the world for the health of everyone in it. Learn more at http://www.janssen.com/emea. Follow us on Twitter: @JanssenEMEA.
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding development and potential availability in Europe of guselkumab. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen-Cilag International NV or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges inherent in product research and development, including uncertainty of clinical success and obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2017, including under “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” its most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including under the caption “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” and the company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Neither the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.
HUMIRAR is a registered trademark of AbbVie Inc. COSENTYXR is a registered trademark of Novartis AG.
References
1. European Medicines Agency. CHMP agendas and outcomes. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/about_us/document_listing/document_listing_000378.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac0580028d2a . Accessed September 2017.
2. World Health Organization. Global report on psoriasis. 2016. Available at apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204417/1/9789241565189_eng.pdf. Accessed September 2017.
3. Ortonne J.P and Prinz J.C. Europ J Dermatol 2004;14:41-5.
4. Blauvelt A and Papp K.A et al. J Am Acad Dermatol 2017;76(3):405-17.
5. Reich K and Armstrong A.W et al. J Am Acad Dermatol 2017;76(3):418-31.
6. Langley R.G and Tsai T.F et al. Br J Dermatol 2017 Jun 21 [Epub ahead of print].
7. Bachelez H. The Lancet 2017;390:208-10.
8. US Food and Drug Association. Novel drug approvals for 2017. Available at https://www.fda.gov/drugs/developmentapprovalprocess/druginnovation/ucm537040.htm. Accessed September 2017.
9. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03090100. Available at clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03090100. Accessed September 2017.
10. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03158285. Available at clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03158285. Accessed September 2017.
11. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders. Questions and Answers About Psoriasis. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health; 2003. NIH Publication
12. Rapp S.R and Feldman S.R, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;41:401-7.
13. Nijsten T and Wakkee M. J Invest Dermatol 2009;129(7):1601-3.
14. National Psoriasis Foundation. Psoriasis: Related conditions. Available at psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/related-conditions. Accessed September 2017.
Job code: PHGB/IMM/0817/0006. Date of preparation: September 2017.
Media ContactEmily Bone Mobile: +44-7876-394-360[email protected] Media ContactBrian Kenney Office: +1-215-628-7010 Mobile: +1-215-620-0111[email protected]Investor ContactJoseph J. Wolk Johnson & Johnson Office: +1-732-524-1142
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