Healthcare Industry News: growth hormone
News Release - May 25, 2007
Ipsen: Increlex(R) Receives CHMP Positive Opinion for the Treatment of Severe Primary IGF-1 Deficiency
Upon marketing authorization, Increlex® will be commercialized in the European Union by Ipsen, Tercica's partnerPARIS--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Regulatory News: Ipsen (Paris:IPN ), today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) adopted a positive opinion recommending marketing authorization for Increlex® (mecasermin) 10 mg/ml solution for injection. This decision follows Tercica's filing of an application for marketing authorisation for Increlex® in the European Union on December 2005. The indication recommended is for the long-term treatment of growth failure in children and adolescents with severe primary insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency (severe primary IGFD), and in children with growth hormone (GH) gene deletion who have developed neutralizing antibodies to GH.
Based on an acceptance of the CHMP positive opinion by the European Commission, Tercica (Nasdaq: TRCA ) expects a marketing authorization in two to three months and because Increlex® previously received Orphan Drug Designation in the European Union, this will provide ten years of marketing exclusivity for the treatment of severe Primary IGFD. Upon marketing authorization, Ipsen expects to pay to Tercica a milestone payment of EUR 15 million (approximately US$20 million) under the companies' licensing agreement. Following local pricing reviews, Ipsen will market Increlex® in the European Union.
Christophe Jean, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Ipsen, and Tercica's Board member, said "We are very pleased with the CHMP's positive opinion regarding Increlex®, a very innovative product for the treatment of growth failure in patients with severe primary IGFD. The addition of Increlex® to Ipsen's existing global endocrinology portfolio, which also includes Somatuline® and NutropinAq® further reinforces the company's global franchise in this high-growth therapeutic area. Ipsen's growing endocrinology franchise is giving to endocrinologists a comprehensive solution to treat patients suffering from growth disorders."
About the CHMP's opinion
(CHMP press release can be accessed at http:///www.emea.europa.eu)
The CHMP's positive opinion was based on clinical data from 76 patients who were treated with Increlex® for up to 12.5 years. The primary endpoint in the pivotal clinical study was height velocity, which increased from an average of 2.8 cm per year at baseline to an average of 8.0 cm per year (pless than 0.0001) in the first year of treatment.
The summary of product characteristics underlying the CHMP opinion defines severe Primary IGFD as:
a height standard deviation score (less than or =) -3.0,
basal IGF-1 levels below the 2.5th percentile for age and gender,
GH sufficiency, and
the exclusion of secondary forms of IGF-1 deficiency, such as malnutrition, hypothyroidism, or chronic treatment with pharmacologic doses of anti-inflammatory steroids.
The CHMP recommended that the diagnosis be confirmed by conducting an IGF-1 generation test.
About Increlex®
The active ingredient of Increlex® is recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is the direct mediator of growth hormone's effect on statural growth, and must be present for normal growth of bones and cartilage in children. In severe primary IGFD, children's serum IGF-1 levels are low, despite the presence of normal or elevated GH level. Without adequate IGF-1, children cannot achieve normal height. In children with this disorder, low IGF-1 levels are due to growth hormone resistance associated with mutations in GH receptors, post-GH receptor signaling pathways, or to defects in IGF-1 gene expression. As such, these children cannot be expected to respond adequately to exogenous GH treatment. Some individuals may also have a range of metabolic disorders, including lipid abnormalities, decreased bone density, obesity and insulin resistance.
Increlex® has been marketed in the United States by Tercica, Inc. since early 2006.
Exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Increlex® were licensed to Ipsen in October 2006 for all regions of the world except the United States, Japan, Canada, Taiwan and certain countries of the Middle East and North Africa.
About Tercica
Tercica is a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving endocrine health by partnering with the endocrine community to develop and commercialize new therapeutics for short stature and other metabolic disorders. For further information on Tercica, please visit www.tercica.com.
About Ipsen
Ipsen is an innovation driven international specialty pharmaceutical group with over 20 products on the market and a total worldwide staff of nearly 4,000. The company's development strategy is based on a combination of products in targeted therapeutic areas (oncology, endocrinology and neuromuscular disorders) which are growth drivers, and primary care products which contribute significantly to its research financing. This strategy is also supported by an active policy of partnerships. The location of its four Research and Development centres (Paris, Boston, Barcelona, London) gives the Group a competitive edge in gaining access to leading university research teams and highly qualified personnel. In 2006, R&D expenditure was EUR 178.3 million, i.e. 20.7% of consolidated sales, which amounted to EUR 861.7 million while total revenues amounted to EUR 945.3 million (in IFRS). 700 people in R&D are dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative drugs for patient care. Ipsen's shares are traded on Segment A of Eurolist by Euronext(TM) (stock code: IPN, ISIN code: FR0010259150). Ipsen's shares are eligible to the "Systeme a Reglement Differe" ("SRD") and the Group is part of the SBF 250 index. For more information on Ipsen, visit our website at www.ipsen.com.
Forward-looking statements (Ipsen)
The forward-looking statements and targets contained herein are based on Ipsen's management's 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.
Ipsen 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. Ipsen's business is subject to the risk factors outlined in its information documents filed with the French Autorite des marches financiers.
Forward Looking Statements (Tercica)
Except for the historical statements contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Tercica's prospects and expectations, including without limitation, that: (A) Increlex will receive ten years of EU orphan drug marketing exclusivity for the treatment of severe Primary IGFD; (B) Tercica expects to receive a marketing authorization from the European Commission in two to three months; © Tercica expects to receive a milestone payment of EUR 15 million (approximately US$20 million) from Ipsen; and (D) Ipsen will launch Increlex in the European Union. Because Tercica's forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to the following: (i) the European Commission may not accept the CHMP opinion, issue a marketing authorization, and/or may not issue it in two to three months; and (ii) the risks and uncertainties disclosed from time-to-time in reports filed by Tercica, including most recently Tercica's Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2007 filed with the SEC on May 4, 2007. Tercica disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Source: Ipsen
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