Healthcare Industry News: ACTOS
News Release - March 31, 2008
Naglazyme Approved by Japanese Ministry of Health
NOVATO, Calif., March 31 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq and SWX: BMRN News) announced today that AnGes MG, Inc. (AnGes), BioMarin's marketing and distribution partner in Japan, has received approval for its Marketing Application for Naglazyme® (galsulfase) from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for the treatment of patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis VI ( MPS VI)."We are proud to work with AnGes in bringing the first drug treatment option to MPS VI patients in Japan," said Stephen Aselage, Senior Vice President of Global Commercial Development at BioMarin. "We are dedicated to providing life-altering therapies to patients around the world and continue to expand our geographic footprint through our patient identification and commercialization efforts."
BioMarin established a marketing and distribution agreement with AnGes in December 2006, through which AnGes obtained exclusive rights to market Naglazyme in the Japanese market. AnGes submitted a marketing application to the MHLW in August 2007. Naglazyme was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2005 and by the European Commission (EC) in January 2006. As the first drug approved for MPS VI, the FDA and EC have both designated Naglazyme as an orphan drug, conferring seven years of market exclusivity in the United States and 10 years of market exclusivity in the European Union. In addition, Naglazyme obtained orphan designation in June 2007 from the MHLW in Japan.
About MPS VI
MPS VI (also known as Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome) is a debilitating, life- threatening genetic disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme N- acetylgalACTOSamine 4-sulfatase. This enzyme deficiency leads to the accumulation of certain complex carbohydrates, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), in the lysosomes, giving rise to progressive cellular, tissue and organ system dysfunction. The majority of individuals with MPS VI die from disease-related complications between childhood and early adulthood. Additional information can be found at http://www.mpsvi.com.
About Naglazyme
Naglazyme is the first and only enzyme replacement therapy indicated for the treatment of MPS VI. Naglazyme is indicated for patients with MPS VI. Naglazyme has been shown to improve walking and stair-climbing capacity.
The most common adverse events observed in clinical trials in Naglazyme- treated patients were headache, fever, arthralgia, vomiting, upper respiratory infections, abdominal pain, diarrhea, ear pain, cough, and otitis media. Severe reactions included angioneurotic edema, hypotension, dyspnea, bronchospasm, respiratory distress, apnea, and urticaria. The most common symptoms of infusion reactions included fever, chills/rigors, headache, rash, and mild to moderate urticaria. Nausea, vomiting, elevated blood pressure, retrosternal pain, abdominal pain, malaise, and joint pain were also reported. No patients discontinued for adverse events and all patients who completed the double-blind portion of the trial continued to receive weekly infusions of Naglazyme. Nearly all patients developed antibodies as a result of treatment, but the level of the immune response did not correlate with the severity of adverse events. Because antihistamine use may increase the risk of apneic episodes, evaluation of airway patency should be considered prior to the initiation of treatment. Consideration to delay Naglazyme infusion should be given when treating patients who present with an acute febrile or respiratory illness. Additional information can be found at http://www.naglazyme.com.
About BioMarin
BioMarin develops and commercializes innovative biopharmaceuticals for serious diseases and medical conditions. The company's product portfolio comprises three approved products and multiple clinical and preclinical product candidates. Approved products include Naglazyme® (galsulfase) for mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI), a product wholly developed and commercialized by BioMarin; Aldurazyme® (laronidase) for mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I), a product which BioMarin developed through a 50/50 joint venture with Genzyme Corporation; and Kuvan(TM) (sapropterin dihydrochloride) Tablets, a product for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU), developed in partnership with Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany. Other product candidates include 6R-BH4 for cardiovascular indications, which is currently in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease and sickle cell disease, and PEG-PAL (PEGylated recombinant phenylalanine ammonia lyase) for the treatment of PKU. For additional information, please visit http://www.BMRN.com. Information on BioMarin's website is not incorporated by reference into this press release.
About AnGes MG, Inc.
AnGes MG, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company founded in 1999, was established on an innovative discovery by researchers of Osaka University. The company specializes in research, development and practical application of genetic medicine. Current programs include the Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) genetic medicine which improves blood circulation by regenerating blood vessels, and an NFkB decoy that controls various types of inflammation.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., including, without limitation, statements about: the continued clinical development and commercialization of Naglazyme and BioMarin's other products and product candidates and actions by regulatory authorities. These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: our success in the continued commercialization of Naglazyme; the content and timing of decisions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission and other regulatory authorities concerning each of the described products and product candidates; and those factors detailed in BioMarin's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the factors contained under the caption "Risk Factors" in BioMarin's 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, and the factors contained in BioMarin's reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Stockholders are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. BioMarin is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
BioMarin® and Naglazyme® are a registered trademarks of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
Aldurazyme® is a registered trademark of BioMarin/Genzyme LLC.
Source: BioMarin Pharmaceutical
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