PRESS RELEASES
EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection Approved for the Treatment of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Japan
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) today announced that EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection has received approval for the treatment of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). In Japan, EYLEA treatment is initiated with one 2 milligram (mg) intravitreal injection per month for three consecutive months (treatment initiation). Thereafter, in the maintenance phase, the recommended treatment is usually one intravitreal injection every two months. The dosing interval may be adjusted according to patient response.
"The approval of EYLEA in Japan presents an important new treatment option for wet AMD patients and physicians," said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron and President of Regeneron Laboratories. "We are pleased to offer this new therapeutic option, which we hope will decrease the challenges of treatment for wet-AMD patients in Japan."
The MHLW approval of EYLEA is based upon the results of two Phase 3 clinical studies (VIEW 1 and VIEW 2) which demonstrated that EYLEA dosed every other month, following three initial monthly doses was clinically equivalent to Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) dosed every four weeks, as measured by the proportion of patients who maintained visual acuity (less than 15 letters of vision lost on an eye chart) over 52 weeks, the primary endpoint of both studies. The most common adverse reactions (5.0% or more) reported in patients receiving EYLEA were conjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain, vitreous detachment, cataract, vitreous floaters, and increased intraocular pressure.
EYLEA was approved for wet AMD in the United States in November 2011 and in Australia earlier this year. Bayer HealthCare plans to launch the product in Australia in the second half of 2012. Bayer HealthCare has also received a positive recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in Europe. In the United States, EYLEA was approved for the treatment of Macular Edema following Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) in September 2012. Bayer HealthCare plans to submit an application for marketing authorization for this indication in Europe shortly following receipt of approval in wet AMD.
Phase 3 trials are currently underway with EYLEA for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) and macular edema following branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
Bayer HealthCare and Regeneron are collaborating on the global development of EYLEA. Regeneron maintains exclusive rights to EYLEA in the United States. Bayer HealthCare has licensed the exclusive marketing rights outside the United States, where the companies will share equally the profits from any future sales of EYLEA, except for Japan where Regeneron will receive a royalty on net sales. In Japan, Bayer HealthCare's Japanese subsidiary, Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd, has entered into a co-promotion agreement for EYLEA, with Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the leading ophthalmology company in Japan.
About EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection For Intravitreal Injection
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a naturally occurring protein in the body. Its normal role in a healthy organism is to trigger formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) supporting the growth of the body's tissues and organs. However, in certain diseases, such as wet age-related macular degeneration, it is also associated with the growth of abnormal new blood vessels in the eye, which exhibit abnormal increased permeability that leads to edema. Scarring and loss of fine-resolution central vision often results. In Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), a blockage occurs in the main blood vessel that transports deoxygenated blood away from the retina. VEGF levels are elevated in response, which causes macular edema.
EYLEA is a recombinant fusion protein, consisting of portions of human VEGF receptors 1 and 2 extracellular domains fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1 and formulated as an iso-osmotic solution for intravitreal administration. EYLEA acts as a soluble decoy receptor that binds VEGF-A and placental growth factor (PlGF) and thereby can inhibit the binding and activation of their cognate VEGF receptors. EYLEA is specially purified and contains iso-osmotic buffer concentrations, allowing for injection into the eye.
IMPORTANT PRESCRIBING INFORMATION FOR EYLEA® (aflibercept) INJECTION
In the United States, EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection is indicated for the treatment of patients with neovascular (Wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The recommended dose for EYLEA is 2 mg administered by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (monthly) for the first 12 weeks (3 months), followed by 2 mg once every 8 weeks (2 months). Although EYLEA may be dosed as frequently as 2 mg every 4 weeks (monthly), additional efficacy was not demonstrated when EYLEA was dosed every 4 weeks compared to every 8 weeks.
In the United States, EYLEA is also indicated for the treatment of patients with Macular Edema following Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO). The recommended dose for EYLEA is 2 mg administered by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (monthly).
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR EYLEA® (aflibercept) INJECTION
EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections, active intraocular inflammation, or known hypersensitivity to aflibercept or to any of the excipients in EYLEA.
Intravitreal injections, including those with EYLEA, have been associated with endophthalmitis and retinal detachments. Proper aseptic injection technique must always be used when administering EYLEA. Patients should be instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment without delay and should be managed appropriately. Intraocular inflammation has been reported during the post approval use of EYLEA.
Acute increases in intraocular pressure have been seen within 60 minutes of intravitreal injection, including with EYLEA. Sustained increases in intraocular pressure have also been reported after repeated intravitreal dosing with VEGF inhibitors. Intraocular pressure and the perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored and managed appropriately.
There is a potential risk of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) following use of intravitreal VEGF inhibitors, including EYLEA, defined as nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or vascular death (including deaths of unknown cause). The incidence of ATEs in the VIEW 1 and VIEW 2 wet AMD studies in patients treated with EYLEA was 1.8% during the first year. The incidence of ATEs in the COPERNICUS and GALILEO CRVO studies was 0% in patients treated with EYLEA compared with 1.4% in patients receiving sham control during the first six months.
The most common adverse reactions (5% or more) reported in patients receiving EYLEA were conjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain, cataract, vitreous detachment, vitreous floaters, and increased intraocular pressure.
Serious adverse reactions related to the injection procedure have occurred in <0.1% of intravitreal injections with EYLEA including endophthalmitis, traumatic cataract, increased intraocular pressure, and vitreous detachment.
Please see the full Prescribing Information at www.EYLEA.com.
About the EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection Global Collaboration
Regeneron is collaborating with Bayer HealthCare on the global development of EYLEA. In June 2011, Bayer HealthCare submitted an application for marketing authorization in Europe for neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). EYLEA has received approval from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of patients with wet AMD. The drug has also received marketing approval in Colombia for wet AMD.
Bayer HealthCare will market EYLEA outside the United States, where the companies will share equally the profits from any future sales of EYLEA. Regeneron maintains exclusive rights to EYLEA in the United States.
About Wet AMD
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of acquired blindness. Macular degeneration is diagnosed as either dry (non-exudative) or wet (exudative). In wet AMD, new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes disruption and dysfunction of the retina creating blind spots in central vision, and it can account for blindness in wet AMD patients. Wet AMD is the leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 65 in the U.S. and Europe. In Japan, AMD is the fourth most common cause of acquired blindness and the number of patients is increasing. Research conducted in 2007 targeting residents in Hisayama, Fukuoka, shows that 1.2% of residents over the age of 50 had wet AMD in at least one eye. Extrapolating from this study, the estimated number of wet AMD patients eligible for treatment with anti-VEGF therapy in Japan is approximately 700,000.
About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Regeneron is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that discovers, invents, develops, manufactures, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. Regeneron markets three products in the United States, EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection, ZALTRAP® (ziv-aflibercept) Injection for Intravenous Infusion, and ARCALYST® (rilonacept) Injection for Subcutaneous Use; ZALTRAP is co-commercialized with Sanofi. Phase 3 studies are in progress with EYLEA in two additional indications and with product candidates sarilumab and REGN727. Regeneron has active research and development programs in many disease areas, including ophthalmology, inflammation, cancer, and hypercholesterolemia. Additional information and recent news releases are available on the Regeneron web site at www.regeneron.com.
About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 17.2 billion (2011), is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55,700 employees (Dec 31, 2011) and is represented in more than 100 countries. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.
To learn more about age-related macular degeneration (AMD), please visit: www.bayerpharma.de/en/AMD
Regeneron Forward Looking Statement
This news release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future performance of Regeneron, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. These statements concern, and these risks and uncertainties include, among others, the nature, timing, and possible success and therapeutic applications of Regeneron's products, product candidates and research and clinical programs now underway or planned, including without limitation EYLEA® (aflibercept), unforeseen safety issues resulting from the administration of products and product candidates in patients, the likelihood and timing of possible regulatory approval and commercial launch of Regeneron's late-stage product candidates, determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental authorities which may delay or restrict Regeneron's ability to continue to develop or commercialize Regeneron's products and drug candidates, competing drugs that may be superior to Regeneron's products and drug candidates, uncertainty of market acceptance of Regeneron's products and drug candidates, unanticipated expenses, the costs of developing, producing, and selling products, the potential for any license or collaboration agreement, including Regeneron's agreements with Sanofi and Bayer HealthCare, to be canceled or terminated, and risks associated with third party intellectual property and pending or future litigation relating thereto. A more complete description of these and other material risks can be found in Regeneron's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. Regeneron does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by law.
Contact Information: |
|
Manisha Narasimhan, Ph.D. |
Peter Dworkin |
Investor Relations |
Corporate Communications |
914.847.5126 |
914.847.7640 |
SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
No bank holiday on Eid al-Fitr this year? Know reason behind this
Indian doctor claims THIS about paneer, milk, prompts debate on social media, netizens say...
Every home of THIS town owns a private jet, has unique street names, it is located in...
'Delight to meet Elon Musk's family...': PM Modi after call-on by Tesla CEO accompanied by his kids
Meet IAS officer, who cleared UPSC exam after getting inspired by Virat Kohli, her AIR was...
Happy Valentine's Day 2025: Wishes, WhatsApp messages, images, quotes to share with your partner
DNA TV Show: World Records in Mahakumbh 2025
Vidya Balan enjoys Sanam Teri Kasam in theatre, pens special note for team: 'Mawra aap kamaal ho'
Meet woman who owns Delhi's most expensive home worth Rs..., not Nita Ambani, Priti Adani
Samay Raina to perform in Mumbai on March 27 amid India's Got Latent controversy
Little girl's adorable dance to 'Khadke Glassy' wins hearts online, WATCH viral video
'Whole India in one coach’: Viral video shows chaos in first-class train to Mahakumbh, WATCH
Chhaava Movie Review: A groundbreaking epic that redefines the blockbuster experience
Gautam Adani pulls out of BIG Rs 8684 crore power project in THIS country due to...
Group of musicians perform iconic theme of 'Tom & Jerry' but here's a twist! WATCH viral video
ICC punishes Shaheen Afridi, two Pakistan stars for doing THIS vs South Africa
President's Rule imposed in Manipur days after N Biren Singh resigns as CM
Ramadan 2025: When will the holy month of Muslims begin in India? Know all details
Good news for India's richest banker, RBI lifts ban on his Rs 392000 crore company, allows it to...
WPL 2025 Opening Ceremony: Performers list, date, time, venue, live streaming - All you need to know
Meet man, aka coolest grandpa, who still works as actor and model at 89, he is from...
Meet IAS officer, who cracked UPSC exam in 2009, now promoted to key post in GOI as...
Honda, Nissan call off Rs 521825 crore merger, the reason is…
Valentine's Day 2025: Why do we celebrate this day? Know here
Ne Zha 2: Everything you need to know about the Chinese animated blockbuster
How I Can Make Your Child into an Ivy Leaguer: A Parent’s Guide to Success with Caroline Linger
Meet China’s newest billionaire, who runs bubble tea business, his net worth is Rs...
Top Government Schemes for Farmers, Artisans, and Students You Should Not Miss!
Why did RCB chose Rajat Patidar as captain over Virat Kohli? Team director Mo Bobat explains
Valentine’s Day 2025: Perfect last-minute gifts ideas for your partner
Man who saved Rishabh Pant's life in 2022 car accident, attempts suicide with girlfriend, she dies
FASTag New rule: All you need to know to avoid extra charges from February 17
Throwback: How did Rohit Sharma propose to Ritika Sajdeh? WATCH viral video
Did Ram Charan unfollow Allu Arjun after his father took a dig at Game Changer? Here's what we know
Who Are The Top 5 Most Influential Astrologers In India In 2025?
Delhi-NCR schools holiday: Are Delhi, Gurugram, Noida schools closed on Feb 14? Check here
THESE cricketers unfollowed Ranveer Allahbadia on social media amid India's Got Latent controversy?
‘Broke in 50 days’: Accenture employee-investor loses Rs 8 lakh in a day, his net worth is Rs…
Microsoft inaugurates new campus in THIS Indian city, plans to hire...
Shah Rukh Khan once bought laptop for Aamir Khan but he did not open it for...years because...
New Income Tax Bill 2025: FM Nirmala Sitharaman tables the new income tax bill in Lok Sabha
Emirates flight attendant's BTS video sparks firing rumours, airline responds, see post here
Anupam Mittal asks Namita Thapar to quit Shark Tank India because...: 'If you're...'
Meet comedian who was slapped, kicked out of film set by...; his net worth is now...
Top 3 iconic cricket rivalries
Couple recreates dance with same friend squad for sangeet after 10 years, watch viral video
Meet actor who served during Kargil War, put his career on hold for..., he is...
RCB captain announcement LIVE Updates: Rajat Patidar to lead team in IPL 2025
Ranveer Allahbadia cries in viral video over..., the truth behind it will shock you
Meet actress who is queen of Rs 500 cr club, set to enter again with..., she is...
Rohit Shetty teases 'biggest love story of 2025' feat Ranveer Singh and.., fans react