Sanofi and Regeneron Receive CHMP Positive Opinion for Kevzara® (sarilumab) to Treat Adult Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Rheumatoid Arthritis
Paris, France and Tarrytown, New York - April 24, 2017 - Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the European Medicine Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion for the marketing authorization of Kevzara® (sarilumab), recommending its approval for use in adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. Kevzara is an investigational human monoclonal antibody directed against the IL-6 receptor.
“Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful and debilitating disease which impacts millions of people in Europe, many of whom are still struggling to find a treatment that works for them,” said Elias Zerhouni, M.D., President, Global R&D, Sanofi. “We welcome today’s positive CHMP opinion for Kevzara, which brings us one step closer to making this new treatment option available to patients in Europe.”
The CHMP recommended the use of Kevzara in combination with methotrexate (MTX) for the treatment of moderately to severely active RA in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Kevzara can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to MTX or when treatment with MTX is inappropriate.[1] The recommended dose of Kevzara is 200 mg once every two weeks administered as a subcutaneous injection.1 Reduction of dose from 200 mg once every two weeks to 150 mg once every two weeks is recommended for management of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and liver enzyme elevations.1
The European Commission (EC) is expected to make a final decision on the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Kevzara in the European Union in the coming months. The CHMP opinion is based on results from seven Phase 3 trials in the global SARIL-RA clinical development program, including SARIL-RA-MOBILITY, SARIL-RA-TARGET and SARIL-RA-MONARCH. These studies incorporate data from more than 3,300 adults with moderately to severely active RA who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more biologic or non-biologic DMARDs.
In Europe, 2.9 million people suffer from RA, and living with the disease can make everyday life difficult. [2],[3] Symptoms include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and fatigue.[4]
In Canada, Kevzara is approved for use in adult patients with moderately to severely active RA who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more biologic or non-biologic DMARDs. Sarilumab is currently under review in the United States, and the companies are also seeking approvals in a number of other countries globally.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi is organized into five global business units: Diabetes and Cardiovascular, General Medicines and Emerging Markets, Sanofi Genzyme, Sanofi Pasteur and Consumer Healthcare. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
Sanofi Genzyme focuses on developing specialty treatments for debilitating diseases that are often difficult to diagnose and treat, providing hope to patients and their families.
About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading science-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, invents, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. Regeneron commercializes medicines for eye diseases, high LDL cholesterol, atopic dermatitis and a rare inflammatory condition and has product candidates in development in other areas of high unmet medical need, including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, pain, cancer and infectious diseases. For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter
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Regeneron Forward-Looking Statements and Use of Digital Media
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[1] Kevzara Summary of Product Characteristics
[2] National Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation. “European Fit to Work report.” Available at http://www.nras.org.uk/european-fit-for-work-report. Last accessed March 2017.
[3] NHS England. “Rheumatoid arthritis - Living with.” Available at:http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rheumatoid-arthritis/Pages/Living-with.aspx Last accessed: March 2017
[4] Arthritis Research UK. “What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?” Available at:http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms.aspx Last accessed: March 2017
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