Novartis gains approval for Gilenya® as a first-line disease modifying oral therapy for multiple sclerosis in Switzerland and Australia

Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have granted approval for Gilenya® (fingolimod) 0.5 mg as a first-line, oral disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

“Gilenya, with its innovative mechanism of action, can improve clinical outcomes in patients with relapsing remitting MS,” said Professor Ludwig Kappos, Neurology and Department of Research, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. “The significant efficacy and manageable safety profile of Gilenya make it a valuable new option for patients with relapsing-remitting MS and the physicians who treat them.”

The Gilenya approvals were based on the largest clinical trial program conducted in MSto date[1],[2]. The application included data showing Gilenya 0.5 mg reduced relapses by 52% (P<0.001) at one year compared with interferon beta-1a IM, an approved first-line DMT[1]. Data from a two-year placebo-controlled study showed a reduction in relapse rate of 54% (P<0.001) compared with placebo[2]. In the same study, patients on Gilenya 0.5 mg had a 30% lower risk of disability progression, confirmed after three months and a 37% lower risk of disability progression, confirmed after six months[2].

The studies also showed that treatment with Gilenya resulted in statistically significant reductions in brain lesion activity as measured by magnetic resonance imaging.

“Following the approval of Gilenya in the United States and in Russia, we are proud that we can now offer this effective, once-daily oral treatment to patients in Switzerland and Australia,” said David Epstein, Division Head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals. “Novartis has an excellent track record of securing access to innovative medicines for patients and we are committed to assuring access to Gilenya for eligible patients around the world.”

Gilenya, licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, is the first in a new class of compounds called sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulators. Gilenya provides selective and reversible retention of lymphocytes in lymph nodes, which helps preserve key immune functions and provides flexibility in patient management.

Gilenya has been studied in more than 4000 MS patients. The most common side effects are headache, liver enzyme elevations, influenza, diarrhea, back pain, and cough. Other Gilenya-related side effects include transient, generally asymptomatic, heart rate reduction and atrioventricular block upon treatment initiation, mild blood pressure increase, macular edema, and mild bronchoconstriction.[1],[2]

The rates of infections overall, including serious infections, were comparable among treatment groups, although a slight increase in lower respiratory tract infections (primarily bronchitis) was seen in Gilenya-treated patients. The number of malignancies reported across the clinical trial program was small, with comparable rates between the Gilenya and control groups.[1],[2]

Multiple Sclerosis can cause a range of physical and mental problems including loss of muscle control and strength, vision, balance, sensation and mental function. Over time, with repeated attacks, damage accumulates leading to permanent nerve damage and loss of neurological function. It is estimated that MS affects up to 2.5 million people worldwide[3] and is potentially the most common cause of non-traumatic, neurological disability in young adults.

Novartis has filed Gilenya with health authorities worldwide.

References

1. Cohen et al. Oral Fingolimod vs. Intramuscular Interferon in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. N Engl J Med. Vol.362 No.5, Feb 4, 2010 (printed version)
2. Kappos L, et al. Placebo-Controlled Study of Oral Fingolimod in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. N Eng J Med. Vol.362 No.5, Feb 4, 2010 (printed version).
3. Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. Atlas of MS [online]. Available at: www.atlasofms.org. Accessed December 2010.

Disclaimer

The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as “can,” “committed,” “potentially,” or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential approvals to market Gilenya in additional countries, or the timing of such approvals, or regarding potential future revenues from Gilenya. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results with Gilenya to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Gilenya will be approved for sale in any additional market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Gilenya will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management’s expectations regarding Gilenya could be affected by, among other things, unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; the company’s ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group’s assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group’s consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.