Press Release
Vertex Reviews Recent Progress and Announces Upcoming Milestones in the Development of Multiple Combinations of Medicines that Target the Underlying Cause of Cystic Fibrosis
-Data from across Vertex's cystic fibrosis research and development
programs to be presented at the 28th Annual
-Interim analysis of rollover study following the Phase 3 TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT studies showed sustained improvements in lung function through 48 weeks of treatment with lumacaftor in combination with ivacaftor in people with two copies of the F508del mutation-
-Phase 3 pivotal program of VX-661 in combination with ivacaftor planned for the first half of 2015 in people with 1 or 2 copies of the F508del mutation, pending regulatory discussions and data from a fully enrolled 12-week Phase 2b study of VX-661 and ivacaftor-
-New Drug Application submitted for approval of ivacaftor in children ages 2 to 5 with specific mutations in the CFTR gene-
KALYDECO® (ivacaftor) is currently approved to treat
more than 2,600 people ages 6 and older in
"With KALYDECO, we have shown that treating the underlying cause of CF
can have significant and sustained benefits for people with the G551D
mutation," said
Lumacaftor in Combination with Ivacaftor
NDA and MAA Planned in the Fourth Quarter: In
Sustained Improvements in Lung Function Through 48 Weeks of Treatment: Patients who completed 24 weeks of treatment in either TRAFFIC or TRANSPORT were able to enter a Phase 3 rollover study to receive a combination regimen. One thousand thirty-one people started treatment in the rollover study, and at the time of the interim analysis, approximately 25 percent of patients within each arm of the rollover study had received an additional 24 weeks of treatment for a total of 48 weeks of treatment (48 weeks of treatment with a combination regimen for patients who received a combination regimen in TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT; 24 weeks of treatment with a combination regimen for patients who received placebo in TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT).
The first interim data from this rollover study will be presented at NACFC and showed that the initial improvements in lung function (percent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second, or ppFEV1) observed in the 24-week TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT studies were sustained through 48 weeks of treatment with lumacaftor in combination with ivacaftor. The pattern of response observed after the initiation of combination dosing across all patients who received placebo in TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT and subsequently received a combination regimen in the rollover study was similar to that seen in patients who received a combination regimen in TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT.
At the time of the interim analysis, the safety and tolerability results, including the rate of serious adverse events, were consistent with those observed in the Phase 3 TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT studies. Among patients new to treatment in the rollover study, infective pulmonary exacerbation, cough, increased sputum, haemoptysis, respiration abnormal and dyspnea were the most common adverse events at the time of the interim analysis.
Results from TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT and from the interim analysis of the
rollover study will be presented as part of an oral invited talk at
NACFC ("Effect of lumacaftor in combination with ivacaftor in patients
with cystic fibrosis who are homozygous for F508del-CFTR: Phase 3
TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT studies." Symposium Session II on
VX-661 in Combination with Ivacaftor
VX-661 is Vertex's second CFTR corrector and is being developed to play a role in multiple combinations of CFTR modulators aimed at treating people with CF who have one or two copies of the F508del mutation.
Enrollment Complete in 12-week Phase 2 Study: VX-661 is currently being evaluated in combination with ivacaftor as part of a 12-week Phase 2b study in people ages 18 and older who have two copies of the F508del mutation. Vertex today announced that this study is fully enrolled and that data will be available in early 2015.
Pivotal Phase 3 Program of VX-661 Planned for First Half of 2015: Vertex today announced plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 clinical program of VX-661 in combination with ivacaftor in the first half of 2015, pending regulatory discussions and data from the ongoing 12-week Phase 2b study in people with two copies of the F508del mutation. This Phase 3 program is expected to evaluate efficacy and safety of VX-661 in combination with ivacaftor in people with the following CFTR mutations:
-
Two Copies of the F508del Mutation, based on previously
announced data from a Phase 2 study of VX-661 in combination with
ivacaftor in people with two copies of the F508del mutation to be
presented at NACFC ("Phase 2 studies reveal additive effects of
VX-661, an investigational CFTR corrector, and ivacaftor, a CFTR
potentiator, in patients with CF who carry the F508del-CFTR mutation."
An oral presentation of these data will be delivered as part of an
invited talk during Symposium Session II on
October 10 at11:55 a.m. ET ). - One Copy of the F508del Mutation and a Second Mutation That Results in a Gating Defect in the CFTR Protein, based on data announced in mid-2014 from a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study in people with the F508del mutation and G551D mutation to be presented at NACFC ("Addition of VX-661, an investigational CFTR corrector, to ivacaftor, a CFTR potentiator, in patients with CF and heterozygous for F508del/G551D-CFTR." Poster 260).
-
One Copy of the F508del Mutation and a Second Mutation That Results
in Residual CFTR Function, based on data announced in mid-2014
from a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study of ivacaftor in people with a
residual function mutation to be presented at NACFC ("Effect of
ivacaftor in patients with cystic fibrosis, residual CFTR function and
FEV1 ≥ 40% of predicted, N-of-1 study." Poster 196. An oral
presentation of these data will also be delivered during Workshop
Session III on
October 11 at3:00 p.m. ET ). Additionally, based on data from the Phase 2 study of ivacaftor in people with a residual function mutation, referenced above, Vertex plans to evaluate ivacaftor used as monotherapy in people with these mutations as part of the pivotal program. - One Copy of the F508del Mutation and A Second Mutation That Results in Minimal CFTR Function - The evaluation of people with one copy of the F508del mutation and one copy of a CFTR mutation that results in minimal CFTR function as part of the pivotal Phase 3 program would be the first evaluation of VX-661 in combination with ivacaftor in people with these mutations. To date, treatment with a combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor has not resulted in a significant improvement in lung function for people with these mutations.
Planning for the pivotal Phase 3 program is underway to support the initiation of enrollment in the first half of 2015, pending regulatory discussions planned for later this year and the data from the ongoing Phase 2b study, which are expected in early 2015.
Triple Combination of VX-661, Ivacaftor and a Next-Generation Corrector: Vertex has multiple next-generation correctors in the lead-optimization stage of research and expects to begin clinical development of a next-generation corrector in 2015. In vitro data showed that a triple combination of VX-661, ivacaftor and a next-generation corrector resulted in increased chloride transport in human bronchial epithelial cells with one or two copies of the F508del mutation, as compared to the use of a single corrector in combination with ivacaftor.
KALYDECO (ivacaftor)
Study of Ivacaftor in People with the R117H Mutation: Data
from a Phase 3 study of ivacaftor in people ages 6 and older who have
the R117H mutation will be presented at NACFC ("Effects of ivacaftor in
CF patients with R117H-CFTR." Poster 17. An oral presentation of these
data will also be delivered during Workshop Session II on
Based on the Phase 3 data, Vertex submitted an sNDA in the U.S. and MAA
variation in
NDA and MAA Line Extension Submissions for Use of Ivacaftor in
Children Ages 2 to 5: Vertex today announced the submission of
an NDA in
The submissions were based on results announced today and being
presented at NACFC from an open-label Phase 3 study that was designed to
evaluate the pharmacokinetics and safety of weight-based dosing of
ivacaftor to support approval in children ages 2 to 5 ("An open-label
study of the safety, pharmacokinetics & pharmacodynamics of ivacaftor in
patients aged 2 to 5 years with CF & a CFTR Gating Mutation: The KIWI
Study." Poster 200. An oral presentation of these data will also be
delivered during Workshop Session III on
In the second part of the study (n=34), ivacaftor was generally well tolerated and the majority of adverse events were mild or moderate in severity. Five patients who had elevated liver enzymes at baseline (greater than two times the upper limit of normal) experienced further elevations of liver enzymes to greater than eight times the upper limit of normal during the study. One patient experienced a serious adverse event related to elevated liver enzymes, and this patient discontinued treatment from the study. For all five patients, liver enzymes returned to their baseline levels following interruption of ivacaftor. Serious adverse events occurred in 18 percent (6 of 34) of patients, and the most common adverse events, regardless of dose group, were cough, vomiting, nasal congestion, upper respiratory tract infection and rhinorrhea.
In addition, secondary endpoints showed decreases in sweat chloride and improvements in nutritional status as measured by change in weight (weight-for-age z score) and body mass index (BMI-for-age z score).
Based on results from this study, Vertex is seeking approval of a 50 mg and 75 mg weight-based dose of ivacaftor for children ages 2 to 5. For children in this age group, a granule (mini-tablet) formulation will be used to enable administration of ivacaftor in soft foods as opposed to the current tablet formulation for people 6 years and older.
INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR KALYDECO® (ivacaftor)
Ivacaftor (150 mg tablets) is indicated for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients age 6 years and older who have a G551D mutation in the CFTR gene.
In
Ivacaftor is not effective in patients with CF with 2 copies of the F508del mutation (F508del/F508del) in the CFTR gene. The safety and efficacy of ivacaftor in children with CF younger than 6 years of age have not been established.
Elevated liver enzymes (transaminases; ALT and AST) have been reported in patients receiving ivacaftor. It is recommended that ALT and AST be assessed prior to initiating ivacaftor, every 3 months during the first year of treatment, and annually thereafter. Patients who develop increased transaminase levels should be closely monitored until the abnormalities resolve. Dosing should be interrupted in patients with ALT or AST of greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal. Following resolution of transaminase elevations, consider the benefits and risks of resuming ivacaftor dosing.
Use of ivacaftor with medicines that are strong CYP3A inducers, such as the antibiotics rifampin and rifabutin; seizure medications (phenobarbital, carbamazepine, or phenytoin); and the herbal supplement St. John's Wort, substantially decreases exposure of ivacaftor and may diminish effectiveness. Therefore, co-administration is not recommended.
The dose of ivacaftor must be adjusted when used concomitantly with strong and moderate CYP3A inhibitors or when used in patients with moderate or severe hepatic disease.
Ivacaftor can cause serious adverse reactions including abdominal pain and high liver enzymes in the blood. The most common side effects associated with ivacaftor include headache; upper respiratory tract infection (the common cold), including sore throat, nasal or sinus congestion, and runny nose; stomach (abdominal) pain; diarrhea; rash; and dizziness. These are not all the possible side effects of ivacaftor. A list of the adverse reactions can be found in the product labeling for each country where ivacaftor is approved. Patients should tell their healthcare providers about any side effect that bothers them or does not go away.
Please see KALYDECO U.S. Prescribing Information, EU Summary of Product Characteristics, Canadian Product Monograph, Australian Consumer Medicine Information and Product Information, Swiss Prescribing Information and Patient Information, and the New Zealand Datasheet and Consumer Medicine Information.
About Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a rare, life-threatening genetic disease affecting approximately 75,000 people in North America, Europe and Australia. Today, the median predicted age of survival for a person with CF is between 34 and 47 years, but the median age of death remains in the mid-20s.
CF is caused by a defective or missing CFTR protein resulting from mutations in the CFTR gene. Children must inherit two defective CFTR genes — one from each parent — to have CF. There are more than 1,900 known mutations in the CFTR gene. Some of these mutations, which can be determined by a genetic, or genotyping test, lead to CF by creating non-working or too few CFTR protein at the cell surface. The defective function or absence of CFTR proteins in people with CF results in poor flow of salt and water into and out of the cell in a number of organs, including the lungs. This leads to the buildup of abnormally thick, sticky mucus that can cause chronic lung infections and progressive lung damage.
Collaborative History with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc. (CFFT)
Vertex initiated its CF research program in 1998 as part of a
collaboration with CFFT, the nonprofit drug discovery and development
affiliate of the
About Vertex
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that aims to discover, develop and commercialize innovative medicines so people with serious diseases can lead better lives. In addition to our clinical development programs focused on cystic fibrosis, Vertex has more than a dozen ongoing research programs aimed at other serious and life-threatening diseases.
Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex today has research and development sites and commercial offices in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. For four years in a row, Science magazine has named Vertex one of its Top Employers in the life sciences. For additional information and the latest updates from the company, please visit www.vrtx.com.
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Special Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without
limitation,
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