Press Release
Supplemental New Drug Application for Use of KALYDECO® (ivacaftor) in People with Cystic Fibrosis Ages 2 and Older who have One of 23 Residual Function Mutations Accepted for Priority Review by U.S. FDA
-More than 1,500 people with CF are ages two and older and have one of these 23 residual function mutations in the U.S.-
"Given the severity of cystic fibrosis, we are committed to getting
KALYDECO to more people as quickly as possible," said
The sNDA was based on preclinical data for ivacaftor in the 23 residual function mutations, the established clinical profile of KALYDECO and on previously reported data from an exploratory Phase 2a study in 24 people with residual function mutations. In 19 of the 24 patients enrolled in this study, 8 of the 23 mutations proposed in the sNDA were represented.
CF is caused by defective or missing cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) proteins resulting from mutations in the CFTR gene. The defective or missing proteins result in poor flow of salt (chloride) and water into and out of the cell in a number of organs, including the lungs. Chloride transport is a marker of the function of the CFTR protein at the cell surface. KALYDECO is currently approved to treat people with CF ages 2 and older who have one of 10 mutations in the CFTR gene (G551D, G1244E, G1349D, G178R, G551S, S1251N, S1255P, S549N, S549R or R117H). As with the mutations for which KALYDECO is currently approved, the 23 residual function mutations in the sNDA are known to have some CFTR protein at the cell surface and have shown in vitro increases in chloride transport in response to ivacaftor in cells expressing the CFTR form produced by each mutation, characteristics associated with clinical response to KALYDECO. Similar to the R117H mutation for which KALYDECO was previously approved, these 23 mutations result in a moderate loss of CFTR chloride transport, and people with these mutations generally have progressive lung function decline and other complications of CF.
There are more than 1,500 people ages 2 and older with CF in
KALYDECO® (ivacaftor) INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
KALYDECO (ivacaftor) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients age 2 years and older who have one of the following mutations in their CF gene: G551D, G1244E, G1349D, G178R, G551S, S1251N, S1255P, S549N, S549R, or R117H.
KALYDECO is not for use in people with CF due to other mutations in the CF gene. KALYDECO is not effective in patients with CF with two copies of the F508del mutation (F508del/F508del) in the CF gene. It is not known if KALYDECO is safe and effective in children under 2 years of age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Patients should not take KALYDECO if they are taking certain medicines or herbal supplements such as: the antibiotics rifampin or rifabutin; seizure medications such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine or phenytoin; or St. John's wort.
Before taking KALYDECO, patients should tell their doctor if they have
liver or kidney problems; drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit or
KALYDECO may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how KALYDECO works. Therefore the dose of KALYDECO may need to be adjusted when taken with certain medications. A patient should especially tell their doctor if they take antifungal medications such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, or fluconazole; or antibiotics such as telithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin.
KALYDECO can cause dizziness in some people who take it. Patients should
not drive a car, use machinery, or do anything that needs them to be
alert until they know how KALYDECO affects them. Patients should avoid
food containing grapefruit or
KALYDECO can cause serious side effects. High liver enzymes in the blood have been reported in patients receiving KALYDECO. The patient's doctor will do blood tests to check their liver before starting KALYDECO, every 3 months during the first year of taking KALYDECO, and every year while taking KALYDECO. For patients who have had high liver enzymes in the past, the doctor may do blood tests to check the liver more often. Patients should call their doctor right away if they have any of the following symptoms of liver problems: pain or discomfort in the upper right stomach (abdominal) area; yellowing of their skin or the white part of their eyes; loss of appetite; nausea or vomiting; or dark, amber-colored urine.
Abnormality of the eye lens (cataract) has been noted in some children and adolescents receiving KALYDECO. The patient's doctor should perform eye examinations prior to and during treatment with KALYDECO to look for cataracts. The most common side effects include headache; upper respiratory tract infection (common cold), which includes sore throat, nasal or sinus congestion, and runny nose; stomach (abdominal) pain; diarrhea; rash; nausea; and dizziness.
Please click here to see the full Prescribing Information for KALYDECO (ivacaftor).
About KALYDECO® (ivacaftor)
KALYDECO (ivacaftor) is the first medicine to treat the underlying cause of CF in people with specific mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Known as a CFTR potentiator, KALYDECO is an oral medicine designed to keep CFTR proteins at the cell surface open longer to improve the transport of salt and water across the cell membrane, which helps hydrate and clear mucus from the airways.
KALYDECO is approved in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to treat people with CF who have specific genetic mutations in the CFTR gene.
Vertex retains worldwide rights to develop and commercialize KALYDECO.
About Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a rare, life-threatening genetic disease affecting approximately 75,000 people in North America, Europe and Australia.
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 approximately 2,000 known mutations in the CFTR gene. Some of these mutations, which can be determined by a genetic test, lead to CF by creating defective or too few CFTR proteins at the cell surface. The defective or missing CFTR protein results in poor flow of salt and water into or 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 in many patients that eventually leads to death. The median predicted age of survival for a person born today with CF is 41 years, but the median age of death is 27 years.
Collaborative History with
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
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, Dr. Chodakewitz's statements in the second paragraph of the
press release and the target review date of
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