Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKCA), an affiliate of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) announced on 5/11/18 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products Advisory Committee voted 12-8 to support approval of Waylivra (volanesorsen) for the treatment of people with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). The committee’s non-binding recommendation will be considered by the FDA in its review of Akcea’s New Drug Application for Waylivra. The PDUFA date for completion of the review of Waylivra is August 30, 2018.
“Given the severity of FCS and the burden it places on patients, the need for a therapy is critical. The progress in development of a potential first-ever treatment is very encouraging. The planned efforts in monitoring and education are designed to achieve the highest levels of patient adherence, compliance and safety,” said Dr. Seth Baum, president, American Society for Preventive Cardiology. “The medical community is eager to have a medicine to treat our patients with FCS.”
The Advisory Committee reviewed data from two Phase 3 clinical trials, APPROACH and COMPASS, as well as the ongoing APPROACH Open Label study for WAYLIVRA. Results from the phase 3 APPROACH trial, the largest study ever conducted in patients with FCS, show that patients with FCS treated with WAYLIVRA achieved a statistically significant mean reduction in triglycerides of 77% from baseline and decreased risk of pancreatitis. The most common adverse events in the APPROACH study were injection site reactions and platelet declines. The Committee's input will be considered by the FDA in its review of the New Drug Application for WAYLIVRA. The FDA is not bound by the Committee's guidance, but takes its advice into consideration when reviewing investigational medicines. WAYLIVRA is also under regulatory review in the European Union and Canada.
Waylivra, a product of Ionis’ proprietary antisense technology, is under regulatory review in the U.S., EU and Canada as a treatment for familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). The U.S. and EU regulatory agencies have granted Orphan Drug Designation to WAYLIVRA for the treatment of FCS. If approved, Waylivra would be the first and only therapy indicated for people with FCS.
FCS is an ultra-rare disease caused by impaired function of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and characterized by severe hypertriglyceridemia (>880mg/dL) and a risk of unpredictable and potentially fatal acute pancreatitis. Because of limited LPL function, people with FCS cannot breakdown chylomicrons, lipoprotein particles that are 90% triglycerides. In addition to pancreatitis, FCS patients are at risk of chronic complications due to permanent organ damage. They can experience daily symptoms including abdominal pain, generalized fatigue and impaired cognitions that affect their ability to work. People with FCS also report major emotional and psychosocial effects including anxiety, social withdrawal, depression and brain fog. There is no effective therapy for FCS currently available. Additional information on FCS is available at www.fcsfocus.com, and through the FCS Foundation at http://www.livingwithfcs.org and the LPLD Alliance at www.lpldalliance.org. For a full list of organizations supporting the FCS community worldwide, please click here.
