VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novelion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NVLN) (TSX:NVLN), today announced that subsidiary Aegerion Pharmaceuticals completed the first commercial shipment of JUXTAPID® (lomitapide) to a patient in Japan. In September 2016, JUXTAPID was approved by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor & Welfare (MHLW) for patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH).
Mary Szela, chief executive officer of Novelion said, “Japan is an important market and we are pleased to be able to provide this needed therapy to HoFH patients there shortly following the recent approval. Japan is unique in that there is a well-defined population of over 160 HoFH patients at last count registered with the Intractable Diseases Information Center. We are working closely with Japanese healthcare providers to identify those patients appropriate for JUXTAPID therapy, and following the recent approval of pricing and reimbursement in line with our expectations, we are working to bring HoFH patients in need onto therapy.”
HoFH is a serious, rare genetic disease that impairs the function of the receptor responsible for removing LDL-C (“bad” cholesterol) from the body. A loss of LDL receptor function results in extreme evaluation of blood cholesterol levels. HoFH patients often develop premature and progressive atherosclerosis, a narrowing or blocking of the arteries.
The MHLW based its approval of JUXTAPID on Aegerion’s Phase III study in Japanese patients, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of the medicine to reduce LDL-C levels in nine patients with HoFH. The findings were consistent with the known safety and efficacy profile of JUXTAPID.
JUXTAPID is approved in the United States as an adjunct to a low-fat diet and other lipid lowering treatments, including apheresis where available, to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein B (apo B), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) in adult patients with HoFH. In the U.S., JUXTAPID carries a boxed warning for the risk of hepatotoxicity. The boxed warning also states that JUXTAPID should only be prescribed to patients with a clinical or laboratory diagnosis consistent with HoFH, and that the safety and effectiveness of JUXTAPID have not been established in patients with hypercholesterolemia who do not have HoFH. Because of the risk of hepatotoxicity and the importance of JUXTAPID only being prescribed to patients with a clinical or laboratory diagnosis consistent with HoFH, JUXTAPID is only available through the JUXTAPID REMS Program. The effect of JUXTAPID on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined.
Important Safety Information from U.S. Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING:
WARNING: RISK OF HEPATOTOXICITY
JUXTAPID can cause elevations in transaminases. In the JUXTAPID clinical trial, 10 (34%) of the 29 patients treated with JUXTAPID had at least one elevation in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≥3x upper limit of normal (ULN). There were no concomitant clinically meaningful elevations of total bilirubin, international normalized ratio (INR), or alkaline phosphatase.
JUXTAPID also increases hepatic fat, with or without concomitant increases in transaminases. The median absolute increase in hepatic fat was 6% after both 26 and 78 weeks of treatment, from 1% at baseline, measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Hepatic steatosis associated with JUXTAPID treatment may be a risk factor for progressive liver disease, including steatohepatitis and cirrhosis.
Measure ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin before initiating treatment and then ALT and AST regularly as recommended. During treatment, adjust the dose of JUXTAPID if the ALT or AST are ≥3x ULN. Discontinue JUXTAPID for clinically significant liver toxicity.
Because of the risk of hepatotoxicity, JUXTAPID is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the JUXTAPID REMS PROGRAM. Prescribe JUXTAPID only to patients with a clinical or laboratory diagnosis consistent with HoFH. The safety and effectiveness of JUXTAPID have not been established in patients with hypercholesterolemia who do not have HoFH.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
- Pregnancy
- Concomitant administration of moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
- Moderate or severe hepatic impairment or active liver disease including unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
JUXTAPID can cause elevations in transaminases and hepatic steatosis. Although cases of hepatic failure have not been reported, there is concern that JUXTAPID could induce steatohepatitis, which can progress to cirrhosis over several years. Modify the dose of JUXTAPID if elevations of transaminases are observed and discontinue JUXTAPID for persistent or clinically significant elevations. If transaminase elevations are accompanied by clinical symptoms of liver injury, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, lethargy, flu-like-symptoms, increases in bilirubin ≥2x ULN, or active liver disease, discontinue treatment with JUXTAPID and identify the probable cause. Use JUXTAPID with caution when co-administered with agents known to be hepatotoxic. Alcohol may increase levels of hepatic fat and induce or exacerbate liver injury.
Measure ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin before initiating treatment. During the first year, measure liver-related tests (ALT and AST, at a minimum) prior to each increase in dose or monthly, whichever occurs first. After the first year, do these tests at least every three months and before any increase in dose.
Females of reproductive potential should have a negative pregnancy test before starting JUXTAPID and should use effective contraception during therapy with JUXTAPID. The recommended maximum dosage of JUXTAPID is 40 mg daily when used concomitantly with oral contraceptives.
Given its mechanism of action in the small intestine, JUXTAPID may reduce the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients. Patients treated with JUXTAPID should take daily supplements that contain 400 international units vitamin E and at least 200 mg linoleic acid, 210 mg alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), 110 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and 80 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Gastrointestinal adverse reactions are common and may lead to treatment discontinuation. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions, patients should adhere to a low-fat diet supplying less than 20% of energy from fat and the dosage of JUXTAPID should be increased gradually.
Weak CYP3A4 inhibitors can increase the exposure of lomitapide approximately two-fold; therefore, when JUXTAPID is administered with weak CYP3A4 inhibitors, the dose of JUXTAPID should be decreased by half and the recommended maximum dosage of JUXTAPID is 30 mg daily. The recommended maximum dosage is 40 mg daily when used concomitantly with oral contraceptives. Strong and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors should not be used with JUXTAPID. Patients taking JUXTAPID 5 mg daily may continue with the same dosage. Due to risk of myopathy associated with simvastatin or lovastatin, doses of these agents should be limited when co-administered with JUXTAPID.
JUXTAPID increases the plasma concentrations of warfarin. Increases or decreases in the dose of JUXTAPID may lead to supra- or subtherapeutic anticoagulation, respectively. Patients taking warfarin should undergo regular monitoring of the INR, especially after any changes in JUXTAPID dosage.
Avoid use of JUXTAPID in patients with rare hereditary disorders of galactose intolerance.
About Novelion Therapeutics
Novelion Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing new standards of care for individuals living with rare diseases. The company seeks to advance its portfolio of rare disease therapies by investing in science and clinical development. Novelion has a diversified commercial portfolio through its indirect subsidiary, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which includes MYALEPT® and JUXTAPID®, and is also developing zuretinol acetate for the treatment of inherited retinal disease caused by underlying mutations in RPE65 or LRAT genes.
Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential for launch and commercialization of JUXTAPID in Japan. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other factors; the risk that JUXTAPID may not gain market acceptance for HoFH in Japan; the risk that HoFH patients may not be diagnosed and identified in the manner and at the levels we anticipate; and the other risks inherent in the commercialization process for orphan drug products in Japan. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks we face, see the disclosure contained in the "Risk Factors" section of Aegerion's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 4, 2016, QLT's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 25, 2016 (and amended on April 29, 2016) and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 1, 2016 and each company's other public filings with the SEC, available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.
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