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- 2026-03-18 05:51:35
- Company
- Novartis most challenged for its patents, followed by Pfizer
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Jul 16, 2021 05:54am
- Among pharmaceutical companies, Novartis was found to have received the most amount of patent challenges since 2016. Over the past five and a half years, 33 generic companies had filed a total of 121 patent suits against Novartis' 15 patents on 8 products. In addition to Novartis, generic companies also targeted Pfizer, Boehringer Ingeheim, Astellas, and AstraZeneca. The same went for domestic companies. United Pharma, Alvogen Korea, Boryung Pharmaceutical, and Chong Kun Dang were also challenged on their patents by generic companies. ◆Generic companies challenge patents of 8 Novartis products On the 13th, Dailypharm’s tally of patent challenges in the biopharmaceutical sector since 2016 showed that Novartis has received the most challenges from generic companies. Generic companies had challenged 15 patents of 8 drugs owned by Novartis. A total of 121 requests for appeal and trial were filed by the companies against Novartis. In the same period, the total number of appeals and trials claimed (scope of right + invalidation suits) amounted to 1,042. In other words, 1.2 cases in every 10 patent suits filed had targeted Novartis. The 8 products that received patent challenges were;▲heart failure treatment ‘Entresto’; ▲DPP-4 inhibitor antidiabetic ‘Galvus’; ▲Breast cancer treatment ’Afinitor’; ▲ glaucoma treatment ‘Simbrinza eye drops’; ▲ conjunctivitis treatment ‘Pazeo eye drops’; ▲ COPD treatment ‘Xoterna’; ▲ chronic iron overload treatment ‘Exjade FCT’; and ▲ immunosuppressant ‘Certican’ The interesting point is that only 2 of the drugs among those in legal dispute are blockbuster drugs that bring over ₩10 billion in annual sales. According to the pharmaceutical market research institution IQVIA, only Entresto (₩21.7 billion) and Afinitor (₩14.9 billion) recorded over ₩10 billion in sales among the 8 Novartis products. The other products, Exjade (₩8.5 billion), Galvus (₩7.3 billion), Certican (₩6.9 billion), Xoterna (₩6.2 billion), Pazeo (₩4.1 billion), and Simbrinza (₩2 billion) all recorded less than ₩10 billion in annual sales. The analysis is that generic companies are now actively seeking patents not only for the well-sold large items but also for small and medium-sized sales items. Five or fewer generic companies have requested a judgment for each of the products that sold less than ₩10 billion. Also, Novartis targeted the most is because the company has that many patents. As of the 12th, Novartis has 151 patents (on 69 drugs) listed on Korea’s patent list. This is the most amount of patents registered among domestic and multinational pharmaceutical companies combined. In other words, despite the aggressive patent challenges filed by generic companies over the past 5 and a half years, Novartis has kept over 80% of its patents safe and sound. ◆Followed by Pfizer with 106 patent cases > Boehringer Ingelheim with 95 cases > Astellas with 89 cases The runner-up was Pfizer. Pfizer received the second-most amount of patent challenges after Novartis since 2016. A total of 106 patent trials were filed on 8 patents of 6 drugs. Pfizer's sedative ‘Precedex,’ the pneumococcal vaccine ‘Prevenar 13,’ smoking-cessation treatment ‘Champix,’ antidepressant ‘Prestiq,’ JAK inhibitor immunology drug ‘Xeljanz,’ and neuropathic pain treatment ‘Lyrica’ were the targets. The 4 products other than Precedex and Pristiq were blockbusters that raised over ₩20 billion in sales last year. Also, Boehringer Ingelheim (95 cases), Astellas (89 cases), and AstraZeneca (80 cases) received patent challenges from generic companies. Boehringer Ingelheim received patent challenge for its SGLT-2 inhibitor diabetes treatment ‘Jardiance,’ NOAC ‘Pradaxa,’ and Parkinson’s disease treatment ‘Mirapex.’ Astellas was challenged for its patents on its OAB treatment ‘Betmiga' and immunosuppressant ‘Advagraf.’ AstraZenca’s SGLT-2 inhibitor ‘Forxiga’ also was a target of focus for patent challenges. Among domestic companies, United Pharma, Alvogen Korea, Boryung Pharmaceuticals, Dong-A ST, and Chong Kun Dang were also actively targeted for their patents. In the case of United Pharma, 4 patents on its gastrointestinal symptom treatment ‘Gastiin CR,’ antiplatelet drug ‘Cilostan CR,’ and expectorant ‘Levotics CR,’ were targeted by generic companies. A total of 28 pharmaceutical companies had filed 80 patent trials. Alvogen Korea was challenged by 50 pharmaceutical companies for one single drug - its antithrombotic drug ‘Sarpodipil SR.’ Also, 44 generic companies challenged Boryung Pharmaceuticals 'patent on its antihypertensive combination drug ‘Dukarb.’ Dong-A ST also was challenged by 31 generic companies on its gastritis drug ‘Stillen 2X.’ Chong Kun Dang was challenged for the patent of two of its drugs – its GERD treatment ‘Eso Duo’ and its antihypertensive combination ‘Telminuvo.’ The patents held by domestic companies that the by generic companies targeted are all Incrementally Modified Drugs (IMDs). In other words, the drugs do not separately hold a substance patent and are therefore relatively easy to target. The analysis is that the patent challenges focused on IMDs as most were well-sold products that brought over ₩10 billion a year.
- Company
- Xospata is approved as a targeted anti-cancer drug
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jul 15, 2021 07:06pm
- The emergence of FLT3 targeted anticancer drugs is also causing new changes in the area of acute myeloid leukemia, which lacked treatment options. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), which was considered incurable, has benefited many patients from the commercialization of the targeted anti-cancer drug Glivec(Imatinib), but Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) has relied on next-generation chemotherapy, despite being a life-threatening serious condition. Astellas' FLT3 target anti-cancer drug "Xospata ( Gilteritinib fumarate)" has been approved by the MFDS as the first FLT3mut+ recurrence or nonresponsive AML target treatment. AMLs are identified by individual chromosomes or genetic mutations. Guidelines published by the U.S. NCCN and the European ELN classify patients with FLT3-ITD mutations or TP53 mutations as the highest risk group. Xospata is a drug that targets both FLT3-ITD, FLT3-TKD, and FLT3-TKD mutations, which can be treated at home without frequent visits to hospitals. It also showed higher effectiveness and safety compared to conventional chemotherapy. It obtained permission from the U.S. FDA, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan in 2018 and the European EMA in 2019, and was also classified as Category 1, the highest recommended class for treating relapsing or nonresponsive AML patients with FLT3 mutations. It has recently been approved by Asian countries such as China and Singapore. Since its approval in March last year, it has passed the DC of major hospitals in Korea, including Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and Samsung Medical Center, and is under review at other general hospitals. It passed the HIRA's Cancer Drugs Benefit Appraisal Committee in February. Medical staff are also looking forward to it. Kim Hee-je, a professor of hematology at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, said, "With Xospata's permission in Korea, patients can relieve their anxiety." "Of course, there is still a cost problem, but we expect it to become a standardized treatment as soon as possible after the salary is registered." "In FLT3mut+ R/RAML patients, the prognosis is poor and the disease can worsen rapidly, so it is important to provide proper treatment quickly. "That's why Xospata is being prescribed even though it's non-reimbursement." In May, the Korea Alliance of Patients organization delivered its opinion on the rapid benefits of new drugs, including Xospata, at a meeting with the MOHW' insurance and medicine department. "It is very unfortunate that AMLs are rapidly deteriorating and cannot be applied with already licensed treatments," said an official at the Korea Alliance of Patients organization. "We are also making efforts to ensure that the treatment can be used quickly for patients who need the only new medicine."
- Company
- Keytruda overcomes its 4-year hurdle, with Tecentriq
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jul 15, 2021 06:30am
- The immunotherapy ‘Keytruda’ finally overcame one giant hurdle for its reimbursement, with ‘Tecentriq.’ According to industry sources, the PD-1 inhibitors – MSD Korea’s ‘Ketyruda (pembrolizumab) and Roche Korea’s ‘Tecentriq (atezolizumab)’ – passed deliberations by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service’s Cancer Drug Review Committee for its first-line indication for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) yesterday (14th). However, differences exist between the criteria under which the two drugs gained the nod. Keytruda’s is for monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy for patients with a PD-L1 expression rate of 50% or higher, and Tecentriq’s is as monotherapy for those with a PD-L1 expression rate and PD-L1 stained tumor-infiltrating immune cells (IC) covering 10% or more of the tumor area. Regardless of the specifics, the introduction of a cancer immunotherapy option in first-line NSCLC is reassuring news. The last move made by MSD Korea, which waited nearly 4 years for reimbursement of Keytruda in NSCLC, seems to have finally paid off. However, Keytruda’s nod comes with a condition attached. The Cancer Drug Review Committee again mentioned the equity of Keytruda and Tecentriq and requested additional modifications to be made to Keytruda's cost-sharing plan. This indicates that the drug pricing negotiations with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Appraisal Committee or the National Health Insurance Service will act as a variable in discussing Keytruda's benefit expansion to the lung cancer indication. Keytruda’s benefit expansion has been discussed for almost 4 years since September 2017. Among the many barriers, the biggest unresolved issue was the condition presented by the government to all pharmaceutical companies with cancer immunotherapies – requesting the company to ‘cover the initial 3 cycles’ worth of administration cost’ Roche, which owned the then-latecomer ‘Tecentriq,’ was the only company to accept the government’s proposal then, and 2 types of PD-1 inhibitors – Keytruda and ‘Opdivo(nivolumab)’ were unable to accept the offer. Since then, MSD had repeatedly proposed compromises and revisions to the government. The last discussion was held in August last year, during which the decision for the drug was put on hold as the committee believed that MSD Korea’s proposal lacked compromise on the company’s part. In September of the same year, HIRA handed the proposal back to MSD Korea and requested a re-revision. A month later, MSD submitted a re-revised proposal, which the reimbursement standard sub-committee meeting discussed but to no avail. The agenda was push back and not deliberated at the Cancer Drug Review Committee meeting. This time, with MSD Korea’s new managing director Kevin Peters personally attending to persuade the government, finally, the long-awaited “YES” came from the Cancer Drug Review Committee. Meanwhile, Keytruda was first listed for insurance benefits in August 2017 through the mixed refund and expenditure cap type of the Risk Sharing Agreement (RSA) with a PD-L1 expression rate standard.
- Company
- Will Rivoceranib+Iressa really be a game changer ?
- by Jul 14, 2021 06:26pm
- Can Rivoceranib+Iressa therapy really be a game changer? This is the title of the press release distributed by HLB on the 9th. "We have confirmed high synergy with the first-generation blockbuster EGFR TKI drug in phase 3 clinical trials," HLB said. "We expect a next-generation treatment due to a complete improvement in one person and PFS." Rivoceranib (Aptinib) is a targeted anticancer drug targeting endothelial cell growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), which plays an important role in the tumor development process. It is a plan that combines this with Iressa (Gefitinib), a first-generation EGFR target anti-cancer drug, to create synergy in treatment. The combination of the two drugs is positive. In fact, other VEGFR2 inhibitors "Cyramza" and first-generation EGFR TKI "Tarceva" combined therapy were approved as the first treatment for EGFR mutation non-small cell lung cancer in the U.S. last year. Let's take a look at the phase III results recently published by developer Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, a journal of the World Lung Cancer Society. This study compares Rivoceranib and Iressa combinations with Iressa sole therapy (Iressa+placebo) in patients with EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer who have not received existing chemotherapy. EGFR Exxon 19 defect or Exxon 21 L848R variant were deployed one-on-one in both counties. The primary validity indicators are PFSs evaluated by the IRRC, which consists of radiologists, and secondary validity indicators include clinical evaluation PFSs, overall survival periods (OS), and quality of life (QoL). In the study registered by 313 people, the primary variable, the median progressive survival period (mPFS), was approximately 3.5 months longer than 13.7 months for the combined group and 10.2 months for the single group (HR 0.71, p=0.0189). The 12-month PFS was 53.4% to 35.6%. OS data is immature at the time of analysis. CR was observed in one person. Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions were higher in the Rivoceranib group, with high blood pressure (46.5%), proteinuria (17.8%), and higher serum ALT in the control group (10.3%), and higher AST (3.2%), but there were no statistical changes in the quality of life between the two groups. It is true that the combination of Rivoceranib and Iressa therapy in phase 3 demonstrates the significance of effectiveness over Iressa alone therapy. However, considering the results of Tagrisso (Osimertinib), a third-generation targeted drug, which is currently a global standard for treating EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer, or Cyramza+Tarceva, the same mechanism, the results are somewhat insufficient to become a "game changer." Although clinical designs and patients are different, let's refer to the results of FLAURA study, which served as the basis for Tagrisso's acquisition of primary indications. Tagrisso compared Iressa and Tarceva, the first-generation drugs at the time, to patients with EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer who have no experience in chemotherapy. mPFS had 18.9 months for Tagrisso and 10.2 months for control (HR 0.46 and p
- Company
- Bavencio can be prescribed in general hospitals
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jul 14, 2021 06:03am
- Merck and Pfizer’s immunotherapy ‘Bavencio’ can now be prescribed at general hospitals. According to industry sources, the PD-L1 inhibitor Bavencio (avelumab) passed the Drug Committees (DCs) of the Big-5s general hospitals in Korea - Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Asan Medical Center (AMC), Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Samsung Medical Center (SMC), and Severance Hospital – as well as other major medical institutions in the nation including Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Ajou University Hospital, Ewha Womens University Hospital, Wonkwang University Hospital, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Chosun University Hospital, and Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital. Bavencio, the 6th cancer immunotherapy and the 3rd PD-L1 inhibitor to be approved after Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Imfinzi (durvalumab), was first approved in Korea in March 2019 to treat the rare condition, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), then listed for insurance benefit under the RSA (Risk Sharing Agreement) scheme for the same indication in September last year. In Part A of the EMR100070-003 study that was conducted on patients with MCC whose disease had progressed on or after chemotherapy, the objective response rate (ORR) of those treated with Bavencio inj. as monotherapy was 33.0%. 11% of patients experienced a complete response and 22% of patients experienced a partial response. At the time of analysis, tumor responses were durable, with 93% of responses lasting at least 6 months and 71% of responses lasting at least 12 months. Also, interim analysis results in Part B of the study showed that the ORR in this patient group was 39.7%, with 13.8% of patients experiencing a complete response and 25.9% experiencing a partial response However, the company has been facing difficulties in expanding Bavencio's indication. Since December last year, the benefit approval is being delayed due to negative evaluations made on the efficacy of Bavencio for renal cell carcinoma by the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council. The council pointed to the overall survival (OS) data of the drug as the key cause. Also, recently, Bavencio’s indication as a first-line maintenance therapy for urothelial cancer that has been approved by the U.S. FDA was rejected in the U.K by NICE. NICE recognized the drug’s value in addressing the unmet need that exists in the population up for review but raised the question on its cost-effectiveness.
- Company
- Will a new reimbursement model be introduced for Zolgensma?
- by Jul 14, 2021 06:03am
- The move to list Novartis’s new drug ‘Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi)’ for reimbursement benefits is now underway. The industry’s eyes are on which types of the RSA scheme will be combined for this ultra-high-priced ‘dream drug.’ Whether Zolgensma will be listed for insurance benefits is the focus of attention in the industry. The industry-wide interest was approved in May in Korea as a single shot of Zolgensma costs over 2 billion won. Of course, when compared to other existing drugs that require spending 300 to 500 million won every year for the rest of one's life, this ‘one-shot’ treatment cannot strictly be called an ‘ultra extensive' drug. Nevertheless, it is true that the government burden would be immense, as it would have to bear billions of won as its cost each time. The reasoning for Zolgensma’s high price is in that it can treat rare diseases that cause death with just a single injection. Zolgensma treats spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare condition in which the SMN1 gene is innately deficient or mutated to result in progressive muscle atrophy. In the case of SMA Type 1, the most common and severe form of SMA, over 95% of the motor neurons are damaged within 6 months, and 90% die before the age of 2 if left untreated. Zolgensma is a gene therapy that has a functional replacement for the missing or non-working SMN1 gene. When the drug is administered to a patient, the replacement delivered with Zolgensma produces SMN proteins and radically cures the disease. This completely different mechanism of action, unlike those of existing drugs that increase the production of SMN protein using the ‘backup’ SMN2 gene, is why Novartis calls Zolgensma an ‘innovation'. In the Phase III SPR1NT study, all pediatric SMA patients with two SMN Type 2 gene copies (Cohort 1) that were treated prior to the onset of symptoms survived without requiring ventilatory or nutritional assistance and achieved sitting independently for 30 seconds or more. Most (11/14) patients achieved age-appropriate motor milestones within the World Health Organization (WHO) window of normal development. Also, in the real world, Zolgensma improved or maintained motor development scores in patients 6 months of age and older, regardless of their prior use of existing therapies. The efficacy and safety of Zolgensam were confirmed for over 6 years, with treatment experience accumulated for patients aged 6 months to 2 years. Novartis applied for Zolgensma's reimbursement benefit in June and is currently discussing ways to allow its reimbursement. The key agenda lies in how to incorporate Zolgensma in the current reimbursement system. As of now, the RSA scheme is being considered the most realistic alternative, and among the various types of RSA, it is likely that a mix of several models would be used to cover the drug. The company has proposed a performance-based RSA system. Miri Shin, Director of Zolgensma's Business Unit at Novartis Korea said, “We have reviewed various measures that can effectively reduce the burden on NHI finances and proposed the performance-based payment system to the government.” The performance-based payment system is an RSA conditional upon evidence development. Under this RSA type, reimbursement is decided according to the results of a clinical trial that is conducted after listing. The only drug listed with the RSA conditional upon evidence development was ‘Evoltra,’ a treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. If this performance-based RSA is applied for Zolgensma, setting the criteria for reevaluation will be important. Also, new types such as installment payments can be incorporated into the system, under which the price of the single shot would be paid in installments. The U.S. has also adopted this method to minimize its financial burden. In addition, finance-based RSA types such as the expenditure cap type may also be applied to Zolgensma. “We are flexibly discussing various measures for Zolgensma’s reimbursement with the government," said Director Shin. “We will continue discussions to work out the details.”
- Company
- CKD-701 demonstrated the validity in phase III trials
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Jul 14, 2021 06:03am
- Chong Kun Dang announced on the 12th that Lucentis’ biosimilar CKD-701 proved equivalent to the original drug in Phase 3 trials. Chong Kun Dang will apply to the MFDS for CKD-701. Lucentis, sold by Roche and Novatis, is a drug used to treat eye diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy. Lucentis' annual global sales amount to about ₩4.6 trillion. From September 2018 to March this year, Chong Kun Dang conducted clinical trials for the first purpose of proving the validity of CKD-701 and Lucentis in patients with wet macular degeneration. Clinical trials showed that the proportion of patients with vision loss of less than 15 characters at BCVA at 3 months' time compared to basal was 97.95% in the CKD-701 group, which met the equivalence range compared to the Lucentis administration group (98.62%). As a secondary validation variable, CKD-701 was found to have similar treatment effects to Lucentis in terms of maximum calibration vision at the time of 3, 6, and 12 months, the ratio of patients with 15 or more letters of improvement in vision at the maximum calibration. Most of the adverse reactions reported during CKD-701 administration were reported in previous studies of Lucentis with similar tendency to manifest. No significant differences between administered groups have been identified in the rate of adverse reactions. "CKD-701 has proven its treatment effect to be equivalent to Lucentis in wet macular degeneration patients," Chong Kun-dang said. "We expect that macular degeneration patients will be able to provide diversity in treatment drug choices and expand treatment opportunities."
- Company
- Omipalisib is 200 times more effective than Remdesivir
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Jul 13, 2021 11:09pm
- Attention is focusing on Omipalisib, which was newly discovered by Korean researchers as a candidate material for COVID-19. In particular, as laboratory studies show that candidate substance is more than 200 times more effective than Veklury (Remdesivir), some are optimistic that it will be a "game changer" for the corona crisis. Some pharmaceutical industries are wary of expanding interpretation of anti-virus effects. Laboratory findings do not indicate actual clinical efficacy. #Sb◆Ompalisib, new anti-cancer drug candidate for PI3K suppression mechanism KAIST and Institut Pasteur Korea announced on the 8th that they have discovered Omipalisib as a candidate material for COVID-19 treatment. The researchers explained that they explored 6,218 types of substances with a virtual drug library, and confirmed the effects of the antiviruses in seven of them. Among them, Omipalisib emphasized that "the anti-virus activity was more than 200 times higher than that of Remdesivir." Omipalisib is a drug that GSK is developing as an anti-cancer drug or an idiopathic treatment for pulmonary fibrosis. Phase I clinical trials are currently under way. It is a mechanism that inhibits "PI3K" (phosphatidylositol-3-kinase), known as cancer-causing substance. PI3K inhibitors are a new line of anti-cancer drugs that have recently attracted worldwide attention. Many global pharmaceutical companies are actively developing it. Gilead Science's Zydelig(Idelalisib), Novartis' Piqray(Alpelisib), and Bayer's Aliqopa(Copanlisib) were licensed. In addition, research and development are also in full swing in U.S. bio-ventures such as Verastem Oncology and TG Therapeutics ◆↑Interested in Nafamostat last year, failed to validate in actual clinical trials However, pharmaceutical industries are wary that laboratory results and actual effectiveness may be different. Even if clinical trials are conducted through Drug Repositioning, there is a high possibility that expected results will not come out. Institut Pasteur Korea, for example, said in May last year that it found 600 times more powerful drugs than Remdesivir through its own experiments. ▲Nafabelltan At that time, Institut Pasteur Korea explained that it conducted experiments on human lung cells by selecting drugs that could help treat COVID-19 among drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company was able to find and experiment with candidate materials in a similar way as this time. The substance that came out of this process was Nafamostat. At that time, Remdesivir was the only treatment for COVID-19, so interest in the drug, which was previously approved as a pancreatitis treatment, soared. Finally, Chong Kun-dang entered the clinical trial of Nafamostat (Nafabelltan). Chong Kun Dang conducted clinical phase II of 104 patients with severe corona in Russia. Based on this, the company filed for Conditional Marketing Authorization with the MFDS in April. However, receiving Conditional Marketing Authorization failed. Remdesivir is still the only drug developed and licensed treatment for corona through Drug Repositioning. It is a drug previously developed by Gilliard Science as an Ebola treatment.
- Company
- Dong-A ST has received the right of DA-4501 from AbbVie
- by An, Kyung-Jin Jul 13, 2021 11:08pm
- View of Dong-A ST headquarters buildingDong-A ST has received the right of MerTK inhibitor from AbbVie for the first time in five years. Dong-A ST has terminated two large technology export contracts with global pharmaceutical companies. Dong-A ST plans to review new possibilities based on joint research data that has been conducted for the past five years. Starting with biosimilar for Stelara, it is seeking new growth engines by combining its own pipeline R&D and active open innovation strategies such as diabetes and dementia. ◆AbbVie, returning rights to new drugs in five years "Not meeting internal standards" Dong-A ST announced on the 9th that it had been notified by AbbVie that it had returned the rights of the MerTK inhibitor DA-4501. The official reason for the return of rights is lack of validity. Dong-A ST explained, "We conducted a joint study on preclinical candidate materials after exporting the technology before deriving candidate materials, but the right was returned because we could not find any preclinical candidate materials satisfying AbbVie's internal standards." Dong-A ST signed a contract with AbbVie Biotechnology, a subsidiary of AbbVie, in December 2016 to transfer the global rights of MerTK inhibitor DA-4501 (excluding Korea). It is a contract worth up to $525 million, including development, approval, and milestones, in addition to $40 million in down payment that has no obligation to return. Dong-A ST received $40 million in down payment in January of the following year and recognized it in installments for 36 months. MerTK inhibitors are new mechanisms that inhibit MerTyrosine Kinase (MERTK) protein activity to help boost the immune system. Even though it was in the process of searching for candidate materials at the time, the total contract size was not only large, but also the pre-contract fee accounted for nearly 8% of the total conditions were unconventional. Industries were interested in whether pre-clinical testing would be possible, but the contract was terminated after AbbVie decided to return the rights. However, even after the termination of the contract, the down payment does not need to be refunded. ◆Donga ST, the contract for global technology export has been terminated twice. A bad relationship with Allergan This is not the first time that Dong-A ST has terminated its technology export contract with a global pharmaceutical company. Dong-A ST also received the right to develop Evogliptin, a non-alcoholic hepatitis drug, in November 2017. The acquisition of Tobira Therapheutics, the first contractor, by Allergan changed the R&D strategy. Dong-A ST's contract amount with Tobira Therapheutics in April 2016 was up to $61.5 million, including a down payment that had no obligation to return. At that time, Tobira expressed its willingness to target NASH adaptation by developing its own composites and Cenicriviroc, which was being developed in addition to Dong-A ST's single ingredient in Evogliptin, a diabetes treatment. However, Allergan is said to have decided to return the rights of Evogliptin developed by Tobira Therapheutics because it was slower than the NASH treatment developed jointly with Novartis. At the time, a Dong-A ST official said, "The decision is based on Allergan's own research and development strategy, and it has nothing to do with effectiveness or development as a treatment for Evogliptin." The recent termination of two major contracts involved Allergan. AbbVie, which notified the termination of the contract, spent a total of ₩63 billion to acquire Allergan in 2019. It is planning to make new inroads into medical aesthetic businesses such as botulinium through acquisition of Allergan. AbbVie launched a subsidiary dedicated to Allergan's cosmetic products, including Botox and filler, the following year.
- Company
- Venclexta combo in the spotlight as a new lymphoma Tx option
- by Jul 13, 2021 05:59am
- The treatment landscape for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which has a 5-year relative survival rate of less than 10%, is changing with the introduction of a new drug that addresses the unmet needs and improves survival rate. AML is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults with a high unmet need in patients and HCPs alike. As one of the more aggressive types of leukemia in adults, around 140,000 new cases occur globally every year, of which around 100,000 cases end in deaths. With the same treatment being used in AML for over 40 years, not much improvement has been made in the overall survival (OS) until recently. The 5-year survival rate was at a mere 29% and was even lower for older patients. According to a study by the National Cancer Center, the relative survival rate of AML patients was very low in elderly patients - less than 10% for patients over the age of 65 and 0% for those 80 years and older. Considering that the average age of AML patients is 67 and that one-third of the patients are 75 years old, the urgency and need for an appropriate treatment was high in this respect. Also, there had been a high demand for treatment with improved efficacy and lower toxicity that can be used in older patients. Experts advised that intensive chemotherapy, the main treatment used for AML, is unsuitable in elderly patients who are likely to have comorbidities and are not generally in good condition. Venclexta combination therapy provides new opportunities for elderly AML patients The most important goal in treating AML patients is improving the overall survival period. With active R&D being conducted in the field recently, the treatment environment has improved to allow more options from combination therapy to targeted therapies to be provided according to each patient’s condition. A new treatment option is also available for the elderly patients who were not considered candidates for intensive chemotherapy. Among the new drugs that were recently introduced to the field, Abbvie’s ‘Venclexta (venetoclax)’ in combination with azacytidine, or decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine is being considered the most appropriate therapy for patients who have difficulty receiving intensive chemotherapy. Venclexta, which was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in January, may be used in combination with azacytidine or decitabine in ‘newly-diagnosed AML adult patients aged 75 or more, or who have comorbidities that preclude the use of intensive induction chemotherapy.’ Results of the Phase III VIALE-A trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of the Venclexta and azacitidine combination showed that the combination’s median OS was 14.7 months, 5 months longer than the 9.6 months found in the control group (placebo+ azacitidine combination). The Phase I M14-35 trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of the Venclexta in combination with decitabine also showed that the median OS was 16.2 months. Also, the median time to first complete remission(CR) or CR with incomplete count recovery (Cri) was shorter for the Venclexta and azacitidine combination (1.3 months) than the control group (2.3 months), showing that the responses to the combination therapy occurred quickly in elderly patients as well. Also, over 60% of the patients achieved transfusion independence, raising expectations that the treatment could reduce the burden of treatment in elderly patients. Joon Ho Jang, Professor of Hematology and Oncology at the Samsung Medical Center said, “It is encouraging that a treatment that dramatically improved overall survival was introduced in the ALK treatment environment, a field where no new treatment option had been available for a long period of time. The new treatment option could provide opportunities for the difficult-to-treat patient population, such as those who are older or have comorbidities. We expect an improvement in the overall patients’ quality of life as the Venclexta+hypomethylating agent combination is effective not only in improving OS but has a short period to CR and can lower transfusion dependence. Professor Jang continued, “I hope that accessibility to these new treatment options is improved as soon as possible in consideration of the poor physical and economic conditions of patients suffering from AML in Korea."
