{"id":11578,"date":"2021-10-18T17:44:09","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T01:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sfj-pharma.com\/?p=11578"},"modified":"2021-10-18T17:51:36","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T01:51:36","slug":"apellis-and-sobi-receive-positive-chmp-opinion-for-aspaveli-pegcetacoplan-for-the-treatment-of-pnh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sfj-pharma.com\/apellis-and-sobi-receive-positive-chmp-opinion-for-aspaveli-pegcetacoplan-for-the-treatment-of-pnh\/","title":{"rendered":"Apellis and Sobi Receive Positive CHMP Opinion for Aspaveli\u00ae (pegcetacoplan) for the Treatment of PNH"},"content":{"rendered":"

WALTHAM, Mass. and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE<\/a>) — Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.<\/a> (Nasdaq: APLS) and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi\u2122)<\/a> (STO:SOBI) announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion recommending the marketing authorization of Aspaveli\u00ae\u00a0<\/sup>(pegcetacoplan) for the treatment of adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) who are anemic after treatment with a C5 inhibitor for at least three months. The positive opinion from the CHMP is now referred to the European Commission for an approval decision.<\/p>\n

PNH is a rare, chronic, life-threatening blood disorder where uncontrolled complement activation leads to the destruction of oxygen-carrying red blood cells through intravascular and extravascular hemolysis. Characterized by persistently low hemoglobin, PNH can result in frequent transfusions and debilitating symptoms such as severe fatigue. Despite improvements in hemolytic activity with C5 inhibitor treatment, approximately 72% of C5 treated patients remain anemic, according to a retrospective and a cross-sectional study.1,2<\/sup><\/p>\n

\u201cBuilding on our recent U.S. approval, the positive CHMP opinion moves us one step closer toward bringing this important treatment to patients across Europe,\u201d said Federico Grossi, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer, Apellis. \u201cIf approved, Aspaveli has the potential to redefine treatment for patients with PNH, so we look forward to the European Commission\u2019s final decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

The positive opinion is based on the results from the head-to-head Phase 3 PEGASUS study, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of Aspaveli compared to eculizumab at 16 weeks in adults with PNH who had persistent anemia despite treatment with eculizumab. The results were published in the\u00a0New England Journal of Medicine<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in March 2021.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s positive opinion by the CHMP is a significant milestone for people living with PNH across Europe,\u201d said Ravi Rao, head of research and development and chief medical officer, Sobi. “We hope to make a difference to the lives of people living with rare diseases, and if Aspaveli is approved by the European Commission, it will offer patients and treating physicians a new class of complement medicines for the treatment of PNH.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aspaveli is the European trade name for pegcetacoplan, which is known as EMPAVELI\u2122 in the United States where it is approved for the treatment of adults with PNH.<\/p>\n

About the PEGASUS Study<\/strong>
\nPEGASUS (APL2-302; NCT03500549) was a multi-center, randomized, head-to-head Phase 3 study in 80 adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). The primary objective of this study was to establish the efficacy and safety of Aspaveli\u00ae<\/sup>\/EMPAVELI\u2122\u00a0(pegcetacoplan) compared to eculizumab.<\/p>\n

About Aspaveli<\/strong>\u00ae<\/strong><\/sup>\/EMPAVELI\u2122 (pegcetacoplan)<\/strong>
\nAspaveli\u00ae<\/sup>\/EMPAVELI\u2122 (pegcetacoplan) is a targeted C3 therapy designed to regulate excessive activation of the complement cascade, part of the body\u2019s immune system, which can lead to the onset and progression of many serious diseases. EMPAVELI is approved in the United States for the treatment of adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion for Aspaveli for the treatment of adults with PNH who are anemic after treatment with a C5 inhibitor for at least three months. The positive opinion from the CHMP is now referred to the European Commission for an approval decision. The therapy is also under investigation for several other rare diseases across hematology, nephrology, and neurology.<\/p>\n

U.S. Important Safety Information for EMPAVELI<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

BOXED WARNING: SERIOUS INFECTIONS CAUSED BY ENCAPSULATED BACTERIA<\/strong><\/p>\n