FDA Approves Firdapse
FDA Approves Firdapse (amifampridine) for Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome
November 28, 2018 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Firdapse (amifampridine) tablets for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in adults. LEMS is a rare autoimmune disorder that affects the connection between nerves and muscles and causes weakness and other symptoms in affected patients. This is the first FDA approval of a treatment for LEMS.
“There has been a long-standing need for a treatment for this rare disorder,” said Billy Dunn, M.D., director of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Patients with LEMS have significant weakness and fatigue that can often cause great difficulties with daily activites.”
In people with LEMS, the body’s own immune system attacks the neuromuscular junction (the connection between nerves and muscles) and disrupts the ability of nerve cells to send signals to muscle cells. LEMS may be associated with other autoimmune diseases, but more commonly occurs in patients with cancer such as small cell lung cancer, where its onset precedes or coincides with the diagnosis of cancer. The prevalence of LEMS is estimated to be three per million individuals worldwide.
The efficacy of Firdapse was studied in two clinical trials that together included 64 adult patients who received Firdapse or placebo. The studies measured the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis score (a 13-item physician-rated categorical scale assessing muscle weakness) and the Subject Global Impression (a seven-point scale on which patients rated their overall impression of the effects of the study treatment on their physical well-being). For both measures, the patients receiving Firdapse experienced a greater benefit than those on placebo.
The most common side effects experienced by patients in the clinical trials were burning or prickling sensation (paresthesia), upper respiratory tract infection, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, headache, elevated liver enzymes, back pain, hypertension and muscle spasms. Seizures have been observed in patients without a history of seizures. Patients should inform their health care provider immediately if they have signs of hypersensitivity reactions such as rash, hives, itching, fever, swelling or trouble breathing.
The FDA granted this application Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy designations. Firdapse also received Orphan Drug designation, which provides incentives to assist and encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases.
The FDA granted the approval of Firdapse to Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Source: FDA
Posted: November 2018
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- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Announces FDA Acceptance of NDA and Priority Review Status for Firdapse (amifampridine phosphate) for Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome - May 29, 2018
- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Announces Submission of New Drug Application for Firdapse for Treatment of Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome - March 29, 2018
- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Announces Plans to Resubmit New Drug Application for Firdapse - February 12, 2018
- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Provides Update on its Clinical Trial for Patients with Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes - December 8, 2016
- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Provides Regulatory Update on Firdapse - April 26, 2016
- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Receives Refusal to File Letter From the FDA on Its NDA for Firdapse - February 17, 2016
- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Completes NDA Submission to FDA for Firdapse for the Treatment of Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome and Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes - December 17, 2015
Firdapse (amifampridine phosphate) FDA Approval History
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