FDA Approves Kalydeco (ivacaftor) as First and Only CFTR Modulator to Treat Eligible Infants with CF as Early as Six Months of Age
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 30, 2019-- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq:VRTX) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kalydeco (ivacaftor) for use in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) ages six months to less than 12 months who have at least one mutation in their cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that is responsive to Kalydeco based on clinical and/or in vitro assay data. Kalydeco is already approved in the U.S., Canada and EU for the treatment of CF in patients ages 12 months and older.
“Today’s approval for Kalydeco allows physicians to begin treating the underlying cause of CF in eligible infants as young as six months of age for the first time, with the potential to modify the course of the disease,” said Margaret Rosenfeld, M.D., MPH, Seattle Children’s Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine.
This FDA approval is based on data from a 24-week Phase 3 open-label safety cohort (ARRIVAL) of 11 children with CF aged six months to less than 12 months who have one of 10 mutations in the CFTR gene (G551D, G178R, S549N, S549R, G551S, G1244E, S1251N, S1255P, G1349D or R117H). The study demonstrated a safety profile similar to that observed in previous Phase 3 studies of older children and adults; most adverse events were mild or moderate in severity, and no patient discontinued therapy due to adverse events. The most common adverse events (≥30%) were cough (64%), nasal congestion (36%) and rhinorrhea (36%). Three serious adverse events, all considered unrelated to study treatment by the investigators, were observed in three patients.
Mean baseline sweat chloride for the children in this cohort was 101.5 mmol/L (n=11). Following 24 weeks of treatment with Kalydeco, the mean sweat chloride level was 43.1 mmol/L (n=6). In the six subjects with paired sweat chloride samples at baseline and week 24, there was a mean absolute change of -58.6 mmol/L (95% CI; -75.9, -41.3).
Results of this study were presented at the 32nd Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in October 2018.
“The manifestations of CF are often present at birth, which underscores our relentless commitment to reach the youngest CF patients possible in our clinical trials,” said Reshma Kewalramani, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Vertex. “As an important outcome of these efforts, we are now able to treat infants with cystic fibrosis as early as six months of age with Kalydeco.”
Kalydeco was first approved in 2012 in the U.S. and is now available in more than 40 countries with more than 5,000 patients on therapy. For more information on Kalydeco, prescribing information, or patient assistance programs, visit Kalydeco.com or VertexGPS.com.
About Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a rare, life-shortening genetic disease affecting approximately 75,000 people in North America, Europe and Australia.
CF is caused by a defective or missing cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein resulting from mutations in the CFTR gene. Children must inherit two defective CFTR genes — one from each parent — to have CF. There are approximately 2,000 known mutations in the CFTR gene. Some of these mutations, which can be determined by a genetic test, or genotyping test, lead to CF by creating non-working or too few CFTR proteins at the cell surface. The defective function or absence of CFTR protein results in poor flow of salt and water into and out of the cell in a number of organs. In the lungs, this leads to the buildup of abnormally thick, sticky mucus that can cause chronic lung infections and progressive lung damage in many patients that eventually leads to death. The median age of death is in the mid-to-late 20s.
About Kalydeco (ivacaftor)
Kalydeco (ivacaftor) is the first medicine to treat the underlying cause of CF in people with specific mutations in the CFTR gene. Known as a CFTR potentiator, Kalydeco is an oral medicine designed to keep CFTR proteins at the cell surface open longer to improve the transport of salt and water across the cell membrane, which helps hydrate and clear mucus from the airways. Kalydeco is available as 150 mg tablets for adults and pediatric patients age 6 years and older. It is also available as 25 mg, 50 mg and 75 mg granules in pediatric patients ages 6 months to less than 6 years.
People with CF who have specific mutations in the CFTR gene are currently indicated for Kalydeco in different countries across North America, Europe and other International markets.
About Vertex
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious and life-threatening diseases. In addition to clinical development programs in CF, Vertex has more than a dozen ongoing research programs focused on the underlying mechanisms of other serious diseases.
Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex's headquarters is now located in Boston’s Innovation District. Today, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and Latin America. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including being named to Science magazine's Top Employers in the life sciences ranking for nine years in a row.
For additional information and the latest updates from the company, please visit www.vrtx.com.
Collaborative History with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc. (CFFT)
Vertex initiated its CF research program in 2000 as part of a collaboration with CFFT, the nonprofit drug discovery and development affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. KALYDECO® (ivacaftor), ORKAMBI® (lumacaftor/ivacaftor), SYMDEKO® (tezacaftor/ivacaftor and ivacaftor), VX-659 and VX-445 were discovered by Vertex as part of this collaboration.
Special Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, the statements in the second and sixth paragraphs of the press release. While Vertex believes the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are accurate, these forward-looking statements represent the company's beliefs only as of the date of this press release and there are a number of factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that data from the company's development programs may not support registration or further development of its compounds due to safety, efficacy or other reasons, and other risks listed under Risk Factors in Vertex's annual report and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available through the company's website at www.vrtx.com. Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in this press release as new information becomes available.
Source: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Posted: April 2019
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- FDA Approves Kalydeco (ivacaftor) as First and Only CFTR Modulator to Treat Eligible Infants With CF as Early as Four Months of Age - September 25, 2020
- FDA Approves Kalydeco (ivacaftor) for Cystic Fibrosis in Children Ages 12 to <24 Months with Certain Mutations in the CFTR Gene - August 15, 2018
- FDA Approves Kalydeco (ivacaftor) for People Ages 2 and Older With Cystic Fibrosis Who Have Certain Residual Function Mutations - August 1, 2017
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- FDA Approves Kalydeco (ivacaftor) for Cystic Fibrosis in Children Ages 2 to 5 with CFTR Gene Mutations - March 18, 2015
- FDA Approves Kalydeco (ivacaftor) for Use in People with Cystic Fibrosis Ages 6 and Older Who Have the R117H Mutation - December 29, 2014
- FDA Approves Kalydeco to Treat Rare Form of Cystic Fibrosis - January 31, 2012
- FDA Grants Priority Review for Kalydeco (ivacaftor), the First Potential Medicine to Target the Underlying Cause of Cystic Fibrosis - December 15, 2011
- Vertex Submits Application for Priority Review and Approval of Kalydeco (VX-770, ivacaftor) in the U.S. as First Potential Medicine to Target the Underlying Cause of Cystic Fibrosis - October 26, 2011
Kalydeco (ivacaftor) FDA Approval History
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