Novartis receives FDA approval for Fabhalta® (iptacopan), offering superior hemoglobin improvement in the absence of transfusions as the first oral monotherapy for adults with PNH

• Approval based on APPLY-PNH trial in adults with PNH and anemia despite prior anti-C5 treatment, and supported by the APPOINT-PNH study in complement inhibitor-naïve patients^1-5 
• In APPLY-PNH, patients who switched to Fabhalta experienced superior increases of hemoglobin levels ≥ 2 g/dL (82.3% vs. 0%) and hemoglobin level ≥ 12 g/dL (67.7% vs. 0%), both in the absence of red blood cell transfusions, vs. patients who continued on anti-C5 treatment^1,2 
• Fabhalta, now available for both previously treated and treatment-naïve patients, is the only FDA-approved Factor B inhibitor of the immune system's complement pathway, which drives complement-mediated hemolysis in PNH^1,6 
• Significant unmet need remains in PNH, a chronic and rare blood disorder; despite anti-C5 therapy, a large proportion of patients can remain anemic and dependent on blood transfusions^7,8 
• Late-stage Fabhalta development program ongoing in multiple complement-mediated conditions 

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Fabhalta^® (iptacopan) as the first oral monotherapy for the treatment of adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)¹. Fabhalta is a Factor B inhibitor that acts proximally in the alternative complement pathway of the immune system, providing comprehensive control of red blood cell (RBC) destruction within and outside the blood vessels (intra- and extravascular hemolysis [IVH and EVH]). In clinical trials, treatment with Fabhalta increased hemoglobin levels (≥ 2 g/dL from baseline in the absence of RBC transfusions) in the majority of patients and in APPLY-PNH nearly all patients treated with Fabhalta did not receive blood transfusions^1-5.

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"An efficacious oral treatment with a demonstrated safety profile could be practice-changing for physicians and help relieve burdens experienced by people with PNH," said Vinod Pullarkat, MD, MRCP, Clinical Professor, Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope. "In clinical studies, iptacopan was superior to anti-C5s in hemoglobin improvement in the absence of RBC transfusion and transfusion avoidance rate, and also effective in complement inhibitor-naïve individuals, by providing clinically meaningful hemoglobin-level increases without the need for blood transfusions."

The FDA approval is based on the Phase III APPLY-PNH trial in patients with residual anemia (hemoglobin < 10 g/dL) despite prior anti-C5 treatment who switched to Fabhalta, which demonstrated superiority in hemoglobin improvement in the absence of RBC transfusions and in transfusion avoidance rate over patients who stayed on anti-C5 treatments^1,2. Approval was also supported by the Phase III APPOINT-PNH study in complement inhibitor-naïve patients^1,3. The 24-week core treatment periods in APPLY-PNH and APPOINT-PNH trials respectively showed^1-3:

• Patients with sustained increase of hemoglobin levels ≥ 2 g/dL^a from baseline in the absence of transfusions: 82.3% of anti-C5-experienced Fabhalta patients responded vs. 0% for anti-C5 (difference of 81.5%^b, P<0.0001); 77.5% of complement inhibitor-naïve patients using Fabhalta achieved this outcome (sensitivity analysis showed 87.5%^c)^1-3.
• Patients with sustained hemoglobin level ≥ 12 g/dL^a in the absence of transfusions: 67.7% of anti-C5-experienced Fabhalta patients responded vs. 0% for anti-C5 (difference of 66.6%^b, P<0.0001)^1-2.
• Patients avoiding transfusion^d,e: Transfusion avoidance rate 95.2% for anti-C5-experienced Fabhalta patients vs. 45.7% for anti-C5 (difference of 49.5%^b, P<0.0001)^1-2.

In the APPLY-PNH trial, the most commonly reported (≥10%) adverse reactions (ARs) with Fabhalta vs. anti-C5s were: headache^f (19% vs. 3%), nasopharyngitis^g (16% vs. 17%), diarrhea (15% vs. 6%), abdominal pain^f (15% vs. 3%), bacterial infection^h (11% vs. 11%), nausea (10% vs. 3%), and viral infectionⁱ (10% vs. 31%)^1,2. In the APPOINT-PNH trial, the most commonly reported ARs (≥10%) were headache^f (28%), viral infectionⁱ (18%), nasopharyngitis^g (15%), and rash^j (10%)^1,3. In APPLY-PNH, serious ARs were reported in two (3%) patients with PNH receiving Fabhalta, which included pyelonephritis, urinary tract infection and COVID-19^1,2. In APPOINT-PNH, serious ARs were reported in two (5%) patients with PNH receiving Fabhalta, which included COVID-19 and bacterial pneumonia^1,3. Fabhalta may cause serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria and is available only through a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) that requires vaccinations for encapsulated bacteria¹.

People with PNH have an acquired mutation making red blood cells susceptible to premature destruction by the complement system^6,8. PNH is characterized by hemolysis, bone marrow failure, and thrombosis in varying combinations and levels of severity^6-8. Existing C5 inhibitor treatments, administered as infusions, may leave PNH symptoms uncontrolled^7,8. Up to 88% of patients on anti-C5 treatment may have persistent anemia with over one-third of those patients requiring blood transfusions at least once per year^7,8.

"The U.S. approval of Fabhalta is an extraordinary moment for people living with PNH, their loved ones and the healthcare providers who care for them," said Victor Bultó, President US, Novartis. "This new, effective oral medicine may mean that patients can reset their expectations of living with PNH, a chronic and life-altering blood disease. As Novartis continues to focus on conditions with unmet patient need, we are exploring the potential of Fabhalta in other complement-mediated diseases – with an ultimate goal to drive meaningful change for patients."

Discovered and developed by Novartis, Fabhalta is expected to be available in the United States in December. Additional regulatory filings and reviews for Fabhalta in PNH are currently underway around the world. 

^aAssessed between Day 126 and Day 168. ^bAdjusted difference in proportion. ^cSensitivity analysis incorporates data from local labs when central labs were not available. ^dAssessed between Day 14 and Day 168. ^eTransfusion avoidance is defined as absence of administration of packed-red blood cell transfusions between Day 14 and Day 168. ^fIncludes similar terms. ^gNasopharyngitis contains: rhinitis allergic, upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, rhinitis. ^hBacterial infection contains: pyelonephritis, urinary tract infection, bronchitis bacterial, bronchitis haemophilus, cholecystitis, folliculitis, cellulitis, arthritis bacterial, sepsis, klebsiella infection, staphylococcal infection, Pseudomonas infection, hordeolum, pneumonia bacterial. ⁱViral infection contains: COVID-19, herpes zoster, oral herpes, nasal herpes, influenza A virus test positive, influenza. ^jRash: dermatitis allergic, acne, erythema multiforme, rash maculo-papular, rash erythematous.

Indication
FABHALTA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

It is not known if FABHALTA is safe and effective in children.

Important Safety Information
FABHALTA is a medicine that affects part of the immune system and may lower one's ability to fight infections. FABHALTA increases the chance of getting serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. These serious infections may quickly become life-threatening or fatal if not recognized and treated early. Patients must complete or update vaccinations against these bacteria at least 2 weeks before starting FABHALTA. If patients have not completed these vaccinations and FABHALTA therapy must be started right away, they should receive the required vaccinations as soon as possible. If patients have not been vaccinated and FABHALTA must be started right away, they should also receive antibiotics to take for as long as their doctor tells them. If patients have been vaccinated against these bacteria in the past, they might need additional vaccinations before starting FABHALTA. Their doctor will decide if they need additional vaccinations. Vaccines do not prevent all infections caused by encapsulated bacteria. Patients should call their doctor or get emergency medical care right away if they have any of these signs and symptoms of a serious infection: fever with or without shivers or chills; fever with chest pain and cough; fever with high heart rate; headache and fever; confusion; clammy skin; fever and a rash; fever with breathlessness/fast breathing; headache with nausea or vomiting; headache with stiff neck or stiff back; body aches with flu-like symptoms; or eyes sensitive to light. Doctors will give their patients a Patient Safety Card about the risk of serious infections. Patients must carry it with them at all times during treatment and for 2 weeks after their last dose of FABHALTA. The risk of serious infections may continue for a few weeks after their last dose of FABHALTA. It is important for patients to show this card to any doctor who treats them. This will help doctors diagnose and treat patients quickly.

FABHALTA is only available through a program called the FABHALTA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Before patients can take FABHALTA, their doctor must enroll in the FABHALTA REMS program, counsel patients about the risk of serious infections caused by certain bacteria, give patients information about the symptoms of serious infections, make sure that patients are vaccinated against serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria and that they receive antibiotics if they need to start FABHALTA right away and are not up to date on vaccinations, as well as give patients a Patient Safety Card about the risk of serious infections.

Since FABHALTA may increase patients' cholesterol and triglycerides, their doctor will do blood tests to check their levels periodically.

Patients should not take FABHALTA if they are allergic to FABHALTA or any of the ingredients in FABHALTA. Patients should not take FABHALTA if they have a serious infection caused by encapsulated bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, or Haemophilus influenzae type B when starting FABHALTA.

Before taking FABHALTA, patients should tell their doctor about all  their medical conditions, including if they have an infection or fever, have kidney or liver problems, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if FABHALTA will harm an unborn baby), or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed as it is not known if FABHALTA passes into breast milk. Patients should not breastfeed during treatment and for 5 days after the last dose of FABHALTA.

Patients should tell their doctor about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking FABHALTA with certain other medicines may affect the way FABHALTA works and may cause side effects. Patients should know the medicines they take and the vaccines they receive. Patients should keep a list of them to show their doctor and pharmacist when they get a new medicine.

If patients have PNH and stop taking FABHALTA, their doctor will need to monitor them closely for at least 2 weeks after stopping FABHALTA. Stopping treatment with FABHALTA may cause a breakdown of red blood cells due to PNH. Symptoms or problems that can happen due to breakdown of red blood cells include decreased hemoglobin level in the blood; blood in the urine; shortness of breath; trouble swallowing; tiredness; pain in the stomach (abdomen); blood clots, stroke, and heart attack; and erectile dysfunction (ED). It is important that patients take FABHALTA exactly as their doctor tells them to lower the possibility of breakdown of red blood cells due to PNH.

The most common side effects of FABHALTA include headache; nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sneezing, and sore throat (nasopharyngitis); diarrhea; pain in the stomach (abdomen); infections (viral and bacterial); nausea; and rash.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide.

About APPLY-PNH
APPLY-PNH (NCT04558918) was a Phase III, randomized, multinational, multicenter, active-comparator controlled, open-label trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of twice-daily, oral Fabhalta monotherapy (200 mg) for the treatment of PNH by assessing if switching to Fabhalta was superior to continuing on anti-C5 therapies (US-approved and non-US-approved eculizumab and ravulizumab) in adult patients presenting with residual anemia (Hb <10 g/dL) despite a stable regimen of anti-C5 treatment in the last six months prior to randomization^2,10. The trial enrolled 97 patients who were randomized in an 8:5 ratio to either twice-daily, oral Fabhalta monotherapy, or intravenous anti-C5 therapies (continuing with the same regimen as they were on prior to randomization)^2,9.

About APPOINT-PNH 
APPOINT-PNH (NCT04820530) was a Phase III, multinational, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled single-arm study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of twice-daily, oral Fabhalta monotherapy (200 mg) in adult PNH patients who are naïve to complement inhibitor therapy, including anti-C5 therapies (eculizumab or ravulizumab)^3,10.The trial enrolled 40 patients who received twice-daily, oral Fabhalta monotherapy^3,10. 

About paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
PNH is a rare, chronic and serious complement-mediated blood disorder⁶. People with PNH have an acquired mutation in some of their hematopoietic stem cells (which are located in the bone marrow and can grow and develop into RBCs, white blood cells and platelets) that causes them to produce RBCs that are susceptible to premature destruction by the complement system^6,8. This leads to intravascular hemolysis (destruction of RBCs within blood vessels) and extravascular hemolysis (destruction of RBCs mostly in the spleen and liver), which cause anemia (low levels of circulating RBCs), thrombosis (formation of blood clots) and other debilitating symptoms^6,8. 

It is estimated that approximately 10-20 people per million worldwide live with PNH⁶. Although PNH can develop at any age, it is often diagnosed in people between 30-40 years old^11,12. 
  
PNH has a significant unmet need not fully addressed by anti-C5 therapies (eculizumab or ravulizumab): despite treatment with anti-C5s, a large proportion of people with PNH may remain anemic, and dependent on blood transfusions^6-8,13,14. 

About Fabhalta^® (iptacopan)
Fabhalta (iptacopan) is an oral, Factor B inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway^15-17. Fabhalta is indicated for the treatment of adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). 

Discovered at Novartis, Fabhalta is currently in development for a range of complement-mediated diseases including immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgA nephropathy), C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS).

Based on disease prevalence, unmet needs and data from Phase II studies, Fabhalta has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation in PNH, FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation in C3G, orphan drug designations from the FDA and EMA in PNH and C3G, EMA PRIME designation for C3G, and EMA orphan drug designation in IgAN^18-21.

Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "may," "could," "expectations," "investigational," "drives," "remains," "ongoing," "exploring," "goal," "expected," "estimated," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for FABHALTA (iptacopan), or regarding potential future revenues from  FABHALTA (iptacopan). You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that FABHALTA (iptacopan) will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that FABHALTA (iptacopan)will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding  FABHALTA (iptacopan) could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis
Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.

Reimagine medicine with us: Visit us at https://www.novartis.com and https://www.novartis.us and connect with us on LinkedIn, LinkedIn US, Facebook, X/Twitter, X/Twitter US and Instagram.

References

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