FARXIGA met primary endpoint in DELIVER Phase III trial, reducing risk of cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure in patients with preserved ejection fraction

Rhea-AI Summary

AstraZeneca announced significant results from the DELIVER Phase III trial, demonstrating that FARXIGA (dapagliflozin) effectively reduces cardiovascular death and worsening heart failure in patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (LVEF > 40%). With heart failure affecting nearly 64 million people globally, these results extend treatment options for patients with limited therapies. The trial involved 6,263 patients, affirming FARXIGA's positive safety profile.

The full results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

Positive

• Statistically significant reduction in cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure.
• Expansion of FARXIGA's indication to include patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction.
• Positive safety and tolerability profile consistent with earlier studies.
• Largest trial to date in this heart failure patient population with 6,263 participants.

Negative

• None.

Results from the DELIVER and DAPA-HF Phase III trials demonstrate FARXIGA’s efficacy in heart failure regardless of ejection fraction

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- High-level results from the DELIVER Phase III trial showed AstraZeneca’s FARXIGA (dapagliflozin) reached a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the primary composite endpoint of cardiovascular (CV) death or worsening heart failure (HF). The trial was conducted in patients with HF with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (defined as left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] greater than 40%).

HF is a chronic, long-term condition that worsens over time¹. It affects nearly 64 million people globally² and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality³. There are several main categories of HF related to ejection fraction (EF), a measurement of the percentage of blood leaving the heart each time it contracts including: HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) (LVEF less than or equal to 40%), HF with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF) (LVEF 41-49%) and preserved EF (HFpEF) (LVEF greater than or equal to 50%)⁴. Approximately half of all HF patients have mildly reduced or preserved EF with few therapeutic options available^4,5. FARXIGA already has approved indications relating to the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), HFrEF and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Dr. Scott Solomon, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Principal Investigator of the DELIVER Phase III trial, said: “We are delighted to have met the primary endpoint in this patient population which has few treatment options. DELIVER is the largest and broadest trial to date in heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. The results of DELIVER extend the benefit of dapagliflozin to the full spectrum of patients with heart failure.”

Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "Today’s groundbreaking results coupled with those from the DAPA-HF trial show that FARXIGA is effective in treating heart failure regardless of ejection fraction. These data build upon our previous studies demonstrating cardiorenal protection across patients with either diabetes, chronic kidney disease or heart failure.”

The safety and tolerability profile of FARXIGA in the DELIVER Phase III trial were consistent with the well-established safety profile of the medicine.

The full DELIVER Phase III trial results will be submitted for presentation at a forthcoming medical meeting and regulatory submissions will be made in the coming months.

INDICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF USE for FARXIGA^® (dapagliflozin)

FARXIGA is indicated:

• as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus
• to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and either established cardiovascular (CV) disease or multiple CV risk factors
• to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure (NYHA class II-IV) with reduced ejection fraction
• to reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end‑stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with chronic kidney diseaseat risk of progression

FARXIGA is not recommended for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. It may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis in these patients.

FARXIGA is not recommended for use to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an eGFR less than 45 mL/min/1.73 m². FARXIGA is likely to be ineffective in this setting based upon its mechanism of action.

FARXIGA is not recommended for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in patients with polycystic kidney disease or patients requiring or with a recent history of immunosuppressive therapy for kidney disease. FARXIGA is not expected to be effective in these populations.

DOSING

To improve glycemic control, the recommended starting dose is 5 mg orally once daily. Dose can be increased to 10 mg orally once daily for additional glycemic control.

For all other indications, the recommended dose is 10 mg orally once daily.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for FARXIGA^® (dapagliflozin) 5 mg and 10 mg tablets

Contraindications

• Prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to FARXIGA
• Patients on dialysis

Warnings and Precautions

• Ketoacidosis in Diabetes Mellitushas been reported in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes receiving FARXIGA. In placebo-controlled trials of patients with type 1 diabetes, the risk of ketoacidosis was increased in patients who received SGLT2 inhibitors compared to patients who received placebo. Some cases were fatal. Assess patients who present with signs and symptoms of metabolic acidosis for ketoacidosis, regardless of blood glucose level. If suspected, discontinue FARXIGA, evaluate and treat promptly. Before initiating FARXIGA, consider risk factors for ketoacidosis. Patients on FARXIGA may require monitoring and temporary discontinuation in situations known to predispose to ketoacidosis
• Volume Depletion: FARXIGA can cause intravascular volume depletion which may manifest as symptomatic hypotension or acute transient changes in creatinine. Acute kidney injury requiring hospitalization and dialysis has been reported in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving SGLT2 inhibitors, including FARXIGA. Patients with impaired renal function (eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m²), elderly patients, or patients on loop diuretics may be at increased risk for volume depletion or hypotension. Before initiating FARXIGA in these patients, assess volume status and renal function. After initiating therapy, monitor for signs and symptoms of hypotension and renal function
• Urosepsis and Pyelonephritis: SGLT2 inhibitors increase the risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and serious UTIs have been reported with FARXIGA. Evaluate for signs and symptoms of UTIs and treat promptly
• Hypoglycemia: FARXIGA can increase the risk of hypoglycemia when coadministered with insulin and insulin secretagogues. Consider lowering the dose of these agents when coadministered with FARXIGA
• Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Perineum (Fournier’s Gangrene):Rare but serious, life-threatening cases have been reported in patients with diabetes mellitus receiving SGLT2 inhibitors including FARXIGA. Cases have been reported in females and males. Serious outcomes have included hospitalization, surgeries, and death. Assess patients presenting with pain or tenderness, erythema, swelling in the genital or perineal area, along with fever or malaise. If suspected, institute prompt treatment and discontinue FARXIGA
• Genital Mycotic Infections: FARXIGA increases the risk of genital mycotic infections, particularly in patients with prior genital mycotic infections. Monitor and treat appropriately

Adverse Reactions

In a pool of 12 placebo-controlled studies, the most common adverse reactions (≥5%) associated with FARXIGA 5 mg, 10 mg, and placebo respectively were female genital mycotic infections (8.4% vs 6.9% vs 1.5%), nasopharyngitis (6.6% vs 6.3% vs 6.2%), and urinary tract infections (5.7% vs 4.3% vs 3.7%).

Use in Specific Populations

• Pregnancy: Advise females of potential risk to a fetus especially during the second and third trimesters
• Lactation: FARXIGA is not recommended when breastfeeding

Please see link to US Full Prescribing Information for FARXIGA.

Notes

HF

HF affects approximately 64 million people worldwide², at least half of whom have a reduced EF⁶, including approximately 15 million in the EU⁷, six million in the US⁸, and 13.7 million treated adults in China⁹. There are several main categories of HF related to EF, a measurement of the percentage of blood leaving the heart each time it contracts including: HFrEF (LVEF less than or equal to 40%), HFmrEF (LVEF 41-49%) and HFpEF (LVEF greater than or equal to 50%)^1,4. HF with EF above 40% represents about half of all HF cases, and is highly prevalent in patients with hypertension, T2D, obesity, metabolic syndrome or CKD^4,5,10. HF remains as fatal as some of the most common cancers in both men (prostate and bladder cancers) and women (breast cancer)¹¹. Chronic HF is the leading cause of hospitalization for those over the age of 65 and represents a significant clinical and economic burden¹².

DELIVER

DELIVER was an international, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, event-driven Phase III trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of FARXIGA, compared with placebo, in the treatment of HF patients with LVEF greater than 40% with or without T2D. FARXIGA was given once daily in addition to background therapy (regional standard of care for all comorbidities, including diabetes and hypertension, with the exception of concomitant use of a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 [SGLT2] inhibitor)¹³. DELIVER is the largest clinical trial to date in HF patients with EF above 40%, with 6,263 randomized patients^{13, 14}.

The primary endpoint was the time to first occurrence of CV death, hospitalization for HF (hHF) or an urgent HF visit. The secondary endpoint includes the total number of HF events (hHF or urgent HF visit) and CV death, change from baseline in the total symptom score of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire at eight months, time to the occurrence of CV death and time to the occurrence of death from any cause¹³.

AstraZeneca in CVRM

Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), part of BioPharmaceuticals, forms one of AstraZeneca’s main disease areas and is a key growth driver for the Company. By following the science to understand more clearly the underlying links between the heart, kidneys and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing in a portfolio of medicines for organ protection and improving outcomes by slowing disease progression, reducing risks and tackling co-morbidities. The Company’s ambition is to modify or halt the natural course of CVRM diseases and potentially regenerate organs and restore function, by continuing to deliver transformative science that improves treatment practices and CV health for millions of patients worldwide.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZenecaUS.

References

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2. Vos T, et al. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet 2017; 390(10100):1211–59.
3. Mozaffarian D, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2016 update. Circulation. 2016; 133(4):e38–360.
4. Dunlay SM, et al. Epidemiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Nat Rev Cardiol 2017;14(10):591–602.
5. Heidenreich PA, et al. 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e263-421.
6. Travessa AMR, et al. Treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction-recent developments. Am J Ther 2016; 23(2):e531–49.
7. Dickstein K, et al. ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2008: the Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure 2008 of the European Society of Cardiology. Developed in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association of the ESC (HFA) and endorsed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM). Eur Heart J 2008; 29:2388–42.
8. Virani SS, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics-2020 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2020; 141(9):e139–e596.
9. AstraZeneca. Data on File. February 2020.
10. Triposkiadis F, et al. Reframing the association and significance of co-morbidities in heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail 2016;18(7):744–58.
11. Mamas MA, et al. Do patients have worse outcomes in heart failure than in cancer? A primary care-based cohort study with 10-year follow-up in Scotland. Eur J Heart Fail 2017; 19(9):1095–104.
12. Azad N, et al. Management of chronic heart failure in the older population. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2014; 11(4):329–37.
13. Solomon SD, et al. Dapagliflozin in heart failure with preserved and mildly reduced ejection fraction: rationale and design of the DELIVER trial. Eur J Heart Fail 2021; 23(7):1217–25.

14. Clinicaltrials.gov [Internet]. Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure; [cited 2022 Jan 11]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03619213.
15. McMurray JJV, et al. Dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 2019; 381(21):1995–2008.
16. Heerspink HJL, et al. Dapagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease. N Engl J Med 2020; 383(15):1436–46.
17. Wiviott SD, et al. for the DECLARE-TIMI 58 Investigators. Dapagliflozin and cardiovascular outcomes in type-2 diabetes [article and supplementary appendix]. N Engl J Med 2019; 380(4):347–57.
18. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Heart failure, 2020; [cited 2022 Jan 11]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373142.
19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [Internet]. A snapshot: Diabetes in the United States, 2020; [cited 2022 Jan 11]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/socialmedia/infographics/diabetes.html.
20. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) [Internet]. Heart disease & kidney disease, 2016; [cited 2022 Jan 11]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/heart-disease.
21.Clinicaltrials.gov [Internet]. Dapagliflozin Effects on Cardiovascular Events in Patients With an Acute Heart Attack (DAPA-MI); [cited 2022 Mar 10]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04564742.

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Media Inquiries

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US Media Mailbox: usmediateam@astrazeneca.com

Source: AstraZeneca

FAQ

What were the results of the DELIVER Phase III trial for AZN?

The DELIVER Phase III trial showed that FARXIGA significantly reduces cardiovascular death and worsening heart failure in patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction.

How many patients were involved in the DELIVER Phase III trial for FARXIGA?

The DELIVER Phase III trial included 6,263 patients.

What is the significance of FARXIGA in treating heart failure?

FARXIGA's results extend treatment options for heart failure patients, particularly those with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, which have limited existing therapies.

When will the complete results of the DELIVER trial be available?

The complete results will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting.

What is the safety profile of FARXIGA as indicated in the DELIVER trial?

The safety and tolerability profile of FARXIGA in the DELIVER trial were consistent with its well-established safety profile from previous studies.