BioMarin Resubmits Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to European Medicines Agency for Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec to Treat Severe Hemophilia A

Rhea-AI Summary

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) has resubmitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for its gene therapy, valoctocogene roxaparvovec, targeting adults with severe hemophilia A. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) granted the request for accelerated assessment, potentially expediting the review process. The application includes data from the 134 participants in the Phase 3 GENEr8-1 study. A CHMP opinion is expected in H1 2022, while a Biologics License Application (BLA) resubmission is planned for Q2 2022 in the U.S., contingent on favorable results.

Positive

• Resubmission of the MAA for valoctocogene roxaparvovec may lead to faster access for patients with severe hemophilia A due to EMA's accelerated assessment.
• The application is based on data from the largest Phase 3 study in gene therapy for hemophilia A, enhancing the credibility of the submission.

Negative

• The timing of the CHMP's opinion is uncertain, which could delay market access.
• Potential risks exist regarding the outcomes of ongoing clinical trials, which could impact future approvals.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) announced today that the company resubmitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its investigational gene therapy, valoctocogene roxaparvovec, for adults with severe hemophilia A. In May 2021, the EMA granted the Company's request for accelerated assessment.  Accelerated assessment potentially reduces the time frame for the EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) to review a MAA for an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP). A CHMP opinion is anticipated in the first half of 2022.  

The submission includes safety and efficacy data from the 134 subjects enrolled in the Phase 3 GENEr8-1 study, all of whom have been followed for at least one year after treatment with valoctocogene roxaparvovec, as well as four and three years of follow-up from the 6e13 vg/kg and 4e13 vg/kg dose cohorts, respectively, in the ongoing Phase 1/2 dose escalation study. 

"This is an important step to deliver the potential first gene therapy for people with hemophilia A.  The data package for this submission includes the largest Phase 3 study in any gene therapy for hemophilia A supported by up to four years of observation in a Phase 1/2 study," said Hank Fuchs, M.D., President, Worldwide Research and Development at BioMarin. "We look forward to the EMA reviewing the robust data set. We believe that valoctocogene roxaparvovec represents a scientific innovation that may become an important treatment choice for those people who have unmet medical needs."

"This submission is important for the bleeding disorders community given the need for continued scientific and medical innovation to provide a treatment option to address unmet needs for many people with hemophilia A," said Brian O Mahony FACSLM, Chief Executive, Irish Haemophilia Society. "We believe that therapeutic choices are critical for our community to provide access to alternative treatment approaches with the potential to address individual patient needs."

Applications are eligible for accelerated assessment if the CHMP and CAT decide the product is of major interest for public health, particularly from the point of view of therapeutic innovation. Evaluating a MAA under the EMA centralized procedure can take up to 210 days, not counting clock stops when applicants are requested to provide additional information. On request, the CHMP and CAT can reduce the time frame to 150 days if the applicant provides sufficient justification for an accelerated assessment, although an application initially designated for accelerated assessment can revert to the standard procedure during the review for a variety of reasons. The decision to grant accelerated assessment has no impact on the eventual CHMP and CAT opinion on whether a marketing authorization should be granted.

Regulatory Status

In the United States, BioMarin intends to submit two-year follow-up safety and efficacy data on all study participants from the Phase 3 GENEr8-1 study to support the benefit/risk assessment of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, as previously requested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). BioMarin is targeting a Biologics License Application (BLA) resubmission in the second quarter of 2022, assuming favorable study results, followed by an expected six-month review by the FDA.

The FDA granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to valoctocogene roxaparvovec in March 2021. RMAT is an expedited program intended to facilitate development and review of regenerative medicine therapies, such as valoctocogene roxaparvovec, that are expected to address an unmet medical need in patients with serious conditions. The RMAT designation is complementary to Breakthrough Therapy Designation, which the Company received in 2017. 

In addition to the RMAT Designation and Breakthrough Therapy Designation, BioMarin's valoctocogene roxaparvovec also has received orphan drug designation from the FDA and EMA for the treatment of severe hemophilia A. The Orphan Drug Designation program is intended to advance the evaluation and development of products that demonstrate promise for the diagnosis and/or treatment of rare diseases or conditions. 

Robust Clinical Program

BioMarin has multiple clinical studies underway in its comprehensive gene therapy program for the treatment of hemophilia A. In addition to the global Phase 3 study GENEr8-1 and the ongoing Phase 1/2 dose escalation study, the Company is actively enrolling participants in a Phase 3b, single arm, open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of valoctocogene roxaparvovec at a dose of 6e13 vg/kg with prophylactic corticosteroids in people with hemophilia A. The Company is also running a Phase 1/2 Study with the 6e13 vg/kg dose of valoctocogene roxaparvovec in people with hemophilia A with pre-existing AAV5 antibodies, as well as another Phase 1/2 Study with the 6e13 vg/kg dose of valoctocogene roxaparvovec in people with hemophilia A with active or prior FVIII inhibitors. 

About Hemophilia A

People living with hemophilia A lack sufficient functioning Factor VIII protein to help their blood clot and are at risk for painful and/or potentially life-threatening bleeds from even modest injuries. Additionally, people with the most severe form of hemophilia A (FVIII levels <1%) often experience painful, spontaneous bleeds into their muscles or joints. Individuals with the most severe form of hemophilia A make up approximately 45 percent of the hemophilia A population. People with hemophilia A with moderate (FVIII 1-5%) or mild (FVIII 5-40%) disease show a much-reduced propensity to bleed. The standard of care for adults with severe hemophilia A is a prophylactic regimen of replacement Factor VIII infusions administered intravenously up to two to three times per week or 100 to 150 infusions per year. Despite these regimens, many people continue to experience breakthrough bleeds, resulting in progressive and debilitating joint damage, which can have a major impact on their quality of life.

Hemophilia A, also called Factor VIII deficiency or classic hemophilia, is an X-linked genetic disorder caused by missing or defective Factor VIII, a clotting protein. Although it is passed down from parents to children, about 1/3 of cases are caused by a spontaneous mutation, a new mutation that was not inherited. Approximately 1 in 10,000 people have Hemophilia A.

About BioMarin

BioMarin is a global biotechnology company that develops and commercializes innovative therapies for serious and life-threatening rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases. The Company's portfolio consists of six commercialized products and multiple clinical and pre-clinical product candidates. For additional information, please visit www.biomarin.com. Information on BioMarin's website is not incorporated by reference into this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BioMarin), including without limitation, statements about (i) the development of BioMarin's valoctocogene roxaparvovec program generally, (ii) the anticipated timing of a CHMP opinion in the first half of 2022, (iii) BioMarin's intention to submit to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) two-year follow-up safety and efficacy data on all study participants from the GENEr8-1 study to support the benefit/risk assessment of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, (iv) BioMarin targeting resubmission of a Biologics License Application in the second quarter of 2022 assuming favorable study results, followed by an expected six-month review procedure by the FDA,  and (v) the timing of the regulatory activities in the U.S and Europe, including validation and timing of potential approvals and the expected review procedures. These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: results and timing of current and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials of valoctocogene roxaparvovec; additional data from the continuation of the Phase 1/2 trial and the Phase 3 trial, any potential adverse events observed in the continuing monitoring of the participants in the clinical trials; the content and timing of decisions by the FDA, the European Commission and other regulatory authorities; the content and timing of decisions by local and central ethics committees regarding the clinical trials; our ability to successfully manufacture valoctocogene roxaparvovec for the clinical trials and commercially, if approved; and those other risks detailed from time to time under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in BioMarin's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including BioMarin's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, and future filings and reports by BioMarin. BioMarin undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

BioMarin® is a registered trademark of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

Contacts:
Investors	Media
Traci McCarty	Debra Charlesworth
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.	BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
(415) 455-7558	(415) 455-7451

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biomarin-resubmits-marketing-authorization-application-maa-to-european-medicines-agency-for-valoctocogene-roxaparvovec-to-treat-severe-hemophilia-a-301320869.html

SOURCE BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

FAQ

What is valoctocogene roxaparvovec?

Valoctocogene roxaparvovec is an investigational gene therapy developed by BioMarin for treating severe hemophilia A.

When was the MAA resubmitted for valoctocogene roxaparvovec?

The MAA was resubmitted on June 28, 2021.

What does accelerated assessment mean for BMRN's MAA?

Accelerated assessment by the EMA may shorten the review period for the MAA, facilitating quicker patient access to the therapy.

When can we expect a CHMP opinion on the MAA?

A CHMP opinion is anticipated in the first half of 2022.

What are the implications of the FDA's Biologics License Application resubmission?

The BLA resubmission is targeted for Q2 2022 and is essential for U.S. approval of valoctocogene roxaparvovec.