Intercept Announces FDA Acceptance of Supplemental New Drug Application for Ocaliva® (obeticholic acid) for the Treatment of PBC

Rhea-AI Summary

Intercept Pharmaceuticals announces FDA acceptance of sNDA for Ocaliva in treating primary biliary cholangitis, with a PDUFA target action date of October 15, 2024.

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The acceptance of Intercept Pharmaceuticals' sNDA for Ocaliva by the FDA marks a significant milestone in the lifecycle of the drug. It demonstrates the company's commitment to fulfilling post-marketing requirements, which is a critical aspect of ongoing drug evaluation and safety monitoring. The data from COBALT and Study 401, coupled with real-world evidence, suggests a potential for a significant effect on transplant-free and decompensation-free survival in PBC patients. This is crucial as PBC is a chronic disease that can lead to liver failure, necessitating liver transplantation. The ability to reduce the progression towards liver decompensation or transplantation could improve patient outcomes and potentially reduce healthcare costs associated with advanced liver disease management.

Healthcare Economist

From an economic perspective, the progression of Ocaliva's sNDA is of interest. The drug's potential to improve transplant-free survival rates could translate into considerable healthcare savings, given the high cost of liver transplantation and post-operative care. Additionally, if Ocaliva can reduce hospital admissions for decompensated cirrhosis, it could alleviate the financial burden on both healthcare systems and patients. The use of real-world evidence in the sNDA submission also reflects a broader industry trend towards leveraging such data to support regulatory decisions, which may streamline the drug approval process and reduce associated costs.

Pharmaceutical Market Analyst

For investors and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA's acceptance of the sNDA for Ocaliva is a pivotal development. It suggests confidence in the drug's profile and its continued market presence. The designation of a PDUFA date provides a clear timeline for potential full approval, which is a critical factor for financial forecasting. Moreover, the reference to an Advisory Committee meeting indicates that the FDA is seeking further expert opinion, which can be a determinant of the drug's future market potential. A positive outcome could solidify Ocaliva's position in the PBC treatment landscape and enhance Intercept Pharmaceuticals' market valuation.

• sNDA intended to satisfy post-marketing requirements to confirm a clinical benefit in patients with PBC
  
• Precedent-setting submission includes data from post-marketing studies COBALT and Study 401 as well as real-world evidence from a claims database and patient registries
• FDA has assigned a PDUFA target action date of October 15, 2024
  

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company and wholly owned subsidiary of Alfasigma S.p.A. focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat rare and serious liver diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Ocaliva for the treatment of individuals with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of October 15, 2024. In this communication, the agency informed Intercept that they are planning to hold an Advisory Committee meeting to discuss the application.

“The sNDA data submission asserted that, with more than seven years on the market and more than 40,000 patient-years of post-marketing experience in PBC, Ocaliva is the only second-line therapy that has multiple published analyses of registry data and real-world evidence showing significant effect on transplant-free and decompensation-free survival in people living with PBC,” said Paul Nitschmann, M.D., Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Intercept. “We are pleased that the FDA has filed the submission and look forward to continued, constructive interactions with the agency, including discussing our precedent-setting application during the forthcoming Advisory Committee meeting.”

Ocaliva received accelerated approval in 2016 and is indicated for the treatment of adult patients living with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis who do not have evidence of portal hypertension, either in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) with an inadequate response to UDCA or as monotherapy in patients unable to tolerate UDCA. The precedent-setting sNDA for Ocaliva is intended to satisfy the post-marketing requirements to confirm a clinical benefit in patients with PBC. The sNDA is supported by data from the Company’s post-marketing requirement studies COBALT and Study 401 as well as real-world evidence from a U.S. claims database and international PBC patient registries. Intercept and Alfasigma remain committed to supporting people living with PBC and look forward to advancing discussions with the agency.

About Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rare, progressive, and chronic autoimmune disease that affects the bile ducts in the liver and is most prevalent (approximately 1 in 10,000) in women over the age of 40. PBC causes bile acid to build up in the liver, resulting in inflammation and scarring (fibrosis), which, if left untreated, can lead to cirrhosis, a liver transplant, or death.

About Ocaliva^® (obeticholic acid)
OCALIVA, a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)

• without cirrhosis or
• with compensated cirrhosis who do not have evidence of portal hypertension, either in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) with an inadequate response to UDCA or as monotherapy in patients unable to tolerate UDCA.

This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on a reduction in alkaline phosphatase (ALP). An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms has not been established. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: HEPATIC DECOMPENSATION AND FAILURE IN PRIMARY BILIARY CHOLANGITIS PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS

• Hepatic decompensation and failure, sometimes fatal or resulting in liver transplant, have been reported with OCALIVA treatment in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients with either compensated or decompensated cirrhosis.
• OCALIVA is contraindicated in PBC patients with decompensated cirrhosis, a prior decompensation event, or with compensated cirrhosis who have evidence of portal hypertension.
• Permanently discontinue OCALIVA in patients who develop laboratory or clinical evidence of hepatic decompensation; have compensated cirrhosis and develop evidence of portal hypertension, or experience clinically significant hepatic adverse reactions while on treatment.
  

Contraindications

OCALIVA is contraindicated in patients with:

• decompensated cirrhosis (e.g., Child-Pugh Class B or C) or a prior decompensation event
• compensated cirrhosis who have evidence of portal hypertension (e.g., ascites, gastroesophageal varices, persistent thrombocytopenia)
• complete biliary obstruction
  

Warnings and Precautions

Hepatic Decompensation and Failure in PBC Patients with Cirrhosis
Hepatic decompensation and failure, sometimes fatal or resulting in liver transplant, have been reported with OCALIVA treatment in PBC patients with cirrhosis, either compensated or decompensated. Among post-marketing cases reporting it, median time to hepatic decompensation (e.g., new onset ascites) was 4 months for patients with compensated cirrhosis; median time to a new decompensation event (e.g., hepatic encephalopathy) was 2.5 months for patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Some of these cases occurred in patients with decompensated cirrhosis when they were treated with higher than the recommended dosage for that patient population; however, cases of hepatic decompensation and failure have continued to be reported in patients with decompensated cirrhosis even when they received the recommended dosage.

Hepatotoxicity was observed in the OCALIVA clinical trials. A dose-response relationship was observed for the occurrence of hepatic adverse reactions including jaundice, worsening ascites, and primary biliary cholangitis flare with dosages of OCALIVA of 10 mg once daily to 50 mg once daily (up to 5-times the highest recommended dosage), as early as one month after starting treatment with OCALIVA in two 3-month, placebo-controlled clinical trials in patients with primarily early stage PBC.

Routinely monitor patients for progression of PBC, including hepatic adverse reactions, with laboratory and clinical assessments to determine whether drug discontinuation is needed. Closely monitor patients with compensated cirrhosis, concomitant hepatic disease (e.g., autoimmune hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease), and/or with severe intercurrent illness for new evidence of portal hypertension (e.g., ascites, gastroesophageal varices, persistent thrombocytopenia), or increases above the upper limit of normal in total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, or prothrombin time to determine whether drug discontinuation is needed. Permanently discontinue OCALIVA in patients who develop laboratory or clinical evidence of hepatic decompensation (e.g., ascites, jaundice, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy), have compensated cirrhosis and develop evidence of portal hypertension (e.g., ascites, gastroesophageal varices, persistent thrombocytopenia), experience clinically significant hepatic adverse reactions, or develop complete biliary obstruction. If severe intercurrent illness occurs, interrupt treatment with OCALIVA and monitor the patient’s liver function. After resolution of the intercurrent illness, consider the potential risks and benefits of restarting OCALIVA treatment.

Severe Pruritus
Severe pruritus was reported in 23% of patients in the OCALIVA 10 mg arm, 19% of patients in the OCALIVA titration arm, and 7% of patients in the placebo arm in a 12-month double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial of 216 patients. Severe pruritus was defined as intense or widespread itching, interfering with activities of daily living, or causing severe sleep disturbance, or intolerable discomfort, and typically requiring medical interventions. Consider clinical evaluation of patients with new onset or worsening severe pruritus. Management strategies include the addition of bile acid binding resins or antihistamines, OCALIVA dosage reduction, and/or temporary interruption of OCALIVA dosing.

Reduction in HDL-C
Patients with PBC generally exhibit hyperlipidemia characterized by a significant elevation in total cholesterol primarily due to increased levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Dose-dependent reductions from baseline in mean HDL-C levels were observed at 2 weeks in OCALIVA-treated patients, 20% and 9% in the 10 mg and titration arms, respectively, compared to 2% in the placebo arm. Monitor patients for changes in serum lipid levels during treatment. For patients who do not respond to OCALIVA after 1 year at the highest recommended dosage that can be tolerated (maximum of 10 mg once daily), and who experience a reduction in HDL-C, weigh the potential risks against the benefits of continuing treatment.

Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions (≥5%) are: pruritus, fatigue, abdominal pain and discomfort, rash, oropharyngeal pain, dizziness, constipation, arthralgia, thyroid function abnormality, and eczema.

Drug Interactions

• Bile Acid Binding Resins
  Bile acid binding resins such as cholestyramine, colestipol, or colesevelam adsorb and reduce bile acid absorption and may reduce the absorption, systemic exposure, and efficacy of OCALIVA. If taking a bile acid binding resin, take OCALIVA at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after taking the bile acid binding resin, or at as great an interval as possible.
• Warfarin
  The International Normalized Ratio (INR) decreased following coadministration of warfarin and OCALIVA. Monitor INR and adjust the dose of warfarin, as needed, to maintain the target INR range when co-administering OCALIVA and warfarin.
• CYP1A2 Substrates with Narrow Therapeutic Index
  Obeticholic acid may increase the exposure to concomitant drugs that are CYP1A2 substrates. Therapeutic monitoring of CYP1A2 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., theophylline and tizanidine) is recommended when co-administered with OCALIVA.
• Inhibitors of Bile Salt Efflux Pump
  Avoid concomitant use of inhibitors of the bile salt efflux pump (BSEP) such as cyclosporine. Concomitant medications that inhibit canalicular membrane bile acid transporters such as the BSEP may exacerbate accumulation of conjugated bile salts including taurine conjugate of obeticholic acid in the liver and result in clinical symptoms. If concomitant use is deemed necessary, monitor serum transaminases and bilirubin.

Please click here for Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-844-782-ICPT or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

About Intercept
Intercept is a biopharmaceutical company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Alfasigma S.p.A. focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat rare and serious liver diseases, including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (sAH). Intercept owns the commercial rights to Ocaliva in the U.S. market. For more information, please visit www.interceptpharma.com or connect with the Company on LinkedIn, Threads, and X (formerly Twitter).

Contact
For more information about Intercept, please contact:

For media:
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FAQ

What is the FDA target action date for Intercept Pharmaceuticals' sNDA for Ocaliva?

The FDA has assigned a PDUFA target action date of October 15, 2024 for Intercept Pharmaceuticals' sNDA for Ocaliva.

What is Ocaliva indicated for?

Ocaliva is indicated for the treatment of adult patients living with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis who do not have evidence of portal hypertension.

What studies support the sNDA for Ocaliva?

The sNDA is supported by data from Intercept Pharmaceuticals' post-marketing requirement studies COBALT and Study 401 as well as real-world evidence from a U.S. claims database and international PBC patient registries.

What did the sNDA data submission assert about Ocaliva?

The sNDA data submission asserted that Ocaliva is the only second-line therapy with significant effect on transplant-free and decompensation-free survival in people living with PBC, based on more than 40,000 patient-years of post-marketing experience.

What did Intercept Pharmaceuticals announce regarding the FDA acceptance of the sNDA for Ocaliva?

Intercept Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has accepted its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Ocaliva for the treatment of individuals with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), with a PDUFA target action date of October 15, 2024.