Kevzara® (sarilumab) Approved by FDA for the Treatment of Active Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (pJIA)
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi announced FDA approval of Kevzara® (sarilumab) for treating active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in patients weighing 63 kg or more.
This expands Kevzara’s use beyond adult chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. The approval is based on comprehensive studies and pharmacokinetic data from adults and pediatric patients.
Common adverse reactions include nasopharyngitis, neutropenia, and upper respiratory tract infection. KevzaraConnect® provides support services to help patients access the treatment.
- FDA approval of Kevzara for pJIA expands its market and potential revenue.
- The approval is supported by robust clinical and pharmacokinetic data, enhancing credibility.
- No new adverse reactions identified, indicating a favorable safety profile.
- KevzaraConnect® program offers comprehensive support to patients, potentially increasing adherence and satisfaction.
- Patients treated with Kevzara are at increased risk for serious infections, potentially leading to hospitalization or death.
- Neutropenia, a common adverse reaction, can result in permanent discontinuation of therapy.
Insights
Kevzara's approval for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) is a significant development in the field of pediatric rheumatology. This approval provides a new option for treating a painful and potentially debilitating condition that affects multiple joints in children. The clinical studies supporting this approval show Kevzara's efficacy and safety in this new patient population, which is critical for pediatric treatment. Importantly, no new safety concerns were identified in the pJIA population compared to adults with rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting a favorable risk-benefit profile.
PJIA can lead to permanent joint damage and affect growth and development due to chronic inflammation. The introduction of Kevzara offers a new pathway to manage these symptoms and possibly improve the quality of life for affected children. However, the potential for serious infections, leading to hospitalization or death, remains a significant concern and should be closely monitored by healthcare providers.
The FDA approval of Kevzara for pJIA patients is poised to positively impact the financial outlook for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi. Expanding Kevzara's indications to include pediatric patients broadens its market potential and could significantly increase its sales. This approval not only strengthens Kevzara's franchise in the inflammation and immunology sector but also demonstrates the companies' commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in younger patient populations.
From a financial perspective, the immediate impact will likely be an increase in Kevzara's market penetration, which could result in higher revenues. It's also a strategic move that helps diversify the companies' portfolios and mitigates risks associated with reliance on a limited number of blockbuster drugs. Investors should monitor upcoming quarterly earnings reports for signs of increased revenue attributed to this new indication.
With this new FDA approval, Kevzara enters the pediatric segment of the autoimmune treatment market, which is both niche and high-need. Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) affects a smaller patient population compared to adult rheumatoid arthritis, but the impact on patients' lives and the urgency for effective treatments make this a significant market. The newly approved use of Kevzara could fill a major gap in the treatment landscape for pJIA, giving Regeneron and Sanofi a competitive edge.
Market acceptance will largely depend on physicians' willingness to prescribe Kevzara based on its proven efficacy and safety profile in clinical trials. Additionally, the KevzaraConnect® program's support services could enhance patient adherence and satisfaction, further strengthening market positioning. The introduction of a new treatment option for pJIA may set a precedent for further approvals in pediatric autoimmune diseases, potentially broadening the patient base and market scope for Kevzara over the long term.
Approval in patients with pJIA weighing 63kg or greater adds to Kevzara’s position in treating adult chronic inflammatory conditions of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and CAMBRIDGE, MA, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Kevzara® (sarilumab) for the treatment of patients weighing 63 kg or greater with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA), a form of arthritis that impacts multiple joints at a time.
“Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis can be a painful disease for children where multiple joints are impacted by this chronic infammation,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Board co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer at Regeneron. "Not only are their daily lives impacted, but their futures can be disrupted without adequate treatment. The approval of Kevzara in polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis provides these vulnerable patients and their families a new FDA-approved treatment option to help navigate this disease.”
The FDA approval in this patient population is supported by evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies and pharmacokinetic data from adults with rheumatoid arthritis as well as a pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, dose finding and safety study in pediatric patients with pJIA.
People living with pJIA may experience joint symptoms such as pain, stiffness and swelling, which may restrict their activities and make certain aspects of their day-to-day life incredibly challenging. The disease can lead to an increased risk of permanent joint damage as well as delayed growth and development, due to chronic joint inflammation.
No new adverse reactions (ARs) and safety concerns were identified in the pJIA population compared to the rheumatoid arthritis population. The most common adverse drug reactions for patients with pJIA were nasopharyngitis, neutropenia, upper respiratory tract infection, and injection site erythema. The most common AR that resulted in permanent discontinuation of therapy with Kevzara was neutropenia. Overall, patients treated with Kevzara are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death.
“This latest approval for Kevzara brings a new treatment option with an established efficacy and safety profile to pediatric patients living with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis,” said Brian Foard, Executive Vice President, Head, Specialty Care at Sanofi. “This milestone highlights our ongoing commitment to bringing medicines to our younger patients living with this chronic condition that can cause debilitating joint pain and inflammation.”
Sanofi and Regeneron are committed to helping patients in the U.S. who are prescribed Kevzara gain access to the medicine and receive the support they may need. KevzaraConnect®, a comprehensive and specialized program that provides support services to patients throughout every step of the treatment process, can help eligible patients who are uninsured, lack coverage, or need copay assistance. For more information, please call: 1-844-Kevzara (1-844-538-9272) or visit www.Kevzara.com.
About Kevzara
In addition to pJIA, Kevzara is currently approved in 25 countries to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis after at least one other medicine, called a disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), has been used and did not work well or could not be tolerated. Kevzara is also approved in the U.S. for the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica – an inflammatory rheumatic disease – in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or who cannot tolerate corticosteroid taper.
Kevzara binds specifically to the IL-6 receptor and has been shown to inhibit IL-6-mediated signaling. IL-6 is an immune system protein produced in increased quantities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and has been associated with disease activity, joint destruction and other systemic problems.
Sarilumab is being jointly developed by Sanofi and Regeneron under a global collaboration agreement.
About Regeneron's VelocImmune® Technology
Regeneron's VelocImmune technology utilizes a proprietary genetically engineered mouse platform endowed with a genetically humanized immune system to produce optimized fully human antibodies. When Regeneron's co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer George D. Yancopoulos was a graduate student with his mentor Frederick W. Alt in 1985, they were the first to envision making such a genetically humanized mouse, and Regeneron has spent decades inventing and developing VelocImmune and related VelociSuite® technologies. Dr. Yancopoulos and his team have used VelocImmune technology to create a substantial proportion of all original, FDA-approved or authorized fully human monoclonal antibodies. This includes REGEN-COV® (casirivimab and imdevimab), Dupixent® (dupilumab), Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc), Praluent® (alirocumab), Kevzara, Evkeeza® (evinacumab-dgnb), Inmazeb® (atoltivimab, maftivimab and odesivimab-ebgn) and Veopoz® (pozelimab-bbfg).
U.S. Indications and Important Safety Information
KEVZARA® (sarilumab) is an injectable prescription medicine called an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blocker. KEVZARA is used to treat:
- adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after at least one other medicine called a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) has been used and did not work well or could not be tolerated.
- adult patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) after corticosteroids have been used and did not work well or when a slow decrease in the dose of corticosteroids (taper) cannot be tolerated.
- people with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) who weigh 63kg (139 lbs) or more.
It is not known if KEVZARA is safe and effective in children with pJIA under 2 years of age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
KEVZARA can cause serious side effects including:
- SERIOUS INFECTIONS: KEVZARA is a medicine that affects your immune system. KEVZARA can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Some people have had serious infections while using KEVZARA, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that can spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections. Your healthcare provider should test you or your child for TB before starting KEVZARA. Your healthcare provider should monitor you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with KEVZARA.
- Before starting KEVZARA, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- think you have an infection or have signs or symptoms of an infection, with or without a fever such as: sweats or chills, muscle aches, a cough, shortness of breath, blood in your phlegm, weight loss, warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body, diarrhea or stomach pain, burning when you urinate or urinating more often than normal, if you feel very tired, or if you are being treated for an infection, get a lot of infections or have repeated infections.
- have diabetes, HIV, or a weakened immune system.
- have TB, or have been in close contact with someone with TB.
- live or have lived, or have traveled to certain parts of the country (such as the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and the Southwest) where there is an increased chance of getting certain fungal infections (histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, or blastomycosis).
- have or have had hepatitis.
- After starting KEVZARA, call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of an infection.
- CHANGES IN CERTAIN LABORATORY TEST RESULTS: Your or your child’s healthcare provider should do blood tests before and after starting KEVZARA to check for low neutrophil (white blood cells that help the body fight off bacterial infections) counts, low platelet (blood cells that help with blood clotting and stop bleeding) counts, and an increase in certain liver function tests. Changes in test results are common with KEVZARA and can be severe. You may also have changes in other laboratory tests, such as your blood cholesterol levels. Your or your child’s healthcare provider should do blood tests 4 to 8 weeks after starting KEVZARA and then every 6 months during treatment to check for an increase in blood cholesterol levels.
- TEARS (PERFORATION) OF THE STOMACH OR INTESTINES: Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a condition known as diverticulitis (inflammation in parts of the large intestine) or ulcers in your stomach or intestines. Some people using KEVZARA get tears in their stomach or intestine. This happens most often in people who also take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), corticosteroids, or methotrexate. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have fever and stomach (abdominal) pain that does not go away.
- CANCER: KEVZARA may increase your risk of certain cancers by changing the way your immune system works. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had any type of cancer.
- SERIOUS ALLERGIC REACTIONS: Serious allergic reactions can happen with KEVZARA. Get medical attention right away if you or your child have any of the following signs: shortness of breath or trouble breathing; feeling dizzy or faint; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; moderate or severe stomach (abdominal) pain or vomiting; or chest pain.
- Do not use KEVZARA if you or your child are allergic to sarilumab or any of the ingredients of KEVZARA.
- Before you or your child use KEVZARA, tell your healthcare provider if you or your child:
- have an infection.
- have liver problems.
- have had stomach (abdominal) pain or a condition known as diverticulitis (inflammation in parts of the large intestine) or ulcers in your stomach or intestines.
- recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine. People who take KEVZARA should not receive live vaccines.
- All vaccines should be brought up-to-date before starting KEVZARA, unless urgent treatment initiation is required.
- plan to have surgery or a medical procedure.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if KEVZARA will harm your unborn baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you use KEVZARA. It is not known if KEVZARA passes into your breast milk.
- take prescription or nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. It is especially important to tell your healthcare provider if you or your child use.
- any other medicines to treat your RA, PMR, or pJIA. Using KEVZARA with these medicines may increase your risk of infection.
- medicines that affect the way certain liver enzymes work. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if your medicine is one of these.
- The most common side effects include:
- injection site redness
- injection site itching
- upper respiratory tract infection
- urinary tract infection
- nasal congestion, sore throat, and runny nose
These are not all of the possible side effects of KEVZARA. Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
To learn more, talk about KEVZARA with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. The FDA-approved Medication Guide and Prescribing Information can be found at www.KEVZARA.com or by calling 1-844- KEVZARA.
Please click here to see full Prescribing Information including risk of SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS and Medication Guide.
About Regeneron
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for over 35 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous FDA-approved treatments and product candidates in development, almost all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases and rare diseases.
Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug development process through our proprietary VelociSuite® technologies, such as VelocImmune, which uses unique genetically humanized mice to produce optimized fully human antibodies and bispecific antibodies, and through ambitious research initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center®, which is conducting one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the world.
For more information, please visit www.Regeneron.com or follow Regeneron on LinkedIn.
About Sanofi
We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our team, across the world, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions.
Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY
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FAQ
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