Regeneron Announces Encouraging Topline Phase 2 Data of High-dose aflibercept in Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN) announced positive Phase 2 trial results for high-dose aflibercept in treating wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The trial met its primary safety endpoint, showing no new safety signals. In a cohort of 106 patients, 43.4% in the aflibercept 8 mg group exhibited no retinal fluid compared to 26.4% in the 2 mg EYLEA group. Phase 3 trials for wet AMD and diabetic macular edema are fully recruited, with results anticipated in late 2022, assessing safety and efficacy for up to two years.
- Phase 2 trial of aflibercept 8 mg met primary safety endpoint.
- 43.4% of patients in the aflibercept 8 mg group had no retinal fluid at week 16.
- Phase 3 trials for wet AMD and diabetic macular edema fully recruited.
- Results from the Phase 3 trials are not expected until late 2022, delaying potential market approval.
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Aug. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
Phase 3 trials in wet AMD and diabetic macular edema fully recruited, with results expected in the second half of 2022
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced that an ongoing Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial evaluating an investigational 8 mg dose of aflibercept met its primary safety endpoint, with no new safety signals observed compared to the currently-approved 2 mg dose of EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). In this small trial involving 106 patients, a higher proportion of patients in the aflibercept 8 mg group had no retinal fluid (
Aflibercept 8 mg is currently being evaluated in two large Phase 3 trials in wet AMD and diabetic macular edema (DME), which are expected to report results in the second half of 2022. The trials will assess the safety and efficacy of aflibercept 8 mg for up to two years, with visual acuity as the primary efficacy endpoint at 48 weeks, measured by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA). Both trials will assess aflibercept 8 mg compared to EYLEA 2 mg, testing dosing intervals of every 12 weeks and every 16 weeks.
"We are cautiously optimistic that these early data suggest that a higher dose of aflibercept may potentially benefit patients with wet AMD, and we look forward to Phase 3 data next year, which will be crucial to understand its overall efficacy and safety," said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron. "Having worked for nearly two decades in retinal disease, we know that large, robust data sets are required to fully understand whether a medicine can achieve three critical things: improved visual and anatomic outcomes, convenient dosing, and a safety profile that is consistent with EYLEA."
During the initial 16 weeks of the Phase 2 trial, adverse events (AEs) in the study eye occurred in
Wet AMD is the leading cause of vision loss among people 50 years and older in the U.S. Existing anti-VEGF treatments including EYLEA have helped change the course of disease for millions of patients worldwide, and efforts to develop new medicines are focused on further enhancing clinical effectiveness while extending the time between treatment doses. This new, concentrated high-dose aflibercept formulation enables a greater amount of medicine to be administered with each treatment, potentially extending the time between doses while retaining the efficacy and safety profile seen with EYLEA 2 mg.
Aflibercept 8 mg is being jointly developed by Regeneron and Bayer.
About the Phase 2 Trial
The Phase 2 randomized, single-masked trial (NCT04126317) enrolled 106 treatment-naïve patients with wet AMD. The trial was designed to investigate the safety, efficacy and tolerability of high-dose aflibercept (8 mg) compared to the existing approved dose of EYLEA (2 mg). Patients were randomized into two groups, with one group receiving aflibercept 8 mg (n=53) and the other group receiving EYLEA 2 mg (n=53). Patients in both groups received three initial injections (weeks 0, 4 and 8), before the primary endpoint was assessed at week 16, after which dosing was extended to every 12 weeks, or more frequently if required due to persistent or worsening disease. Efficacy was assessed via the presence of retinal fluid in the center subfield on optical coherence tomography (OCT) at this timepoint. The trial will continue through week 44.
Trial participants were at least 50 years of age (mean: 77 years), baseline retinal thickness was 502.1 microns, and the BCVA ETDRS letter score was between 24 to 78 in the study eye (mean: 59 letters).
About the Phase 3 Clinical Program
There are two ongoing pivotal trials to investigate the efficacy and safety of aflibercept 8 mg versus EYLEA 2 mg. In DME, Regeneron is sponsoring the Phase 2/3 multi-center, randomized, double-masked PHOTON trial (NCT04429503). In wet AMD, Bayer is sponsoring the Phase 3 multi-center, randomized, double-masked PULSAR trial (NCT04423718) in treatment naïve patients. Across both trials, patients are randomized into one of three treatment groups, testing aflibercept 8 mg with dosing regimens at either 12- or 16-week intervals or EYLEA 2 mg with an 8-week dosing regimen.
EYLEA INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections, active intraocular inflammation, or known hypersensitivity to aflibercept or to any of the excipients in EYLEA.
- Intravitreal injections, including those with EYLEA, have been associated with endophthalmitis and retinal detachments. Proper aseptic injection technique must always be used when administering EYLEA. Patients should be instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment without delay and should be managed appropriately. Intraocular inflammation has been reported with the use of EYLEA.
- Acute increases in intraocular pressure have been seen within 60 minutes of intravitreal injection, including with EYLEA. Sustained increases in intraocular pressure have also been reported after repeated intravitreal dosing with VEGF inhibitors. Intraocular pressure and the perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored and managed appropriately.
- There is a potential risk of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) following intravitreal use of VEGF inhibitors, including EYLEA. ATEs are defined as nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or vascular death (including deaths of unknown cause). The incidence of reported thromboembolic events in wet AMD studies during the first year was
1.8% (32 out of 1824) in the combined group of patients treated with EYLEA compared with1.5% (9 out of 595) in patients treated with ranibizumab; through 96 weeks, the incidence was3.3% (60 out of 1824) in the EYLEA group compared with3.2% (19 out of 595) in the ranibizumab group. The incidence in the DME studies from baseline to week 52 was3.3% (19 out of 578) in the combined group of patients treated with EYLEA compared with2.8% (8 out of 287) in the control group; from baseline to week 100, the incidence was6.4% (37 out of 578) in the combined group of patients treated with EYLEA compared with4.2% (12 out of 287) in the control group. There were no reported thromboembolic events in the patients treated with EYLEA in the first six months of the RVO studies. - Serious adverse reactions related to the injection procedure have occurred in <
0.1% of intravitreal injections with EYLEA including endophthalmitis and retinal detachment. - The most common adverse reactions (≥
5% ) reported in patients receiving EYLEA were conjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain, cataract, vitreous detachment, vitreous floaters, and intraocular pressure increased. - Patients may experience temporary visual disturbances after intravitreal injection with EYLEA and the associated eye examinations. Advise patients not to drive or use machinery until visual function has recovered sufficiently.
INDICATIONS
EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection 2 mg (0.05 mL) is indicated for the treatment of patients with Neovascular (Wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Macular Edema following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)
- The recommended dose for EYLEA is 2 mg (0.05 mL) administered by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (approximately every 28 days, monthly) for the first 5 injections followed by 2 mg (0.05 mL) via intravitreal injection once every 8 weeks (2 months).
- Although EYLEA may be dosed as frequently as 2 mg every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly), additional efficacy was not demonstrated in most patients when EYLEA was dosed every 4 weeks compared to every 8 weeks. Some patients may need every 4 week (monthly) dosing after the first 20 weeks (5 months).
Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- The recommended dose for EYLEA is 2 mg (0.05 mL) administered by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (approximately every 28 days, monthly) for the first 3 months, followed by 2 mg (0.05 mL) via intravitreal injection once every 8 weeks (2 months).
- Although EYLEA may be dosed as frequently as 2 mg every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly), additional efficacy was not demonstrated in most patients when EYLEA was dosed every 4 weeks compared to every 8 weeks. Some patients may need every 4 week (monthly) dosing after the first 12 weeks (3 months).
- Although not as effective as the recommended every 8 week dosing regimen, patients may also be treated with one dose every 12 weeks after one year of effective therapy. Patients should be assessed regularly.
Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO)
- The recommended dose for EYLEA is 2 mg (0.05 mL) administered by intravitreal injection once every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly).
For more information, please see full Prescribing Information.
About Regeneron
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for over 30 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to nine FDA-approved treatments and numerous 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, pain, 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 additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter.
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