DRUGS | EU Pulls Authorization of Adakveo for Sickle Cell Disease
The European Commission has formally revoked its conditional marketing authorization for Novartis’ sickle cell disease (SCD) therapy Adakveo (crizanlizumab), the Swiss pharma company announced on August 4, 2023.
The decision comes after the Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended in May 2023 to pull the approval following a review of additional Phase III data. The EC’s decision is legally binding, forcing Novartis to withdraw Adakveo from all 27 territories covered by the Commission, including Germany, Sweden and Spain, as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, which are part of the European Economic Area.
Patients in these territories should discuss alternative treatment options with their doctors and healthcare providers, Novartis said in its announcement.
Adakveo is a humanized IgG2 monoclonal antibody that works by binding to the cell adhesion molecule P-selectin, which is found on the surface of platelets and blood vessel endothelium, while disrupting its interaction with its corresponding ligands. In turn, this mechanism of action allows Adakveo to prevent vaso-occlusion in sickle cell disease (SCD).
The FDA approved Adakveo in November 2019 as a treatment to lower the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises in SCD patients aged 16 years and above. Nearly a year later, in October 2020, the European Medicines Agency signed off on a conditional approval for the SCD therapeutic and its conversion to standard authorization was contingent on further evidence to validate the efficacy and safety of the product.
Novartis ran the Phase III STAND trial to support Adakveo’s full approval in the EU, but in January of this year the company reported that the late-stage study was unable to replicate previous efficacy findings. A preliminary analysis of STAND showed that Adakveo was unable to significantly distinguish itself from placebo in terms of lowering the annualized rates of vaso-occlusive events in SCD patients.
The CHMP flagged this and launched its own review of Adakveo, confirming in May 2023 that Novartis’ treatment “did not reduce the number of painful crises leading to a healthcare visit” as compared with placebo. The Committee also noted that STAND “showed a higher rate of severe and serious treatment-related side effects,” therefore concluding that Adakveo’s benefits do not outweigh its risks.
In the US, the therapy remains approved for the treatment of VOCs in adults and pediatric patients, ages 16 and older. Novartis is discussing STAND results with the FDA and other health authorities. Patients in the EU nations who were taking Adakveo now will have to explore other treatment options.
Source: BioSpace
