Amgen And UCB Provide Update On Regulatory Status Of EVENITY™ (romosozumab) In The US

PR Newswire

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. and BRUSSELS, July 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) and UCB (Euronext Brussels: UCB) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Complete Response Letter for the Biologics License Application (BLA) for EVENITY™* (romosozumab) as a treatment for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

The original submission included data from the pivotal Phase 3 placebo-controlled FRAME study of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. With the availability of data from the Phase 3 active-comparator ARCH study, the Agency has asked that the efficacy and safety data from the study be integrated into the application. The resubmission will also include the efficacy and safety data from the BRIDGE study, the Phase 3 trial evaluating EVENITY in men with osteoporosis, which has also been requested. This request will be addressed in the form of a resubmission, which is an extension of the current review.

"During our interactions with the FDA, we agreed that the ARCH data should be considered in the regulatory review prior to the initial marketing authorization and, as a result, anticipated this request. We look forward to working through the review process with the Agency," said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "We remain committed to helping patients with osteoporosis and will use the additional time to better understand the benefit:risk profile of EVENITY."

"The reality is that once a woman has a fragility fracture, she is five times more likely to suffer another within a year. This is a stark reminder that there is an urgent need to improve post-fracture care and reduce the risk of painful, disabling fractures in the future," said Dr. Pascale Richetta, head of bone and executive vice president, UCB. "With all three pivotal romosozumab Phase 3 studies now included in the clinical evidence package, representing data from more than 11,000 patients, we are committed to bringing this important potential new treatment to those people living at risk of fragility fractures."

About EVENITY™* (romosozumab)

EVENITY is an investigational bone-forming monoclonal antibody and is not approved by any regulatory authority for the treatment of osteoporosis. It is designed to work by inhibiting the activity of sclerostin, which enables EVENITY to rapidly increase bone formation and reduce bone resorption simultaneously. EVENITY has been studied for its potential to reduce the risk of fractures in an extensive global Phase 3 program. This program included two large fracture trials comparing EVENITY to either placebo or active comparator in more than 10,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Amgen and UCB are co-developing EVENITY.

About the Pivotal EVENITY Clinical Trials

FRAME (FRActure study in postmenopausal woMen with ostEoporosis) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that evaluated 7,180 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The study evaluated the effectiveness of EVENITY treatment (210 mg), compared with placebo, in reducing the risk of new vertebral fractures through 12 months. The study also evaluated the effectiveness of treating with EVENITY for 12 months followed by denosumab for 12 months, compared with placebo followed by denosumab, in reducing the risk of new vertebral fractures through 24 months.

ARCH (Active-contRolled fraCture study in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at High risk of fracture) is a randomized, double-blind, alendronate-controlled study of EVENITY in 4,093 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture based on previous fracture history. The study evaluated 12 months of EVENITY treatment (210 mg) followed by at least 12 months of alendronate treatment (70 mg), compared with alendronate treatment alone, to determine effectiveness in reducing the incidence of clinical fracture (non-vertebral fracture and clinical vertebral fracture) and new vertebral fracture.

BRIDGE (placeBo-contRolled study evaluatIng the efficacy anD safety of romosozumab in treatinG mEn with osteoporosis) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 245 men aged 55-90 years with osteoporosis and a history of fragility fracture (excluding hip fracture) or vertebral fracture. The study evaluated the effectiveness of EVENITY treatment for 12 months, compared with placebo, in increasing bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and the effect on BMD at the femoral neck and total hip.

About the Amgen and UCB Collaboration

Since 2004, Amgen and UCB have been working together under a collaboration and license agreement to research, develop and market antibody products targeting the protein sclerostin. As part of this agreement, the two companies continue to collaborate on the development of romosozumab for the treatment of osteoporosis. This gene-to-drug project demonstrates how Amgen and UCB are joining forces to translate a genetic discovery into a new medicine, turning conceptual science into a reality.

About Amgen

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

About UCB

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 7,700 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of € 4.2 billion in 2016. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news

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Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement.

*The trade name EVENITY™ is provisionally approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.

CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand OaksKristen Davis, 805-447-3008 (media)Kristen Neese, 805-313-8267 (media)Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)

CONTACT: UCB, Brussels France Nivelle, Global Communications, UCB
T +32.2.559.9178, [email protected] Laurent Schots, Media Relations, UCB
T+32.2.559.92.64, [email protected]Antje Witte, Investor Relations, UCB
T +32.2.559.94.14, [email protected]Isabelle Ghellynck, Investor Relations, UCB
T+32.2.559.9588, [email protected]