Beerse, Belgium, July 26, 2013 – Janssen-Cilag International NV (“Janssen”) announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion recommending the use of STELARA® (ustekinumab), alone or in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adult patients when the response to previous non-biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy has been inadequate.
Based on the CHMP’s positive opinion, a final decision from the European Commission is expected during the third quarter of 2013. If approved, STELARA will become available for patients living with active psoriatic arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by both joint and periarticular tissue inflammation (enthesitis, inflammation of the site where ligaments or tendons insert into the bones, and dactylitis, inflammation of an entire digit, e.g., finger or toe, often called ”sausage digit”), and psoriasis skin lesions. The disease affects approximately 4.2 million people across Europe,[1-5] and there is currently no cure.
“We are pleased that the CHMP has issued a positive opinion for STELARA in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis as we look to bring this new therapeutic option to patients living with active psoriatic arthritis,” said Jerome A. Boscia, M.D., Vice President, Head of Immunology Development, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. “Data from the Phase 3 clinical program, one of the largest conducted for a biologic to date in psoriatic arthritis, showed STELARA effective in improving symptoms and signs of active psoriatic arthritis in anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha naïve and experienced patients. We believe STELARA has the potential to play a critically important role in the treatment of this chronic disease and look forward to the European Commission’s decision.”
The CHMP adopted the opinion based on a review of data from two pivotal Phase 3 multicenter, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of ustekinumab, a fully human anti-interleukin (IL)-12/23p40 monoclonal antibody, administered subcutaneously, in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PSUMMIT I and PSUMMIT II), which evaluated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneously administered STELARA 45 mg or 90 mg at weeks 0, 4 and then every 12 weeks. The trials included patients diagnosed with active psoriatic arthritis who had at least five tender and five swollen joints and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of at least 0.3 mg/dL despite previous treatment with conventional therapies. PSUMMIT II also included patients who had previously experienced treatment with TNF inhibitors. The primary endpoints for both studies were the proportion of patients demonstrating at least a 20 percent improvement in arthritis signs and symptoms (American College of Rheumatology [ACR] 20) at week 24. Secondary endpoints at week 24 included in the submissions were: improvements in Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) scores, a 50 or 70 percent improvement in arthritis signs and symptoms (ACR 50 or ACR 70) and at least a 75 percent improvement in psoriatic skin lesions as measured by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI 75) in patients with at least three percent body surface area involvement at baseline. The studies also captured improvements in enthesitis and dactylitis scores for patients with enthesitis and/or dactylitis at baseline.
About Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease characterized by both joint and surrounding tissue inflammation, and the skin lesions associated with psoriasis, which affects as many as 37 million people worldwide[4] and approximately 4.2 million people across Europle.[1-4] While estimates of the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis among people living with psoriasis vary, up to 30 percent may develop inflammatory arthritis.[5] Although the exact cause of psoriatic arthritis is unknown, it is believed to be an immune-mediated inflammatory disease with a genetic link.[6] Environmental factors may play a role in the development of the disease.[7] Early signs of psoriatic arthritis can include enthesitis and dactylitis. Other arthritic symptoms of psoriatic arthritis may include stiffness and tenderness of the joints and surrounding tissue, and reduced range of motion.[6,8]
About STELARA® (ustekinumab)
STELARA, a human interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 antagonist, is currently approved in 73 countries for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. IL-12 and IL-23 are naturally occurring proteins that are believed to play a role in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
In the European Union, STELARA is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who failed to respond to, or who have a contraindication to, or are intolerant to other systemic therapies including ciclosporin, methotrexate and PUVA (psoralen plus UVA).[9]
STELARA is not recommended for use in children and adolescents below age 18 as studies in the pediatric population have not yet been completed.
Janssen Biotech, Inc. discovered STELARA and has exclusive marketing rights to the product in the United States. The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies maintain exclusive worldwide marketing rights to STELARA.
Important Safety Information (EU)[9]
Ustekinumab is a selective immunosuppressant and may have the potential to increase the risk of infections and reactivate latent infections. Serious infections have been observed in patients receiving STELARA in clinical trials. Do not start STELARA during an active infection. If a serious infection develops, monitor patients carefully and stop STELARA until the infection resolves. Patients should be evaluated for tuberculosis (TB) infection prior to initiating treatment with STELARA.
Ustekinumab is a selective immunosuppressant. Immunosuppressive agents have the potential to increase the risk of malignancy. Malignancies have been observed in patients receiving ustekinumab in clinical trials. Caution should be exercised when considering the use of STELARA in patients with a history of malignancy or when considering continuing treatment in patients who develop a malignancy.
Serious allergic reactions have been reported in the post-marketing setting, in some cases several days after treatment. Anaphylaxis and angioedema have occurred. If an anaphylactic or other serious allergic reaction occurs, administration of STELARA should be discontinued immediately and appropriate treatment instituted.
It is recommended that live viral or live bacterial vaccines (such as Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin [BCG]) should not be given concurrently with STELARA.
No overall differences in efficacy or safety in patients age 65 and older who received STELARA were observed compared to younger patients. Because there is a higher incidence of infections in the elderly population in general, caution should be used in treating the elderly
Special Warnings and Precautions for Use[9]
Concomitant immunosuppressive therapy: Caution should be exercised when considering concomitant use of other immunosuppressants and ustekinumab or when transitioning from other immunosuppressive biologics.
For complete EU prescribing information, please visit www.emea.europa.eu.
About Janssen-Cilag International NV and Janssen Research & Development, LLC
At Janssen, we are dedicated to addressing and solving some of the most important unmet medical needs of our time in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious diseases and vaccines, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop innovative products, services and healthcare solutions to help people with serious diseases throughout the world. Beyond its innovative medicines, Janssen is at the forefront of developing education and public policy initiatives to ensure patients and their families, caregivers, advocates and health care professionals have access to the latest treatment information, support services and quality care.
Janssen Cilag International NV and Janssen Research & Development, LLC are two of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Please visit www.janssen.com for more information.
(This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen-Cilag International NV, any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; economic factors, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; challenges to patents; changes in behavior and spending patterns or financial distress of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to governmental laws and regulations and domestic and foreign health care reforms; trends toward health care cost containment; and increased scrutiny of the health care industry by government agencies. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99 of Johnson & Johnson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2012. Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as subsequent filings, are available online at www.sec.gov,www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertake to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.)
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References:
[1] Augustin M, Herberger K, Hintzen S, Heigel H, Franzke N, Shäfer I. Prevalence of skin lesions and need for treatment in a cohort of 90880 workers. Br J Dermatol. 2011;165(4):865-873.
[2] Parisi R, Symmons DP, Griffiths CE, Ashcroft DM, on behalf of the Identification and Management of Psoriasis and Associated ComorbidiTy (IMPACT) project team. Global epidemiology of psoriasis: a systematic review of incidence and prevalence. J Invest Dermatol.2013;133(2):377-385.
[3] Ortonne JP, Prinz JC. Alefacept: a novel and selective biologic agent for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. Eur J Dermatol.2004;14:41-45.
[4] About Psoriasis: Statistics. National Psoriasis Foundation. http://www.psoriasis.org/learn_statistics. Accessed July 8, 2013.
[5]About Psoriatic Arthritis. National Psoriasis Foundation. http://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis. Accessed July 8, 2013.
[6] FitzGerald O, Winchester R. Psoriatic arthritis: from pathogenesis to therapy. Arthritis Res Ther 2009;11(1):214.
[7] Chandran V, Raychaudhuri SP. Geoepidemiology and environmental factors of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. J Autoimmun2010;34(3):J314-321.
[8] Amherd-Hoekstra A, Näher H, Lorenz H-M, Enk AH. Psoriatic arthritis: a review. JDDG 2010;8(5):332-339.
[9] Ustekinumab European Summary of Product Characteristics. February 2013.
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