FTY720 shows significant benefits in helping MS patients over one year in Phase II data published in New England Journal of Medicine
Oral treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) maintains significant reductions in inflammatory disease activity and clinical relapses for up to one year
Comprehensive Phase III program now underway worldwide
24-month Phase II treatment data to be presented at European Congress for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in September
More than two million people estimated to suffer from multiple sclerosis, one of the leading causes of neurological disability in young adults[1]
Basel, September 13, 2006 - Clinical trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed significant benefits for patients suffering from relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) who were treated with FTY720 (fingolimod), in development with potential to become the first orally effective compound to help patients with this debilitating neurological disease.
The Phase II trial data showed that FTY720 taken once-daily during the initial six months of treatment reduced the rate of inflammatory disease activity - as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - by up to 80% and cut clinical relapses by more than 50% compared to placebo[2].
In patients who continued taking FTY720 during the subsequent six-month extension, low levels of disease activity were maintained as measured by both MRI and relapses. Both these measures also decreased in patients who switched from placebo to FTY720.
"These results demonstrate that once-daily oral FTY720 provides an improvement in MRI measures of inflammation as well as in relapse-related clinical endpoints in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis," said Professor Ludwig Kappos, chief trial investigator and head of the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland.
"If the magnitude of benefits shown in this Phase II study is confirmed in the larger-scale Phase III program, oral FTY720 could potentially have a major impact in the way MS will be treated in the future," said Professor Kappos.
Phase III clinical trials program underway
Based on the positive Phase II results, Novartis launched earlier in 2006 a Phase III clinical trials program called FREEDOMS (FTY720 Research Evaluating Effects of Daily Oral therapy in Multiple Sclerosis). This 24-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study program is designed to include over 2,000 patients worldwide with the relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis between ages 18 and 55. Study participants will be randomized equally to either receive once-daily treatment with 1.25 mg or 0.5 mg of FTY720 or placebo for up to 24 months.
MS affects more than two million people worldwide
More than two million people worldwide are estimated to suffer from MS, which is one of the leading causes of neurological disability in young adults. It is the most common inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves[3].
The symptoms of MS can range from tingling, numbness, pain, slurred speech and blurred or double vision, to muscle weakness, poor balance or coordination, and tremors. These symptoms can have a significant impact on the patient's employment, social activities and overall quality of life.
Conventional first-line multiple sclerosis therapies offer an average reduction in relapse rates in the range of 30-35% in two-year studies. These medicines also require frequent injections, ranging from daily to weekly[4],[5],[6]
FTY720 is the first in a new class of disease-modifying treatments called sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor (S1P-R) modulators and has a novel mode of action different from all currently marketed MS therapies. FTY720 has been developed by Novartis and licensed from Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation.
An analysis of two-year Phase II data with FTY720 will be presented at the European Congress for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Madrid in September 2006.
Phase II study results in NEJM
The Phase II study described in the New England Journal of Medicine was conducted at 32 centers in 11 countries (in Europe and Canada) to evaluate the effect of FTY720 on disease activity as measured by MRI and clinical relapses as well as safety and tolerability.
In the initial placebo-controlled phase, 281 patients were randomized equally to receive FTY720 (1.25 mg or 5 mg) or placebo once-daily for six months. Of the 255 patients who completed this part of the study, 98% volunteered to continue in the extension phase[7]. Patients in the placebo group were then re-randomized to receive either 1.25 mg or 5 mg of FTY720 and were blinded for an additional six months. Those already on FTY720 continued with their original treatment.
The study showed that oral FTY720 provided significant and rapid improvement in MRI measures of inflammation and in relapse-related clinical endpoints in patients with relapsing MS. Inflammatory disease activity as measured by the total cumulative number of gadolinium (Gd) enhancing MRI lesions was significantly reduced by up to 80% (p<0.001 in FTY720 1.25 mg, p<0.006 in FTY720 5 mg) compared to placebo over six months of treatment. At six months, the proportion of patients free of Gd-enhancing lesions was also greater in both FTY720 groups compared to placebo (p<0.001 for both groups), with a separation between the curves becoming evident from two months onwards.
Relapse rates were reduced by 55% in the FTY720 1.25 mg group (p=0.009) and by 53% in the FTY720 5 mg group (p=0.014) compared to placebo. Time to first confirmed relapse was also significantly prolonged in both FTY720 groups compared to placebo (p=0.007 in FTY720 1.25 mg, p=0.01 in FTY720 5 mg)[8].
In both groups taking FTY720 (i.e. 1.25 mg or 5 mg), patients who had experienced a reduction in their annualized relapse rate of more than 50% compared to placebo during the first six months of the study maintained this low relapse rate during the subsequent six months of the extension[9]. More than 80% of patients who received FTY720 for up to 12 months were free from lesions showing active inflammation on MRI at month 12, irrespective of their treatment dose[9].
In patients who switched from placebo to either dosage of FTY720 after six months, the annualized relapse rate was reduced by at least 70% during the six-month extension compared to the period on placebo[9].
In the six month placebo-controlled phase of the study, the most frequent adverse events reported for FTY720 were dose-dependent upper respiratory tract infections (mainly nasopharyngitis) and dyspnea, plus diarrhea, and nausea [10]. FTY720 treatment was associated with initial dose-dependent decreases in heart rate and expiratory flow. Clinically asymptomatic increases in alanine aminotransferase (liver enzyme) and increase in blood pressure were also observed. There were no unexpected safety findings during the six-month extension phase as compared to the six-month placebo-controlled phase [11]. The ongoing Phase III study program includes comprehensive safety monitoring which will provide further assessment on the safety profile.
Disclaimer
This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to Novartis' business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "to be presented", "potential to become", "if the magnitude of benefits.confirmed", "could potentially", "will", or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential future regulatory submissions or approvals or regarding potential future revenue from fingolimod. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Novartis regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results with fingolimod to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that fingolimod will be submitted for approval or will be approved for sale for any indications or labeling in any market. Nor can there be any guarantee that fingolimod will achieve any sales or any particular level of sales. In particular, management's expectations regarding fingolimod could be affected by, among other things, unexpected clinical trial results, including additional analysis of existing clinical data or new clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; Novartis' ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Novartis
Novartis has been a leader in the neuroscience area for more than 50 years, having pioneered early breakthrough treatments for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy, schizophrenia and migraine. Novartis continues to be active in the research and development of new compounds, and is committed to addressing unmet medical needs and to supporting patients and their families affected by these disorders.
Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, treat disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to treat patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in both patented and generic pharmaceuticals. We are strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and low-cost generics, human vaccines and leading self-medication OTC brands. In 2005, the Group's businesses achieved net sales of USD 32.2 billion and net income of USD 6.1 billion. Approximately USD 4.8 billion was invested in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 97,000 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
References
1 Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (http://www.msif.org/en/ms_the_disease/index.html
2 N Engl J Med, 355;11, www.NEJM.org, September 14, page 1130 (Table 2)
3 Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (http://www.msif.org/en/ms_the_disease/index.html
4 L.D. Jacobs et al. Intramuscular Interferon beta-1a for disease progression in relapsing multiple sclerosis. Ann
Neurol 1996, 39: 285-294.
5 IFNB Multiple Sclerosis Study Group. Interferon beta-1b is effective in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. I.
Clinical results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Neurology 1993; 43: 655-
661.
6 K.P. Johnson et al. Copolymer 1 reduces relapse rate and improves disability in relapsing-remitting multiple
sclerosis: Results of a phase III multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Neurology 1995; 45: 1268-
1276.
7 N Engl J Med, 355;11, www.NEJM.org, September 14, page 1128 (Figure 1)
8 N Engl J Med, 355;11, www.NEJM.org, September 14, page 1131 (Table 2B)
8 N Engl J Med, 355;11, www.NEJM.org, September 14, page 1133 (Table 3)
10 N Engl J Med, 355;11, www.NEJM.org, September 14, page 1134-1135 (Table 4 and 4B)
11 N Engl J Med, 355;11, www.NEJM.org, September 14, page 1136 (Table 5)
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