Article content

Article content

PARIS, FRANCE, 23 October 2023 – Ipsen (Euronext: IPN: ADR: IPSEY) today announced that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) confirmed its negative opinion recommending not to maintain the orphan designation for Bylvay^® (odevixibat) in Alagille syndrome (ALGS). This is despite a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in July 2023. Orphan designation has a strong influence on the reimbursement mechanisms and access for patients to medicines in some countries in the E.U. In order to maintain Bylvay’s orphan designation in the approved treatment of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC), Ipsen is planning to resubmit to the EMA under a new brand name for the treatment of ALGS by the end of 2023.

Article content

“We stand by our commitment to bring as soon as possible a much-needed treatment option to patients with Alagille syndrome and their families in the E.U., as we believe in the potential benefit this medicine could provide to the Alagille community,” said Christelle Huguet, Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Development for Ipsen. “We are disappointed with the opinion of the COMP as the Orphan Medicinal Product Regulation aims to stimulate research and development for rare diseases. The current approach to assessing “significant benefit” threatens to undermine the aims of this Regulation.”

Article content

The CHMP and COMP reviewed data from the Bylvay clinical-trial program, including ASSERT, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III, multi-center efficacy and safety trial conducted in ALGS. Positive data from ASSERT, presented at the 2023 European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition congress, demonstrated that Bylvay provided highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in pruritus, starting as early as one week after initiation of treatment and were sustained over the 24 weeks of the trial. More than 90% of patients were pruritus responders (≥ one point change at any time during 24 weeks). The overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar to placebo. No patients discontinued the trial, and 96% of patients rolled over into the open-label extension trial. 

Bylvay received regulatory approval in 2021 in the U.S. as the first medicine-treatment option for patients aged three months or older living with cholestatic pruritus due to PFIC, and for the treatment of PFIC in patients aged six months or older in the E.U. In June 2023, Bylvay also received regulatory approval in the U.S. for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients aged 12 months or older with ALGS.

Article content

Article content

Bylvay received orphan exclusivity for the treatment of PFIC in the U.S. and the E.U. Bylvay also received orphan designation for the treatment of ALGS in the U.S. and the E.U. In a potential future third indication under development, the rare pediatric cholestatic liver disease biliary atresia, Bylvay received orphan designation in the U.S. and the E.U. and is in late-stage development with the Phase III BOLD trial.  

ENDS

ASSERT Phase III clinical trial data  

ASSERT was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 120 µg /kg/day Bylvay for 24 weeks in relieving pruritus in patients with ALGS with 32 sites across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. The trial enrolled patients aged 0 to 17 years with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of ALGS. In the primary analysis, the trial met the primary endpoint showing highly statistically significant improvement in pruritus as measured by the PRUCISION Observer-Reported Outcome scratching score (0-4 point scale), from baseline at month 6 (weeks 21 to 24), compared to the placebo arm (p=0.002). More than 90% of patients were pruritus responders (≥ 1 point change at any time during the 24 weeks). The trial also met the key secondary endpoint, showing a highly statistically significant reduction in serum bile acid concentration from baseline to the average of weeks 20 and 24 (compared to the placebo arm p=0.001). Statistically significant improvements in multiple sleep parameters were observed as early as week 1-4 compared to patients on placebo with continued improvement through week 24. In the trial, there were no patient discontinuations and 96% of patients rolled over into the open-label extension trial. Bylvay had an overall adverse event incidence similar to placebo and a low incidence of drug-related diarrhea (11.4% vs. 5.9% placebo). 

Article content

About Bylvay^® (odevixibat)  

Bylvay is a potent, once-daily, non-systemic ileal bile acid transport inhibitor that acts locally in the small intestine and has minimal systemic exposure. It is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of pruritus in patients three months of age or older with PFIC, where it has orphan exclusivity. Bylvay was first launched as a treatment option for patients with PFIC in the U.S. in 2021, where it is supported by a program designed to assist with access to treatment and patient support. Bylvay also received regulatory approval in the E.U. for the treatment of PFIC in patients aged six months or older. It has launched in over nine countries and has secured public reimbursement across several major markets including Germany, Italy, the U.K., France and Belgium. In June 2023, Bylvay was also approved in the U.S. for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients from 12 months of age with Alagille syndrome.   
  
View full U.S. prescribing information here: ipsen.com  
View full E.U. prescribing information here: Bylvay, INN-odevixibat (europa.eu)  
  
Important Safety Information   

Article content

About Alagille syndrome (ALGS) 

ALGS is an inherited rare, genetic disorder that can affect multiple organ systems in the body including the liver, heart, skeleton, eyes and kidneys. Liver damage may result from having fewer than normal, narrowed or malformed bile ducts, which leads to toxic bile acid build-up, which in turn can cause scarring and progressive liver disease. Approximately 95% of patients with the condition present with chronic cholestasis, usually within the first few months of life and as many as 88% also present with severe, intractable pruritus. The estimated global incidence of ALGS is 3 in 100,000 live births. Currently in the U.S., it is estimated that there are 1,300 patients who may be eligible for IBATi treatment. 

Article content

About Ipsen   

Ipsen is a global, mid-sized biopharmaceutical company focused on transformative medicines in Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience. With total sales of €3.0bn in FY 2022, Ipsen sells medicines in over 100 countries. Alongside its external-innovation strategy, the Company’s research and development efforts are focused on its innovative and differentiated technological platforms located in the heart of leading biotechnological and life-science hubs: Paris-Saclay, France; Oxford, U.K.; Cambridge, U.S.; Shanghai, China. Ipsen has around 5,400 colleagues worldwide and is listed in Paris (Euronext: IPN) and in the U.S. through a Sponsored Level I American Depositary Receipt program (ADR: IPSEY). For more information, visit ipsen.com  
  
In March 2023, Ipsen completed the acquisition of Albireo Pharma Inc, a leading innovator in bile-acid modulators to treat rare liver conditions, and the marketing authorization holder of Bylvay.     

For further information:   

Ipsen Contacts  

Investors  

Article content

Ipsen’s forward-looking statements 

The forward-looking statements, objectives and targets contained herein are based on Ipsen’s management strategy, current views and assumptions. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. All of the above risks could affect Ipsen’s future ability to achieve its financial targets, which were set assuming reasonable macroeconomic conditions based on the information available today. Use of the words ‘believes’, ‘anticipates’ and ‘expects’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, including Ipsen’s expectations regarding future events, including regulatory filings and determinations. Moreover, the targets described in this document were prepared without taking into account external-growth assumptions and potential future acquisitions, which may alter these parameters. These objectives are based on data and assumptions regarded as reasonable by Ipsen. These targets depend on conditions or facts likely to happen in the future, and not exclusively on historical data. Actual results may depart significantly from these targets given the occurrence of certain risks and uncertainties, notably the fact that a promising medicine in early development phase or clinical trial may end up never being launched on the market or reaching its commercial targets, notably for regulatory or competition reasons. Ipsen must face or might face competition from generic medicine that might translate into a loss of market share. Furthermore, the research and development process involves several stages each of which involves the substantial risk that Ipsen may fail to achieve its objectives and be forced to abandon its efforts with regards to a medicine in which it has invested significant sums. Therefore, Ipsen cannot be certain that favorable results obtained during preclinical trials will be confirmed subsequently during clinical trials, or that the results of clinical trials will be sufficient to demonstrate the safe and effective nature of the medicine concerned. There can be no guarantees a medicine will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that the medicine will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and healthcare legislation; global trends toward healthcare cost containment; technological advances, new medicine and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new-medicine development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Ipsen’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of Ipsen’s patents and other protections for innovative medicines; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. Ipsen also depends on third parties to develop and market some of its medicines which could potentially generate substantial royalties; these partners could behave in such ways which could cause damage to Ipsen’s activities and financial results. Ipsen cannot be certain that its partners will fulfil their obligations. It might be unable to obtain any benefit from those agreements. A default by any of Ipsen’s partners could generate lower revenues than expected. Such situations could have a negative impact on Ipsen’s business, financial position or performance. Ipsen expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements, targets or estimates contained in this press release to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. Ipsen’s business is subject to the risk factors outlined in its registration documents filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The risks and uncertainties set out are not exhaustive and the reader is advised to refer to Ipsen’s latest Universal Registration Document, available on ipsen.com. 

Attachment

Article content