RALEIGH, NC, USA I September 15, 2014 I Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (SLXP) today announced that the FDA has granted tentative approval for UCERIS® (budesonide) rectal foam for the induction of remission in patients with active mild-to-moderate distal ulcerative colitis (UC) extending up to 40cm from the anal verge. The foam is a rectally administered corticosteroid that overcomes treatment limitations associated with currently approved therapies which are often ineffective due to insufficient distribution of active drug to the distal colon.
The FDA’s tentative approval of this product means that Salix’s product meets all of the FDA’s manufacturing quality and clinical safety and efficacy standards and will be granted final approval upon the resolution of patent issues. Salix anticipates resolution of patent issues early in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the launch of UCERIS rectal foam during the first quarter of 2015.
“Distal ulcerative colitis can be challenging for patients to live with and gastroenterologists to treat. Our goal is to put the disease into remission so that patients can get on with their lives,” said Bill Forbes, Executive Vice President, Medical and Research and Development and Chief Development Officer, Salix. “The unique delivery system of UCERIS rectal foam can help overcome current treatment limitations by reaching the affected area of the distal colon and keeping the medication there long enough to be effective. People suffering from distal UC now have another option to consider when facing this disease.”
Two identically designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III studies found that a significantly greater percentage of patients receiving UCERIS 2mg rectal foam achieved remission of distal ulcerative colitis at six weeks compared with placebo (41.2% vs 24.0%). Significantly more patients treated with UCERIS rectal foam also achieved key secondary outcome measures compared with placebo at six weeks, including a Modified Mayo Disease Activity Index (MMDAI) endoscopy score of 0 or 1 in 55.6% versus 43.2% in the first trial and 56.0% vs 36.7% in the second trial.
A significantly greater percentage of patients treated with UCERIS rectal foam experienced improvement in rectal bleeding within the first two weeks of treatment (twice daily dosing); this percentage increased and was maintained after an additional two and four weeks of treatment once a day. At week six, the percentage of patients achieving MMDAI rectal bleeding score of 0 was 46.6% vs 28.0% in the first trial and 50.0% vs 28.6% in the second trial.
“These trials definitively demonstrated that UCERIS rectal foam is an efficacious and well-tolerated rectal therapy for the induction of remission in patients with mild-to-moderate distal UC. Treatment with UCERIS rectal foam also led to a rapid response for rectal bleeding that was sustained through the sixth week of the trial,” said William Sandborn, MD, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Director, UCSD IBD Center, University of California San Diego and UC San Diego Health System, and principle investigator of the trials. “This unique treatment modality allows the medication to reach the target area and stay there long enough to work. UCERIS rectal foam is a welcome addition to the treatment options available to gastroenterologists and their patients coping with this complex disease.”
UC is a chronic disease of the large intestine, also known as the colon, in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops tiny open sores, or ulcers, that produce pus and mucous. The combination of inflammation and ulceration can cause abdominal discomfort and frequent emptying of the colon. Distal ulcerative colitis is characterized as either ulcerative proctitis (inflammation localized to the rectum) or ulcerative proctosigmoiditis (inflammation localized to the distal colon and rectum).
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) estimates that UC may affect as many as 700,000 Americans. While most people are diagnosed in their mid-30’s, the disease can occur at any age and equally affects men and women. An estimated 46% of people with UC have a diagnosis of distal UC.
About half of all patients with ulcerative colitis experience at least mild symptoms including persistent diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain and blood in the stool and more urgent bowel movements. CCFA also notes that people suffering from UC often experience loss of appetite and may lose weight as a result. A feeling of low energy and fatigue is also common.
Rectal therapy is recommended for the induction of remission in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative proctitis, and recommended alone or in combination with oral aminosalicyclic acid (ASA) for mild-to-moderate distal UC. However, currently available rectal therapies have limitations, including difficulty of administration and retention (enemas) and limited proximal spread (suppositories).
About the Phase III Clinical Trials
Two identically designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III studies were conducted with the goal of evaluating the efficacy and safety of UCERIS rectal foam for induction of remission in patients with mild-to-moderate distal ulcerative colitis. The studies were funded by Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
A total of 546 patients with endoscopically confirmed mild-to-moderate active distal UC extending ≥5cm, but no further than 40cm from the anal verge, and baseline MMDAI score between 5 and 10, inclusive, with subscale ratings of 2 or 3 for endoscopic appearance and rectal bleeding were eligible for the studies. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive UCERIS rectal foam (2 mg/25 mL; n=267) or placebo (n=279) twice daily for two weeks, then once daily for four weeks. Concomitant use of oral 5-ASAs at doses up to 4.8 g/d was permitted. Demographic and baseline disease characteristics were generally comparable across groups.
UCERIS rectal foam was well tolerated and the adverse event profile was consistent with other studies of rectal budesonide in this patient population. The most commonly-reported side effects included: decreased blood cortisol levels (17.2%); adrenal insufficiency (3.7%); and, nausea (2.2%) and headache (2.2%).
Important Safety Information for UCERIS rectaI foam:
UCERIS (budesonide) rectal foam is contraindicated in patients with a history of a known hypersensitivity to budesonide or any of the ingredients of UCERIS rectal foam. Reactions have included anaphylaxis.
When glucocorticosteroids are used chronically, systemic effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may occur. Since UCERIS rectal foam contains a glucocorticosteroid, general warnings concerning glucocorticoids should be followed.
Care is needed in patients who are transferred from glucocorticosteroid treatment with higher systemic effects to glucocorticosteroids with lower systemic effects, such as UCERIS rectal foam, since symptoms attributed to withdrawal of steroid therapy, including those of acute adrenal suppression or benign intracranial hypertension, may develop. Taper patients slowly from systemic corticosteroids if transferring to UCERIS rectal foam. Monitor for withdrawal symptoms and unmasking of allergies.
Patients who are on drugs that suppress the immune system are more susceptible to infection than healthy individuals. Monitor patients with active or quiescent tuberculosis infection, untreated fungal, bacterial, systemic viral or parasitic infections, or ocular herpes simplex. More serious or even fatal courses of chickenpox or measles can occur in susceptible patients.
Monitor patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer, glaucoma or cataracts, or with a family history of diabetes or glaucoma, or with any other condition where glucocorticosteroids may have unwanted effects.
The contents of UCERIS rectal foamareflammable. Instruct the patient to avoid fire, flame and smoking during and immediately following administration.
Concomitant use of inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 3A4 (for example ketoconazole and erythromycin) should be avoided and patients should be closely monitored for increased signs and/or symptoms of hypercorticism. Avoid grapefruit juice, which is known to inhibit CYP3A4, when taking UCERIS rectal foam.
Based on animal data, UCERIS rectal foam may cause fetal harm.
Patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment should be monitored for increased signs and/or symptoms of hypercorticism.
In clinical studies, the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 2%) were decreased blood cortisol, adrenal insufficiency, and nausea.
Please see complete Prescribing Information for UCERIS rectal foam.
About UCERIS® (budesonide) rectal foam
Budesonide is a high potency corticosteroid that was developed to minimize the systemic adverse consequences of classic corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, which have higher levels of systemic absorption. In several large studies UCERIS rectal foam was highly effective in the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis. Clinical trials suggest that the foam formulation demonstrates improved reach (or spread) and rapid distribution of budesonide to the sigmoid colon and the rectum, without the difficulties and inconvenience associated with retention of enema formulations. These trials also suggest that the foam provides more immediate and targeted therapy for distal ulcerative colitis than is available with oral therapies. The foam formulation for rectal administration was designed to improve both the patient’s ability to retain the drug in the rectum following administration as well as distribution of the active drug to the rectum and sigmoid colon. Salix licensed UCERIS rectal foam from Dr. Falk Pharma. The product was approved in Europe in 2006 and is marketed in Europe by Dr. Falk Pharma.
Full prescribing data for UCERIS® (budesonide) rectal foam is available at www.salix.com.
About Salix
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products and medical devices for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Salix’s strategy is to in-license late-stage or marketed proprietary therapeutic products, complete any required development and regulatory submission of these products, and market them through Salix’s gastroenterology specialty sales and marketing team.
SOURCE: Salix Pharmaceuticals
Post Views: 36
RALEIGH, NC, USA I September 15, 2014 I Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (SLXP) today announced that the FDA has granted tentative approval for UCERIS® (budesonide) rectal foam for the induction of remission in patients with active mild-to-moderate distal ulcerative colitis (UC) extending up to 40cm from the anal verge. The foam is a rectally administered corticosteroid that overcomes treatment limitations associated with currently approved therapies which are often ineffective due to insufficient distribution of active drug to the distal colon.
The FDA’s tentative approval of this product means that Salix’s product meets all of the FDA’s manufacturing quality and clinical safety and efficacy standards and will be granted final approval upon the resolution of patent issues. Salix anticipates resolution of patent issues early in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the launch of UCERIS rectal foam during the first quarter of 2015.
“Distal ulcerative colitis can be challenging for patients to live with and gastroenterologists to treat. Our goal is to put the disease into remission so that patients can get on with their lives,” said Bill Forbes, Executive Vice President, Medical and Research and Development and Chief Development Officer, Salix. “The unique delivery system of UCERIS rectal foam can help overcome current treatment limitations by reaching the affected area of the distal colon and keeping the medication there long enough to be effective. People suffering from distal UC now have another option to consider when facing this disease.”
Two identically designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III studies found that a significantly greater percentage of patients receiving UCERIS 2mg rectal foam achieved remission of distal ulcerative colitis at six weeks compared with placebo (41.2% vs 24.0%). Significantly more patients treated with UCERIS rectal foam also achieved key secondary outcome measures compared with placebo at six weeks, including a Modified Mayo Disease Activity Index (MMDAI) endoscopy score of 0 or 1 in 55.6% versus 43.2% in the first trial and 56.0% vs 36.7% in the second trial.
A significantly greater percentage of patients treated with UCERIS rectal foam experienced improvement in rectal bleeding within the first two weeks of treatment (twice daily dosing); this percentage increased and was maintained after an additional two and four weeks of treatment once a day. At week six, the percentage of patients achieving MMDAI rectal bleeding score of 0 was 46.6% vs 28.0% in the first trial and 50.0% vs 28.6% in the second trial.
“These trials definitively demonstrated that UCERIS rectal foam is an efficacious and well-tolerated rectal therapy for the induction of remission in patients with mild-to-moderate distal UC. Treatment with UCERIS rectal foam also led to a rapid response for rectal bleeding that was sustained through the sixth week of the trial,” said William Sandborn, MD, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Director, UCSD IBD Center, University of California San Diego and UC San Diego Health System, and principle investigator of the trials. “This unique treatment modality allows the medication to reach the target area and stay there long enough to work. UCERIS rectal foam is a welcome addition to the treatment options available to gastroenterologists and their patients coping with this complex disease.”
UC is a chronic disease of the large intestine, also known as the colon, in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops tiny open sores, or ulcers, that produce pus and mucous. The combination of inflammation and ulceration can cause abdominal discomfort and frequent emptying of the colon. Distal ulcerative colitis is characterized as either ulcerative proctitis (inflammation localized to the rectum) or ulcerative proctosigmoiditis (inflammation localized to the distal colon and rectum).
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) estimates that UC may affect as many as 700,000 Americans. While most people are diagnosed in their mid-30’s, the disease can occur at any age and equally affects men and women. An estimated 46% of people with UC have a diagnosis of distal UC.
About half of all patients with ulcerative colitis experience at least mild symptoms including persistent diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain and blood in the stool and more urgent bowel movements. CCFA also notes that people suffering from UC often experience loss of appetite and may lose weight as a result. A feeling of low energy and fatigue is also common.
Rectal therapy is recommended for the induction of remission in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative proctitis, and recommended alone or in combination with oral aminosalicyclic acid (ASA) for mild-to-moderate distal UC. However, currently available rectal therapies have limitations, including difficulty of administration and retention (enemas) and limited proximal spread (suppositories).
About the Phase III Clinical Trials
Two identically designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III studies were conducted with the goal of evaluating the efficacy and safety of UCERIS rectal foam for induction of remission in patients with mild-to-moderate distal ulcerative colitis. The studies were funded by Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
A total of 546 patients with endoscopically confirmed mild-to-moderate active distal UC extending ≥5cm, but no further than 40cm from the anal verge, and baseline MMDAI score between 5 and 10, inclusive, with subscale ratings of 2 or 3 for endoscopic appearance and rectal bleeding were eligible for the studies. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive UCERIS rectal foam (2 mg/25 mL; n=267) or placebo (n=279) twice daily for two weeks, then once daily for four weeks. Concomitant use of oral 5-ASAs at doses up to 4.8 g/d was permitted. Demographic and baseline disease characteristics were generally comparable across groups.
UCERIS rectal foam was well tolerated and the adverse event profile was consistent with other studies of rectal budesonide in this patient population. The most commonly-reported side effects included: decreased blood cortisol levels (17.2%); adrenal insufficiency (3.7%); and, nausea (2.2%) and headache (2.2%).
Important Safety Information for UCERIS rectaI foam:
UCERIS (budesonide) rectal foam is contraindicated in patients with a history of a known hypersensitivity to budesonide or any of the ingredients of UCERIS rectal foam. Reactions have included anaphylaxis.
When glucocorticosteroids are used chronically, systemic effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may occur. Since UCERIS rectal foam contains a glucocorticosteroid, general warnings concerning glucocorticoids should be followed.
Care is needed in patients who are transferred from glucocorticosteroid treatment with higher systemic effects to glucocorticosteroids with lower systemic effects, such as UCERIS rectal foam, since symptoms attributed to withdrawal of steroid therapy, including those of acute adrenal suppression or benign intracranial hypertension, may develop. Taper patients slowly from systemic corticosteroids if transferring to UCERIS rectal foam. Monitor for withdrawal symptoms and unmasking of allergies.
Patients who are on drugs that suppress the immune system are more susceptible to infection than healthy individuals. Monitor patients with active or quiescent tuberculosis infection, untreated fungal, bacterial, systemic viral or parasitic infections, or ocular herpes simplex. More serious or even fatal courses of chickenpox or measles can occur in susceptible patients.
Monitor patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer, glaucoma or cataracts, or with a family history of diabetes or glaucoma, or with any other condition where glucocorticosteroids may have unwanted effects.
The contents of UCERIS rectal foamareflammable. Instruct the patient to avoid fire, flame and smoking during and immediately following administration.
Concomitant use of inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 3A4 (for example ketoconazole and erythromycin) should be avoided and patients should be closely monitored for increased signs and/or symptoms of hypercorticism. Avoid grapefruit juice, which is known to inhibit CYP3A4, when taking UCERIS rectal foam.
Based on animal data, UCERIS rectal foam may cause fetal harm.
Patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment should be monitored for increased signs and/or symptoms of hypercorticism.
In clinical studies, the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 2%) were decreased blood cortisol, adrenal insufficiency, and nausea.
Please see complete Prescribing Information for UCERIS rectal foam.
About UCERIS® (budesonide) rectal foam
Budesonide is a high potency corticosteroid that was developed to minimize the systemic adverse consequences of classic corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, which have higher levels of systemic absorption. In several large studies UCERIS rectal foam was highly effective in the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis. Clinical trials suggest that the foam formulation demonstrates improved reach (or spread) and rapid distribution of budesonide to the sigmoid colon and the rectum, without the difficulties and inconvenience associated with retention of enema formulations. These trials also suggest that the foam provides more immediate and targeted therapy for distal ulcerative colitis than is available with oral therapies. The foam formulation for rectal administration was designed to improve both the patient’s ability to retain the drug in the rectum following administration as well as distribution of the active drug to the rectum and sigmoid colon. Salix licensed UCERIS rectal foam from Dr. Falk Pharma. The product was approved in Europe in 2006 and is marketed in Europe by Dr. Falk Pharma.
Full prescribing data for UCERIS® (budesonide) rectal foam is available at www.salix.com.
About Salix
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products and medical devices for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Salix’s strategy is to in-license late-stage or marketed proprietary therapeutic products, complete any required development and regulatory submission of these products, and market them through Salix’s gastroenterology specialty sales and marketing team.
SOURCE: Salix Pharmaceuticals
Post Views: 36
