-Approximately 25,000 people with cystic fibrosis worldwide currently eligible for treatment with ORKAMBI® (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) or KALYDECO® (ivacaftor); Vertex advancing the development of multiple medicines with the goal of treating all people with cystic fibrosis-
-Fourth quarter 2015 net product revenues of approximately
-Vertex provides 2016 financial guidance for KALYDECO net product
revenues of
Vertex also today provided preliminary financial results for 2015 and a
financial outlook for 2016. Vertex expects to report total 2015 net
product revenues of approximately
"As we enter 2016, Vertex is a company with the scientific expertise and
the financial strength to consistently discover and develop
transformational medicines for people with cystic fibrosis and other
serious diseases," said
Approved Medicines for Cystic Fibrosis
With the approval of ORKAMBI in the
Approximate |
|||||||
Year-End 2011 |
2012 - 2013 |
Year-End 2014 |
Year-End 2015 |
||||
KALYDECO |
0 |
2,200 |
3,100 |
4,000 |
|||
ORKAMBI |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20,500 |
|||
*Reflects the estimated number of people with CF in |
Vertex today provided the following updates for KALYDECO, ORKAMBI and the company's efforts to develop new medicines with the goal of treating all people with CF:
ORKAMBI - Approximately 20,500 people in the
In 2015, Vertex received regulatory approval for ORKAMBI for the
treatment of people with CF aged 12 and older with two copies of the
F508del mutation in the
Ongoing Phase 3 Studies in Children Ages 6 to 11: Vertex
is currently conducting two Phase 3 clinical studies of
lumacaftor/ivacaftor in children 6 to 11 years of age to support
potential approval in children as young as six years of age. The first
study is evaluating lumacaftor/ivacaftor in approximately 50 children to
support the potential
KALYDECO - Continued label-expansion efforts to increase the number of people eligible for treatment
Supplemental New Drug Application in Residual Function Mutations:
On
Study in Children Less Than Two Years of Age: As CF-related complications can emerge early in life, Vertex is preparing to initiate a clinical study of KALYDECO in children less than two years of age to evaluate the effect of KALYDECO on markers of CF disease in young children. The study will utilize a weight-based dose of KALYDECO granules that can be mixed in soft foods or liquids. The study is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2016 and will enroll infants with one of the 10 mutations for which KALYDECO is currently approved.
Pipeline of Investigational Medicines for CF
VX-661 - Broad Phase 3 program ongoing in multiple groups of people with CF
Four Phase 3 studies of the investigational combination of VX-661 and ivacaftor are ongoing in multiple different groups of people with CF who have at least one copy of the F508del mutation. These studies are enrolling people with CF with the following mutations:
The study in people with two copies of the F508del mutation is expected to complete enrollment in mid-2016, and data from this six-month study are expected by early 2017. Part A of the study in people with a mutation that results in minimal CFTR function is expected to complete enrollment in mid-2016, and an interim futility analysis of efficacy data from Part A of the study is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The two studies in people with gating or residual function mutations are expected to complete enrollment by the end of 2016, and data from these studies are expected in the first half of 2017.
In addition to evaluating the efficacy of the combination regimen, these four Phase 3 studies will also provide safety data on the combination of VX-661 and ivacaftor to support the planned development of a triple combination regimen that includes a next-generation corrector in combination with VX-661 and ivacaftor.
VX-371 - Potential for ENaC inhibitor to amplify effect of CFTR modulation and provide benefit to other groups of people with CF
Vertex is collaborating with Parion Sciences to develop the investigational epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) inhibitor VX-371 as a potential treatment for all people with CF, regardless of CFTR mutation. Parion is currently conducting an exploratory Phase 2a study (known as the CLEAN-CF study) of inhaled VX-371 (P-1037) in approximately 120 people with CF. The study is enrolling people with a confirmed diagnosis of CF and any CFTR mutation. The primary endpoint of the study is safety, and results are expected in mid-2016. Additionally, Vertex plans to conduct a placebo-controlled Phase 2a study to evaluate VX-371 in patients taking lumacaftor/ivacaftor, both with and without the addition of hypertonic saline, who have two copies of the F508del mutation. This Phase 2a study is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2016.
Preclinical evaluation in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells from people with CF who have two copies of the F508del mutation showed that the addition of investigational VX-371 to lumacaftor/ivacaftor resulted in an additional increase in both airway surface liquid and cilia beat frequency compared to baseline and to the use of VX-371 or lumacaftor/ivacaftor alone. Improvements in airway surface liquid height and cilia beat frequency are measures of increased hydration of the cell surface.
Next-Generation Correctors -Triple combination studies planned for second half of 2016
Vertex recently began clinical development of two next-generation correctors known as VX-152 and VX-440. Both VX-152 and VX-440 are being evaluated alone and as part of a triple combination with VX-661 and ivacaftor in ongoing Phase 1 studies in healthy volunteers. These studies are evaluating escalating doses of VX-152 and VX-440 for up to 14 days in duration. Pending results of these studies, Vertex plans to initiate Phase 2 studies in people with CF to evaluate VX-440 or VX-152 in combination with VX-661/ivacaftor in the second half of 2016. The Phase 2 studies of a triple combination (VX-152/VX-661/ivacaftor and VX-440/VX-661/ivacaftor) are expected to enroll three groups of people with CF with the following mutations:
The Phase 2 studies are expected to be 28 days in duration.
CRISPR Collaboration - Gene editing collaboration focused on discovering treatments to address the mutations and genes known to cause and contribute to CF
In
Research and Development Programs
Beyond CF, Vertex is advancing multiple research and development programs focused on the treatment of key mechanisms in multiple serious diseases. The company today provided the following updates to its pipeline programs:
Oncology - Three investigational medicines designed to inhibit DNA repair pathways
Vertex has three investigational medicines in early development that are designed to inhibit DNA repair pathways that are fundamental to the survival and proliferation of certain cancers. These investigational medicines, which were discovered by Vertex scientists, may be applicable to the treatment of multiple tumor types.
Vertex's strategy is to evaluate VX-970 in early-stage trials in selected tumor types and patient subtypes that are expected to be responsive to ATR inhibition based on biomarker data. These studies will be used to generate data that will inform potential late-stage clinical development. Vertex expects VX-970 to be evaluated as monotherapy and in combination with other cancer therapies, including PARP inhibitors and other targeted agents, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immuno-oncology therapies. Vertex is currently conducting two Phase 1/2 studies that are enrolling specific cohorts of triple-negative breast cancer patients and non-small cell lung cancer patients. In these studies, VX-970 is being dosed in combination with commonly used DNA-damaging therapies. Vertex anticipates that preliminary clinical data from these studies will be available for presentation at medical meetings in 2016.
In addition to its two ongoing clinical studies of VX-970, Vertex has
entered into two cooperative research and development agreements
(CRADAs) with the
Vertex is also developing a second ATR inhibitor known as VX-803, which is dosed orally. An ongoing Phase 1 study is evaluating escalating doses of VX-803 alone and in combination with chemotherapy.
Pain - Two investigational medicines designed to inhibit sodium channels involved in pain sensation
Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) Inhibition -Phase 2 study of VX-371 in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)
In addition to ongoing and planned Phase 2 studies of VX-371 in cystic fibrosis, Vertex and Parion plan to begin the first study of VX-371 in people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) in the second half of 2016. PCD is a rare genetic disease that results in a loss of function in key ciliary proteins. The defective proteins lead to dysfunctional beating of cilia on the surface of cells, especially in the lungs where the accumulation of mucus can lead to chronic lung infections, bronchiectasis and progressive lung function decline.
Acute Spinal Cord Injury - Phase 2 study of VX-210 planned for first half of 2016
Vertex is developing VX-210 as a potential medicine for acute spinal cord injury. VX-210 is designed to inhibit a protein known as Rho that blocks neural regeneration after injury. A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled Phase 2b/3 study is expected to begin in the first half of 2016 to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VX-210 in patients with certain acute cervical spinal cord injuries.
Influenza -
JNJ-872 (VX-787) is an investigational medicine for the treatment of
influenza discovered by Vertex scientists and being developed by
CRISPR Collaboration - Gene editing collaboration focused on genetic diseases, including sickle cell disease
In addition to the focus on the discovery of treatments to address the mutations and genes known to cause and contribute to cystic fibrosis, Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics are seeking to discover and develop multiple other gene-based treatments for other genetic diseases. The companies will initially seek to discover and develop gene-based treatments for hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease. Additional discovery efforts focused on a specified number of other genetic targets will also be conducted under the collaboration. Vertex has the option to an exclusive license for up to six gene-based treatments that emerge from the four-year research collaboration.
2015 Financial Highlights and 2016 Financial Outlook
"Entering 2016, we have significantly increased the number of people
being treated with our CF medicines, which results in increased revenues
and positions us to deliver growing earnings while continuing to invest
in the discovery of future medicines," said
The company will announce its complete year-end and fourth quarter
financial results on
Preliminary 2015 Net Product Revenues* |
Fourth |
Full-year |
||
ORKAMBI |
|
|
||
KALYDECO |
|
|
||
TOTAL CF PRODUCT REVENUES |
|
|
||
* Preliminary financial results are provided as approximations in
advance of the company's complete financial results announcement on
|
Vertex expects to report 2015 operating expenses, excluding cost of
revenues, (combined non-GAAP R&
Vertex also today provided 2016 net product revenue
guidance for KALYDECO, guidance for non-GAAP operating expenses,
excluding cost of revenues, (combined non-GAAP R&
2016 Financial Guidance |
||
KALYDECO Net Revenues |
|
|
Operating Expenses, Excluding Cost of Revenues (Combined Non-GAAP
R& |
|
As of
Vertex expects to recognize revenues from sales of ORKAMBI in the
-- Operating Expenses, Excluding Cost of Revenues (Combined Non-GAAP
R&
ORKAMBI is a combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor indicated for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients age 12 years and older who are homozygous for the F508del mutation in the CFTR gene. The efficacy and safety of ORKAMBI have not been established in patients with CF other than those homozygous for the F508del mutation.
Worsening of liver function, including hepatic encephalopathy, in patients with advanced liver disease has been reported in some patients with CF while receiving ORKAMBI.
Serious adverse reactions related to elevated transaminases have been reported in patients with CF receiving ORKAMBI and, in some instances, associated with concomitant elevations in total serum bilirubin.
Respiratory events (e.g., chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and chest tightness) were observed more commonly in patients during initiation of ORKAMBI compared to those who received placebo. Clinical experience in patients with percent predicted FEV1 < 40 is limited, and additional monitoring of these patients is recommended during initiation of therapy.
Co-administration of ORKAMBI with sensitive CYP3A substrates or CYP3A substrates with a narrow therapeutic index is not recommended as ORKAMBI may reduce their effectiveness. ORKAMBI may substantially decrease hormonal contraceptive exposure, reducing their effectiveness and increasing the incidence of menstruation-associated adverse reactions. Co-administration with strong CYP3A inducers is not recommended as they may reduce the therapeutic effectiveness of ORKAMBI.
Abnormalities of the eye lens (cataracts) have been reported in pediatric patients treated with ivacaftor, a component of ORKAMBI.
The most common adverse reactions associated with ORKAMBI include shortness of breath, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, fatigue, chest tightness, increased blood creatinine phosphokinase, rash, flatulence, runny nose, and influenza.
Please see the full prescribing information for ORKAMBI.
KALYDECO is a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulatory (CFTR) potentiator indicated for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients age 2 years and older who have one of the following mutations in the CFTR gene: G551D, G1244E, G1349D, G178R, G551S, S1251N, S1255P, S549N, S549R or R117H.
KALYDECO is not effective in patients with CF with 2 copies of the F508del mutation (F508del/F508del) in the CFTR gene. The safety and efficacy of KALYDECO in children with CF younger than 2 years of age have not been studied. The use of KALYDECO in children under the age of 2 years is not recommended.
High liver enzymes (transaminases; ALT and AST) have been reported in patients with CF receiving KALYDECO.
Use of KALYDECO with medicines that are strong CYP3A inducers substantially decreases exposure of KALYDECO and may diminish effectiveness. Therefore, co-administration is not recommended. The dose of KALYDECO must be adjusted when used concomitantly with strong and moderate CYP3A inhibitors or when used in patients with moderate or severe hepatic disease.
Cases of non-congenital lens opacities/cataracts have been reported in pediatric patients treated with KALYDECO.
The most common side effects associated with KALYDECO include headache; upper respiratory tract infection (common cold), including sore throat, nasal or sinus congestion, and runny nose; stomach (abdominal) pain; diarrhea; rash; nausea; and dizziness.
Please see the full prescribing information for KALYDECO.
About Vertex
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that aims to discover, develop and commercialize innovative medicines so people with serious diseases can lead better lives. In addition to our clinical development programs focused on cystic fibrosis, Vertex has more than a dozen ongoing research programs aimed at other serious and life-threatening diseases.
Founded in 1989 in
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without
limitation,
Webcast Information
The company will webcast its corporate presentation at the 34th
Annual
(VRTX-GEN)
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