GlaxoSmithKline and Human Genome Sciences receive European authorisation for Benlysta® (belimumab)
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) announced today that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation for Benlysta®(belimumab) 10mg/kg as an add-on therapy in adult patients with active autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with a high degree of disease activity
- (1888PressRelease) July 27, 2011 - “The European approval of Benlysta represents a significant milestone, and we are very pleased to be able to provide physicians an additional therapeutic option for treating appropriate patients with this chronic disease,” said Dr Tony Hoos, Senior VP, European Medical Affairs, GSK.
“We and GSK are committed to making Benlysta available in countries worldwide,” said H. Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, HGS. “We are particularly honoured to be bringing this medicineforward in Europe, where a number of key academic research institutions were very important to its clinical development.”
The European summary of product characteristics (SmPC) lists patient groups which have not been studied with belimumab, including severe active CNS lupus or severe active lupus nephritis. Use of belimumab is therefore not recommended to treat these conditions. Caution should be exercised if belimumab is co-administered with other B cell targeted therapy or cyclophosphamide, as it has not been studied in combination with these agents.
About Benlysta (belimumab)
Belimumab received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 9th March 2011. GSK and HGS announced approval from Health Canada on 12th July 2011. Regulatory applications have been submitted and are currently under review in Australia, Switzerland, Russia, Brazil, the Philippines, Israel, Singapore, Taiwan and Colombia.
Detailed recommendations for the use of belimumab are described in the SmPC, which will be published in the European public assessment report (EPAR, http://www.emea.europa.eu).
About the GSK/HGS collaboration
HGS and GSK are developing belimumab under a definitive co-development and co-commercialisation agreement entered into in 2006. Under the agreement, HGS had responsibility for conducting the belimumab Phase III trials, with assistance from GSK. The companies share equally in Phase III/IV development costs, sales and marketing expenses, and profits of any product commercialised under the current agreement.
Benlysta is a registered trademark owned by Human Genome Sciences, Inc., used under licence by the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.
GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com.
GSK Biopharm R&D is employing novel approaches to harness the therapeutic potential of biopharmaceuticals for the benefit of patients with serious autoimmune disease.
Human Genome Sciences exists to place new therapies into the hands of those battling serious disease. For more information about HGS, please visit the Company’s web site at www.hgsi.com. HGS, Human Genome Sciences and Benlysta are trademarks of Human Genome Sciences, Inc. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
Under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect GSK' s operations are described under 'Risk Factors' in the 'Business Review' in the company' s Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2010.
HGS safe harbour statement
This announcement includes statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include those regarding our expectations for BENLYSTA. These forward-looking statements are based on our current intentions, beliefs and expectations regarding future events. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be accurate. Investors should realize that if underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could differ materially from our expectations. Investors are, therefore, cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, and, except as required by law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement to reflect new information, events or circumstances. Investors should consider this cautionary statement, as well as the risk factors identified in our periodic reports filed with the SEC, when evaluating our forward-looking statements.
References
[1] GlaxoSmithKline and Human Genome Sciences. Benlysta® Summary of Product Characteristics 2011.
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