Novartis drug Afinitor® approved by FDA as first medication for children and adults with a benign brain tumor associated with tuberous sclerosis

Novartis announced, that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets for patients with subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA), a benign brain tumor associated with tuberous sclerosis (TS), who require therapeutic intervention but are not candidates for curative surgical resection[2]. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) November 03, 2010 - This accelerated approval of Afinitor is based on an open-label, single-arm, 28-patient study conducted by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center[2]. The effectiveness of Afinitor is based on an analysis of change in SEGA volume. A Phase III study is underway that compares Afinitor to placebo to explore the clinical benefits of Afinitor for the treatment of patients with SEGA associated with TS[3].

* Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) is a benign brain tumor associated with tuberous sclerosis (TS)[1]

* Prior to the approval of Afinitor, brain surgery was the only treatment option for patients with growing SEGAs[1]

* Worldwide regulatory submissions underway, including applications filed in the EU and Switzerland

Prior to this FDA approval, the only treatment option for growing SEGAs, which primarily affect children and adolescents, was brain surgery[1],[4],[5]. Tuberous sclerosis is a genetic disorder affecting approximately 25,000 to 40,000 people in the US that may cause benign tumors to form in vital organs[6]. SEGAs, benign brain tumors, occur in up to 20% of patients with TS[1].

"Today's FDA decision is an important milestone for the children and adults living with SEGA associated with tuberous sclerosis," said Hervé Hoppenot, President of Novartis Oncology. "We are committed to furthering research for patients with tuberous sclerosis and will continue to work towards addressing their unmet medical needs."

In this study, nearly one-third of patients (32%) experienced a reduction of 50% or greater in the size of their largest SEGA at six months relative to baseline. None of the patients developed a new SEGA while receiving Afinitor[2].

"SEGAs can be challenging for individuals with tuberous sclerosis and for the whole family, which is why we are encouraged to see ongoing research and new treatment options like Afinitor for these individuals," said Vicky Whittemore, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of the patient advocacy group the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.

For the treatment of patients with SEGA associated with TS, Afinitor received FDA priority review status, which is granted to drugs that offer major advances in treatment. This indication was approved under the FDA's accelerated approval program, which provides patients access to a treatment where previously there was an unmet medical need even though clinical benefit has yet to be confirmed[7]. Novartis is continuing to study the efficacy and clinical benefit of Afinitor for patients with SEGA associated with TS in a Phase III trial[3].

Novartis has submitted marketing applications for everolimus to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic), and additional regulatory submissions are underway worldwide. If approved in the European Union (EU) for this indication, everolimus will be made available under the trade name Votubia®.

About the study
In an open-label, single-arm study, 28 patients aged three years and above (median age=11, range 3-34) with evidence of SEGA growth initially received everolimus orally at a dose of 3 mg/m2. As of March 8, 2010, the median duration of treatment was 24.4 months (range 4.7-37.3 months)[2].

In the study, 32% of patients experienced a reduction of 50% or greater in the size of their largest SEGA at six months relative to baseline. None of the patients developed a new SEGA while receiving Afinitor[2].

The reliability of the frequency of adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities reported in this trial is limited because of the small number of patients. The most common adverse reactions reported (incidence ≥30%) in the open-label, single-arm trial were mouth sores, upper respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, middle ear infections and fever[2].

All data from the study reported in this press release are based on the cut-off date of March 8, 2010.

About the EXIST-1 Phase III trial
EXIST-1, a Phase III randomized, placebo-controlled trial aimed at evaluating the results of the open-label, single-arm trial, is examining everolimus treatment in patients with SEGAs associated with TS. Endpoints include SEGA response, seizure rate and skin lesion response rate. The trial has completed accrual and patients continue to be followed[3].

The trial involves patients in 10 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the UK and the US[3].

About Afinitor (everolimus)
Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets is now approved in the US to treat patients with SEGA associated with tuberous sclerosis who require therapeutic intervention but are not candidates for curative surgical resection. The effectiveness of Afinitor is based on an analysis of change in SEGA volume. Improvement in disease-related symptoms or increase in survival has not been shown.

Afinitor is approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) whose disease has progressed on or after treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy and also in the US for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC after failure of treatment with sunitinib or sorafenib.

In the EU, everolimus is available in different dosage strengths under the trade name Certican® for the prevention of organ rejection in heart and kidney transplant recipients. In the US, everolimus is available in different dosage strengths under the trade name Zortress® for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult patients at low-moderate immunologic risk receiving a kidney transplant.

Not all indications are available in every country. As an investigational compound, the safety and efficacy profile of everolimus has not yet been established outside the US in patients with SEGA associated with TS. Because of the uncertainty of clinical trials, there is no guarantee that everolimus will become commercially available for SEGAs anywhere else in the world.

Important Safety Information about Afinitor (everolimus) tablets
Afinitor is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to everolimus, to other rapamycin derivatives or to any of the excipients.

Cases of non-infectious pneumonitis have been described; some of these have been severe and occasionally fatal. Management of pneumonitis may require dose adjustment and/or interruption, or discontinuation of treatment and/or addition of corticosteroid therapy.

Afinitor is immunosuppressive. Localized and systemic bacterial, fungal, viral or protozoal infections (e.g., pneumonia, aspergillosis, candidiasis, hepatitis B reactivation) have been described; some of these have been severe and occasionally fatal. Pre-existing infections should be treated prior to starting treatment. Patients and physicians should be vigilant for symptoms and signs of infection; in case of emergent infections, appropriate treatment should be promptly instituted and interruption or discontinuation of Afinitor should be considered. Patients with systemic invasive fungal infections should not receive Afinitor.

Mouth ulcers, stomatitis and oral mucositis have been seen in patients treated with Afinitor. Monitoring of renal function, blood glucose and complete blood counts is recommended prior to initiation and periodically during treatment.

Afinitor is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Use of live vaccines should be avoided. Afinitor is not recommended during pregnancy or for women of childbearing potential not using contraception. Afinitor may cause fetal harm in pregnant women. Women taking Afinitor should not breast feed.

Patients should avoid concurrent treatment with strong CYP3A4 and PgP inhibitors and use caution with moderate inhibitors. Avoid concurrent treatment with strong CYP3A4 or PgP inducers.

In advanced RCC, the most common adverse reactions (≥10%) include stomatitis, rash, fatigue, asthenia, diarrhea, anorexia, nausea, mucosal inflammation, vomiting, cough, infections, peripheral edema, dry skin, epistaxis, pneumonitis, pruritus and dyspnea. Common adverse reactions (≥1 to

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