Horizon Pharma plc Presents Data on KRYSTEXXA® (pegloticase) for the Management of Refractory Chronic Gout at the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
Horizon Pharma plc Presents Data on KRYSTEXXA® (pegloticase) for the Management of Refractory Chronic Gout at the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
"In a recent survey of
KRYSTEXXA is the first and only medicine approved by the
"The pivotal clinical trials evaluating KRYSTEXXA provide a wealth of data for health care providers treating people living with refractory chronic gout," said
Summary of Results
- Gout symptom improvements were greatest for responders, but also significant for non-responders.
- 25 percent of non-responders reported complete tophus resolution at six months.
- Non-responders achieved a statistically significant decrease in gout flares at six months.
- Non-responders reported improvements from baseline across several meaningful clinical endpoints including Patient Global Assessment, tender and swollen joints and pain.
- No significant improvements were observed among patients who received placebo.
- Across the pivotal clinical trials, the most common serious side effects in patients taking KRYSTEXXA were gout flare-ups or attacks, severe allergic reactions, and infusion reactions.
The
Responders exhibited mean reductions in uric acid levels to less than 0.5 mg/dL at three and six months. While both groups of non-responders had a transient decrease in uric acid levels that returned to a mean of greater than 6.0 mg/dL by seven weeks, results indicated that these patients had significant clinical benefit.
In addition to the retrospective analysis of the pivotal KRYSTEXXA clinical trials, another study (abstract 213) was presented evaluating methods for preventing infusion reactions. This was a retrospective review of KRYSTEXXA-treated gout patients since
About KRYSTEXXA®
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
KRYSTEXXA® (pegloticase) is a PEGylated uric acid specific enzyme indicated for the treatment of chronic gout in adult patients refractory to conventional therapy.
Important Limitations of Use: KRYSTEXXA is not recommended for the treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: ANAPHYLAXIS and INFUSION REACTIONS; G6PD DEFICIENCY ASSOCIATED HEMOLYSIS and METHEMOGLOBINEMIA
- Anaphylaxis and infusion reactions have been reported to occur during and after administration of KRYSTEXXA.
- Anaphylaxis may occur with any infusion, including a first infusion, and generally manifests within 2 hours of the infusion. However, delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported.
- KRYSTEXXA should be administered in healthcare settings and by healthcare providers prepared to manage anaphylaxis and infusion reactions.
- Patients should be pre-medicated with antihistamines and corticosteroids.
- Patients should be closely monitored for an appropriate period of time for anaphylaxis after administration of KRYSTEXXA.
- Monitor serum uric acid levels prior to infusions and consider discontinuing treatment if levels increase to above 6 mg/dL, particularly when 2 consecutive levels above 6 mg/dL are observed.
- Screen patients at risk for G6PD deficiency prior to starting KRYSTEXXA. Hemolysis and methemoglobinemia have been reported with KRYSTEXXA in patients with G6PD deficiency. Do not administer KRYSTEXXA to patients with G6PD deficiency.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency: Before starting KRYSTEXXA, confirm patients are not G6PD deficient. Patients at higher risk for G6PD deficiency (e.g., those of African and Mediterranean ancestry) should be screened because of the risk of hemolysis and methemoglobinemia, however any patient could be affected.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
- Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis occurred in patients treated with KRYSTEXXA. Anaphylaxis may occur with any infusion, including a first infusion, and generally manifests within 2 hours of the infusion. However, delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported. KRYSTEXXA should be administered in healthcare settings and by healthcare providers prepared to manage anaphylaxis. Patients should be premedicated with antihistamines and corticosteroids. Patients should be closely monitored for an appropriate period of time for anaphylaxis after administration of KRYSTEXXA.
- Infusion Reactions: Infusion reactions occurred in patients treated with KRYSTEXXA. KRYSTEXXA should be administered in a healthcare setting and by healthcare providers prepared to manage infusion reactions. Patients should be premedicated with antihistamines and corticosteroids. Monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of infusion reactions. In the event of an infusion reaction, the infusion should be slowed, or stopped and restarted at a slower rate. If a severe infusion reaction occurs, discontinue infusion and institute treatment as needed. The risk of an
infusion reaction is higher in patients who have lost therapeutic response.
- Monitor serum uric acid levels prior to infusions and consider discontinuing treatment if levels increase to above 6 mg/dL, particularly when 2 consecutive levels above 6 mg/dL are observed.
- Concomitant use of KRYSTEXXA and oral urate-lowering agents may blunt the rise of serum uric acid levels. It is recommended that patients discontinue oral urate-lowering agents and not institute therapy with oral urate-lowering agents while taking KRYSTEXXA.
- Gout Flares: An increase in gout flares is frequently observed upon initiation of antihyperuricemic therapy, including treatment with KRYSTEXXA. If a gout flare occurs during treatment, KRYSTEXXA need not be discontinued. Gout flare prophylaxis with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or colchicine is recommended starting at least 1 week before initiation of KRYSTEXXA therapy and lasting at least 6 months, unless medically contraindicated or not tolerated.
- Congestive Heart Failure: KRYSTEXXA has not been formally studied in patients with congestive heart failure, but some patients in clinical trials experienced exacerbation. Exercise caution when using KRYSTEXXA in patients who have congestive heart failure, and monitor patients closely following infusion.
- Re-treatment: No controlled clinical data is available on the safety and efficacy of re-treatment with KRYSTEXXA after stopping treatment for longer than 4 weeks. Patients receiving re-treatment may be at increased risk for anaphylaxis and infusion reactions and should be monitored carefully.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most commonly
reported serious adverse reactions in the pivotal trial with the approved regimen of 8 mg KRYSTEXXA administered every 2 weeks were gout flares, infusion reactions and anaphylaxis. Most common adverse reactions: gout flares (77%), infusion reactions (26%), nausea (12%), contusion or ecchymosis (11%), nasopharyngitis (7%), constipation (6%), chest pain (6%), anaphylaxis (5%) and vomiting (5%). In addition to events occurring in greater than 5%, exacerbation of pre-existing congestive heart failure occurred in 2%.
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About Horizon Pharma plc
Horizon Pharma plc is a biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives by identifying, developing, acquiring and commercializing differentiated and accessible medicines that address unmet medical needs. The Company markets 11 medicines
through its orphan, rheumatology and primary care business units. For more information, please visit www.horizonpharma.com. Follow @HZNPplc on Twitter or view careers on our LinkedIn page.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential of KRYSTEXXA to treat refractory chronic gout patients and Horizon Pharma's intention to expand awareness of KRYSTEXXA. These forward-looking statements are based on management expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release, and actual results may differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These factors include
those described in Horizon's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in those filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Horizon does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.
Contacts: Investors:Source: Horizon Pharma plcTina Ventura Senior Vice President, Investor Relations Investor-relations@horizonpharma.comU.S. Media Contact:Matt Flesch Executive Director,Product Communications media@horizonpharma.com Ireland Media Contact:Ray Gordon Gordon MRM ray@gordonmrm.ie
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