Baxter Announces European Union Expanded Approval of ADVATE for use in Children With Haemophilia A Less Than Six Years Old
Zurich, Switzerland (ots/PRNewswire)
Baxter Healthcare S.A. announced today that the European Commission has granted expanded approval of ADVATE(R) (Octocog Alfa Recombinant Coagulation Factor VIII), for use in children with haemophilia A under six years of age.
This expanded approval was granted on the basis of interim data from 40 of 53 paediatric patients enrolled in a Phase III clinical study. The study was conducted in 23 haemophilia treatment centers in Europe and the United States, and assessed the pharmacokinetics, safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of ADVATE in previously treated haemophilia A patients less than six years of age.
The interim results showed an excellent/good bleed control response rate in 92.4 percent of the treatments, and a fair rating in 7.6 percent. No adverse events were deemed related to the study drug and no inhibitors were reported over a median of 74.0 exposure days. No patient has withdrawn from the study due to an adverse event.
The safety and efficacy profile of ADVATE in children and adults are comparable, with slightly different pharmacokinetic properties in adults, but with similar bleed control response ratings, a low incidence of drug-related adverse events and low inhibitor risk in previously treated patients. These data suggest that ADVATE is efficacious and well-tolerated for the prevention and treatment of bleeding episodes in previously treated paediatric patients with haemophilia A.
ABOUT BAXTER
Baxter Healthcare S.A. is the principal European operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists health-care professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, haemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives.
Facts About ADVATE
Advanced Category of Haemophilia A Treatment
- ADVATE (Octocog Alfa Recombinant Coagulation Factor VIII)
is approved in Europe and the US for the treatment of
bleeding episodes in people with haemophilia A. In Europe,
ADVATE is also approved for prophylaxis.
- ADVATE is the only recombinant factor VIII that
eliminates potential blood-borne pathogen risk by using a
plasma/albumin-free method and combines it with the
heritage and proven efficacy of the RECOMBINATE molecule.
- ADVATE is the only haemophilia A therapy made without any
added human or animal plasma proteins and albumin in the
cell culture process, purification and final formulation.
Based on this innovative procedure, ADVATE eliminates the
potential risk of infections caused by pathogens that may
be carried in these protein additives.
Human and/or Animal Derived Plasma/Albumin Presence in
Development Process
Recombinant Cell Purification Formulation
Therapy Culture
1st x x
Generation
Next x x NONE
Generation
ADVATE NONE NONE NONE
Advanced
Category
- ADVATE was developed using the most advanced processing
for haemophilia treatments to date. ADVATE has a similar
full-length molecular structure to the currently
most-prescribed treatment, RECOMBINATE, but eliminates the
potential pathogen risk associated with the use of animal-
and human-derived plasma protein additives.
- ADVATE is administered directly into the bloodstream and
works by temporarily raising the level of factor VIII in
the blood, thus allowing the body's blood clotting process
to function properly.
Why Develop ADVATE?
- The haemophilia community has requested safer
treatment options that further reduce the potential
risk of contracting existing or emerging infectious
diseases that continue to be of concern with the blood
supply[1], such as West Nile Virus and variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), the human form of mad
cow disease[2],[3].
- The Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC)
of the National Hemophilia Foundation has issued a
formal recommendation (#141) advising that "all efforts
should be made to remove human albumin from recombinant
factor VIII products," and "increased efforts should be
made to eliminate human and bovine proteins from the
manufacturing process of recombinant products."[4]
- In 2003, the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre
Doctors' Organisation issued a guideline stating: "To
reduce the chance of infection by exogenous viruses in
a recombinant concentrate, consideration should be
given to choosing one, where available and licensed,
that is manufactured with the least addition of human
or animal protein." (Reference: Haemophilia. 2003;
9:1-23.)
Demonstrated Safety Profile/Clinical Trials
- Phase II-III clinical trials evaluated the safety,
immunogenicity and efficacy of ADVATE in the treatment
and prevention of bleeding in previously treated
haemophilia A patients in a variety of clinical
settings. Data demonstrate that ADVATE has equivalent
pharmacokinetic properties to RECOMBINATE, the first
non-plasma derived recombinant factor VIII therapy, and
is effective in controlling bleeding episodes in
patients with severe haemophilia A.
- Side effects with the use of ADVATE are uncommon,
with no serious adverse events related to treatment
with ADVATE reported to date. Non-serious, moderate or
mild adverse events related to ADVATE include: a
strange taste, itching at the infusion site, dizziness,
headaches, catheter-related infections, chills, hot
flushes, diarrhea, lower limb edema, sweating, nausea,
pain in the upper abdomen or lower chest, prolonged
bleeding after post-operative drain removal, decreased
red blood cell count, joint swelling and shortness of
breath. Non-serious, but severe related adverse events
include: fever, headache and decreased coagulation
factor VIII levels.
Benefits of ADVATE
- The innovative technology used to process ADVATE
eliminates the potential pathogen risk associated with
the use of animal- and human-derived plasma protein
additives.
- ADVATE is convenient for patients to use because it
is available in extra-high potency (1500 IU/vial) so
there may be fewer vials to reconstitute compared to
RECOMBINATE, with a smaller infusion volume (5 mL
solvent), which could lead to shorter infusion times
for patients. ADVATE comes packaged with a 10mL
syringe, butterfly, 2 alcohol swabs, 2 plasters, a
device for reconstitution and a patient-friendly
package insert.
- Low rates of inhibitor development have been observed
in previously treated patients in ADVATE clinical
trials.
- Baxter has the capacity to ensure supplies of ADVATE
based on current and anticipated future needs. ADVATE
is processed by Baxter in its dedicated, state-of-the
art, recombinant protein processing facility in
Neuchâtel, Switzerland.Please see full prescribing information for further information.
Baxter, ADVATE and RECOMBINATE are trademarks of Baxter International Inc. and its affiliates.
[1] Kasper CK. Concentrate safety and efficacy. Haemophilia, 2002, 8, p. 161.
[2] Update on West Nile Virus and Blood and Organ Donations, National Hemophilia Foundation, Medical Advisory #393.
[3] Farrugia A. Evolving perspectives in product safety for haemophilia. Haemophilia (2002), 8, pp. 236-243.
[4] MASAC Recommendation #141 Treatment of hemophilia and other bleeding disorders (revised March 2003). MASAC Treatment Recommendations, National Hemophilia Foundation, 2002
Contact:
U.S. Media contact: Cindy Resman, +1(847)-948-2815, Europe Media
contacts: Hans Vanavermaete, Baxter, +32-2-650-17-03, Inge Boets,
Porter Novelli, +32-2-413-03-40, Investor contact: Mary Kay Ladone,
+1(847)-948-3371