GSK announces EU regulatory submission for sirukumab in rheumatoid arthritis
GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced the regulatory submission of a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking approval of subcutaneous formulation of sirukumab, a human anti-interleukin (IL)-6 monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The MAA seeks approval for sirukumab in combination with methotrexate in RA patients who have failed or are intolerant to conventional or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and as a monotherapy in these patients for whom treatment with methotrexate is inappropriate.
Sirukumab is being co-developed for RA as part of a collaboration with Janssen Biologics (Ireland) [Janssen].
Paul-Peter Tak, GSK’s Chief Immunology Officer & Senior Vice President R&D Pipeline, said: “We have worked with our partner Janssen to develop a robust regulatory package to support the use of sirukumab in adult patients who, despite the use of conventional and biologic therapies, still suffer from moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. We believe sirukumab, if approved, will provide these patients with a once every four week subcutaneous treatment option.”
Sirukumab is an investigational human monoclonal IgG1 kappa antibody that selectively binds with high affinity to the IL-6 cytokine, a naturally occurring protein that plays a role in autoimmune conditions. It is one of the ~40 assets profiled to investors at GSK’s R&D event in November 2015 and belongs to the company’s immuno-inflammation portfolio – one of six core areas of scientific research and development alongside oncology, vaccines and infectious, respiratory and rare diseases.
Approval is being sought for the subcutaneous formulation of sirukumab in two presentations, a single-dose prefilled syringe and a single-dose autoinjector. The data to support the file are based on a comprehensive phase III clinical development programme involving more than 3,000 patients.
A regulatory submission to the United States Food and Drug Administration is also planned for 2016. Sirukumab is currently not approved as a treatment for any indication anywhere in the world.
About the phase III clinical programme in rheumatoid arthritis
The phase III clinical programme in patients with active RA includes five studies investigating sirukumab 50mg and 100mg administered subcutaneously in combination with conventional DMARDs or as a monotherapy every four or two weeks, respectively. Sufficient data has been generated from the completed and ongoing studies to support the file.
- SIRROUND-D study: in patients who had an inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
- SIRROUND-T study: in patients who had an inadequate response or were intolerant to anti-TNFα agents
- SIRROUND-H study: in patients with an inadequate response or were intolerant to methotrexate (MTX) or for whom MTX was inappropriate.
- SIRROUND-M study: in Japanese patients who had an inadequate response to MTX or sulfasalazine.
- SIRROUND-LTE study: a long-term extension study for patients completing SIRROUND-D and SIRROUND-T.
Top-line results of SIRROUND-D, SIRROUND-T and SIRROUND-H were announced in December 2015 and primary results from the SIRROUND-D study were announced in June 2016. Primary results from the SIRROUND-T and SIRROUND-H studies will be presented at an upcoming scientific congress. Complete results for all studies will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
About the collaboration
In December 2011, GSK and Janssen entered into a licensing and co-development agreement with respect to sirukumab. Under the terms, GSK has exclusive rights to commercialise sirukumab in North, Central and South America, while Janssen retains commercialisation rights in the rest of the world, including Europe. Global profit will be shared equally between the two companies. Prior to the agreement, Janssen had been developing sirukumab for RA.
As part of the collaboration, a phase III programme began in August 2012 to investigate sirukumab for the treatment of moderately to severely active RA. Janssen is responsible for the EMA regulatory file. The agreement gives both companies the option to investigate sirukumab for other indications beyond RA. An ongoing phase III study, announced in November 2015, is currently investigating sirukumab in Giant Cell Arteritis. In addition, plans to start a phase II study for asthma in 2016 were disclosed at GSK’s R&D day.
About rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory condition that is characterised by pain, joint swelling, stiffness, joint destruction, disability and decreased quality of life. It is estimated more than 23.5 million people worldwide are affected by the condition, for which there is no cure.
GSK – 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/about-us/.
Registered in England & Wales:Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
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. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 3.D 'Risk factors' in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2015.
