Pharming announced approval Joenja (leniolisib) as the first and only treatment indicated of APDS.
APDS (activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) syndrome) is a rare and progressive primary immunodeficiency
Joenja® is a targeted treatment of APDS for adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older
Joenja® is expected to launch in the US in early April
Pharming will host a conference call for investors and analysts on March 27 at 14:00 CEST/08:00 EST
Leiden, The Netherlands, March 24, 2023: Pharming Group N.V. (“Pharming” or “the Company”) (EURONEXT Amsterdam: PHARM/Nasdaq: PHAR) announces that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Joenja® (leniolisib) for the treatment of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) syndrome (APDS) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older. Joenja®, an oral, selective PI3Kδ inhibitor, is the first and only treatment approved in the US for APDS, a rare and progressive primary immunodeficiency. The FDA evaluated the Joenja® application for APDS under Priority Review, which is granted to therapies that have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of serious conditions. Joenja® is expected to launch in the US in early April and will be available for shipment in mid-April.
Dr. Eveline Wu, MD, MSCR, Division Chief, Paediatric Rheumatology & Associate Professor of Paediatric Rheumatology and Allergy/Immunology at The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said:
“The FDA approval of Joenja® is an exciting moment for the APDS community and offers to
transform the treatment pathway for patients and families affected by this rare disease. This approval means that they will, for the first time, have access to an approved treatment, which has the potential to change the standard of care for the patient population suffering from APDS.”
Vicki Modell, co-founder of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, an international, non-profit, organization dedicated to helping individuals and family members affected by primary immunodeficiency disorders, commented:
“The approval of Pharming’s Joenja® is an important step toward making a difference in the lives of individuals living with APDS who experience severe, life-altering and progressive symptoms. The FDA approval of a treatment option for one of the more than 450 primary immunodeficiencies is also a key moment for the broader primary immunodeficiency community. The Jeffrey Modell Foundation’s mission of hope, advocacy and action is dedicated to early diagnosis, genetic sequencing, treatments and ultimately, future cures for primary immunodeficiencies.”
Sijmen de Vries, Chief Executive Officer of Pharming, commented:
“This FDA approval of Joenja® is an important milestone for people living with APDS who will now have access to the first approved treatment option specifically for this debilitating disease. Until now, management of APDS has relied on the treatment of the diverse symptoms associated with APDS. We are grateful to the patients, caregivers, and physicians who participated in the clinical trials who have made today’s approval a reality. I would also like to thank the Pharming and the Novartis teams who have supported the development of Joenja® and can, therefore, be justifiably proud of this FDA approval. Today also marks a landmark event for Pharming and demonstrates our commitment to transforming the lives of patients who suffer from rare diseases. The approval and
near-term launch of Joenja®, our second commercial product, brings us closer to our goal of becoming a leading global rare disease company dedicated to patient communities with unmet medical needs.”
APDS is a rare primary immunodeficiency that was first characterized in 2013 and is currently
estimated to affect 1 to 2 people per million. It is caused by genetic variants in either one of two identified genes, known as PIK3CD or PIK3R1, which are vital to the normal development and function of immune cells in the body. While people with APDS may suffer from a wide variety of symptoms, the most common are frequent and severe infections of the ears, sinuses, and upper and lower respiratory tracts. Infections usually begin in infancy. People with APDS are susceptible to swollen lymph nodes or an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), as well as autoimmunity and inflammatory symptoms. People with APDS may also be at higher risk for cancers like lymphoma.
The FDA evaluated the New Drug Application (NDA) for Joenja® under priority review and has
approved the drug based on findings from a multinational, triple-blind, placebo-controlled,
randomized Phase II/III clinical trial, which evaluated efficacy and safety in 31 patients diagnosed with APDS aged 12 years and older. Also submitted as part of the application were data from a longterm, open-label extension clinical trial in which 38 patients received Joenja® for a median of two years.
Results from the 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled study in 31 patients with APDS aged 12 years and older demonstrated clinical efficacy of Joenja® 70mg twice daily over placebo, and was significant in the co-primary endpoints which evaluated improvement in lymphoproliferation as measured by the reduction in lymph node size and increase in naïve B cells, reflecting the impact on immune dysregulation and normalization of immunophenotype in these patients, respectively. The adjusted mean change (95% CI) between Joenja® and placebo for lymph node size was -0.25 (-0.38,-0.12; P=0.0006; N=26) and for percentage of naïve B cells was 37.30 (24.06, 50.54; P=0.0002; N=13). The most common adverse reactions in the clinical trial (incidence >10%) were headache, sinusitis, and atopic dermatitis.
With the approval of Joenja®, as a treatment for a rare pediatric disease, the FDA granted Pharming a priority review voucher (“PRV”). Pursuant to the terms of Pharming’s 2019 exclusive license agreement with Novartis for leniolisib, Novartis has the right to purchase the PRV from Pharming for a small minority share of the value of the PRV. Pursuant to the agreement, Pharming will make milestone payments to Novartis and another party for the approval and first commercial sale for APDS totaling $10.5 million and we agreed to make certain additional milestone payments to Novartis in an aggregate amount of up to $190 million upon the achievement of certain leniolisib sales milestones. We also agreed to make tiered royalty payments to Novartis, calculated as low double-digit to high-teen double-digit percentage of net sales of leniolisib.
For more information regarding APDS, please visit AllAboutAPDS.com. Pharming, in collaboration with Invitae Corporation, facilitates access to no charge genetic testing and counseling in the US and Canada through NavigateAPDS.com. For more information regarding Pharming and their dedication to the rare disease community, please visit www.Pharming.com.
The Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for leniolisib with the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP) is currently under review. Pharming expects that CHMP will issue its opinion on the MAA in the second half of 2023.
US Important Safety Information for Joenja® (leniolisib)
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Joenja® (leniolisib) is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) syndrome (APDS) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Verify pregnancy status in females of reproductive potential prior to initiating treatment with Joenja®.
Joenja® may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risk to a fetus and to use highly effective methods of contraception during treatment with Joenja® and for 1 week after the last dose of Joenja®.
Live, attenuated vaccinations may be less effective if administered during Joenja® treatment.
Use of Joenja® in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment is not recommended. There is no recommended dosage for patients weighing less than 45 kg.
The most common adverse reactions (incidence >10%) seen in clinical trials were headache,
sinusitis, and atopic dermatitis.
Seven (33%) patients receiving Joenja® developed an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) between 500 and 1500 cells/microL. No patients developed an ANC <500 cells/microL and there were no reports of infection associated with neutropenia.
About Activated Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase δ Syndrome (APDS)
APDS is a rare primary immunodeficiency that was first characterized in 2013. APDS is caused by variants in either one of two identified genes known as PIK3CD or PIK3R1, which are vital to the development and function of immune cells in the body. Variants of these genes lead to hyperactivity of the PI3Kδ (phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta) pathway, which causes immune cells to fail to mature and function properly, leading to immunodeficiency and dysregulation.1,2,3 APDS is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including severe, recurrent sinopulmonary infections, lymphoproliferation, autoimmunity, and enteropathy.4,5 Because these symptoms can be associated with a variety of conditions, including other primary immunodeficiencies, it has been reported that people with APDS are frequently misdiagnosed and suffer a median 7-year diagnostic delay.6 As APDS is a progressive disease, this delay may lead to an accumulation of damage over time, including permanent lung damage and lymphoma.4-7 A definitive diagnosis can be made through genetic testing. APDS affects approximately 1 to 2 people per million worldwide.
About Joenja® (leniolisib)
Joenja® (leniolisib) is an oral small molecule phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kẟ) inhibitor approved in the US as the first and only targeted treatment of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) syndrome (APDS) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older. Joenja® inhibits the production of phosphatidylinositol-3-4-5-trisphosphate, which serves as an important cellular messenger and regulates a multitude of cell functions such as proliferation, differentiation, cytokine production, cell survival, angiogenesis, and metabolism. Results from a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II/III clinical trial demonstrated clinical efficacy of Joenja® in the coprimary endpoints; demonstrating statistically significant impact on immune dysregulation and normalization of immunophenotype within these patients, and interim open label extension data
has supported the safety and tolerability of long-term Joenja® administration.8 Leniolisib is
currently under regulatory review by the European Medicines Agency, with plans to pursue further regulatory approvals in the UK, Canada, Australia and Japan. Leniolisib is also being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial in children aged 4 to 11 with APDS, with a further trial planned in children aged 1 to 6 years with APDS. For information about Joenja®, visit: Joenja.com.
About Pharming Group N.V.
Pharming Group N.V. (EURONEXT Amsterdam: PHARM/Nasdaq: PHAR) is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with rare, debilitating, and life-threatening diseases. Pharming is commercializing and developing an innovative portfolio of protein replacement therapies and precision medicines, including small molecules, biologics, and gene therapies that are in early to late-stage development. Pharming is headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, and has employees around the globe who serve patients in over 30 markets in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
For more information, visit www.pharming.com and find us on LinkedIn.
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