The FINANCIAL — Pfizer Inc. announced the publication of a new post-hoc analysis of data from three studies of VYNDAQEL in patients with mild transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP).
The analysis, which included patients with the Val30Met mutation treated over varying periods of up to 5.5 years, showed that treatment with VYNDAQEL initiated during the early stage of the disease resulted in minimal neurological disease progression and in preservation of body weight, which often declines as the disease progresses. VYNDAQEL was well tolerated with no new safety signals observed. The new findings were published online in Amyloid: The Journal of Protein Folding Disorders (link is external), according to Pfizer.
“These findings underscore the long-term benefits of early intervention with VYNDAQEL for symptomatic patients with TTR-FAP,” said Dr. Kevin W. Williams, Chief Medical Officer, Rare Disease, Pfizer Innovative Health. “This analysis, which is based on the longest prospective evaluation to date of any medication being studied for TTR-FAP, provides health care professionals with important insights into the management of patients with this disease.”
TTR-FAP is a rare, genetic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disease that significantly impairs quality of life and is estimated to affect about 10,000 people worldwide. When left untreated, people with TTR-FAP die within 10 years of symptom onset, on average. The disease is caused by a mutation in the gene for the protein transthyretin (TTR), resulting in production of unstable TTR proteins that can accumulate as amyloid deposits in nerves and other organs, interfering with normal function. VYNDAQEL is a medicine designed to specifically stabilize TTR, preventing or slowing the formation of abnormal TTR proteins and subsequent amyloid deposits.
Mild neurological impairment was defined as Neuropathy Impairment Score for Lower Limbs (NIS-LL) total score of 10 or less. NIS-LL, a standard measure of disease progression in TTR-FAP, ranges from 0 (normal) to 88 (absence of any lower limb activity).
Results From Long-Term VYNDAQEL Analysis
The new findings reported in Amyloid are based on data from three sequential studies: an 18-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 pivotal trial of 125 TTR-FAP patients; its 12-month open-label extension; and a second, ongoing, long-term open-label extension study. This descriptive analysis examined a subset of 71 of the randomized patients whose neurological impairment was defined as mild* just prior to starting treatment with VYNDAQEL, either at study start (for those randomized to VYNDAQEL) or upon entry into the first open-label extension (for those randomized to placebo). In the 31 patients observed at
5.5 years, the evaluation showed that treatment with VYNDAQEL resulted in minimal neurologic disease progression: a mean change from baseline of 5.3 NIS-LL points. This translates to an annual rate of 1.0 point increase in NIS-LL. The lack of a direct control group is a limitation of this study.
TTR-FAP is typically accompanied by gastrointestinal issues that can lead to malnutrition and unintentional weight loss, resulting in a decline in modified body mass index (mBMI), a clinical indicator of disease progression and treatment response. The published analysis showed that mBMI was preserved during long-term VYNDAQEL treatment, with less than one percent decrease at 5.5 years from baseline.
No new safety issues or side effects of VYNDAQEL were identified in the long-term evaluation of these 71 patients. The most common (occurring in 10 percent or more of patients) treatment-emergent adverse events were urinary tract infections (28.2 percent); cold (nasopharyngitis, 25.4 percent); influenza (23.9 percent); diarrhea (22.5 percent); headache and pain in an extremity (both 19.7 percent); back pain (16.9 percent); upper respiratory tract infection (15.5 percent); depression and thermal burn (both 14.1 percent); upper abdominal pain, anxiety, death of cells on the surface of the cornea (punctate keratitis), sore throat (pharyngitis), and decreased tear breakup time (an indicator of “dry eye”) (all 12.7 percent); and constipation, nausea, and vomiting (each at 11.3 percent).1
Burden of TTR-FAP
Patients with TTR-FAP experience a considerable burden of illness early in the course of disease and this burden increases with disease progression. They typically require assistance with walking 5 to 6 years after initial symptoms. As TTR-FAP symptoms progress, patients require a considerable amount of assistance, are unable to care for themselves, and may become bedridden or require hospitalization.
About VYNDAQEL
VYNDAQEL is a novel specific TTR stabilizer indicated in the European Union for the treatment of TTR-FAP in adult patients with early-stage symptomatic polyneuropathy to delay peripheral neurologic impairment. Since its EU approval in 2011, VYNDAQEL has also been approved in Japan, Mexico, Argentina, Israel, and South Korea. VYNDAQEL is not approved in the United States.
Important Safety Information
VYNDAQEL is contraindicated in patients who had previous hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any excipients of VYNDAQEL.
In the clinical program, the safety and tolerability profile of VYNDAQEL was studied in 127 patients. In the pivotal study, adverse events (AEs) in both treatment groups were generally mild or moderate in severity. The adverse drug reactions reported in the pivotal study are diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, urinary tract infection, and vaginal infection.
VYNDAQEL is generally well tolerated in patients with TTR-FAP. Patients in the clinical studies were evaluated for a total of 30 months.
There are no data available regarding use of VYNDAQEL post-liver transplantation; therefore, VYNDAQEL should be discontinued in patients who undergo liver transplantation.
There are no data on the use of VYNDAQEL in pregnant or nursing women. VYNDAQEL is not recommended for use during pregnancy, in women who are breast feeding or in women of childbearing age not using contraception. Women of childbearing potential should use appropriate contraception when taking VYNDAQEL and continue to use appropriate contraception for 1-month after stopping treatment with VYNDAQEL.
Children and adolescents do not have the symptoms of TTR Amyloid Polyneuropathy. VYNDAQEL is therefore not used for children and adolescents.
