MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) for the New Drug Application (NDA) for apomorphine sublingual film (APL-130277) to treat OFF episodes (the re-emergence or worsening of Parkinson’s symptoms otherwise controlled by medications) experienced by people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Upon review of the application, the FDA determined that it was unable to approve the apomorphine sublingual film NDA in its present form. The Agency requested additional information and analyses, but no new clinical studies are required.
“OFF episodes are a common and challenging part of Parkinson’s disease with few existing treatment options,” said Antony Loebel, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Sunovion, Head of Global Clinical Development for Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Group. “Sunovion remains committed to working with the FDA to address its requests so that we can bring apomorphine sublingual film to patients as expeditiously as possible.”
About Apomorphine Sublingual Film (APL-130277)
APL-130277, a
novel formulation of apomorphine and a dopamine agonist, is being
developed for the on-demand management of OFF episodes associated with
Parkinson’s disease (PD). Apomorphine is currently FDA approved for the
acute, intermittent treatment of hypomobility, “OFF” episodes
(“end-of-dose wearing OFF” and unpredictable “ON/OFF” episodes)
associated with advanced PD, and it is currently available in the U.S.
as a subcutaneous injection. APL-130277 is intended to rapidly convert
people living with PD from the OFF to the ON state and has been studied
for treatment of motor OFF episodes up to five times per day and no
sooner than two hours from the previous dose. APL-130277 has not been
approved by the FDA. In October 2016, Sunovion acquired Cynapsus
Therapeutics Inc. along with its product candidate APL-130277. The
Michael J. Fox Foundation funded in part two Phase I trials of
APL-130277 – a comparative
biostudy in healthy volunteers and a dosing
study in people with Parkinson's disease.
About Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and OFF Episodes
One million
people in the U.S. and an estimated four to six million people worldwide
live with PD. PD is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease in
which dopamine producing cells are damaged or lost. The condition is
characterized by motor symptoms, including tremor at rest, rigidity and
impaired movement, as well as significant non-motor symptoms, including
cognitive impairment and mood disorders. It is the second most common
neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer’s disease, and the prevalence
of PD is increasing with the aging of the population.
OFF episodes are the re-emergence or worsening of symptoms (motor and non-motor) otherwise controlled by medications. OFF episodes can occur multiple times a day, often occurring in the morning after awakening and periodically throughout the day. OFF episodes are characterized, in part, by tremor, stiffness or slow movement. These episodes may disrupt a person’s ability to perform everyday activities, can cause anxiety and may be burdensome for patients, family and caregivers. OFF episodes are experienced by 40 to 60 percent of people with PD within four to six years of onset and may worsen in frequency and severity over the course of the illness.1
About Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Sunovion is a global
biopharmaceutical company focused on the innovative application of
science and medicine to help people living with serious medical
conditions. Sunovion’s vision is to lead the way to a healthier world.
The company’s spirit of innovation is driven by the conviction that
scientific excellence paired with meaningful advocacy and relevant
education can improve lives. With patients at the center of everything
it does, Sunovion has charted new paths to life-transforming treatments
that reflect ongoing investments in research and development and an
unwavering commitment to support people with psychiatric, neurological
and respiratory conditions.
Headquartered in Marlborough, Mass., Sunovion is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Europe Ltd., based in London, England, and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., based in Mississauga, Ontario, are wholly-owned direct subsidiaries of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Additional information can be found on the company’s websites: www.sunovion.com, www.sunovion.eu and www.sunovion.ca. Connect with Sunovion on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
About Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.
Sumitomo Dainippon
Pharma is among the top-ten listed pharmaceutical companies in Japan,
operating globally in major pharmaceutical markets, including Japan, the
U.S., China and the European Union. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma aims to
create innovative pharmaceutical products in the Psychiatry & Neurology
area, the Oncology area and Regenerative medicine/Cell therapy field,
which have been designated as the focus therapeutic areas. Sumitomo
Dainippon Pharma is based on the merger in 2005 between Dainippon
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Today,
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma has more than 6,000 employees worldwide.
Additional information about Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is available
through its corporate website at https://www.ds-pharma.com.
SUNOVION is a registered trademark of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a U.S. subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.
© 2019 Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. All rights reserved.
For a copy of this release, visit Sunovion’s web site at www.sunovion.com
References
1 Schrag, A. “Dyskinesias and motor
fluctuations in Parkinson's disease: A community-based study.” Brain.
November 2000, Vol. 123, Issue 11. p. 2297-2305. Available online: https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/123/11/2297/256050.
Accessed December 2018.
