- Relationship gives Sun Pharma access to Greater China market for Tildrakizumab
- China to become a key market in future with more than 5 million4,5 people currently suffering from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
- Tildrakizumab enjoys patent protection in China
Mumbai, June 29, 2019:Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Reuters: SUN.BO, Bloomberg: SUNP IN, NSE: SUNPHARMA, BSE: 524715, “Sun Pharma” and includes its subsidiaries and/or associate companies) today announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has entered into a licensing agreement with a subsidiary of China Medical System Holdings Ltd. (CMS) for the development and commercialization of Tildrakizumab, an innovative biologic product, for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in Greater China (including Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan).
Under terms of the license agreement, CMS will pay Sun Pharma an initial upfront payment, regulatory and sales milestone payments, and royalties on net sales, the terms of which are confidential. CMS will be responsible for development, regulatory filings and commercialization of the product in China. The initial tenure of the agreement shall be 15 years from the first commercial sale of Tildrakizumab in Greater China, and may be extended for additional 3 years’ subject to certain conditions defined in the agreement.
“This licensing agreement marks our entry into the Greater China market which is the second largest pharmaceutical market globally. Sun Pharma is committed to growing its dermatology franchise, with Tildrakizumab as its lead product. We continue to build our pipeline and capabilities in this important therapeutic area of significant unmet need. We are excited to be partnering with a leading pharmaceutical company like CMS to offer Tildrakizumab as an alternative treatment for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in Greater China,” said Dilip Shanghvi, Managing Director, Sun Pharma.
About Tildrakizumab-asmn
Tildrakizumab-asmn is a humanized lgG1/k monoclonal antibody designed to selectively bind to the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23) and inhibit its interaction with the IL-23 receptor, leading to inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. It was approved by USFDA in March 2018 and is being currently marketed in the US under the ILUMYATM brand name.
It is indicated for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. The US FDA approval was based on data from the pivotal Phase-3 reSURFACE clinical development program, which consisted of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of more than 1,800 patients across over 200 clinical trial sites.
Results from the Phase-3 reSURFACE 1 and 2 studies were published in The Lancet in July 2017, with primary endpoints presented at the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress.
Both Phase-3 studies met the primary efficacy endpoints, with an average of 63 percent of patients receiving Tildrakizumab 100 mg achieving 75 percent of skin clearance (Psoriasis Area Sensitivity Index or PASI 75) by week 12, and 77 percent of patients achieving 75 percent skin clearance after 28 weeks (64 percent and 80 percent in reSURFACE 1, 61 percent and 74 percent in reSURFACE 2). Similarly, an average of 57 percent and 66 percent of patients receiving Tildrakizumab 100 mg had a Physician’s Global Assessment (PGA) score of “clear” or “minimal” at weeks 12 and 28, respectively. Additionally, a higher number of Tildrakizumab-treated patients achieved PASI 90 and PASI 100 compared to placebo and etanercept.
Tildrakizumab has also been approved and commercialized in Australia under the ILUMYATM brand name and in Europe under the ILUMETRITM brand name.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Tildrakizumab is contraindicated in patients with a previous serious hypersensitivity reaction to Tildrakizumab or to any other excipients.
Cases of angioedema and urticaria occurred in Tildrakizumab-treated subjects in clinical trial. If a serious hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue Tildrakizumab immediately and initiate appropriate therapy.
Tildrakizumab may increase the risk of infection. Treatment with Tildrakizumab should not be initiated in patients with a clinically important active infection until the infection resolves or is adequately treated. Consider the risks and benefits of treatment prior to prescribing Tildrakizumab in patients with a chronic infection or a history of recurrent infection. Instruct patients receiving Tildrakizumab to seek medical help if signs or symptoms of clinically important chronic or acute infection occur. If a patient develops a clinically important or serious infection, or is not responding to standard therapy, closely monitor and discontinue Tildrakizumab until the infection resolves.
Evaluate patients for TB infection prior to initiating treatment with Tildrakizumab. Do not administer Tildrakizumab to patients with active TB infection. Initiate treatment of latent TB prior to administering Tildrakizumab. Consider anti-TB therapy prior to initiation of Tildrakizumab in patients with a past history of latent or active TB in whom an adequate course of treatment cannot be confirmed. Patients receiving Tildrakizumab should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of active TB during and after Tildrakizumab treatment.
Most common (≥1%) adverse reactions associated with Tildrakizumab include upper respiratory infections, injection site reactions, and diarrhea. Adverse reactions that occurred at rates less than 1% but greater than 0.1% in the Tildrakizumab group and at a higher rate than in the placebo group included dizziness and pain in extremity.
About the Phase-3 reSURFACE Trials
The Phase-3 studies (reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2) were randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter, three-part studies designed to demonstrate efficacy of Tildrakizumab in moderate- to-severe plaque psoriasis compared to placebo and comparative drug and to assess safety and tolerability. Part one of the studies randomized patients into three or four treatment arms, including Tildrakizumab 100 mg, Tildrakizumab 200 mg, placebo and etanercept (reSURFACE 2 only). After Week 12, patients on placebo were then re-randomized into Tildrakizumab 100 mg and 200 mg treatment arms to proceed into part two of the studies. Finally, in part three of the reSURFACE 1 study, responders (PASI ≥75) and partial responders (PASI ≥50 and PASI <75) to Tildrakizumab were re-randomized after Week 28 to continue the same treatment, a different dose of Tildrakizumab or placebo. Partial and non-responders to etanercept were treated with Tildrakizumab 200 mg in part three of the reSURFACE 2 study. Patients with guttate, erythrodermic, or pustular psoriasis were excluded.
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic immune disease that appears on the skin, affecting approximately 125 million people worldwide.1 The non-contagious disorder speeds the growth cycle of skin cells3 and results in thick scaly areas of skin.2 The most common form, affecting about 80 to 90 percent of people with psoriasis, is called plaque psoriasis.3 It appears as red, raised areas of skin covered with flaky white scales which may be itchy and painful and can crack and bleed.3 Twenty percent of people with plaque psoriasis are considered moderate-to-severe3, and many continue to struggle with the ongoing, persistent nature of this chronic disease.
About Sun Pharma, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, Agreement
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s wholly owned subsidiary licensed worldwide rights to Tildrakizumab from a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, in 2014. Funded by a Sun Pharma subsidiary, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA is responsible for the completion of Phase-3 trials in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and submission of a Biologics License Application to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as manufacturing finished goods to support Sun Pharma’s initial product launch. Sun Pharma will be responsible for all post-approval regulatory activities, including subsequent submissions, pharmacovigilance, post approval studies, manufacturing and commercialization of the approved product. Sun Pharma will also be responsible for all regulatory, pharmacovigilance, post approval studies, manufacturing and commercialization of approved products for all non-U.S. markets. Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA is eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties on sales of Tildrakizumab.
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
