Telaprevir (Incivo) for Chronic Hepatitis C Approved in Europe

The European Commission last week approved the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor telaprevir for treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C in both previously untreated people and prior non-responders to interferon-based therapy.

Telaprevir (Incivek) was approved in the U.S. this past May. In Europe it will be known by the brand name Incivo.

Below is an edited excerpt from a press release from Tibotec/Janssen providing more information about the approval.

Incivo (Telaprevir) Approved in Europe Offering Higher Cure Rates for Genotype-1 Chronic Hepatitis C Compared to Standard Treatment

New treatment options increase chance of a cure

Beerse, Belgium -- September 20, 2011 -- Tibotec Virco-Virology BVBA, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, announced today that the European Commission has approved Incivo (telaprevir), a direct acting antiviral (DAA) protease inhibitor, for the treatment of genotype-1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adults. With this new class of medicines, of which telaprevir is the latest addition, more genotype-1 chronic HCV patients than ever before will have the chance of a cure.

In clinical studies, telaprevir in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin demonstrated significant improvements in cure rates, also known as sustained virologic response (SVR), for both previously untreated genotype-1 chronic HCV patients and those who have failed previous treatment compared to the standard treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin alone. The approval of telaprevir offers an improved and efficacious treatment regimen compared to the standard treatment for genotype-1 chronic HCV with the shortest course of treatment of any available treatment. Telaprevir reduces the current total treatment duration by half in the majority of previously untreated patients and those who have relapsed. 

“Today is an exciting day for adults with genotype-1 chronic HCV infection. Before the introduction of protease inhibitors, treatment for HCV required a long duration and cured less than half of genotype-1 chronic HCV patients,” said Professor Graham Foster, Queen Mary’s University Hospital of London. “For many adults with genotype-1 chronic HCV, treatment with a telaprevir based regimen could provide a shorter treatment duration with improved cure rates compared to standard treatments. Shortening treatment regimens, without compromising efficacy, is a valuable step to help patients adhere to their treatment.”

The approval is based on the results of three Phase 3 studies in 2290 patients: ADVANCE, REALIZE and ILLUMINATE. ADVANCE and REALIZE were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that evaluated the efficacy and safety of telaprevir in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin compared with the previous standard treatment (peginterferon alfa and ribavirin alone). The data showed that treatment with a telaprevir based regimen significantly increased cure rates for genotype-1 chronic HCV compared to the previous standard treatment in previously untreated patients (79% vs. 46%, p<0.0001) and patients who relapsed during previous treatment (84% vs. 22%, p<0.0001). The data also showed a significant increase in cure rates for patients who either partially responded or did not respond to previous treatment, groups typically among the hardest to cure, compared to peginterferon alfa and ribavirin alone (61% vs. 15% and 31% vs. 5%, p<0.0001 respectively).

Data from ILLUMINATE showed 24 weeks of treatment with a telaprevir based regimen was non-inferior to 48 weeks of a telaprevir based regimen for previously untreated genotype-1 chronic HCV patients who achieved and maintained an undetectable viral load early in their treatment at weeks 4 and 12 (also known as extended rapid viral response or eRVR).

Chronic HCV is considered a ‘viral timebomb’ by the World Health Organization and can have severe consequences for both patients and public health systems. More than 170 million people worldwide are infected with chronic HCV and many are unaware of their infection.

“Hepatitis C can be a devastating disease; however, if treated successfully, patients can avoid life-threatening liver problems such as further liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. The arrival of Direct Acting Antivirals is the first treatment breakthrough in more than 10 years and a significant step forward for the hepatitis C community. It will offer more patients hope for a cure,” said Charles Gore, World Hepatitis Alliance.

The overall safety profile of telaprevir is based on the Phase 2/3 clinical development program. In clinical trials, the incidence of adverse events of at least moderate intensity was higher in the telaprevir group than in the placebo group (both groups receiving peginterferon alfa and ribavirin). The most frequently reported moderate adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5.0%) were anemia, rash, pruritus, nausea, and diarrhea, and the most frequently reported severe adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 1.0%) were anaemia, rash, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, pruritus, and nausea.

Rash events were reported in 55% of patients with a telaprevir based regimen and more than 90% of rashes were of mild or moderate severity. Severe rashes were reported with telaprevir combination treatment in 4.8% of patients. Rash led to discontinuation in 5.8% of patients. Anemia was reported in 32.1% of patients and led to discontinuation in approximately 3%.

“We are delighted by the European Commission approval of telaprevir and that we can now offer patients a significantly improved treatment option for HCV compared to the previous standard treatment,” said Ramon Polo, Telaprevir Compound Development Team Leader. “Telaprevir is a cornerstone of the Janssen Companies’ expanding infectious disease portfolio, which includes therapies in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, serious infections and now HCV that are helping to redefine and improve treatment outcomes. The Janssen Companies remain dedicated to improving the lives of patients and supporting healthcare professionals around the world.”

About Incivo

Incivo will be made available by the Janssen Companies in countries throughout the European Union. Telaprevir was developed by Tibotec, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, in collaboration with Vertex and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma. The Janssen Companies have the right to commercialize telaprevir in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand under the commercial name Incivo; Vertex has the right to commercialize telaprevir in North America under the name Incivek (approved by US FDA in May 2011 and by Health Canada in August 2011 for genotype-1 chronic hepatitis C with compensated liver disease); Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma has the right to commercialize telaprevir in Japan and certain Far Eastern countries.

Important Safety Information

Please see full Summary of Product Characteristics or visit http://www.emea.europa.eufor more details.

About Tibotec

Tibotec Virco-Virology BVBA, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, is a global pharmaceutical and research development company. The Company’s main research and development facilities are in Beerse, Belgium with offices in Titusville, NJ and Cork, Ireland. Tibotec is dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C drugs, and anti-infectives for diseases of high unmet medical need.

About Janssen

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson are dedicated to addressing and solving the most important unmet medical needs of our time, including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious disease, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop innovative products, services and healthcare solutions to help people throughout the world.

More information can be found at www.janssen-emea.com or http://www.janssenpharmaceuticalsinc.com.

9/30/11

Source

Tibotec Virco-Virology/Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies. Incivo (Telaprevir) Approved in Europe Offering Higher Cure Rates for Genotype-1 Chronic Hepatitis C Compared to Standard Treatment. Press release. September 20, 2011.