December 11, 2020: “Novartis announced that the EC has approved Leqvio®* (inclisiran) for the treatment of adults with hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia.
This approval is based on the results of the robust ORION clinical development program, where Leqvio provided an effective and sustained low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction of up to 52% in patients with elevated LDL-C, despite maximally tolerated statin therapy.
With two doses a year, after an initial dose and one at 3 months, Leqvio is expected to support long-term adherence.
Leqvio is a first-in-class small interfering RNA (siRNA) providing effective and sustained LDL-C reduction for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), ASCVD risk equivalent and heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), which are major drivers of heart attacks, strokes and may ultimately lead to death1-3.
“Long-term exposure to persistently elevated LDL-C increases the risk of ASCVD8, which may lead to a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or a stroke. As the first and only siRNA providing effective and sustained LDL-C reduction, Leqvio will give an opportunity to change how elevated LDL-C is treated , a highly important modifiable risk factor for ASCVD,” said Professor Ulf Landmesser, M.D., Director of Charité Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Berlin. “With only two doses a year administered by a healthcare professional, Leqvio is expected to circumvent the challenges of treatment adherence by improving therapeutic coverage and persistence.”
“Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality in Europe4, which demonstrates the urgent need for innovative treatments for patients struggling to reach their LDL-C goals.
With Leqvio, we’re proud to bring a first-in-class treatment delivering effective and sustained LDL-C reduction that has the potential to improve outcomes for people living with ASCVD,” said Marie-France Tschudin, President, Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
“At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining care for cardiovascular disease by working together with healthcare systems and other stakeholders to explore innovative access models and bend the curve of life for patients.”
Leqvio is approved for the treatment of adults with primary hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidemia, as an adjunct to diet:
- in combination with a statin or statin with other lipid-lowering therapies in patients unable to reach LDL-C goals with the maximally tolerated dose of a statin, or
- alone or in combination with other lipid-lowering therapies in patients who are statin-intolerant, or for whom a statin is contraindicated.
The EC marketing authorization is valid in the 27 countries that are members of the EU. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as members of the European Economic Area (EEA), will take corresponding decisions based on the EC’s recommendation.
Leqvio is also under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for adults who have elevated LDL-C while being on a maximally tolerated dose of statin therapy.
About the ORION Phase III LDL-C-lowering Studies
ORION-9 was a pivotal Phase III, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of inclisiran sodium salt 300 mg, equivalent to 284 mg of inclisiran, administered subcutaneously by a healthcare professional.
Starting with an initial dose, inclisiran was then administered again at 3 months and then every 6 months thereafter in 482 participants with clinical or genetic evidence of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), despite a maximally tolerated dose of LDL-C-lowering therapies (e.g. a statin or ezetimibe).
For the primary endpoints of ORION-9, inclisiran delivered mean placebo-adjusted percentage change in LDL-C reductions of 48% (P<.0001) at 17 months and demonstrated time-adjusted percentage change in LDL-C reductions of 44% (P<.0001) from 3 through 18 months.
The international study was conducted at 46 sites in eight countries.
ORION-10 was a pivotal Phase III, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of inclisiran sodium salt 300 mg, equivalent to 284 mg of inclisiran, administered subcutaneously by a healthcare professional.
Starting with an initial dose, inclisiran was then administered again at 3 months and then every 6 months thereafter in 1,561 participants with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and elevated LDL-C, despite a maximally tolerated dose of LDL-C-lowering therapies (e.g. a statin and/or ezetimibe).
For the primary endpoints of ORION-10, inclisiran delivered mean placebo-adjusted percentage change in LDL-C reductions of 52% (P<.0001) at 17 months and demonstrated time-adjusted percentage change in LDL-C reductions of 54% (P<.0001) from 3 through 18 months.
The study was conducted at 145 sites in the United States.
ORION-11 was a pivotal Phase III, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of inclisiran sodium salt 300 mg, equivalent to 284 mg of inclisiran, administered subcutaneously by a healthcare professional.
Starting with an initial dose,inclisiran was then administered again at 3 months and then every 6 months thereafter in 1,617 patients with ASCVD or ASCVD-risk equivalents and elevated LDL-C despite a maximally tolerated dose of statin therapy (with or without ezetimibe).
For the primary endpoints of ORION-11, inclisiran delivered placebo-adjusted change in LDL-C reductions of 50% (P<.0001) at 17 months and demonstrated time-adjusted LDL-C reductions of 49% (P<.0001) from 3 through 18 months.
The international study was conducted at 70 sites in seven countries.
About Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)
Atherosclerosis corresponds to the accumulation of lipids over time mainly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the inner lining of the arteries.
Unexpected rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque can cause an atherosclerotic cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke.
ASCVD accounts for over 85% of all cardiovascular disease deaths. ASCVD is the primary cause of death in the European Union and its burden in the United States is greater than that from any other chronic diseases.
ASCVD risk equivalent corresponds to conditions that confer a similar risk for an ASCVD event (e.g. diabetes, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia).
About Leqvio (inclisiran)
Leqvio (inclisiran, KJX839) is the first and only small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels via an RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism of action and could help improve outcomes for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), a deadly form of cardiovascular disease.
With two doses a year and effective and sustained LDL-C reduction, Leqvio works as a complement to statin.
Leqvio works differently from other therapies by preventing the production of the target protein in the liver, increasing hepatic uptake of LDL-C and clearing it from the bloodstream.
Leqvio is dosed initially, again at 3 months and then once every 6 months1,2. In three clinical trials, patients taking Leqvio maintained LDL-C reduction throughout each 6-month dosing interval.
Administered in-office as a subcutaneous injection, Leqvio is expected to integrate seamlessly into a patient’s healthcare routine1,2.
In the Phase III trials, inclisiran was well-tolerated. The most common adverse events reported (≥3% of patients treated with inclisiran and occurring more frequently than placebo) were injection site reaction, arthralgia, urinary tract infection, diarrhea, bronchitis, pain in extremity and dyspnea.
Among those, injection site reactions were the most frequent ones. Those were generally mild and none were severe or persistent.
Novartis has obtained global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize Leqvio under a license and collaboration agreement with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a leader in RNAi therapeutics.”
https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-receives-eu-approval-leqvio-inclisiran-first-class-sirna-lower-cholesterol-two-doses-year
