Tuesday, January 31, 2017

AveXis Gene Therapy AVXS-101 Granted Access into EMA PRIME Program for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1!!

Great news from Avexis!

CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AveXis, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVXS), a clinical-stage gene therapy company developing treatments for patients suffering from rare and life-threatening neurological genetic diseases, today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted access into its PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) program for the company’s proprietary gene therapy, AVXS-101, for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 1. The PRIME application was based on data from both preclinical evaluations and the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of AVXS-101 as of September 15, 2016.

PRIME is intended to enhance support for the development of medicines – specifically those that may offer a major therapeutic advantage over existing treatments or benefit patients without treatment options – through early and proactive support by EMA to optimize the generation of robust data and development plans, and potentially expedite the assessment of the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) so these medicines may reach patients sooner.

“The acceptance of AVXS-101 into the PRIME program reflects the urgent need for innovative treatment options for the patients diagnosed with SMA in the European Union,” said James L’Italien, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Regulatory and Quality Officer of AveXis. “We are eager for this enhanced collaboration with the EMA to ensure we are taking the most appropriate and expeditious path toward the development of a robust Marketing Authorization Application submission, and to potentially streamlining the time needed to bring AVXS-101 to patients in the EU suffering from this devastating disease.”

In notifying the company of the acceptance, EMA noted: “The preliminary clinical observations following AVXS-101 administration include positive impact on survival, pulmonary function, nutritional support, preservation of motor function and the attainment of development milestones, all of which are unexpected within the framework of the natural history and disease progression for SMA Type 1. These clinically meaningful responses in the patients treated with AVXS-101 are sufficient preliminary clinical evidence of treatment effect that has the potential to address an unmet need in this devastating pediatric disease.”

In July 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation, a comparable program to PRIME used by the FDA, for AVXS-101 for the treatment of patients with SMA Type 1.

AveXis intends to initiate a pivotal trial of AVXS-101 in patients with SMA Type 1 in the European Union before the end of 2017.

About PRIME

The EMA launched the PRIME initiative in March 2016 to foster research and development of medicines that may offer a major therapeutic advantage over existing treatments, or benefit patients without treatment options. PRIME aims to strengthen clinical trial designs to facilitate the generation of high quality data for the evaluation of an application for marketing authorization. To be accepted for PRIME, a medicine has to show its potential to benefit patients with unmet medical needs based on preclinical and/or early clinical data. These medicines are considered priority medicines within the European Union.

After an investigational candidate has been selected for PRIME, developers are assigned a rapporteur from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) to provide continuous support and help to build knowledge ahead of a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA). A multidisciplinary group of experts will provide broader guidance on the overall development plan and regulatory strategy of the product. Companies are also eligible for accelerated assessment at the time of their regulatory application.

For more information, please visit the research and development section of www.ema.europa.eu

Text from: http://investors.avexis.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=254285&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2240880

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