- If approved, somatrogon will serve as a once-weekly treatment option -
NEW YORK & MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and OPKO Health Inc. (NASDAQ: OPK) announced today that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has validated for review the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for somatrogon, a long-acting recombinant human growth hormone that is intended to be administered once-weekly for the treatment of pediatric patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Pfizer expects a decision from the European Commission in 2022.
"Today's announcement is an example of our decades-long commitment to actively support the pediatric growth hormone deficiency community through therapeutic options that help children reach their full potential," said Brenda Cooperstone, MD, Chief Development Officer, Rare Disease, Pfizer Global Product Development. "If approved in the EU, somatrogon will represent an important advancement, as this long-acting, weekly treatment may reduce the burden of daily injections on children, their loved ones, and caregivers. We look forward to continuing to work with the EMA to evolve the treatment paradigm for pediatric patients with growth hormone deficiency."
"We are very appreciative of the children and their families that participated in the clinical trials, bringing us one step closer to providing a long-acting treatment option for pediatric growth hormone deficiency. If somatrogon is approved, we look forward to positively impacting the quality of life for children living with GHD," said Phillip Frost, Chairman and CEO of OPKO.
The submission is supported by the results of a global, Phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of somatrogon administered once-weekly to pediatric patients with GHD. This study met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority compared to GENOTROPIN® (somatropin) for injection administered once daily, as measured by annual height velocity at 12 months. In addition, change in height standard deviation scores at 6 and 12 months, key secondary endpoints, were higher in the somatrogon dosed once-weekly cohort in comparison to the somatropin dosed once-daily cohort. Moreover, at 6 months, change in height velocity, another key secondary endpoint, was higher in the somatrogon dosed once-weekly cohort in comparison to the somatropin dosed once-daily cohort. These common measures of growth are employed in the clinical setting to measure the potential level of catch-up growth that subjects may experience relative to the heights of their age and gender matched peers.
Somatrogon was generally well tolerated in the study and comparable to that of somatropin administered once-daily with respect to the types, numbers and severity of the adverse events observed between the treatment arms.
Separately, in October 2020, Pfizer and OPKO announced findings from the C0311002 trial, a Phase 3, randomized, multicenter, open-label, crossover study evaluating somatrogon dosed once-weekly in children 3 to ® (somatropin) for injection administered once-daily. Top-line results from the study demonstrated that treatment with somatrogon once-weekly improved the mean overall Life Interference total score after 12 weeks of treatment compared to treatment with somatropin administered once-daily. In addition, key secondary endpoints showed an overall benefit in treatment experience with the somatrogon once-weekly dosing regimen compared to the somatropin once-daily dosing regimen. These data have also been submitted to the EMA.
In January 2021, Pfizer and OPKO announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted for filing the initial Biologics License Application (BLA) for somatrogon with a target PDUFA action date of October 2021. In January 2021, a New Drug Application (NDA) was submitted to PMDA in Japan for somatrogon.
In 2014, Pfizer and OPKO entered into a worldwide agreement for the development and commercialization of somatrogon for the treatment of GHD. Under the agreement, OPKO is responsible for conducting the clinical program and Pfizer is responsible for registering and commercializing the product.
About the Studies
The somatrogon Phase 3 trial is a randomized, open-label, active-controlled study conducted in over 20 countries. This study enrolled and treated 224 pediatric patients, treatment-naïve children with growth hormone deficiency who were randomized 1:1 into two arms: somatrogon administered at a dose of 0.66 mg/kg body weight once-weekly vs GENOTROPIN® (somatropin) administered at a dose of 0.034 mg/kg body weight once daily. The primary endpoint of the trial was height velocity at 12 months. Secondary endpoints included change in height standard deviation at 6 and 12 months, safety and pharmacodynamic measures. Children completing this study had the opportunity to enroll in a global, open-label, multicenter, long-term extension study, in which they were able to either continue receiving or switch to somatrogon. Approximately 95% of the patients switched into the open-label extension study and received somatrogon treatment.
C0311002 is a Phase 3, randomized, multicenter, open-label, crossover study assessing subject perception of treatment burden with use of somatrogon administered once-weekly versus GENOTROPIN® administered once-daily in children 3 to
About Somatrogon
Somatrogon is an investigational biologic product that is glycosylated and comprises the amino acid sequence of human growth hormone and one copy of the C-terminal peptide (CTP) from the beta chain of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) at the N-terminus and two copies of CTP (in tandem) at the C-terminus. The glycosylation and CTP domains account for the half-life of the molecule. Somatrogon has received Orphan Drug designation in the U.S. and the EU for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency.
About Growth Hormone Deficiency
Growth hormone deficiency is a rare disease characterized by the inadequate secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland and affects one in approximately 4,000 to 10,000 people. In children, this disease can be caused by genetic mutations or acquired after birth. Because the patient's pituitary gland secretes inadequate levels of somatropin, the hormone that causes growth, his or her height may be affected and puberty may be delayed. Without treatment, he or she will have persistent growth attenuation, a very short height in adulthood, and may experience other health problems.
About GENOTROPIN® (somatropin)
GENOTROPIN is a man-made, prescription treatment option, approved in the United States for children who do not make enough growth hormone on their own, have the genetic condition called Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), were born smaller than most other babies, have the genetic condition called Turner syndrome (TS) or have idiopathic short stature (ISS). GENOTROPIN is also approved to treat adults with growth hormone deficiency. GENOTROPIN is taken by injection just below the skin and is available in a wide range of devices to fit a range of individual dosing needs. GENOTROPIN is just like the natural growth hormone that our bodies make and has an established safety profile.
About OPKO Health, Inc.
