Yahoo Finance Amgen's (AMGN) Uplizna Meets Study Goal for Rare Disease
Amgen AMGN announced positive results from the phase III MITIGATE study, which evaluated its rare disease drug Uplizna (inebilizumab) for treating Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD), a rare inflammatory condition.
The MITIGATE study achieved its primary endpoint — patients treated with Uplizna over a 52-week period showed a statistically significant 87% reduction in the risk of IgG4-RD flare when compared with a placebo. The study also achieved key secondary endpoints, which include annualized flare rate and flare-free, treatment-free complete remission.
Management intends to present the detailed results from the MITIGATE study at a future medical meeting.
We remind investors that Uplizna is currently approved by the FDA to treat adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a rare autoimmune disease. The drug is also approved for similar indications in Europe and Canada.
Based on the primary analysis results of the MITIGATE study, Amgen plans to seek label expansion for Uplizna in IgG4-RD indication. Management intends to submit similar regulatory filings in other key markets after the FDA submission.
Per Amgen, the MITIGATE study is a ‘landmark study’ that shows the clinical benefit of a drug for a rare disease like IgG4-RD. There are no marketed drugs to treat this rare indication.
Year to date, Amgen’s shares have risen 6.7% against the industry’s 3.8% fall.
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A progressive disease, IgG4-RD, generally affects multiple organs of the body and can cause irreversible organ damage with or without the presence of symptoms. Per management, the incidence of the disease is estimated at one to five in 100,000, although the number of patients is difficult to determine due to limited epidemiology data.
Uplizna is a part of Amgen’s rare disease franchise, which was added to the company’s portfolio last year in October following the acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics for nearly $28 billion. The deal also added other rare disease drugs like Tepezza and Krystexxa to the company’s portfolio of marketed drugs.
Apart from IgG4-RD, Amgen is also evaluating Uplizna in a late-stage study for myasthenia gravis.
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Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Amgen currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the overall healthcare sector include Arcutis Biotherapeutics ARQT, Marinus Pharmaceuticals MRNS and Heron Therapeutics HRTX, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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