Eisai and Biogen Inc: Lecanemab
Eisai and Biogen Inc. (BIIB) announced that Eisai has completed the rolling submission to the U.S. FDA of a Biologics License Application (BLA) under the accelerated approval pathway for the investigational anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) protofibril antibody lecanemab (BAN2401). The product is for mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild AD (collectively known as early AD) with confirmed presence of amyloid pathology in the brain.
Part of the completed rolling submission is requesting Priority Review.
If the FDA accepts the BLA, then the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date will be set.
The FDA agreed that when Clarity AD results are completed they can serve as the confirmatory study to verify the clinical benefit of lecanemab. Dependent upon the results of the Clarity AD clinical trial, Eisai may submit for full approval of lecanemab to the FDA during fiscal year 2022.
The Basis of the BLA Submission of Lecanemab:
- Clinical, biomarker and safety data from proof-of-concept Phase 2b (Study 201 Core) in 856 people with early AD
- The presence of amyloid pathology, biomarker and safety data are comfirmed from the Study 201 OLE (open-label extension study, 180 subjects)., and the blinded safety data from the confirmatory Clarity AD Phase 3 study (1,795 subjects)
- Study 201 explored the impact of treatment with lecanemab on reducing amyloid plaque and the clinical decline
At 18 months of treatment, 10 mg/kg bi-weekly lecanemab reduced brain amyloid by a mean of 0.306 SUVr units (from a baseline mean of 1.37). Over 80% of subjects became amyloid negative by visual read.
The extent of reduction in amyloid was correlated with slower clinical decline on ADCOMS (Alzheimer’s Disease Composite Score), CDR-SB (Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum-of-Boxes) and ADAS-cog (Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale) at the treatment group and patient level.
In the Core Study:
- Overall rate of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities-edema/effusion (ARIA-E) – an adverse event associated with anti-amyloid beta antibodies therapies, was 9.9% (16/161) of patients treated with lecanemab 10 mg/kg biweekly compared with 0.8% (2/245) of placebo patients.
- Study 201 results were published in a peer-reviewed journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy in April 2021.
From Eisai and Biogen Inc
Haruo Naito, Chief Executive Officer at Eisai Co., Ltd, said, “We would like to thank the people living with early AD and the healthcare professionals who participated in the lecanemab 201 study for their cooperation allowing completion of this BLA to the U.S. FDA. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and devastating disease with few treatment options. Eisai employees have spent time with people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families to truly understand their feelings and challenges and have been working to create new treatments for many years. Our comprehensive medicine creation approach along the Alzheimer’s disease continuum reflects Eisai’s long-term commitment to providing innovative treatments to the people living with AD, their families and healthcare professionals who urgently need new treatment options.”
Michel Vounatsos, Chief Executive Officer at Biogen Inc, said, “With Alzheimer’s disease, patients and their loved ones don’t have the luxury of time. There is an enormous unmet need in this space, and we continue to make progress in advancing additional treatment options for people living with this devastating disease. Anti-amyloid antibodies are a new wave of important medicines, which could provide patients and their physicians more options in addressing this complex disease.”
Lecanemab (BAN2401)
Lecanemab (BAN2401) is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody for AD that is the result of a strategic research alliance between Eisai and BioArctic. Lecanemab selectively binds to neutralize and eliminate soluble, toxic amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregates (protofibrils) that are thought to contribute to the neurodegenerative process in AD.
As such, lecanemab may have the potential to have an effect on disease pathology and to slow down the progression of the disease.
Currently, lecanemab is being developed as the only anti- Aβ antibody that can be used for the treatment of early AD without the need for titration.
Lecanemab was granted Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations by the FDA in June and December 2021, respectively. In March 2022, Eisai initiated submission of application data to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) under the prior assessment consultation system in Japan with the aim of obtaining early approval for lecanemab, and aims to file for the manufacturing and marketing approval based on the results of Clarity AD during Eisai’s fiscal year 2022.
Eisai serves as the lead of lecanemab development and regulatory submissions globally with both Eisai and Biogen co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision-making authority.
Results
With regard to the results from pre-specified analysis at 18 months of treatment,
- Study 201 demonstrated reduction of brain Aβ accumulation and slowing of disease progression in early AD patients. The study did not achieve its primary outcome measure at 12 months of treatment. The Study 201 open-label extension was initiated after completion of the Core period and a Gap period off treatment of 9-59 months (average of 24 months, from core study enrolled to evaluate safety and efficacy, and is underway.
- Currently, lecanemab is being studied in a confirmatory Phase 3 clinical study in symptomatic early AD (Clarity-AD), following the outcome of the Phase 2 clinical study (Study 201). Since July 2020 the Phase 3 clinical study (AHEAD 3-45) for individuals with preclinical AD, meaning they are clinically normal and have intermediate or elevated levels of amyloid in their brains.
- AHEAD 3-45 is conducted as a public-private partnership between the Alzheimer’s Clinical Trial Consortium that provides the infrastructure for academic clinical trials in AD and related dementias in the U.S, funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, Eisai and Biogen.
- Since January 2022, the Tau NexGen clinical study for Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s disease (DIAD), that is conducted by Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU), led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is ongoing. Furthermore, Eisai has initiated a lecanemab subcutaneous dosing Phase 1 study.
- Eisai obtained the global rights to study, develop, manufacture and market lecanemab for the treatment of AD pursuant to an agreement concluded with BioArctic in December 2007.
Developed by Eisai, ADCOMS (AD Composite Score) combines items from the ADAS-Cog (Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale), CDR (Clinical Dementia Rating) and the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) scales to enable a sensitive detection of changes in clinical functions of early AD symptoms and changes in memory. The ADCOMS scale ranges from a score of 0.00 to 1.97, with higher score indicating greater impairment.
An 80% or higher estimated probability of demonstrating 25% or greater slowing in clinical decline at 12 months treatment measured by ADCOMS from baseline compared to placebo.
Eisai and Biogen Inc Collaboration
Eisai and Biogen are collaborating on the joint development and commercialization of AD treatments. Eisai serves as the lead in the co-development of lecanemab.
Eisai and BioArctic Collaboration for Alzheimer’s Disease
Since 2005, BioArctic has had a long-term collaboration with Eisai regarding the development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of AD. The commercialization agreement on the lecanemab antibody was signed in December 2007, and the development and commercialization agreement on the antibody lecanemab back-up for AD, which was signed in May 2015.
Eisai is responsible for the clinical development, application for market approval and commercialization of the products for AD.
BioArctic has no development costs for lecanemab in AD.
Eisai Co., Ltd.
Eisai Co., Ltd. – a global pharmaceutical company is headquartered in Japan. Eisai’s corporate philosophy is based on the human health care (hhc) concept, which is to give first thought to patients and their families, and to increase the benefits that health care provides to them. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, the firm strives to realize its hhc philosophy by delivering innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology.
For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit https://www.eisai.com.
Biogen Inc
A pioneer in neuroscience, Biogen discovers, develops, and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological diseases as well as related therapeutic adjacencies.
Biogen was founded in 1978 by Charles Weissmann, Heinz Schaller, Sir Kenneth Murray and Nobel Prize winners Walter Gilbert and Phillip Sharp. Today, Biogen has a leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis. It introduced the first approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, and is providing the first and only approved treatment to address a defining pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.
Biogen is also commercializing biosimilars and focusing on advancing the industry’s most diversified pipeline in neuroscience that will transform the standard of care for patients in several areas of high unmet need.
In 2020, Biogen launched a bold 20-year, $250 million initiative to address the deeply interrelated issues of climate, health, and equity. Healthy Climate, Healthy Lives™ aims to eliminate fossil fuels across the company’s operations, build collaborations with renowned institutions to advance the science to improve human health outcomes, and support underserved communities.
For more information about Biogen and Alzheimer’s Disease, please visit https://www.Biogen.com.
Prohost Observations
Eisai and Biogen are dedicated to defeat Alzheimer Disease. Both firms’ experience in AD is gained from their development of treatment for this debilitating and life-threatening disease and their patronizing with demented patients. Eisai aims to establish the “Eisai Dementia Platform” with plans to deliver novel benefits to those living with dementia, as well as their families, through constructing a “Dementia Ecosystem,” by collaborating with partners like medical organizations, diagnostic development companies, research organizations and bio-ventures in addition to private insurance agencies, finance industries, fitness clubs, automobile makers, retailers and care facilities.
On its website, Biogen wrote the following: “Working to solve the Alzheimer’s disease problem means following the science and learning from those who came before us, listening to those living with the disease and understanding the impact of Alzheimer’s on society. These interconnected parts come together, giving us the full picture of the puzzle so that we can work toward a solution.”
Click here to read more about Biogen Inc.
Eisai and Biogen: Lecanemab for the Treament of Early Alzheimer’s DIisease
Eisai and Biogen Inc: Lecanemab
Eisai and Biogen Inc. (BIIB) announced that Eisai has completed the rolling submission to the U.S. FDA of a Biologics License Application (BLA) under the accelerated approval pathway for the investigational anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) protofibril antibody lecanemab (BAN2401). The product is for mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild AD (collectively known as early AD) with confirmed presence of amyloid pathology in the brain.
Part of the completed rolling submission is requesting Priority Review.
If the FDA accepts the BLA, then the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date will be set.
The FDA agreed that when Clarity AD results are completed they can serve as the confirmatory study to verify the clinical benefit of lecanemab. Dependent upon the results of the Clarity AD clinical trial, Eisai may submit for full approval of lecanemab to the FDA during fiscal year 2022.
The Basis of the BLA Submission of Lecanemab:
At 18 months of treatment, 10 mg/kg bi-weekly lecanemab reduced brain amyloid by a mean of 0.306 SUVr units (from a baseline mean of 1.37). Over 80% of subjects became amyloid negative by visual read.
The extent of reduction in amyloid was correlated with slower clinical decline on ADCOMS (Alzheimer’s Disease Composite Score), CDR-SB (Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum-of-Boxes) and ADAS-cog (Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale) at the treatment group and patient level.
In the Core Study:
From Eisai and Biogen Inc
Haruo Naito, Chief Executive Officer at Eisai Co., Ltd, said, “We would like to thank the people living with early AD and the healthcare professionals who participated in the lecanemab 201 study for their cooperation allowing completion of this BLA to the U.S. FDA. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and devastating disease with few treatment options. Eisai employees have spent time with people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families to truly understand their feelings and challenges and have been working to create new treatments for many years. Our comprehensive medicine creation approach along the Alzheimer’s disease continuum reflects Eisai’s long-term commitment to providing innovative treatments to the people living with AD, their families and healthcare professionals who urgently need new treatment options.”
Michel Vounatsos, Chief Executive Officer at Biogen Inc, said, “With Alzheimer’s disease, patients and their loved ones don’t have the luxury of time. There is an enormous unmet need in this space, and we continue to make progress in advancing additional treatment options for people living with this devastating disease. Anti-amyloid antibodies are a new wave of important medicines, which could provide patients and their physicians more options in addressing this complex disease.”
Lecanemab (BAN2401)
Lecanemab (BAN2401) is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody for AD that is the result of a strategic research alliance between Eisai and BioArctic. Lecanemab selectively binds to neutralize and eliminate soluble, toxic amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregates (protofibrils) that are thought to contribute to the neurodegenerative process in AD.
As such, lecanemab may have the potential to have an effect on disease pathology and to slow down the progression of the disease.
Currently, lecanemab is being developed as the only anti- Aβ antibody that can be used for the treatment of early AD without the need for titration.
Lecanemab was granted Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations by the FDA in June and December 2021, respectively. In March 2022, Eisai initiated submission of application data to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) under the prior assessment consultation system in Japan with the aim of obtaining early approval for lecanemab, and aims to file for the manufacturing and marketing approval based on the results of Clarity AD during Eisai’s fiscal year 2022.
Eisai serves as the lead of lecanemab development and regulatory submissions globally with both Eisai and Biogen co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision-making authority.
Results
With regard to the results from pre-specified analysis at 18 months of treatment,
Developed by Eisai, ADCOMS (AD Composite Score) combines items from the ADAS-Cog (Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale), CDR (Clinical Dementia Rating) and the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) scales to enable a sensitive detection of changes in clinical functions of early AD symptoms and changes in memory. The ADCOMS scale ranges from a score of 0.00 to 1.97, with higher score indicating greater impairment.
An 80% or higher estimated probability of demonstrating 25% or greater slowing in clinical decline at 12 months treatment measured by ADCOMS from baseline compared to placebo.
Eisai and Biogen Inc Collaboration
Eisai and Biogen are collaborating on the joint development and commercialization of AD treatments. Eisai serves as the lead in the co-development of lecanemab.
Eisai and BioArctic Collaboration for Alzheimer’s Disease
Since 2005, BioArctic has had a long-term collaboration with Eisai regarding the development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of AD. The commercialization agreement on the lecanemab antibody was signed in December 2007, and the development and commercialization agreement on the antibody lecanemab back-up for AD, which was signed in May 2015.
Eisai is responsible for the clinical development, application for market approval and commercialization of the products for AD.
BioArctic has no development costs for lecanemab in AD.
Eisai Co., Ltd.
Eisai Co., Ltd. – a global pharmaceutical company is headquartered in Japan. Eisai’s corporate philosophy is based on the human health care (hhc) concept, which is to give first thought to patients and their families, and to increase the benefits that health care provides to them. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, the firm strives to realize its hhc philosophy by delivering innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology.
For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit https://www.eisai.com.
Biogen Inc
A pioneer in neuroscience, Biogen discovers, develops, and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological diseases as well as related therapeutic adjacencies.
Biogen was founded in 1978 by Charles Weissmann, Heinz Schaller, Sir Kenneth Murray and Nobel Prize winners Walter Gilbert and Phillip Sharp. Today, Biogen has a leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis. It introduced the first approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, and is providing the first and only approved treatment to address a defining pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.
Biogen is also commercializing biosimilars and focusing on advancing the industry’s most diversified pipeline in neuroscience that will transform the standard of care for patients in several areas of high unmet need.
In 2020, Biogen launched a bold 20-year, $250 million initiative to address the deeply interrelated issues of climate, health, and equity. Healthy Climate, Healthy Lives™ aims to eliminate fossil fuels across the company’s operations, build collaborations with renowned institutions to advance the science to improve human health outcomes, and support underserved communities.
For more information about Biogen and Alzheimer’s Disease, please visit https://www.Biogen.com.
Prohost Observations
Eisai and Biogen are dedicated to defeat Alzheimer Disease. Both firms’ experience in AD is gained from their development of treatment for this debilitating and life-threatening disease and their patronizing with demented patients. Eisai aims to establish the “Eisai Dementia Platform” with plans to deliver novel benefits to those living with dementia, as well as their families, through constructing a “Dementia Ecosystem,” by collaborating with partners like medical organizations, diagnostic development companies, research organizations and bio-ventures in addition to private insurance agencies, finance industries, fitness clubs, automobile makers, retailers and care facilities.
On its website, Biogen wrote the following: “Working to solve the Alzheimer’s disease problem means following the science and learning from those who came before us, listening to those living with the disease and understanding the impact of Alzheimer’s on society. These interconnected parts come together, giving us the full picture of the puzzle so that we can work toward a solution.”
Click here to read more about Biogen Inc.
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