NEWS RELEASE
August 19, 2020
VILTEPSO™ (viltolarsen) injection Now Commercially Available in the U.S.\
PARAMUS, NJ: August 19, 2020 – NS Pharma, Inc. (NS Pharma; President, Tsugio Tanaka), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. (Nippon Shinyaku; President, Shigenobu Maekawa), announced today that VILTEPSO™ (viltolarsen) injection is now commercially available in the U.S. On August 12, 2020, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved VILTEPSO for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who are amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy.
To help navigate access and reimbursement with VILTEPSO, NS Pharma is offering services and resources to patients, caregivers and their healthcare providers through the NS Support™ program.
“The response by the DMD community to the FDA approval of VILTEPSO has been incredibly uplifting, and underscores NS Pharma’s responsibility that goes beyond the development of new and exciting treatment options,” said Tsugio Tanaka, President, NS Pharma, Inc. “Through our NS Support program, we will assist each patient and family obtain access to VILTEPSO, and help navigate obstacles related to location in the U.S. or financial circumstances.”
VILTEPSO is commercially available through a network of specialty distributors and specialty pharmacy providers. The distribution partners in this limited network were selected for their experience providing responsive, reliable service to healthcare providers and families with DMD.
Patients receiving treatment with VILTEPSO have the option and flexibility to receive
infusions at their home or at a hospital or treatment center. VILTEPSO is administered by a trained healthcare professional as an 80 mg per kg of body weight 60-minute weekly intravenous infusion.
VILTEPSO received an Accelerated Approval by the FDA based on an increase in dystrophin, a key protein for supporting muscle health. The continued approval of VILTEPSO may be contingent on confirmation of a clinical benefit in a Phase 3 confirmatory trial.
About VILTEPSO™ (viltolarsen) injection
Prior to its approval in the U.S., VILTEPSO was granted Priority Review as well as Rare Pediatric Disease, Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations. In March 2020, VILTEPSO was approved in Japan for the treatment of patients with DMD who are amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy. Prior to its approval in Japan, VILTEPSO was granted with the SAKIGAKE designation, Orphan Drug designation, and designation of Conditional Early Approval System.
Indication
VILTEPSO is indicated for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients who have a confirmed mutation of the DMD gene that is amenable to exon 53 skipping. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on an increase in dystrophin production in skeletal muscle observed in patients treated with VILTEPSO. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
For additional safety information, please see the full Prescribing Information.
About NS Pharma, Inc.
NS Pharma, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. For more information, please visit http://www.nspharma.com. NS Pharma is a registered trademark of the Nippon Shinyaku group of companies.
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NEWS RELEASE
August 12, 2020
NS Pharma’s VILTEPSO™ (viltolarsen) injection Now FDA-Approved in the U.S. for the Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Patients Amenable to Exon 53 Skipping Therapy
Patients taking VILTEPSO showed an increase in dystrophin expression to an average of 5.9% of normal after 20-24 weeks of treatment.
Overall, in a pivotal study of VILTEPSO 100% of patients showed an increase in dystrophin levels after treatment and 88% of patients showed dystrophin levels of 3% of normal or greater.
PARAMUS, NJ: August 12, 2020 – NS Pharma, Inc. (NS Pharma; President, Tsugio Tanaka), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. (Nippon Shinyaku; President Shigenobu Maekawa), announced today that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VILTEPSO™ (viltolarsen) injection for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who are amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy. VILTEPSO received an Accelerated Approval by the FDA based on an increase in dystrophin, a key protein for supporting muscle health. Since a lack of dystrophin is the underlying cause of DMD, increasing dystrophin as much and as early as possible is a key goal in the treatment of DMD. VILTEPSO is the first and only exon 53 skipping therapy to demonstrate an increase in dystrophin in children as young as four years old. The continued approval of VILTEPSO may be contingent on confirmation of a clinical benefit in a Phase 3 confirmatory trial.
DMD is caused by genetic mutations that prevent dystrophin production. Patients with DMD experience progressive and irreversible muscle loss with symptoms appearing as early as two years of age. Cardiac and respiratory muscle problems begin in the teenage years and lead to serious, life-threatening complications.
The VILTEPSO New Drug Application (NDA) submission included results from a Phase 2, two-period study in patients aged four to less than 10 years of age conducted in North America (Study 1, N=16) and a multicenter, open-label study in boys five to less than 18 years of age conducted in Japan (Study 2, N=16).
In Study 1, of those patients who received the recommended dose of 80 mg/kg/wk (N=8), 100% of patients (8/8) showed an increase in dystrophin levels after treatment with VILTEPSO and 88% of patients (7/8) showed dystrophin levels of 3% or greater than normal. Overall, after 20-24 weeks of treatment a mean increase in dystrophin expression to nearly 6% of normal was observed with VILTEPSO (80 mg/kg/wk) versus 0.6% at baseline.
The most common side effects of VILTEPSO included upper respiratory tract infection, injection site reaction, cough and fever.
“For decades, neurologists who treat DMD have hoped for the discovery of therapies capable of significantly improving dystrophin production, and the magnitude of dystrophin increases observed with VILTEPSO are impressive,” said study investigator Vamshi Rao, MD, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “The approval of VILTEPSO is an exciting development for DMD patients amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy and may rapidly become a foundational treatment for these patients.”
Patients receiving treatment with VILTEPSO have the option and flexibility to receive infusions at their home or at a hospital or treatment center. VILTEPSO is administered by a trained healthcare professional as an 80 mg per kg of body weight 60-minute weekly intravenous infusion.
NS Pharma will provide families, physicians and healthcare professionals dedicated and individualized resources every step of the way through the NS Support program. NS Pharma will be hosting a series of webinars on the comprehensive care coordination available through NS Support. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for information and registration for upcoming webinars.
“On behalf of NS Pharma and Nippon Shinyaku, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the families and physicians who participated in our clinical trials and made today’s approval possible,” said Tsugio Tanaka, President, NS Pharma, Inc. “We are proud to now offer an important new treatment option to help address the significant unmet needs caused by this devastating disease.”
NS Pharma continues to study the safety and efficacy of VILTEPSO in the confirmatory Phase 3 RACER53 trial. This study was initiated in October 2019 and is currently enrolling. The purpose of this Phase 3 trial is to confirm the clinical findings that were submitted under the Accelerated Approval pathway.
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
DMD is a progressive form of muscular dystrophy that occurs primarily in males. DMD causes progressive weakness and loss of skeletal, cardiac, and pulmonary muscles. Early signs of DMD may include delayed ability to sit, stand or walk. There is a progressive loss of mobility, and by adolescence, patients with DMD may require the use of a wheelchair. Cardiac and respiratory muscle problems begin in the teenage years and lead to serious, life-threatening complications.
About VILTEPSO™ (viltolarsen) injection
Prior to its approval in the U.S., VILTEPSO was granted Priority Review as well as Rare Pediatric Disease, Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations. In March 2020, VILTEPSO was approved in Japan for the treatment of patients with DMD who are amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy. Prior to its approval in Japan, VILTEPSO was granted with the SAKIGAKE designation, Orphan Drug designation, and designation of Conditional Early Approval System.
Indication
VILTEPSO is indicated for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients who have a confirmed mutation of the DMD gene that is amenable to exon 53 skipping. This indication is approved under Accelerated Approval based on an increase in dystrophin production in skeletal muscle observed in patients treated with VILTEPSO. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
For additional safety information, please see the full Prescribing Information.
About NS Pharma, Inc.
NS Pharma, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. For more information, please visit http://www.nspharma.com. NS Pharma is a registered trademark of the Nippon Shinyaku group of companies.
Contact
U.S. Media Contact:
NEWS RELEASE
July 7, 2020
NS Pharma Announces Launch of Patient Support Hub
PARAMUS, NJ: July 7, 2020 – NS Pharma, Inc. (NS Pharma; President, Tsugio Tanaka), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. (Nippon Shinyaku; President, Shigenobu Maekawa), announced today the launch of NS Support for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and their healthcare providers.
NS Support can be reached by telephone at 833-677-8778, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm ET. Caregivers and healthcare providers can call to learn more information about NS Support and request notifications about product availability and program enrollment.
“Based on our conversations with the DMD community, there is a high demand for assistance with navigating the complicated insurance landscape for DMD patients amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy,” said Tsugio Tanaka, President, NS Pharma, Inc. “We want to ensure the smoothest patient experience possible and a rapid journey towards access and treatment. That is why we are launching NS Support now, so we can begin the process of engaging with families who want to learn more about what NS Support can offer.”
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
DMD is a progressive form of muscular dystrophy that occurs primarily in males. DMD causes progressive weakness and loss of skeletal, cardiac, and pulmonary muscles. Early signs of DMD may include delayed ability to sit, stand or walk. There is a progressive loss of mobility, and by adolescence, patients with DMD may require the use of a wheelchair. Cardiac and respiratory muscle problems begin in the teenage years and lead to serious, life-threatening compl tions.
About NS Pharma, Inc.
NS Pharma, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. For more information, please visit http://www.nspharma.com. NS Pharma is a registered trademark of the Nippon Shinyaku group of companies.
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U.S. Media Contact:
NEWS RELEASE
May 26, 2020
NS Pharma Announces Publication of Clinical Trial Data for Viltolarsen in DMD Patients in JAMA Neurology
Viltolarsen is an exon skipping therapy being reviewed under the FDA Accelerated Approval pathway for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in patients amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy
PARAMUS, NJ: May 26, 2020 – NS Pharma, Inc. (NS Pharma; President, Tsugio Tanaka), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. (Nippon Shinyaku; President Shigenobu Maekawa), announced today that JAMA Neurology has published results from a clinical trial of viltolarsen, an investigational agent being evaluated in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients who are amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy.
“In this study, 100% of patients were shown to have more dystrophin after treatment with viltolarsen and 88% achieved dystrophin levels of greater than 3%,” said lead study author and investigator Paula Clemens, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “These increases were seen in patients as young as four years of age and after six months or less of treatment, which underscores the impressive results seen in this study.”
This Phase 2, two-period, dose-finding study enrolled 16 DMD patients, from four to less than 10 years of age, who were amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy. Study participants were randomized to two doses of viltolarsen (40 mg/kg/wk and 80 mg/kg/wk) for 20 to
24 weeks. At the end of the study, treatment with viltolarsen was associated with statistically significant increases in mean dystrophin expression (40 mg/kg/wk: p<0.001; 80 mg/kg/wk p=0.012). Mean dystrophin levels of 5.7% and 5.9% were observed in comparison to mean baseline levels of 0.3% and 0.6% in the 40 mg/kg/wk and 80 mg/kg/wk groups, respectively. Fourteen out of 16 patients (88%) reached dystrophin levels greater than 3%.
The most common treatment emergent adverse events occurring in greater than one patient were: cold, cough, nasal congestion, bruising, joint pain, diarrhea and vomiting. No serious adverse events were observed in the study.
“Lack of functional dystrophin is recognized as the singular underlying cause of the devastating impact of DMD,” said study author and investigator Vamshi Rao, MD, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “As a pediatric neurologist who specializes in the treatment of DMD, I am encouraged by the dystrophin increases observed in this study and the potential of viltolarsen to address the underlying cause of DMD.”
“This is one of the first studies of exon skipping therapies in DMD to generate rigorous data on the primary biomarker of dystrophin protein,” said study author Eric Hoffman, PhD, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Binghamton University. “Having assisted in the development of viltolarsen for many years, and decades more researching the genetics and genomics of DMD, I am pleased by the results of this study and the implications for families facing DMD.”
Viltolarsen has not yet been approved in the U.S. and its New Drug Application was recently granted Priority Review by the FDA with an anticipated action date in the third quarter of 2020. In March 2020, viltolarsen was approved in Japan for the treatment of DMD patients amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy.
“We are deeply committed to the development of viltolarsen and offering healthier futures to DMD patients and families,” said Tsugio Tanaka, President, NS Pharma, Inc. “Based on these results we are optimistic that, if it is approved, viltolarsen will become an important new treatment option for DMD patients and healthcare providers.”
NS Pharma continues to study the safety and efficacy of viltolarsen in the confirmatory Phase 3 RACER53 trial. This study was initiated in October 2019 and is currently enrolling. The purpose of this Phase 3 trial is to confirm the clinical findings that were submitted under the Accelerated Approval pathway.
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
DMD is a progressive form of muscular dystrophy that occurs primarily in males. DMD causes progressive weakness and loss of skeletal, cardiac, and pulmonary muscles. Early signs of DMD may include delayed ability to sit, stand or walk. There is a progressive loss of mobility, and by adolescence, patients with DMD may require the use of a wheelchair. Cardiac and respiratory muscle problems begin in the teenage years and lead to serious, life-threatening complications.
About Viltolarsen
Viltolarsen has been granted Rare Pediatric Disease, Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations in the U.S. The viltolarsen New Drug Application was granted Priority Review by the FDA with an anticipated action date in the third quarter of 2020. In March 2020, viltolarsen was approved in Japan for the treatment of patients with DMD who are amenable to exon 53 skipping therapy. Prior to its approval in Japan, viltolarsen was granted with the SAKIGAKE designation, Orphan drug designation, and designation of Conditional Early Approval System.
About NS Pharma, Inc.
NS Pharma, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. For more information, please visit http://www.nspharma.com. NS Pharma is a registered trademark of the Nippon Shinyaku group of companies.
Contact
U.S. Media Contact: