Trofinetide accepted for Priority Review by Health Canada
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
Neuren (NEU) – ASX Announcement
23 April 2024
Trofinetide New Drug Submission for Rett Syndrome Accepted for Priority
Review by Health Canada
Melbourne, Australia: Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) is pleased to report that Health
Canada has accepted for review the New Drug Submission (NDS) of trofinetide for the
treatment of Rett syndrome, that was submitted by Neuren’s global partner Acadia
Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ACAD). Health Canada has granted a Priority Review for the
submission. The NDS is supported by results from the positive pivotal Phase 3 LAVENDER™
study evaluating the efficacy and safety of trofinetide versus placebo in 187 girls and young
women with Rett syndrome.
The announcement released by Acadia is attached.
Acadia estimates there are 600 to 900 Rett syndrome patients in Canada. Trofinetide has been
approved for the treatment of Rett syndrome in adult and pediatric patients two years of age
and older in the United States, and it is not currently authorised for sale in Canada for the
treatment of Rett syndrome.
Acadia has exclusive rights to develop and commercialize trofinetide globally. Under the terms
of Neuren’s agreement with Acadia, the development and commercialisation of trofinetide is
fully funded by Acadia. Canada is included as part of the North America region under Neuren’s
agreement with Acadia. If marketing authorisation is granted by Health Canada, any potential
sales of trofinetide in Canada will be combined with sales in the US for the purpose of
determining Neuren’s entitlement to milestone payments and royalties.
About Neuren
Neuren is developing new drug therapies to treat multiple serious neurological disorders that emerge in
early childhood and have no or limited approved treatment options. Recognising the urgent unmet
need, all programs have been granted “orphan drug” designation in the United States. Orphan drug
designation provides incentives to encourage development of therapies for rare and serious diseases.
DAYBUE™ (trofinetide) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of
Rett syndrome in adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older. Neuren has granted an
exclusive worldwide licence to Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the development and commercialisation
of trofinetide.
Neuren’s second drug candidate, NNZ-2591, is in Phase 2 development for each of Phelan-McDermid
syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Pitt Hopkins syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome.
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Contact:
Jon Pilcher, CEO: jpilcher@neurenpharma.com; +61 438 422 271
ASX Listing Rules information
This announcement was authorized to be given to the ASX by the board of directors of Neuren
Pharmaceuticals Limited, Suite 201, 697 Burke Road, Camberwell, VIC 3124
Forward-looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such
statements involve known and unknown risks and important factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of Neuren to be materially different from the statements in this
announcement.
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Acadia Pharmaceuticals Announces Trofinetide New Drug
Submission for Treatment of Rett Syndrome Has Been Accepted for
Filing and Priority Review by Health Canada
April 22, 2024 09:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) today announced that Health Canada has accepted its New Drug Submission (NDS)
for trofinetide for the treatment of Rett syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Health Canada has granted Priority Review for Acadia’s submission.
“Rett syndrome is a profoundly debilitating and complex neurodevelopmental disorder that presents differently across patients and can lead to an array of
unpredictable symptoms,” said Pamela di Cenzo, Vice President, General Manager, Rare Disease, Canada at Acadia. “If granted marketing authorization, trofinetide
will be the first option available to treat Rett syndrome in Canada.”
Health Canada grants Priority Review for drug submissions intended for the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of serious, life-threatening, or severely debilitating
illnesses or conditions for which there is substantial evidence of clinical effectiveness that the drug addresses an unmet medical need or provides a benefit/risk profile
that is improved over existing therapies.
“O.R.S.A. is pleased that Health Canada has granted Priority Review for this promising treatment which, if approved, would be a significant step forward in addressing
the unmet medical needs of Canadians living with Rett syndrome,” said Sabrina Millson, President of the Ontario Rett Syndrome Association (O.R.S.A.). “Our
community of patients, caregivers and supporters are excited at the prospect of having a treatment option for Rett syndrome.”
The Health Canada filing is supported by results from the positive pivotal Phase 3 LAVENDER™ study evaluating the efficacy and safety of trofinetide versus placebo
in 187 girls and young women with Rett syndrome. The co-primary endpoints were change from baseline in the Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire (RSBQ) total
score, a caregiver assessment, and Clinical Global Impression–Improvement (CGI-I) scale score, clinician perspective, at week 12; both were statistically significant.
The key secondary endpoint measuring improvements in communication was also statistically significant. Trofinetide has been approved for the treatment of Rett
syndrome in adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older in the United States, and it is not currently authorized for sale in Canada for the treatment of Rett
syndrome.
About Rett Syndrome
Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs primarily in females following a near normal development in the first two years of life.1,2 It is
caused by mutations on the X chromosome on a gene called MECP2.3 Rett syndrome is a complex and multisystem disorder that causes profound impairment to
central nervous system (CNS) function, including loss of communication skills, purposeful hand use, gait abnormalities, and stereotypic hand movements such as
hand wringing/squeezing, clapping/tapping, mouthing and washing/rubbing automatisms.2
Rett syndrome occurs worldwide in approximately one of every 10,000 to 15,000 female births.4 In Canada, prevalence of Rett syndrome is estimated to be 600 to
900 patients.5 Children with Rett syndrome experience a period of developmental regression between 18-30 months of age, which is typically followed by a plateau
period lasting years to decades.1-3 Rett syndrome is diagnosed based on clinical evaluation, typically by about three years of age.2,6
About Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. For 30 years we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people
who need them most. We developed and commercialized in the United States the first and only FDA-approved drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated
with Parkinson’s disease psychosis and the first and only FDA-approved drug for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused
on Prader-Willi syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and multiple other programs targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms in central nervous system disorders. For
more information, visit us at Acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include
all statements other than statements of historical fact and can be identified by terms such as “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “can,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,”
“anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” and similar expressions (including the negative thereof) intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release, include, but are not limited to, statements about: (i) the potential approval of trofinetide as the
first option in Canada for the treatment of Rett Syndrome, (ii) the efficacy and safety profile of trofinetide for patients with Rett Syndrome, (iii) market acceptance in
Canada, including the importance of trofinetide for the treatment of Rett Syndrome, if approved, for Rett patients or families with patients with Rett Syndrome and (iv)
the ability for trofinetide to address the unmet medical needs of Canadians living with Rett syndrome. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those
anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors include, but are not limited to: the ability for
trofinetide to deliver efficacious and safe results to patients, if approved, our dependency on the continued successful commercialization of Daybue™ in the United
States, where it is approved, our ability to obtain regulatory approval of trofinetide in Canada and other jurisdictions outside the United States, our ability to protect and
enhance our intellectual property; and our ability to continue to stay in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Given the risks and uncertainties, you should
not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these and other risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause
our actual results, performance or achievements to differ, please refer to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2024, as well as our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The
forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update them after this date, except as required by law.
References
1 Fu et al. Consensus guidelines on managing Rett syndrome across the lifespan. BMJ Paediatrics Open. 2020;4:1-14.
2 Neul JL, Kaufmann WE, Glaze DG, et al. Rett syndrome: revised diagnostic criteria and nomenclature. Ann Neurol. 2010;68(6):944-950.
3 Amir RE, Van den Veyver IB, Wan M, et al. Rett syndrome is caused by mutations in X-linked MECP2, encoding methyl-CpG-binding protein 2. Nat Genet. 1999;
23(2):185-188.
4 May DM, Neul JL, Satija A, et al. Real-world clinical management of individuals with Rett syndrome: a physician survey. J of Med Econ. 26(1), 1570–1580.
5 Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. Data on File. Canada prevalence of Rett syndrome. February 2024.
6 Tarquinio DC, Hou W, Neul JL, et al. Age of Diagnosis in Rett Syndrome: Patterns of Recognition Among Diagnosticians and Risk Factors for Late
Diagnosis. Pediatric Neurology. 2015;52:585-591.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Deb Kazenelson
(818) 395-3043
media@acadia-pharm.com
Investor Contact:
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Al Kildani
(858) 261-2872
ir@acadia-pharm.com
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Jessica Tieszen
(858) 261-2950
ir@acadia-pharm.com
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