Sanofi and its subsidiary Genzyme announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Lemtrada. This follows the August 30 approval of Aubagio. The company intends to begin launching both products in the EU soon.

“The approvals of Lemtrada and Aubagio in the European Union represent an important milestone for Genzyme and demonstrate our focus on scientific innovation and commitment to multiple sclerosis patients,” said Genzyme CEO and president, David Meeker, MD. “This is particularly exciting as the EU approval is the first for Lemtrada globally. We look forward to making these unique therapies available to MS patients very soon.”

Lemtrada is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features. Lemtrada 12 mg has a novel dosing and administration schedule of two annual treatment courses. The first treatment course of Lemtrada is administered via intravenous infusion on five consecutive days, and the second course is administered on three consecutive days, 12 months later.

The Lemtrada clinical development programme included two pivotal randomized phase III studies comparing treatment with Lemtrada to high-dose subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (Rebif) in patients with RRMS who had active disease and were either new to treatment (CARE-MS I) or who had relapsed while on prior therapy (CARE-MS II), as well as an ongoing extension study. In CARE-MS I, Lemtrada was significantly more effective than interferon beta-1a at reducing annualized relapse rates; the difference observed in slowing disability progression did not reach statistical significance. In CARE-MS II, Lemtrada was significantly more effective than interferon  beta-1a at reducing annualized relapse rates, and accumulation of disability was significantly slowed in patients given Lemtrada vs. interferon beta-1a.

“Multiple sclerosis necessitates a highly individualized treatment approach, and the increasing diversity of options is good news,” said Hans-Peter Hartung, MD, Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology at Heinrich-Heine-University in Duesseldorf, Germany. “The Lemtrada clinical trial data support its potential to meaningfully address disability in active RRMS patients, while Aubagio’s efficacy, safety and convenient dosing may provide an important alternative to injectable therapies. The approvals of Lemtrada and Aubagio represent a significant step forward in the way we think about treating this disease.”

“This is a hopeful time for people with MS,” said John Golding, President of the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform. “These approvals demonstrate the great progress being made towards introducing more differentiated treatment options that address important unmet needs.”

FDA action on Genzyme’s supplemental Biologics License Application seeking US approval of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) for the treatment of relapsing MS is expected in late 2013. Lemtrada is also under review by other regulatory agencies. Aubagio is approved to treat relapsing MS in the United States, Australia, Argentina, Chile, and South Korea, and is under review by additional regulatory agencies.

LEMTRADA has been in active clinical development for MS for more than 10 years. The clinical development programme involved more than 1,700 patients.

Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets CD52, a protein abundant on T and B cells. Treatment with alemtuzumab results in the depletion of circulating T and B cells thought to be responsible for the damaging inflammatory process in MS. Alemtuzumab has minimal impact on other immune cells. The acute anti-inflammatory effect of alemtuzumab is immediately followed by the onset of a distinctive pattern of T and B cell repopulation that continues over time, rebalancing the immune system in a way that potentially reduces MS disease activity.

Genzyme holds the worldwide rights to alemtuzumab and has primary responsibility for its development and commercialization in multiple sclerosis. Bayer HealthCare retains an option to co-promote alemtuzumab in multiple sclerosis. Bayer HealthCare has notified Genzyme of its intention to co-promote under this option. Upon regulatory approval and commercialization, Bayer would receive contingent payments based on sales revenue.

Lemtrada is the proprietary name submitted to health authorities for the company’s investigational multiple sclerosis agent alemtuzumab.

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