Last Updated on October 17, 2024 by The Health Master
ChemoCentryx Inc said on Friday the U.S. health agency approved its lead drug for treating a rare, fatal autoimmune disease, sending the biopharmaceutical company’s shares up by more than 70%.
The company said the drug, called avacopan and sold under the brand name Tavneos, was expected to be available to clinicians and patients in the next few weeks.
Avacopan is administered orally to treat antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) – a group of conditions characterized by destruction and inflammation of small blood vessels and affecting different organs, particularly the kidney.
It works by blocking the activity of a protein called C5a receptor, which is responsible for causing numerous inflammatory diseases.
Current treatments for the disease include immunosuppressant such as Biogen Inc and partner Roche Holding AG’s cancer drug Rituxan, combined with daily administration of steroids, which can cause severe side effects.
The disease affects about 40,000 people in the United States, with about 4,000 new cases each year, according to the company.
Stifel analyst Dae Gon Ha estimates Avacopan to generate sales of $1.3 billion by 2035.
The drug had received mixed reviews from an expert panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in May, with the committee’s vote split equally on whether the efficacy data supported the drug’s approval.
Following this meeting, the company submitted additional data in July for its marketing application for avacopan.
The company has an exclusive license agreement with Swiss-based Vifor Pharma, giving it the commercialization rights in the United States, while Vifor has
The drug was approved in Japan last month and the European regulatory body could give its nod by the end of this year. The company is also testing avacopan for other conditions, including a type of skin disease.
USFDA gives tentative nod to Lupin for generic Brexpiprazole tablets
Zydus Cadila gets USFDA nod for drug to treat Psoriasis
Zydus Cadila gets USFDA nod for Antidepressant drug
Zydus Cadila gets tentative nod from USFDA for Brexpiprazole tablets
USFDA to review use of Blood Disorder Therapy in children
Aleor gets USFDA final approval for Metronidazole gel
Recommendation of restriction on import of IPA used by Pharma Industry
Bharat Biotech submits Clinical Trial data to CDSCO for Covaxin in…
West launches 0.5mL standard syringe device in India
USFDA gives tentative nod to Lupin for generic Brexpiprazole tablets
WHO approves the first Malaria Vaccine
Latest Notifications regarding Pharmaceuticals
For informative videos by The Health Master, click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on Medical Store / Pharmacy, click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on the news regarding Pharma / Medical Devices / Cosmetics / Homoeopathy etc., click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on consumer awareness, click on the below YouTube icon:
