Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:EIGR) today announced that it and its partner AnGes, Inc. received marketing approval from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for Zokinvy (lonafarnib), a treatment for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and processing deficient progeroid laminopathy (PDPL).
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[18-January-2024] |
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc, (Nasdaq:EIGR), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative therapies for rare metabolic diseases, today announced that it and its partner AnGes, Inc. received marketing approval from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for Zokinvy (lonafarnib), a treatment for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and processing deficient progeroid laminopathy (PDPL). “We and our partner, AnGes, are pleased that Zokinvy is now approved in Japan for patients living with progeria, an ultra-rare and fatal pediatric disease that can result in premature death,” said David Apelian, MD, PhD, MBA, CEO of Eiger. “We would like to thank the Progeria Research Foundation for their continued support of the regulatory submission as well as the patients and their families.” Collectively known as progeria, HGPS and PL are devastating ultra-rare and fatal pediatric diseases that cause dramatically accelerated aging and premature death. The main cause of death is heart attack or stroke due to severe hardening of the arteries.3,4 The approval was based on the positive results of two pivotal clinical trials demonstrating that Zokinvy, an oral disease-modifying agent which targets the cause of progeria, lowered the risk of death in children by 72% and extended life by an average of 4.3 years (p<0.0001) in children and young adults with HGPS.2 About Progeria HGPS is caused by a point mutation in the LMNA gene, yielding the farnesylated aberrant protein, progerin. Progeroid laminopathies are genetic conditions of accelerated aging caused by a constellation of mutations in the LMNA and/or ZMPSTE24 genes yielding farnesylated proteins that are distinct from progerin.4,5 Without Zokinvy therapy, children with HGPS commonly die of the same heart disease that affects millions of normally aging adults (arteriosclerosis), by an average age of 14.5 years. Disease manifestations include severe failure to thrive, scleroderma–like skin, global lipodystrophy, alopecia, joint contractures, skeletal dysplasia, global accelerated atherosclerosis with cardiovascular decline, and debilitating strokes.3 About Zokinvy® (lonafarnib) The most commonly reported adverse reactions were gastrointestinal (vomiting, diarrhea, nausea), and most were mild or moderate (Grade 1 or 2) in severity. Many progeria patients have received continuous Zokinvy therapy for more than 10 years.1,2 Zokinvy is FDA approved for the treatment of patients 12 months of age and older with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome or a processing-deficient progeroid laminopathy associated with either a heterozygous LMNA mutation with progerin-like protein accumulation or a homozygous or compound heterozygous ZMPSTE24 mutation. For Important Safety Information and prescribing information for Zokinvy in the U.S., please visit www.zokinvy.com Eiger and AnGes entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for the treatment of HGPS and PDPL indications, Zokinvy (Lonafarnib), in Japan on May 10, 2022. In March 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare designated Zokinvy as an orphan drug. About Eiger For additional information about Eiger and its clinical programs, please visit www.eigerbio.com. Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Investors: Media: References: View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eiger-and-partner-anges-receive-approval-for-zokinvy-lonafarnib-for-hutchinson--gilford-progeria-syndrome-and-processing-deficient-progeroid-laminopathies-in-japan-302038919.html SOURCE Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. | ||
Company Codes: NASDAQ-NMS:EIGR |