Orphan Therapeutics Announces Initiation Of Rolling NDA Submission For LUCASSIN(R) (terlipressin) For The Treatment Of Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1
September 19, 2017
Orphan Therapeutics
announced that it has begun submission of the rolling LUCASSIN(R)
(terlipressin) New Drug Application (NDA) for the treatment of hepatorenal
syndrome (HRS) type 1 in patients with late-stage liver cirrhosis.
LUCASSIN(R) had previously been granted orphan status and fast track
designation for this indication by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). Currently no drug is approved in the U.S. to treat HRS type 1, a
rare and life-threatening condition in late-stage liver disease.
The LUCASSIN(R) rolling NDA submission is based on the results from
OT-0401,(1) a randomized, double-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled
Phase III study in 112 patients with HRS type 1 conducted by Orphan
Therapeutics, and is independently supported by TAHRS,(2) a second
randomized, multi-center, controlled study in 46 patients coordinated by
the University of Barcelona. Orphan Therapeutics holds exclusive rights to
the TAHRS data for the NDA submission.
"We are pleased to report that, coinciding with the start of our
rolling NDA for LUCASSIN(R), the two HRS studies, OT-0401 and TAHRS, have
been published in the May 2008 issue of Gastroenterology," said Peter
Teuber, president of Orphan Therapeutics. "I would like to thank all
authors, investigators and members of the LUCASSIN(R) team for their
contributions to these two landmark trials, which together represent the
largest number of HRS patients studied in a randomized and controlled study
design to-date."
The rolling submission process enables companies that have been granted
fast track designation to submit sections of the NDA to the FDA as they
become available. The FDA grants fast track status to drug candidates that
treat serious or life-threatening conditions and that demonstrate the
potential to address unmet medical needs. Terlipressin received orphan drug
designation in October 2004 and fast track status in April 2005 for
treatment of HRS type 1.
(1) Sanyal 2008: Sanyal AJ, Boyer T, Garcia-Tsao G, Regenstein F,
Rossaro L, Appenrodt B, et al. A randomized, prospective,
double-blind, placebo controlled trial of terlipressin for type 1
hepatorenal syndrome. Gastroenterology. 2008;134:1360-1368.
(2) Martin-Llahi 2008: Martin-Llahi M, Pepin M-N, Guevara M, Diaz, F,
Torre A, Monescillo A, et al. Terlipressin and albumin vs albumin in
patients with cirrhosis and hepatorenal syndrome: a randomized study.
Gastroenterology. 2008;134:1352-1359
ABOUT HEPATORENAL SYNDROME (HRS)
Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is the progressive development of renal
dysfunction in patients with late stage liver cirrhosis without any other
causes of renal failure. It is likely caused by a very low blood flow
through the kidneys, and two types have been described. HRS type 1 is
characterized by rapid renal failure with a high mortality rate that
exceeds 80% within three months. HRS type 2 represents a less aggressive
form with longer survival.
The only potentially curative treatment for HRS and its underlying end-
stage liver disease is liver transplantation, provided that the patient is
a suitable candidate for transplantation and survives until a transplant is
available. However, many patients may not receive a new liver, further
supporting the need for alternate therapy options.
ABOUT LUCASSIN(R) (terlipressin)
LUCASSIN(R) (terlipressin) is a synthetic vasopressin analogue that
acts via the vasopressin V1 receptor as a systemic vasoconstrictor,
resulting in an increase in effective arterial volume and improved renal
blood flow in patients with HRS. Terlipressin is not approved by the FDA
for use in the U.S. Outside the U.S., terlipressin has been available for
over two decades. It has been a standard of care in Europe for esophageal
variceal hemorrhage in patients with liver cirrhosis, and was recently
approved in France, Ireland and South Korea for the treatment of patients
with HRS type 1.
ABOUT ORPHAN THERAPEUTICS
Orphan Therapeutics, LLC, is a privately held drug development company
dedicated to developing treatments for rare and serious diseases. It was
founded in 2003 with the initial purpose to develop and seek U.S. FDA
approval for its first product, LUCASSIN(R) (terlipressin), for the
treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) type 1.
Orphan Therapeutics, LLC
orphantherapeutics