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    • SETBACK: Novartis...

    SETBACK: Novartis Zolgensma study halted by USFDA amid safety concerns

    Medical Dialogues BureauWritten by Medical Dialogues Bureau Published On 2019-10-31T09:45:24+05:30  |  Updated On 17 Aug 2021 11:52 AM IST

    Novartis shares fell 1% at 0715 GMT, while other European drugmakers rose. Analysts said more information was needed to assess whether these findings could have an impact on Zolgensma's long-term prospects.


    New Delhi: U.S. regulators have halted a trial of Novartis's Zolgensma treatment after an animal study raised safety concerns, the company said on Wednesday, in a setback for the drugmaker's plan to expand its use to older patients.


    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's partial hold on the so-called STRONG trial impacts patients aged up to five with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who were to receive a higher dose of the gene therapy via a spinal infusion.


    The hold was issued after Novartis told health authorities about the animal study's findings that showed dorsal root ganglia (DRG) mononuclear cell inflammation, a neurological condition sometimes accompanied by nerve damage or loss.


    Novartis shares fell 1% at 0715 GMT, while other European drugmakers rose. Analysts said more information was needed to assess whether these findings could have an impact on Zolgensma's long-term prospects.


    "We need to better understand, what the issues are and whether there really is a read-through to the human trial," Vontobel analyst Stefan Schneider said.


    Novartis said it was working with regulators, in hopes of having the hold released.


    Zolgensma, whose $2.1 million list price makes it the world's most-expensive treatment, is already approved for children aged up to two with the deadly muscle-wasting disease and is given by infusion into the young patients' veins.


    The medicine had $160 million in sales in its first full quarter on the market.


    The STRONG study is meant to underpin its expanded approval for older children, where Novartis would also compete with Biogen's Spinraza that is already on the market, and Roche's investigational Risdiplam that is due to seek approval this year. Roche shares were up 0.7%.


    Read Also: Novartis boosts 2019 forecasts as Cosentyx, Zolgensma shine


    "The clinical significance of the DRG inflammation observed in this pre-clinical animal study is not known and was not seen in prior animal studies," Novartis said in a statement.


    "We are working with health authorities to confirm further guidance to clinical investigators."


    The partial FDA hold halts enrollment of patients getting a higher dose of Zolgensma, also known as AVXS-101, via a spinal infusion, also called intrathecal administration.


    Low- and mid-dose portions of the STRONG trial have already been completed, as has a presentation of interim results. "Of note, we have completed a thorough review of human safety data from all available sources to date and no adverse effects related to sensory changes have been seen," Novartis said.


    By John Miller


    Read Also: Novartis Jakavi meets primary endpoint in the study of acute graft-versus-host disease

    AVXS-101dorsal root gangliaDRGgene therapymononuclear cell inflammationNovartispharmapharma companypharma newsRocheSMAspinal infusionspinal muscular atrophyStefan SchneiderUSFDAZolgensmaSMAspinal infusionspinal muscular atrophyStefan SchneiderUSFDAZolgensma
    Source : Reuters

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    Medical Dialogues Bureau
    Medical Dialogues Bureau

      Medical Dialogues Bureau consists of a team of passionate medical/scientific writers, led by doctors and healthcare researchers.  Our team efforts to bring you updated and timely news about the important happenings of the medical and healthcare sector. Our editorial team can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Check out more about our bureau/team here

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